Sectional Preview – Triton Regional
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It is officially almost time for Indiana High School Basketball to enter into the most exciting time of year. We have made it through over three months of regular season action and now culminate with a win-or-go-home state tournament. Here…
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Continue ReadingIt is officially almost time for Indiana High School Basketball to enter into the most exciting time of year. We have made it through over three months of regular season action and now culminate with a win-or-go-home state tournament. Here at Prep Hoops Indiana our staff will be previewing all 64 sectionals around the state over the next several days. Let’s dive on in with Sectionals 49-52 which feed into the Class 1A Triton Regional.
Sectional 49: Morgan Township
The Teams: DeMotte Christian, Hammond Science & Tech, Kouts, Morgan Township, Tri-Township, Washington Township
The Contenders: Kouts (13-9), Morgan Township (18-5)
Player to Watch: Keagan Holder (Morgan Township H.S. 2024)
Prediction: Morgan Township hosts the sectional, enters with a 4-0 record against the rest of the field, and is ranked #8 in the Prep Hoops Indiana Class 1A poll. That should certainly be enough to make them the clear favorite on paper. Junior guard Keagan Holder has had an excellent season averaging 18.3 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game for the Cherokees while classmates Jack Wheeler and Jaiden Spratley each chip in 12.2 points per game. Kouts played them within four points in the regular season, there is too much fire power on Morgan Township who hasn’t lost to a 1A opponent this season. Expect to see them cut down the nets on their home floor. Morgan Township
Sectional 50: Triton
The Teams: Argos, Culver, Marquette Catholic, Oregon-Davis, Trinity Greenlawn, Triton, Westville
The Contenders: Argos (14-7), Marquette Catholic (16-7), Triton (12-10)
Players to Watch: Lukas Balling Lukas Balling 6'5" | PF Marquette Catholic | 2023 State IN (Marquette Catholic H.S. 2023), Jason Kobe Jason Kobe 6'1" | SG Marquette Catholic | 2023 State IN (Marquette Catholic H.S. 2023 – Manchester), J.J. Morris J.J. Morris 6'6" | SF Argos | 2023 State IN (Argos H.S. – 2023), Cole Shively Cole Shively 6'1" | SG Triton | 2024 IN (Triton H.S. 2024)
Prediction: This field would certainly be in contention for the toughest sectional at the Class 1A level. Marquette Catholic has won 11 straight games to crack the Prep Hoops Indiana Class 1A Top 10. Despite having seven losses, the Blazers haven’t been defeated by a fellow Class 1A program this season. Led by senior duo Jason Kobe Jason Kobe 6'1" | SG Marquette Catholic | 2023 State IN , averaging 18.9 points per game, and Lukas Balling Lukas Balling 6'5" | PF Marquette Catholic | 2023 State IN , averaging 17.7 points and 10 rebounds per game, this is a team who has legitimate aspirations of cutting down the nets at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. However, Argos hasn’t had a crack at Marquette Catholic this season but has gone a perfect 5-0 against the rest of the field. 6’6″ unsigned senior forward J.J. Morris J.J. Morris 6'6" | SF Argos | 2023 State IN leads the Dragons with 19.7 points per game. Then there is host Triton who certainly won’t go down without a fight. They lost an overtime heartbreaker to Argos earlier in the year and will get a chance for redemption right away in round one. Marquette Catholic must play 16-7 Westville in the first round as well while the top half of the bracket doesn’t feature a team above .500. Whoever comes through to the championship game will be battle tested. Marquette Catholic
Sectional 51: Hamilton
The Teams: Bethany Christian, Elkhart Christian, Hamilton, Lakeland Christian, Lakewood Park
The Contenders: Bethany Christian (13-10), Lakeland Christian (18-5), Lakewood Park (9-13)
Players to Watch: Tyson Chupp Tyson Chupp 6'1" | PG Bethany Christian | 2024 IN (Bethany Christian 2023), Seth Martin Seth Martin 6'3" | SF Lakeland Christian | 2023 IN (Lakeland Christian 2023)
Prediction: On paper, this one is wide open. Lakeland Christian comes in with the clear best record but lost to Bethany Christian 37-35 during the season. Meanwhile, Lakewood Park knocked off Bethany Christian 66-59 earlier this year. Finally, Lakeland Christian defeated Lakeland Park 56-36 to complete the triangle of contenders here at Sectional 51 hosted by Hamilton. Bethany Christian received the best draw avoiding both Lakewood and Lakeland who face off in the semifinals in the top half of the bracket. In the end, look for senior Seth Martin Seth Martin 6'3" | SF Lakeland Christian | 2023 IN and his 22.9 points per game to be enough to avenge Lakeland Christian’s earlier season loss to Bethany Christian and cut down the nets. Lakeland Christian
Sectional 52: West Central
The Teams: Caston, Frontier, North White, South Newton, Tri-County, West Central
The Contenders: Caston (8-14), Frontier (10-12), Tri-County (10-12)
Player to Watch: Nate Corbin (Tri-County H.S. 2023)
Prediction: All five teams in this sectional hosted by West Central are below .500. That alone makes it hard to know what to expect. Then, you mix in that they’ve all seemingly beaten each other at different times and it becomes nearly impossible to predict. Frontier defeated Caston in overtime, but fell to Tri-County by two points. Tri-County lost to West Central but has the win over Frontier. Overall, the Cavaliers probably have the best team led by senior forward Nate Corbin who averages 12.9 points and 8.1 rebounds per game, but it truly is anybody’s sectional to win. Looking at the draw, Frontier and Caston play in round one while Tri-County gets the benefit of the bye while awaiting the winner. Tri-County