Class 1A Sectional Reactions

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A field of nearly 100 Class 1A basketball programs was quickly whittled down to just 16 Sectional champions last week. Before the 16 remaining teams move on to Saturday's Regional round let's take a quick look back at the opening rounds of the IHSAA Boy's Basketball State Tournament.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Team to Watch</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If all you do is look at the records you wouldn't give Rock Creek Academy a second thought. They are 10-14 after cutting down the Sectional 61 nets and were just 7-14 before tournament play started. However, they play an incredibly tough schedule and have as much talent as any Class 1A team in the state. Don't be surprised if the Lions continue to win games as they matchup with New Washington in the Loogootee Regional. Senior guard Keajuan Beco hit the buzzer-beater to defeat Borden in the Sectional championship game, but it is the three-headed monster of Ladarius Wallace, [player_tooltip player_id='1273031' first='Jaleb' last='Treat'], and [player_tooltip player_id='1391464' first='Marial' last='Diper'] that make Rock Creek a legitimate contender to make it to Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Do not sleep on the Lions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Biggest Upset</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Evansville Christian spent all season in the Class 1A Top 10 despite losing several games. Though their record didn't always reflect it due to a very tough schedule, the Eagles had as much talent as anyone in the class led by junior point guard [player_tooltip player_id='1158176' first='Josiah' last='Dunham']. However, Evansville Christian was knocked off in the Sectional 64 championship game by Northeast Dubois. The Jeeps avenged their season-opening 62-52 loss when it mattered most on Saturday night. Evansville Christian was one of three Top 5 ranked Class 1A teams to lose in the Sectional round, but were the only one that lost to an unranked opponent.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Best Game</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In a Top 10 championship matchup in Sectional 59 between #9 Indianapolis Lutheran and #2 Greenwood Christian the Saints avenged an early season loss to cut down the Sectional nets. Senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='1162771' first='Kameron' last='Patterson'] scored 18 points while classmate Durray Smith added 17 points to help Lutheran pull out the victory. Talented sophomore guard Lonte Ward finished with 11 points as well. Whichever team came out on top of this game was going to earn the right to take a shot at Class 1A #1 Bloomfield in the Regional round at Martinsville. Lutheran certainly has the talent, and now the confidence, that they can do so after knocking off #2 Greenwood Christian.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Best Individual Performance</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Marquette Catholic senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='1167896' first='Lukas' last='Balling'] dominated Sectional 50 with three straight big games to extend their winning streak to 14 games. The 6'6" forward went for 25 points and 25 rebounds in a first round win over Westville followed by 13 points and 8 rebounds in their second round win over Argos. Then, in the championship game against Culver, Balling scored 24 points and pulled down 12 rebounds in the Blazers 49-41 win. Marquette Catholic are certainly trending up at the right time of year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->