Class 1A Semi-State Draw Rapid Reactions

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Indiana High School Basketball fans are typically not super receptive to change. There are many people throughout the state that still long for the days of a single class tournament as they relive the dreams of a "Hoosiers" sort of run to a championship. However, there was another wrinkle thrown into the state tournament this season which so far at least seems to have been successful. The traditional two-game Regional and one-game Semi-State has now been flipped. Additionally, teams are drawn randomly within their classes again for the semi-state round taking north and south locations out of the equation. Let's take a look at the Class 1A Semi-State draw.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>North Semi-State @ Lafayette Jefferson H.S.</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>This Semi-State site will feature one of the more surprising participants in Southwood who entered the state tournament at 10-12 overall. However, the Knights rattled off a pair of victories in Sectional 53 followed by a 57-38 beat down of Blue River. They will have their toughest test yet though against 23-4 Fountain Central who was ranked #6 in the regular season final Class 1A Poll.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>The other semifinal matchup at Lafayette Jefferson will feature Marquette Catholic and Kouts. After playing their way through a very difficult schedule to begin the season the Blazers have now rattled off 15 straight victories. It should be noted that they have not lost to a Class 1A opponent this season. Meanwhile, Kouts avenged two regular season losses to Morgan Township and won the postseason battle to cut down the Sectional 49 nets. Senior dynamic duo [player_tooltip player_id='1162739' first='Jason' last='Kobe'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1167896' first='Lukas' last='Balling'] give Marquette Catholic as much talent as any remaining team in the Class 1A field.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>South Semi-State @ Washington H.S.</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>After stumbling in late January and early February to the tune of four straight losses, Indianapolis Lutheran responded with eight straight wins including making it through the very tough Sectional 59 and then knocking off #1 ranked Bloomfield in the Regional. Now, the Saints will matchup with #5 Loogootee who made it through the Sectional 63 gauntlet and then dominated Northeast Debois in their Regional matchup. Led by senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='868254' first='Peyton' last='Bledsoe'] the Lions certainly have the talent to go all the way. This is definitely the most intriguing Semi-State semifinal matchup at the Class 1A level.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Despite advancing to the Semi-State, Rock Creek still is just 11-14 on the season. However, don't let their record fool you. Most of their losses came to Class 3A or 4A opponents including a straight of nine straight losses and 11 out of 12 early in the season. After surviving close games in Sectional 61 against very good Christian Academy and Borden teams, the Lions defeated New Washington 67-32 to win the Regional. They have a lot of senior talent. As for Jac-Cen-Del, they are back in the Semi-State for the second straight season. They have won eight straight games and 10 of their last 11. The Eagles only loss to a Class 1A opponent came by two points, 52-50 to Indianapolis Lutheran who they could face later in the evening on Saturday.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list -->