Class 2A Regional Preview – North Judson and Lapel

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The IHSAA State Tournament field has been dwindled down to just 64 teams. 16 teams per class will compete in Saturday's Regional round that will look and feel a little different this year than in the past. Each site will have four teams from the same class and will play two separate regional championship games. This is in contrast to what used to be the Regional semifinals in the morning following by the Regional final in the evening. Now, we will play a one game Regional followed by a two game Semi-State the following weekend. Also, pairings will be made by random draw and announced via&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ihsaatv.org/"><strong>IHSAAtv.org</strong></a>&nbsp;on Sunday, March 12th at 1 p.m. Eastern Time (the day after the regional championship games). Now, let's dive on in to previewing our two Northern Class 2A Regionals at North Judson and Lapel.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>North Judson</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The Matchups:</strong>&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2:00 PM - Lewis Cass (18-7) at North Judson (23-3)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>5:00 PM - Westview (17-8) vs. Gary 21st Century (20-5)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players to Watch:</strong>&nbsp;<strong>Luke Chambers</strong> (Lewis Cass 2023), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1160677' first='Quintin' last='Floyd']</strong> (Gary 21st 2023), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1273739' first='Tyson' last='Good']</strong> (Lewis Cass 2023), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1049181' first='Kelson' last='Jordan']</strong> (North Judson 2023), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1578349' first='Brady' last='Lehman'] </strong>(Westview 2024), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1042493' first='D.J.' last='Moss']</strong> (Gary 21st 2023),<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1049197' first='Ty' last='Schumacher']</strong> (North Judson 2023), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='868220' first='Ashton' last='Williamson']</strong> (Gary 21st 2023), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1273328' first='Brady' last='Yoder']</strong> (Westview 2023)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Game 1 Analysis:</strong>&nbsp;North Judson comes into Regional after dominating in Sectional, winning the three games by an average of 22 points. The Bluejays also have the courtesy of playing on their home floor where they are 13-1 with their lone loss coming to Renssalaer Central in their only loss since December 28. Lewis Cass comes in at just 18-7, but they were able to take down the Sectional 36 favorites, Wabash in the Sectional finals. The Kings have won seven straight since losing 3 of 4 at the end of January. The Kings are led by their senior duo of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1273739' first='Tyson' last='Good']</strong> and <strong>Luke Chambers</strong> who combined for 31 points per game. Chambers is just shy of a double-double per game at 16.3 points and 9.8 rebounds. The Bluejays are also led by their senior, inside-out duo of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1049197' first='Ty' last='Schumacher']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1049181' first='Kelson' last='Jordan']</strong>. This one is going to be which duo can stop the other, and North Judson will have a big advantage on their home floor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Game 2 Analysis:</strong>&nbsp;Westview comes in at just 17-8 and entered the state tournament on a sour note, losing three of their last four to end the season. However, the Warriors turned things around with three wins including a 78-65 win over powerhouse Central Noble. Gary 21st comes in at 20-5, and they are 14-2 since the calendar turned to 2023 with their only losses coming to 4A East Chicago Central and Kenwood in Chicago. They cruised through Sectional with wins by 36, 8, and 18. Gary 21st is led by their senior trio of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='868220' first='Ashton' last='Williamson']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1042493' first='D.J.' last='Moss']</strong>, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1160677' first='Quintin' last='Floyd']</strong> who are all averaging over 14 points per game. Williamson is on triple-double watch every game with 16.4 points, 9.6 assists, and 7.4 rebounds while Moss and Floyd are both averaging double-doubles during the season. It is going to be very difficult for Westview to slow down their three-headed monster, but if they do, their backcourt duo of <strong>Mason Yoder</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1578349' first='Brady' last='Lehman']</strong> will need to be huge.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong>&nbsp;North Judson over Lewis Cass, Gary 21st Century over Westview</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Lapel</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The Matchups:</strong>&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>4:00 - Fort Wayne Blackhawk (23-3) vs. Tipton (18-6)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>7:00 - Wapahani (24-1) vs. Carroll (Flora) (22-4)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players to Watch:</strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1158181' first='Isaac' last='Andrews']</strong> (Wapahani 2024), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1297029' first='Grady' last='Carpenter'] </strong>(Tipton 2025), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1391325' first='Owen' last='Duff']</strong> (Carroll-Flora 2023), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1150871' first='Aidan' last='Franks']</strong> (Wapahani 2023), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1042499' first='Josh' last='Furst']</strong> (FW Blackhawk 2023), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1158240' first='Chris' last='Huerta']</strong> (Carroll-Flora 2024), <strong>Jackson Money</strong> (FW Blackhawk 2024), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1364589' first='Kellen' last='Pickett']</strong> (FW Blackhawk 2025), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1042496' first='Gage' last='Sefton']</strong> (FW Blackhawk 2023), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1391465' first='Jake' last='Skinner']</strong> (Carroll-Flora 2023), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1158205' first='Nolan' last='Swan']</strong> (Tipton 2024)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Game 1 Analysis:</strong>&nbsp;Fort Wayne Blackhawk comes in at 23-3 on the season with their only losses coming to 3A North Daviess and Fort Wayne Dwenger and 4A Fort Wayne Wayne. Blackhawk cruised through Sectional with a pair of 30-point wins before being tested by Adams Central in the Sectional finals. Tipton sits at 18-6, but the Blue Devils fell to both Oak Hill and Rensselaer Central in two of the final three games of the season. They also cruised through their Sectional with three wins by over 18 points. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1042499' first='Josh' last='Furst']</strong> leads Blackhawk at 19 points per game this year. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1042496' first='Gage' last='Sefton']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1364589' first='Kellen' last='Pickett']</strong> are averaging 16 and 13 as well for the Braves. Tipton is all <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1158205' first='Nolan' last='Swan']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1297029' first='Grady' last='Carpenter']</strong>. Swan is averaging 19 points per game, and Carpenter is at 15 points, 7 assists, and 6 rebounds. <strong>Jackson Money</strong> also provides a nice solid third option at 11 points per game. These are two teams who have the top-end talent to be cutting down the nets at the end of the month.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Game 2 Analysis:</strong>&nbsp;Wapahani and Carroll (Flora) are also two teams who could cut down the nets at Gainbridge. Wapahani comes in at 24-1 with their only loss coming to Muncie Central in the season opener. The Raiders are led by <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1150871' first='Aidan' last='Franks']</strong>, who has offers from both high-level Division III and NAIA, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1158181' first='Isaac' last='Andrews']</strong>, a top-25 player in the 2024 class. Both players are averaging 17 points per game this season and can score it from all levels. Carroll (Flora) comes in at 22-4 with wins in 14 of their last 15 games. The Cougars lone loss in this time came on the road at 4A Lafayette Jeff. The Cougars are led by their three-headed monster of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1391465' first='Jake' last='Skinner']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1158240' first='Chris' last='Huerta']</strong>, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1391325' first='Owen' last='Duff']</strong>. This one really will be which team's stars step up when the lights are the brightest.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> Fort Wayne Blackhawk over Tipton, Wapahani over Carroll (Flora)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->