Class 2A 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 2A Semi-State draw.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>North Semi-State @ Logansport</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>We begin Class 2A Semi-State play with a heavyweight battle between #3 Blackhawk Christian and #8 Gary 21st Century. Both of these programs have legitimate aspirations of cutting down the nets at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The Braves are no stranger to postseason success having won two of the last three state championships that were played to completion. Their only losses this season came to either Class 3A or 4A programs that also advanced to Semi-State. Grace signee [player_tooltip player_id='1042496' first='Gage' last='Sefton'] and senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='1042499' first='Josh' last='Furst'] lead the way for a very talented Blackhawk squad. Watch for 6'8" sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1364589' first='Kellen' last='Pickett'] to be a difference-maker as well. As for Gary 21st Century, there is no more athletic team in the field. The Cougars feature a three-headed monster of seniors [player_tooltip player_id='868220' first='Ashton' last='Williamson'], [player_tooltip player_id='1042493' first='D.J.' last='Moss'], and [player_tooltip player_id='1160677' first='Quintin' last='Floyd']. Gary 21st has only lost to Class 4A or Chicago area opponents this season. This might be the most interesting Semi-State matchup across all four classes.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>After dropping their season opener by two points against Muncie Central, Wapahani has not lost again. 25 straight victories has gotten them to the Semi-State round where they will take on Lewis Cass. The Raiders, led by dynamic backcourt duo of junior Issac Andrews and senior [player_tooltip player_id='1150871' first='Aidan' last='Franks'], can really score the basketball and just defeated a very good Carroll (Flora) squad 73-50 to advance to Logansport. They will not be easy to beat in this tournament. Seniors Luke Chambers and [player_tooltip player_id='1273739' first='Tyson' last='Good'] lead Cass who have won eight straight games entering Saturday's Semi-State. The two-headed interior monster averages 16 and 14.8 points respectively and 9.8 and 4.3 rebounds. It will be an interesting battle between the Raiders backcourt presence versus the talented front court of the Kings.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>South Semi-State @ Southport</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Brownstown Central has spent most of the season as a favorite to cut down the Class 2A nets at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Some tough scheduling and mid-season injuries saw them drop three out of four games, but they are now back on track rattling off 14 straight wins. Led by Class of 2024 Purdue commit [player_tooltip player_id='1158245' first='Jack' last='Benter'] the Braves obviously have the star power to go all of the way. He has plenty of help around him as well though which has led to them putting up an average margin of victory nearing 20 points per game this season. Meanwhile, Scecina was a little bit more of a surprise to make it to the Semi-State round. They upset Eastern Hancock in the Sectional and then Park Tudor in the Regional to get here. Senior guards Keaton Thibo and Jordan Porter are among the guys to watch for the Crusaders.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>In the second game at Southport #1 ranked Linton-Stockton with their dazzling 27-1 record will take on Parke Heritage who rolled through Sectional 44 and their Regional matchup against Northeastern. They've won every postseason game at least double-figures and are now 19-9 on the season led by high-scoring freshman [player_tooltip player_id='1560965' first='Treigh' last='Schelsky'] and his 18.4 points per game. For the Miners, the obvious star to watch is Central Florida signee [player_tooltip player_id='868240' first='Joey' last='Hart'] who could garner some Mr. Basketball votes, but it has been [player_tooltip player_id='935736' first='Logan' last='Webb'] who has really stepped up in postseason play. On paper, the Miners should advance and then have a really high-level matchup against the winner of Brownstown Central and Scecina.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list -->