Class 3A Regional Preview – Lebanon and Washington

<!-- 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 “southern” Class 3A Regionals at Lebanon and Washington</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Lebanon</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The Matchups:</strong>&nbsp;Danville (18-7) vs. Guerin Catholic (17-8) @ 1:00 p.m&nbsp;Eastern Time followed by Beech Grove (16-6) vs. Indian Creek (14-8)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players to Watch:</strong>&nbsp;[player_tooltip player_id='1578391' first='Evan' last='Lawrence'] (Danville, 2024), [player_tooltip player_id='1578355' first='Caden' last='Collins'] (Danville, 2024), [player_tooltip player_id='868267' first='Lucas' last='Parker'] (Guerin Catholic – Carroll (WI) commit, 2023), [player_tooltip player_id='1547883' first='Dylan' last='Murans'] (Guerin Catholic, 2024), [player_tooltip player_id='1530699' first='Jeremiah' last='Alexander'] (Beech Grove, 2023), [player_tooltip player_id='1556397' first='Jeremiah' last='Tate'] (Beech Grove, 2023)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Game 1 Analysis:</strong> The 18-7 Danville Warriors took care of business in mostly dominating fashion to get here. Guerin Catholic did as well, although was a bit more surprisingly beating both Brebeuf Jesuit and Bishop Chatard but double-digits. When you compare both rosters, both teams have some very talented players, especially in the junior class. Danville has a dynamic duo of [player_tooltip player_id='1578355' first='Caden' last='Collins'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1578391' first='Evan' last='Lawrence'] that are more than capable of putting a team on their back. When you look at Guerin Catholic, they are so deep and are led by one of the better juniors in the state, [player_tooltip player_id='1547883' first='Dylan' last='Murans']. Plus you throw in Carroll (WI) commit [player_tooltip player_id='868267' first='Lucas' last='Parker'], [player_tooltip player_id='1162765' first='Kamea' last='Chandler'], and [player_tooltip player_id='1275817' first='Robert' last='Sorensen'], I just question if Danville has enough to contain Guerin Catholic down the stretch. At the end of the day, it is all about who steps up for each squad. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Game 2 Analysis:</strong> Beech Grove continues to prove a lot of doubters wrong this season it feels like. The backcourt duo of [player_tooltip player_id='1556397' first='Jeremiah' last='Tate'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1530699' first='Jeremiah' last='Alexander'] are one of the best guard duos at the 3A level and led Beech Grove to squeak by Cardinal Ritter in their Sectional. Indian Creek took care of their weaker Sectional to get here but will face a much tougher challenge with this athletic Beech Groove team. Indian Creek is a team that has talent but are a little on the younger side. It will be interesting how these styles clash on Saturday. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong>&nbsp;Guerin Catholic over Danville, Beech Grove over Indian Creek</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Washington</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The Matchups:</strong>&nbsp;Greensburg (20-6) vs. Scottsburg (20-5) @ 4:00 p.m&nbsp;Eastern Time followed by North Daviess (23-5) vs. Gibson Southern (13-12)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players to Watch:</strong>&nbsp;[player_tooltip player_id='1578484' first='Wyatt' last='Zellers'] (Scottsburg, 2024), [player_tooltip player_id='1276470' first='Jack' last='Miller'] (Scottsburg, 2024), [player_tooltip player_id='1160678' first='Ki' last='Dyer'] (Greensburg, 2023), [player_tooltip player_id='1495782' first='Jeter' last='Edwards'] (Greensburg – Goshen commit, 2023), [player_tooltip player_id='935727' first='Jaylen' last='Mullen'] (North Daviess – Oakland City commit, 2023), [player_tooltip player_id='1556399' first='Lance' last='Wilson'] (North Daviess, 2023), [player_tooltip player_id='1556400' first='Logan' last='Wilson'] (North Daviess, 2023)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Game 1 Analysis:</strong> This Greensburg vs Scottsburg matchup is probably the biggest game at the 3A level this week. Both teams are extremely tough and have some underrated studs on each side. Scottsburg has been one of the best 3A teams all season and won their Sectional like they were projected too. In the Greensburg Sectional, the Pirates had to go through a couple of tough teams to get here. I think both squads much up evenly when it comes to size and matchups but it will come down to [player_tooltip player_id='1160678' first='Ki' last='Dyer'] and his guard play and [player_tooltip player_id='1578484' first='Wyatt' last='Zellers'] and his post play. This is going to be a very tight game though out. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Game 2 Analysis:</strong> North Daviess has proven that their decision to move up two classes from 1A to 3A was a good one this year. They won the Washington Sectional to get here were able to avoid facing off against [player_tooltip player_id='1297118' first='Trent' last='Sisley'] and Heritage Hills. Gibson Southern was able to come out of the Boonville Sectional where they won both of their games by double-digits. I think this is the one game that I feel won't be as close as you would want it to be. North Davies is a well-oiled machine and has one of the better starting units in the state. If the Cougars force Gibson Southern to play their style of ball, I just don't know if they will be able to keep up. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong>&nbsp;Scottsburg over Greensburg, North Daviess over Gibson Southern</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->