Class 3A Regional Preview – South Bend Washington and New Castle

<!-- 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 3A Regionals at South Bend Washington and New Castle.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>South Bend Washington</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The Matchups:</strong>&nbsp;NorthWood (24-2) vs. Lake Station (22-3) @ 1:00 p.m&nbsp;Eastern Time followed by John Glenn (16-10) vs. South Bend Washington (18-5) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players to Watch:</strong>&nbsp;[player_tooltip player_id='1226596' first='Cade' last='Brenner'] (NorthWood – Huntington commit, 2023), [player_tooltip player_id='1391324' first='Ian' last='Raasch'] (NorthWood – Grace College commit, 2023), [player_tooltip player_id='1297122' first='Tyler' last='Raasch'] (NorthWood, 2023), [player_tooltip player_id='1162708' first='Willie' last='Miller'] (Lake Station, 2023), [player_tooltip player_id='868232' first='Marcus' last='Northern'] (South Bend Washington, 2023), [player_tooltip player_id='1561449' first='Steven' last='Reynolds III'] (South Bend Washington, 2026), [player_tooltip player_id='1391323' first='Brycen' last='Hannah'] (John Glenn, 2023), </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Game 1 Analysis:</strong> Both teams entered as the favorite in their respective Sectionals, and both came out the winner. For this Regional championship game, we are getting two of the better teams at the 3A level. When you look at both rosters, NorthWood easily has the more talented roster on paper. Lake Station guard [player_tooltip player_id='1162708' first='Willie' last='Miller'] will have his hands full with [player_tooltip player_id='1226596' first='Cade' last='Brenner'], who is the best player in this game. I worry about how Lake Station will be able to contain both [player_tooltip player_id='1391324' first='Ian' last='Raasch'] and his bother [player_tooltip player_id='1297122' first='Tyler' last='Raasch']. Lake Station is pretty guard heavy so guys like [player_tooltip player_id='1784266' first='Armoni' last='Gonzalez'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1393267' first='Romeo' last='Guerra'] have to step up if the Fighting Eagles want to have a shot here. This should be a tough one nonetheless. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Game 2 Analysis:</strong> Going into this Regional, I don't think many thought we would see South Bend Washington vs John Glenn as both had slight upsets to get here. South Bend Washington finally got over the Mishawaka Marian hump and stunned them before beating South Bend St. Joes while John Glenn upset both Tippecanoe Valley and Culver Academy to get here as well. All eyes on here will be on 2026 stud guard [player_tooltip player_id='1561449' first='Steven' last='Reynolds III'] as he may only be a freshman, but has the highest ceiling out of all the players in this one. John Glenn will really have to rely on 2023 power forward [player_tooltip player_id='1391323' first='Brycen' last='Hannah'] to carry them and give South Bend Washington struggles in the paint. The x-factor here is [player_tooltip player_id='868232' first='Marcus' last='Northern'] because John Glenn will have to figure out a way to slow him down if they want to have a chance in this one. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong>&nbsp;NorthWood over Lake Station, South Bend Washington over John Glenn </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>New Castle</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The Matchups:</strong>&nbsp;Twin Lakes (10-14) vs. Fort Wayne Dwenger (12-13) @ 4:00 p.m&nbsp;Eastern Time followed by Delta (17-9) vs. Peru (17-7)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players to Watch:</strong>&nbsp;[player_tooltip player_id='1049161' first='Preston' last='Ross'] (Fort Wayne Dwenger, 2023), [player_tooltip player_id='1158223' first='Caleb' last='Lehrman'] (Fort Wayne Dwenger, 2024), [player_tooltip player_id='1295334' first='Jackson' last='Wors'] (Delta, 2024), [player_tooltip player_id='1295310' first='D'Amare' last='Hood'] (Delta, 2024), [player_tooltip player_id='1158198' first='Matthew' last='Roettger'] (Peru, 2024), [player_tooltip player_id='1275827' first='Jayden' last='Furney'] (Delta, 2024)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Game 1 Analysis:</strong> We have the rare situation in the state tournament where both teams in the same Regional championship both have a losing record. Can safely say, don't think either Twin Lakes nor Fort Wayne Dwenger were projected to be here, but here we are. Starting with Twin Lakes first, they barely got past Western and upset Rensselaer Central to get while Dwenger upset Fort Wayne Concordia in the championship game to get here. When looking at both rosters, have to say Dwenger has the more talent on paper with [player_tooltip player_id='1049161' first='Preston' last='Ross'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1158223' first='Caleb' last='Lehrman'] leading the way. Twin Lakes does have some under-the0radar type of players that can give Dwenger fits. You could look at this game as a toss up.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Game 2 Analysis:</strong> This game between Delta and Peru could sneakily be one of the best games at the 3A level this weekend. Both teams come into this one with 17 wins on the year and both had to really earn their Sectional Championship with the tough routes they had. I have been high on the junior trio of [player_tooltip player_id='1295334' first='Jackson' last='Wors'], [player_tooltip player_id='1295310' first='D'Amare' last='Hood'], and [player_tooltip player_id='1275827' first='Jayden' last='Furney'] but Mathew Roettger for Peru is tough shooting guard to contain once he gets going. Throw in the fact that both teams are extremely well coached, you could really see either teams come out of this one on top. This is the type of game that could come down to the buzzer. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> Fort Wayne Dwenger over Twin Lakes, Delta over Peru </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->