Class 4A Regional Preview – Michigan City and Logansport

<!-- 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 <a href="https://www.ihsaatv.org/"><strong>IHSAAtv.org</strong></a> 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 4A Regionals at Michigan City and Logansport.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Michigan City</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The Matchups:</strong> Chesterton (20-5) vs. Penn (26-1) @ 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time followed by Hammond Central (25-1) vs. Mishawaka (20-6)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players to Watch:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1275807' first='Tyler' last='Parrish'] (Chesterton H.S. 2024), [player_tooltip player_id='1158231' first='Justin' last='Sims'] (Chesterton H.S. 2024), [player_tooltip player_id='1049169' first='Markus' last='Burton'] (Penn H.S. 2023 - Notre Dame), [player_tooltip player_id='1049160' first='Jordan' last='Woods'] (Hammond Central H.S. 2023 - Eastern Illinois), [player_tooltip player_id='1384393' first='Matthew' last='King'] (Hammond Central H.S. 2024)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Game 1 Analysis:</strong> The obvious story here is Indiana Mr. Basketball front-runner [player_tooltip player_id='1049169' first='Markus' last='Burton'] getting a chance to knock off the defending state runner-up Trojans of Chesterton. Burton is averaging right around 30 points per game and has gone over the 2,000 point milestone in his career. However, he isn't the only talented guard on the Kingsmen team. Fellow seniors [player_tooltip player_id='1391326' first='Joey' last='Garwood'] (12.2 points per game) and [player_tooltip player_id='1272962' first='Joe' last='Smith'] (11.1 points per game) help to provide some balance and additional firepower in the #2 ranked Penn backcourt. Meanwhile, senior forwards [player_tooltip player_id='1049172' first='Dylan' last='Derda'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1272951' first='Josh' last='Gatete'] hold things down around the basket. For Chesterton, it will be junior duo [player_tooltip player_id='1275807' first='Tyler' last='Parrish'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1158231' first='Justin' last='Sims'] leading the way. Parrish, one of the top shooters in the state, scored 31 points in the Trojans Sectional championship win over Valparaiso. For Chesterton to have a shot they will need to, obviously, slow Burton down and then get big time efforts from Parrish and Sims.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Game 2 Analysis:</strong> Hammond Central had to come from 14 down in their Sectional championship matchup with Munster, but escaped with a 54-53 victory. Senior point guard [player_tooltip player_id='1049160' first='Jordan' last='Woods'], who will play football at Eastern Illinois next year, is a stat sheet stuffing guard who can do a little bit of everything. He is extremely athletic, long, and disruptive on the defensive end. Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1384393' first='Matthew' last='King'] is a great pure scorer as well. Overall, the story of the Wolves is balance and defensive ball pressure. They will look to really speed Mishawaka up. The Cavemen advanced passed Michigan City 77-68 on the back of 21 points from Cooper Pritchett and 20 more from Arthur Jones. Junior wing [player_tooltip player_id='1276469' first='Rasauun' last='Johnson'] is one to keep an eye on as well. This game will likely come down to who can control the tempo. The faster the game is played, the better it is for #3 ranked Hammond Central.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> Penn over Chesterton, Hammond Central over Mishawaka</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Logansport</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The Matchups:</strong> Fort Wayne Wayne (20-4) vs. Noblesville (19-6) @ 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time followed by Kokomo (21-4) vs. Fort Wayne North (16-9)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players to Watch:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1578417' first='Jevon' last='Lewis'] (Fort Wayne Wayne H.S. 2024), [player_tooltip player_id='1297001' first='Chase' last='Barnes'] (Fort Wayne Wayne H.S. 2025), [player_tooltip player_id='1042494' first='Luke' last='Almodovar'] (Noblesville H.S. 2023 - Saint Francis), [player_tooltip player_id='1158209' first='Aaron' last='Fine'] (Noblesville H.S. 2024), [player_tooltip player_id='1363488' first='Flory' last='Bidunga'] (Kokomo H.S. 2024), [player_tooltip player_id='1158178' first='Brauntae' last='Johnson'] (Fort Wayne North H.S. 2024)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Game 1 Analysis:</strong> After winning just four games last season this Fort Wayne Wayne team has now won 20 games this year including the Sectional 6 title. Led by junior point guard [player_tooltip player_id='1578417' first='Jevon' last='Lewis'] and a very talented sophomore class this is a team that is still built for the future as well. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='1556502' first='Monte' last='Smith'] provides some veteran leadership as well as the Generals third leading scorer. This is a very quick, athletic, and high-powered offensive team that has rattled off 12 straight victories. Meanwhile, Noblesville contrasts the youth of Wayne with a veteran core. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1042494' first='Luke' last='Almodovar'] was excellent in Sectional 8 play leading the Millers to cutting down the nets in the state's most competitive Sectional. The Millers are well-balanced and battle tested having played a very tough schedule all season long. If Noblesville can control the pace and keep the Generals out of transition it will likely swing the game in their favor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Game 2 Analysis:</strong> There isn't really answer for Kokomo's [player_tooltip player_id='1363488' first='Flory' last='Bidunga'] regardless of what you have on your roster. However, for the Legends of Fort Wayne North there is a clear lack of size to matchup against the Class of 2024 5-star center. What North can do though is attack you with elite athleticism. Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1158178' first='Brauntae' last='Johnson'] averages 20.9 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game alongside other talented junior wings such as [player_tooltip player_id='1547392' first='Jaxson' last='Fugate'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1578389' first='Eugene' last='Young Jr']. If those three can all get going against the Wildkats it will be their recipe for pulling off the upset. Still, having a 6'10" center like Bidunga inside gives Kokomo the clear advantage. The veteran team also has the benefit of having advanced to the Semi-State round last season as well so this moment won't be anything new for them. Fort Wayne North will have the advantage in the backcourt, but [player_tooltip player_id='1363488' first='Flory' last='Bidunga'] is the great equalizer and should flip the script in the Wildkats favor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> Noblesville over Wayne, Kokomo over Fort Wayne North</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->