Class 4A Regional Preview - Southport and Seymour

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/">IHSAAtv.org</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 “southern” Class 4A Regionals at Southport and Seymour.   <h2>Southport</h2>   The Matchups: New Palestine (23-2) vs. Brownsburg (20-4) @ 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time followed by Cathedral (19-5) vs. Ben Davis (29-0)   Players to Watch: [player_tooltip player_id='1295323' first='Ian' last='Stephens'] (New Palestine H.S. 2023), [player_tooltip player_id='1275779' first='Kanon' last='Catchings'] (Brownsburg H.S. 2024 - Purdue), [player_tooltip player_id='868219' first='Xavier' last='Booker'] (Cathedral H.S. 2023 - Cathedral), [player_tooltip player_id='868252' first='Jaron' last='Tibbs'] (Cathedral H.S. 2023 - Purdue Football), [player_tooltip player_id='868251' first='Jake' last='Davis'] (Cathedral H.S. 2023 - Mercer), Zane Doughy (Ben Davis H.S. 2023 - Valparaiso), [player_tooltip player_id='1273713' first='Sheridan' last='Sharp'] (Ben Davis H.S. 2023 - Nicholls State), [player_tooltip player_id='1160716' first='Clay' last='Butler'] (Ben Davis H.S. 2023 - Lincoln), [player_tooltip player_id='1158204' first='K.J.' last='Windham'] (Ben Davis H.S. 2024)   Game 1 Analysis: In the first game at the historic Southport Fieldhouse fans will be treated to a matchup featuring two 20-win teams featuring #9 ranked Brownsburg and New Palestine. The Bulldogs had spent most of the season in the state's Top 5 before dropping back-to-back games in late February. However, they got back on track rolling through Sectional 12 led by highly touted junior wing [player_tooltip player_id='1275779' first='Kanon' last='Catchings']. Unsigned senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1391626' first='Elhadj' last='Diallo'] has been fantastic as well earning himself a couple of recent NAIA offers. The one-two punch of Catchings and Diallo makes the Bulldogs as dangerous as anyone in the state. As for New Palestine, they have a talented one-two punch of their own with 6'6" senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='1295323' first='Ian' last='Stephens'] and 5'10" senior point guard [player_tooltip player_id='1160679' first='Blaine' last='Nunnally']. Nunnally is the leading scorer averaging 17.5 points and dishing out 5.2 assists per game while Stephens contributes 15.2 points and 7.9 rebounds per game. A talented sophomore class featuring [player_tooltip player_id='1539483' first='Ben' last='Slagley'], [player_tooltip player_id='1578425' first='Julius' last='Gizzi'], and [player_tooltip player_id='1539484' first='Moses' last='Haynes'] provides some additional depth for the Dragons. This should be a pretty evenly matched contest, but the top end talent of Catchings and Diallo will be tough for New Pal to handle.   Game 2 Analysis: It is unfortunate that these two teams have to face-off this early in the state tournament. However, that is how things go in the state of Indiana. Ben Davis enters as one of the most dominate teams we have seen in the state in several years. They are a perfect 29-0 having already defeated #2 Penn, #4 Kokomo, and #5 Cathedral by 12, 7, and 12 points respectively. 6'9" center [player_tooltip player_id='1042497' first='Zane' last='Doughty'] is the anchor to everything the Giants do averaging an impressive 13.3 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 2.8 blocks per game. However, the backcourt depth and talent is what really separates the Giants from everyone else. The three-headed monster of [player_tooltip player_id='1160716' first='Clay' last='Butler'], [player_tooltip player_id='1273713' first='Sheridan' last='Sharp']e, and [player_tooltip player_id='1158204' first='K.J.' last='Windham'] have so much firepower and any one of them can beat you on a given night. Then, you mix in X-Factor guys like [player_tooltip player_id='1273740' first='Shaun' last='Arnold'], [player_tooltip player_id='1373105' first='Mark' last='Zackery'], and [player_tooltip player_id='1295351' first='Mark' last='White'] and you create one of the best teams we have seen in recent Indiana High School Basketball history. For Ben Davis to continue their perfect season though they will have to go through defending Class 4A state champion Cathedral. The Irish feature 5-star forward [player_tooltip player_id='868219' first='Xavier' last='Booker'] alongside [player_tooltip player_id='868252' first='Jaron' last='Tibbs'] and [player_tooltip player_id='868251' first='Jake' last='Davis'] forming an incredibly talented trio of Division I talent. This will be a heavyweight prizefight between two teams more than capable of cutting down the nets at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.   Predictions: Brownsburg over New Palestine, Ben Davis over Cathedral   <h2>Seymour</h2>   The Matchups: Evansville Reitz (19-6) vs. Jennings County (23-2) @ 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time followed by Bloomington North (18-5) vs. Columbus North (17-8)   Players to Watch: [player_tooltip player_id='868263' first='Isaac' last='Higgs'] (Evansville Reitz H.S. 2023 - Carnegie Mellon), [player_tooltip player_id='1272966' first='Keegan' last='Manowitz'] (Jennings County H.S. 2023), [player_tooltip player_id='868224' first='JaQualon' last='Roberts'] (Bloomington H.S. North 2023 - Vanderbilt), [player_tooltip player_id='935735' first='Cooper' last='Horn'] (Columbus North H.S. 2023)   Game 1 Analysis: Two of the best will face-off in the first game of the Seymour Regional on Saturday evening. Evansville Reitz navigated their way through Sectional 16 defeating Castle, Evansville Central, and Jasper on their way to the title. This Panthers team has faced some hiccups throughout the season, but senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='868263' first='Isaac' last='Higgs'] is playing at a very high level entering the Regional round while fellow seniors Jayden Sanders and Will Kirkland provide additional scoring depth. Super talented 6'6" freshman [player_tooltip player_id='1561108' first='Braylen' last='Langley'] is an X-Factor to watch as well. On the Jennings County sideline, they feature a talented trio in the backcourt that can really fill it up from beyond the arc. Unsigned senior point guard [player_tooltip player_id='1272966' first='Keegan' last='Manowitz'] leads the way averaging 14.8 points and 6.3 assists per game while connecting on 53 three-pointers at a 41% clip. Sophomore guard [player_tooltip player_id='1578362' first='Carter' last='Kent'] is the best shooter of the bunch having knocked in 71 three-pointers on 38% shooting while averaging 14.2 points. Finally, Owen Law adds 11.7 points per game and has connected on 41 three-pointers. You have to be ready to guard these guys from deep. Additionally, Jennings County has their own talented freshman in [player_tooltip player_id='1560949' first='Parker' last='Elmore'] who has had a great season. These are two very evenly matched ball clubs.   Game 2 Analysis: It has been a season of runs for Bloomington North. The Cougars began the year losing three of their first six games before rattling off nine straight wins. Then, they lost back-to-back games by a combined eight points including an overtime loss before starting their current six game winning streak with a victory over Saturday's opponent Columbus North. Bloomington North won that February 17th matchup 49-45. 6'7" forward [player_tooltip player_id='868224' first='JaQualon' last='Roberts'] is the obvious player to watch for the Cougars. The future Vanderbilt Commodore averages 20.4 points and 7.7 rebounds per game to lead the way. Talented sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1749527' first='Luke' last='Lindeman'] and senior Dawan Daniels round out the double-figures scorers averaging 11.4 and 10.0 points per game respectively. As for the Bull Dogs of Columbus North, [player_tooltip player_id='935735' first='Cooper' last='Horn'] averages a team-best 17.4 points per game. Fellow seniors Luke Harmon and [player_tooltip player_id='1557083' first='Ty' last='Ferguson'] provide some depth, but for the most part Columbus North is going to go as Horn goes.   Predictions: Jennings County over Evansville Reitz, Bloomington North over Columbus North

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 IHSAAtv.org 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 4A Regionals at Southport and Seymour.