Prep Hoops Indiana Semi-State Preview – Class 1A
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The 114th Annual IHSAA Boys Basketball State Tournament is moving right along. This past weekend we went from 64 Sectional champions to 32 Regional champions. Now, the four teams remaining in the north and south brackets of each respective class…
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Continue ReadingThe 114th Annual IHSAA Boys Basketball State Tournament is moving right along. This past weekend we went from 64 Sectional champions to 32 Regional champions. Now, the four teams remaining in the north and south brackets of each respective class will meet for a two-game Semi-State held on Saturday, March 16th. The winners at each site will then advance to Gainbridge Fieldhouse for the 2024 IHSAA State Finals held on Saturday, March 30th. At the Class 1A level, Michigan City High School is the host of the northern bracket while Washington High Schools hosts the southern teams. Let’s dive on in to our Prep Hoops Indiana Class 1A Semi-State preview.
Liberty Christian vs. Marquette Catholic
It will be a youth movement in the first game of the Class 1A North Semi-State at Michigan City High School. Liberty Christian, who enters the game with a 17-9 record, is led by a trio of freshman. TJ Fuller and Kendrick Martin Kendrick Martin 6'0" | PG Liberty Christian | 2027 IN are the Lions’ two leading scorers at 12.7 and 11.4 points per game respectively while Tywaine Fuller Tywaine Fuller 5'9" | PG Liberty Christian | 2027 IN is fourth on the team averaging 8.2 points per game. Similarly, for 12-15 Marquette Catholic, freshman Josiah Mays Josiah Mays 5'9" | PG Michigan City | 2027 IN averages a team-leading 11.1 points per game. Sophomores Colson Dobre Colson Dobre 6'7" | PF Marquette Catholic | 2026 State IN and Aleks Pecoski add 10.3 and 10.0 points per game respectively to round out the Blazers’ double-figure scorers. The 12-15 record might seem odd for a Semi-State team, but Marquette Catholic has only lost two games at the Class 1A level this season. One of those losses was to Elkhart Christian who is also playing in the Semi-State while the other was to Demotte Christian who the Blazers beat in the Regional. Prediction: Liberty Christian
Elkhart Christian vs. Fort Wayne Canterbury
Fort Wayne Canterbury, despite being 16-9, hasn’t lost to a Class 1A team all season. In fact, during their stretch of winning 14 of their last 16, the Cavaliers’ only losses came to Class 4A Fort Wayne Wayne and Class 4A New Haven. Senior guard Devon Lewis Devon Lewis 5'10" | PG Canterbury | 2024 State IN and senior big man Tucker Day Tucker Day 6'7" | C Canterbury | 2024 State IN gives Canterbury an excellent inside-outside punch that most teams at this level can’t handle. Elkhart Christian, at 17-9, has just one loss at the Class 1A level this season so they will be equally tested for Saturday’s Semi-State matchup. Senior guard Aiden Hibbard Aiden Hibbard 5'11" | PG Elkhart Christian | 2024 IN leads the Eagles averaging 22.9 points per game. Prediction: Fort Wayne Canterbury
Greenwood Christian vs. Bethesda Christian
A rematch is set in the Class 1A South Semi-State at Washington as Bethesda Christian will take on Greenwood Christian at the Hatchet House. I watched this game back on February 8th when Bethesda Christian won 40-26. They looked like the vastly better team on that night, but you can expect a better performance from the Cougars on Saturday. Quincy commit Max Booher Max Booher 6'3" | SG Greenwood Christian | 2024 State IN scored 26 points in their Regional win over Oldenburg Academy while Evan McIntire Evan McIntire 6'1" | SG Greenwood Christian | 2025 IN came up big with 17 points alongside Booher in their Sectional final win over defending state champion Indianapolis Lutheran. Sam Mlagan Sam Mlagan 6'2" | PG Bethesda Christian | 2024 State IN and Luke Douglas are the names to know for the Patriots. These two teams certainly know each other well and will battle it out for a chance to be one game away from Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Prediction: Bethesda Christian
Barr-Reeve vs. Evansville Christian
Both of these teams are 24-2 on the season and could make a strong case for being #1 and #2 in the state. Josiah Dunham Josiah Dunham 6'0" | PG Evansville Christian | 2024 State IN leads Evansville Christian along with Andrew Lynn Andrew Lynn 6'4" | PF Evansville Christian | 2024 IN , Kaden Naab Kaden Naab 6'3" Evansville Christian | 2025 IN , Luke Davis, and Jackson Chesser Jackson Chesser 6'4" | PF Evansville Christian | 2024 IN . Dunham is an Indiana All-Star candidate averaging 23.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game. As for Barr-Reeve, Donnie Miller, Seth Wagler Seth Wagler 6'1" | PG Barr-Reeve | 2025 IN , and Braydon Knepp average 11.5, 11.4, and 11.2 points per game respectively. The Vikings are a well-balanced team that survived a five overtime thriller to defeat Orleans in the Sectional 63 championship game before taking down Christian Academy in the Regional. Prediction: Evansville Christian
Finals Predictions
Fort Wayne Canterbury over Liberty Christian
Evansville Christian over Bethesda Christian