Prep Hoops Indiana Semi-State Preview – Class 4A

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>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 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 4A level, Elkhart High School is the host of the northern bracket while New Castle High School hosts the southern teams. Let's dive on in to our Prep Hoops Indiana Class 4A Semi-State preview.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prephoops.com/2024/03/prep-hoops-indiana-semi-state-preview-class-1a/">Class 1A Preview</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prephoops.com/2024/03/prep-hoops-indiana-semi-state-preview-class-2a/">Class 2A Preview</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prephoops.com/2024/03/prep-hoops-indiana-semi-state-preview-class-3a/">Class 3A Preview</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Crown Point vs. Fishers (North Semi-State @ Elkhart H.S.)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Coach Clint Swan and the Bulldogs of Crown Point have certainly earned their spot in the Semi-State. They came out of a very tough Sectional 2 bracket defeating Kankakee Valley, Valparaiso, and Chesterton on their way to cutting down the nets. Then, in the Regional round, they needed overtime to defeat Warsaw. Despite being 20-5 and playing here in the Semi-State, Crown Point's best days may still be ahead of them as well. They feature a talented trio of sophomores in [player_tooltip player_id='1561617' first='Dikembe' last='Shaw'], [player_tooltip player_id='1561063' first='Kingston' last='Rhodes'], and [player_tooltip player_id='1561445' first='Mason' last='Darrell']. Meanwhile, seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2079502' first='Jack' last='Svetich'], [player_tooltip player_id='1173544' first='Elliot' last='Swan'], and [player_tooltip player_id='2282378' first='Jaden' last='Skulfield'] are among the leaders who have paved the way for the young guns. As for Fishers, they truly have it all. The Tigers are now 26-1 having beaten Kokomo 66-52 in front of a standing room only crowd on Saturday at the New Castle Regional. Unsigned senior [player_tooltip player_id='2079500' first='Keenan' last='Garner'] continues to play at a very high level while guard JonAnthony Hall is making his case for Indiana Junior All-Star status. This group is playing like a team destined to take the floor at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. <strong>Prediction: Fishers</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Fort Wayne Wayne vs. Mishawaka (North Semi-State @ Elkhart H.S.)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For whatever reason, the state AP Poll refused to give any credit to a team that played in last year's Semi-State and backed it up with a 22-3 record this season. However, Prep Hoops Indiana has been high on this Fort Wayne Wayne team all season long. They feature Indiana All-Star candidate [player_tooltip player_id='1158193' first='Jevon' last='Lewis'] alongside two Junior All-Star candidates in [player_tooltip player_id='1297001' first='Chase' last='Barnes'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1297032' first='Trey' last='Dillard']. There is plenty of firepower to go around the Generals roster as they make their second straight appearance in the Semi-State round of the tournament. As for the Cavemen of Mishawaka, they weren't necessarily expected to be here. They had a good season, but pulled pretty big upsets over South Bend Riley in the Sectional 3 championship game and East Chicago Central in the Regional to get here. Senior Brady Fisher scored 18 points in that win over East Chicago Central, while classmate [player_tooltip player_id='1276469' first='Rasauun' last='Johnson'] is an important two-way piece as well. It has been a heck of a run, but it is hard to imagine Mishawaka pulling another upset. <strong>Prediction: Fort Wayne Wayne</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Center Grove vs. Ben Davis (South Semi-State @ New Castle H.S.)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This is going to be a heck of a game. Center Grove has won 15 straight games and will enter with a 21-4 overall record. They are playing as well as anyone in the state led by senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1158238' first='Joey' last='Schmitz'] and senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='1547488' first='Will' last='Spellman']. The Trojans are a veteran team with a talented balance of weapons. [player_tooltip player_id='1547490' first='Jalen' last='Bundy'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1455666' first='Peyton' last='Byrd'] could be x-factors in this one if they are to take down the defending state champions. For the Giants, Northwestern signee [player_tooltip player_id='1158204' first='K.J.' last='Windham'] and junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1373105' first='Mark' last='Zackery'] lead a group looking to repeat. Ben Davis is 21-5 on the season having won 11 of their last 12 games. [player_tooltip player_id='1749499' first='Tavion' last='Williams'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1761731' first='Ramone' last='Enis'] will be relied upon on the interior to battle the size of Center Grove. For the second straight weekend, The Largest and Finest High School Fieldhouse in the World should be packed for some great Indiana High School Basketball. <strong>Prediction: Ben Davis</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Jeffersonville vs. Lawrence North (South Semi-State @ New Castle H.S.)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jeffersonville has won eight straight games and 12 of their last 13 to reach the Class 4A South Semi-State at New Castle High School. They are led by a talented trio of juniors in [player_tooltip player_id='1297093' first='Michael' last='Cooper'], [player_tooltip player_id='1388408' first='Tre' last='Singleton'], and [player_tooltip player_id='1373104' first='P.J.' last='Douglas']. Cooper is the top scorer at 16.4 points per game while the 6'8" Singleton adds 14.0 points and a team-leading 6.8 rebounds per game. Douglas contributes 13.9 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. Another junior, [player_tooltip player_id='1296979' first='Azavier' last='Robinson'], leads the Wildcats with 19.6 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game. [player_tooltip player_id='1158213' first='Kobi' last='Bowles'], an unsigned senior guard, is next on Lawrence North averaging 11.4 points per game. 6'8" sophomore forward [player_tooltip player_id='1509229' first='Kai' last='McGrew'] rounds out the double-figure scorers averaging 10.4 points and 6.8 rebounds per game while classmate [player_tooltip player_id='1729136' first='Brennan' last='Miller'] adds 9.4 points and 9.2 rebounds per game. This team is loaded both on the perimeter and around the basket. <strong>Prediction: Lawrence North</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->