Prep Hoops Indiana State Finals Preview: X-Factors 1A/2A
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The 114th Annual IHSAA Boys Basketball State Tournament culminates on Saturday with four state championship games played at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. As always, Prep Hoops Indiana will have boots on the ground coverage throughout the day as teams compete for the…
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Continue ReadingThe 114th Annual IHSAA Boys Basketball State Tournament culminates on Saturday with four state championship games played at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. As always, Prep Hoops Indiana will have boots on the ground coverage throughout the day as teams compete for the right to cut down the nets and forever ingrain themselves in the history of Indiana High School Basketball. This week, we will be previewing the state finals with several articles breaking down the action. Here is an X-Factor for each team in both the 1A and 2A games
Usually when you look at X-Factors, the best overall player is not listed but if the Patriots want to win Class 1A, Mlagan is the biggest X-Factor for them. The 6-foot-2 senior guard comes into this game averaging 15.3 points shooting a great 46% from the field. He is also an active rebounder with his 4.0 rebounds a game. He is excellent off of the dribble and creates his own shot consistently with a smooth mid-range jumper. If he is on, the Patriots have a great chance at cutting down the nets on Saturday.
There is not a bigger (literally) X-Factor in the Class 1A State Championship than senior center Tucker Day Tucker Day 6’7″ | C Canterbury | 2024 State IN of Fort Wayne Canterbury. At the Class 1A level, if you have legit size like what Tucker brings, you always have an advantage. Without question will be the most skilled big on the flor in this game with him bringing 11.3 points and 5.7 rebounds in this one. Tucker makes a strong case as the best player on Canterbury and if he is on, he becomes the biggest X-Factor, as well.
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When it comes to Wapahani, a lot of the praise goes to senior guard Isaac Andrews Isaac Andrews 6’1″ | SG Wapahani | 2024 State IN but if it was not for the excellent play of 6-foot-0 sophomore guard Camden Bell Camden Bell 6’1″ | PG Wapahani | 2026 State IN , the Raiders aren’t here right now. Bell has shown he is capable of having some big games for Wapahani while being the second leading scorer for them with 13.0 ppg and a 53% FG rate. He is a left-handed guard that score in a lot of ways. Wapahani faces a tough challenge in Brownstown, but if Bell goes off along with Andrews, they have a chance to get the upset win.
We all know this by now, but Brownstown is an extremely loaded team with multiple players that can take over a game. Parker Hehman Parker Hehman 6’0″ | PG Brownstown Central | 2024 IN is one of those players for the Braves. Hehman is a senior guard that brings in 11.6 ppg and 5.2 assists on 43% shooting. He can score in pretty much any way you want him to while also bringing great energy on the defensive end. Hehman will need to have a good showing for Brownstown to get the championship.