Five Most Anticipated First Round Matchups

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We now have a bracket for the 2024-2025 IHSAA Boys Basketball State Tournament. Sunday evening featured the annual Sectional draw as 403 teams across four classes found out how their path to Gainbridge Fieldhouse will begin. Interestingly enough, due to shrinking Class 4A and growing Class 1A, along with the success factor moving some teams around, only one out of the 64 Sectionals remained unchanged from a year ago. As always, Prep Hoops Indiana will have coverage every step of the way. Let's begin our preview coverage by highlighting five of the most anticipated first round matchups.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Class 4A Sectional 2 @ Valparaiso - Portage vs. Chesterton</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The two likely favorites to cut down the nets in Sectional 2 at Valparaiso will face-off right away. It will be a rubber match for these two programs that have already met twice and split the regular season series. Portage won 55-44 in the third place game of the Fishers Holiday Tournament. Then, on February 14th, Chesterton got revenge winning 44-42. The Indians of Portage feature a trio of college players in [player_tooltip player_id='1297027' first='Garrett' last='Clark'] (Air Force), [player_tooltip player_id='1297094' first='Michael' last='Wellman'] (Grace), and [player_tooltip player_id='1297112' first='Samuel' last='Wellman'] (Bethel). Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1989437' first='Logan' last='Pokorney'] is the star of the show for the Trojans.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Class 4A Sectional 8 @ Carmel - Westfield vs. Fishers</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Class 4A defending state champion Fishers Tigers are the lone undefeated team remaining in the state at 23-0. However, along the way, there have been some close calls. Warsaw was a close call in the opening game of the Hall of Fame Classic. Greenfield-Central played Fishers tough in the championship game of that event as well. Fort Wayne Wayne had the Tigers on the ropes at the Fishers Holiday Tournament. Most recently, Zionsville took them down to the end. However, nobody had a better chance of actually knocking off Fishers than Westfield who led by double-figures in the second half. Fishers would go on to win 67-64. [player_tooltip player_id='2267046' first='Jason' last='Gardner Jr.'], [player_tooltip player_id='2140345' first='Cooper' last='Zachary'], [player_tooltip player_id='1297069' first='Justin' last='Kirby'], and company will certainly be ready to go on Tuesday night when they face Westfield once again. [player_tooltip player_id='1988138' first='Drew' last='Haffner'] is the player to watch for the Shamrocks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Class 3A Sectional 19 @ Plymouth - South Bend Washington vs. South Bend St. Joseph</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>South Bend St. Joseph won the regular season battle between these two 96-53 so maybe this game won't actually be that interesting. However, South Bend Washington, at 16-5, is too talented to expect a similar result. [player_tooltip player_id='1561449' first='Steven' last='Reynolds III'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2140346' first='Dakori' last='Parker'] make up as talented of a backcourt as you will find for the Panthers. Going up against the likes of [player_tooltip player_id='1560973' first='Ethan' last='Roseman'], [player_tooltip player_id='2024513' first='Nick' last='Shrewsberry'], Chase Konienczny, and [player_tooltip player_id='2140359' first='Elijah' last='King'] will be no easy task. Having these two battle it out on opening night will make for one heck of an atmosphere. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Class 2A Sectional 34 @ Jimtown - LaVille vs. Jimtown</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Jimmies beat LaVille 50-34 back on December 6th, but repeating that performance in a win or go home game won't be an easy task. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1539480' first='Collin' last='Czarnecki'] has had a monster season for the Lancers averaging 25.3 points per game. Meanwhile, Olivet Nazarene signee Dylan Fey and unsigned senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='2391222' first='Branden' last='King'] lead the charge for Jimtown. King is one of the best prospects remaining on the board averaging 17.7 points and 8.9 rebounds per game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Class 1A Sectional 49 @ Kouts - Kouts vs. Marquette Catholic</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On paper, an 18-3 team matching up with a 10-11 squad that they have already beaten doesn't seem all that interesting. However, Marquette Catholic reached the Class 1A North Semi-State last season and have won five straight games down the stretch. [player_tooltip player_id='1561100' first='Colson' last='Dobre'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2414957' first='Josiah' last='Mays'] make up a very talented one-two punch at the 1A level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->