Prep Hoops Indiana Class 2A State Finals Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It is going to be a very busy, but also very fun, weekend in Indianapolis. Not only will Gainbridge Fieldhouse host the IHSAA Boys Basketball State Finals on Saturday, but Lucas Oil Stadium is the host of Friday's Sweet 16 and Sunday's Elite Eight games for the Midwest Regional. Personally, I'll be taking in all seven basketball games between the two sites this coming weekend. Before all of that takes place though, we will spend the week highlighting the state finalists. Let's dive on in here with the Class 2A matchup between Manchester and University.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prephoops.com/2025/03/prep-hoops-indiana-class-1a-state-finals-preview/">Class 1A State Finals Preview</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>***Rankings listed reflect the final Prep Hoops Indiana Class-by-Class Top 10 Poll of the season.***</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">#6 Manchester (25-2) vs. University (20-9)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Manchester Squires Projected Starters</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#3 Aaron Reid: 6'0" Junior Guard - 2.7 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#5 Ethan Hendrix: 5'8" Senior Guard - 17.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, 4.2 assists</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#11 [player_tooltip player_id='1297028' first='Gavin' last='Betten']: 6'6" Senior Forward - 25.6 points, 12.0 rebounds, 4.1 assists</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#24 Kaleb Kline: 6'1" Senior Forward - 4.6 points, 1.7 rebounds, 0.8 assists</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#33 Tallon Torpy: 6'1" Senior Forward - 9.4 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>University Trailblazers Projected Starters</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#1 Zien Bland: 5'10" Senior Guard - 4.5 points, 1.9 rebounds, 1.4 assists</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#2 [player_tooltip player_id='2277819' first='Max' last='McComb']: 6'4" Senior Guard - 15.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.6 assists</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#13 [player_tooltip player_id='1282878' first='Blake' last='Gray']: 6'2" Junior Guard - 11.6 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.5 assists</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#30 [player_tooltip player_id='2630646' first='Faisal' last='Mohamud']: 6'2" Junior Guard - 9.8 points, 1.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#32 [player_tooltip player_id='2403895' first='Cooper' last='Cammack']: 6'4" Junior Forward - 5.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.4 assists</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Game Notes</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Manchester's [player_tooltip player_id='1297028' first='Gavin' last='Betten'] has eclipsed both the 2,000 career point and 1,000 career rebound milestones. He is the all-time leading scorer in Wabash County history.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Manchester's [player_tooltip player_id='1297028' first='Gavin' last='Betten'] is also signee to continue his basketball career at Grace College.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>University's [player_tooltip player_id='2277819' first='Max' last='McComb'] will continue his basketball career at Maryville College in Tennessee.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Unranked University has pulled off a handful of upsets on their way to Gainbridge Fieldhouse including defeating Cardinal Ritter in the Sectional 42 championship game along with both wins in Semi-State over Linton and Parke Heritage.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Thoughts on the Matchup</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Manchester has had an excellent season, but due to the strength of teams further towards the top of Class 2A this season they never moved higher than #6 despite their outstanding record. However, here they are preparing to play at Gainbridge Fieldhouse after knocking off Gary 21st Century in the Semi-State championship game. [player_tooltip player_id='1297028' first='Gavin' last='Betten'] is the name everyone knows, and rightfully so, but the Squires get plenty of offensive help from senior guard Ethan Hendrix as well. That level of firepower is not easy for opponents to keep up with. While Manchester is a mild surprise as a state finalist, University came out of nowhere to advance to Saturday's state finals. [player_tooltip player_id='2277819' first='Max' last='McComb'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1282878' first='Blake' last='Gray'] offer a bit of firepower of their own to combat the Squires, but will it be enough on the big stage?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Prediction</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Manchester 68 University 54</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>MVP: [player_tooltip player_id='1297028' first='Gavin' last='Betten']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->