Hatchet House Hysteria Preview

For the second season, the Washington Hatchets are diving into the single day shootout pool hosting the Hatchet Hysteria. The Hatchet House, one of Indiana High School Basketball's cathedrals, was opened in 1967 and its holds a staggering 7,090 people. It's a staple during tournament time for Indiana High School Basketball hosting rounds from sectional to semi-state. This seven game event features some of the best teams and players from all over the state. Here is a matchup breakdown + top players that will be featured in the event:   Game 1: Bethesda Christian vs Rock Creek Academy   Starting the day off with a 1A matchup between two teams with recent tournament success. Bethesda Christian, the 2023 1A State Runners-Up lose their top scorer Steven Tierney to graduation, but return their second and third leading scorers in 6'4” Senior Wing Branden Roberts (13.6 ppg) and 5'10” Senior Guard Liam Swan (9 ppg). Rock Creek Academy is coming off a 16-8 season, but have to figure out how to replace five of their top six scorers that combined for 51 points. Their top returning scorer is 6'0” Senior Guard Carsen Smith at nine points per game.   Game 2: Cascade vs Northeast Dubois   The Cascade Cadets are coming off a season where they went 15-9 and bringing back four of their top five scorers including 6'2” Senior Guard Brady Trebley (12.3 ppg) and Toby Savini, a 5'11” Senior Guard that averaged 11.8 points per game. Northeast Dubois brings back seven seniors from a 16-10 sectional championship team with All Blue Chip Conference 6'2” Senior Guard Adam Dooley leading the charge for the Jeeps.   Game 3: Decatur Central vs Evansville Reitz   Decatur Central brings in a talented squad led by 6'1” Junior Sharpshooting Guard [player_tooltip player_id='2140420' first='Nash' last='Sigmund'] and versatile 6'5” Senior Wing/Forward [player_tooltip player_id='2892524' first='Elyas' last='Zapata']. That duo combined for 18 points per game for the Hawks a season ago. Evansville Reitz has a brand new team after losing their top five scorers that averaged 58 points per game. [player_tooltip player_id='2466252' first='Preston' last='Tolliver'], a 6'5” Senior Forward returns looking to increase his production. 6'0” Senior Transfer Guard [player_tooltip player_id='2892526' first='Tim' last='Swope'] should help carry some of the scoring load along with 6'5” high potential freshman wing Grayson Dease.   Game 4: McCutcheon vs Evansville Bosse   McCutcheon finished last season at 13-9 graduating their top two leading scorers. [player_tooltip player_id='1561119' first='Isaac' last='Richardson'], a 6'6” Senior Wing is a versatile piece that had a productive spring and summer earning offers from Franklin College, Wabash College, and Alma College. Evansville Bosse comes into the matchup coming g off an underperforming season but reloaded with talent to get back to their winning ways. 6'3” Senior Guard [player_tooltip player_id='2172596' first='Marrius' last='Harris'] returns for the Bulldogs after averaging a team high 18.7 points per game. Joining him in the backcourt is a familiar face in Memphis Whitehaven 6'6” Senior Guard transfer [player_tooltip player_id='1760994' first='Dorion' last='Bowen']. Bowen is a versatile guard prospect that can play all over the floor and will impact the game on both ends.   Game 5: Evansville Harrison vs Washington   Much like Evansville Reitz, Evansville Harrison brings basically a brand new team after graduating three key members of the Warriors program that won them two consecutive sectional championships. The backcourt of 6'1” Senior Dustin Gerner, 5'9” Senior Tyrese Harris-Armstead, and 5'10” Junior [player_tooltip player_id='2470634' first='Ty' last='Speer'] all return with varsity experience. 6'2” Sophomore Guard [player_tooltip player_id='2821857' first='Amaury' last='Harrell'] is a high potential addition to the varsity team that looks to be a big contributor for the Warriors this season. Washington graduated its top scorer from a year ago but brings back three key contributors that have a ton of experience in 5'8” Senior Guard Cooper Wright, 6'5” Senior Forward Cordell Turner, and 6'4” Junior Wing [player_tooltip player_id='2394483' first='Levi' last='Burkemper']. The trio averaged just under 20 points per game last season for the Hatchets.   Game 6: Fort Wayne Bishop Luers vs Evansville Memorial   In what could be the matchup of the day, Fort Wayne Bishop Luers brings in one of the most intriguing rosters in the entire state. The Knights return three senior contributors in 5'10” Guard [player_tooltip player_id='2381412' first='Carmani' last='Davis'], 6'2” Guard [player_tooltip player_id='1570655' first='Keyon' last='Crowe'], and 6'4” Wing [player_tooltip player_id='2892479' first='Ayle' last='Taylor']. [player_tooltip player_id='2560422' first='Zen' last='Szaferski'], a 5'10” Sophomore Guard will look to make a jump into the starting lineup as a true point guard after earning minutes on the varsity as a freshman. Transferring into Bishop Luers from prep school is the ultimate mismatch in 6'9” Senior Center [player_tooltip player_id='2272229' first='Jonas' last='Muya'], a wide bodied big man that carves up space and somebody that should provide rim protection and low post scoring. 6'2” Sophomore Wing [player_tooltip player_id='2424067' first='Jayden' last='Moore'] also looks to be in the rotation for the Knights. Evansville Memorial finished last season at 18-7 losing in the regional round to Brownstown Central. The Tigers lose three seniors from a year ago that averaged 40 points per game. Two senior guards look primed to run the show this season in 6'3” Senior [player_tooltip player_id='1560976' first='Maxx' last='Anslinger'] (9 ppg) and 5'10” Senior [player_tooltip player_id='1560950' first='Dylen' last='Kendrick'], a three-year starter that averaged eight points and five assists per game as a junior.   Game 7: Christel House vs Barr-Reeve   6'1” Senior Guard [player_tooltip player_id='1560953' first='David' last='Brigham Jr']. returns for Christel House from an 14-10 team last season that is after losing their top two scorers. Brigham is a versatile scorer that is really good using his body to his advantage averaging just over eleven points per game as a junior. Barr-Reeve will be a team that will come at you in waves this season. Junior Guard [player_tooltip player_id='3045017' first='Kierson' last='Lengacher'] is the returning leading scorer for the Vikings at 10.3 points per game. Coach Heath Howington is excited for the jump that returning sophomore duo of 5'11” Guard Jaylon Graber and 6'3” Wing [player_tooltip player_id='2797665' first='Braxton' last='Neidigh'] will make this season.   TOP PLAYERS:   • Branden Roberts - Bethesda Christian   • Carsen Smith - Rock Creek Academy   • Brady Trebley - Cascade   • Adam Dooley - Northeast Dubois   • [player_tooltip player_id='2140420' first='Nash' last='Sigmund'] - Decatur Central   • [player_tooltip player_id='2892524' first='Elyas' last='Zapata'] - Decatur Central   • [player_tooltip player_id='2466252' first='Preston' last='Tolliver'] - Evansville Reitz   • Grayson Dease - Evansville Reitz   • [player_tooltip player_id='1561119' first='Isaac' last='Richardson'] - McCutcheon   • [player_tooltip player_id='1760994' first='Dorion' last='Bowen'] - Evansville Bosse   • [player_tooltip player_id='2172596' first='Marrius' last='Harris'] - Evansville Bosse   • Dustin Gerner - Evansville Harrison   • [player_tooltip player_id='2821857' first='Amaury' last='Harrell'] - Evansville Harrison   • Cooper Wright - Washington   • Cordell Turner - Washington   • [player_tooltip player_id='2560422' first='Zen' last='Szaferski'] - Bishop Luers   • [player_tooltip player_id='2272229' first='Jonas' last='Muya'] - Bishop Luers   • [player_tooltip player_id='1560950' first='Dylen' last='Kendrick'] - Evansville Memorial   • [player_tooltip player_id='1560953' first='David' last='Brigham Jr'] - Christel House   • [player_tooltip player_id='3045017' first='Kierson' last='Lengacher'] - Barr-Reeve   • [player_tooltip player_id='2797665' first='Braxton' last='Neidigh'] - Barr-Reeve

For the second season, the Washington Hatchets are diving into the single day shootout pool hosting the Hatchet Hysteria. The Hatchet House, one of Indiana High School Basketball's cathedrals, was opened in 1967 and its holds a staggering 7,090 people. It's a staple during tournament time for Indiana High School Basketball hosting rounds from sectional to semi-state. This seven game event features some of the best teams and players from all over the state. Here is a matchup breakdown + top players that will be featured in the event: