Southwest Indiana Scrimmage Recap

With the Indiana High School Basketball season getting underway on Monday, teams are using the weekend to to get one last look to see what their teams need to work on against someone in a different jersey before the real thing tips off. Friday night I was in attendance for the Bloomfield Cardinals traveling to Forest Park and Saturday night I saw the Heritage Hills Patriots play host to the New Albany Bulldogs. Here is a recap of both scrimmages + top performers:   BLOOMFIELD vs FOREST PARK   The Bloomfield Cardinals come into the scrimmage as one of the favorites in all of 1A Basketball in Indiana and they quickly showed why. Behind 6'6” Indiana Junior All-Star [player_tooltip player_id='1560962' first='Blake' last='Neill']'s 25 points and eight rebounds, the Cardinals handled the Rangers for most of the scrimmage winning three of the four quarters. Bloomfield did a really good job running their offense and getting a good look every possession and limiting turnovers.[player_tooltip player_id='2140403' first='Kamdon' last='Partenheimer'], Forest Park's 6'9” Junior Forward struggled early on but picked it up late showing his versatile all-around game and his ability to take and make tough shots pacing the Rangers with 20 points and nine rebounds. Offensive the Rangers struggled for the first three quarters playing without two key pieces in the backcourt. In the last quarter they settled in. 6'1” Senior Guard Grant Fleck   Final: 54-41 Bloomfield   NEW ALBANY vs HERITAGE HILLS   Heritage Hills played this scrimmage short handed with only five varsity players due to their football teams postseason run. against a talented New Albany team that has the look of a potential top 10 team in 4A. Both teams won two quarters each in the scrimmage with New Albany using their speed, size, and athleticism to really break it open in the 3rd Quarter. Sophomore Nationally Ranked 6'5” Guard [player_tooltip player_id='2382148' first='Noah' last='Washington'] was getting any shot he wanted and was extremely efficient in his looks finishing with 22 points, eight rebounds, two assists, and two blocks. 6'3” Freshman Wing [player_tooltip player_id='2888227' first='Karson' last='Stoudemire'] looked the part as one of the best freshman in the state scoring in a variety of different ways finishing with 17 points and nine rebounds. Heritage Hills came out firing in the 2nd and 4th Quarters with 6'6” Senior Wing [player_tooltip player_id='1560951' first='Jake' last='Prior'] connecting on seven three-point attempts on his way to 25 points while 6'1” Junior Point Guard [player_tooltip player_id='2140370' first='Gunner' last='Lubbehusen'] hit four of his own. for 12 points to go with nine rebounds and five assists. Though the Patriots struggled with turnovers, when they ran their offense, they were able to get good looks out of their sets. 6'6” Junior Forward [player_tooltip player_id='2140443' first='Tait' last='Wetzel'] finished with a strong night being the anchor inside with 23 points and 16 rebounds.   Final: 89-75 New Albany   TOP PLAYERS    [player_tooltip player_id='1560962' first='Blake' last='Neill'] was the best player on the floor, like he will be in basically every game Bloomfield plays this season. He's a matchup nightmare at the high school level with his blend of strength, size, and skill. He played at his own pace and Forest Park wasn't able to speed him up. The outside jumper wasn't falling but he moves well off the ball and shoots it effortlessly from deep. He's a patient offensive player that doesn't force shots. He gets to any spot in the floor and can score it in a variety of different ways.   STATS: 25 points | 8 rebounds | 4 assists     The Junior Point Guard for the Cardinals coming off a back injury that kept him out a lot of the preseason. He commanded the offense with great pace. Didn't force any of the action and made the right reads. Was able to get to his spots and finish against length at the basket while also creating open looks for his teammates.   Stats: 11 points | 1 rebound | 2 assists     From what I was told he came into the feeling under the weather but gave it a go. Struggled a bit early on, just not able to get shots to fall and seemed out of rhythm. In the second half of the scrimmage it was a complete 180° flip. Became aggressive and the tough looks he was getting in the first half started to fall and really started to assert himself all around on the offensive end.   Stats: 20 points | 9 rebounds     An elite talent in the in-state 2028 class, [player_tooltip player_id='2382148' first='Noah' last='Washington'] showed off the versatile scoring arsenal that he possesses at 6'5”. Always seems to be on balance. He's really good getting open off the ball and elevates into his shot where he's considered a plus three-point shooter. Continues to get better at getting in the lane where he's learning to use his body to get to spots where he can use his naturally gifted abilities to score in multiple ways. Impacted the game on the defensive end with his speed and length getting in passing lanes and turning defense into offense.   Stats: 22 points | 8 rebounds | 2 assists | 2 blocks | 1 steal     This was my first time seeing the 6'3” Freshman Wing. Stoudemire has a physical frame and plays with an extremely high motor. Plays a mature game where he lets the game come to him and doesn't force anything. Really good rebounder on the offense end. Showed the ability the catch the ball in space and go make a play. Also showed a capable three-point stroke.   Stats: 17 points | 9 rebounds | 2 assists | 1 steal     The long and athletic 6'6” Senior Wing [player_tooltip player_id='1560951' first='Jake' last='Prior'] had the most impressive offensive performance I saw. The confidence he is playing with is something he hasn't shown in the past and will be needed for the Patriots to have a successful season. Has always been a good shooter, but did more off the dribble than I have ever seen from him. Was impactful on the defensive end with his length and athleticism getting in passing lanes and creating turnovers. Should be the #1 option on a team that will have a lot of pieces when the football players return.   Stats: 25 points | 5 rebounds | 4 assists | 1 steal     Not sure anybody impacted the game on both ends than 6'6” Junior Forward [player_tooltip player_id='2140443' first='Tait' last='Wetzel']. Increased motor and athleticism. Rebounds everything in his area, and the offensive skill set continues to expand. Comfortable with the ball on the perimeter. Didn't make a three-point shot, but showed a clean stroke and playmaking ability off the dribble.   Stats: 23 points | 16 rebounds     The Junior Point Guard came out and showed the work he has put in on his jump shot. Came out and hit four perimeter shots with confidence. Would like to see him get downhill more and create looks for himself. Did a a great job rebounding his position. Struggled at time with turnovers against the length and speed of New Albany, but that speed is a factor he probably won't see from another team this season.   Stats: 12 points | 9 rebounds | 5 assists

With the Indiana High School Basketball season getting underway on Monday, teams are using the weekend to to get one last look to see what their teams need to work on against someone in a different jersey before the real thing tips off. Friday night I was in attendance for the Bloomfield Cardinals traveling to Forest Park and Saturday night I saw the Heritage Hills Patriots play host to the New Albany Bulldogs. Here is a recap of both scrimmages + top performers: