Prep Hoops Indiana Class 1A State Finals Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There were 404 teams across four classes that started in the 116th Annual IHSAA Boys Basketball State Tournament. That field has now been whittled down to just eight teams. Four state championship games will be played on Saturday, March 28th at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. As always, Prep Hoops Indiana will have boots on the ground coverage throughout the day of all four games. We will be spending this week previewing each of the four games, highlighting players to watch, and much more. Here is our official Prep Hoops Indiana Class 1A State Finals Preview.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Barr-Reeve (27-1) vs. Triton (25-3)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These two programs are "blue bloods" of Class 1A basketball. Since 2002, Barr-Reeve has now played for the Class 1A state championship eight times including cutting down the nets in 2015 and 2021. As for Triton, since 2008 Coach Jason Groves has led Triton to five state championship games including the 2008 title. The Vikings, at 27-1, have been a Top 5 team all season long while the Trojans, at 25-3, have been a Top 10 team all season long. It certainly is not a shock to see these two programs representing Class 1A at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Saturday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='3045017' first='Kierson' last='Lengacher'] is the go-to guy for Barr-Reeve. He poured in 29 pints, including 18 in the second half, as the Vikings defeated Hauser 52-47 in the Class 1A South Semi-State. Lengacher averages 14.3 points per game and shoots 64-150 (42.7%) from three-point range. Sophomores [player_tooltip player_id='3148411' first='Jaylon' last='Graber'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2797665' first='Braxton' last='Neidigh'] are key pieces to know as well. They average 10.8 and 10.1 points per game respectively. Coach Heath Howington has a very talented, young group that should keep the Vikings at the top of Class 1A for the foreseeable future.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2399000' first='Gage' last='Riffle'] scored 14 points to lead Triton over North Vermillion in the Class 1A North Semi-State. Back in the Regional, it was sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2443367' first='Brady' last='Wood'] who led the way with 18 points as the Trojans took down Marquette Catholic. Those two, along with [player_tooltip player_id='2795487' first='Julian' last='Swanson'], are the primary names to know for Triton.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Prediction</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Both of these teams are used to winning. It is deeply engrained in the community, the culture, and the players as they grow up. Barr-Reeve certainly has taken the tougher route to Gainbridge Fieldhouse knocking off traditional powers like Loogootee, Orleans, Liberty Christian, and Hauser along the way. Ultimately, we will be picking the Vikings to cut down the nets in Indianapolis on Saturday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Barr-Reeve 63 Triton 54</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->