Prep Hoops Indiana Class 3A Semi-State Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Two weeks ago there were 404 teams across four classes battling for a chance to reach Gainbridge Fieldhouse. There are now just 32 teams remaining, eight per class, and only two wins separate teams from the ultimate goal of playing for a State Championship. As always, Prep Hoops Indiana will spend the week previewing the upcoming games. Here is our official preview for the eight teams in the semi-state games for Class 3A.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">3A North Semi-State Matchups</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Game 1: </strong>New Haven (20-7) vs Delta (16-10)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Game 2: </strong>Columbia City (23-4) vs East Chicago Central (15-12)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"textAlign":"left"} --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-left">Team Breakdowns</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>New Haven: </strong>The Bulldogs 20-7 on the year have an opportunistic offense that can play in a variety of different ways led by 6'2” Junior [player_tooltip player_id='2140444' first='Tarvar' last='Baskerville II']. The physical guard is averaging 25 points per game over the last two games including a team high 22 points in the Regional Championship win over West Lafayette. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='2892459' first='Jadrien' last='Ezell'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2837232' first='Lavell' last='Ledbetter'] along with Baskerville are the Big Three for the Bulldogs with Ezell finishing the Regional Championship with 14 points off the bench and Ledbetter stuffing the stat sheet on the year. 6'5” Junior Wing [player_tooltip player_id='2882680' first='Marquaylon' last='Johnson'] is also a name to watch. He's a long and lanky wing that can stretch the floor on the offensive end.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Delta:</strong> In Coach Mark Detweiler We Trust. The Eagles have a young squad led by one senior in the starting lineup in 5'10” Guard [player_tooltip player_id='2813685' first='Lucas' last='Bragg'] averaging 11.1 points per game. He started off hot in the Regional Championship win over Fort Wayne Blackhawk Christian scoring the first 5 points. His backcourt mate is 5'8” Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2797662' first='Ryan' last='Lynch'] that averages 9.7 points and 3 assists per game on the season, had a team high 13 points in the Regional. The Eagles feature 6'3” Junior Wing Chase Phillips that scored 7 points in the regional while averaging a solid 9.2 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game. The X-Factor for Delta is 6'7” Freshmam Center [player_tooltip player_id='2958507' first='Walker' last='Johnson']. The big man possesses good feet, soft hands, and a soft touch around the basket. He's a double-double threat every game out averaging 8.6 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Columbia City:</strong> The perceived favorite in Class 3A North has gotten over the hump after being defeated by South Bend Saint Joseph last season in the regional. The 23-4 Eagles jumped all over Hanover Central in the Regional Championship winning the program's first regional crown since 2011. The Eagles are led by their two Crossroads League commits in 6'3” Senior Guard [player_tooltip player_id='2471421' first='Owen' last='Marshall'] heading to Bethel and 6'5” Senior Forward [player_tooltip player_id='2837583' first='Landon' last='Richmond'] committed to Huntington. Marshall finished the Regional scoring 12 points while Richmond had a double-double or 15 points and 12 rebounds. Columbia City also features all-conference Sophomore Guard [player_tooltip player_id='3040511' first='Ian' last='St. John'] and Senior Wing Trey Deckman, a Ball State Baseball Commit.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>East Chicago Central:</strong> East Chicago Central is back in the semi-state for the second year in a row. This year they are trying to play spoiler. Won the tough Gary West Side Sectional going into the sectional below .500, but won three games defeating the talented host team Gary West Side 57-54 in OT while following up a big win in the Regional Championship defeating Mishawaka Marian 78-74. The Cardinals are a balanced group led by Senior Guard [player_tooltip player_id='1561120' first='Jamarie' last='Pollard'], Freshman Wing [player_tooltip player_id='2918106' first='Naji' last='Meux'], and Senior Guard [player_tooltip player_id='2625504' first='Joseph' last='Watkins'] in double figure scoring. The trio all with big games in the regional as Pollard scored 30 points followed by Watkins with 16 points and Meux finished with 13 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">3A South Semi-State Matchups</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Game 1: </strong>Roncalli (18-7) vs Silver Creek (28-1)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Game 2: </strong>Indianapolis Cathedral (22-5) vs Princeton (23-3)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Team Previews</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Roncalli: </strong>The Roncalli Royals are Regional Champions for the first time since 2005 defeating Northview 54-43. Led by the Senior Trio of 6'3” Senior Guard [player_tooltip player_id='1989375' first='Conner' last='Kesler'] (14 ppg), 6'9” Senior Purdue-Northwest Commit [player_tooltip player_id='2046166' first='Joe' last='Taylor'] (12.7 ppg), and 6'1” Senior [player_tooltip player_id='2850399' first='Luke' last='Feldman'] (11.9 ppg) as double-figure scorers. Taylor was sensational in the Regional Championship win finishing with 16 points and 6 rebounds. The Royals also feature Junior Guard [player_tooltip player_id='2414734' first='Will' last='Hegwood'], a three year varsity starter that came up big in the win over Northview with 12 points and 4 assists.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Silver Creek:</strong> The Silver Creek Dragons are 28-1, the perceived favorites in all of Class 3A, and they return to their first semi-state since 2021 when the Dragons won the State Championship with Trey Kaufman-Renn and Kooper Jacobi. They now have a new crop of talent led by 6'10” Richmond Commit [player_tooltip player_id='2476482' first='Dane' last='Caldwell'] and 6'3” Stony Brook Commit [player_tooltip player_id='1385611' first='Kasen' last='Daeger']. Caldwell is a stat sheet stuffer averaging 16.6 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.6 blocks. Daeger is a sharpshooter averaging 14.2 points and 3.3 rebounds while making 83 3's on the year at a 43% clip. Senior Guard [player_tooltip player_id='1561483' first='Dane' last='Sprigler'] is also the sharpshooter on the loaded roster that averages 11 points while making 71 3's at 42% on the year. The engine that makes everything go for Silver Creek is 6'4” Junior Guard [player_tooltip player_id='2140328' first='Brandon' last='Hunter']. The floor general is a triple-double threat every time he steps on the floor averaging 12.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 10.6 assists.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Indianapolis Cathedral</strong>: Coach Jason Delaney and the Cathedral Fighting Irish have been thought to be the second best team in Class 3A this season. Behind senior Division I commits in [player_tooltip player_id='1561135' first='Keaton' last='Aldridge Jr'], who is committed to Detroit Mercy, is as versatile as a player in the state averaging 17.9 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 5 assists. Aldridge hit the game winning shot with 1.9 seconds left in the Regional Championship over Brebeuf Jesuit to seal the victory 69-67. The other Division I commit for the Irish is 6'2” Mount St. Mary's Commit [player_tooltip player_id='1561435' first='Julien' last='Smith'] averaging 15.7 points and 4.6 rebounds while shooting 41% from 3. While Aldridge and Smith carry a heavy portion of the load, the Irish have excellent role players like 6'5” Junior [player_tooltip player_id='2140333' first='Braylon' last='Pippins'] (9 ppg, 4 rpg), 6'1” Junior [player_tooltip player_id='2140441' first='Skylar' last='Rodgers'] (6.5 ppg), and Freshman Guard [player_tooltip player_id='2955304' first='Ryan' last='Gold Jr'] (5.9 ppg).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Princeton</strong>: The Princeton Tigers are back to the semi-state with a 23-3 record and riding a 14 game winning streak after avenging a regular season loss to Evansville Bosse 74-60 in the Regional Championship. Indiana All-Star Candidate 6'7” Forward [player_tooltip player_id='1560964' first='Edwin' last='Holmes'] and 6'1” Sophomore Guard [player_tooltip player_id='2539928' first='Quintyn' last='Voltz'] form a potent duo. Voltz went off for 25 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists in the win over Evansville Bosse while [player_tooltip player_id='1560964' first='Edwin' last='Holmes'] simply did what he does best going for 17 points, 13 rebounds, and 4 assists. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='1560981' first='Demarcus' last='Newson'] (12.1 ppg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2892468' first='Drew' last='Wilkas'] (10.9 ppg) also provide a scoring punch in double figures for the Tigers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Staff Prediction</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>3A North:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Game 1: </strong>New Haven</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Game 2: </strong>Columbia City</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Championship: </strong>Columbia City</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>3A South:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Game 1: </strong>Silver Creek</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Game 2: </strong>Princeton</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Championship: </strong>Silver Creek</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->