Prep Hoops Indiana Class 1A 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 begin here with the Class 1A matchup between Clinton Prairie and Orleans.</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">#3 Clinton Prairie (26-2) vs. #2 Orleans (24-4)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Clinton Prairie Gophers Projected Starters</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#3 Evan Smock: 5'10" Junior Guard - 5.1 points, 1.4. rebounds, 1.6 assists</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#4 [player_tooltip player_id='1297051' first='Jake' last='McGraw']: 6'5" Senior Guard - 23.2 points, 7.9 rebounds, 4.5 assists</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#15 Ryan Harshbarger: 6'3" Senior Guard - 9.6 points, 2.2 rebounds, 2.3 assists</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#21 [player_tooltip player_id='1296973' first='Alex' last='Farley']: 6'2" Senior Guard - 16.4 points, 2.4 rebounds, 3.4 assists</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#23 Nick Curtain: 6'4" Junior Forward - 7.2 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.0 assists</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Orleans Bulldogs Projected Starters</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#10 [player_tooltip player_id='1297109' first='Rylan' last='Crocker']: 6'1" Senior Guard - 16.1 points, 2.5 rebounds, 1.4 assists</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#11 Nolan Robbins: 6'2" Junior Forward - 3.1 points, 1.6 rebounds, 1.0 assists</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#14 Bryce Jones: 6'1" Senior Guard - 10.2 points, 3.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#15 [player_tooltip player_id='2409182' first='Nate' last='Brown']: 6'3" Junior Forward - 6.6 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#23 [player_tooltip player_id='2813537' first='Alex' last='DeWitt']: 6'3" Junior Center - 14.0 points, 5.4 rebounds, 1.1 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>Clinton Prairie senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1297051' first='Jake' last='McGraw'] has scored over 2,000 career points.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Orleans advanced through the semi-state thanks to back-to-back last second wins over Hauser and Clay City.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Clinton Prairie's margin of victory ranks sixth in the state at 22.3 points per game.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Orleans' defense allows just 39.8 points per game which is fifth in the state.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Thoughts on the Matchup</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It is hard to match the firepower of the Gophers. Led by McGraw and Farley, there aren't many at the Class 1A level who can keep up with that level of scoring. Quite simply, that is why Clinton Prairie will be playing at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Their two losses this season came by a combined four points to a pair of good Class 2A programs, but they also haven't been tested very often. Meanwhile, Orleans is playing for a state championship after needing every second on the clock to defeat Hauser and Clay in the Semi-State who were both ranked in the Prep Hoops Indiana Class 1A Top 5. The Bulldogs also haven't lost to a Class 1A program this season. [player_tooltip player_id='1297109' first='Rylan' last='Crocker'] has been the hero this post season, but will it be enough against [player_tooltip player_id='1297051' first='Jake' last='McGraw'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1296973' first='Alex' last='Farley']?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Prediction</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Clinton Prairie 63 Orleans 55</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>MVP: [player_tooltip player_id='1297051' first='Jake' last='McGraw']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->