The Forest Park Rangers came into the regional as winners against North Posey last weekend took on the Switzerland County Pacers who defeated the Hauser Jets behind a last second shot from Jr. Cam Craig. Both teams came out sluggish to start and possibly had some nerves. FP senior Reid Howard was the first to settle into the flow of the game with 8 1st quarter points. By halftime it looked as though the Rangers had control of the game but Switz Co. kept hanging around. After getting Craig going offensively for the Pacers they cut the deficit to 37-33 going into the 4th. In the 4th it was a battle between Howard and Craig. I'm not sure the Rangers ever trailed but Switz Co. cut the lead to 1 at one point. After a couple of FP missed free throws Switz Co. had a shot with under 10 seconds left to tie it and everyone in the gym knew where it was going. They found Craig who got off a fairly decent shot but it was off the mark and FP sealed it with a couple free throws, 58-53. The Pacers end a good season that saw them win their 1st sectional since 2013 and have a strong junior class returning (Cam Craig, Cooper Tood, and Kadyn Riley).

● 6'2 Forest Park senior Reid Howard put on an offensive show this afternoon. He was getting buckets in every way you want it. He took it to the basket and finished, with or without contact, and was on fire from 3. Howard is a WKU baseball commit but could absolutely play D3 ball if he wanted. Obviously he's making the right choice but Howard can play. He's one of those small school kids that just put the team on his back and refused to lose today. Reid has had some high scoring games this year but none bigger than the 34 he put in today. With the right draw FP could absolutely win a game next weekend at Semi State.

● 6'4 junior Camden Craig is looking like his old self after missing all but 2 games his sophomore season due to injury. Craig has worked his way back into the conversation of one of southern Indiana's better players. He's a hard working kid that battles for everything he gets. He rarely sees a game he's not doubled or triple teamed and still gets his. Today he was battling and getting baskets inside while curling and being hit off multiple screens for him. He's got a volleyball- range 3 point shot that he hit a couple of today. Craig led a team that exceeded expectations in the tourney to a sectional title and within 5 points of Switzerland County's first ever regional title. Another year healthy and Craig will have the Pacers rolling into next season. Let's not forget he finished 2nd behind Trent Sisley of Heritage Hills as top scoring freshman in the state 2 years ago with near 20 ppg. Multiple in-state  college coaches have been beginning to contact the 6'4 junior all star candidate recently. Today he finished with 28 pts.

Forest Park moves on to the semi state where they'll be joined by Brownstown, Parke Heritage, and Park Tudor which will be no walk in the 'park.' Switz Co. finishes the year 15-11 in which they lose senior Jacob Williams and Canaan Johnson but return a strong and experienced junior class along with a couple of freshmen who saw some playing time.

 

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