The rematch of the 2023 3A south semi state took place at the exact same venue but with a very different result. The Scottsburg Warriors took on defending class 3A runners up, the Guerin Catholic Golden Eagles. Both teams mirror each other with height, length, shooting, and seniors. The Eagles came in with the edge defeating Scottsburg last year as well a very demanding schedule. The Warriors had revenge on their minds and the crowd in their favor.
The beginning of the game saw both teams trading baskets and lead changes. Guerin got some easy ones in the middle of Scottsburg's zone. In particular Sr. Dylan Murans and Jr. Bryson Cardinal. The Warriors kept with their gameplan by not allowing GC to get hot from 3. The senior backcourt of Sorenson and Cherry were kept in check most of the game with Cherry scoring 9 and Sorenson being held scoreless. There's always a wildcard in these games that step up in the big moment. Tonight, it was Warrior junior Dare Bowles. He had always been known as "that other starter" in a group of 4 strong seniors but tonight he shot his teammates and hometown into a state finals appearance. Bowles came in averaging 3 ppg but 6 three's later he had 18 pts. and Scottsburg took control of a game they never trailed again after that. GC cut it to 5 going into the 4th but it was never closer. The game was put on ice by senior Kody Clancy, helped by a technical on GC's coach and 1 of their players. Scottsburg went on to win their first ever boy semi state championship and first state title game in school history by a score of 70- 54.
● Once thought of as the other guy in the Warriors starting 5, 5'8 junior Scottsburg guard Dare Bowles etched his name in Scottsburg basketball history tonight and vaulted himself as someone to watch going into next season. Tonight Bowles hit six 3's for a total of 18 pts. and all were deep. "Big shot" Bowles hit four in the 2nd quarter alone that gave Scottsburg a lead they'd never relinquish. Dare has always been a tough kid that came into high school with fellow classmates, Cam Smith, Colby Hall, Chace Coomer, and Joshua Renfro on a middle school team that saw only 1 loss total in junior high ball. Now Bowles is the only one left of the group and is just used to winning and not afraid of the moment. Dare has worked hard to earn his spot with this senior group of Warriors and put his name in Scottsburg lore after tonight's performance.
● Speaking of Scottsburg all-timers senior Kody Clancy did what Kody Clancy has been doing lately; showing that he is the best player on the floor. Last weekend Clancy moved into 2nd all time in boys basketball history trailing only 1969 graduate Bill James. James didn't lead them to a state finals though like Clancy did tonight. Bowels hit some big shots and was hot but Clancy was that consistent engine and calming presence when Scottsburg needs it. His ball handling and control of the game is at an elite level. At 6'4 he's able to finish and shoot over smaller defenders. Throughout the season Clancy has continued to get better and better. All of the GC attention was focused on getting up and guarding Kody, trying to deny him the ball and wear him out. In spite of that Clancy seemed unbothered and I only remember 1 unforced turnover. Clancy would've had 30+ but missed a few free throws down the stretch but did put in 26. One thing I'd like to say about Clancy is the lack of college offers is puzzling at best. I'm not saying he is a D1 kid but he's everybit of NAIA- level and possibly D2. Im not saying he will be an Indiana All Star but his name should be in the discussions and I've seen him outplay some that are considered Indiana All Star locks. I've seen my fair share of basketball for a while and I'm confident in what I see, and what I see is a very talented ball player with good length, good size, quickness, sneaky athleticism, a knockdown shooter, and a true point guard that can lead a team.
● 6'7 GC junior Bryson Cardinal was a bright spot for the Eagles tonight. The son of former Purdue great, Brian Cardinal, Bryson is starting to make a name for himself. He is a kid I can tell will step into a bigger role next year and thrive in it. Cardinal has good size with maybe another inch or 2 left by next season and his shot is coming along nicely. Tonight he scored most of his points in the middle of the Warriors zone around 4-5 ft. from the basket. He's got a good looking shot and it's smooth and fluid. I can see colleges start to offer Bryson this coming spring/summer playing for a strong Indiana Elite's 3sgb team. Look for Cardinal to become a big name around the Indy metro area next season. Tonight he finished with 18 pts.
Guerin Catholic finishes their season tonight with a group of seniors (Sorenson, Cherry, Murans, + Caron) as one of the most successful in program history. Back 2 back semi state finals appearances and a state finals runner up is something to be very proud of and build upon for the GC program. Tonight, and this season has just belonged to the Warriors. Since the tourney started they've just found another gear and will roll into Indy in 2 weeks along with the entire town of Scottsburg to go against South Bend St. Joe's.
In Game 2 of the 3A south semi state the red hot Evansville Bosse Bulldogs took on the de-facto home team, (since Scottsburg is only 15 minutes down I-65 from Seymour) the Scottsburg Warriors. The beginning of the game saw many good looks for the Warriors but little points. Despite missing some easy ones early the nerves settled in and Scottsburg gained controlled of the game. Bosse thrives in transition and pushing the tempo, but Scottsburg was able to control that with getting fairly easy looks inside to their 6'9 forward Wyatt Zellers. By halftime the game was tied at 24 all but my eyes could tell the Warriors had the game under control. The 3rd quarter was when the Warriors began to break the game open and outscored the Bulldogs by 11. From then it was just Scottsburg maintaining their advantage. A technical on Bosse coach Shane Burkhart showed the Bulldogs frustrations as the Warriors went on to take the first game of the semi state 58-45.
● 6'9 Scottsburg stretch big Wyatt Zellers was a big difference in this game. Bosse center AP Mitchell had been hot for Bosse the last month of the season but Zellers more than held his own. Wyatt dragged their big outside which cleared the lane for others to get to the basket and when Zellers did get it, he finished against a shorter Bosse team. In fact, it's one of the most times I've seen Wyatt establish himself and commit to the post as much as he did this afternoon. One of the turning points of the game when Mitchell went up at the rim and Zellers blocked it. From that point on Mitchell was content with just taking jump shots. At 6'9 Wyatt can be very effective down low with his length and soft touch. It also helps when you're money from behind the arc like Zellers has been the last couple weeks. Wyatt is the definition of a stretch big in today's modern game. Against Bosse he finished with 20 pts.
● 6'4 Senior Warrior point guard Kody Clancy had another game where he controlled the pace, tempo, and offense of the team. On a team full of seniors Kody is the engine that keeps them going. He has become their most consistent offensively this season and has become one of the more under- the- radar players in the state of Indiana. Kody is a 4 year starter for the Warriors and it really shows. He never gets rattled and easily won his matchup against Indiana All star candidate Taray Howell. When the game is on the line or needing to be closed out, the ball finds Clancy and he puts it away. This afternoon he had 19 pts.
● 6'6 Bosse Senior AP Mitchell's made quite the impression during his short stint at Bosse. The mid-season transfer from Kokomo came down south and completely changed the attitude and dynamics of this team. Without him they were good, but with him became a legit state title contender. Mitchell is a very athletic and mobile 6'6 that has a 8-10 ft. jump shot. He found himself in the middle of the Scottsburg zone where he delivered most of his points with 5-6 ft. If NAIA schools are looking for a athletic 3 or 4, then AP is your guy. His best basketball days are ahead of him. Today he finished with 15 pts.
Bosse finishes their season 15-11 while Scottsburg moves on to tonight's semi state final where they'll have a rematch with Guerin Catholic, the team that knocked them out in the semi state finals last season.
The #4 ranked in 3a Scottsburg Warriors took on a Batesville Bulldog team that got a hard sectional title against Lawrenceburg last weekend. From the opening tip the Warriors left little doubt why they're ranked inside the top 5. Scottsburg put on one of the better team performances I've seen all year, not just for them but anyone. I'm not sure the '97 Batesville team with Michael Menser or '08 Bulldog team with Alex Grimsley and Colt Ryan could've beaten the Warriors today. It was truly a special performance put on today and the entire town of Scottsburg was there to cheer them on. Early in the 2nd quarter it was 35-9 and Warrior senior Kody Clancy already had 20 pts. The 2nd half was more of the same as Scottsburg cruised to a 84- 46 win and a total team effort from Scottsburg. Seniors Kody Clancy, Jack Miller, Wyatt Zellers, Caden Richardson along with Jr. Dare Bowles make a potent starting 5.
● 6'3 senior Warrior point guard Kody Clancy had himself a day. He had complete control of the game and did whatever he wanted to out there. If he wanted to get to the rim, he drove it, if he wanted a 3, he'd curl around and get the shot. It was truly a team effort with 5 players moving without the ball today but Kody was just on another level. He won't make any Indiana All star lists but his name should absolutely come up when talking about North v. South or East v. West or the Hoosier game at Knightstown. I'm still uncertain why some NAIA schools aren't blowing up his phone everytime I watch him play. He's got good size, can shoot it, can lead a team. Clancy has always been a nice ball player but he keeps getting better and has the Warriors peaking at the right time. His behind the back fastbreak layup was SportsCenter Top Ten worthy. Today he finished with 30 pts.
● 6'9 Scottsburg stretch big Wyatt Zellers is such a force defensively that most teams simply do not have. He's super long and gets his arms into every passing lane and contests every shot. The entire Warrior team defense is long and really bothers passers and shooters. Wyatt got a couple of nice breakaway dunks and blocks that ignited the crowd. Another major plus in Wyatt's game is his ability to stretch the floor from the outside. You can't leave him open and won't have much of a chance at blocking it with his high release point. The D2 McKendree commit has come a long way in his time at Scottsburg and today finished with 14 pts. He's a kid that's used to winning and has won alot wearing purple and gold.
● 6'4 Batesville Jr. Cade Kaiser was a bright spot for the Bulldogs today. Cade caught an unexpected lob dunk that had everyone in the gym buzzing. He got going in the 2nd half from behind the arc and did what he could to keep pace. Cade is a 3 sport athlete and I'm not sure what his prospects for college look like but could be a solid D3 kid for someone to keep an eye on going into next season. Today Kaiser finished with 17 pts.
If Scottsburg continues to play like they did today they're cutting the nets in Indy. With that being said, that's the best I've ever seen them play. They've got a good shot but have a very tough semi state with Evansville Bosse, Guerin Catholic, and Danville joining them. One thing you can count on is the entire town of Scottsburg showing up in their purple and gold wherever and whenever they play. These Warrior seniors are prepared, experienced, and playing their best ball at the right time of year.
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.
Two DAC teams met up on Saturday night as the host Trojans from Chesterton met up with the Crown Point Bulldogs. The Trojans came into this game with two Indiana All Star candidates, Justin Sims and Tyler Parrish while Crown Point brings their youthful Bulldogs into the title game. This game went completely unexpected. It wasn't that Crown Point came out swinging and playing well, it was the margin that they defeated Chesterton. From the opening tip CP was hot splashing 3s and locking down the Trojans. After the first it was 20-7 and the tone of the game was set. I kept thinking Chesterton had a run in them but CP senior Jack Svetich kept answering. I havent seen every Crown Point game but I would venture to say he had the game of his life at the right moment on Saturday. Not that he's not capable because he put in work on Friday as well and kept the good times rolling into Saturday night. By halftime it was 32- 18 and the knockout punch came in the 3rd as CP led 58-26. The Bulldogs put a running clock on the Trojans and things went from bad to worse when Sr. Tyler Parrish got an intentionally foul called against him running through a screen and was then ejected. I did not see what was warranted for an ejection but the intentional foul was justified. A great career for Trojan seniors Justin Sims and Tyler Parrish came to an end tonight by a final score of 68-35.
● What can you say about the game 6'2 Sr. Jack Svetich had for Crown Point. This kid was unconscious from 3 and was all over the floor. It seemed like every shot he put up whether it was mid range or from deep fell through. Svetich also handled the ball alot of the night along with CPs other guards, Rhodes, Swan, and Darrell. Chesterton was unable to press the Bulldogs and when they did, it was broken and that's where Svetich found himself open for 3. I am unsure what his future plans are but this kid could absolutely play ball somewhere at the next level from what I've seen. Keep in mind he had this game on the road against two All Star candidates from Chesterton. Tonight he finished with 28 pts.
● 6'6 sophomore Dikembe Shaw once again showed why he's one of the most intriguing prospects in the state of Indiana. To me he's solidified himself as a top 5 kid in thr c/o 2026. He's beginning to tighten up his ball handling and does it alot for the Bulldogs. He can take defenders off the dribble and finish at the basket. He's not just one dimensional as he's got a really nice outside shot as well. He's long and atheltic so you know his defense is good with potential to only get better. In most games he'll play in high school Shaw will be the best athlete on the floor. The improvement I've seen in his game from earlier in the season is immense. A spring/summer with Indy Heat's top '26 team will have him coming into next year as one of the region's top talents. Tonight he ended with 9 pts and 10 boards.
● One of the lone bright spots for the Trojans was what I saw out of 6'7 senior Justin Sims. He was arguably the best athlete on a floor with Dikembe Shaw and that's saying something. The future Marian player made a SportCenter worthy highlight in the 3rd quarter flying up for a putback dunk. There were many times for the Chesterton home crowd to get excited but everyone in the gym was buzzing after that. Sims is very long and once he gets his outside shot consistent will become a very nice player at the next level. Sims and Josiah Gustin from Pendleton Heights make up a very long and atheltic duo coming in for Marian next year.
The young pups from CP move onto next weekend's regional against Warsaw while Chesterton's sectional 3 peat comes up short but some good young talent of their own are returning that will keep Chesterton in the mix moving forward. Alot of credit to Coach Clint Swan who's been on the sidelines for a while and planned up a great sectional performance for his team.
One of the bigger matchups in the state saw Indianapolis Cathedral take on the Lawrence North Wildcats. Both teams came into this game as top 10 teams in the state. The Irish feature a strong junior class of Brady Koehler, Aiden Hughes, Lebron Gough, and Deric Canady while LN has a really good senior class paired with an even bigger and better sophomore class. It was Cathedral who opened up the game hot hitting 3s and hustling for tough inside baskets. 6'9 wing Brady Koehler looked like the best prospect in the state for the first few minutes knocking down long range shots and a very athletic tip in. Cathedral led throughout the first half but it seemed that it should've been more. The lead actually ballooned up to 10 pts for Cathedral in that 1st half. In the 2nd half half LN flexed their muscle, in particular 6'3 junior guard Azavier Robinson. It seemed like the Irish defense couldn't stop him from getting to the basket as he pulled the Wildcats into their first lead of the game. The luck of the Irish ran out at that point as LN was just too big and strong for a Cathedral team that went 6/17 at the free throw line and committed 14 turnovers which is more than I'd like with 2 experienced guards in the backcourt. The Wildcats pulled away for a 75-61 win moving them onto next week's regional.
● I'll start with LN's junior all star lock, Azavier Robinson who took over the game in the 3rd on a court full of talent. Robinson showed some ability to hit the open 3 but his game is using his strength and quickness to get to the basket. And he is very good at it. He can finish through contact with either hand and distributes the ball well. He did a good job defensively on fellow Jr's Gough and Canady for Cathedral. LN has a team to win it all in Indy this year and Robinson will get alot of the credit if they do. If he can get to 6'5 as a lead guard he becomes a big time prospect. For now Robinson is looking at a Georgetown offer among many others. Azavier had a total of 25 points tonight.
● 6'8 sophomore move-in Kai McGrew has made an impact and fit in very nicely for LN. It's only my 2nd time seeing him this season but what an addition he is for the Wildcats. McGrew is not a thin 6'8 that's clumsy. He's fully developed and very athletic. He will have to find a 10-12 foot jumper shot eventually but for now on this LN team he's just what they need inside. He battles hard on the boards and I would give him and Fishers senior Keenan Garner the best potential matchups for Flory Bidunga if LN and Kokomo make it that far. Tonight the sophomore finished with 18 pts.
● 6'9 junior wing Brady Koehler is on the cusp of being very good. He's good now but with a good summer and going into next year this kid may explode with offers. He needs to hit the weight room but that will come eventually. He's got a smooth left handed shot and can handle it fairly well for his size. Brady is super long and sneaky athletic. He seems like the prototypical wing at the next level where he holds a Wake Forest offer among others. My guess is this kid will finished the summer with at least a half dozen new offers. Anyone who knows the modern game and where it's headed knows that Koehler is a big time player. Tonight he finished with 14 pts including four 3 pointers.
LN moves onto next weekend's regional and earn their 20th sectional title in school history. Cathedral was looking for a 3 peat in this Sectional that just wasn't meant to be. There's a likelihood Cathedral moves down to 3a next year but I would like their chances playing with the big boys in 4a next year and put my team to the test against the state's best at the top level. Especially since the entire starting 5 for the Irish return.
The Warriors come into their home sectional as a top 5 team in 3A. That sentence would've been unheard of 5 years ago as the program has grown by leaps and bounds since then. Credit to AD Jamie Lowry and a talented group of '24 kids, Wyatt Zellers, Jack Miller, and Kody Clancy for helping turn the direction of this proud Scottsburg program. The first half was a game of runs as the Warriors jumped out on top, as then Silver Creek battled back to take a 4 point lead. Then the Warriors finished off the half on a strong run. Seniors Kody Clancy had 11 at half and Jack Miller had 10 to lead the Warriors as Scottsburg took a 6 point lead into the locker room. Both teams played strong zones throughout and starting out the 2nd half, SC sophomore Kasen Daeger made them pay while Clancy answered with a 3 of his own and the 2nd half was off and running. The 3rd belonged to Warrior Sr. Kody Clancy looking like the best player on the floor but a late SC run cut the lead down to 7 going into the 4th. The run continued for SC cutting the Scottsburg lead to 3 with a 10-0 run. Once again Scottsburg had an answer, the answers were Jack Miller and Kody Clancy. With 2:00 to go Miller took the drive down the middle and got the And 1 to give the Warriors a 9 point cushion. From then on free throws iced the game and Scottsburg won 65-59. Scottsburg has now won back to back sectionals for the first time in a long time. The Warriors look to win back 2 back regionals for the first time since the '78 and '79 seasons.
● 6'3 Warrior point guard Kody Clancy showed why he's one of southern Indiana's best kept secrets tonight. In a strong class of juniors Clancy is one of the better '24s in this area. He is a true point guard that controls the game and is a knock down 3 point shooter. He's sneaky athletic and there's not many I'd rather have the ball with the game on the line than Kody. He hit tough shots tonight as he's done all season. The game was getting close and the ball went right to Clancy to put the game away. He's got a few D3 offers but this kid could play in the Crossroads League for sure. Tonight he finished with 27.
● 6'5 Warrior senior Jack Miller was the other piece of the offensive puzzle tonight. Jack's size and shooting is a difference maker. He's long and can really defend. If Jack wanted to score 20+ ppg I have no doubt he could but he defers alot for the teams success. The entire Warriors team plays strong defense but Jack is another level athlete than the rest. This Clancy/ Miller backcourt is as good as any in 3A. Jack will be a very good addition for Hanover College next season. Tonight Jack finished with 23 pts.
● 6'3 SC sophomore sharpshooter Kasen Daeger did all he could tonight to help keep thr Dragons in it. It would've been a tall task to get over Clancy and Miller combining for 50 points but Daeger held his own and showed why he's own of southern Indiana's best sophomores. He's beginning to take thd ball to the basket and finish more throughout the year. Everyone knows about his 3 point shooting range but hew becoming a better overall player. A strong aau season with Wildcat Select on their '26 team should get him rolling into next year. Tonight he finished with 19 points.
Silver Creek ends their season 14-10 but play mostly underclassmen and will go into next year as sectional favorites (depending on if Brownstown moves up to 3A next year and into their sectional). Scottsburg played 6 kids tonight and 4 are seniors so this is the Warriors time to shine. A strong middle school program with a really good 7th grader and an 8th grade team that won the MSC should keep Scottsburg in the mix in the years to come.
It was a tough decision tonight on where to go because there were so many good competitive sectional championships throughout the state tonight. When it comes down to it, traditional powers and rivals, Jeffersonville v. New Albany at Seymour for a title was too good to pass up. Jeff came in with 2 strong games with wins over host Seymour and Floyd Central while New Albany won two really close games against Bedford and Jennings County. Tonight, thr Red Devils flexed their muscles from the opening tip. New Albany simply did not have an answer for 6'8 junior all star candidate Tre Singleton. He went to work early drawing 2 quick fouls on New Albany junior, Chris Lampkins. Combine that with classmate Michael Cooper on fire from the outside the Red Devils looked near unstoppable. New Albany mounted mini- runs throughout the game but Jeff answered every attempted comeback. The Bulldogs got it within single digits in the 3rd but Jeff was too big, too deep, and too much for New Albany coming away with a 75-58. Nobody came with 15 points of the Red Devils this entire sectional and proved they are a force to recken with going into regionals.
● 6'4 junior 2 guard Michael Cooper showed up in a big way tonight. When the double came down on Tre, Michael was there for a spot up 3 which he knocked down consistently tonight. Throughout the year Michael's confidence has grown and so has his stock for the next level. He has recently gotten a look from Division 1 Southern Indiana and he's looking every bit of that level. He's got great potential with his combination of size and shot making ability. A few NAIAs have reached out as well and I expect a few offers to come his way this summer with Indiana Elite. Cooper is not just one dimensional as he can get to the basket against his defender as well. Tonight he was just too big for a Bulldog team that plays a handful of smaller guards. Michael ended with a game-high 24 points.
● 6'8 junior big Tre Singleton did what Tre does for Jeff. He backed his way inside against a smaller New Albany team. He got good position down low and went to work. Tre has also gotten better and more assertive throughout the season. This is the 1st sectional title for this much heralded 2025 class and Tre's development is a big reason why. Tre is growing into his role as a prime time player in southern Indiana and is a junior all star lock come June. I still believe he has another level he can go to going into next year.
● 6'2 junior Jordan Treat had one of his better games I've seen from him in a Bulldog uniform. He is another kid in a really strong 2025 class in this area that will be making even more noise next year for what should be an even better New Albany team next year. Treat is a very good ball handler and 3 point shooter. He is a hard nosed kid that can handle a press and lead a team. Tonight he finished with 15
● 6'4 New Albany Jr. Chris Lampkins had made huge strides this season. For a kid that got cut from his 8th grade team he has grown miles. On a court full of athletes Chris may have been the best one. He is just now scratching the surface of what he can become. His jumpshot is a work in progress but after a strong summer of playing with a high level Indiana 3SGB aau team, he should come into next season as one of the better players in the southern Indiana area. There were a couple times where Chris drove it right into Tre Singleton and finished. He is a little quicker laterally than Tre and just needs to tighten up his handles. With a 7th and 8th grade New Albany group that only lost 1 game combined in the last few years, help is on the way for the Bulldogs. As strong as this class of '25 group is for Jeffersonville, New Albany's '28 and '29 classes are even better at the same age. Except this rivalry to continue for the foreseeable future and both teams come into next year's as top 10 teams in the state.
Jeffersonville moves onto the regional and probable favorites to advance to semi state whil New Albany ends their season 16-8.
The 2nd game at Chesterton saw the Crown Point Bulldogs take on the Valpo Vikings. Both teams came into this one as highly regarded throughout the state. The first quarter saw CP come out in control. Valpo seemed to rely on junior Jack Smiley a little much and CP took advantage leading by 3 after one. An Elliot Swan basket put the Bulldogs up by 3 going into the break at the buzzer, 27-24. Schofield opened the 2nd half with an And 1 and the Bulldogs were off and rolling until Shaw picked up his 3rd foul and Viking Jack Smiley got going. His 3 gave Valpo a 34-31 their first lead in a long time midway through the quarter. Sr. Bulldog Jack Svetich came up big to end the quarter with a basket and open 3 at the top and took the 42-38 back into the 4th.The 4th quarter was intense and CP coach Clint Swan grinded the game down to a halt. Crown Point locked in their zone defensively. Mason Darrell came up with a big steal with 3 minutes left to go but Valpo came back with a huge 3 to cut the CP lead to 2 with 2:35 left. A crucial no call with a minute left gave CP thr ball but then a questionable jump ball was called that gave Valpo back the ball. The Vikings had a chance to cut it to one but a missed layup and foul sent Shaw back to the free throw line. After two makes Valpo hit a jumper to cut the CP lead to 3 with 18 seconds left. Valpo got the steal off the trap but turned it over and sent CP back to the line and the coaches son sealed it. CP came out on top 55-51 and will play Chesterton Saturday night for a sectional championship. Alot of credit for Coach Swan's game plan in this one.
6'6 CP sophomore Dikembe Shaw scored from inside, outside, and even distributed the ball well tonight. Alot of what CP does goes through Shaw. I am certain after watching him tonight he's a top 5 kid in the c/o 2026. There's some talented kids that classbut he keeps getting better every time I see him play. He reminds me of a young Tre Coleman that played at Jeffersonville and is currently playing for Nevada in college. When Shaw goes out of the game CP is a completely different team. He went out with his 3rd foul early in the 2nd half and couldn't find a rhythm on offense. Shaw was by far the best athlete on the floor and took Valpo junior Jack Smiley to the basket and was just too big and strong. Shaw finished with 15 points.
● 6'2 CP senior Jack Svetich did everything well for CP tonight. When the game was on the line, the ball found Jack's hands to make clutch free throws. He handled the ball and controlled the game for the Bulldogs. He showed the ability to hit the outside shot and convert on his drives. Svetich will be a kid that ends up playing D3 or naia level ball (if he hasn't already committed to a school) and make a huge difference. Crown Point's team defense was good all night and their senior is the Bulldog leader. Tonight he finished with 20 pts.
● 6'4 Valpo junior guard Jack Smiley carried a big load for the Vikings tonight. Smiley is a near lock for the junior all star team come June. He's a smooth lefty with good size for his position and is an underrated passer. I cant remember him forcing many shots tonight. Everything he got he earned against multiple defenders that game planned to limit him. He a really skilled player and seems like a perfect fit for Valpo at rhe next level and become a hometown hero. Tonight he finished with 23 pts. The Viking team is young and with their experience this year, they'll be back and even better next year.
It's Bulldogs v. Trojans in Chesterton Saturday night for a sectional crown. Chesterton is looking for the 3 peat in Sectional 2 while CP is looking for their 1st sectional title since thr 2015- 2016 season.
Sectional 1 kicked off in E. Chicago on Wednesday night with the 1st game of the night being 2 perennial Region powers, Merrillville Pirates and East Chicago Central Cardinals. EC had already defeated the Pirates back in December and haven't lost to an Indiana team in nearly 3 months. Merrillville came into this game hot as well winners of their last 6 in a row. Something had to give tonight. It was a back and forth game throughout with what seemed like Merrillville having the slight advantage most of the night. Pirate senior Keyshawn Mitchell was on a mission tonight scoring almost at will. It looked bleak for the Cardinals halfway through the 3rd, but their Junior all star candidate, Dominique Murphy stepped up in a big way. After being down 6 entering the 4th, Murphy got EC back within 1 point less than 2 minutes into the 4th. With 3 and a half minutes to go the game was tied and could have swung either way. The Cardinals had contributions from Jr. Dominique Murphy, who led the team with 24 pts, Jr. Yamauree Wallace had 14, Sr. Jemiel Rich with 8, and Jr. Keontaye Bell with 8. As it has done for the Cardinals all season things just seemed to go their way. This team is beginning to feel like a team of destiny with all of their close games and late game heroics. In spite of not hitting a 3 all game against the Merrillville zone, EC secured a spot in Friday's semi finals eith a 60-55 win over the Pirates.
● 6'5 all- everything Jr. Dominique Murphy led EC tonight and put the team on his back. Going into the 4th quarter it looked as though Merrillville had complete control and momentum but Murphy just willed them with 5 opening quarter points within a minute to bring them back. Alot of what he got tonight was down low on the inside. Once he realized EC needed it and that nobody on Merrillville could stop him, he went to work down low. Dominique didn't hit or attempt many 3s tonight which tells me he was aggressive and forced his way inside. With a solid tourney run Murphy could find himself as a Junior Core 6 kid come June. Tonight he finished with 24 pts
● 6'6 Jr. wing Yamauree Wallace is a super sleeper in the c/o 2025 that people south of the Region, more notably the Indianapolis area, should become familiar with. Wallace is long and athletic and uses his body well getting to the basket. Yamauree's best basketball days are ahead of him as he's just now realizing his potential. With a spring/summer of tightening up his handles and being more consistent from the outside Wallace will become a legit D1 prospect. The class of 2025 is deep and the all star team will be tough to break into but if we're just picking guys for a team, there's not many I'm taking over Wallace. Tonight he finished with 14 pts.
● 6'3 Merrillville Sr. Key'Shawn Mitchell left it all on the floor tonight. He's really been coming on late in the season and has been consistently leading them in scoring. Mitchell was aggressive getting to the basket and attacked while drawing fouls. Mitchell will be able to play somewhere at the next level. At 6'3 he has solid size for the guard position, can handle it, and showed an outside shot. He's an underrated athlete that can compete on the boards for his size. I can't put my finger on what makes Mitchell special he just does everything well and gets buckets. Tonight he finished his Merrillville career with 25.
If the ball bounces one way instead of the other, it's Mitchell and the Pirates who are playing Friday night. As it has been all season for EC they just find a way. They go on these quick 6-0, 10- 2 runs that pull them right back into the game or in the lead. I keep thinking it will catch up to them eventually but it hasn't yet. That's just the identity of this EC team, they play fast, free, and wild at times. You have to take the good with the bad. E. Chicago extends their winning streak to 18 Ws ina row agianst Indiana competitors and will play rival Gary West on Friday night.