In a season of cancellations, postponements and ‘TBAs,’ Tuesday at Carroll High School was a welcome dose of normalcy.
While the format left a bit to be desired, six games across three gyms with a mix of local and out-of-area teams was just what Bounce needed this week to slightly ease his disappointment regarding the cancellation of the SAC Holiday Tournament.
And who knows, could this be the “new normal” when normalcy returns?
Back in the days of the old Northeast Hoosier Conference, Carroll used to partner with Columbia City and put on a multi-day hoops showcase, with one day being pool play and the next seeing the squads duke it out in bracket action. It brought in the likes of Hamilton Southeastern and Valparaiso and some other top-tier squads to the region all in just a few locales.
In short, it was a very underappreciated tournament, simply because the SAC Holiday Tournament was held around the same time and stole the spotlight locally.
But Tuesday gave us a glimpse into the past, but also something that could be the future. Of the six games played, four were decided by a single digits and just one (Bishop Dwenger v. Canterbury) saw two local teams pitted against one another. It also saw Division I recruits come to Fort Wayne to play – Pierre Thomas of Brownsburg (Butler) and Tae Davis of Warren Central (Louisville), two players we got to see take on the likes of Jalen Jackson, Fletcher Loyer and Luke Goode.
Tuesday’s action was more about the spectacle and the “what if” rather than the games themselves. Carroll battled back from early struggles against Brownsburg’s zone defense to score an impressive morning win, but dropped its first game of the year in the nightcap against South Bend Adams, in part due to Jackson’s foul trouble. That first win was a war of attrition that helped set the tone for the day and showcase Carroll’s strengths. Despite falling down 9-0 and Brownsburg raining three pointers early, the Chargers stayed the course working their zone offense and battled back with threes of their own and Jackson not being able to be contained from the free throw line down to the rim.
Homestead had to hold off Warren Central in another tough challenge from an Indy-area school, the first coming a few weeks ago against Cathedral. That game was a fun battle of tempo and spoke volumes about Homestead in being able to match the Warren pace. And not just Goode and Loyer, the whole team made big strides against Warren and then again against Brownsburg in the evening. Andrew Leeper’s impactful block to end the half against Warren Central opened up a Goode buzzer beating three that was one of the more memorable sequences of the day.
With its two games on Tuesday, Bishop Dwenger has now played four times in five days, giving the Saints a great sample in which to examine over their extended break where they do not return to action until Jan. 8. Even in a loss to South Bend Adams, the Saints gained. They played with great energy to lead at the half in that one.
If you ask Carroll coach Marty Beasley, or Homestead’s Chris Johnson or Bishop Dwenger’s Matt Kostoff, they would all say that the event was a good barometer day for their respective teams with Christmas nearing.
Now, go with Bounce here for a second. What if the OPS Holiday Hoops event could grow into a multi-day event? Perhaps over multiple venues? Think the Bob Wettig Tournament in Richmond or the Wabash Valley Classic near Terre Haute. Fort Wayne becomes a destination for the best teams and players in the 317 or ‘The Region’ and watch them face off against the best in the 260.
Look, Bounce loves the SAC Holiday Tournament. It is tradition. It feels right. But it also can sometimes feel…stale. Especially when you look around the state and see some of the exciting events that are put on each and every year.
What’s the future for OPS Holiday Hoops? Is it a one-year event in place of the norm? Could it grow and replace the SAC Holiday Tournament? Might it grow and move elsewhere on the calendar?
Bounce is unsure which direction the organizers will go, but one thing is for sure, even with empty gyms and only six games, Tuesday felt like something Fort Wayne high school hoops fans need more of.
These opinions represent those of Bounce and Outside the Huddle. No opinions expressed on Outside the Huddle represent those of any of our advertisers. Follow Bounce on Twitter at Bounce_OTH
Be the first to comment