We conclude our area regional breakdowns with the showdown at Marion, with Carroll and Homestead the local squads looking to capture a pair of wins and a regional championship.
The Class 4A Regional at Marion begins at 10 a.m. on Saturday.
MCCUTCHEON (13-5) vs. CARROLL (23-2), 10 A.M.
When it comes to floor leaders, there is no better one in this regional than McCutcheon’s Teresa Maggio. The junior paces the Mavericks in points (21.8 ppg), assists (5.0) and steals (4.8) per contest. She is shooting close to 70 percent on the year from inside the arc and hits 82 percent of her free throws.
While McCutcheon has other weaponry, Maggio is the key.
For Carroll, the name of the game all year has been balance. The depth of talent that the Chargers can employ does not allow opponents to focus on one particular player or players to shut down.
Bounce sees this one being close for two or three quarters, but the Chargers being able to stay fresh with wholesale substitutions. While young, Carroll will be in a comfortable situation with a veteran coach in Mark Redding to lead them and be a (constant) voice from the bench.
BOUNCE PICKS CARROLL
NOBLESVILLE (21-4) vs. HOMESTEAD (19-5), NOON
Ayanna Patterson of Homestead is the most talented player in the regional. Her ability to take over a game has been on display in recent weeks, most recently the second half of the sectional championship game against South Side in which she took over in the post.
Noblesville will attempt to match Patterson with its own prolific scorer – sophomore guard Ashlynn Shade. She is a jack-of-all-trades type talent, she can score inside and out, she can push the ball up the floor, she can rebound and she can defend.
The Spartans beat Noblesville earlier in the season when (in Bounce’s opinion) Homestead was an inferior team than what it is now. It has been able to develop consistent secondary scoring with Molly Stock and Ali Stephens. While Noblesville is better as well from that game in November, Bounce feels the edge here goes to the Spartans.
BOUNCE PICKS HOMESTEAD
FINALS, 8 P.M.
When Carroll toppled Homestead in double overtime in early December, it ended the long reign of the Spartans as THE dominant force in the SAC.
Yes, Homestead is still up there, but it has company with the Chargers.
In the first meeting, Carroll was able to hit outside shots and stymie Homestead’s outside shooters. Patterson could not do it all, even though she nearly-singlehandedly brought the Spartans back from the brink several times over the course of the second half and the twin OTs.
As for Round 2, expect a more confident group of Homestead Spartans who will want to avenge that loss. Coach Mark Redding will warn his team accordingly that their rival will be out for revenge, as well as out to capture its first regional crown since 2017.
Bounce is going with his gut here. Homestead has not been beaten twice in the same season by the same foe since Columbus North did it in 2014-15.
BOUNCE PICKS HOMESTEAD
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Ayanna Patterson, Homestead: When Patterson is locked in and fed the ball with regularity, she can be a true catalyst that can lead her team to victories. The Spartans will need two big games from their dominant forward this Saturday. Can foes be physical with her and limit those entry passes? Carroll did it at times in the teams’ first meeting, something other foes have surely taken notice of.
Emily Parrett, Carroll: Surrounded largely by youngsters, Parrett is the veteran presence on the Chargers. She can lead by example on the scoreboard, as she did with her 20-point effort against Snider last weekend, as well as her defense and passing ability off the ball. Carroll is going to face adversity this weekend, and some underclassmen may need a steadying voice in the huddle. Parrett can be that.
Teresa Maggio, McCutcheon: The junior has finished in double figures in points in every single game this season. She has also finished with five or more assists in half of McCutcheon’s games. So, Maggio can beat you in a variety of ways. She will handle the ball on every possession and direct the offense with confidence and savvy. Maggio is going to get her points, but it is up to Carroll’s defense to prevent the passes for easy buckets that could be the difference in the semifinal.
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
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