This Saturday represents arguably the best day all season of girls’ basketball – regionals. Four teams, three games, one title.
OTH is breaking down each regional involving area programs.
We keep on going with Class 2A.
WINAMAC REGIONAL
Projected Winner: South Central
Well that is an easy distinction for any 26-0 team because not many schools ever make it to Regional Saturday without a loss.
Shockingly, South Central out of Union Mills may not be the best team in Class 2A but they. are in this Regional. They are the heavy favorite here with John Harrell even going as far to give them over 50 percent chance among the four teams at winning. They also are one of the possible state title favorites should they get by a potential semi state meeting with Winchester.
Nothing comes easy on this day, but South Central has the significant early edge. With three girls scoring in double digits, they have an offense that hovers just under 60 points per game while shooting 43 percent.
Senior player you can’t miss: Abigail Tomblin, South Central
When you look at South Central’s balanced attack, Tomblin is at the top. The senior combo guard is a potential Indiana All-Star candidate if you ask me and if South Central are able to run through this Regional, she will have even more bragging rights for that potential spot.
A four year varsity starter, Tomblin averages 16.4 points per game while shooting 51 percent from the field and 78 percent from the foul line, a place she was able to reach 106 times this season. She has scored over 20 points six different times this season and when she posted her season high of 29 points, she also shot 77 percent from the field.
Don’t be surprised if: This is the only Regional won by an area team
While South Central is the heavy favorite if you haven’t noticed, Eastside and Fairfield are no slouches. Could one of them win this? Of course. In fact, this is the only Regional that can guarantee an area team in the title game with these two tipping off the 2A Regional.
The two teams have played twice this season already in the NECC Tournament and regular season with a split. Fairfield took the regular season win 48-43 and then just four days later, it was Eastside winning in the tournament 37-36.
Both teams are very well versed at getting opposing teams to play their tempo and if either can slow down opposing scoring in the finals, they have the chance to win Regional titles. Eastside hasn’t won a Regional since 1979 and Fairfield won their only ever in just 2018. Does that give the edge to anyone? Probably Fairfield since coach Brodie Garber was at the helm in 2018 as well.
With their Saturday game being the only guaranteed win for an area team, it is a chance for the NECC to flex a bit. But as it will take a lot of momentum to win this one, the carry over to a title game could see one of these teams staying alive out of the weekend, something that may not happen anywhere else with an area team playing.
SATURDAY SCHEDULE
Eastside (16-9) vs. Fairfield (22-3), 11 a.m.
Andrean (20-6) vs. South Central (26-0), 1 p.m.
Title game, 8 p.m.
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