BOUNCE’S PREDICTED WINNERS
FAIRFIELD GIRLS
The girls from Fairfield are just rolling along right now and it is hard to think that will end in the NECC Tournament. The teams on Fairfield’s side of the bracket have a combined conference record of 13-24. Meanwhile the Falcons are just rolling along at 7-0.
Eva Herbert has been one of the breakout stars of the area this season and continues to pace Fairfield alongside Kaylee Dillon. It’s not fair to say that Fairfield hasn’t missed a beat since last season, but how well they have held up and kind of wrote their own story has been fascinating to watch. Natalie Whitaker has been a solid and heady guard all season. Fairfield’s destruction of Bluffton right before Christmas was a real eye opener to what they are expected to do the rest of this regular season.
While their regular season game last Friday against Eastside ended up close and credit to the Blazers for that, the fact remains that Fairfield let 14-1 after the first and 27-15 at halftime. Madison Jones had a team high 14 points in the balanced win over the Blazers.
FAIRFIELD BOYS
This was something to be considered a toss up before the Falcons put away North Side at Trine recently. In that game, everything clicked exactly right for Fairfield and it kind of pushes them alone at the top of the NECC in many ways. It helps them that Westview and Lakeland kind of have to cannibalize each other in the opening round on the same side of the bracket as the Falcons. Fairfield should get through Churubusco (with a little pushback…see below) and Fremont in the second round would provide some intrigue as well. But at the end of the day, Fairfield is just the best in the NECC but it is fair to say that their path isn’t easy with the bottom half of the bracket being easier.
Fairfield is really good at doing things with purpose and its hard to name just one or two or even four guys that make them tick. Noah Mast and Tyson Frey stand out because they are built as posts but have the ability to score across the floor, while someone like Mitchell Miller has shown himself to be an energetic playmaker in quality moments.
BOUNCE’S PREDICTED RUNNER UPS
EASTSIDE GIRLS
Paige Traxler, Lily Kreischer and Sydnee Kessler have all been big for Eastside all year and it led up to Friday’s game against Fairfield that we are likely to see a rematch of in this tournament final. Eastside is so physical and they have the chance to really push that forward this week, knowing basically all that they need to know about the NECC at this point.
Freshmen Lucy Kitchen and Taylor Mack are two first year varsity players who deserve more praise than they’ve gotten. They can really be difference makers this week.
Eastside got down bad to Fairfield last week before outscoring the Falcons 32-23 in the second half. Kreischer had a game high 24 points in the loss and it gives Eastside hope that they can really make a potential NECC Tournament rematch very interesting.
CENTRAL NOBLE BOYS
The Cougars have the easier side of the bracket and it lines them up nicely to get back to the finals of this tournament. A first round meeting with West Noble could get tricky if Bradyn Barth has one of his big games, but likely a semi final with, let’s say Garrett, is the biggest challenge. The Railroaders will have to get by high scoring Dane Lantz, but they are certainly deeper than Angola and that depth is what could be a challenge for Central Noble in a semi final.
But still, the Cougars have more experience and probably a bit more grit in their depth. Central Noble presents a lot of matchup issues with Isaiah Gard‘s continued development and the tenaciousness that Drew Pliett has been playing with.
I think that Central Noble has a real chance to make things interesting this week and by being on the bottom half of the bracket, they aren’t going to (in theory) have to expel as much energy as the teams not he top half when you look at Fairfield, Fremont, Westview and Lakeland all on one side beating up on each other.
TEAMS TO MAKE NOISE
Fremont girls are probably a year away from being a contender in this bracket but fairly should find themselves in a quarterfinal across from Fairfield. They have a really tough young group that need to be paid attention to. Expect them to be more competitive even that their previous 13 point loss to Fairfield. While the freshman are great for the Eagles, Addy Parr is putting together yet another solid season and Fremont is playing in a very fun way for them and for others to watch.
Lakeland boys deserve the attention because they have been so good and their win at Westview is the second best win for any NECC team this season. They have a lot of weapons and not just Nate Keil, but he has been fantastic. They get a rematch with Westview in the first round and then possibly Fairfield in a semi final, so there is no easy road for the Lakers. Never the less, do not count Lakeland out as a team that can win this tournament because they very easily could.
Keegan Merrifield has had a solid season, averaging 11.2 points per game and Kyle Hartsough and Justin Carlson are dangerous outside threats, each shooting over 42 percent from three point range and Carlson is coming off a career high scoring night this past weekend. Fair enough to say, Lakeland deserves plenty of respect on their name.
PLAYERS TO MAKE NOISE
Lexi Stillman of Angola just had a tremendous showing in a win over East Noble earlier this past week. She hit the go ahead three pointer for the Hornets to sink the Knights. If Stillman can continue to be a diverse scorer and make things happen, then Angola could easily be a semi final team in the tournament and push Eastside for a championship game spot.
Grace Swank of Central Noble is someone else who could really push Eastside if they match up in the quarterfinals as expected. Shooting 52 percent from the field, Swank is a player that can be really tough and physical to try and match the aggressive Blazers.
Joey Taylor of Churubusco gets the draw of tournament favorite Fairfield first and that means that it is an uphill battle. But Taylor is an absolute gem of high motor scorer. He can hit the three with some success, but can he ever get downhill and challenge at the rim. Is he the type of scorer that could get the Fairfield interior in foul trouble with his aggressive approach?
Ethan Grimm of Fremont stands out because he is becoming more of a multi-tool scorer. He has a big body that can push on teams, but when he is hitting from the outside, it really benefits the Eagles. The buzz about Fremont has waned a bit lately, but some big games from Grimm could make things fun and potentially interesting this week.
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