CLASS 4A at FRANKFORT
HOW DOES WARSAW WIN?
Warsaw wins this by just staying the course. Yes, it sounds simple but the Tigers have been so good and so dominant because of how they are able to share the ball and their key four – Brooke Winchester, Joslyn Bricker, Brooke Zartman and Alexis Neely – are able to be chameleon like and step into a variety of roles on any given night based on need. Like the rest of our area teams in semi state, Warsaw has no history with their first round opponent, McCutcheon, but there is a more traceable line between them due to McCutcheon’s game last week with Snider. Warsaw is 3-0 against common foes with wins over Snider (+29), Columbia City (+15) and Valparaiso (+2) while McCutcheon only beat Snider (twice) of those three teams.
BEST PLAYER IN SEMI STATE
Joslyn Bricker of Warsaw really started to separate herself again with her play in last week’s Regional win. That isn’t easy on a team full of standouts like Warsaw has. That said, Maya Makalusky of Hamilton Southeastern is a star and a Miss Basketball top candidate. She averages 22.3 points per game to go along with seven rebounds. She is a matchup nightmare at 6-foot-4 with no teams really having an answer for her. If they are tall enough, they aren’t talented enough. If they are talented enough, they aren’t tall enough. Makalusky is an Indiana University commit and one of the most cleanly talented players in the state.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
Blowouts early, a barn burner late. Neither of the two semi final meetings are projected to be within single digits. It could be a great example of teams getting a lighter run in the morning and having more ammunition at 8 pm, which is ideal. It allows us to get the premiere game because of the draw but also makes that game more interesting if both teams have the same left in the tank energy wise.
OTH PREDICTION
Bounce thinks that Warsaw takes the first game because they are just too deep for many teams to handle. We saw McCutcheon struggle a bit with the depth that Snider has and Warsaw is much more experienced with three Division 1 players. Expect HSE to remain undefeated at 10 am, setting up a state title quality game at night for the right to go to Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Nobody has taken a game off HSE this season, but that ends here. BOUNCE PICKS WARSAW TO WIN SEMI STATE
SCHEDULE
Hamilton Southeastern (26-0) vs. Valparaiso (19-7), 10 am
Warsaw (24-1) vs. McCutcheon, Noon
Championship, 8 pm
CLASS 3A at HUNTINGTON NORTH
HOW DOES NORWELL WIN?
Norwell has to be really stout defensively in this game. Vanessa Rosswurm has proven she can be one of the best scorers in Northeast Indiana and maybe the state. But Norwell thrives most when they are able to force live ball turnovers and average around 14 steals per game as a team. Rosswurm has put together 85 steals and Macie Saalfrank has 76 on the season with two more Knights having over 40 steals each. Three times this season, Norwell has had over 20 steals as a team and only once (vs. Warsaw) has the opposing team had more steals in a game than the Knights.
HOW DOES COLUMBIA CITY WIN?
Addison Baxter is how Columbia City wins. Yes, that sounds simple and maybe even short sided to some readers. But avid fans of the area know that there are a finite amount of players who simply will not allow their team to lose big games. Baxter is that type of player and always has been, but what she has done in her senior season is almost mesmerizing. Addison Baxter is the prototype of a player who steps up in all of the big moments. She has to remain a defensive machine as well and I think that is a big hook here. Highland shouldn’t give CC much of a problem early and if Norwell ends up being the night opponent, Baxter’s comfort level there could really shine.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
See the Class 4A predictions above for that. The morning games “shouldn’t” be close and it sets up a really intriguing night game. Norwell and Delta have just one common foe this season with both teams plowing through Jay County, though Delta did so twice. Highland lost by by 24 to Lowell this season, their one common foe with Columbia City, who beat Lowell by 44 points in the Regional round just last week. You hardly ever see two teams from the same conference playing eachother for the chance to go to the state finals, but we may be in that situation. Some may find it silly, but around NE8 country, it is a pretty exhilarating option.
OTH PREDICTION
We are headed to an all Northeast 8 Conference semi state title game in Bounce’s eyes and isn’t that wild? Who would have thought that these two high powered foes would get the chance to meet for a trip to Gainbridge? The last time they met on December 13, it was Columbia City coming away with the 74-67 win. Does it flip? BOUNCE PICKS COLUMBIA CITY TO WIN SEMI STATE
SCHEDULE
Norwell (20-6) vs. Delta (18-7)
Columbia City (23-4) vs. Highland (15-10)
Championship, 8 pm
CLASS 2A at LOGANSPORT
HOW DOES WHITKO WIN?
Don’t let the moment be too big. Whitko has never won a Sectional. Whitko has never won a Regional. Those two facts were true less than a month ago but no longer are. So the term “Whitko has never won a semi state” shouldn’t matter at all. If Whitko is engaged in the games and not the moment, they have a real chance at a couple of more surprise wins since they are going to be considered the underdog, at least in the morning game with Eastside. Justin Jordan is a coach that has found his way to relate to his players in a way that gets the best of them, so Whitko just has to be that best. When you have nothing to lose, it can loosen you up or make you tight. Jordan and his group just have to flow as they have been.
HOW DOES EASTSIDE WIN?
Built by a whole smorgasbord of valuable assets, Eastside has been able to chip away at teams with their depth. They have been a team who has been able to wow at times and Lily Kreischer has been one of the better Blazers at doing that, but this team is built the way it is and it is coached the way it is coached for a reason. It is probably fair to say that nobody in the area is as deep as the Blazers even if other teams have higher profile players. Eastside has the unique ability to not have to rely on any one or two people to find them success and that is difficult ever, especially this far into the season. Sydnee Kessler, Taylor Mack, you could list the entire Blazer roster here because they all provide so much value. Use your depth and maybe Eastside goes to Gainbridge Fieldhouse next weekend.
OTH PREDICTION
While we would love to see the two area teams meet for a title and guarantee us a state finalist in Class 2A, this first round matchup is a lot of fun too. Eastside and Whitko are two very fiery and hungry programs. They don’t play each other and don’t have any crossover with each other besides common foes. And those common foes, they haven’t made a dent on either side. Eastside is 11-0 against those common opponents this season, while Whitko is 7-0. No other matchup in the state on Saturday morning has as many common opponents/wins so its safe to say Eastside coach Mike Lortie and Whitko’s Justin Jordan did a lot of film study. Give me Eastside in the morning, but not without a great Whitko fight, and at night I expect Rensselaer Central to be across from Eastside. BOUNCE PICKS EASTSIDE TO WIN SEMI STATE
SCHEDULE
Whitko (21-4) vs. Eastside (26-1)
Sheridan (25-1) vs. Rensselaer Central (24-2)
Championship, 8 pm
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