A plethora of area boys basketball teams will play for regional championships on Saturday in the northern half of the state.
Outside the Huddle is previewing every local matchup. Remember, regionals is now just one game, with semistate being two.
SOUTH BEND WASHINGTON REGIONAL: SOUTH BEND ST. JOSEPH VS. COLUMBIA CITY, 1 P.M.
HOW DOES SOUTH BEND ST. JOSEPH WIN?
Hit from range. Looking at the shooting numbers of the Huskies is eye-opening. Coach Eric Gaff’s team enters the regional round having launched 592 three-point shots on the season, an average of 22.7 attempts from range per game.
The team’s three most-prolific scorers are also their most frequent three-point shooters. Nick Shrewsberry, son of Notre Dame men’s basketball coach Micah Shrewsberry, has attempted 186 threes, having hit at a 36 percent clip. He is joined by senior Chase Konieczny (178 three-point attempts) and sophomore Elijah King (139).
The Huskies aren’t just chuckers. They have five players overall who average in double figures, all for a team averaging over 76 points per game.
HOW DOES COLUMBIA CITY WIN?
Defend from the half-court in. The Eagles can take a lesson from Culver Academy, which faced off against South Bend St. Joseph twice this season. While Culver went 0-2, it lost the regular-season matchup by one in overtime and fell by two in the sectional final. In those two games, it held St. Joseph to 50 and 47 points, respectively.
Columbia City has to make this game ugly. The Eagles are not going to win a game trying to match the Huskies offensively. Coach Matt Schauss’ team must be scrappy, it must be tough and it must pick up St. Joseph’s shooters as soon as they cross half-court.
An off day for the Huskies shooters would be a welcome scenario for the Eagles, but they can help that along with some stifling and physical defense.
BY THE NUMBERS
Records: South Bend St. Joseph 23-3; Columbia City 17-9
Last regional title: South Bend St. Joseph – 2024; Columbia City – 2011
Last matchup: N/A
OTH PREDICTION
Coming later this week.
NEW CASTLE REGIONAL: DELTA VS. BLACKHAWK CHRISTIAN, 7 P.M.
HOW DOES DELTA WIN?
The big guys play big. On paper, there isn’t many clear advantages for Delta in this one. Therefore, it must create one. A pair of 6-foot-3 seniors lead the Eagles in scoring – Jordan Furney (12.8 points per game) and Bronson Edwards (11.3 ppg). However, both of them like to roam around the perimeter offensively. While Delta cannot afford to take the duo out of what they like to do, they can ask them to do more. As the two leaders in terms of production for the Eagles, their rebounding prowess will be just as important Saturday as their scoring ability.
In short, Furney and Edwards need to have monster games for Delta to have a shot.
HOW DOES BLACKHAWK CHRISTIAN WIN?
Bury Delta early. In all three of its sectional matchups, Blackhawk Christian left zero doubt, getting off to a fast start and putting the game away early. That is exactly what needs to happen here. With the likes of Kellen Pickett, Bryce Sefton and Briggs Pardon, the Braves are a veteran team who have been through the battles of the past few years deep in the postseason. Don’t give the Eagles much hope to stay around, and Blackhawk Christian should be celebrating its third-straight regional title on Saturday night.
BY THE NUMBERS
Records: Delta 16-7; Blackhawk Christian 24-3
Last regional title: Delta – 2024; Blackhawk Christian – 2024
Last matchup: N/A
OTH PREDICTION
Coming later this week.
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