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.
LOGANSPORT REGIONAL: HOMESTEAD VS. CARROLL, 4 P.M.
HOW DOES HOMESTEAD WIN?
Keep up the momentum. Winners of 15 of their last 16 games, most recently a four-point victory over Wayne to capture a sectional crown, the Spartans are on a roll. Sophomore Mack Welker continues to be exceptional, as the 6-foot-4 forward led the team in scoring against Wayne.
There is nothing that Homestead needs to do any different in this game. It handled Carroll comfortably the first time around. Interestingly, these rivals have met in the post-season just twice over the last 30 years, most recently in 2016.
Carroll needs Homestead to play an uncharacteristically-sloppy game. That just doesn’t feel very possible with the mix of veterans and talented youngsters that the Spartans are able to put on the floor.
HOW DOES CARROLL WIN?
Score points. Yes, it sounds simple, but Carroll has had issues filling the bucket at times this season. Senior Paxton Crane is the Chargers’ lone player averaging double figures in scoring, although he is a darn good one at 17.6 points and 10.6 rebounds per game.
The magic number is 50. When Carroll scores 50 or more points, it is 7-3 this season, including four-straight wins when they eclipse that mark. Against Homestead in late February, the Chargers were held to 37 points in a 14-point defeat.
Matchups between Homestead and Carroll are rarely track meets, but the Chargers perhaps need to push the pace a bit more than they are used to to have a shot in this one.
BY THE NUMBERS
Records: Homestead 21-5; Carroll 11-15
Last regional title: Homestead – 2015; Carroll – 2010
Last matchup: Homestead 51, Carroll 37, Feb. 21, 2025
Last postseason matchup: Homestead 56, Carroll 52, March 12, 2016
OTH PREDICTION
Coming later this week.
SOUTH BEND WASHINGTON REGIONAL: SOUTH BEND RILEY VS. WARSAW, 4 P.M.
HOW DOES SOUTH BEND RILEY WIN?
Make Warsaw run. There is no questioning the fact that Riley is at its best when it is getting up and down the floor. Coach Alex Daniel’s squad enters the regional averaging 68 points per game. Senior Jaylen Barbara is the catalyst, a guy who can get out on the break and plays exceptional defense in the backcourt.
A year ago, a 20-plus win Riley team fell short in overtime against Mishawaka in sectionals. This year’s team, laden with players that went through that disappointment, rolled through the sectional with all three games being decided by 15 or more points.
HOW DOES WARSAW WIN?
Avoid a slow start. In last Saturday’s sectional championship game, Riley scored the first 11 points of the game against LaPorte. The Slicers would fight back to within six in the second quarter, but the Wildcats ran away from that point on.
The Tigers do not want to feel the pressure of having to fight back from a sizable deficit, especially with Luke Bricker sidelined for the season. However, Robbie Finlinson and Parker Justice have stepped up and taken on more offensively with the absence of Bricker.
BY THE NUMBERS
Records: South Bend Riley 21-4; Warsaw 25-4
Last regional title: South Bend Riley – 2018; Warsaw – 2016
Last matchup: Warsaw 79, South Bend Riley 74, 2OT, March 12, 2016 (regionals)
OTH PREDICTION
Coming later this week.
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