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: MANCHESTER VS. TIPTON, 4 P.M.
HOW DOES MANCHESTER WIN?
Don’t let the moment feel too big. For the first time in 30 years, Manchester is appearing in the regional round of the state tournament. A long time away galvanizes a community, but it can also put a lot of pressure on teenagers to deliver. This team already conquered the hard part, capturing a sectional title for the first time since 1995. With a veteran senior group that is on its last ride, the pressure of playing in the cavernous Berry Bowl in a regional game shouldn’t hit as hard. This is uncharted territory, but Manchester is the better team. If it executes and plays to its potential, it wins.
HOW DOES TIPTON WIN?
Grady Carpenter must fill the bucket. Consider that when the senior Grace commit eclipses 25 points, Tipton is 5-1 on the season, with the only loss coming to Class 4A Kokomo. Overall, the 6-foot-6 point guard (yes, you read that right) leads the Blue Devils in scoring (21.6 ppg), rebounding (8.0) and assists (6.7). He is a special do-everything type player who can propel a team, as he has proven time and again this year. Inside the arc, he hits 57 percent of his shots. That drops to 32 percent from long range. For Tipton to have a chance, it needs to get Carpenter in the post in positions to succeed, perhaps even getting to the bucket on his own from the perimeter. The 25-plus points mark could be key.
BY THE NUMBERS
Records: Manchester 22-2; Tipton 19-6
Last regional title: Manchester – 1994; Tipton – 2013
Last matchup: N/A
OTH PREDICTION
Coming Friday.
NORTH JUDSON REGIONAL: BISHOP LUERS VS. GARY 21ST CENTURY, 5 P.M. (CT), 6 P.M. (ET)
HOW DOES BISHOP LUERS WIN?
Win the rebounding battle. Gary 21st Century has some dogs on the boards, particularly leading scorers Terrence Hayes (20.8 ppg, 7.7 rpg) and Lemetrius Williams (15.9 ppg, 9.8 rpg). Both are long and quick and Williams in particular lives around the bucket most of the time. That’s not to say that Bishop Luers cannot rebound, but this is a tremendous test in terms of the physicality and strength that the Cougars are bringing to the table in this game. Both squads are battle tested against higher-class teams and neither had much trouble in sectionals against inferior foes. This is the first big test for both squads in the postseason. Bishop Luers, in particular, needs to be ready to clear out players on the block and avoid giving Gary 21st Century second and third chances on the offensive end.
HOW DOES GARY 21ST CENTURY WIN?
Take away Bishop Luers’ secondary scorers. In all likelihood, brothers Drelyn and Dereon Truesdale are going to get theirs. Combined, they average over 28 points per game for the Knights. But it is the ancillary players that are as crucial to the Knights’ success. Guys like fellow senior Danny Kelly (19 points in sectional title game win), Ayle Taylor (8.7 ppg) and Carmani Davis (team-high 47 three-pointers made).
For Coach Seth Coffing’s team, having a balanced attack and not forcing the Truesdale’s to do it all on the offensive end is paramount. For the Cougars, neutralizing the teammates of the brothers will go a long way towards knocking off the Knights on Saturday evening.
BY THE NUMBERS
Records: Bishop Luers 21-6; Gary 21st Century 19-6
Last regional title: Bishop Luers – 2017; Gary 21st Century – 2023
Last matchup: First-ever meeting
OTH PREDICTION
Coming on Friday.
TRITON REGIONAL: JIMTOWN VS. WESTVIEW, 4 P.M.
HOW DOES JIMTOWN WIN?
Play big. Jimtown’s two leading scorers, seniors Branden King (17.6 ppg) and Dylan Fey (11.1 ppg), are 6-foot-7 and 6-4, respectively. Neither are true post guys, as both are adept at shooting from range. But the duo aren’t shy about getting in the post and mixing it up. This is where Jimtown can get the advantage. If King and Fey, plus their teammates, can clean up missed shots offensively and prevent extra chances on the defensive end for Westview, it can get this win.
But it starts with King and Fey, and not just on the score sheet.
HOW DOES WESTVIEW WIN?
Be efficient. There was nothing particularly flashy with how Westview took down Central Noble in the sectional final last week, a 52-44 dub. But it included being incredibly productive. The Warriors shot just 37 shots, but hit 20 of them. In addition, it did not turn the ball over a single time in the first half, while forcing Central Noble into a half-dozen of them. Westview led by two at half, and the trio of Austin Schlabach, Kaden Grau and Owen Brill scored 29 of their combined 47 points in the second half to put the game away.
Westview doesn’t need to reinvent the wheel to beat Jimtown, it simply needs to execute and maximize possessions as it did last week.
BY THE NUMBERS
Records: Westview 18-7; Jimtown 15-10
Last regional title: Westview – 2018; Jimtown – 2004
Last matchup: Westview 49, Jimtown 39, Feb. 15, 2014
OTH PREDICTION
Coming on Friday.
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