With boys basketball postseason moving on to regionals, Bounce is here to quickly preview and discuss the area regionals.
Eight area teams remain for the regional round, which is now just one game.
Click here to see the complete schedule of regional title games featuring area teams.
CLASS 4A
AT NEW CASTLE: SNIDER (19-7) vs. CARMEL (18-5), 4 p.m.
The positive for Snider entering this game is that its opponent isn’t Fishers. The negative? Carmel is the team that ended Fishers’ 24-game winning streak in last week’s sectional championship game.
The Greyhounds are used to slowing down powerful, up-tempo offenses, meaning the Panthers are going to find things difficult at New Castle. Snider must maximize its opportunities on the offensive end, meaning they need to shoot at or close to 50 percent from the field. The Panthers are known to be streaky both in giving up points and scoring points. Just last week, North Side went on 15-0 run to begin the second half in the sectional championship, but Snider was able to overcome that and win in OT. Carmel is too good to allow it to go on sustained runs like that.
While Xavier Wilson is a senior for Snider, its next three leading scorers are underclassmen. Big performances will be needed from multiple players for the Panthers to have a shot at their first regional title in 17 years,
BOUNCE’S PREDICTION: Carmel 68, Snider 58
AT LOGANSPORT: HARRISON (18-8) vs. HOMESTEAD (19-6), 4 p.m.
This matchup has a pair of teams that mirror each other – a very good offense in the half-court and a stingy defense. Homestead averages 58 points per game, while Harrison averages 58, while both allow 48 points a contest.
These teams are also similar in that they are largely led by juniors, with forward Brody Baker the leading scorer for Harrison and forward Mack Welker the same for Homestead.
Welker could be the catalyst here. He will have a few inches on every regular that the Raiders employ onto the floor. If Homestead can get Welker going inside and out, it has a good chance.
BOUNCE’S PREDICTION: Homestead 60, Harrison 56
CLASS 3A
AT PLYMOUTH: COLUMBIA CITY (22-4) vs. HANOVER CENTRAL (12-14), 4 p.m.
If you didn’t see clips of the game, you surely heard about it – Hanover Central’s 18-13 victory over Lowell in the sectional championship that brought out the “Indiana high school basketball needs a shot clock” crowd.
It wasn’t one team holding the ball, but rather both squads being very meticulous in its offensive scheme, and not shooting it very much.
The result? 31 total points.
It wasn’t much better on the other side, with Columbia City not exactly breaking any offensive records in its 31-22 win over NorthWood last weekend.
Both teams should enter this matchup knowing it has to score more to win a regional trophy. But Hanover Central, clearly with less offensive firepower than the Eagles, may try to stall like it did last week. If that is the case, Columbia City should force the Wildcats’ hand and force them to run with them.
BOUNCE’S PREDICTION: Columbia City 55, Hanover Central 39
AT LOGANSPORT: WEST LAFAYETTE (22-4) vs. NEW HAVEN (19-7), 1 p.m.
The New Haven Bulldogs have never captured a regional championship in boys’ basketball.
Might this Saturday be the time they do it?
It won’t be easy. West Lafayette has won eight-straight games, its most recent of which was a 48-point demolition of a 17-win Northwestern team in the sectional championship last Saturday. The Red Devils are led by a pair of seniors, leading scorer Ben Worth, who dropped 30 points against Northwestern, and Drew Whitlock, another guard who is experienced and talented.
New Haven recovered well from back-to-back losses to end the regular season by rolling through the Bellmont Sectional with a trio of double-digit victories. Juniors Tarvar Baskerville and Lavell Ledbetter have been impressive all season long, while Daylen Jackson may be relied upon Saturday to keep West Lafayette’s Calvin Snyder from getting easy buckets on offense and clearing the boards on the other end.
This should be a fun one.
BOUNCE’S PREDICTION: New Haven 70, West Lafayette 67
AT NEW CASTLE: DELTA (15-10) vs. BLACKHAWK CHRISTIAN (20-7), 1 p.m.
While reaching a regional isn’t foreign to Blackhawk Christian as it preps for its ninth-consecutive trip, the path has not been without concern.
The Braves had to win two fiercely-contested game in sectional play, beating host DeKalb by one point in OT and then holding off East Noble by two in the title game.
What’s it mean? That Blackhawk Christian is not untouchable. That said, Saturday’s matchup favors Coach Matt Roth’s team.
Delta has just a single player that averages double-digit points, and Lucas Bragg is also the lone senior that sees considerable playing time. While Blackhawk Christian leans on a pair of sophomores as its leading scorers in Bryce Lacross and Drake Sefton, it has several seniors who play key roles, including floor general Briggs Pardon, should he play. Pardon was injured in the first game of the Sectional round, so his availability is still in question at least to the general public.
After a few close calls last week, the Braves should win comfortably in this one at the fieldhouse.
BOUNCE’S PREDICTION: Blackhawk Christian 68, Delta 55
CLASS 2A
AT NORTH JUDSON: WESTVIEW (24-1) vs. GARY 21ST CENTURY (17-6), 8 p.m. ET, 7 p.m. CT
A repeat of a regional showdown three years ago that saw Gary 21st Century earn a nine-point victory. Can Westview get revenge?
Yes, the Warriors have the better record, but the Cougars are battle-tested, having played a schedule of Class 3A and 4A foes as well as teams from outside of the state, including Whitney Young High in Chicago.
Gary 21st Century has five seniors as its top five scorers, including leader Terrence Hayes Jr., who leads the team in scoring (17.6), rebounding (6.4), assists (4.4) and steals (3.1) per game.
This is a tough matchup for Westview. The Cougars dropped 119 points on Lake Station in sectional play, the 15th highest-scoring game in tournament history and the most points ever in the class era. As a team, Gary 21st Century is averaging 71.1 points per game, sixth-best in the state.
Westview has a really stingy defense, and has surprised this season at times, the biggest being a one-point win over Blackhawk Christian, but this may be a step too far.
BOUNCE’S PREDICTION: Gary 21st Century 70, Westview 58
AT HUNTINGTON NORTH: BISHOP LUERS (14-11) vs. BREMEN (22-4), 7 p.m.
It has been a generational season for Bremen, which captured its first sectional crown in 27 years last week and set a new program record for wins in a season. This is a team brimming with confidence and may have its best basketball ahead of it, with its three leading scorers all juniors.
Chase Devine is a problem. The 6-foot guard is a ’40-50-90′ guy, shooting 44 percent from three, 56 percent from inside the arc and 90 percent from the free-throw line. In totality, he averages 21 points a game.
So why is Bounce favoring Bishop Luers? Area homerism may be a reason, but also because the Knights’ schedule is ranked 98th in the state, while Bremen is at 316. The Lions’ schedule is soft. That doesn’t make them a bad team, but the eye-popping win total doesn’t hit as hard when you look at the strength of schedule, or lack thereof.
That said, Bremen is going to have the edge in terms of environment, as it will travel well to Huntington. But if the Knights can make things difficult for the Bremen offense, it should win its first regional crown since 2017.
BOUNCE’S PREDICTION: Bishop Luers 62, Bremen 57
CLASS 1A
AT HUNTINGTON NORTH: CANTERBURY (14-11) vs. TRI-COUNTY (15-10), 4 p.m.
Could the fourth time be the charm for Tri-County?
The Tri-County Cavaliers have been in the regional round each of the last four years, yet are still seeking the program’s first regional title.
That could come on Saturday against the “other” Cavaliers of Canterbury, who are paced by three underclassmen, including co-leading scorers Nick Collins, a junior, and sophomore Ben Hardin (10.1 points per game each).
Meanwhile, Tri-County’s top five scorers are all seniors, with Drew Foster leading the way at 13.5 points and 6-foot-5 forward Clayton Atkinson averaging 10 points and eight rebounds a contest.
BOUNCE’S PREDICTION: Tri-County 51, Canterbury 47
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