Regional Preview: 3A Regional #6
The season is coming up quickly and we are starting to pour into our previews for the upcoming season. Today, we are looking at those Regional setups across the state starting with 1 and ending with 16. Today, we preview Regional 6 with Sectionals 21-24.
Last Year – 17-18
*Based on Sagarin from 2017-18
- New Castle
- Marion
- New Haven
- NorthWood
- Fairfield
- Delta
- Leo
- Angola
- Mississinewa
- Hamilton Heights
Conference Commentary
Top Ten
Teams that are in the Top 10 of the State in 4A
New Castle – New Castle won 27 games and got to the Semistate round last season in 3A before losing to eventual champion, Culver Academies. Now, they return nearly all the key players including to DI talents in Mason Gillis and Luke Bumbalough. Don’t be shocked if both New Castle and Culver match up again but could see it flipped this season. Either way, New Castle has the ability to be a top team in 3A from the jump.
Top Ten Potential
Teams that could be in the Top 10 of the State in 4A
Marion – Last season Marion was able to win 20 games with Jalen Blackmon leading the way in his Freshman season. But now, you have a few of their key role players gone in Jalon Spurgon and Tyrese Cobb. They still have a stellar backcourt in Blackmon and Jakylen Thomas as well as Dre Aguilar and Colton Randolph providing the interior play. Expectations are they could be a Top 10 team in the state.
Compete With Most
Teams that could be well above .500 this Season
Delta – This team is going to surprise some people. They won 18 games and came up a bit short in the Sectional Championship. Now, they return everyone of importance including Josh Bryan and Brady Hunt, their top two scorers who averaged nearly 30 points combined.
Fort Wayne Concordia – Concordia is sitting in a great position here as we get ready for the season. They come off a couple of rebuild years and currently will have their entire roster back including Jadon Dance and Cleevas Craig. Landen Jordan and Brian Parrish are a year older and will give great minutes off the bench. Could be their year to take control of their destiny.
Fairfield – For Fairfield, the loss of Stephens and Knight will hurt but they have three players who averaged more than 4.3 points per game and could get some new upperclassmen that can compete and give them solid chance to fight off competition in a solid Sectional.
Rebuilding
Teams that were good last year but could struggle this Season
Lakeland – Last season, Lakeland was able to put together 16 wins and get to the Sectional Finals. However, they lose six seniors and will be looking to a sophomore in Braden Bontrager to pick up the scoring load. A big class of seniors like that at a rural school is going to be tough to reload super quick.
Mississinewa – Looking at Mississinewa for this season, it could be a major step back as they lose their reliable senior group who won 16 games last season. Jerod May and Thabit Gault are gone and their top returning scorer is Anthony Horton, a junior that had 7.0 pgg last year.
Preseason Power Ranking
- New Castle
- Marion
- Delta
- Fort Wayne Concordia
- Fairfield
- Hamilton Heights
- New Haven
- NorthWood
- Leo
- Blackford
Preseason All-Conference
First Team:
Mason Gillis (Sr., New Castle)
Luke Bumbalough (Sr., New Castle)
Jalen Blackmon (So., Marion)
Jakylen Thomas (Jr., Marion)
Gus Etchison (So., Hamilton Heights)
Second Team:
Jadon Dance (Sr., Fort Wayne Concordia)
Kaden Gongwer (Sr., NorthWood)
Josh Bryan (Sr., Delta)
Luke Brown (So., Blackford)
Camron Knott (Jr., Hamilton Heights)
Honorable Mention Team:
Brayden Bontrager (So., Lakeland)
Cordell Hofer (Sr., Fairfield)
Trevor Franklin (Sr., West Noble)
Josh Gross (Jr., West Noble)
Brady Hunt (So., Delta)
Blake Burris (Sr., New Castle)
Naylon Thompson (So., Bishop Luers)
Jalen Causey (Jr., Bishop Luers)
Adam Gottschalk (Sr., Fort Wayne Concordia)
Donovynn Sisson-Lewis (Jr., New Haven)
Diquan Meriwether (Sr., New Haven)