2A Semi-State Preview: Breakdown
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Regional play is over but we are still locked in for the State Playoffs. It is that time of year where we start looking ahead and previewing each and every Semi-State matchup. Time to take a look at the two…
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Continue ReadingRegional play is over but we are still locked in for the State Playoffs. It is that time of year where we start looking ahead and previewing each and every Semi-State matchup. Time to take a look at the two matchups that make up the 2A Semi-State.
Elkhart Semi-State
The Matchup: Fort Wayne Blackhawk vs. Blackford
Players To Watch: Caleb Furst Caleb Furst 6'9" | PF Blackhawk Christian | 2021 State #34 Nation IN (2021), Zane Burke Zane Burke 6'2" | SG Blackhawk Christian | 2021 State IN (2021), Luke Brown Luke Brown 6'1" | PG Blackford | 2021 State IN (2021), Landon Grimes (2021)
Analysis: This is the matchup that everyone expected to see in the North Semi-State at the start of the season. Fort Wayne Blackhawk is the obvious #1 team in the class, and they come in with just three losses to Homestead, Cathedral, and Elevation Prep. They are led by Furst (Purdue), Burke (St. Francis), and Marcus Davidson Marcus Davidson 6'0" | SG Blackhawk Christian | 2021 State IN . Blackford comes in at 25-4 with two of their losses coming in the Hall of Fame Classic to Barr-Reeve and Shenandoah. The biggest storyline in this one is that Luke Brown Luke Brown 6'1" | PG Blackford | 2021 State IN comes in at 23 points away from 3,000, and he is just 25 from reaching fourth all-time in Indiana history.
I don’t anticipate Fort Wayne Blackhawk having much of a problem with the Bruins in this one. They have the size and length to overpower the smaller Blackford team, and they also have the guards to defend Brown. Blackford will need to shoot the ball lights out if they want to have a chance in this one.
Washington Semi-State
The Matchup: Parke Heritage vs. Southridge
Players To Watch: Christian Johnson Christian Johnson 6'1" | SG Parke Heritage | 2023 IN (2023), Connor Davis Connor Davis 6'4" | PF Parke Heritage | 2021 State IN (2021), Colson Montgomery Colson Montgomery 6'5" | SG Southridge | 2021 IN (2021), Carter Whitehead Carter Whitehead 5'10" | PG Southridge | 2022 IN (2022)
Analysis: Unlike the North Semi-State, neither of these teams were supposed to be there, but with outstanding performances and upsets, they both sit one game away from a trip to Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Parke Heritage loves to get out and run, and they can make shots from all over the court. The Wolves are coming off one of the bigger upsets in the Regional round as they knocked off #2 Shenandoah by 19 points. They come in having lost just three games this season, and they may be playing their best basketball right now.
Colson Montgomery Colson Montgomery 6'5" | SG Southridge | 2021 IN and Southridge got hot at the right time this year. They entered the Sectional tournament at just 11-10, but they have won 5 in a row in the State tournament to reach this round. Montgomery is averaging 27.4 points per game in the State tournament, including a 38-point performance in the Sectional title game. He is definitely going to be the difference-maker for Southridge on Saturday.
As I said, Parke Heritage is playing their best basketball right now, and I think they are going to move on to Bankers Life Fieldhouse. This will be Southridge’s first time playing away from home in over three weeks, and they are going to need a great performance from Colson Montgomery Colson Montgomery 6'5" | SG Southridge | 2021 IN if they are going to pull out the win on Saturday.