Sectional Preview: Triton Regional
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The high school season is almost over and we are getting locked in for the State Playoffs. It is that time of year when we start looking ahead and previewing each and every Sectional. We will start with Michigan City…
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Continue ReadingThe high school season is almost over and we are getting locked in for the State Playoffs. It is that time of year when we start looking ahead and previewing each and every Sectional. We will start with Michigan City Regional and have two previews per day until the start of the Sectional tournament on Tuesday, March 2. Today, let’s look at the Triton Regional.
Sectional 49: Kouts
The Teams: Covenant Christian (DeMotte), Gary 21st Century, Hammond Science & Tech, Kouts, Marquette Catholic, Morgan Township, Washington Township
Our Contenders: Gary 21st Century, Marquette Catholic
Players To Watch: Ashton Williamson Ashton Williamson 6'2" | PG Gary 21st Century | 2023 State #287 Nation IN (2023) – Gary 21st Century
Prediction: #2 Gary 21st Century and their outstanding trio of Ashton Williamson Ashton Williamson 6'2" | PG Gary 21st Century | 2023 State #287 Nation IN , Quintin Floyd Quintin Floyd 6'4" | SG Gary 21st Century | 2023 State IN , and D.J. Moss D.J. Moss 6'4" | SF Gary 21st Century | 2023 State IN come into Sectional week having played one of the best schedules of any 1A team in the state. They are 10-4 against 3A and 4A schools right now, and they have big wins over Kouts and Morgan Township. Marquette Catholic with Lukas Balling Lukas Balling 6'5" | PF Marquette Catholic | 2023 State IN and Kaden Manna Kaden Manna 6'6" | PF Marquette Catholic | 2022 State IN join these three teams as the only other team with double-digit wins. These four teams should all meet up in the semifinals with Morgan Township vs Marquette Catholic and Gary 21st Century vs Morgan Township. I don’t see Gary 21st being beat, but if they do, I would put my money on Marquette Catholic.
Sectional 50: Triton
The Teams: Argos, Culver, LaCrosse, Oregon-Davis, Trinity Greenlawn, Triton, West Central
Our Contenders: Argos, Trinity Greenlawn, Triton
Player To Watch: J.J. Morris J.J. Morris 6'6" | SF Argos | 2023 State IN (2023) – Argos
Prediction: Sectional 50 is led by three 14-win teams with #14 Argos, Trinity Greenlawn, and #11 Triton. Argos is led by their scoring duo of Michael Richard and J.J. Morris J.J. Morris 6'6" | SF Argos | 2023 State IN . Trinity Greenlawn and Henry Lee have only played two games against teams that are in 2A or higher, and they have lost both of these. However, they are holding opponents to just 29 points per game, and they played Triton to a 33-27 game back in February. If they can keep the game down below 30, Triton may be in trouble. Besides this game, Triton and Argos should cruise to the championship game for the fourth consecutive season. Argos won it in 2019 and 2020, but Triton took it in 2021. I will take Triton on their home floor, but it could go either way.
Sectional 51: Fremont
The Teams: Bethany Christian, Elkhart Christian, Fremont, Hamilton, Lakewood Park
Our Contenders: Bethany Christian, Elkhart Christian, Fremont
Player To Watch: Beck Willems Beck Willems 6'3" | SF Bethany Christian | 2022 State IN (2022) – Bethany Christian
Prediction: All three of the contenders come in with double digit wins, but there has been only one meeting, a 10-points win for Elkhart Christian over Bethany Christian, between these teams this season. Beck Willems Beck Willems 6'3" | SF Bethany Christian | 2022 State IN leads the way for Bethany Christian at 19 points per game and Fremont is led by Ethan Bontrager Ethan Bontrager 6'1" | SG Fremont | 2023 IN . Fremont has played the best schedule of any of these teams, so with the home court advantage as well, they are going to be tough to beat. However, that semifinal matchup with Bethany Christian is going to be incredibly interesting.
Sectional 52: Tri-County
The Teams: Caston, Frontier, North White, Pioneer, South Newton, Tri-County
Our Contenders: Caston, North White
Player To Watch: Bentley Buschman (2022) – North White
Prediction: Sectional 52 has two clear frontrunners with #6 North White and Caston as they are the only two teams with double-digit wins. North White is led by Bentley Buschman, Hunter Pogue, and Nate Miller who all average 15 points per game, and the 18-3 Vikings are coming in on a 13 game winning streak including wins over all five Sectional opponents. This included a 60-57 win at Caston back in the beginning of February. These two teams should meet again in the semifinals as North White should cruise past Tri-County in the first round after their 25 point win in the regular season. On the other side of the draw, Caston, Pioneer, and South Newton will all fight it out to make the finals, but I don’t see them giving North White or Caston much of a fight. I am going to take North White to bring home just their second Sectional title since 1984.