Semi-State Preview: Logansport

What another eventful weekend, as there were a number of games that came down to the wire, even a handful of overtime games, but at the end of the day last Saturday, 16 teams advanced to the Semi-State Round of the IHSAA State Tournament. Tomorrow, we will see eight of those teams earn the right to advance to Bankers Life Fieldhouse and the State Finals on February 23rd. Below is a look at the four teams and the two matchups to take place this Saturday, February 16th, at Logansport High School. All four teams are ranked, three of them highly ranked, within their respective classes, and this should make for an entertaining and competitive day of basketball.   SAG = Current 2018-2019 Multiclass Sagarin Rating; SOS = Current 2018-2019 Strength of Schedule *All Game Times Are Eastern Time*   4:00 P.M. – CLASS 2A NORTH SEMI-STATE Central Noble (27-0) SAG 20; SOS 141 Central Noble comes in as the defending Class 2A State Champions, and following a 22-0 regular season, I would consider them a slight favorite in this game. The Senior duo of Sydney Freeman and Meleah Leatherman has been strong for four years, and they look to cap off great careers with another State Finals appearance. Bridgette Gray (2021) has been strong for them, averaging nearly double-figures. Lydia Andrews (2021) and Sam Brumbaugh (2020) have big-game experience and fill out the lineup, plus Anna Stayner (2019) and Jocelyn Winebrenner (2020) give them a boost off the bench. Oak Hill (23-3) SAG 26; SOS 194 The Golden Eagles have experienced individual talent of their own, but they also play incredibly hard and physical. The core of Taylor Westgate (2020), Adrianna Trexler (2019), Jenessa Hasty (2019), and Kaela Robey (2019) are now finishing their third year together in the lineup, and they’ve seen a State Finals appearance, plus two Regional runs in that time. But this year they look for more, as they are getting additional help from Andrea and Marissa Wilk (2019), Brittany McCorkle (2019), and Abby Shaw (2020). Why Central Noble will win: Central Noble will easily have the most talented guard on the floor, and they probably have two of the three most talented players in general. They do a great job of hiding their foul trouble with a combination of man and zone, and they seemingly find the perfect moments to break them and get them a quick drink and some rest. If they can keep Freeman (2019) and Leatherman (2019) on the floor for 30+ minutes each, that definitely swings the momentum in their favor. Why Oak Hill will win: Oak Hill is incredibly experienced throughout their roster, and I’m not just talking about a couple of players over the last two seasons. You have eight players, six Seniors and two Juniors, who have been at the core of this team’s success for the better part of four seasons now. They show emotion, sure, but they also understand how to reign it back in quickly and perform the next possession equally as well. They are competitive, tough, and very disciplined. That’s their key to success. Key Players: This game is going to be tightly contested throughout, and the great players are going to make great plays. This one comes down to everyone on Central Noble’s team not named Freeman or Leatherman making plays at key moments. Oak Hill is just too solid from top to bottom for Central Noble to rely strictly on Freeman and Leatherman to make all of the plays. Bridgette Gray (2021), Lydia Andrews (2021), Sam Brumbaugh (2020), et cetera, must step up in this one for the Cougars to return to Indianapolis next weekend. Prediction: Oak Hill 48, Central Noble 46 in overtime   7:00 P.M. – CLASS 3A NORTH SEMI-STATE Northwestern (25-3) SAG 2; SOS 44 Northwestern has been a heavy favorite from the beginning of the season because of the duo of Madison Layden (2020) and Kendall Bostic (2020). Katie Neher (2019) has stepped up in a big way this year for the Tigers, as has Klair Merrell (2020), plus they get additional help from Sarah Heaver (2020), Ellie Boyer (2021), Allison Miller (2019), and Novalei Loer (2019). Marion (23-4) SAG 51; SOS 90 The Giants aren’t very deep, but the combination of 6-5 Ra’Shaya Kyle (2020) and 6-1 Jazmyn Turner (2019) can really cause opponents fits. Both are talented athletes as well. Ellie Vermillion (2020) has been steady for them at point guard, and she can knock down shots around the perimeter, plus Ayanna Harvey (2019) brings good physicality inside as well. Why Northwestern will win: Northwestern checks all the boxes. They have good coaching, discipline, talent, skill, and they’ve matched up with some of the best teams in the state and Midwest for the last couple of seasons. They will use supreme execution, toughness, and effort in this game, and if they can do that as they’ve done all season, they should walk out of here with a win. Why Marion will win: Northwestern has faced a variety of talented teams all season, but Marion presents them with a unique challenge in the way of Kyle (2020) and Turner (2019)…two long, tall, athletic front-liners who play with a great deal of versatility. When those two are engaged and effortful, they can be unstoppable for stretches. They will have to play their best from beginning to end tomorrow to give Marion its best chance, and they are certainly capable of doing so. Key Player: Whenever Northwestern takes the floor, they typically have the best, and most times the two best players on the floor. Ra’Shaya Kyle (2020) is certainly talented enough to play at that same level, and then some. If she wants to be mentioned in the same breath as Madison Layden (2020) or Sydney Parrish (2020) in terms of the 2020 Miss Basketball race, these are the games where she needs to shine the brightest and dominate. That kind of effort out of her could be instrumental in Marion pulling off a huge upset tomorrow evening. Prediction: Northwestern 59, Marion 47   Header photo of Oak Hill High School in a Sectional game two years ago; photo courtesy of miamicountyathletics.com.