Jeffersonville Semi-State Preview

The featured image is of [player_tooltip player_id="61040" first="Kuryn" last="Brunson"] of Franklin Community High School. With just 16 teams remaining in Indiana’s state tournament, four schools in each classification, Hoosier hoop fans now turn their attention to the Semi-State round. Below is a look at one of the South Semi-States hosted by Jeffersonville High School, breakdowns and analysis of those two games, plus predictions on who we think could be the South representative for their classification on February 26th or 27th at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. This will be an intriguing weekend of high school girls’ basketball, as the Regionals last Saturday produced a number of upsets and surprises. (All times listed below are Eastern Daylight Time.)   1:00 PM - CLASS 3A SOUTH SEMI-STATE 17-6 Tri-West High School (Lizton, IN) The Tri-West Bruins are riding high, following a big 72-60 win over Bishop Chatard in the Regional Final. It was the third Regional title in program history, with the other two coming in 1998 and 1999. The Bruins have never made it to the State Finals, so this weekend could be historical for the program, depending on the outcome. While they face a daunting Silver Creek team, Tri-West has played a tough schedule, so they’ll be prepared and not at all intimidated by what the Dragons bring to the table. The Bruins have a pretty balanced foursome of upperclassmen, led by Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id="61059" first="Kenna" last="Kirby"] (15.7p, 4.8r, 3.5a, 2.8s). Kirby has actually scored more in past years, but her improved ability to handle the ball and find open teammates has really added to the success of Tri-West. And, when she needs to, she’s still capable of going for 35 points, like she did against Chatard last Saturday night. Kirby is a wiry strong, fluidly athletic guard with a nice jump-shot and some range. She’s absorbing contact much better and looks stronger downhill, plus she’s defending better now too. Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id="182150" first="Isabelle" last="Saylor"] (9.8p, 2.8r, 2.2a, 2.6s) has stepped up her game this season and given the Bruins more shooting production around the perimeter. She is another wiry strong kid with solid athleticism, and she plays with a nice motor. Senior point guard [player_tooltip player_id="245982" first="Grace" last="Sandlin"] (9.8p, 3.6r, 3.8a, 2.4s) has been a Varsity regular since she arrived in high school. She is incredibly consistent, she takes care of the basketball, she finds open teammates on time/on target, and she is a very good perimeter shooter. Junior forward Adrie Thompson (9.2p, 4.6r) is more of a wing, but she might be asked to play some inside and help on Gasaway defensively. Thompson is an active athlete with really good length. She can knock down a shot or slash to the basket. Sophomore forward Becca Van Slyke (5.8p, 4.7r) and Senior forward Makenna Brauman (5.4p, 3.7r) will be counted on to help rebound and defend the interior this weekend. 23-3 Silver Creek High School (Sellersburg, IN) With three new additions from Louisville, Kentucky, over the last two seasons, the Dragons of Silver Creek have become the top team in Class 3A this year. To date, they have been the lone team to knock off Crown Point this year, plus they have wins over Salem (2x), Columbus North, and Evansville Memorial, with their losses coming against Class 4A powers like North Central (Indianapolis), Westfield, and Bedford North Lawrence. Obviously, they haven’t shied away from any competition in putting together their 23-3 record. The biggest addition happened this year, when 6-0 Senior front-liner [player_tooltip player_id="88414" first="Marissa" last="Gasaway"] (12.8p, 11.6r, 2.3b) came over from Louisville’s Eastern High School. The double-double machine is a strong, physical, and athletic kid who can flat out rebound and defend the paint. She could probably average closer to 20 points per game, but she is also surrounded by a talented backcourt. As far as I know, she remains uncommitted at this time but has a lot of Division-I interest. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id="130316" first="Alana" last="Striverson"] (12.5p, 3.8r, 3.1a) led the Dragons in scoring a year ago, and she still brings that type of punch. She is a strong athlete, with some length. She can knock down shots outside, attack the basket and finish through contact, plus she is a solid defender. Alana is committed to Lindenwood University in Missouri. Younger sister, Junior point guard [player_tooltip player_id="128116" first="Kynidi" last="Striverson"] (10.1p, 4.6r, 4.5a, 3.2s), is a long, quick/fast athlete, and a nice playmaker off the bounce. She is looking to get others involved first, but she can score it at all three levels as well. She is a high-level on-ball defender too. Senior wing [player_tooltip player_id="62561" first="Jaclyn" last="Emly"] (10.9p, 3.5r, 2.5s) is a four-year starter and has had a nice career for the Dragons. She has some length, wiry strength, she can handle and start the offense, plus she can make shots at all three levels herself. Jaclyn has committed to play at Kentucky Wesleyan University next season. From there, Junior guards Sydney Sierota (5.3p, 2.3r) and [player_tooltip player_id="128122" first="Emme" last="Rooney"] (4.9p, 2.9r) both offer experienced, skillful options to the Silver Creek lineup. Sierota is a long, fluidly athletic combo guard who can create for others, but she has started to score it much more effectively this season. Rooney is a tough-nosed, attacking style of guard who can also occasionally run offense or hit shots outside. Both play with great motors and could be top scorers on other teams. Class 3A Prediction: Tri-West made a nice run to get here, and they would definitely be a fun underdog to cheer for in this game. But I just think Silver Creek has the talent and guard play to not only match them, but to also play deeper into their bench. Additionally, the effectiveness of Gasaway defensively and on the boards could limit the Bruins to only a handful of second chance opportunities, if any. I think this is going to be a very tough matchup for Tri-West tomorrow. Now, if they come out and shoot over 50% from the field, bury 10 or more 3-pointers, and Kirby plus someone else can get hot, then I think they make this a game down to the wire. But Silver Creek hasn’t wavered at all this year, and I don’t see it happening tomorrow. I will pick Silver Creek, 63-44.   5:00 PM - CLASS 4A SOUTH SEMI-STATE 16-10 Brownsburg High School (Brownsburg, IN) Imagine, just a few weeks ago, in mid-January following a tough loss to Pike, the Brownsburg Bulldogs were sitting at 8-10 on the year. Then something clicked. With three victories to finish the season, including huge wins over Fishers and Zionsville, plus a monster upset of #1 North Central (Indianapolis) in the morning Regional game, and the Bulldogs are sitting at 16-10 now with one game left to get to Bankers Life Fieldhouse. It’s a crazy story that will surely go down in Hoosier hoops lore, should they win two more games over the next nine days. In fairness, Brownsburg does play a brutal schedule (#7 per updated Sagarin ratings), but they have certainly been on a roller-coaster ride when it comes to wins and losses this season. That’s where having a veteran and talent like Senior [player_tooltip player_id="10665" first="Ally" last="Becki"] (17.4p, 7.9r, 2.9a, 4.1s) at point guard comes in handy this time of year. Becki is as tough as they come, she plays with an outstanding motor, and she can shoot, score, handle, pass, rebound, and defend with the best the state has to offer. She will fit in perfectly at Ball State University next year with how they play, but first she has some unfinished business, and the Bulldogs are here because of her 42 points and 61% shooting in last weekend’s two Regional games. Brownsburg has played a number of girls this season, 14 have played 10 or more games in fact, but based on last weekend’s play, they seem to have settled on a rotation of seven. Helping Becki in the backcourt are Sophomore guard [player_tooltip player_id="59780" first="Kailyn" last="Terrell"] (7.1p), Junior guard Miya Webb (5.8p), plus Junior wing Kiera Guckenberger (4.0p, 3.0r). Terrell is a tough-nosed, high-motor kid who can run offense at times, knock down shots outside, plus she’ll get after it defensively. Webb is a move-in from Illinois, and the shorter guard brings good energy and toughness. The 5-6 Guckenberger plays much bigger than she is, she has a nose for the ball, plus she plays with a motor. Up front, the Bulldogs rely on 5-11 Junior forward [player_tooltip player_id="128179" first="Novalee" last="Glass"] (4.2p, 2.6r), 6-0 Sophomore post [player_tooltip player_id="127239" first="Quinci" last="Thomas"] (3.7p, 5.1r), and Junior forward [player_tooltip player_id="128190" first="Ra’Mya" last="Milton"] (2.0p). Glass plays with outstanding energy and effort, she’s strong and physical, plus she has skill facing the basket. Thomas is a long, wiry strong, very athletic kid who bounces around the floor with ease. Milton is a versatile forward who can play inside or out. She’s strong, will rebound and defend, and she too plays with a nice motor. 22-2 Franklin Community High School (Franklin, IN) The Franklin Grizzly Cubs are putting together their own dream season. Having averaged exactly 10 wins per season over the last 11 seasons, with no more than 13 wins in any single season, and coming off of a 9-13 campaign a year ago, I’m not sure many people outside of Franklin could have predicted this great of a year. They are 22-2 with losses to Zionsville and Martinsville, they won their first Sectional since 2008, their first Regional since 1999, and now they’re looking for just their second trip to the State Finals. They last made a title appearance in 1998, when they were still just a Class 3A school due to size. The Grizzly Cubs can thank a lot of their success this year to their health, and to a talented Freshman group. Junior wing [player_tooltip player_id="61040" first="Kuryn" last="Brunson"] (16.3p, 5.2r, 4.9a, 2.5s) and Senior point guard [player_tooltip player_id="99396" first="Kyra" last="Baker"] (8.7p, 3.4r, 2.7a) have had their fill of the injury bug throughout their careers, but when you have them together at full capacity, look at what they’re able to accomplish. Brunson has good size and strength, but it’s her ability to handle and really pass the basketball that stand out. She can drive it straight-line to the bucket for scores, but she has also greatly improved her perimeter jumper, making her doubly difficult to defend. Baker is a tough-nosed, strong, physical lead guard who plays with a great competitive fire. She is a nice game-manager, but she can also shoot it outside. She is headed to play at Huntington University in the Fall. As for those Freshmen, guards [player_tooltip player_id="177336" first="Scarlett" last="Kimbrell"] (11.5p, 5.7r) and [player_tooltip player_id="176408" first="Lauren" last="Klem"] (11.1p, 3.1r, 2.1a), plus wing Erica Buening (5.7p, 3.7r) have been a welcomed addition for sure. Kimbrell is a taller, longer player with a wiry strong frame and a nice motor. Klem is a little water-bug who flies all over the floor. Both are outstanding shooters with range well-beyond the 3-point line. Buening has given the Grizzly Cubs another stable presence on the boards, plus she also shoots it well, just not in the same volume as the other two. Senior guard Megan Thompson (6.0p, 2.4r, 2.2a) and Senior forward [player_tooltip player_id="130331" first="Lauren" last="Sandrock"] (2.5p, 4.4r) round out the rotation. Thompson is another capable shooter and ball-handler, while Sandrock is the tallest rotation player at 5-11, plus she has good length and athleticism. Class 4A Prediction: This is a coin-flip game for me, because you have contrasting styles of play. The Bulldogs have a go-to in Becki, they have a solid frontline that will rebound and defend the interior, and they like to run a more traditional offense. The Grizzly Cubs like to spread you out, they can shoot it at four or five spots consistently throughout the game, and if you guard them, they will just scoot back and attack the gaps. I think a lot of this game comes down to Brownsburg’s ability to run Franklin off the 3-point line. If they can limit the number of attempts Franklin gets, or better yet, the number of makes, I think that plays into Brownsburg’s hands. But they will need to rebound and not allow second chance points. Even though the Bulldogs have a size advantage, I’m not sure they’ll specifically force it inside to Glass and Thomas, and completely go away from Becki, Terrell, and Webb shooting/scoring the ball. So, this is one of those "live by the ’3’, die by the ’3’" type of games. I think it will be easier for Franklin to figure out a way to defend Becki down the stretch, then for the Bulldogs to defend the perimeter prowess of the Grizzly Cubs throughout the duration of the game. I will take Franklin over Brownsburg in this one, 55-46.