Logansport Semi-State Preview

The featured image is of [player_tooltip player_id="61070" first="Ella" last="Wolfe"] of Tipton 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 North Semi-States hosted by Logansport High School, breakdowns and analysis of those two games, plus predictions on who we think could be the North 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 1A NORTH SEMI-STATE 23-4 Pioneer High School (Royal Center, IN) The Pioneer Lady Panthers are looking for their second consecutive trip to Bankers Life Fieldhouse, but their eye is on the prize, not just being there. Before that happens, they take on a tough Northfield group that can match up with them at most positions. Pioneer has won just the two Regionals (2020, 2021), so their experience with deep postseason runs as a program is limited, however they return their top four players from last season’s State Runner-Up team. After beginning the season 3-3, they have won 20 of their last 21, including 11 games in a row. While those people around the state "in the know" understand what a nice talent Sophomore guard [player_tooltip player_id="59732" first="Ashlynn" last="Brooke"] (7.0p in 6 games) is, it has honestly been the rest of the roster who has really stepped up this year, as she has only recently returned from an injury. If she’s even 70% of herself, she can definitely help, but the closer she gets to 100%, the remaining Class 1A teams better watch out. Ashlynn’s older sister, Senior forward [player_tooltip player_id="130403" first="Olivia" last="Brooke"] (15.4p, 8.2r, 3.5a), has made the biggest jump from last season. Her scoring, rebounding, and steals are up, and her assists have nearly doubled. She’s also shooting it much better from the free throw line. She is a nice athlete, with a wiry strong frame, and she plays with an outstanding motor. She could be the x-factor come Saturday afternoon. Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id="157179" first="Hailey" last="Cripe"] (18.9p, 4.7r, 4.1a, 4.3s) has also seen her numbers improve throughout her career, though she has been an impact player all three seasons. She is strong, physical, and tough, but she also has ball skill and the ability to bury shot after shot with range well-beyond the 3-point line. Senior front-liner [player_tooltip player_id="245985" first="Madison" last="Blickenstaff"] (11.0p, 8.0r, 2.5s) possesses good height and length at about 5-11. She is fluid, bouncy, and very active. She comes up with a lot of second chance points, "scraps" baskets, and she can sit down and defend different positions as well. I think her length and athleticism will be very necessary against Northfield Saturday. Senior guard MacKenzie Walker (4.6p, 2.6r, 3.6a) saw a lot of action a year ago, and she has been instrumental at times this season, helping Cripe and the older Brooke handle the ball, especially in the early parts of the season. 6-0 Freshman front-liner Brooklyn Borges (4.1p, 2.8r) could also help in the paint this weekend. She offers some size to go along with Blickenstaff, and she has had her moments as a rookie. 21-5 Northfield High School (Wabash, IN) The Lady Norse of Northfield High School are no stranger to the postseason of late, having played in the Regional Final a year ago, and having faced Marquette Catholic two seasons ago in the Semi-State. Overall, this is Northfield’s third Semi-State, with the other one having been way back in 1978. That is the farthest a Lady Norse team has advanced, so with a trip to Bankers Life Fieldhouse in reach, they could make program history this weekend. Northfield also began their season a little bumpy, starting with just a 5-5 record. But 16 wins in a row later, and they present a tough challenge for the Panthers. Northfield’s starting lineup is made up of all Seniors, and they have a ton of length and athleticism across the board. 5-10 Senior wing [player_tooltip player_id="130379" first="Emma" last="Hoover"] (11.3p, 3.8r, 3.9a, 2.9s) is kind of their do-everything player. She acts as their primary ball-handler a lot, she can glide to the basket, and she is a very nice perimeter shooter with range. She is extremely long, fluidly athletic, and wiry strong. She will play at Trine University next year. 5-11 Senior forward [player_tooltip player_id="130376" first="Addi" last="Baker"] (12.2p, 6.8r, 3.6a, 2.8s) is kind of the unsung hero of this group. She’s another very nice athlete, wiry strong with length, and she’s somewhat bouncy but tremendously active. She is great in the mid-post, solid on the block, and she always comes up with a big rebound, or put-back, or steal, or whatever else. Addi could play basketball on scholarship somewhere, but she’s headed to Southern Illinois University for softball. Senior wing [player_tooltip player_id="130347" first="Kyra" last="Kennedy"] (12.1p, 4.1r, 2.6a, 2.3s) returned this season after missing 2019-2020 with an injury. She brings great energy, but she’s also an explosive athlete in all directions. She’s quick, fast, and very bouncy. She hustles around the floor, drives the ball to the basket with intent, but she is also a tremendous defensive player. Senior wing [player_tooltip player_id="158394" first="Kearston" last="Stout"] (10.7p, 6.2r, 2.1s) is another high-energy, great-motor type of kid who just makes plays. She can attack, hit shots outside consistently, but she’s also a willing rebounder and a solid defender. She, too, will play at Trine University next season. Senior forward Kenzie Baer (6.8p, 4.3r) is the perfect "glue" kid to bring it all together. She is tough, strong, and physical, and she just makes hustle plays for the Lady Norse. Class 1A Prediction: This game will come down to a few specific things. Northfield will want to use their length and athleticism, pressure the ball, and get out in transition. They play very fast, and they like to get shots up in the first 10 seconds of a possession. Pioneer is disciplined and can rebound it, so Northfield will need to be a little more efficient than usual to ensure they are in the best position to win. As for Pioneer, they will look to run good offense, find open, rhythm shots, and take advantage of any Northfield mistakes. Now, I can truly see either team winning, but can Northfield be just a little more efficient offensively? Can Pioneer take care of the ball and rebound against Northfield’s length and athleticism? I do like Pioneer’s experience, having been in this position a year ago. However, I am going to lean towards Northfield this time, as I think these five Seniors really want to put the exclamation point on the nice four-year run they’ve had. I will call this one Northfield 57, Pioneer 53.   4:00 PM - CLASS 2A NORTH SEMI-STATE 20-5 North Judson-San Pierre High School (North Judson, IN) How about the North Judson-San Pierre Bluejays? After beginning their year 6-4, they have won 14 of their last 15 and put themselves in a position to return to Bankers Life Fieldhouse for just the second time in program history (2005 Runners-Up). North Judson posted a couple of impressive wins in last weekend’s Regional, making it their seventh Regional Championship, but just their first since that 2005 season. Senior wing [player_tooltip player_id="35021" first="Lilliann" last="Frasure"] (24.1p, 10.0r, 4.1a, 4.3s) wants to make sure the Bluejays are in position to win two more games this year. She is their heart and soul, and as valuable to her team and program as just about any active player in the state right now. She can handle, pass, shoot, drive, rebound, and defend. She literally does it all for her team. She has already committed to play at Indiana Wesleyan University, and she should star there as well. Younger sister, Sophomore wing Sophia Frasure (11.3p, 4.4r), has nearly tripled her scoring and more than doubled her rebounding from her Freshman season. Providing another double-digit scoring threat has taken some pressure off of Lilliann, plus Sophia is a capable perimeter shooter who forces defenses to pay attention to her. Sophomore guard [player_tooltip player_id="127218" first="Olivia" last="Burkett"] (7.8p, 2.3r, 2.5a) is another youngster for the Bluejays who has both Varsity and postseason experience. She is a strong guard, with a solid handle, and the ability to find open teammates. I really enjoy the steady pace she plays with. Senior forward [player_tooltip player_id="130388" first="Abby" last="Chambers"] (7.1p, 6.5r) gives the Bluejays a rebounding presence other than the older Frasure, plus she can knock down an open shot, she plays with a nice motor, and she earns repeated trips to the free throw line. Senior guard Adalynn Harper (3.6) is in her second year of Varsity action, and she brings some experience and a nice motor as well. The Bluejays aren’t deep beyond those five players, so they’ll need to stay healthy and out of foul trouble. 19-7 Tipton High School (Tipton, IN) The Tipton Blue Devils are headed to the Semi-State for the third time (2001, 2014), but they have never made it to the State Finals in their program’s history. That would be quite a feat after sitting at 14-7 just a couple of short weeks ago. But the Blue Devils have found their groove, they are playing as well as ever, and they have knocked off ranked teams like Frankton and Clinton Prairie this postseason, avenging regular season losses to each. The Blue Devils might have as much balance, depth, and talent as any of the remaining Class 2A teams; now they just have to prove they are the best team remaining. With no Seniors on the roster, they could very well be a Class 2A favorite next season. Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id="61070" first="Ella" last="Wolfe"] (14.2p, 3.5r, 2.8a, 2.6s) is where it begins for Tipton. She is long, very athletic and fast, plus she plays with a nice motor. She can shoot it outside, attack the basket to finish, plus she can handle and create for teammates. Additionally, she is one of the better on-ball defenders in the 2022 class. 6-3 Sophomore post [player_tooltip player_id="127234" first="Ashlee" last="Schram"] (14.3p, 12.4r, 2.7b) has really improved for the Blue Devils over the last year. She has good size and strength, she plays hard and runs the floor well for a true post, plus she has nice hands, solid footwork, and good balance inside. She works hard on the boards and is a defensive presence, altering or blocking a number of shots each time out. Junior wing [player_tooltip player_id="61076" first="Abigail" last="Parker"] (11.2p, 3.8r, 2.0a) is a wiry strong, athletic driver who does a really nice job of getting to the basket. She is effective in the mid-range game as well, plus she plays hard and is a willing defender. Junior forward Olivia Spidel (6.2p, 2.6r) is one of those "glue" kids coaches embrace. She plays with a nice motor, she understands her role, plus she can be a knockdown shooter at times with range to 25-feet. She doesn’t allow you to hone in on the above three players, because she can burn you outside. Junior forward Macy Earl (2.0p, 2.9r) is a scrapper who will rebound and defend, while Freshman wing Hallie Wolfe (3.7p, 2.2r, 2.0s) has done a nice job off the bench of late, knocking down shots and handling the ball at times. Freshman forward Kaiya Money (6.7p, 2.9r) played strong during the regular season, but she is out at this time due to a season-ending injury. Class 2A Prediction: This is a tough one for me to pick, because we are looking at two programs with players who aren’t exactly used to being this deep in a state tournament situation. While North Judson-San Pierre are winners of 14 of their last 15, Tipton is getting hot at the right time. I’m struggling with whether this game is going to come down to how the stars play, or the Xs and Os, and any necessary adjustments. [player_tooltip player_id="35021" first="Lilliann" last="Frasure"] is not someone who can necessarily be stopped, so Tipton will do their best to contain her. If they do, at all, how will the Sophomores (S. Frasure & Burkett) step up in that moment? On the other side, North Judson will need to figure out a way to limit Wolfe and Schram, while also not giving anything easy to Parker, Spidel, or anyone else. If Tipton continues to play in this groove they’ve found over the last three weeks, I think they are going to be terribly difficult for North Judson to match up with. I think North Judson can win this game, but I’m going with Tipton, 53-47.