Semi-State Preview: Class 2A
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The featured image is of Tori Thompson Tori Thompson 5'7" | CG Lafayette Central Catholic | 2023 State IN (2023) of Lafayette’s Central Catholic High School. Following an exciting round of Regional games Saturday afternoon and evening, the Semi-State fields…
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Continue ReadingThe featured image is of Tori Thompson Tori Thompson 5'7" | CG Lafayette Central Catholic | 2023 State IN (2023) of Lafayette’s Central Catholic High School.
Following an exciting round of Regional games Saturday afternoon and evening, the Semi-State fields are now set. This season, the IHSAA decided to make the Regional a one-game affair to win a title, with two Regional championship games at the same host site, similar to past Semi-States. Therefore, there were two Regional winners at each site. The Semi-States are now four-team, three-game events tomorrow, where teams in each class must win twice to advance to the State Finals. Below is a look at the two Semi-State locations in Class 2A, one taking place in the North, and one taking place in the South.
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Logansport Semi-State:
Game-1: Andrean (25-3) vs. Lapel (20-7), 10:00 a.m. ET
Game-2: Central Noble (25-2) vs. Lafayette Central Catholic (25-6), 12:00 p.m. ET
Game-3: Winner Game-1 vs. Winner Game-2, 8:00 p.m. ET
Game-1: Andrean and Lapel are a very interesting matchup, as you have two talented teams from different sides of the state. The Lady 59ers are always prepared defensively, and they find ways to take away what teams like to do most/best. They have a pair of experienced Seniors in Tori Allen Tori Allen 5'9" | CG Andrean | 2023 State IN and Lauren Colon Lauren Colon 5'7" | CG Andrean | 2023 State IN in the backcourt, along with a nice pair of rising prospects in Sophomore wing Lindsay Arcella Lindsay Arcella 5'9" | SF Andrean | 2025 State IN and Sophomore post Maddie Walton. When they make shots, they can beat just about anyone in the state, regardless of class. The Lady Bulldogs of Lapel begin with Freshman forward Laniah Wills Laniah Wills 6'0" | SF Lapel | 2026 State IN . She is long, athletic, wiry-strong, and can provide a boost at either end of the floor with her sheer raw talent. Junior wing Madelyn Poynter Madelyn Poynter 5'10" | SF Lapel | 2024 State IN is another double-figure scorer capable of big games, while Senior forward Deannaya Haseman Deannaya Haseman 5'8" | SF Lapel | 2023 IN has seen at least some Varsity action since her Freshman year. They are going to be tough to knock off if they can take care of the basketball. On the whole, I’ll be curious to see how Lapel responds to Andrean’s disciplined, clampdown defense. This could be a low-scoring affair in which the 59ers grind one out possession by possession. I think Lapel will have their moments, but I look for Andrean to win this one, 46-42.
Game-2: Central Noble’s fantastic year continues, following a 33-point, 14-rebound Regional performance by Senior guard Madison Vice Madison Vice 5'5" | CG Central Noble | 2023 State IN . She willed them to that victory last week, and I’ll be curious to see what she does next. Fellow Senior Meghan Kiebel Meghan Kiebel 5'7" | SG Central Noble | 2023 IN is also capable of big games, but the Lady Cougars will need someone other than those two to step up as well. Lafayette Central Catholic will likely have one of the best backcourts the Cougars have seen yet. The Lady Knights are experienced, athletic, and skilled, and they can match Central Noble’s talent and trump them with more depth in their backcourt. Seniors Tori Thompson Tori Thompson 5'7" | CG Lafayette Central Catholic | 2023 State IN and Kendal Rider Kendal Rider 5'7" | SG Lafayette Central Catholic | 2023 IN , plus Sophomore Carley Barrett Carley Barrett 5'9" | SG Lafayette Central Catholic | 2025 State IN continue to make Central Catholic one of the top teams in Class 2A. I think Central Noble is capable of a win here, but it’s going to take big games out of both Vice and Kiebel. If they aren’t able to combine for about a 37-point effort between the two of them, I’m not sure the Cougars have enough firepower elsewhere to battle Central Catholic. The Knights simply need to value possessions, make the simple plays simple, and take care of their business. If that is true, then I think Lafayette Central Catholic defeats Central Noble, 44-35.
Players to Watch:
Andrean –
Tori Allen
Tori
Allen
5'9" | CG
Andrean | 2023
State
IN
, 2023 – 16.8p, 4.3r, 3.5a
Andrean –
Lauren Colon
Lauren
Colon
5'7" | CG
Andrean | 2023
State
IN
, 2023 – 10.3p, 2.7r, 3.4a
Andrean – Maddie Walton, 2025 – 9.0p, 6.6r
Andrean –
Lindsay Arcella
Lindsay
Arcella
5'9" | SF
Andrean | 2025
State
IN
, 2025 – 8.1p, 2.9r, 3.2a
Andrean –
Alivia Delevic
Alivia
Delevic
5'4" | SG
Andrean | 2024
IN
, 2024 – 3.5p, 2.7r
Central Catholic –
Tori Thompson
Tori
Thompson
5'7" | CG
Lafayette Central Catholic | 2023
State
IN
, 2023
Central Catholic –
Carley Barrett
Carley
Barrett
5'9" | SG
Lafayette Central Catholic | 2025
State
IN
, 2025
Central Catholic –
Kendal Rider
Kendal
Rider
5'7" | SG
Lafayette Central Catholic | 2023
IN
, 2023
Central Catholic – Maddy Bruce, 2025
Central Noble –
Madison Vice
Madison
Vice
5'5" | CG
Central Noble | 2023
State
IN
, 2023 – 18.9p, 6.4r, 5.0a, 3.7s
Central Noble –
Meghan Kiebel
Meghan
Kiebel
5'7" | SG
Central Noble | 2023
IN
, 2023 – 12.8p, 4.0r, 2.1a
Central Noble –
Grace Swank
Grace
Swank
6'0" | C
Central Noble | 2026
IN
, 2026 – 4.8p, 6.5r
Central Noble – Makenna Malcolm, 2024 – 4.9p, 2.8r, 2.2a
Lapel –
Laniah Wills
Laniah
Wills
6'0" | SF
Lapel | 2026
State
IN
, 2026 – 15.8p, 12.6r
Lapel –
Madelyn Poynter
Madelyn
Poynter
5'10" | SF
Lapel | 2024
State
IN
, 2024 – 12.3p, 3.8r
Lapel –
Deannaya Haseman
Deannaya
Haseman
5'8" | SF
Lapel | 2023
IN
, 2023 – 9.4p, 2.5r, 2.7a
Lapel –
Jaylee Hubble
Jaylee
Hubble
5'7" | SG
Lapel | 2023
IN
, 2023 – 6.6p, 2.0r
Lapel – Kerith Renihan, 2023 – 4.0p, 2.0r, 4.2a
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Shelbyville Semi-State:
Game-1: Forest Park (23-3) vs. Greencastle (23-4), 10:00 a.m. ET
Game-2: North Knox (27-1) vs. Eastern Hancock (23-3), 12:00 p.m. ET
Game-3: Winner Game-1 vs. Winner Game-2, 8:00 p.m. ET
Game-1: Forest Park was here a year ago and earned a trip to Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The Greencastle Lady Tiger Cub program hasn’t been this far since 1980, so I’ll be curious to see how they react to the moment/environment. Forest Park will have the best prospect in the gym in 6-1 Senior Amber Tretter Amber Tretter 6'1" | PF Forest Park | 2023 State IN , but Greencastle will have the best scorer in Senior Gloria Brewer Gloria Brewer 5'7" | SG Greencastle | 2023 State IN . Tretter relies heavily upon her teammates to see opportunities to affect the game, whereas Brewer can create a great deal of offense for herself or teammates each and every game. Forest Park has a nice supporting cast, consisting of Senior wing Lydia Betz Lydia Betz 5'10" | SF Forest Park | 2023 State IN , Senior forward Carley Begle Carley Begle 5'9" | PF Forest Park | 2023 IN , and Senior wing Gabey Gray, each of which started for them a year ago. In addition to the newcomer Brewer, Greencastle has a double-figure scorer in Emma Hunter, a near double-figure scorer in Junior Evelyn Briones, plus a couple of other nice, supportive pieces. Greencastle’s best shot to win this game is if Brewer just takes over, puts up about 35 points herself, but also has a 15-rebound, 8-assist effort. Forest Park is big, strong, and experienced, and they value possessions every time out. I really like the Lady Rangers in this matchup, so I will take Forest Park, 44-37.
Game-2: Both North Knox and Eastern Hancock are strong, well-coached programs. While both also have some really nice players, they each rely on their entire rosters to affect most games. For the Lady Warriors of North Knox, they are experiencing a youth movement, playing several Freshmen and Sophomores in their rotation. Sophomore wings Alex McKinley Alex McKinley 5'8" | SG North Knox | 2025 State IN and Brynna Collins Brynna Collins 5'7" | SG North Knox | 2025 State IN lead the way for the Warriors, while Freshman Lexi Primus Lexi Primus 5'8" | SG North Knox | 2026 State IN and Sophomore Brooklyn Sturgeon Brooklyn Sturgeon 5'3" | CG North Knox | 2025 IN provide great support. For Eastern Hancock, it’s mostly Juniors and Seniors, so they have a great deal of experience as well. Senior point guard Grace Stapleton Grace Stapleton 5'5" | PG Eastern Hancock | 2023 IN is their leader and controls tempo for the Lady Royals. Sisters Sammie Bolding, a Junior, and Emma Bolding, a Senior, plus Junior Makenzie O’Neal, help from the wing/forward spots. 6-1 Junior post Ruby White Ruby White 6'1" | C Eastern Hancock | 2024 IN also continues to improve and impact games more often than not. This will be a great matchup in which no one has a weak position or starter, and it will come down to who can stay out of foul trouble, take care of the basketball, and make big shots when they matter. Because of that last point, I will lean slightly towards the experience of Eastern Hancock. Either team can pull out this nailbiter, without question, but I will take the Lady Royals over the Lady Warriors, 43-39.
Players to Watch:
Eastern Hancock –
Grace Stapleton
Grace
Stapleton
5'5" | PG
Eastern Hancock | 2023
IN
, 2023 – 15.3p, 3.7r, 5.2a, 3.3s
Eastern Hancock – Sammie Bolding, 2024 – 12.2p, 2.3a, 2.3s
Eastern Hancock –
Ruby White
Ruby
White
6'1" | C
Eastern Hancock | 2024
IN
, 2024 – 8.4p, 6.4r, 1.5b
Eastern Hancock – Emma Bolding, 2023 – 8.0p, 3.6r
Eastern Hancock – Makenzie O’Neal, 2024 – 6.7p, 4.9r, 2.1a, 2.0s
Forest Park –
Amber Tretter
Amber
Tretter
6'1" | PF
Forest Park | 2023
State
IN
, 2023
Forest Park –
Lydia Betz
Lydia
Betz
5'10" | SF
Forest Park | 2023
State
IN
, 2023
Forest Park –
Carley Begle
Carley
Begle
5'9" | PF
Forest Park | 2023
IN
, 2023
Forest Park – Gabey Gray, 2023
Greencastle –
Gloria Brewer
Gloria
Brewer
5'7" | SG
Greencastle | 2023
State
IN
, 2023 – 25.8p, 10.6r, 3.4a, 4.8s
Greencastle – Emma Hunter, 2023 – 15.0p, 5.0r, 3.1s
Greencastle – Evelyn Briones, 2024 – 9.8p, 2.7r
Greencastle – Madi Plew, 2024 – 3.4p, 3.7r
North Knox –
Alex McKinley
Alex
McKinley
5'8" | SG
North Knox | 2025
State
IN
, 2025 – 11.2p, 4.3r
North Knox –
Brynna Collins
Brynna
Collins
5'7" | SG
North Knox | 2025
State
IN
, 2025 – 9.3p, 4.6r, 2.7s
North Knox –
Lexi Primus
Lexi
Primus
5'8" | SG
North Knox | 2026
State
IN
, 2026 – 7.9p
North Knox –
Brooklyn Sturgeon
Brooklyn
Sturgeon
5'3" | CG
North Knox | 2025
IN
, 2025 – 6.5p, 2.3r
North Knox – Reegan Hammelman, 2023 – 5.7p, 4.2r, 2.8a