Semi-State Preview: Class 4A

The featured image is of sisters [player_tooltip player_id='59775' first='Hailey' last='Smith'] (2023) and [player_tooltip player_id='59776' first='Olivia' last='Smith'] (2023) of Fishers 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 this Saturday, 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 4A, one taking place in the North, and one taking place in the South.   .   Huntington North Semi-State: Game-1: Fort Wayne Snider (21-4) vs. Fishers (24-2), 10:00 a.m. ET Game-2: South Bend Washington (27-0) vs. Lake Central (22-5), 12:00 p.m. ET Game-3: Winner Game-1 vs. Winner Game-2, 8:00 p.m. ET   Game-1: Snider and Fishers met back around Thanksgiving, and it was the Snider Lady Panthers prevailing, 74-63. This time around, I expect it to be much closer, regardless of who wins. This game includes some of the state's best backcourt playmakers. [player_tooltip player_id='177351' first='Jordyn' last='Poole'] is the top Junior point guard, while classmate [player_tooltip player_id='177321' first='Joh'nea' last='Donahue'] also holds multiple Division-I offers/interest. They are both really nice athletes who can take over games. Junior wing [player_tooltip player_id='572796' first='Ciara' last='Sims'] had a 24-point, 10-rebound (8 offensive boards) effort in the Regional round, and she is another nice athlete who is kind of a sleeper on this team. For the Lady Tigers of Fishers, it all starts with Senior twins [player_tooltip player_id='59775' first='Hailey' last='Smith'] and [player_tooltip player_id='59776' first='Olivia' last='Smith']. They are tough-nosed, aggressive, and defensive-minded. They are joined in the backcourt by Juniors [player_tooltip player_id='176168' first='Talia' last='Harris'] and [player_tooltip player_id='177355' first='Joirdyn' last='Smith']. This game will likely be decided by ball security, quality possessions, and who can play a cleaner, more efficient game. Fishers has rattled off 18 wins in a row since their first matchup, so I'll take the Tigers this time around, but by a much narrower, 51-48 margin.   Game-2: These teams also met earlier this season in a 51-35 victory for South Bend Washington during the first weekend of November. These Lady Panthers are talented, tall, and explosive. They put up points in bunches, and they can take over a game at any moment. Last weekend, the Panthers trailed Valparaiso at halftime, only to erase that lead quickly and win by 19 points. Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='295770' first='Kira' last='Reynolds'] has had a tremendous year inside the arc, while Senior [player_tooltip player_id='96086' first='RaShunda' last='Jones'] and Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='295780' first='Ryiah' last='Wilson'] are two of the toughest backcourt defenders in the state. Lake Central will try to learn from the first matchup and see if they can counteract enough of what Washington does in order to be the first team to beat the Panthers this year. Juniors [player_tooltip player_id='176406' first='Aniyah' last='Bishop'] and [player_tooltip player_id='201878' first='Riley' last='Milausnic'] have consistently led the Lady Indians in scoring this year, and they'll need to have big games Saturday. Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='295811' first='Ayla' last='Krygier'] has also had explosive moments and can erupt for 20+ points at any time. Honestly, this game comes down to Washington's pressure. If Lake Central can handle it, attack it, and get easy scores early and often, it will make the Panthers reconsider their own strategy. At the same time, that's typically easier said than done against Washington. There will be a moment when they turn Lake Central over, and if the Indians can limit that to a couple of possessions instead of a couple of minutes, this could get very interesting. I will still take South Bend Washington, but I think the outcome will be a bit closer. Let's say South Bend Washington 58, Lake Central 47.   Players to Watch: Fishers - [player_tooltip player_id='59775' first='Hailey' last='Smith'], 2023 - 11.9p, 6.8r, 2.7a Fishers - [player_tooltip player_id='59776' first='Olivia' last='Smith'], 2023 - 10.9p, 3.8r, 2.6a Fishers - [player_tooltip player_id='176168' first='Talia' last='Harris'], 2024 - 9.4p, 4.2r, 2.2a, 2.3s Fishers - [player_tooltip player_id='148149' first='Alycia' last='Triplett'], 2023 - 7.2p, 5.2r Fishers - [player_tooltip player_id='177355' first='Joirdyn' last='Smith'], 2024 - 7.0p Fishers - [player_tooltip player_id='177358' first='Kate' last='Thomas'], 2024 - 3.9p, 3.2r FW Snider - [player_tooltip player_id='177351' first='Jordyn' last='Poole'], 2024 - 16.1p, 3.5r, 4.0a, 3.5s FW Snider - [player_tooltip player_id='177321' first='Joh'nea' last='Donahue'], 2024 - 12.2p, 4.6r, 4.0a 5.6s FW Snider - [player_tooltip player_id='572796' first='Ciara' last='Sims'], 2024 - 9.4p, 4.7r FW Snider - [player_tooltip player_id='298261' first='Tia' last='Phinezy'], 2024 - 8.2p, 6.7r, 3.9b FW Snider - [player_tooltip player_id='828072' first='Kyra' last='Parker'], 2024 - 5.2p, 2.2r Lake Central - [player_tooltip player_id='176406' first='Aniyah' last='Bishop'], 2024 - 9.9p, 5.9r, 2.1a Lake Central - [player_tooltip player_id='201878' first='Riley' last='Milausnic'], 2024 - 9.6p, 55 made 3s Lake Central - [player_tooltip player_id='295811' first='Ayla' last='Krygier'], 2025 - 8.5p, 4.5r Lake Central - [player_tooltip player_id='295781' first='Vanessa' last='Wimberly'], 2025 - 7.2p, 3.8r, 2.8a, 3.1s Lake Central - [player_tooltip player_id='406433' first='Nadia' last='Clayton'], 2024 - 7.0p, 3.1r, 2.1a, 2.2s Lake Central - [player_tooltip player_id='331801' first='Kennedie' last='Burks'], 2024 - 5.0p South Bend Washington - [player_tooltip player_id='96086' first='RaShunda' last='Jones'], 2023 - 20.1p, 3.7r, 4.6a, 4.2s South Bend Washington - [player_tooltip player_id='295770' first='Kira' last='Reynolds'], 2025 - 15.7p, 12.0r (5.2 off.), 2.9a, 5.9b South Bend Washington - [player_tooltip player_id='295766' first='Monique' last='Mitchell'], 2025 - 13.5p, 3.3r, 2.9s South Bend Washington - [player_tooltip player_id='295780' first='Ryiah' last='Wilson'], 2025 - 11.6p, 3.6r, 4.1a, 6.3s South Bend Washington - [player_tooltip player_id='335982' first='Zion' last='Belcher-Arill'], 2025 - 5.3p, 3.2r South Bend Washington - [player_tooltip player_id='324081' first='Ayanna' last='Nicholson'], 2025 - 2.5p, 3.1r   .   Southport Semi-State: Game-1: Bedford North Lawrence (24-3) vs. Center Grove (22-4), 10:00 a.m. ET Game-2: Lawrence North (18-9) vs. Ben Davis (18-9), 12:00 p.m. ET Game-3: Winner Game-1 vs. Winner Game-2, 8:00 p.m. ET   Game-1: Unlike the other three matchups in Class 4A, Bedford North Lawrence and Center Grove haven't met in four years. There is obvious familiarity with a number of these girls playing grassroots basketball, but not so much between the two high school teams. Bedford leans heavily on a strong starting group, led by Senior point guard [player_tooltip player_id='59766' first='Karsyn' last='Norman'] and Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='176409' first='Chloe' last='Spreen']. Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='177308' first='Madisyn' last='Bailey'] and Senior wing [player_tooltip player_id='574554' first='Mallory' last='Pride'] also contribute, but those four are collectively responsible for more than 85% of their offensive output. Center Grove is also backcourt-oriented, however they don't have that scorer pushing 20 points per game, and they play with a lot more depth and balance throughout their roster. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='264111' first='Audrey' last='Annee'] has really stepped up to help lead this group of Lady Trojans, averaging 13.0 points per game, but then their next five scorers all average between 5.6 and 6.6 points per game. Not knowing where the production will come from makes them tough to match up with. Bedford will need to stay out of foul trouble, continue to get big performances from Norman and Spreen, and hope someone else steps up each game. For Center Grove, they just need to stay the course. They are on an 18-game winning streak due to their balance and teamwork within their system. I give a slight edge to Bedford, but I think the Lady Stars will have their hands full in a low-scoring affair. Give me Bedford North Lawrence over Center Grove 41-37.   Game-2: Lawrence North and Ben Davis are very familiar with each other. They are Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference rivals, they are Marion County Tourney rivals, and they occasionally cross paths this time of year. For the 2022-2023 season, this will be just the second time they've matched up. Lawrence North took the first meeting, 63-62, on January 21st. It helped the Lady Wildcats tie for the MIC title. The Wildcats have a nice mix of experience and youth, talent and skill, and they get strong play from the wing. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='155437' first='Monica' last='Williams'] and [player_tooltip player_id='127212' first='Laniya' last='Early'] have been solid all year, while Junior [player_tooltip player_id='572824' first='Kamara' last='Mills'] knocked down 10-10 shots from the charity stripe and scored 18 points in the Regional. Ben Davis is loaded with Seniors, they have great size, and they control the halfcourt along with the boards. 6-3 Senior [player_tooltip player_id='203653' first='Cristen' last='Carter'] and 6-1 Senior [player_tooltip player_id='96082' first='Taylor' last='Guess'] have nice size, they're athletic, and they impact the game at both ends of the floor. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='572797' first='Zoe' last='Wheeler'] and Senior [player_tooltip player_id='155438' first='Kaleah' last='Toomer'] give them scoring from the wings, plus they are both effortful defenders. If I had to guess, I think Lawrence North will try to speed up the Lady Giants, and it will be a game of contrasting styles. If it's a halfcourt game, I think it benefits Ben Davis, but if the Wildcats are able to get out in transition, I think that really helps them. I'm going to lean towards Ben Davis here, because I think last year's Regional loss has them motivated. Though it will be very close, I'll take the Lady Giants, 47-45.   Players to Watch: Bedford N. Lawrence - [player_tooltip player_id='176409' first='Chloe' last='Spreen'], 2024 - 18.7p, 5.4r, 3.3a, 2.8s Bedford N. Lawrence - [player_tooltip player_id='59766' first='Karsyn' last='Norman'], 2023 - 16.5p, 4.2r, 4.4a, 2.5s Bedford N. Lawrence - [player_tooltip player_id='574554' first='Mallory' last='Pride'], 2023 - 11.0p, 7.1r Bedford N. Lawrence - [player_tooltip player_id='177308' first='Madisyn' last='Bailey'], 2024 - 7.7p, 4.1r, 3.6a, 2.8s Bedford N. Lawrence - Emma Brown, 2023 - 4.9p Ben Davis - [player_tooltip player_id='203653' first='Cristen' last='Carter'], 2023 - 18.4p, 12.6r Ben Davis - [player_tooltip player_id='96082' first='Taylor' last='Guess'], 2023 - 11.9p, 7.2r Ben Davis - [player_tooltip player_id='572797' first='Zoe' last='Wheeler'], 2024 - 9.9p, 4.0r, 2.3a Ben Davis - [player_tooltip player_id='155438' first='Kaleah' last='Toomer'], 2023 - 8.7p, 3.0r, 3.7a Ben Davis - [player_tooltip player_id='177331' first='Scottlynn' last='Johnson'], 2024 - 2.9p, 4.0r Ben Davis - [player_tooltip player_id='59735' first='Kirsten' last='Clark'], 2023 - 2.7p, 2.0r, 2.4a Center Grove - [player_tooltip player_id='264111' first='Audrey' last='Annee'], 2024 - 13.0p, 2.5r Center Grove - [player_tooltip player_id='295755' first='Lilly' last='Bischoff'], 2025 - 6.6p, 3.1r, 2.1a Center Grove - [player_tooltip player_id='177311' first='Aubrie' last='Booker'], 2024 - 6.5p, 3.1r, 2.3a Center Grove - [player_tooltip player_id='59756' first='Ella' last='Hobson'], 2023 - 6.1p, 2.1r, 3.7a Center Grove - [player_tooltip player_id='201884' first='Rachel' last='Wirts'], 2024 - 6.1p, 5.1r Center Grove - [player_tooltip player_id='59729' first='Savanna' last='Bischoff'], 2023 - 5.6p, 3.0r, 2.7a Lawrence North - [player_tooltip player_id='155437' first='Monica' last='Williams'], 2023 - 13.8p, 3.9r, 2.5a, 2.8s Lawrence North - [player_tooltip player_id='127212' first='Laniya' last='Early'], 2023 - 9.0p, 4.8r Lawrence North - [player_tooltip player_id='572824' first='Kamara' last='Mills'], 2024 - 8.3p, 2.7r Lawrence North - [player_tooltip player_id='295793' first='Jamaya' last='Thomas'], 2025 - 7.9p, 4.7r Lawrence North - [player_tooltip player_id='295799' first='Kya' last='Hurt'], 2025 - 7.5p, 4.5r, 2.3a, 2.0s

The featured image is of sisters Hailey Smith Hailey Smith 5'10" | SG Fishers | 2023 State IN (2023) and Olivia Smith Olivia Smith 5'10" | SG Fishers | 2023 State IN (2023) of Fishers High School.