Semi-State Preview: Class 4A

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"small"} --> <p class="has-small-font-size"><em>The featured image is of [player_tooltip player_id='414465' first='Gabby' last='Helsom'] (2026) of Homestead High School.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Regional weekend has concluded, and now it's on to the 2-game Semi-State round. This is the second consecutive year where there was a single Regional game for each team, with this coming weekend's Semi-State requiring two wins in a day to make it to Gainbridge Fieldhouse for February 24th's State Finals. While brief, below is a look at the two Class 4A Semi-State sites...one in the North and one in the South. All player statistics below have been pulled from each school's MaxPreps page, so if your stats are not represented here, your team's MaxPreps page has not been updated by your coach/school. All team rankings below are provided by the updated Sagarin Ratings.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><font color="#FFFFFF">.</font></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:table --> <figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong><font size="+1">Remaining Class 4A Teams</font></strong></td><td><strong><font size="+1">Record</font></strong></td><td><strong><font size="+1">Class Rk.</font></strong></td><td><strong><font size="+1">State Rk.</font></strong></td><td><strong><font size="+1">Schedule Strength</font></strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Center Grove</strong></td><td>26-1</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>18</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Lawrence Central</strong></td><td>27-1</td><td>2</td><td>2</td><td>17</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Noblesville</strong></td><td>17-8</td><td>5</td><td>5</td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Franklin Community</strong></td><td>24-3</td><td>8</td><td>9</td><td>27</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Homestead</strong></td><td>23-4</td><td>10</td><td>11</td><td>32</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Lake Central</strong></td><td>24-4</td><td>17</td><td>21</td><td>47</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Plainfield</strong></td><td>18-7</td><td>19</td><td>23</td><td>29</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Valparaiso</strong></td><td>19-7</td><td>24</td><td>35</td><td>66</td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><font color="#FFFFFF">.</font></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><font size="+2">LaPorte Semi-State</font></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Game #1:</strong> Homestead (23-4) vs. Lake Central (24-4), 11:00 a.m. ET</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Preview:</strong> Homestead and Lake Central have not met, however, these two teams match up very well, so this could be a very entertaining opening game. Neither team has a dominant post player, but both teams have tremendous guard play and nice wings/forwards as well. At the end of the day, it could come down to whether a Sophomore-laden Homestead squad has "grown up" enough this season to knock off a Lake Central team comprised primarily of Seniors and Juniors. For Homestead, it starts with Sophomores <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='492319' first='Myah' last='Epps']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='414465' first='Gabby' last='Helsom']</strong>, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='486540' first='Whitney' last='Ankenbruck']</strong>. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='761179' first='Carley' last='Moellering']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='486546' first='Kendall' last='McLaughlin']</strong> are two additional skillful Sophomores. Lake Central Seniors <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='176406' first='Aniyah' last='Bishop']</strong> (<em>9.3p, 5.1r, 1.8a, 1.8s</em>), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='201878' first='Riley' last='Milausnic']</strong> (<em>8.7p, 2.2r, 1.5a, 1.9s</em>), and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='406433' first='Nadia' last='Clayton']</strong> (<em>7.7p, 2.8r, 2.0a, 2.1s</em>) are supported by Juniors <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='295811' first='Ayla' last='Krygier']</strong> (<em>8.6p, 4.3r, 1.4a</em>) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='295781' first='Vanessa' last='Wimberly']</strong> (<em>9.0p, 2.7r, 3.7a, 2.7s</em>). <strong>Our Pick:</strong> Lake Central, 48-46.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Game #2:</strong> Noblesville (17-8) vs. Valparaiso (19-7), 1:00 p.m. ET</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Preview:</strong> These two teams actually met back around Christmas, with Noblesville pulling out a 65-56 victory. The Millers top-ranked schedule prepares them for this time of year, and they are coming in having won 10 of their last 11 games, with the lone loss coming in overtime. Senior point guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='177361' first='Reagan' last='Wilson']</strong> (<em>16.3p, 3.2r, 2.6a, 2.9s</em>) teams with fellow Senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='264119' first='Ava' last='Shoemaker']</strong> (<em>12.3p, 4.6r, 2.3a, 2.5s</em>) plus Junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='295776' first='Meredith' last='Tippner']</strong> (<em>16.2p, 10.0r, 3.3a, 3.4s</em>) to form one of the best backcourts in the state. And as I've state before, Sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='486478' first='C.C.' last='Quigley']</strong> (<em>9.9p, 5.2r, 1.0a, 1.0b</em>) just continues to grow and improve along their frontline. Against most teams, Valparaiso's trapping zone causes major problems, but it will be tough against Noblesville's experience. Still, Super Soph <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='419439' first='Lillian' last='Barnes']</strong> (<em>17.5p, 6.6r, 5.5a, 4.6s</em>) is an absolute handful to deal with, and she can put her team on her back. Fellow Senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='369832' first='Becca' last='Gerdt']</strong> (<em>15.1p, 6.4r, 2.5a, 2.0s</em>), plus Sophomore guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='486512' first='Cadynce' last='Clark']</strong> (<em>8.7p, 2.4r, 1.3a, 1.8s</em>), have had nice seasons alongside Barnes. <strong>Our Pick:</strong> Noblesville, 55-42.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Game #3:</strong> Winner Game-1 vs. Winner Game-2, 8:30 p.m. ET</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><font color="#FFFFFF">.</font></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><font size="+2">Southport Semi-State</font></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Game #1:</strong> Lawrence Central (27-1) vs. Plainfield (18-7), 10:00 a.m. ET</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Preview:</strong> It seems like Lawrence Central has been on a state-bound trajectory all season, and Saturday is their chance to continue down that path. Plainfield has a couple of seasoned veterans mixed with nice youthful talent. The Bears will be a tough matchup for the Quakers, especially with their size, athleticism, and ability to get out and go. If Plainfield wants to advance, they will likely need to make tough shots and figure out a way to utilize the free throw line as a weapon. Lawrence Central is led by sisters <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='295763' first='Jaylah' last='Lampley']</strong> (<em>18.4p, 5.6r, 1.8a, 2.1s</em>), a 6-2 Junior, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='492321' first='Lola' last='Lampley']</strong> (<em>10.7p, 6.1r, 2.9a, 2.2s, 1.3b</em>), a 6-3 Sophomore. They are both skilled away from the basket and present the biggest of matchup problems. Junior point guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='295753' first='Laila' last='Abdurraqib']</strong> (<em>10.9p, 4.0r, 3.7a, 2.2s</em>) has shown flashes of being the most impactful player on the floor at times, while Sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='492322' first='Aniyah' last='McKenzie']</strong> (<em>11.7p, 6.1r, 1.4a, 1.9s</em>) and Junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='468535' first='Mariah' last='Kenter-Garrett']</strong> (<em>3.4p, 2.1r, 1.8a, 1.8s</em>) bring great effort and a defensive presence. For Plainfield, Freshman guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='751064' first='Hannah' last='Menser']</strong> (<em>15.6p, 3.7r, 2.7a, 2.5s, 1.1b</em>) has made a massive imprint as a rookie. Sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='486496' first='Berkeley' last='Williams']</strong> (<em>14.8p, 4.2r, 2.3a, 2.0s</em>) and 6-1 Senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='239347' first='Payton' last='Benge']</strong> (<em>12.7p, 6.4r, 1.3a, 1.6b</em>) are blue-collared, tough-nosed, and make a ton of hustle plays for the Quakers. <strong>Our Pick:</strong> Lawrence Central, 52-43.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Game #2:</strong> Center Grove (26-1) vs. Franklin Community (24-3), 12:00 p.m. ET</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Preview:</strong> If I had to pick an early game to recommend, it would be this one. Both of these teams like to control tempo and shoot the 3-pointer at a high rate. They are both filled with highly skilled, talented guards and wings, and both are capable of beating anyone else in the state. In fact, the two have already split a pair of games this season, causing two of their four combined losses. Center Grove has a bit more size and interior play throughout their roster, led by Seniors <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='264111' first='Audrey' last='Annee']</strong> (<em>13.8p, 1.7r, 1.9a, 1.6s</em>), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='201884' first='Rachel' last='Wirts']</strong> (<em>12.5p, 7.3r, 1.0a</em>), and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='177311' first='Aubrie' last='Booker']</strong> (<em>8.1p, 4.1r, 4.5a, 1.8s</em>). They get help from a pair of strong Juniors in <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='506025' first='Ava' last='Grant']</strong> (<em>11.7p, 1.2r, 3.1a. 1.4s</em>) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='295755' first='Lilly' last='Bischoff']</strong> (<em>11.2p, 5.0r, 5.9a, 1.9s</em>). The Grizzly Cubs are almost entirely Seniors, and that class has provided quite a few memories for Franklin fans over the years. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='326479' first='Erica' last='Buening']</strong> (<em>12.1p, 3.9r, 1.8s</em>), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='455947' first='Brooklyn' last='York']</strong> (<em>11.7p, 3.0r, 1.9a, 1.4s</em>), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='177336' first='Scarlett' last='Kimbrell']</strong> (<em>8.2p, 5.6r, 2.5a, 1.4s</em>), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='874141' first='Emma' last='Sappenfield']</strong> (<em>7.8p, 2.3r, 2.0a, 1.1s</em>), and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='176408' first='Lauren' last='Klem']</strong> (<em>7.7p, 4.8p, 4.9a, 3.2s</em>) will look to go out on top with their second State Finals appearance in three seasons. <strong>Our Pick:</strong> Center Grove, 52-49.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Game #3:</strong> Winner Game-1 vs. Winner Game-2, 8:00 p.m. ET</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->