Sectional Semi-Final Friday
Tonight, Friday, there are 128 games scheduled to take place around the state, pending weather conditions cooperate. When I looked through all of the matchups in each class, I came up with six games that really caught my attention for…
Access all of Prep Girls Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingTonight, Friday, there are 128 games scheduled to take place around the state, pending weather conditions cooperate. When I looked through all of the matchups in each class, I came up with six games that really caught my attention for one reason or another. Below is a look at those six games, along with a brief preview on why I think each of them could be highly entertaining.
Class 4A: #1 Northwestern vs. Marion
Last season, these two teams met in the Class 3A North Semi-State, with Northwestern winning decidedly, 59-31. This time around, they meet in a Class 4A Sectional game, and I am most curious to see how the head-to-head battle between Michigan State signee Kendall Bostic (2020) and Purdue signee RaShaya Kyle (2020) goes. Bostic is a high-motor, 6-1 center who can dominate the block with her strength and physicality, but she can also stick the mid-range jumper. Kyle is a long, athletic, skillful 6-6 post who likes to push the ball occasionally in transition. She has really perfected her game in the high-post, and this year she leads the state of Indiana in scoring to this point at over 27 points per game. While this post player battle should be fun to watch, I’m not sure the score of the game will be as enjoyable for Lady Giant fans.
Class 3A: #13 Mishawaka Marian vs. South Bend Saint Joseph
For those of you outside of Saint Joseph County, Indiana, this is one of the biggest rivalries in the state. The two Catholic schools are just 4.2 miles apart, and if you haven’t been to a game, boys’ or girls’, it is always packed with prideful, loud, and rowdy fans. While Marian might be the favorite on paper, St. Joe won a January 7 matchup in overtime, 66-63. I would anticipate this game will come down to the wire as well. Marian Freshman guard Nevaeh Foster has been spectacular all year, averaging exactly 20 points per game so far this season. She can make shots outside or get to the rim, and she set a Marian record for most points in a season (that record is currently at 501 points and still climbing). St. Joe wing Keegan Sullivan (2020) played a role as a Freshman on the Indians’ 2017 Class 3A state championship team, so she clearly understands what postseason play is all about and hopes to help lead them deep in this year’s tournament. Sullivan is a strong and highly skilled wing who can handle, pass, and score the ball from all over the floor. This is a coin-flip game for me, but I’ll lean slightly with Marian due to their backcourt play.
Class 3A: #12 Washington vs. #14 Vincennes Lincoln
Washington is sort of a younger, upstart team with a lot of potential moving forward. Vincennes Lincoln has built a program of success and continues to improve from year to year. Will youthful energy or experienced poise win out? Lincoln won a November 26 contest 51-47, and I would guess this game will be every bit as close. The Sophomore duo of Alaina Thorne (15.7 points, 7.3 rebounds) and Kencia Levasseur (14.2 points, 7.3 rebounds) lead the Hatchets into battle. Thorne is a long, fluidly athletic, mid-post forward who plays with a good motor. Levasseur is a strong, physical, mid-post forward with ball skills who plays with creativity. Lincoln answers with two upperclassmen ready to make their mark. Senior point guard Darrian Carmean (21.5 points, 4.1 assists) is a playmaker who can shoot/score or distribute. She was a 2019 Indiana Junior All-Star. Junior power forward Maycee Lange (16.2 points, 9.9 rebounds) is a high-motor, active, and athletic kid who does whatever she can to help her team. I will be elsewhere tonight, but this is one game I wish I could see in person.
Class 2A: #2 University vs. #14 Covenant Christian (Indianapolis)
This is where the phrase “any given night” comes into context very well. University was a Class 1A Semi-State team last season, and they have put together an impressive 22-1 season to back that up. Covenant Christian has every bit the pedigree and talent to match University basket for basket, but it has been a bit of a roller-coaster ride for the 15-8 Warriors this season. University has an advantage up front, where 6-2 Senior Lindsey Syrek (18.6 points, 12.4 rebounds, 4.7 blocks), an NJIT signee, and 6-1 Freshman Kelsey DuBois (11.4 points, 10.4 rebounds) have often dominated the paint for the Trailblazers. Covenant Christian will counter with high-motor forwards Sania Borom (11.0 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.3 steals), a Senior, and Samara Douglas (9.0 points, 4.6 rebounds), a Sophomore. However, both are noticeably under 6-0 tall. The backcourts are fairly even, as Maddi Sears (2020) and Sierra Hinds (2021) of University match up nicely with Ilani Williams-Harris (2020) and Bonnie Lew Ludlow (2021) of Covenant Christian. I think University has the advantage because of their size, but don’t be surprised if this one goes the other way.
Class 2A: #4 Linton-Stockton vs. #12 Vincennes Rivet
I think the most surprising thing about this game, is that Linton-Stockton dominated their January 9 meeting to the tune of a 65-43 win. Rivet will need to make adjustments, but they are a much better team than that score would indicate, in my opinion. Linton-Stockton is built around its Juniors, and the trio of wing Vanessa Shafford, guard Aubrey Burgess, and front-liner Haley Rose are as good as it gets at the Class 2A level. Linton-Stockton also added Shakamak transfer Jaylee Hayes, a Sophomore, in the offseason, and she could help solidify the interior for the Miners. For Rivet, they graduated their best player, but they still return quite a bit of production. Senior wing Tia Tolbert, an Indiana University-East commit, is a high-motor, tough-nosed, and skilled player who can take over games at times. So can 5-11 Senior wing Caroline Herman, a point forward type who can shoot it from outside. 6-2 Junior post Lauren Carie and 5-11 Sophomore forward Meredith Weiss give them size up front. I’m not committed to saying Rivet will win this time around, but they can, and I do think it will be a much closer game throughout.
Class 1A: #12 North Miami vs. #16 Northfield
North Miami and Northfield squared off just a couple of weeks ago on January 17, with North Miami edging out Northfield, 46-45. Not only is this a Sectional rivalry, but it’s a conference rivalry as well, with both teams members of the Three Rivers Conference. North Miami is led by a trio of Senior guards. Point guard and Manchester University signee Bailey Keim (17.9 points, 4.5 steals) leads the way, while Hannah Hall (12.0 points, 5.3 rebounds) and Maryann Freeman (10.6 points, 6.5 rebounds) provide backcourt support. Northfield graduated their two best guards in 2019, and their top returnee, Junior wing Kyra Kennedy, has missed the season with a knee injury. Still, though, the Norse are able to turn to a trio of Juniors who are as athletic and talented as any in Class 1A. 5-11 forward Addi Baker (11.1 points, 6.9 rebounds) is the leading rebounder, while 5-10 wing Emma Hoover (11.7 points, 2.7 rebounds) is their top scorer and playmaker this season. 5-9 wing Kearston Stout (9.3 points, 5.4 rebounds) rounds out their potent trio and can play inside or out. This is a contrast of styles to some degree, and this game favors whoever can dictate tempo from the outset.