Semi-State Preview: Class 3A

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"small"} --> <p class="has-small-font-size"><em>The featured image is of [player_tooltip player_id='331809' first='Makenzie' last='Fuess'] (2024) of Norwell 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 3A 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 3A 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>Norwell</strong></td><td>21-4</td><td>1</td><td>6</td><td>30</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Hamilton Heights</strong></td><td>24-2</td><td>2</td><td>12</td><td>46</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Gibson Southern</strong></td><td>23-4</td><td>3</td><td>19</td><td>50</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Scottsburg</strong></td><td>22-4</td><td>8</td><td>32</td><td>53</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Danville</strong></td><td>23-3</td><td>10</td><td>43</td><td>156</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Bishop Chatard</strong></td><td>19-8</td><td>16</td><td>63</td><td>64</td></tr><tr><td><strong>NorthWood</strong></td><td>20-6</td><td>24</td><td>105</td><td>159</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Bremen</strong></td><td>15-11</td><td>41</td><td>145</td><td>171</td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><font color="#FFFFFF">.</font></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><font size="+2">Huntington North Semi-State</font></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Game #1:</strong> Hamilton Heights (24-2) vs. Norwell (21-4), 10:00 a.m. ET</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Preview:</strong> As you can see above, Norwell and Hamilton Heights are the top two Class 3A teams in the state, per Sagarin Ratings. They have met three times since 2018, and last season Hamilton Heights won their Regional matchup, 44-40. The Huskies come in with a strong perimeter attack, including Senior guards <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='177352' first='Camryn' last='Runner']</strong> (<em>27.0p, 5.6r, 2.7a, 4.1s</em>), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='298256' first='Ella' last='Hickok']</strong> (<em>10.2p, 3.4r, 4.3a, 2.7s</em>), and <strong>Hadleigh Cherry</strong> (<em>5.6p, 3.3r, 3.0a, 2.0s</em>). Runner is clearly the best of the bunch, as she can perform any backcourt role at a high level. She is also an Indiana All-Star candidate. Junior <strong>Katie Brown</strong> (<em>8.8p, 2.0r, 1.0a, 2.3s</em>) is a talented shooter as well, and between the four of them, they have made 185 3-pointers this season. They also use the dribble well and can get to the free throw line. Norwell is that steady, consistent, "machine-like" group, where the kids grow up as youngsters wanting to be Lady Knights. They have talent, skill, and a keen understanding of their system and expectations. At the top of the list are Senior guards <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='264113' first='Kennedy' last='Fuelling']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='331809' first='Makenzie' last='Fuess']</strong>. Fuelling is a high-level shooter/scorer who can play either guard spot and make shots from anywhere. She was a 2023 Indiana Junior All-Star. Fuess is a tough-nosed, high-motor bulldog, who can distribute or score it well. 6-0 Senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='718310' first='Dekota' last='Hubble']</strong> is a long and bouncy athlete, while Sophomore wing <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='732354' first='Vanessa' last='Rosswurm']</strong> has stepped up nicely this season. <strong>Our Pick:</strong> Norwell, 48-46.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Game #2:</strong> Bremen (15-11) vs. NorthWood (20-6), 12:00 p.m. ET</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Preview:</strong> Bremen and Northridge are fairly regular opponents, and NorthWood won a mid-December meeting, 63-55. Bremen has just one Senior on the roster in <strong>Mikaya Shively</strong> (<em>7.4p, 5.8r, 1.7a, 2.8s</em>), but they have a talented trio of guards in Junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='570388' first='Kila' last='Foster']</strong> (<em>17.6p, 3.7r, 1.4a, 2.2s</em>), plus Sophomores <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='434719' first='Eliana' last='Grubbs']</strong> (<em>11.3, 6.2r, 3.2a, 1.8s</em>) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1131960' first='Emma' last='Kincaid']</strong> (<em>10.3p, 4.4r, 2.1a, 1.6s</em>). They are all capable of playing any backcourt position, all play extremely hard, and they are each capable of having big games. From there, they aren't very deep, so the Lions need to keep those four players on the floor as much as possible. NorthWood is back for the first time since their State Championship in 2020. While they only have one double-digit scorer, 6-1 Junior post <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='570370' first='Claire' last='Payne']</strong> (<em>10.3p, 10.8r, 1.5s, 1.3b</em>), the "Black Swish" can go as deep as 8 to 11 players, depending on matchups, and they have almost all Seniors and Juniors playing the biggest of roles. The best of the bunch joining Payne in the lineup are Senior <strong>Joselyn Edwards</strong> (<em>9.5p, 3.0r, 1.0a, 1.0s</em>), Junior <strong>Haylee Heflin</strong> (<em>7.3p, 2.3r, 1.5a, 1.6s</em>), and Junior <strong>Megan Yoder</strong> (<em>5.5p, 2.0r, 2.1a, 1.6s</em>). <strong>Our Pick:</strong> NorthWood, 53-47.</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">Jasper Semi-State</font></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Game #1:</strong> Bishop Chatard (19-8) vs. Danville (23-3), 10:00 a.m. ET</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Preview:</strong> Chatard and Danville have only met twice in the last 20 years, but no matchup is recent enough these two rosters know each other. Chatard has used the combination of depth, balance, and experience to their advantage the last couple of seasons, winning a pair of Regionals. However, as they look to advance to the Class 3A State Finals, they must do so with a younger, albeit talented, group of players. 6-0 Junior post <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='692233' first='Anna' last='Caskey']</strong> (<em>11.9p, 11.2r</em>) is a high-level softball recruit, but she has been a monster in the paint for the Trojans as well. 5-11 Sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='832685' first='Olivia' last='Berzai']</strong> (<em>12.0p, 6.2r, 2.7a, 2.4s</em>) has been a star at times and is quickly rising as a basketball recruit. Fellow Sophomores <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='486530' first='Alyx' last='Kendall']</strong> (<em>6.8p, 4.1r</em>), and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='486534' first='Betsy' last='Tragesser']</strong> (<em>5.6p, 3.3r, 3.9a, 1.5s</em>) are a nice inside-out duo, while Seniors <strong>Addison Duncan</strong> (<em>6.8p, 1.9r, 1.6a, 1.9s</em>) and <strong>Quinn Johnson</strong> (<em>6.3p, 1.9r, 1.1a</em>) offer depth and experience to the youngsters. Danville is having their best season since 2017-2018, and the Warriors look to win their first Semi-State in program history. They, too, pride themselves on their depth and having "system" kids, and that all starts with Juniors <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='295784' first='Emma' last='Ancelet']</strong> (<em>15.0p, 6.2r, 6.6a, 3.2s</em>) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='626931' first='Addison' last='Davis']</strong> (<em>13.2p, 7.0r, 1.9a, 2.5s</em>). They get support from Sophomores <strong>Maddy Wethington</strong> (<em>9.8p, 1.8r, 1.0a, 1.8s</em>) and <strong>Ava Walls</strong> (<em>4.5p, 3.8r</em>), plus Seniors <strong>Lucy Riggs</strong> (<em>5.2p, 1.8r, 1.8a, 2.2s</em>) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='326488' first='Alexis' last='Lynch']</strong> (<em>4.4p, 3.8r, 1.0a, 1.0s</em>). <strong>Our Pick:</strong> Danville, 53-49.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Game #2:</strong> Scottsburg (22-4) vs. Gibson Southern (23-4), 12:00 p.m. ET</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Preview:</strong> All of the Semi-State first round games in Class 3A should be competitive, but maybe none more so than this one. Scottsburg is a team who can spread you out with their perimeter shooter and strong guard play, but they also have a couple of girls who can go get a rebound and defend the interior. Gibson Southern leans heavily on a pair of talented perimeter players, but they have size and strength inside, and they can go as deep as 10 or 11 players, if necessary. Scottsburg looks first to Junior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='295802' first='Ellie' last='Richardson']</strong>, who can play on or off the ball. Last weekend she scored 28 points in their Regional. Senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='298262' first='Carrie' last='Hiler']</strong> and Junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='496047' first='Lola' last='Fouts']</strong> are a pair of dangerous deep shooters who can get hot quickly. They can also handle the ball and run offense. 6-0 Junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='626930' first='Katrina' last='Cooper']</strong> and Senior forward <strong>Taneisha Griffin</strong> are capable of defending multiple positions, but they each have a nose for the ball as well. For the Titans of Gibson Southern, it all starts with Junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='295774' first='Gabby' last='Spink']</strong> (<em>19.3p, 4.8r, 6.0a, 2.2s</em>) and Senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='177324' first='Chloey' last='Graham']</strong> (<em>16.9p, 3.7r, 1.9a, 2.4s</em>). Either is capable of huge scoring numbers, but both are also cerebral players who understand how to contribute in other ways. 6-1 Freshman <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='756247' first='Paige' last='Schnaus']</strong> (<em>9.1p, 5.5r</em>) can be a force in the paint at times, and she has exceeded expectations as a rookie. Junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='506027' first='Nola' last='Ravellette']</strong> (<em>6.3p, 4.3r, 1.1a, 1.0s</em>) and Senior <strong>Ally Malone</strong> (<em>3.2p, 2.7r, 1.9a, 1.1s</em>) are two additional veteran perimeter players who contribute when called upon. <strong>Our Pick:</strong> Gibson Southern, 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 -->