NW Indiana Girls Basketball: 2A, 3A, 4A Tournament Preview

Class 2A, 3A, 4A Girls Basketball

2010 Tournament Preview

A USA-365.com Special Report by Mark Smith

(02-07-2010)

CLASS 2A
Sectional 33 @ HANOVER CENTRAL
2-9-10 (Tu) 7:00 pm - HANOVER CENTRAL [10-9] vs. Bishop Noll [5-15]
2-12-10 (F.) 6:00 pm - Lake Station [4-14] vs. Wheeler [10-11]
2-12-10 (F) 7:30 pm - River Forest [14-6] vs. HANOVER
2-13-10 (Sat.) 7:30 pm - Section 33 championship

Sectional 34 @ HEBRON
2-9-10 (Tu) 6:00 pm - Winamac [14-6] vs. Culver [10-10]
2-9-10 (Tu.)7:30 pm - Hebron [7-132] vs. BOONE GROVE [20-1]
2-12-10 (F.) 6:00 p.m. North Newton [9-11] vs. Winamac/Culver
2-12-10 (F.) 7:30 p.m. North Judson [9-11] vs. BOONE GROVE
2-13-10 (Sat.) 7:30 p.m. - Sectional 34 championship

Sectional 35 @ JIMTOWN
2-9-10 (Tu) 6:00 pm - LaVille [14-7] vs. Bremen [7-13]
2-9-10 (F) 5:00 pm - Westview [11-9] vs. Fairfield [17-5]
2-12-10 (F.) 6:30 p.m. - Jimtown [19-1] vs. LaVille/Bremen
2-13-10 (Sat.) 6:30 p.m. - Sectional 35 championship

Sectional 36 @ EASTSIDE
2-9-10 (Tu.) 5:00 pm - Garrett [13-8] vs. Central Noble [12-9]
2-9-10 (Tu.) 6:30 pm - Fremont [16-5] vs. Eastside [9-10]
2-12-10 (F.) 5 p.m. Prairie Heights [6-14] vs. Garrett/C. Noble
2-12-10 (F.) 6:30 p.m. Churubusco [4-15] vs. Fremont
2-13-10 (Sat.) 6:30 p.m. -Sectional 36 championship game

Class 2A Culver Regional
2-20-10 (S) Eastside Sectional champ vs. HEBRON champ - 10 a.m.
2-20-10 (S) Jimtown Sectional champ vs. HC champ - 12 noon
2-20-10 (Sat) Culver Regional championship game- 7 p.m.

CEDAR LAKE OUTLOOK: The draw suggests a regional championship match between Northern States Conference champion Jimtown and Porter County Conference champion Boone Grove, a rematch of the 2008 regional final, won by the girls named Jimmies 38-27.

But there are a few obstacles. Jimtown has lost leading scorer and team leader Sarah DeShone to a season-ending injury and they probably will not survive sectional play. While Jimtown drew a first round bye and only has to win two games to take the sectional title, do not look for them to do it easily. Boone has to win three times including a fourth meeting with neighbor and arch-rival Hebron (7-13). But Boone has a very deep bench and a very short travel (it 2 miles from Boone to Hebron) situation.

LaVille is 14-5 and one of those losses was to Jimtown by 31 points in December but the rematch may. Bremen and Jimtown met on the final day of the regular season this Friday so Bremen, in effect, gets two chances to beat the Jimmies. Two-time regional champ Garret (13-8) is only scoring about 44 points a game and they have a 14-point loss already to sectional favorite Fremont. I don't know how tough the competition is in this area other than Garrett.

But they're probably wondering the same thing about Hanover Central. The Lady Cats are two-time defending sectional champions but each time, they've been blown out by Garrett 76-41 and 69-38.

Even if HC tops KV and Morgan Township in the final week of the season, they will not have one significant win over a quality opponent. Plus, HC drew the short straw in the 5-team Sectional 33 and they need three wins in five days to take the championship.

But HC is on their home floor. They have a score to settle with River Forest, who upset them in November, and they have a rivalry with Wheeler. The Lady Cats can't get anyone sick or injured because they're not a deep team. But Hanover is the best team of the five in Sectional 33 and they should take the big yellow bus to Lake Maxincuckee (Culver) on Feb. 13. Two-time regional champion Garrett (13-8) graduated four starters off last year's 25-2 team, but don't bet against them taking out Fremont and reaching the regional again to play Boone Grove.

Hanover eyes have to be opened by the injuries that have hit Jimtown. If the Jimmies (20-1) were 20 points better than Hanover (10-9), what does the loss of senior guard Sarah DeShone (18.5 ppg.) mean to that equation? I would guess that LaVille is not going to be able to derail Garrett, thereby creating a familiar regional cast of Garrett, Boone, Hanover and Jimtown.

And then everything is pointing towards Boone Grove. They have some four-year starters on the team. They have the lead guard and a lot of bench to play two games in one day. The only thing that worries you about the Wolves is that they do not have one dominating scorer. Traditionally, especially in girls basketball, teams that have balanced scoring get beat by teams that have one or two top scorers, because the latter teams know who to get the ball to in key situations.

Even if Wheeler upsets Hanover. Even if LaVille upsets Jimtown, Even if Fremont upsets Garrett. It's time for Boone Grove to get to the semistate for the second time in school history.

CLASS 3A
Sectional 17 @ HAMMOND
2-9-10 - Gary Roosevelt [15-3] vs. Hammond [7-12]
2-12-10 (Fr.) Clark [0-20] vs. Lew Wallace [7-12] 6 p.m.
2-12-10 (Fr.) Gavit [19-1] vs. Gary Roosevelt (16-3) 7:30
2-13-10 (Sat.) Sectional 17 championship

Sectional 18 @ KANKAKEE VALLEY
2-9-10 (Tu) Kankakee Valley [12-8] vs. ANDREAN [14-5]
2-9-10 (Tu) Calumet [14-7] vs. Knox [12-8]
2-12-10 - (Fr) Griffith [15-5] vs. ANDREAN/KV - 6 p.m.
2-12-10 - (Fr.) Rensselaer [6-14] vs. Cal/Knox - 7:30
2-13-10 - (Sat.) Sectional 18 Championship - 7:30 p.m.

Sectional @ 19. PLYMOUTH
2-9-10 (Tu) Rochester [10-10] vs. (SB) St. Joseph's [7-12] 7 p.m.
2-10-10 (W) Plymouth [10-10] vs. Culver Academy [14-6] 6 p.m.
2-10-10 (W) John Glenn [14-6] vs. (Mishawaka) Marian [13-9]
2-12-10 (F) New Prairie [7-13] vs. Rochester/St. Joe - 6 p.m.
2-12-10 (F) Plymouth/Culver vs, Glenn/Marian
2-13-10 (Sat.) Sectional 19 championship - 7 p.m.

Sectional 20 @ (Russiaville) WESTERN
2-9-10 (Tu) Twin Lakes [12-9] vs. Frankfort [9-11] 6 p.m.
2-9-10 (Tu) Northwestern [14-6] vs. West Lafayette [10-11]
2-12-10 (F) Western [7-14] vs. TL/Frankfort - 6 p.m.
2-12-10 (F) Benton Central [17-4] vs. WL/Northwestern
2-13-10 (S) Sectional 20 championship - 7 p.m.

Class 3A Rensselaer Regional
2-20-10 (S) Western winner vs. KV winner - 10 a.m.
2-20-10 (S) HAMMOND winner vs. Plymouth winner
2-20-10 (S) Rensselaer Regional championship - 7 p.m.

RENSSELAER (2-10-10) This is the most misunderstood brackets because the teams with the best records are not the best teams. Gavit (19-1) is a prohibitive favorite in their regional even if top scorer Brianna Rivoli-Johnson (19 ppg.) can't play due to injury. But no matter what, Gavit needs a miracle to win the regional. They simply haven't played enough of a schedule. Gary Roosevelt (15-3) has even less of a chance as their record is built on an even softer schedule. Benton Central causes some unusual match up problems with 5-foot-10 junior center Hillary Moore, 5-foot-10 freshman lead guard Caitlen Tolen and 6-foot-1 senior forward Chelsea Cripe.

Griffith (15-5), Andrean (14-5) and Calumet (14-7) create a tough choice. The Niners played the toughest schedule but Calumet can (and will) get to the finals by defeating Knox and Rensselaer. Andrean defeated Griffith by 16 points, but the semifinal rematch will be closer.

Griffith is 15-5 with two losses in double overtime but Andrean won their last eight games and they did not lose to a 3A team or a sectional foe all season. I called Griffith at the start of the year but now I'm going with Andrean, Gavit, Benton Central and Marian, a team that's won five in a row and played a solid schedule. Marian lost to eight winning teams including Powers Clay, Oregon-Davis and Penn. St, Joe did defeat Marian 35-33 but Marian wins a rematch to advance to Jasper County for the regional. Alex Bousquet (19.4 ppg.) a 1,000-point career scorer at lead guard and 6-foot senior Mariah Douglas (9.3 ppg.) are two of eight Marian seniors. Marian is ready and they will win three times at the sectional.

At the regional, Marian is far too experienced for Gavit and that would match Andrean and Benton Central. While Andrean has also played 'up', they've met larger teams (10 4A teams) from bigger schools. The ominous stat about BC is that they have also lost only four times, all to 4A schools and two of those games were in overtime. They are 9-0 against 3A schools and they are 5-0 against the other five teams in their sectional.

Also, Benton County is the county directly south of Jasper County. BC will have large crowds at the regional if they return there. Benton Central is the defending regional champion and they still have a crusade. BC has won 14 sectionals and eight regionals, but has NEVER won the state title. I can't see Andrean defeating Benton Central in Rensselaer for the regional title.

CLASS 4A
Sectional 1 @ MUNSTER
2-9-10 (Tu) 8:00 pm - Gary West Side [16-4] vs. Morton [3-16]
2-10-10 (W) 6:00 pm - East Chicago [6-13] vs. Highland [7-13]
2-10-10 (W) 7:30 pm - Munster [12-8] vs. LOWELL [6-14]
2-12-10 (F) 6:00 pm - Lake Central [14-6] vs. Gary West Side
2-12-10 (F) 7:30 p.m. - EC/Highland vs. Munster/LOWELL
2-13-10 (S) 7:30 p.m. - Sectional one championship game

Sectional 2 @ Valparaiso
2-9-10 (Tu) 6:00 pm -- Chesterton [7-13] vs. Valparaiso [11-9]
2-9-10 (Tu) 7:30 pm -- Portage [11-9] vs. LaPorte [1-19]
2-10-10 (W) 6 p.m. -- Michigan City [15-7] vs. MERRILLVILLE [19-1]
2-10-10 (W) 7:30 p.m.-- CROWN POINT [10-10] vs. Hobart [18-2]
2-12-10 (F) 6 p.m. - Chesterton/Valpo vs. Portage
2-12-10 (F) 7:30 p.m. - MC/MERRILLVILLE vs. CP/Hobart
2-13-10 (Sat) 7:30 p.m. - Sectional two champiosnhip

Sectional 3 at (SOUTH BEND) CLAY
2-9-10 (Tu) 5:00 pm - (SB) Riley [3-19] vs. (SB) Washington [12-9]
2-9-10 (Tu) 6:30 pm - (SB) Adams [0-20] vs. (SB) Clay [18-4]
2-12-10 (F) 5:00 pm - Mishawaka [17-3] vs. (SB) Washington
2-12-10 (F) 6:30 pm - Penn [16-2] vs. (SB) Clay
2-1-310 (S) 6:30 pm - Sectional three championship

Sectional 4 at Concord
2-9-10 (Tu) 5:00 pm - Northridge [15-5] vs. Elkhart Memorial [20-2]
2-9-10 (Tu) 6:30 pm - Concord [9-11] vs. Elkhart Central [3-16]
2-12-10 (F) 5:30 p.m. - Goshen [5-15] vs. Elkhart Memorial
2-12-10 (F) 6:30 p.m. - Warsaw [15-5] vs. Concord
2-13-10 (S) 6:30 pm - Sectional four championship

VALPARAISO REGIONAL OUTLOOK: There's an overload of power in Sectional Three here with Penn, Mishawaka and Clay. If Elkhart Memorial avenges a 44-41 home loss to Northridge, they should reach the regional. But it's very hard to say which Sectional 3 team they'll play. Even though Clay does not get a bye, I think they'll win three times to advance to the regional.

Lake Central clearly got to the premier draw in Sectional One and they have been strong in the final half of the season. It's hard not to pick them to win twice and get to regional play.
As usual, the eight-team Sectional 2 is an endurance test. AS good as Merrillville has played and as skilled as they are on the perimeter, it will be a struggle against Michigan City (15-7), Hobart (18-2) or Crown Point (10-10) and Valparaiso.

But let me set it out. I think Crown Point beats Hobart. The Brickies will look ahead and they simply do not know CP, which played very well the last 10 days. I do not think CP believes they can stop Merrillville. They just don't have to the lead guard who can neutralize the Pirates' quick defenders. Portage (11-9) gets an easy first round game with LaPorte (1-19), but they have to take out Chesterton or Valparaiso. Valpo has been somewhat of a disappointment, but they still have the powerful front court players in 6-foot-4 Stefanie Lang (16.8 ppg.), shooting in 5-foot-9 Kelsie Ostojic (10.8 ppg.) and a lot of effort from 5-foot-10 junior Arianna Paul (8.7 ppg.).

In the finals, Valpo will not be able to slow the pace against Merrillville, which is so fast with Raveen Murray (17 ppg.) and Bryonna Davis (20.0). The Pirates do not have great outside shooting, but Tracee Mitchell is a strong rebounder and Merrillville will join Clay in the regional.

The Munster sectional will feature Gary West Side's speed against Lake Central's size and senior nature in a semifinal game. I've liked LC all year. They were 0-3 and have now won 14 of their last 17. LC has linked the perimeter defense of Brooke Polus and other guards to the intimidation of 6-foot-6 Andrea Kras. I think it may be surprising how decisively LC wins the Munster sectional.

Out east, I've touted Elkhart Memorial (20-2) all season and locally, some may not know why. Senior Jada Buggs (14.5 ppg.) has scored 1,100 career points. She's unlikely to get shut down in key games. 5-foot-11 Akyah Taylor (17.4 ppg.) has scored 1,100 points and she's just a junior. You don't really WANT balanced scoring. You need to know where the ball has to go in key situations.

5-foot-6 sophomore guard Brionna Barnett (13.6 ppg.) leads the Memorial attack and you better get to her because you won't stop the other two without a double team. Weaknesses? Memorial, which averages 62 points a game, has only three seniors and just one of them plays. They can reportedly get loose, be immature and turn the ball over. Memorial did lose 45-41 to sectional foe Northridge on Jan. 22 so they can be slowed. But if the Chargers win that first game, I like them to go all the way to the semistate.