Girls Semistate Basketball

Previews

(3-1-2003)

A USA-365.com Special Report By Mark Smith

   Class 3A
      Highland (24-2) vs. (South Bend) St. Joseph's (23-2)

PLYMOUTH (12 noon CST) -   A classic matchup of St. Joseph's four-pronged attack against Highland's experienced defense.   Much of the Trojans defensive numbers (32.3 points allowed per game) are based on the fact that they play some miserable teams in the Lake Athletic Conference (LAC) but for the Trojans to hold Northwestern to just 27 points Saturday was very impressive.

The Trojans have won 11 games in a row behind 5-10 junior forward Julie DeMuth (17.7 ppg., 8.0 rebounds), 5-11 baseline buddy Jessica Hamman (5.6 ppg., 4.0 rebounds) and tall defender Lyndee Arnold (9.3 ppg.,  4.4 rebounds, 3.1 steals). 

Highland must deal with St. Joseph's highly regarded 'Gang of Four', 6-3 center Allison Lindborg (12.6 ppg, 8.8 rebounds), 5-9 forward Katie St. Clair (11.4 ppg, 5.6 rebounds), all-South Bend wing Aimee Litka (18.0 ppg.) and freshman point guard Melissa Lechlitner (14. 8 points, 5.4 assists).

St. Joe's only losses are 83-71 to South Bend Washington (19-4) and  65-48 to Indianapolis superpower Perry Meridian (23-4) , the only game where they were overwhelmed all year.

The Indians are an especially young team but the talent is obvious. Lechlitner needs nine assists to break St. Joe's all-time single season assist record. Lindborg is their all-time leading rebounder.  Litka has scored in double figures in 24 of St. Joe's 25 games this year and she's averaged 20 per game as a freshman. Her scoring has dipped with the arrival of Lechlitner, who has quarterbacked a team that has made just 64 turnovers in five tournament games.  Litka, a 5-10 forward, has 33 three-point goals and Lechlitner, a 5-7 guard, has hit 20 bonus shots.

What may hurt Highland here is shooting.  St. Joe shoots 73 percent from the foul line as a team while Highland shoots 57.6 (308-535) percent.  Highland shoots 41 percent from the field overall while St. Joe shoots 51 percent.

Highland has been to the semistate the last two seasons, losing to Kokomo and Bishopo Luers. St. Joe would not appear to be at the level of those two giants.

But The Indians have played a significantly stronger schedule than Highland and they are virtually at home in nearby Plymouth.

Highland has to rattle St. Joe with their tight man-to-man defense and hope the inexperienced Indians crack in their first semistate game.   St. Joe has to shut down DeMuth and force Highland's non-scorers to shoot the ball.

Corey Jo Keim, a 5-2 sophomore guard, and Erin Newsome, a 6-foot sophomore center, are the main subs for St. Joe while Highland can use 10 players.

Highland has only lost to (Elmhurst, Ill.) York (29-3) and Lake Central (13-8), two bigger schools but St. Joe is a 3A private school, which negates their classification.  St. Joe has too much offense for Highland. They had problems with CP's Cassie Pruzin and Lechlitner is reportedly every bit the point guard that Pruzin is.  Litka is a fine defender and she'll give Julie DeMuth problems.  Overall, St. Joe shoots too well and makes to few turnovers to give Highland a chance.

St. Joseph's 56,  Highland 47

Class 1A
    Washington Township  (18-5) vs. Tri-Cental  (21-4)

WARSAW (12 noon CST) -   Tri-Central made history with their first-ever sectional and regional wins this season and they'll face a first-time regional champ in Washington Township.
Tri-Central is not very big but they have great balance with 5-8 Megan Overton (14.2 ppg.), 5-11 Kristin Miller (12.4 ppg,  9.4 rebounds.)  and 5-4 freshman Meranda Burnett (12.8 points, 4.4 assists) .  The Trojans, from a rural area in northern Tipton County near Kokomo, can go to 5-6 senior guards Sarah Boyle and Amanda Watson to settle the team.  It's difficult to know how these teams will react because both sides have freshmen point guards.

Washington also believes in the 'Power of Three' with 5-9 senior Christi Gladdis (16.7 ppg.), 5-11 wing Alisha Polite (11.3 ppg.) and 5-6 freshman Aimee Mishler (11.0 ppg.) leading the way.  WT needs strong rebounding from 5-9 senior Jackie Curry against Miller but it will be offensive patience that will guide the way for the Senators.

Washington Township does not strike me as an emotional team. The giant '"Tiger Den' in Warsaw should not scare them (much) and the semistate pressure should not shake them (much). This is a close game and could have a frantic finish.  Here's northwest Indiana's state finalist.

Washington Township   51,  Tri-Central  48


Class 2A
      Shenandoah (24-2)  vs.  Boone Grove (22-4)

WARSAW (2 p.m. CST) -   The ultimate challenge for Boone Grove's unprecedented upset run through the state tournament. Shenandoah is the two-time defending semistate champion and a small school monster. The Raiders have five seniors who have been to the state finals two years running including 5-11 guard Amanda Norris (18 ppg.) and 6-1 center Teran Werner (10 ppg.). They returned ALL FIVE starters off last years team including quick guards 5-4 Kara Kessling and 5-9 Chelsea Miller, who both started as freshmen last year.

The Raiders have a couple of full court presses and they will key on Boone star Karissa Walter (14.5 ppg., 4.9 assists, 3.6 steals). Walter and all-purpose senior Jenn Keller (9.2 points, 2.4 assists) have to beat the press and get the ball to big guard Heather Moy (10.7 ppg.) and 5-10 forwards AJ Puller (6.3 ppg.) and Rachel Jenkins (6.5 ppg.).

Boone must go to the bench and get support help from 5-8 Becky Keller, 5-6 Sara Martinovich and 5-10 Danielle Jacobs. Quickness is at a premium here because Shenandoah is very confident.

The Raiders have to put Boone away when they get the lead. Teams like North Newton and Rochester have failed to do that and paid dearly.  Plus, if Norris gets into foul trouble, it takes the heart out of Shenandoah.

On the other hand, Boone can't rely on rallying from large deficits like they did against Wheeler, North Newton and Rochester. It's an asset to know you can do that but it will be very difficult to rally in the semistate against a veteran team.  Boone has to stay within 6-8 points early and make a strong move at the start of the second half. I'm counting on a large Boone fan block that may include the Washington Township fans who should see WT win in the 12 noon game in Warsaw.  

Shenandoah appears to be about 20 points better than Boone. The Lady Wolves would seem to need a miracle. But the truth is, they have gone about three games further than they should have already and they have a lot of emotion on their side.

If these teams met five times, Boone Grove might win once. Saturday will not be one of those times.

Shenandoah 72,    BOONE GROVE 55

SEMISTATE NOTES: The two games at Warsaw will be on WIMS (1420) AM and WEFM (95.9) FM. Highland's game will be on WJOB (1230) AM.   Highland's game with St. Joe will be on TV Saturday (10:35 p.m.), Monday and Wednesday (7 p.m.) on cable TV Channel 3.    The state championships will be on WYIN Channel 56) TV if local teams are playing.

Boone Grove and Washington Township will drive to Warsaw Friday and stay overnight in the same hotel.  If Boone wins, they will probably stay overnight Saturday as well and return Sunday.  Warsaw high is 1/2 mile south of the city while Plymouth high is just off Route 30 (at Route 17) off of Baker Street.  No Porter County Conference (PCC) team has ever won a state title in a major team sport.  Only Highland football (1997) has ever reached a state title game.