NW Indiana Boys Basketball Renegade Class 4A Northern Semistate Preview

2003-2004 Boys Basketball

'The Renegade' Class 4A

Northern Semistate Preview

A USA-365.com Special Report

(3-17-2004)

Valparaiso (22-2) vs. Columbia City (24-3)
Lafayette 4A SemiState - 3-21-2004 - 12 noon (CST)

History: Quite a bit. Columbia City was surrounded by smaller schools in the old one class tournament so the sectional title this year was their 25th in the 94 years of the tournament. The regional title is just their second and I would guess that is the presence of Warsaw to the west and all the Fort Wayne schools to the east.

Columbia City's first sectional title was in 1924 but victories last Saturday (March 13) over Jefferson and Fort Wayne South gave the Eagles just their first-ever regional title. Columbia City NEVER won a regional in the one class tournament. Their other regional title came in 2001. Coach Chris Benedict (122-61, 8 years) knew this was coming. Columbia City was 21-3 last year and had seven players back off that team. The Eagles are 64-8 over the last three seasons.

Forget the pseudo Final 4 (which does not exist anymore), the Eagles have never reached the state championship game and that is why 3,000 fans will make the 3-1/2 hour caravan from Whitley County to Lafayette. Columbia City was beaten 55-49 in a double-overtime sectional championship game in 2003 and DeKalb went to the state finals. The Eagles surely feel it is their turn and this is one of the biggest games in the history of this very old high school.

Valparaiso is another tradition-rich dominator in the old one-class tournament. Because they have always had a strong program and because they have been surrounded by the smaller Porter County Conference (PCC) schools, the sectional title this season was the Vikings' 46th sectional championship. Valpo's wins over Concord and LaPorte gave them the school's ninth regional title.
Valparaiso and coach Bob Punter won a four-overtime game over East Chicago in the semistate championship game in 1994 and lost 93-88 in overtime to Clay in one of the all-time classic state championship games.

Punter, the latest in a long line of distinguished Valpo coaches, is 236-107 in 15 years in Valparaiso and he knew this was coming, as well. Valpo was 17-4 last season and returned 6-9 post Brian McMillan and 6-0 lead guard Brent Kimmell, to go with seven other seniors. Valpo is 87-24 over the last four seasons, the No. 1 school in the big school Duneland Athletic Conference. Valpo lost in the 2003 sectional opener 61-58 to a Merrillville team that eventually lost to DeKalb as well. DeKalb was smoked by an Indianapolis school, four-time state champ Pike, in the 2003 4A title game. This is a matchup of two long time Indiana prep basketball centers. The girls teams at Valparaiso (19) and Columbia City (17) have won a combined 36 sectionals and 17 regionals. But the one thing they lack is that state crown. No Valparaiso basketball team (male or female) has ever won a state title.

Previous meetings: This is where I'm a little foggy. Columbia City and Valparaiso have not met in the last 10 years, an oddity due to the long-standing nature (both schools go back before World War I) and the success they have had. I don't remember a meeting in the last 20 seasons but it is highly unlikely that these two schools have never met because the Eagles and the Vikings' programs both date back almost a century. I'll predict that once Valpo is introduced to Columbia City and their fandom, the Vikings will want to schedule them, if they can get more than six nonconference games.

Enrollment: Columbia City 1,135; Valparaiso 2,074

Where: In the 7,800-seat Crawley Center, Jefferson's home gym in Lafayette, the traditional northern home of the boys semistate tournament. Valparaiso used to come here every other year (and that's not an accident) so they are familiar with the 'magic carpet' they must ride to the state finals. The Jefferson game was one that VHS had to drop when the Duneland Athletic Conference (DAC) went to a 14-game league format this last season. Columbia City is a borderline 3A school and they were 3A three years ago so they did not play at Jefferson when they were in the semistate in 2001.

The winner: The winner takes on Bloomington North (20-4) or state superpower No. 1 Lawrence North (27-2) for the 4A state championship on the floor of the Conseco Fieldhouse in downtown Indianapolis at 7 p.m. on Saturday, March 27.

On the air: WJOB (1230) AM in Hammond, WIMS (1420) in Michigan City, WEFM (95.9) FM and
the game will be tape-delayed and shown Monday night (March 22) at 7 p.m. on ComCast Cable in Lake County and Porter County.

WHAT THEY DO: Columbia City is the undefeated champion of the Northeast Hoosier Conference beating second place Bellmont 45-40. Bellmont is in the 3A semistate championship game on the same Crawley center floor so there may be some league solidarity in the stands. Valparaiso is the champion of the big school Duneland Athletic Conference (DAC) and they will be on their own in Lafayette, fan-wise.

The Eagles are led by 6-6 senior Doug Sheckler (#44, 16 ppg.) and 6-2 senior guard Marcus Moore (#3, 14 ppg.), a high-low combination that split 30 points in Saturday's 52-37 win in the championship game of the 4A Marion Regional. The Eagles allow just 41 points per game and they do it with very steady play. Columbia City shoots 70 percent from the foul line, almost 55 percent from the floor and over 45% from three-point range, very strong numbers. Columbia City had a listed 152 turnovers in 25 games and if those numbers are real, that is an incredibly low total (6.1 per game) for a team playing a big school schedule.

In the semifinals Saturday (March 13) against Jefferson, Columbia City was 9 of 21 from three-point range and 19 of 42 from the field overall. The Eagles made just seven turnovers in the Jeff game according to independent statistics. CC committed only eight fouls in that game. Those are near perfection numbers. Clearly that's how Columbia is 22-3. The losses to Muncie Central (20-4) and Lawrence North (27-2) in overtime are understandable. The loss at Wawasee (16-5) is questionable but the Warriors aren't a bad team and that was a road game.

One thing you notice is that Columbia City has five players with 15 or more three-point goals. Marcus Moore's twin brother Scott Moore was 21 of 46 from three-point range after 25 games. Senior guard Ryan Briggs was 24 of 40 from three-point land. The backup center is 6-4 sophomore Kyle Rucks so there is a size and rebounding problem if Shackler, an Allstate candidate, has to sit down for any reason.

Only Lawrence North and Norwell scored more than 50 points on Columbia City is 27 games. CC was 18 of 19 from the foul line in a 45-43 win over Warsaw and 12 of 13 from the line in the 59-34 win over Jefferson . The Eagles have held 21 teams to 45 points or less and that will be tested against Valparaiso, which averages 65.5 points per game.

I would assume that Columbia City can change defenses but with the 6-6 Sheckler to guard Valpo's 6-9 Brian McMillan (12.5 ppg.) and 6-2 Marcus Moore (13.8 ppg.) to guard the VHS star Brent Kimmell (14.9 ppg.), I'm seeing nothing but man to man for CC. Sheckler is a slam dunker and a rim wrecker and VHS better have 6-5 Ben Pease and the 6-4 Liekse (Dan and Jake) brothers.

Valparaiso has 10 players and they use them all when they have to. But first, the VHS boys will count on Kimmell (17 ppg,.) the DAC MVP to penetrate and kick to long range shooters Jon Moon (11.5 ppg. ppg.) , 6-4 wing Brandon Thomas (8.1 ppg.) and Ryan Nuppnau. Thomas scored a career-high 17 points against LaPorte. Valpo has an unofficial 176 three-point baskets through 24 games.

The key for them is to rebound and be patient, the same as it is for Columbia City. Kimmell suffered what were called leg cramps late in the second game of the regional, the 62-55 win over LaPorte (20-5). I'm going to assume that he suffered no true injury and with only one game to play this week, he'll be able to go all 32 minutes. He has to because Valpo has no true backup point guard that I know of.

The VHS plan is to start the game by establishing McMillan in the low post. That is especially key this week against the 6-6, 220-pound Sheckler. Teams can't sag on McMillan because of the VHS shooting prowess. Valparaiso turned the ball over six times against Concord and seven against LaPorte. A lot of that is Kimmell, who is a gifted ballhandler. Valpo is not a great defensive team, especially in the post and they need to keep the pace of the game slow against the athletic teams like Concord and LaPorte. Columbia City is much more like Valparaiso than they are similar to Concord and LaPorte.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN: You'll certainly see a slow-paced game early on because these are two heavyweights with low post centers they want to use. Valpo can't help 6-9 Brian McMillan against CC's 6-6 Doug Sheckler inside so McMillan will probably get into foul trouble again. The VHS bench is full of post players so Ben Pease and the Lieske brothers will all get their shot against Sheckler. Sheckler is the key to the game. If he gets his 15-20 points and 10 rebounds, Columbia City wins. He is described as a very athletic player and someone who moves well without the ball.

Columbia City will know from tape and what they are told that who ever guards Kimmell will need help if they want to stop him. They may chose to single guard Kimmel as well as they can, but not run away from Valpo's shooters to help against him. That would force Kimmel to try to score 25-30 and win the game by himself. No one on either side is quite that good.

I also think Valpo has a box and one ready for Kimmel encouraging the other four Vikings to shoot from distance. That could backfire against a VHS team that consistently makes 8-10 three pointers every game, but it would keep Sheckler in the game foul wise. The regional and semistate history books are filled with good shooting teams that went cold in unfamiliar gyms filled with opposition fans.

Valparaiso really doesn't support their teams the way you would expect. The VHS fans were outnumbered 3-to-1 in the girls semistate at Warsaw and 3-1 in the boys Michigan City Regional. I am told that Columbia City, bar none, has the biggest fan base in the northern part of the state. That's a big boast, but I have read stories that say it's no joke. If Columbia City has 4,000 fans in the Crawley Center for a midday Saturday game (and that is a possibility) it becomes a City home game.

Columbia City is playing at a peak. They dominated the Marion Regional. Valparaiso truthfully has struggled in each of their last three playoff games. The question is, were those struggles due to the athleticism of Portage, LaPorte and Concord, something Columbia City cannot match? Or is Valpo struggling to regain the dominance they had in January, when they beat beat five teams by 10 points or more?

In the Michigan City regional, Todd Dermody of LaPorte scored consistently against Valpo's Brain McMillan. CC's Doug Sheckler is better than Dermody.

The Eagles will fly to Indianapolis to take their whipping from Lawrence North.

Columbia City 56, Valparaiso 52

Valparaiso (22-2)
COACH: Bob Punter - OFFENSE: 65.5, Defense: 49.8 PPG.

Nov. 26 (W) 91-51 at Boone Grove (12-11)
Nov. 29 (W) 69-27 Hobart (9-12)
Dec. 5 (L) 58-75 Lake Central (17-6)
Dec. 12 (W) 71-49 Portage (12-11)
Dec. 13 (W) 80-66 at South Bend Clay (8-15)
Dec. 16 (W) 56-53 at Crown Point (6-16)
Dec. 19 (L) 52-53 at LaPorte (20-5)
Dec. 30 (W) 73-63 Chesterton (13-8)
Jan. 6 (W) 81-36 Merrillville (9-12)
Jan. 9 (W) 77-50 at Michigan City (2-19)
Jan. 16 (W) 51-47 at Portage (12-11)
Jan. 23 (W) 64-51 LaPorte (20-5)
Jan. 24 (W) 62-40 at Calumet (2-20)
Jan. 30 (W) 62-52 Crown Point (6-16)
Jan. 31 (W) 73-27 South Central (0-21)
Feb. 6 (W) 54-46 at Chesterton (13-8)
Feb. 7 (W) 60-40 Highland (15-7)
Feb. 12 (W) 70-64 at Lake Central (17-6)
Feb. 20 (W) at Merrillville (9-12)
Feb. 27 (W) 72-58 Michigan City (2-19)

Portage (4A) Sectional
Mar. 5 (W) 62-43 Hobart (9-12)
Mar. 6 (W) 49-39 at Portage (12-11)

Michigan City (4A) Regional
Mar. 13 (W) 66-54 Concord (15-8)
Mar. 13 (W) 62-55 LaPorte (20-5)

Lafayette (4A) Semi-State
Mar. 20 (n)Columbia City (23-3) 12:00 pm

COLUMBIA CITY (24-3)
COACH: Chris Benedict - OFFENSE: 55.6, DEFENSE: 40.6

Nov. 26 (W) 50-36 at Whitko (8-13)
Nov. 29 (W) 31-28 Warsaw (14-8)
Dec. 5 (W) 65-47 Fort Wayne North (6-15)
Dec. 9 (W) 71-37 Churubusco (10-11)
Dec. 13 (W) 51-27 at Garrett (19-6)
Dec. 19 (W) 52-44 at East Noble (11-11)
Dec. 20 (L) 44-47 (OT) at Muncie Central (20-4)

Hall-of-Fame Tournament (NewCastle)
Dec. 27 (W)White River Valley (23-4)
Dec. 27 (L) 55-56 (OT) Lawrence North (27-2)

Jan. 3 (W) 50-49 Muncie Burris (19-3)
Jan. 10 (W) Bellmont (21-4)
Jan. 16 (W) 57-44 Homestead (10-11)
Jan. 20 (W) 52-36 at Huntington North (17-5)
Jan. 24 (W) 62-25 at DeKalb (7-14)
Jan. 30 (W) 80-33 New Haven (0-21)
Feb. 3 (W) 51-37 at Fort Wayne Northrop (5-15)
Feb. 7 (W) 70-57 at Norwell (11-10)
Feb. 12 (W) 66-44 Carroll (Fort Wayne) (15-6)
Feb. 20 (W) 66-44 Manchester (9-13)
Feb. 21 (W) 69-30 Northridge (15-9)
Feb. 24 (L) 36-42 at Wawasee (16-5)
Feb. 27 (W) 69-51 Elkhart Central (11-11)

Warsaw (4A) Sectional
Mar. 2 (W) 45-43 at Warsaw (14-8)
Mar. 5 (W) 55-45 Carroll (Fort Wayne) (15-6)
Mar. 6 (W) 42-40 East Noble (11-11)

Marion (4A) Regional
Mar. 13 (W) 59-34 Jefferson (10-14)
Mar. 13 (W) 52-37 Fort Wayne South (15-12)

Lafayette (4A) Semi State
Mar. 20 - Valparaiso (22-2) 1:00 pm