NW Indiana Boys Basketball Renegade IHSAA Semistate Previews

2003-2004 Boys Basketball

'The Renegade'

IHSAA Semistate Previews

A USA-365.com Special Report

(3-17-2004)

Class 1A at Warsaw

Tri-Central (22-3) 56, Blackhawk (14-10) 50

Defending state champion Tri-Central smoked out Monroe Central 86-65 and then had enough left to kick out defending 1A state champ Lafayette Catholic 64-58 last week. 'Nuff said. Blackhawk won on two last-second plays by guard Shannon Coward and the luck train gets derailed this week.

Class 1A at Seymour

Waldron (25-0) 66, White River Valley (23-4) 61

A classic southern Indiana small school matchup of the Waldron 'Wonder Five', led by 6-6 senior twins Justin and Jordan Bernard and the smaller, speedy White River Valley boys whose only four losses came against big winning (combined record of 79-15) sectional champions Logootee, Columbia City, Bloomington North and Northview. A Waldron-Tri-Central match would be a fitting state final.

Class 2A at Warsaw

Jimtown (23-2) 50, Garrett (19-6) 39

This is almost a home game for Jimtown. The Jimmies smoked out Delphi 52-38 after turning back Bishop Noll 49-46. Jimtown's 6-8, 220-pound Kyle Johnson must get the best of Garrett's 6-7 Jake Didion. This is a once-in-a-generation team for defense-minded Jimtown and they should win their 20th game in a row.

Class 2A at Bedford North Lawrence

Brownstown (26-1) 60, Centerville (20-5) 53

Hard to figure. This is as far as either school has ever been and both teams had big winning years in 2003. Brownstown has won 23 games in a row and they average 73.5 points a game. I don't think Centerville has enough size or skill to slow them.

Class 3A at Lafayette

Western (23-2) 67, Bellmont (21-4) 65

Bellmont also features 6-6 twin brothers in juniors Adam and Aaron Richie. Western must go the rest of the way without injured 6-3 senior Evan Eads but they are a very mobile, experienced group. This could be the closest game of the day.

Class 3A at Seymour

Bishop Chatard (15-8) 57, Mater Dei (19-6) 51

This is the most difficult game to pick. Mater Dei has six losses but five are in the city of Evansville against rivals. Chatard got a slow start due to the football state title and they were 7-7 on Feb. 7 after a 50-47 loss to Mater Dei. But the Trojans have charged down the stretch and they smoked out Pendleton Heights (19-7) 51-34 in the regional title game. Chatard has 6-6 center Ryan Baker, the Trojans star football defensive end and 5-11 junior guard Dray Mason, the 2,000-yard running back. Chatard was 22-2 last year and they have won 28 consecutive football and basketball playoff games.

Class 4A at Bedford North Lawrence
Lawrence North (27-2) 61, Bloomington North (20-4) 49

Somebody's kidding somebody here. I know Bloomington North is close to home in Bedford and Bloomington is a good prep basketball town but Lawrence North just got through laying some smack on Indianapolis Northwest (20-5) and Indianapolis North Central (21-4) at the regional level winning both games by more than 10 points.

Lawrence North is the undisputed No. 1 team in the state and they have lost only two games by 5 points or less. The combined record of the last four teams Lawrence North has beaten is 77-18. Two of Bloomington North's state tourney wins are in overtime. This is a whole other level.

Class 4A at Lafayette

Columbia City (24-3) 56, Valparaiso (22-2) 52

Neither team has a bad loss, but the matchup of CC's 6-6 Doug Sheckler and Valpo's 6-9 Brian McMillan will probably go Columbia City's way. Both teams shoot very well and neither has been to this level. But CC could be 26-1. The 56-55 OT loss to Lawrence North (27-2) is a giant red flag to Valpo hopes. Valparaiso hasn't played anybody like that. The Vikings have won 17 in a row but they run into a clone here. Plus, the CC fan base is reportedly overwhelming. Over 3,500 made the trip from Columbia City to Marion for the regional championship last week and with a 12 noon Saturday start, unless it snows, the Eagles will have at least 3,000 fans in Lafayette. Valparaiso certainly will not.