Semi-State Preview: Jasper
Last weekend, 64 teams dwindled down to 16…four in each of four classes, ready to do battle in the Semi-State this Saturday, to determine four State Champions the following weekend. The Semi-State round of the tournament is just a single…
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Continue ReadingLast weekend, 64 teams dwindled down to 16…four in each of four classes, ready to do battle in the Semi-State this Saturday, to determine four State Champions the following weekend. The Semi-State round of the tournament is just a single game, paired with another game from one of the other classes. This year, the IHSAA has chosen to use LaPorte, Logansport, Jasper, and Jeffersonville as its host sites. In this article, I will focus on the two games at the Jasper Semi-State, so below is a look at Greenwood Christian, Loogootee, Triton Central, and Linton-Stockton.
JASPER SEMI-STATE
Triton Central (26-0); Sagarin 8 (#1 in Class 2A); Strength of Schedule 209
Linton-Stockton (23-5); Sagarin 50 (#2 in Class 2A); Strength of Schedule 167
Loogootee (25-2); Sagarin 55 (#1 in Class 1A); Strength of Schedule 193
Greenwood Christian (23-5); Sagarin 109 (#5 in Class 1A); Strength of Schedule 279
Class 1A Semi-State Matchup: Greenwood Christian vs. Loogootee, 4:00 p.m. EST
Greenwood Christian hasn’t exactly played the toughest schedule in the state, but they do have talent and skill, they’ve beaten some good teams, and they have won the games they’ve needed to win. Loogootee, on the other hand, has beaten some of Southern Indiana’s best teams this season, falling only to Class 2A Semi-State representative Linton-Stockton and Class 4A Columbus East. Greenwood Christian counts heavily on four players to do a bulk of the work. Forward Isabella Reed (2021) is their versatile, do-everything kid who can play a little around the perimeter, she’s great in the mid-post, and she can post some as well. I’ve always liked guard Alexis Mead (2020), and she often acts as their primary ball-handler, though she can shoot/score. Wing Savannah Frye (2021) is a versatile shooter/scorer as well, and combo guard Ellie Bigelow (2022) has made her presence felt in year-2. Loogootee is led by the Junior trio of Kalea Fleming, Brooklyn Jones, and Makenzie VanHoy. Fleming acts as the point guard, but she can get to the rim, knock down shots, and explode offensively at times. Jones is a tough, strong, athletic slasher who can score it in bunches as well. But it was VanHoy who stood out last week at times, and she plays more of a wing/forward role for them. Loogootee is very good, but Greenwood Christian can present some matchup problems with their height, length, and versatility.
Class 1A Prediction: Loogootee 52, Greenwood Christian 45
The Loogootee program has been building up to this the last few years, and I think this is their time to get over the hump and make it to Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Greenwood Christian absolutely presents challenges, and I’ll touch on their height and length again, especially around the perimeter. If Loogootee can take care of the ball, they could visit the free throw line often in this one.
Class 1A X-Factor Player: Savannah Frye, 2021, Greenwood Christian Academy
Isabella Reed and Alexis Mead are known commodities, and they have been consistent this season, and throughout their careers. If Greenwood Christian wants to pull the upset, they’ll need Frye and/or Ellie Bigelow to step up big-time. I chose Frye, because she’s a year older, a bit more polished right now, and I think Loogootee could be so focused on stopping Reed and Mead, that they take their attention off of Frye, and Savannah knocks down several shots. If she can score around 20 points, grab a couple more rebounds than usual, and take care of the ball, Greenwood Christian should be in great shape.
Class 2A Semi-State Matchup: Triton Central vs. Linton-Stockton, 6:30 p.m. EST
When you look at Triton Central’s résumé, you notice the 26-0 record, the number of blowout victories they have, and you can be quick to assume this game might be a foregone conclusion. However, throughout this impressive season they’ve put together, Linton-Stockton played them closer than anyone except New Palestine, losing 47-37 back on November 30. Don’t get me wrong, Triton Central is one of the most talented non-4A teams in the state, boasting Loyola (Chicago) commit Maya Chandler (2020), Youngstown State commit Tenleigh Phelps (2021), and IU-East commit Rylie Stephens (2020). Chandler is a legitimate Indana All-Star candidate, plus their point guard and leader. Phelps is a bulldog inside, she’s tough-nosed, physical, and a little mean, but she also has a nice jump-shot. Stephens is a long, wiry strong athlete with good size who can score it at all three levels. Additionally, players like Taylor Heath (2021), Bailey Stamper (2021), Grace Crist (2020), and Kenzie Ryle (2021) add to their impressive depth. Linton-Stockton has a talented trio of their own, all Juniors, and if they can get going early, they will compete. Vanessa Shafford is a strong, highly skilled, and gritty point forward type. Aubrey Burgess is a ball of energy who can handle the ball, make shots, and get to the rim for scores. Haley Rose has really worked on her game over the years, and at 6-0, she has the ability to play around the basket, knock down 3-pointers, or drive it to the rim. One wildcard for them could be Shakamak transfer Jaylee Hayes (2022), who is another nice, fluid wing forward. Gentry Warrick (2022) is one more nice youngster who gives them good minutes up front. I don’t look for Linton-Stockton to budge an inch, unlike a few of Triton Central’s previous opponents.
Class 2A Prediction: Triton Central 57, Linton-Stockton 49
I think both teams will come out scoring the ball aggressively. Both have finished the season strong and been good so far this postseason, and both have too many talented players for this to be a game in the 30s. I’d anticipate Triton-Central’s talent and depth taking over at some point, but don’t be surprised if this is a one or two possession game at the end, or if the Miners figure out a way to shock the state with an upset.
Class 2A X-Factor Player: Jalee Hayes, 2022, Linton-Stockton H.S.
Last season as a Freshman, Hayes put together a nice start to her career at Shakamak High School. She averaged 11.1 points and 8.2 rebounds, and she was the focal point of the offense for the Lakers. Now at Linton-Stockton, Hayes has had to find a new niche, and she acts as their fourth scorer, a capable perimeter shooter now, but she’s still able to occasionally show that ability to score it in bunches. As long as Shafford, Burgess, and Hale are themselves, Linton-Stockton has a chance. But if Hayes can play off of the defensive attention they draw and score a dozen, maybe 15 points, I think Linton-Stockton has a legitimate shot at an upset. And Hayes is capable, because she did it often enough last season.