My hopes of finishing at or above 80 percent remain intact as I went 27-5 (84 percent) last week. With just two weeks left, my overall record is now 373-89, which has me at 81 percent for the season.
SATURDAY
CLASS 4A ELKHART
Riley (22-4) vs. Fishers (28-0): The top-ranked and defending state champion Tigers cruised past Riley, 89-29, on January 18. Marvin Schindler chipped in 10 points in the Wildcats’ 77-71 win over No. 9 Warsaw. Nathan Baker tallied 18 points in Fishers’ 79-39 win over Harrison (West Lafayette). Matt’s pick: Fishers 75, Riley 60.
Homestead (22-5) vs. Crown Point (22-2): Mack Welker recorded a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds in the Spartans’ 42-39 win over rival Carroll (Fort Wayne). Dikembe Shaw contributed 26 points in the No. 4 Bulldogs’ 68-62 double-overtime win against Portage. Matt’s pick: Crown Point 59, Homestead 49.
Championship: Fishers (29-0) vs. Crown Point (23-2): The Tigers downed Crown Point, 48-37, in last year’s Elkhart semistate semifinals. Matt’s pick: Fishers 53, Crown Point 49.
CLASS 4A NEW CASTLE
Terre Haute North (21-5) vs. Lawrence North (21-6): The Wildcats clawed their way to a 67-51 win over Terre Haute North during the 2012-13 campaign. Tyler Renn added 13 points in the Patriots’ 72-69 double-overtime win against Whiteland. Chris Terry registered six points and eight rebounds in Lawrence North’s 80-42 win over Mooresville. Matt’s pick: Lawrence North 69, Terre Haute North 51.
Jeffersonville (21-5) vs. Mount Vernon (Fortville) (21-5): The No. 7 Red Devils slipped by Mount Vernon, 58-52, a year ago. Michael Cooper racked up 13 points in Jeffersonville’s 65-40 win over Evansville Harrison. Tyler Davis came up with 14 points in the Marauders’ 74-40 win over Brownsburg. Matt’s pick: Jeffersonville 74, Mount Vernon 66.
Championship: Lawrence North (22-6) vs. Jeffersonville (22-5): The Wildcats clawed past Jeffersonville, 70-64, on January 4. Matt’s pick: Jeffersonville 79, Lawrence North 76.
CLASS 3A LOGANSPORT
Maconaquah (21-5) vs. Saint Joseph (24-3): The Braves downed No. 2 Saint Joseph, 56-45, during the 2000-01 season. Devon Murry had 18 points in Maconaquah’s 78-72 win over Marion. Braylen White finished with six points in Saint Joseph’s 50-46 win over Columbia City. Matt’s pick: Saint Joseph 68, Maconaquah 59.
East Chicago Central (20-8) vs. Delta (17-7): Joseph Watkins came up with 11 points in the Cardinals’ 78-55 win over Hanover Central. Jordan Furney’s 12 points helped the Eagles to a 45-43 upset of No. 7 Fort Wayne Blackhawk. Matt’s pick: East Chicago Central 65, Delta 58.
Championship: Saint Joseph (25-3) vs. East Chicago Central (21-8): This marks the first meeting between the defending state runner-up Huskies and 2007 Class 4A state champion East Chicago Central. Matt’s pick: Saint Joseph 64, East Chicago Central 61.
CLASS 3A SOUTHPORT
New Palestine (25-3) vs. Brownstown Central (24-2): Ben Slagley scored 16 points in the No. 3 Dragons’ 63-49 win over No. 5 Guerin Catholic. Colby Hall ended with 12 points in the No. 3 and defending Class 2A state champion Braves’ 55-48 win over Evansville Memorial. Matt’s pick: New Palestine 57, Brownstown Central 54.
Princeton (24-2) vs. Indianapolis Crispus Attucks (20-6): Edwin Holmes racked up 19 points and 12 rebounds in the No. 6 Tigers’ 61-48 win over Jennings County. Dezmon Briscoe scored 16 points in the No. 8 Tigers’ 57-46 win over Northview. Matt’s pick: Crispus Attucks 63, Princeton 52.
Championship: New Palestine (26-3) vs. Crispus Attucks (21-6): The Tigers roared to a 59-50 win over host New Palestine in the 2016 sectional quarterfinals. Matt’s puck: Crispus Attucks 66, New Palestine 64.
CLASS 2A MICHIGAN CITY
Gary 21st Century (20-6) vs. Wapahani (26-1): Kayleb Young canned eight points in the No. 6 Cougars’ 61-46 win over No. 8 Fort Wayne Bishop Luers. Nate Luce totaled 18 points in the top-ranked and defending state runner-up Raiders’ 53-45 win over Western Boone. Matt’s pick: Gary 21st Century 62, Wapahani 56.
Manchester (23-2) vs. Jimtown (16-10): Tallon Torpy’s 18 points helped the No. 3 Squires to a 54-36 win over Tipton. Jackson Woolwine knocked down a three-pointer in the Jimmies’ 56-40 victory against Westview. Matt’s pick: Manchester 64, Jimtown 51.
Championship: Gary 21st Century (21-6) vs. Manchester (24-2): The Cougars made it to the semistate finals in 2022 and 2023, while Manchester is making its first appearance in the semstate final. Matt’s pick: Gary 21st Century 60, Manchester 55.
CLASS 2A WASHINGTON
Parke Heritage (24-4) vs. Forest Park (19-6): The No. 4 Wolves roared to a 64-54 win over Forest Park in last year’s Southport semistate semifinal. Carter Crum tossed in nine points in Parke Heritage’s 47-41 win over Centerville. Reece Wolf paced the Rangers with 15 points in their 56-53 upset of No. 2 South Ripley. Matt’s pick: Parke Heritage 70, Forest Park 55.
University (18-9) vs. Linton-Stockton (21-6): Max McComb accounted for five points in the Trailblazers’ 44-43 victory against Triton Central. Tucker Lent mustered seven points and three rebounds in the Miners’ 38-32 win over No. 10 Providence. Matt’s pick: University 53, Linton-Stockton 48.
Championship: Parke Heritage (25-4) vs. University (19-9): The Wolves are back in the semistate title game for the second straight season, while University is making its initial trip. Matt’s pick: Parke Heritage 58, University 51.
CLASS 1A LAFAYETTE JEFF
Kouts (23-4) vs. Monroe Central (19-6): Billy Miller chipped in 13 points in the No. 7 Mustangs’ 56-45 win over Tri-County. Tashaun Beatty netted 18 points in the Golden Bears’ 66-58 win over Daleville. Matt’s pick: Kouts 49, Monroe Central 45.
Triton (23-4) vs. Clinton Prairie (24-2): Julian Swanson racked up 11 points in the Trojans’ 63-40 win over Lakewood Park Christian. Nick Curtin exploded for 24 points in the No. 3 Gophers’ 58-55 overtime victory against Lafayette Central Catholic. Matt’s pick: Clinton Prairie 51, Triton 43.
Championship: Kouts (24-4) vs. Clinton Prairie (25-2): The Mustangs were state runner-up in 2021, while Clinton Prairie has never been in the semistate finale before. Matt’s pick: Clinton Prairie 47, Kouts 44.
CLASS 1A SEYMOUR
Orleans (22-4) vs. Hauser (24-3): Alex DeWitt erupted for 28 points and 10 rebounds in the No. 4 Bulldogs’ 56-47 win over Christian Academy. Stryker Gill notched a triple-double with 13 points, 10 assists, and 10 rebounds in the No. 2 Jets’ 70-52 win over Indianapolis Lutheran. Matt’s pick: Hauser 47, Orleans 40.
Liberty Christian (18-8) vs. Clay City (25-1): Tamarje English amassed 11 points in the Lions’ 64-48 win over North Decatur. Bryce Wiram registered 14 points in the No. 1 Eels’ 51-42 win over Northeast Dubois. Matt’s pick: Clay City 55, Liberty Christian 52.
Championship: Orleans (23-4) vs. Clay City (26-1): The Bulldogs managed a 49-46 win over Clay City during the 2013-14 campaign. Both clubs are making their first appearance in the semistate title affair. Matt’s pick: Clay City 43. Orleans 41.