My chances of reaching the 80 percent plateau came to an end as I went 4-4 (50 percent) with the semistate games. That leaves me at 292-92 for the season, which is good for 76 percent for the campaign. All games on March 23 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
CLASS 1A
Fort Wayne Blackhawk (27-2) vs. Barr-Reeve (26-2) (10:30 a.m.): The top-ranked Braves posted a 76-68 win over No. 2 Barr-Reeve on December 29. Michael Pulver netted 13 points in Blackhawk’s 74-51 win over No. 3 Lafayette Central Catholic at Elkhart. Keegan O’Neill poured in 17 points for the Vikings in their 65=39 triumph against Bloomfield at Washington. Blackhawk was state runner-up in 2004, while Barr-Reeve claimed the 2015 state title and was runner-up in 2002, 2007, 2010, and 2014. Matt’s pick: Fort Wayne Blackhawk 73, Barr-Reeve 61.
CLASS 2A
Andrean (20-8) vs. Linton-Stockton (27-3) (12:45 p.m.): Nick Flesher tallied 16 points for the No. 14 59ers in their 73-64 double-overtime victory over No. 4 Frankton at Lafayette. Tucker Hayes came up with 13 points for the No. 8 Miners in their 73-56 victory over No. 2 Shenandoah at Seymour. Andrean earned a Class 3A state runner-up finish in 2000, while Linton-Stockton came in second in 2013. Matt’s pick: Linton-Stockton 59, Andrean 56.
CLASS 3A
Culver Academy (24-3) vs. Silver Creek (24-3) (6 p.m.): Trey Gallloway recorded 15 points in the No. 3 and defending state champion Eagles’ 57-44 decision over Marion at Elkhart. Trey Kauffman registered 17 points in the No. 6 Dragons’ 72-69 victory over Indianapolis Crispus Attucks at Seymour. In addition to winning a year ago, Culver Academy was state runner-up in 2011, while Silver Creek is appearing in the title game for the first time. Matt’s pick: Culver Academy 62, Silver Creek 55.
CLASS 4A
Carmel (25-1) vs. Indianapolis Ben Davis (20-7) (8:15 p.m.): The Giants suffered a 49-39 loss to No. 1 Carmel on January 25. Andrew Owens accounted for 15 points in the Greyhounds’ 71-42 victory against No. 9 Penn at Lafayette. Jaylen Windham finished with 25 points for Ben Davis in its 67-61 decision over Center Grove. Carmel claimed state crowns in 1977, 2012, 2013, and was state runner-up a year ago, while Ben Davis posted titles in 1995, 1996, 2017, and was state runner-up in 2013. Matt’s pick: Carmel 67, Ben Davis 60.
