The post-season opened on average note as I went 43-13 (77 percent) last week. Heading into the regional round, my overall record is now 346-84, which leaves me at 80 percent for the season.
SATURDAY
CLASS 4A
Portage (20-5) vs. Crown Point (21-2): The Indians crushed No. 4 Crown Point, 64-40, on February 6. Garrett Clark tallied 19 points in Portage’s 83-62 win over Merrillville. Bryce Peters tossed in 14 points in the Bulldogs’ 52-36 win over Lake Central. Matt’s pick: Crown Point 64, Portage 59.
Riley (23-4) vs. Warsaw (25-4): The No. 9 Tigers went two overtimes to come away with a 77-74 win over Riley in the 2016 Class 6A Michigan City regional semifinals. Tyrese Jones added 11 points in the Wildcats’ 55-39 win over LaPorte. Mydin Burgher had five of his 16 points in overtime to lead Warsaw to a 78-74 win over No. 9 Northridge. Matt’s pick: Warsaw 68, Riley 65.
Homestead (21-5) vs. Carroll (Fort Wayne) (11-15): The Spartans marched past Carroll, 51-37, on February 21. Mack Welker’s 16 points lifted Homestead to a 56-52 win over two-time defending sectional champion Fort Wayne Wayne. Jack VanOrder chipped in 11 points in the Chargers’ 58-39 win over Fort Wayne Northrop. Matt’s pick: Homestead 60, Carroll 50.
Fishers (27-0) vs. Harrison (West Lafayette) (19-6): The Raiders suffered a 79-46 loss to top-ranked and defending start champion Fishers during the 2013-14 campaign. Jason Gardner accounted for 11 points in the Tigers’ 55-46 win over No. 8 Noblesville. Ben Slate totaled 14 points in Harrison’s 70-63 win over Kokomo. Matt’s pick: Fishers 80, Harrison 61.
Mount Vernon (Fortville) (20-5) vs. Brownsburg (13-12): The Bulldogs bullied past Mount Vernon, 59-46, during the 2006-07 season. Luke Ertel poured in 36 points in the Marauders’ 83-76 double-overtime win over No. 3 Greenfield-Central. Jesiah Sloss managed 14 points in Brownsburg’s 52-49 double-overtime win against Indianapolis Ben Davis. Matt’s pick: Mount Vernon 63, Brownsburg 58.
Mooresville (14-11) vs. Lawrence North (20-6): Brevon Burns recorded 12 points in the Pioneers’ 57-51 win over Franklin Central. Kai McGrew racked up 13 points in the Wildcats’ 74-59 win over North Central (Indianapolis). Matt’s pick: Lawrence North 74, Mooresville 57.
Jeffersonville (20-5) vs. Evansville Harrison (17-7): The No. 7 Red Devils celebrated a 70-65 win over Evansville Harrison to pick up the 2024 Southridge regional crown. Tre Singleton’s 28 points and nine rebounds vaulted Jeffersonville to a 62-47 win over New Albany. Brooks Thomas erupted for 23 points and eight boards in the Warriors’ 68-61 win over Evansville Reitz. Matt’s pick: Jeffersonville 66, Evansville Harrison 56.
Terre Haute North (20-5) vs. Whiteland (15-11): Bryce Renn came up with 12 points in the Patriots’ 64-62 win over Bloomington South. Ethan Edwards tallied 23 points, including 14-of-16 from the free throw line, in the Warriors’ 63-59 win over Columbus East. Matt’s pick: Terre Haute North 55, Whiteland 51.
CLASS 3A
Saint Joseph (23-3) vs. Columbia City (17-9): The No. 2 Huskies posted a 62-50 win over Columbia City in the 1960 Elkhart regional semifinals. Nick Shrewsberry canned 10 points for Saint Joseph in its 47-45 win over Culver Academy. Stratton Fuller accounted for 18 points in the Eagles’ 45-43 overtime win against Tippecanoe Valley. Matt’s pick: Saint Joseph 57, Columbia City 50.
East Chicago Central (19-8) vs. Hanover Central (15-11): Dominique Murphy rolled up 27 points in the Cardinals’ 64-53 win over Gary West. Brad Rohde’s slam dunk punctuated the Wildcats’ 67-50 win over River Forest. Matt’s pick: East Chicago Central 65, Hanover Central 48.
Maconaquah (20-5) vs. Marion (14-11): The Giants registered a 68-38 win over Maconaquah during the 2017-18 campaign. Josiah Ball finished with 30 points and 10 rebounds in the Braves’ 88-77 win over Logansport. Amir Rogers chipped in 17 points in Marion’s 92-88 overtime win over New Haven. Matt’s pick: Marion 62, Maconaquah 59.
Delta (16-7) vs. Fort Wayne Blackhawk (24-3): Lucas Bragg mustered 10 points in the Eagles’ 50-37 win over New Castle. Kellen Pickett ended with 17 points and 14 rebounds in the No. 7 Braves’ 55-34 win over Leo. Matt’s pick: Fort Wayne Blackhawk 54, Delta 46.
Indianapolis Crispus Attucks (19-6) vs. Northview (24-2): The No. 8 Tigers earned a 70-52 win over Northview in the 2017 Greencastle regional semifinals. Dezmon Briscoe amassed 19 points, 10 rebounds, and seven blocked shots in Crispus Attucks’ 71-55 win over Indianapolis Shortridge. Brayden Goff contributed 20 points in the Knights’ 70-40 win over Speedway. Matt’s pick: Crispus Attucks 59, Northview 53.
Guerin Catholic (23-4) vs. New Palestine (24-3): The No. 3 Dragons roared to a 66-51 win over No. 5 Guerin Catholic on February 11. Ryne Paris paved the way with 20 points in the Golden Eagles’ 63-39 wub over Tri-West. Julius Gizzi finished with 25 points and nine rebounds in New Palestine’s 66-55 win over Indianapolis Roncalli. Matt’s pick: New Palestine 61, Guerin Catholic 57.
Jennings County (12-14) vs. Princeton (23-2): Carter Kent registered 27 points in the Panthers’ 69-55 win over South Dearborn. Edwin Holmes led the charge with 14 points in the No. 6 Tigers’ 43-33 win over Washington. Matt’s pick: Princeton 50, Jennings County 41.
Brownstown Central (23-2) vs. Evansville Memorial (18-6): The Tigers clawed past No. 3 and defending Class 2A state champion Brownstown Central, 47-30, during the 2020-21 season. Lane Pendleton recorded 17 points in the Braves’ 52-50 win over No. 9 Silver Creek. Simon Schulz racked up 13 points in Evansville Memorial’s 56-43 against Evansville Central. Matt’s pick: Brownstown Central 51, Evansville Memorial 39.
CLASS 2A
Jimtown (15-10) vs. Westview (18-7): The Warriors slipped by Jimtown, 49-39, during the 2013-14 campaign. Dylan Fey netted 10 points in the Jimmies’ 54-40 win over Bremen. Austin Schlabach totaled 20 points in Westview’s 52-44 win over Central Noble. Matt’s pick: Jimtown 42, Westview 40.
Fort Wayne Bishop Luers (21-6) vs. Gary 21st Century (19-6): Danny Kelly’s 19 points helped the No. 8 Knights to a 73-47 win over Woodlan. Terrence Hayes Jr. ended with 24 points in the No. 6 Cougars’ 84-50 win over Hebron. Matt’s pick: Bishop Luers 72, Gary 21st Century 69.
Western Boone (11-14) vs. Wapahani (25-1): Tristyn Faulk poured in 11 points in the Stars’ 55-37 win over Seeger. Eli Andrews had 19 points in the top-ranked Raiders’ 74-46 win over Madison-Grant. Matt’s pick: Wapahani 52, Western Boone 43.
Manchester (22-2) vs. Tipton (19-6): The No. 3 Squires came away with a 69-64 win over Tipton in the 1965 regional semifinals. Gavin Betten erupted for 40 points in Manchester’s 70-38 victory against Oak. Hill. Grady Carpenter registered 18 points in the Blue Devils’ 43-42 win over Frankton. Matt’s pick: Manchester 71, Tipton 62.
Parke Heritage (23-4) vs. Centerville (20-7): B.T. Luce scored 14 points in the No. 4 Wolves’ 67-32 win over South Vermillion. Ethan Vecera racked up 10 points and seven rebounds in the Bulldogs’ 61-57 upset of No. 5 Northeastern. Matt’s pick: Parke Heritage 65, Centerville 58.
Triton Central (16-9) vs. University (17-9): The Trailblazers raced past Triton Central, 56-49, in the 2022 Greenfield-Central regional semifinals. Eil Sego ended with 14 points in the Tigers’ 37-30 win over Indianapolis Scecina. Max McComb scored 15 points in University’s 58-43 win over Indianapolis Cardinal Ritter. Matt’s pick: University 60, Triton Central 56.
Linton-Stockton (20-6) vs. Providence (17-4): On their way to the 2022 state championship, the No. 10 Pioneers downed Linton-Stockton, 50-47, in the Southridge regional semifinals. Paul Oliver added 12 points in the Miners’ 61-36 win over West Vigo. Elijah Fuller-Tucker’s free throw with 2.8 seconds left helped Providence to a 41-40 win over Paoli. Matt’s pick: Linton-Stockton 47, Providence 46.
South Ripley (23-1) vs. Forest Park (18-6): Drew Volz dished out 10 assists to go with his 19 points in the No. 2 Raiders’ 81-49 win against Southwestern (Hanover). Kamdon Partenheimer exploded for 28 points and six rebounds in the Rangers’ 69-67 win over Evansville Mater Dei. Matt’s pick: South Ripley 75, Forrest Park 63.
CLASS 1A
Kouts (22-4) vs. Tri-County (14-11): The No. 7 Mustangs galloped past Tri-County, 100-42, during the 2019-20 campaign. Billy Miller came off the bench to score 12 points in Kouts’ 61-52 win over No. 10 Washington Township. Trey Foster canned 16 points in the Cavaliers’ 58-51 win over West Central. Matt’s pick: Kouts 58, Tri-County 45.
Triton (22-4) vs. Lakewood Park Christian (7-16): Gage Riffle drained five three-pointers and tallied 15 points in the Trojans’ 51-32 win over Trinity Greenlawn. Andrew Nixon chipped in nine points in the Panthers’ 36-35 win over defending state champion Fort Wayne Canterbury. Matt’s pick: Triton 64, Lakewood Park 44.
Clinton Prairie (23-2) vs. Lafayette Central Catholic (12-14): The No. 3 Gophers are looking to make amends for a 49-32 loss to host Lafayette Central Catholic in the 2024 Class 2A sectional semifinals. Ryan Harshbarger paced Clinton Prairie with 20 points in a 65-37 win over Frontier. Matt’s pick: Clinton Prairie 59, Lafayette Central Catholic 50,
Daleville (9-15) vs. Monroe Central (18-6): The Golden Bears pounded Daleville, 78-59, on December 6. Noah Colvin accounted for 18 points in the Broncos’ 64-60 win over Northfield. Luke Morgan totaled 17 points in Monroe Central’s 73-55 win over Seton Catholic. Matt’s pick: Monroe Central 71, Daleville 54.
Indianapolis Lutheran (8-15) vs. Hauser (23-3): The Saints captured a 46-25 win over No. 2 Hauser during the 2021-22 season. Jarrett Harris came up with seven points and 18 rebounds in Lutheran’s 59-49 upset win against No. 6 Indianapolis Metropolitan. Taeshaun Tungate accounted for 17 points in the Jets’ 81-49 win over Milan. Matt’s pick: Hauser 70, Lutheran 64.
North Decatur (14-13) vs. Liberty Christian (17-8): Logan O’Dell amassed 12 points in the Chargers’ 49-36 win over Edinburgh. Kendrick Martin led the way with 14 points in the Lions’ 61-40 win over Anderson Prep Academy. Matt’s pick: Liberty Christian 63, North Decatur 55.
Northeast Dubois (16-9) vs. Clay City (24-1): Drew Schroering’s 18 points lifted the Jeeps to 73-58 win over Wood Memorial. Bryce Wiram netted 23 points in the top-ranked Eels’ 82-40 win over North Central (Farmersburg). Matt’s pick: Clay City 79, Northeast Dubois 62.
Christian Academy (18-8) vs. Orleans (21-4): The No. 4 Bulldogs registered a 79-30 win over Christian Academy during the 2004-05 campaign. Joshua Renfro chipped in 18 points in the Warriors’ 48-35 win over Borden. Rylan Crocker’s 17 points helped Orleans to a 42-34 win over North Daviess. Matt’s pick: Orleans 49, Christian Academy 41.