It proved to be another average performance as I went 23-9 (72 percent) on regional Saturday. Heading into the semistate, my overall record is now 298-99, which leaves me at 75 percent for the season.
SATURDAY
CLASS 4A ELKHART
Crown Point (20-5) vs. Fishers (26-1): Dikembe Shaw’s 15 points lifted the Bulldogs to a 55-42 overtime win against Warsaw. Taden Metzger drained 18 points in the No. 1 Tigers’ 66-52 win over No. 4 and defending state runner-up Kokomo. Matt’s pick: Fishers 75, Crown Point 65.
Fort Wayne Wayne (22-3) vs. Mishawaka (20-7): Chase Barnes poured in 26 points in the Generals’ 79-69 victory over Fort Wayne North. Cooper Pritchett managed nine points and nine rebounds for the Cavemen in their 68-52 win over East Chicago Central. Matt’s pick: Fort Wayne Wayne 49, Mishawaka 46.
CLASS 4A NEW CASTLE
Center Grove (21-4) vs. Indianapolis Ben Davis (21-5): The No. 8 and defending state champion Giants slipped past No. 9 Center Grove, 44-42, during the 2021-22 campaign. Peyton Byrd chipped in 16 points in the Trojans’ 68-56 win over Franklin. Mark Zackery racked up 20 points for Ben Davis in its 70-59 win over New Palestine. Matt’s pick: Ben Davis 54, Center Grove 50.
Jeffersonville (19-7) vs. Lawrence North (25-3): The No. 5 Wildcats clawed by Jeffersonville, 55-50, during the 2020-21 season. Tre Singleton registered 14 points in the Red Devils’ 70-65 win over Evansville Harrison. Azavier Robinson accounted for 20 points in Lawrence North’s 69-50 win over Avon. Matt’s pick: Lawrence North 65, Jeffersonville 57.
CLASS 3A LOGANSPORT
Peru (16-10) vs. Saint Joseph (18-9): Alex Ross recorded 18 points in the Bengal Tigers’ 62-46 win over West Lafayette. Jayce Lee came up with 17 points in the Huskies’ 53-38 win over Glenn. Matt’s pick: Saint Joseph 56, Peru 52.
Delta (22-6) vs. Fairfield (20-6): D’Amare Hood’s 11 points helped the No. 7 Eagles to a 39-37 win over Fort Wayne Concordia. Carson Smith ended with seven points in the Falcons’ 41-39 win over Hammond Bishop Noll. Matt’s pick: Delta 60, Fairfield 51.
CLASS 3A SEYMOUR
Guerin Catholic (21-7) vs, Danville (22-3): The No. 6 and defending state runner-up Golden Eagles earned a regional crown last year with a 66-52 decision over No. 3 Danville. Jack Cherry scored nine points in Guerin Catholic’s 56-39 win over Indianapolis Washington. Evan Lawrence tallied 16 points in the Warriors’ 61-39 win over Northview. Matt’s pick: Guerin Catholic 63, Danville 59.
Evansville Bosse (15-10) vs. Scottsburg (22-5): AP Mitchell racked up 19 points and 10 rebounds in the Bulldogs’ 56-45 win over Southridge. Kody Clancy finished with 30 points in the No. 4 Warriors’ 84-46 win over Batesville. Matt’s pick: Scottsburg 59, Evansville Bosse 47.
CLASS 2A LAFAYETTE JEFF
North Judson (16-9) vs. Wapahani (24-2): Quinn Bales notched 14 points in the Bluejays’ 47-43 win over Gary 21st Century. Camden Bell scored 22 points in the No. 2 Raiders’ 65-41 win over No. 3 Tipton. Matt’s pick: Wapahani 61, North Judson 54.
Wabash (21-5) vs. Fort Wayne Blackhawk (21-6): The No. 6 and defending state champion Braves downed Wabash, 70-57, during the 2011-12 campaign. Izaak Wright mustered 13 points in the Apaches’ 50-45 win over Westview. Kellen Pickett amassed 20 points in Blackhawk’s 64-48 win over Lafayette Central Catholic. Matt’s pick: Fort Wayne Blackhawk 55, Wabash 50.
CLASS 2A SOUTHPORT
Park Tudor (20-5) vs. Brownstown Central (25-4): Hudson Horvath canned 21 points in the No. 8 Panthers’ 83-44 win over Irvington Prep. Chase Coomer chipped in 16 points in the top-ranked Braves’ 67-41 win over Sullivan. Matt’s pick: Brownstown Central 62, Park Tudor 58.
Forest Park (18-9) vs. Parke Heritage (23-5): Reid Howard erupted for 34 points in the Rangers’ 58-53 win over Switzerland County. Renn Harper’s 11 points helped the Wolves to a 51-37 win against Northeastern. Matt’s pick: Parke Heritage 45, Forest Park 40.
CLASS 1A MICHIGAN CITY
Liberty Christan (17-9) vs. Marquette Catholic (12-15): The Blazers were a 55-54 winner over Liberty Christian in the 2015 semistate. Tywaine Fuller Jr. registered 14 points in the Lions’ 77-72 win over Seton Catholic. Aleks Pecoski managed 17 points in the Blazers’ 57-32 win against DeMotte Christian. Matt’s pick: Liberty Christian 66, Marquette Catholic 61.
Elkhart Christian (17-9) vs. Fort Wayne Canterbury (16-9): The Cavaliers went to overtime to get past Elkhart Christian, 52-48, during the 2019-20 season. Carter Hunt ended with eight points in the Eagles’ 58-57 win over Tri-County. Tucker Day amassed 15 points in Canterbury’s 57-38 win over North Vermillion. Matt’s pick: Elkhart Christian 50, Fort Wayne Canterbury 49.
CLASS 1A WASHINGTON
Greenwood Christian (18-7) vs. Bethesda Christian (21-7): The No. 8 Patriots marched past Greenwood Christian, 40-26, on February 8. Max Booher exploded for 26 points in the Cougars’ 49-42 win against Oldenburg Academy. Sam Mlagan scored 16 points in Bethesda Christian’s 68-50 win over No. 5 Clay City. Matt’s pick: Bethesda Christian 42, Greenwood Christian 37.
Evansville Christian (24-2) vs. Barr-Reeve (24-2): Andrew Lynn registered 15 points in the No. 2 Eagles’ 74-42 win over Trinity Lutheran. Evan Wehmeier’s 12 points vaulted the No. 1 Vikings to a 50-43 triumph over No. 4 Chrisitan Academy. Matt’s pick: Barr-Reeve 57, Evansville Christian 56.