My late-season good luck continued as I went 21-3 (88 percent) during the regionals. With just two weeks left, my overall mark is now 288-88, which has me at 77 percent for the season. All contests take place on March 16.
CLASS 4A
Penn (24-3) vs. Carmel (24-1) (3:30 p.m. Lafayette): The top-ranked Greyhounds cruised to a 91-67 win over No. 9 Penn during the 2010-11 campaign. Beau Ludwick accounted for 19 points in the Kingsmen’s 74-72 win over Northridge. Karsten Windlan recorded 18 points in Carmel’s 53-39 decision against No. 7 Zionsville. Penn is going after its first semistate since 2001, while Carmel is looking for its second straight crown and sixth overall. Matt’s pick: Carmel 64, Penn 57.
Indianapolis Ben Davis (19-7) vs. Center Grove (21-8) (6 p.m. Washington): The Trojans posted a 56-45 win over Ben Davis on January 18. Dawand Jones poured in 24 points for the Giants in their 53-47 win over New Palestine. Trayce Jackson-Davis racked up 40 points in Center Grove’s 64-41 triumph over No. 5 Bloomington South. Ben Davis has claimed five semistates, but none since 2017, while Center Grove is trying for its first championship. Matt’s pick: Center Grove 61, Ben Davis 58.
CLASS 3A
Culver Academy (23-3) vs. Marion (19-7) (6 p.m. Elkhart): The Giants crushed No. 3 and defending state champion Culver Academy, 77-46, during the 2014-15 season. Jordon Freeman registered 14 points in the Eagles’ 62-41 win over Hammond. Jalen Blackmon came up with 20 points in Marion’s 45-39 win over top-ranked and previously unbeaten Delta. Culver Academy is in pursuit of its third semistate and second in a row, while Marion has captured 15 crowns, but not since 2016. Matt’s pick: Culver Academy 71, Marion 62.
Indianapolis Crispus Attucks (20-8) vs. Silver Creek (23-3) (3 p.m. Seymour): Jaiquan Edwards added 20 points in the Tigers’ 68-63 win over Beech Grove. Jack Hawkins chipped in 13 points in the Dragons’ 67-58 win over Princeton. Crispus Attucks is looking for a seventh semistate title and first since 2017, while Silver Creek is in pursuit of its first crown. Matt’s pick: Crispus Attucks 66, Silver Creek 60.
CLASS 2A
Andrean (19-8) vs. Frankton (25-3) (1 p.m. Lafayette): Kyle Ross netted 17 points in the 59ers’ 60-49 win over No. 5 Westview. Kayden Key’s 41 points lifted the No. 4 Eagles to a 73-53 win over Covington. Andrean is going for its third semistate and first since 2000, while Frankton is also looking for its third crown and first since 2017. Matt’s pick: Frankton 55, Andrean 51.
Shenandoah (26-1) vs. Linton-Stockton (26-3) (1 p.m. Seymour): Peyton Starks finished with 14 points for the No. 2 Raiders in their 42-37 decision over Northeastern. Tucker Hayes’ 11 points paved the way for the Miners in a 45-36 victory against Tell City. Shenandoah’s previous semistate championship occurred in 1981, while Linton-Stockton captured its lone title in 2013. Matt’s pick: Shenandoah 49, Linton-Stockton 46.
CLASS 1A
Fort Wayne Blackhawk (26-2) vs. Lafayette Central Catholic (24-4) (4 p.m. Elkhart): The No. 3 Knights clinched a spot in the 2003 state finale with a 74-50 win over No. 1 Fort Wayne Blackhawk in the Warsaw semistate. Caleb Furst poured in 25 points in the Braves’ 77-39 victory against No. 7 Argos. Matt Timmons scored 15 points in Central Catholic’s 80-43 triumph over North Vermillion. Blackhawk’s lone semistate championship came in 2004, while Central Catholic is going for its sixth and first since 2017. Matt’s pick: Fort Wayne Blackhawk 75, Lafayette Central Catholic 70.
Bloomfield (20-7) vs. Barr-Reeve (25-2) (4 p.m. Washington): The No, 2 Vikings were a 42-34 winner over Bloomfield on February 22. Turner Royal’s 17 points paved the way for the Cardinals in a 52-50 win over Greenfield Christian. Gabe Gladish surpassed the 1,00-point mark for his career with 21 points in Barr-Reeve’s 69-36 decision over Lanesville. Bloomfield is going after its third semistate and first since 2016, while Barr-Reeve is trying for its sixth overall and first since 2015. Matt’s pick: Barr-Reeve 47, Bloomfield 40.