As the Indiana high school basketball regionals approach, local teams gear up for critical matchups that could lead to the semistate round. This Saturday, eight games will feature Central Indiana teams, with several expected to attract considerable attention.
The anticipation is high for the showdown between the No. 10 Carmel Greyhounds and their opponents. Carmel recently gained notoriety with a stunning 50-49 victory over the top-ranked Fishers in the sectional championship held at Noblesville. However, the Greyhounds will face a challenge without their junior point guard, Cash Daniels, who averaged 13.7 points and 5.4 assists before being ejected during the previous game. Despite this setback, coach Ryan Osborn leads a seasoned squad featuring seniors such as Evan Harrell (15.5 ppg, 8.1 rebounds) and Julian Vogt (9.7 ppg, 53% from beyond the arc).
In another compelling matchup, No. 3 Pike will take on No. 4 Mt. Vernon. This contest has the potential to be a classic, particularly after their previous meeting ended in a nail-biting 84-81 overtime victory for Pike—a game that set a state record with 30 three-pointers made. Both teams missed key players in that encounter, including Mt. Vernon’s Max Vise (13.6 ppg, 5.1 rebounds) and Pike’s Landon Lampley (14.8 ppg, 4.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists). Mt. Vernon’s senior and Purdue commit, Luke Ertel, will be pivotal in orchestrating his team’s offense, averaging an impressive 24.1 points and 6.9 assists. Expect Pike to leverage its depth and defensive versatility, edging the game by three points.
The second game at Southport features Lawrence Central, which, despite its record, has shown the ability to compete with top-tier teams. Recently, they secured a notable 70-57 victory over Lawrence North to clinch the Sectional 10 title. Key players include junior Jeremiah Bellamy and seniors Doron Harris (12.9 ppg) and Gavin Petty (11.6 ppg). They will face Decatur Central, which is pursuing its first regional title since 2005. The Hawks, led by senior Elyas Zapata (14.2 ppg, 7.1 rebounds), are a balanced squad. This matchup is projected to be close, with Lawrence Central favored to win by two points.
In an intriguing clash, No. 10 Brebeuf finds itself as something of an underdog against No. 3 Cathedral. Historically, Brebeuf has struggled against Cathedral, losing 25 consecutive games in this series. Nonetheless, their recent form, including an 11-game winning streak, suggests they could pose a challenge. Coach Allen Glunt utilizes a deep rotation, with key players like junior Chace Ford (12.6 ppg) and senior Austin Ford (11.6 ppg) stepping up. Cathedral, however, counters with seniors like Keaton Aldridge Jr. (17.8 ppg) and Julien Smith (16.1 ppg), making them slight favorites by a margin of six points.
Fourth-ranked Northview may not boast height, but they bring experience and resilience to their matchup against Roncalli. Leading the Knights is sophomore Quinn Lewis, who averages 15.0 points and 6.0 rebounds. Roncalli, fresh off impressive sectional victories, relies on seniors like Conner Kesler (14.5 ppg) and Joe Taylor (12.5 ppg, 7.9 rebounds). This matchup is expected to be highly competitive, with Roncalli favored by three points.
The No. 9 Lapel Bulldogs, having navigated through the sectional with dominant performances, face off against Blackford. Lapel’s team includes standout junior Owen Garber (16.1 ppg) and several others averaging double figures. Blackford counters with sophomore sensation Amarian Leggett, who has been a prolific scorer with an average of 26.4 points per game. Lapel is projected to win by eight points.
Another notable matchup features Cardinal Ritter, which has demonstrated significant talent despite a less-than-stellar record. The Raiders have made a name for themselves in the sectional, with junior Devin Bolden leading the charge. Triton Central, ranked sixth, has shown resilience, especially with senior Eli Sego as their all-time leading scorer. Expect this game to be closely contested, with Cardinal Ritter expected to win by five points.
Finally, the No. 9 Liberty Christian Lions could make a deep run in the tournament, led by junior Kendrick Martin (17.4 ppg) and senior Monte Dillard Jr. (16.4 ppg). Their opponents, Greenwood Christian, also look to make an impact under first-year coach Tony Adragna. This matchup is predicted to be competitive, with Liberty Christian slightly favored by seven points.
As the excitement builds for these regional contests, fans can anticipate a thrilling day of basketball that may very well set the stage for the upcoming semistate battles.
