4A Regional Breakdown

Today is the fourth and final installment of the P-Hoops Regional Breakdowns, and we now turn our attention to perhaps the most anticipated bunch of match-ups: the 4A Regionals. There is great talent permeating this group of teams, which have a combined 304-65 record. The least amount of wins any of the remaining sixteen teams is 13, which is a great season for most any team in the highly competitive class. Without further delay, here is the P-Hoops 4A Regional Breakdown!

Michigan City Regional

South Bend Clay (18-6) vs. Munster (22-1) - The Clay Colonials have had a great season thus far, and came out on top as the cream of the crop for all South Bend teams. They defeated Riley in a six-point game to open sectionals, went on to roll over Mishawaka, and then defeated Washington in a 61-60 thriller. They are a versatile team, where any one player can lead them on any given night. George Jones, an Indiana Wesleyan recruit, leads the charge, scoring 14 points per game. Munster's only loss this year came to Merrillville during the Pirates big run. The Mustangs won their three sectional match-ups by an average margin of 22.3 points, beating Gary West 59-43 in the final. Forward Brian Stolarz is one of many scoring options for Munster, as he puts up around 12 points a game. I like Clay in a back-and-forth affair.

Valparaiso (20-3) vs. Elkhart Memorial (13-9) - The Vikings, despite their great record, were picked by many to lose in sectional play to Merrillville, but great game planning, including a triangle-and-two junk defense, baffled the opposition and gave them the title. After beating Chesterton by four in a double overtime nail-biter, Valpo then beat the Pirates and Crown Point by five points each to advance. The Vikings are led by Hayden Humes, a 6'7 versatile forward and Toledo recruit, who scored right at 15 points per game. Memorial went on a run at the end of the year, beating two teams that are Regional qualifiers, beating Harding, a 3A team, and destroying South Bend Clay, 81-58. They then built on that momentum to upset two highly ranked teams in Warsaw and Northridge to win the sectional title. Karvel Anderson is their horse, putting up almost 21 points per game. I think the magic continues to work for the Chargers, and they pack up the Vikings and ship them back home in a tight one.

Winner of Michigan City Regional: Clay over Elkhart Memorial, 65-63.

Marion Regional

Ft. Wayne Snider (22-1) vs. Anderson (22-4) - The Panthers have been a dominant force in the Ft. Wayne area for years, and this season may have been the best example of it. They dominated the Summit Athletic Conference, going 9-0 in league play. Their only loss was to Bishop Luers in a holiday tournament, but they avenged that loss by beating the Knights in conference play. After a bye, they beat East Noble by eleven and Dekalb by twenty to advance to regionals. The Panthers have a three-pronged, senior-laden attack led by Jonathan Sims, who scores about 14 points per game. He is backed by fellow seniors Brad Sneary, who is 6'6, and Reggie Hearn, a 6'5 forward. Both average in double digits. The Indians, who got great new recently regarding the continued use of the famed Wigwam, also handled their sectional with relative ease. After beating Pendleton Heights by 23, they beat Highland and Muncie Central in much closer games, by seven points apiece. Troy Taylor leads the way for Anderson, and is a double-double waiting to happen. I think the size of Snider will hurt the smaller Indians team, giving the Panthers a hard-fought win.

Kokomo (15-7) vs. Marion (20-3) - The WildKats have had a great season that included big wins over teams like Tipton and Noblesville. They have dealt with injuries all season long, but they are finally healthy and playing to potential. They won two tough sectional games to advance, beating the home team from Lafayette Jeff, 63-59, and then overcoming an inspired McCutcheon team 63-60 in overtime. The Kats rely on the play of two great seniors in 6'7 forward Patrick Hopkins (12 points, 9.4 rebounds) and Alan Arnett (12.2 points). The Giants will have the advantage of playing at home, and playing with two potential Indiana All-Stars in Scott Wood (NC State) and JaRob McCallum (UW Milwaukee). After receiving an unexpected battle from Ft. Wayne North Side which included a 40-point outburst from Justin Jordan, Marion then handled their two remaining sectional foes with ease. Their production comes from Wood (25 points), McCallum (16 points) and big man Mikel Brigham (12.4 points, 10.4 rebounds). Kokomo has a size advantage, but I think the Giants have too many weapons, and Marion should advance.

Winner of Marion Regional: Snider over Marion, 78-74.

Indianapolis Regional (at Hinkle Fieldhouse)

Lawrence North (24-2) vs. Hamilton Southeastern (15-7) - The Wildcats faced a tough test in sectional play once they had handled Broad Ripple and Warren Central, each by over 17 points. LN was able to win the Sectional 10 dream match-up over North Central, the number four team in 4A, in a back-and-forth game which they won in the end 68-63. The Wildcats resemble a D1 roster, led by four Louisville recruits (Stephan Van Treese, Justin Martin, Ryan Taylor, and Michael Chandler) and one Kentucky recruit (Dominique Ferguson). The Royals are coming off their first-ever sectional title in which they beat Noblesville and upset Carmel for the championship. They are led by 6'7 forward Charlie Duffy, who averages 12.8 points per game, and Zach Starr, who scores right at 12 points. They also get great play from Tyler Wheeler and freshman Gary Harris, both of who average almost nine points apiece. HSE can take great joy in winning their first ever sectional, a huge feat for any team in Indiana, but the fin stops here. The Wildcats will simply be too much for the Royals, with their blend of size, strength, and speed.

Franklin Central (19-5) vs. Pike (13-8) - The Flashes rolled through a relatively weak Center Grove Sectional, destroying Perry Meridian 62-36, and shutting down Whiteland 40-25. Two seniors rule for the Flashes, with Purdue-bound 6'8 forward Patrick Bade averaging 17 points and seven rebounds, and Wheaton-bound point guard Casey Coons scoring 12 points and dishing out five assists per game. Franklin Central defeated Pike during the Marion County Tournament, but the Red Devils, playing well of late, beat the Flashes 60-49 near the end of February. Pike had a close call in sectional play, in the form of a buzzer-beating basket to beat Brownsburg in the opener, but they then handled Decatur Central and Ben Davis to win the title. They are led by super-sophomore Marquis Teague and get great play from 6'5 junior Khristian Smith. With how hot Pike has been and how inspired their play is as of late, I like the Red Devils to make it two for three against the Flashes in a great game.

Winner of Indianapolis Regional: Lawrence North over Pike, 70-55.

Seymour Regional

New Albany (23-0) vs. Bloomington South (22-0) - A dream match-up of two undefeated teams highlights the morning session of the Seymour Regional. New Albany, ranked number two in 4A, had a great season behind the play of 6'7 junior forward Donnie Hale, who averages right about 20 points, ten rebounds, four blocks, and over two steals per game. Other top Bulldog performers include defensive stalwart TeNale Roland (12.8 points, 4.3 assists) and Brett Martin (12.4 points, 6.7 rebounds, 1.4 blocks). They walked through sectionals, beating their opponents by an average margin greater than 25 points. Bloomington South is the number one team in the state, and a top five team in the nation. They have beaten all challengers, including a signature win over Detroit Country Day back in February. The Panthers looked a little disjointed in sectionals, winning by a less-than-expected fourteen and eleven points over their opponents. They are led by Jordan Hulls, an IU recruit who is the likely Mr. Basketball for 2009. He averages 16 points per game and is the engine that makes the top-ranked Panthers go. He is aided in his cause by two sophomore guards, Dee Davis (13 points) and Spencer Turner (12 points). They get solid inside play from 6'8 junior Eric Fromm (10 points). I think South's killer schedule has better prepared them for this moment in the spotlight, and the Panthers will come out victorious in this titanic clash.

Evansville Harrison (17-5) vs. Terre Haute South (20-4) - The Harrison Warriors reigned supreme in Evansville this year, and are the only team from the city still alive. They defeated Reitz and Castle, both by ten or more, to advance to Regional play. They are led by senior guard Kendal Brown, a Southern Illinois recruit, who is the schools' all-time leading scorer. The Braves received fantastic news when they learned that star point guard Jake Odum, and Indiana State signee, would be healthy and recovered in time for the postseason. Without him, chances were bleak for them when their hopes had previously been so high. Odum is back and rolling, helping move the Braves through sectional play, defeating Plainfield and Mooresville, both by seven points. Odum averages 21.9 points, 7.8 boards, 6.4 assists, and 3.6 steals per game, stuffing the stat sheet. He is helped out by three serious snipers in the form of John Michael Jarvis (13.8 points, 58 threes made, 39% threes), Ian McIntyre (11.7 points, 62 threes made, 36% threes), and Anthony McGill (10.9 points, 57 threes made, 42% threes). I think the guard oriented Braves attack will put an end to the Warriors season.

Winner of Seymour Regional: Bloomington South over Terre Haute South, 70-64

Final Four: To recap, the teams I see advancing to Semi-State are South Bend Clay, Snider, Lawrence North, and Bloomington South.

Check back later to see how all four classes of Regionals shape up!