Semi-State Match-ups: Bishop Luers vs. North Judson

Just like the other 2A Semi-State game, this one features a highly ranked team versus an unheralded squad who has beaten the odds to get to this points. Luers, the defending State Champs who have been considered a favorite all year long, is the highest ranked team left in the 2A tourney, at number two. They knocked off the number one ranked Tipton Blue Devils in regional play on their way to the final four. North Judson is outside of the rankings, but has had a great year nonetheless. They are a team without a star, a team that relies on true team play, a team that has different kids step up each night. Without a doubt, they are one of the feel-good stories of the postseason. Let's go in depth with each team, starting with the heavily favored Knights of Luers.

Bishop Luers

Coach: James Blackmon sits at the helm of the 21-4 Knights. He is in his fifth season as Luers coach, compiling an 84-32 record, which includes three sectionals, two regionals, one semi-state, and one State Championship, coming last season in a 69-67 thriller over Winchester.

Scoring Averages: Luers scores an impressive 73.1 points per game and allows 59.2 points against.

Losses: vs. Lawrence North (4A) 69-57, at Chicago Curie 65-58, vs. Snider (4A) 66-56, at Warsaw 59-54.

Roster: by scoring average, with notable stats

Deshaun Thomas 6'7 Jr - 31.7 points, 15.7 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 2.6 blocks, 1.6 steals, 33% 3FG (54 made), 58% FG, 75% FT
Evan Blackmon 6'1 Soph - 11.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 2.0 steals, 70% FT
Lawrence Barnett 6'0 Sr - 10.4 points, 3.0 assists, 1.3 steals, 62% FT
Kenny Mullen 5'9 Soph - 9.3 points, 4.8 assists, 2.4 rebounds, 1.7 steals, 54% FT
Sean Day 6'6 Sr - 5.8 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.9 blocks, 45% FT
Eric Sorg 6'3 Soph - 3.5 points, 34% 3FG (18 made)
Jake Kuhn 6'3 Sr - 3.2 points, 3.1 rebounds, 33% FT
Dmitri Gholston 6'3 Sr - 2.3 points, 2.2 rebounds

Strengths: Much like Winchester, the Knights have very few, maybe zero, chinks in their armor. They seem to have everything: size, scoring options, defense, great guard play, and a superstar who is the best player in the state in Thomas, an Ohio State commit. Teams who have tried to negate Thomas' effect on a game have found it hard to do, and if relatively successful, Barnett and Blackmon have stepped up and produced big numbers. Their defense is intimidating, having two players averaging nearly three blocks a game (Day and Thomas).

Weaknesses: Their biggest flaw may be free throw shooting, with Thomas and Blackmon the only Knights better than 70% from the line. Outside of that, they are nearly unbeatable.

North Judson

Coach: Ryan Bales, a graduate and former star for the Bluejays, is in his third year as head coach of North Judson. This year, they are 20-5 and have an overall record of 37-31 under Bales. In his one year as a head coach outside of North Judson, Bales 10-11, giving him and overall record of 47-42. This is his first sectional and regional championship at North Judson.

Scoring Averages: The Bluejays score 57.3 points on average and allow 48.6 points against.

Losses: at Knox (3A) 48-36, at Noblesville (4A) 55-38, vs. Rensselaer Central (3A) 54-41, vs. North Miami (2A) 59-52, vs. Rochester (3A) 66-47.

Roster: No specific stats were found for the Bluejays. They have a solid scoring spread with their top scorer averaging only 11.4 points, with many players thereabouts in their average. Here are their main contributors.

Myles Thies - Sr
John Eckert 6'6 Fr
Chandler Hochstedler 6'4 Jr - 10 points, six rebounds
Scotty Elsea - Sr
Luke Gross - Sr
Drake Barrett - Sr
Kendall Hochstedler 5'9 Fr - 4 points, 2 assists, 2 steals

Strengths: The main thing this team has going for them is a sense of compete solidarity and a great community behind them. They are the David facing a mighty Goliath. But, we all now how that turned out. It will take a truly Davidian effort to knock the Knights from their perch.

Weaknesses: The Bluejays have no match for Thomas (not that any team in the state does) and will likely not be able to slow him down. They are lacking in quickness and athleticism as compared to Luers, too. In general, they are outmanned, out-quicked, out-athletic-ed, out-everythinged by Luers.

P-Hoops Prediction: I expect Luers to win big, but North Judson has earned the right to be there and will give their best, making their community proud. Attached is a great article about the North Judson community. Enjoy.

http://www.post-trib.com/sports/highschools/1482853,judson.article