When these teams get ready for tip-off Saturday, they will get to play for a regional championship and a chance to play in a newly formatted semi state. For those of you that don’t know, this year will mark the first year where a regional has one game and a semi state consisting of two games. The semi state brackets will be announced a day after regional Saturday in a blind draw.
In the meantime, here’s a look at the area regional matchups for the remaining area teams.
Class 1A
Tri-County (14-11) vs Bethany Christian (21-3) @ Caston
For the first time in seven years, the Bethany Christian Lady Bruins will play in a regional game. But this is only the second time in program history that they will be playing for a regional championship (the first since 1998).
Their 21 wins is the most in a season in the history of Lady Bruins basketball. This is thanks in part to a strong scoring defense that only allows 32 points per game and a strong junior duo. Zoe Willems leads the Bruins in scoring averaging 17.1 points and 8 rebounds per game on 44% shooting. Mariah Stoltzfus leads the way with 4.3 assists and
Sara Zarse is the go-to player for Tri-County averaging 11.1 points, 7.2 boards, 5 assists, 4.1 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game. In the end, the studs of Bethany and a relentless core of tough-nosed defenders will play well enough in the end to get the program’s first ever regional championship.
Bethany by 8
24-1 Tri by 18 over 19-5 Southwood @ Wes-Del
Class 2A
24-2 Central Noble vs South Central (Union Mills) 23-3 @ Winamac
After 3 years of close losses in recent sectional play, the Lady Cougars are back in regionals for the first time since Sydney Freeman and Meleah Leatherman’s senior years in 2019.
Much like that 2018-19 team, this CN team is very good, and they could be in a possibility of playing in once again another Semistate. Keep in mind, this is the same program that once made it to three straight semi states from 2017-2019, highlighted by a 2018 2A State Championship. This year’s team is in this position to do it again thanks in part to several components.
Madison Vice averages 18.3 points, 6 boards, 5 assists, 3.7 steals, and shooting 40% from 3 to lead CN. Megan Kiebel, the program’s new leader in three-pointers made, is averaging 12.8 points, 5 boards, and shooting 37% from 3. Recently Grace Swank and Makenna Malcolm have had huge contributions in the playoffs. Swank had 14 huge points in the sectional semifinals against Eastside, and Malcolm (dating back to last year at Garrett) has a knack for postseason moments.
They’ll need this balance and stingy defense against a strong Satellites program led by senior combo forward Olivia Marks who averages 14 points, 6 boards, and 1.1 blocks per game.
Despite a strong challenge to get offense inside against their strong guard play and Marks’ presence inside, I still like the Cougars to get to Semistate.
Central Noble by 5
Lafayette Central Catholic (19-6) vs Bishop Luers (11-13) @ Lapel
Bishop Luers is playing in their first regional game in 10 years despite a mediocre regular season. Luers had a solid showing in sectionals winning both of those games by double figures led by the greatness of Addie Shank. Shank had 20 points, 9 boards, 3 assists, and 4 steals against Adams Central in the sectional-clinching game.
If they’re going to have a chance at stopping Central Catholic, they’ll need strong postseason forms from Annika Davis and Miley Wareing to continue into regional play. LCC is ranked 5th in 2A, and Lafayette schools tend to make deep postseason runs, especially for a school with as rich of a history as LCC does. Kendal Rider has been their impactful player that makes them a force of nature, and this is a team with lights out defense. In fact, LCC has won their last nine games.
I’m happy for Luers’ late-season success, but it’s a very daunting task to slow down a powerhouse as strong as the Lady Knights of LCC.
Lafayette Central Catholic by 20
24-3 Andrean by 14 over North Miami @ Winamac
