March 4th- 8th, 2025
One of the best weeks of the year has come and gone with more than half of the teams in the state having been eliminated. It was one of those weeks we wish we could be in multiple places at once. I did make it over to Charlestown for a couple of nights @ Sectional 30 as well as West Washington for the local 1A sectional and ended up at Southwestern (Hanover) on Saturday night. Lots of local teams and players really showed out this past week including Charlestown’s junior Anthony Fresh, Jeffersonville’s Michael Cooper and Tre Singleton, CAI’s David Cook and Joshua Renfro, and Jennings County senior guard Carter Kent. Some kids in the class of ’28 really showed they’re ready to take over for a loaded ’25 class once they’re gone next season. Borden’s combo of Wyatt Jones and Gavin Scheich will be tough at the 1A level for years to come. Austin’s Tracen Roush exploded for 39 points on Tuesday night’s opener v. Switzerland County and getting a big win for the Eagles program. New Albany’s Noah Washington led the Bulldogs in scoring on Friday night v. rival Floyd Central. The future in southern Indiana, as well as the entire state is looking bright going into next weekend and beyond.
4A Notes
- Warsaw and Northridge can make a solid case for game of the week. With barely anytime left Warsaw’s Parker Justice hits a 3 to tie the game and send it into OT. Warsaw ended up advancing by a score of 78-74 in OT. Northridge 6’6 Jr. Brady Scholl had a monster sectional and looks to make a strong case for being a Jr. All Star. Even without Tiger star Luke Bricker, Warsaw has just found a way. They’ve got a good one on Saturday v. SB Riley
- Another game that could lay claim to best game of the week and certainly the most individual talent on the floor is the Mt. Vernon v. Greenfield Central game. Marauder Jr. guard Luke Ertel hit the biggest shot in his career to date sending the game into OT. This game could possibly had 2 Mr. Basketball’s on the floor at once with GC’s Braylon Mullins and MV’s Ertel. Mt. Vernon pulled the upset in OT as they’ll face the Bulldogs of Brownsburg on Saturday.
- Did anyone in the state have a better and more improbable week than the Brownsburg Bulldogs? The upset top 5 Avon on Tuesday night. Did the same to a very good Plainfield Quaker team on Friday, and pulled maybe the upset of the night on Saturday v. 2 time defender 4A south champion Ben Davis. The Bulldogs came into sectional play with a 10-12 record but obviously have played a very tough schedule. Nobody is giving them a shot at regional v. Mt. Vernon again so can the Bulldogs continue their magic run onto semi state?
- Other than the obvious Fishers, who in all of Indiana is playing better at the right time than the Jeffersonville Red Devils? Our preseason #1 team is finally healthy and have been rolling lately. The dismantled Scottsburg on Tuesday night thanks to a big game from senior Michael Cooper. Took care of business v. a solid Bedford team on Friday in the semi’s and beat their rival, New Albany Bulldogs by 15 for the title. 6’8 senior Tre Singleton put up one of his best overall games of the year scoring 28 pts, 9 rbs. and 6 assists. The Red Devils get a regional rematch from last season v. Evansville Harrison next Saturday at Southridge.
3A Notes
- Our number 1 team in 3A went home on Friday night as Attucks beat a loaded Cathedral team. We’ve known since both teams dropped down to 3A that these two would match up eventually and even though Cathedral got the City Tournament trophy, Attucks took the big one that counted in March. 6’8 Iowa commit Dez Briscoe was a difference maker in the game scoring 20 pts, 11 rebounds, and 7 blocks. Attucks went on to roll to the sectional title the next night and as for now, are playing like the new 3A favorites.
- East Chicago hosted their own sectional against rival Gary Westside on Saturday night. Both teams moved down to 3A this year and have been hovering around the top 10. Westside won the regular season meeting but Indiana all star lock, and EC all time leading scorer, Dominique Murphy wouldn’t be denied his senior year. The Cards won going away, 64-53. EC will be heavily favored against Hanover Central next Saturday at the regional.
- Carter Kent and his Jennings County Panthers took home the trophy @ South Dearborn. Kent opened up his sectional by putting up 32 pts, 11 rbs, and 8 assists v. a good Batesville team. Although the Panthers have a sub .500 record they’re playing their best ball lately and have a real shot v. a good Princeton team in Huntingburg next weekend. The Panthers are loving 3A basketball right now and getting out of that loaded Seymour sectional.
- Sectional 30 at Charlestown featured good games every night. Corydon gave Silver Creek all they could handle on Tuesday night and Charlestown give it all they had v. Brownstown on Friday. Pirate junior Anthony Fresh put on a show scoring 35 pts on a school-record 9 three’s. In the end it was Brownstown standing beating Silver Creek for the crown on Saturday night. The Chace Coomer- Colby Hall duo has done alot of winning over the last few years. They’ll go into the regional as slight favorites v. Evansville Memorial.
2A Notes
- Up north Fort Wayne Luers and Gary 21st Century had little trouble in their sectional and are on a collision course to meet each other this coming Saturday at the regional. Luers is led by twin guards Drelyn and Dereon Truesdale while 21st has a junior all star candidate in Terrence Hayes Jr. This game should be one of the best in the entire state on Saturday. Both teams have been playing really good ball and are top 5 teams in 2A.
- The Tipton Blue Devils with their all- everything guard Grady Carpenter advanced to the regional round next weekend winning a very tough Frankton sectional. The Blue Devils were not considered favorites but took home to trophy. Lapel, Sheridan, and the home team Frankton all had better odds of winning it. Tipton will face off against Manchester this weekend at the regional. An interesting side note is both Manchester’s Gavin Betten and Carpenter have been aau teammates for a while and will both be playing for Grace in college.
- The South Ripley Raiders came into Saturday night as a 1 point underdog (according to John Harrell’s site) v. the hometown Rebels of Southwestern. The Raiders got big games from senior Cole Henry and sophomore Drew Volz, as well as some big shots from Chancie Volz and freshman Eli Gilpin. South Ripley gets their first trip to a regional since 2017 where they’ll play their head coach’s old school, the Forest Park Rangers where he won a state title in 2005 and 2006. The game was alot closer than the 15 point final margin.
- Speaking of Forest Park the Rangers won their 4th consecutive sectional by defeating Mater Dei on Saturday night. The Rangers 6’8 sophomore Kamden Partenheimer poured in a career high 28 points and is looking like a name to know in southern Indiana going forward. The Rangers and Raiders on Saturday at Seymour should be must-see. Both teams bring their entire town so the gym should be full of green for that one.
1A Notes
- The Kouts Mustangs are quietly having one of their best years in school history up north with a 22-4 record. On Wednesday they defeated our favorites to win the sectional, Marquette Catholic which really opens up things north of Indy. Kouts and Clinton Prairie seem to be the obvious favorites to make it to Gainbridge in the 1A north for now but in all of 1A ball nothing would surprise me.
- Indianapolis Lutheran came into last week with a losing record and walked away as sectional champions and possibly one of the favorites now in all of 1A ball. The talent and experience is there as there are two starters that were big contributors on their 2023 state championship team. Throw in one of the best freshmen in the state in 6’5 Jarrett Harris and the Saints may march all the way to another state championship, with a losing record. They’re a tough matchup for any 1A team.
- Orleans finally got the sectional monkey off their backs this past weekend. Last year the Bulldogs lost in 5OTs to Barr Reeve in the sectional final. This year North Daviess took care of the Vikings in the semi final round and matched up with the Bulldogs on Saturday night. Senior Rylan Crocker is the 1 returning starter from last year’s group and has had one of the better seasons in all of 1A ball. Credit to Coach Bradley for doing one of his best coaching jobs with this group of Dogs.
- Sectional 63 was one of 1As toughest with 4-5 teams claiming they had a shot to cut down the nets. The home-team Senators of West Washington have a strong sophomore group and maybe are a year away. Rock Creek is always tough and their style is hard to play against. South Central came in with senior Cole Thomas, who finished within points of breaking the Rebels all time school scoring record. Borden and Coach Nash are always tough and come with one of the better freshmen duos in all of 1A ball Wyatt Jones and Gavin Scheich. In the end it was the Warriors group of seniors that were left standing. David Cook, Joshua Chancey, Cooper Losey and Joshua Renfro, who became a 2000 point scorer went back to back @ West Wash. and will get a shot v. Orleans @ West Wash.
5 Statewide Stars of the Week;
Sr. Dez Briscoe- Attucks. 19 pts, 10 rbs, 7 blks in a W v. Shortridge. 20 pts, 11 rbs, 7 blks in a W v. Cathedral
Jr. Anthony Fresh- Charlestown, 35 pts in a L v. Brownstown (9 three pointers and school record)
Sr. Carter Kent- Jennings County. 32 pts, 11 rbs, 8 assists in a W v. Batesville. 27 pts in a W v. South Dearborn
Soph. Kamdon Partenheimer- Forest Park. 28 pts (career high) in a W v. Evansville Mater Dei
Sr. Grady Carpenter- Tipton. 18 pts, 5 rbs, 6 assists in a W v. Frankton. 29 pts, 9 rbs, 5 assists in a W v. Sheridan. 22 pts, 12 rbs, 3 assists in a W v. Taylor
4A Regional
Jeffersonville v. Evansville Harrison
Harrison will be looking for revenge from last year’s super close regional loss to Jeff at the same location. Last year Mikey went off in the last couple of minutes to give Jeff the win. Harrison is not as tall as last year’s team but has some size left that can try and limit Tre. Old Team Teague aau teammates Michael Cooper v. Shane Sims will be fun and Jay Summitt for Harrison can fly, but PJ Douglas may be due for a breakout game scoring- wise.
Key players;
Michael Cooper- Jeff
Tre Singleton- Jeff
PJ Douglas- Jeff
Shane Sims- Evansville Harrison
Jay Summitt- Evansville Harrison
Our call- Jeffersonville
3A Regional
Brownstown v. Evansville Memorial
I got to watch Memorial in the summer at the Charlie Hughes and senior guard Luke Ellsperman is a bucket getter. I expect the Braves defensive stopper, Micah Sheffer to be put on him. It’s tough to practice or know how to deal with Brownstown’s toughness. Hall, Coomer, Pendleton, Sheffer are all 6’3+ and lack of size could come back to hurt Memorial. Colby Hall may be in store for a big game.
Key Players;
Colby Hall- Brownstown
Chace Coomer- Brownstown
Micah Sheffer- Brownstown
Luke Ellsperman- Memorial
Dylen Kendrick- Memorial
Our call- Brownstown
2A Regional
South Ripley v. Forest Park
Both teams have a really good player with good size. FP’s 6’8 sophomore Kamdon Partenheimer and SR’s 6’8 senior Cole Henry. FP has won 4 straight sectionals and has a tough group that is used to winning. The Raiders have yet to play their best ball during the tourney. Senior guard Blaine Ward is due to get hot from the outside and sophomore Drew Volz is a very tough and underrated guard.
Key Players;
Cole Henry- South Ripley
Blaine Ward- South Ripley
Drew Volz- South Ripley
Kamdon Partenheimer- Forest Park
Jaden Bettag- Forest Park
Our call- South Ripley
1A Regional
CAI v. Orleans
Both sectionals went as expected, which is rare, but these two have been the best teams from their area in 1A all year. CAI features a 2000/ 1000 point duo of Joshua Renfro and David Cook while Orleans has their own bucket- getter in senior Rylan Crocker. Neither team is super big and Coach Bradley’s teams will always guard as anyone out there. I expect it both teams to score under 50 with the first to 45 possibly taking it.
Key Players;
Joshua Renfro- CAI
David Cook- CAI
Joshua Chancey- CAI
Rylan Crocker- Orleans
Alex DeWitt- Orleans
Our call- CAI
Jr. All Star Projections;
Core 6 Group
Luke Ertel- Mt. Vernon
Steven Reynolds- SB Washington
Justin Curry- Noblesville
Noah Smith- Plainfield
Dikembe Shaw- Crown Point
Brennan Miller- Lawrence North
“Southern” Team
Treigh Schelsky- Parke Heritage
Anthony Fresh- Charlestown
Kasen Daeger- Silver Creek
Edwin Holmes- Princeton
EJ Hazlett- Franklin Central
Keriawn Berry- Avon
“Northern” Team
Evan Harrell- Carmel
Terrence Hayes Jr.- Gary 21st Century
Kai McGrew- Lawrence North
Brady Scholl- Northridge
Baron Walker- Noblesville
Camden Bell- Wapahani
Early candidates for HOF Classic next season;
- Crown Point Bulldogs
- Mt. Vernon Marauders
- Silver Creek Dragons
- Parke Heritage Wolves
- Noblesville Millers
- Northview Knights
- Charlestown Pirates
- Liberty Christian Lions
