Fans,
Shown below are my 60th annual state tournament predictions. For other preface remarks,
see the preface for Class 1A predictions.
CLASS 3A
Class Champion: Hammond
Top 5 Contenders From 1) Hammond; /2) Mishawaka Marian; 3) So.Bend St.Joe;
the North Semi-State: 4) Ft.Wayne Dwenger; 5) Leo
Top 5 Contenders From 1) Silver Creek; 2) Heritage Hills; 3) North Harrison;
the South Semi-State: 4) Guerin Catholic; 5) Brebeuf
SUMMARY:
The Hammond Wildcats are my choice to win this year's 3A title. It's been a long journey for Hammond to return to basketball prominence. From 1999 through 2012, Hammond won only one sectional. Then Larry Moore, Jr. was hired for the 2012-13 season. Since then, the Wildcats have achieved a record of 135-66. More importantly, they've won three straight sectionals and will be heavy favorites to make it four in a row this year.
Hammond's season started with a one-point loss to 4A title contender Lawrence North. That was impressive in itself. But since then, they've reeled off fifteen straight victories. Included in that figure is a ten point win at Gary West (a bonafide 4A title contender) and a 16 point win at Valparaiso ( a strong favorite to win a 4A sectional). This team can shoot, can defend, they're
quick, and have decent depth. It's good to see them become "relevant" force again in high school basketball.
Hammond shouldn't' t have much difficulty on the tourney trail until the championship round of the regional. There, they will likely run into either Mishawaka Marian or South Bend St.Joe--whichever survives sectional 19. That will be a major test. Personally, I think Hammond has too much experience for Marian and too much quickness for St.Joe.
Hammond will be a big favorite over whoever they are much up with in the semi-state round. In a state final contest, Hammond might face 2019 champ Silver Creek. That could be a great game if both teams get there. Other top contenders representing the South are Heritage Hills, North Harrison, and Guerin Catholic.
Here are my predictions for each sectional game in 3A along with a few comments
*17. at CALUMET: Hammond-$100
COMMENTS: Hammond has won three sectionals in a row and should easily make it a fourth. This is one of the leading candidates to win the entire 3A title. Here’s the picks:
Griffith over Hammond Gavit
Calumet over Lighthouse CPA; Hammond over Griffith
Hammond over Calumet
*18. at NEW PRAIRIE: New Prairie-$55; Hanover Central-45.
COMMENTS: : The Wildcats of Hanover Central will be gunning for their third straight sectional title. However, they'll likely have their hands full with the host school New Prairie. NP has played a much stronger schedule than HC and will have homecourt advantage. Here are my picks:
Hanover Central over Knox; New Prairie over Wheeler
Hanover Central over Kankakee Valley; New Prairie over River Forest
New Prairie over Hanover Central
*19. at SOUTH BEND WASHINGTON: Mishawaka Marian-$50; S.B.St.Joseph-45;
___________________________________Glenn-5.
COMMENTS: : Marian or St.Joe? That's been a fairly constant question over the last few years
at this site. Marian is the defending champion. Over the last eleven years, these two teams
have met in tourney play eight times. Each has won four times. However, counting regular
season games, Marian has won the last six! Here are the picks:
South Bend Washington over Jimtown; Mishawaka Marian over South Bend Clay
Glenn over South Bend Washington; Mishawaka Marian over South Bend St. Joseph
Mishawaka Marian over Glenn
*20. at TWIN LAKES: Western-$75; Twin Lakes-25.
COMMENTS: : This group of teams almost always is a toss-up with lots of long-time rivalries and lots of parity. That may not be the case this year. Defending champ Western has really dominated regular season play amongst this group. They have went undefeated against the rest of the field. Their closest win was a nine point victory at Twin Lakes. Here are the picks:
Peru over Northwestern
Twin Lakes over Benton Central; Western over West Lafayette
Peru over Maconaquah; Western over Twin Lakes
Western over Peru
*21. at WEST NOBLE: Northwood-$35; West Noble-30; Wawasee-20; Lakeland-15.
COMMENTS: : Defending champ Northwood is a very, very slight favorite here. They've won a sectional in six of the last nine years. Here are the picks:
Wawasee over Tippecanoe Valley
West Noble over Lakeland; Northwood over Wawasee
Northwood over West Noble
*22. at WOODLAN: F.W.Dwenger-$45; Leo-40; F.W.Luers-10; F.W.Concordia-5.
COMMENTS: : Leo has the sparkling record here and is the defending champion. But the question is whether they can get by perennial contender Dwenger. Dwenger plays a much tougher schedule than Leo and defeated the Lions by only four points just a few days ago. Here are the picks:
Ft.Wayne Concordia over Woodlan
Ft.Wayne Luers over Garrett; Leo over Angola
Ft.Wayne Dwenger over Ft.Wayne Concordia; Leo over Ft.Wayne Luers
Ft.Wayne Dwenger over Leo
*23. at MISSISSINEWA: Mississinewa-$55; Bellmont-25; Norwell-15; Oak Hill-5.
Mississinewa over Oak Hill; Bellmont over Eastern (Greentown)
Mississinewa over Heritage; Bellmont over Norwell
Mississinewa over Bellmont
*24. at NEW CASTLE: Hamilton Heights-$35; Delta-30; New Castle-25; Yorktown-10.
COMMENTS: : This sectional has had some great action the last couple of years and 2021 shouldn't be any different. We've got three outstanding teams plus the always dangerous host Trojans. Last year, Delta won the title with a one point win over Hamilton Heights. And two years ago, Delta won with a four point win over New Castle. This year, Delta has split with Yorktown and also scored an eleven point win at home against New Castle just a couple of weeks ago. Here are the picks:
Hamilton Heights over Yorktown; Delta over Jay County
Hamilton Heights over Muncie Burris; Delta over New Castle
Hamilton Heights over Delta
Shown below are my 60th annual state tournament predictions. For other preface remarks,
see the preface for Class 1A predictions.
CLASS 3A
Class Champion: Hammond
Top 5 Contenders From 1) Hammond; /2) Mishawaka Marian; 3) So.Bend St.Joe;
the North Semi-State: 4) Ft.Wayne Dwenger; 5) Leo
Top 5 Contenders From 1) Silver Creek; 2) Heritage Hills; 3) North Harrison;
the South Semi-State: 4) Guerin Catholic; 5) Brebeuf
SUMMARY:
The Hammond Wildcats are my choice to win this year's 3A title. It's been a long journey for Hammond to return to basketball prominence. From 1999 through 2012, Hammond won only one sectional. Then Larry Moore, Jr. was hired for the 2012-13 season. Since then, the Wildcats have achieved a record of 135-66. More importantly, they've won three straight sectionals and will be heavy favorites to make it four in a row this year.
Hammond's season started with a one-point loss to 4A title contender Lawrence North. That was impressive in itself. But since then, they've reeled off fifteen straight victories. Included in that figure is a ten point win at Gary West (a bonafide 4A title contender) and a 16 point win at Valparaiso ( a strong favorite to win a 4A sectional). This team can shoot, can defend, they're
quick, and have decent depth. It's good to see them become "relevant" force again in high school basketball.
Hammond shouldn't' t have much difficulty on the tourney trail until the championship round of the regional. There, they will likely run into either Mishawaka Marian or South Bend St.Joe--whichever survives sectional 19. That will be a major test. Personally, I think Hammond has too much experience for Marian and too much quickness for St.Joe.
Hammond will be a big favorite over whoever they are much up with in the semi-state round. In a state final contest, Hammond might face 2019 champ Silver Creek. That could be a great game if both teams get there. Other top contenders representing the South are Heritage Hills, North Harrison, and Guerin Catholic.
Here are my predictions for each sectional game in 3A along with a few comments
*17. at CALUMET: Hammond-$100
COMMENTS: Hammond has won three sectionals in a row and should easily make it a fourth. This is one of the leading candidates to win the entire 3A title. Here’s the picks:
Griffith over Hammond Gavit
Calumet over Lighthouse CPA; Hammond over Griffith
Hammond over Calumet
*18. at NEW PRAIRIE: New Prairie-$55; Hanover Central-45.
COMMENTS: : The Wildcats of Hanover Central will be gunning for their third straight sectional title. However, they'll likely have their hands full with the host school New Prairie. NP has played a much stronger schedule than HC and will have homecourt advantage. Here are my picks:
Hanover Central over Knox; New Prairie over Wheeler
Hanover Central over Kankakee Valley; New Prairie over River Forest
New Prairie over Hanover Central
*19. at SOUTH BEND WASHINGTON: Mishawaka Marian-$50; S.B.St.Joseph-45;
___________________________________Glenn-5.
COMMENTS: : Marian or St.Joe? That's been a fairly constant question over the last few years
at this site. Marian is the defending champion. Over the last eleven years, these two teams
have met in tourney play eight times. Each has won four times. However, counting regular
season games, Marian has won the last six! Here are the picks:
South Bend Washington over Jimtown; Mishawaka Marian over South Bend Clay
Glenn over South Bend Washington; Mishawaka Marian over South Bend St. Joseph
Mishawaka Marian over Glenn
*20. at TWIN LAKES: Western-$75; Twin Lakes-25.
COMMENTS: : This group of teams almost always is a toss-up with lots of long-time rivalries and lots of parity. That may not be the case this year. Defending champ Western has really dominated regular season play amongst this group. They have went undefeated against the rest of the field. Their closest win was a nine point victory at Twin Lakes. Here are the picks:
Peru over Northwestern
Twin Lakes over Benton Central; Western over West Lafayette
Peru over Maconaquah; Western over Twin Lakes
Western over Peru
*21. at WEST NOBLE: Northwood-$35; West Noble-30; Wawasee-20; Lakeland-15.
COMMENTS: : Defending champ Northwood is a very, very slight favorite here. They've won a sectional in six of the last nine years. Here are the picks:
Wawasee over Tippecanoe Valley
West Noble over Lakeland; Northwood over Wawasee
Northwood over West Noble
*22. at WOODLAN: F.W.Dwenger-$45; Leo-40; F.W.Luers-10; F.W.Concordia-5.
COMMENTS: : Leo has the sparkling record here and is the defending champion. But the question is whether they can get by perennial contender Dwenger. Dwenger plays a much tougher schedule than Leo and defeated the Lions by only four points just a few days ago. Here are the picks:
Ft.Wayne Concordia over Woodlan
Ft.Wayne Luers over Garrett; Leo over Angola
Ft.Wayne Dwenger over Ft.Wayne Concordia; Leo over Ft.Wayne Luers
Ft.Wayne Dwenger over Leo
*23. at MISSISSINEWA: Mississinewa-$55; Bellmont-25; Norwell-15; Oak Hill-5.
Mississinewa over Oak Hill; Bellmont over Eastern (Greentown)
Mississinewa over Heritage; Bellmont over Norwell
Mississinewa over Bellmont
*24. at NEW CASTLE: Hamilton Heights-$35; Delta-30; New Castle-25; Yorktown-10.
COMMENTS: : This sectional has had some great action the last couple of years and 2021 shouldn't be any different. We've got three outstanding teams plus the always dangerous host Trojans. Last year, Delta won the title with a one point win over Hamilton Heights. And two years ago, Delta won with a four point win over New Castle. This year, Delta has split with Yorktown and also scored an eleven point win at home against New Castle just a couple of weeks ago. Here are the picks:
Hamilton Heights over Yorktown; Delta over Jay County
Hamilton Heights over Muncie Burris; Delta over New Castle
Hamilton Heights over Delta
