The Marion County tournament has 3 teams in the Top 10 in the state (Pike 5, Ben Davis #8, Lawrence North #9) and all 3 teams are a threat to win the state tournament. But first, this is one of the best and most coveted tournaments in the state. Here are our predictions and thoughts on a few teams and games:
First Round
Park Tudor over Lutheran
Southport over Franklin Central
Lawrence North over North Central
Roncalli over Perry Meridian
Decatur Central over Speedway
Pike over Brebuef
Ben Davis over Warren Central
Lawrence Central over Beech Grove
Second Round
Park Tudor over Southport. Park Tudor should be favored even as a 2A program. They played Pike Tough in the second half earlier this season and that should give them some confidence in this tournament. They win 61-53.
Lawrence North over Roncalli. Royals were on a streak as the season started but lost two games last week. Can they take the upset over the Wildcats? We think they come up short but give them a scare for 3 quarters – 64-55. Brennan Miller has put himself in the Top 3 in discussion for Mr. Basketball with leading his team with a double double and a Top 10 record after losing two junior starters from last year.
Pike over Decatur Central. Junior PG Devin Colbert will not be a slouch in the game for Decatur and will keep them fighting. But too much talent and inside play for the Red Devils. They take it 78-61.
Ben Davis over Lawrence Central. Will the real Lawrence Central stand up this week? They have enough talent to beat almost anyone in the state but injuries and lack of time together have hurt their continuity. Is this the week they put it altogether? We would say yes, but Ben Davis has played really angry since losing their first two games of the season. They keep it rolling – 64-58.
Final Four
Lawrence North over Park Tudor. The Wildcats couldn’t have asked for a better path. They will be favored in every matchup on the way to the title game, including this game. Both Miller and senior PG Cameron Webster give them two of the best leaders in the state. LN heads to the championship – 71-59.
Pike over Ben Davis. A large part of me says Pike. Another part says that they have not peaked yet as a team and won’t be their best until March. That may be the case. They are going to need to play like it’s March to bear the Giants. We saw a glimpse of the March potential in the last 12 minutes of the game with Fishers. They will need it the whole game against Ben Davis. We think they are ready for that. But BEn Dais is more than good enough to take this one. – 69-66 Pike,
CHAMPIONSHIP
Can Lawrence North shoot the lights out? That is the best way for the them to beat the Red Devils: an assault from the 3. Their top 6 players can all light it up from outside if necessary. It will be necessary. LN does have some reasonable size (Miller 6’6″, Chandon Gilbert 6’7″, Britton Thomas 6’5″) to at least slow the Red Devils down inside. But Pike has the guard play that can really put pressure on the Wildcats. And with the Lampley brothers (Kenneth and Landon), nationally ranked junior Isaiah Hill and Brennan Dokes, their firepower on both sides of the ball should be enough down the stretch. Pike 78-71.
