Center Grove, Edinburgh taking aim at championships

Center Grove boys basketball coach Zach Hahn hadn’t yet been born when the Trojans won the lone regional title in program history 46 years ago; most of the current players’ parents probably either weren’t alive or were too young to remember it.

Most Edinburgh residents, on the other hand, vividly recall the magical 2012 tournament run, which took the Lancers to their second regional crown (the other was in 1951) and all the way to the semistate final.

Both programs will be out to make some new history today, with Center Grove playing in the Class 4A Seymour Regional and Edinburgh taking part in the Class A Loogootee Regional.

Enthusiasm is bubbling in both communities; Center Grove sold out its allotment of 1,500 tickets in less than a day, and Edinburgh also was selling at a brisk pace all week.

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Here’s a look at what both teams will be up against at their respective sites today:

Class 4A Seymour Regional

Center Grove Trojans

Record: 19-6

Sagarin rating: 92.87 (11th in Class 4A and overall)

Players to watch: Trayce Jackson-Davis, Jr.; Joey Klaasen, Sr.; Nate McLain, Sr.; Spencer Piercefield, Jr.

Most recent regional title: 1972

Evansville North Huskies

Record: 13-12

Sagarin rating: 69.59 (80th in 4A, 150th overall)

Players to watch: Ryan Huebner, Sr.; D.J. Redding, Jr.; Kolten Sanford, So.; Cameron Seaton, Sr.

Most recent regional title: 1980

Bloomington South Panthers

Record: 26-2

Sagarin rating: 93.10 (Ninth in 4A and overall)

Players to watch: Chance Coyle, Sr.; Noah Jager, So.; Phillip King, Sr.; Anthony Leal, So.

Most recent regional title: 2011

New Albany Bulldogs

Record: 23-1

Sagarin rating: 103.92 (first in 4A and overall)

Players to watch: Sean East, Sr.; Julien Hunter, So.; Romeo Langford, Sr.; Derrick Stevenson, Jr.

Most recent regional title: 2016

Outlook

All eyes will be on New Albany’s Langford, as they have been all year, but the Bulldogs found out the hard way last year that making it through this regional isn’t a given. Castle knocked them off last March, and both Bloomington South and Center Grove are capable of doing it again.

Center Grove is a heavy semifinal favorite against Evansville North on paper, but don’t expect the Trojans to take anything for granted; remember, the Huskies weren’t supposed to win their sectional, either. Should the Trojans take care of business this morning, they shouldn’t be intimidated by either of their potential title-game foes — they’ve battled one of the state’s toughest schedules.

New Albany has the comfort of knowing that it already owns a 70-58 win over the Panthers this season — but that was back in November. Bloomington South hasn’t lost since the calendar flipped to 2018, and it also defeated the Floyd Central team that handed New Albany its lone loss. Expect that second semifinal to be a battle.

Most expect Langford and the Bulldogs to be cutting down the nets later tonight, but don’t be surprised at all if the Panthers or Trojans spoil everyone’s fun.

Class A Loogootee Regional

Edinburgh Lancers

Record: 17-8

Sagarin rating: 61.11 (26th in Class A, 234th overall)

Players to watch: Parker Bryant, Sr.; Bryce Burton, Jr.; Christian Cox, Sr.; Coltan Henderson, Jr.

Most recent regional title: 2012

Christian Academy Warriors

Record: 17-9

Sagarin rating: 65.65 (17th in Class A, 191st overall)

Players to watch: Bailey Conrad, So.; Stephen Cook, Sr.; T.J. Proctor, Sr.; Noah Williams, Sr.

Most recent regional title: None

Springs Valley Blackhawks

Record: 19-6

Sagarin rating: 65.38 (18th in Class A, 194th overall)

Players to watch: Jackson Land, Jr.; Ryan Tow, Sr.; Christian Tucker, Jr.; Braden Whitaker, Sr.

Most recent regional title: 1964

Barr-Reeve Vikings

Record: 22-4

Sagarin rating: 72.70 (Ninth in Class A, 123rd overall)

Players to watch: Austin Ainscough, Jr.; Gabe Gladish, Jr.; Keegan O’Neill, So.; Isaac Wagler, Jr.

Most recent regional title: 2015

Outlook

The Vikings appear to have the upper hand on the rest of the field; they’re the top-rated team, and they’ve got the most impressive recent pedigree, winning a 2015 state title after losing the 2014 final in overtime.

Barr-Reeve already has won twice at Loogootee this season, once in triple overtime on Feb. 3 and again by one point in the sectional final, so they’re used to drama in this gym. That experience might come in handy against an evenly-matched group of teams.

Can the Lancers find that 2012 tournament magic again? It’ll take some work. First, they’ll need to slow down the Warriors’ veteran backcourt of Cook and Williams in the morning. If they can do that, Barr-Reeve presents an entirely different challenge with the 6-foot-8 O’Neill. Edinburgh heads into the day as an underdog, but a very confident one with at least a puncher’s chance of moving on.

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Class 4A Seymour Regional

Center Grove (19-6) vs. Evansville North (13-12), 10:30 a.m.

Bloomington South (26-2) vs. New Albany (23-1), 12:30 p.m.

Championship, 8 p.m.

Class A Loogootee Regional

Edinburgh (17-8) vs. Christian Academy (17-9), 10 a.m.

Springs Valley (19-6) vs. Barr-Reeve (22-4), noon

Championship, 8 p.m.

Tickets: $7 each session, $10 for full day

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