Staff Report
Brandon Jones and Adam Rouse preview the Class 4A girls basketball
championship game between top-ranked South
Bend Washington and
No. 11 Castle. Jonesie handles the former, while Mr. Rouse tackles the latter â?¦
SOUTH BEND WASHINGTON PANTHERS
Strengths
The No. 1 Panthers
(25-1) are a dangerous team because they can beat you in so many ways, not the
least of which is undersized but quick guards who have the ability to beat you
off the dribble.
(25-1) are a dangerous team because they can beat you in so many ways, not the
least of which is undersized but quick guards who have the ability to beat you
off the dribble.
Sophomore
Emily Phillips runs the show, and the 5â??4â? speedster can penetrate and dish the
ball as well as pull up from long range to beat her opponent. And if you donâ??t
already know, freshman phenom Skylar Diggins is also a special player from the
perimeter. She can knock down the three, but sheâ??s also the essence of a true team
player. The ninth-grader seems to â??get it,â? and she undoubtedly makes her
teammates better along the way.
Emily Phillips runs the show, and the 5â??4â? speedster can penetrate and dish the
ball as well as pull up from long range to beat her opponent. And if you donâ??t
already know, freshman phenom Skylar Diggins is also a special player from the
perimeter. She can knock down the three, but sheâ??s also the essence of a true team
player. The ninth-grader seems to â??get it,â? and she undoubtedly makes her
teammates better along the way.
Sherice
White, the teamâ??s swing player, is also a potent threat from the perimeter.
White, the teamâ??s swing player, is also a potent threat from the perimeter.
Inside,
the Panthers feature good-sized underclassmen who can play a very aggressive
style of basketball. It all starts with frontliners Ashley Varner and Katelyn
Boocher. Varner, a 6-foot junior, has played a key role in getting the Panthers
this far. She has an array of post moves that can keep opponents guessing.
the Panthers feature good-sized underclassmen who can play a very aggressive
style of basketball. It all starts with frontliners Ashley Varner and Katelyn
Boocher. Varner, a 6-foot junior, has played a key role in getting the Panthers
this far. She has an array of post moves that can keep opponents guessing.
With this
squad, one is forced to pick its poison. A team can very well play man-to-man
defense and get punished inside by the physicality of Varner. Or, you can sag
into a zone and get burned from the outside by the three sharpshooters. A team
really has to play a good mixture of these styles of basketball to keep the
Panthers guessing offensively.
squad, one is forced to pick its poison. A team can very well play man-to-man
defense and get punished inside by the physicality of Varner. Or, you can sag
into a zone and get burned from the outside by the three sharpshooters. A team
really has to play a good mixture of these styles of basketball to keep the
Panthers guessing offensively.
Another
strength is poise. Many times in their Elkhart
Semistate contest against experienced
powerhouse Kokomo,
the Panthers had their backs to the wall and could have folded. They fell
behind by double digits early in the contest but always had an offensive run in
them. A team that averaged more than 80 points a game of late always does.
strength is poise. Many times in their Elkhart
Semistate contest against experienced
powerhouse Kokomo,
the Panthers had their backs to the wall and could have folded. They fell
behind by double digits early in the contest but always had an offensive run in
them. A team that averaged more than 80 points a game of late always does.
Weaknesses
South Bend Washington is an inexperienced group â???
thereâ??s only one senior on the roster. All five starters for the Panthers are
underclassmen and tasting success for the first time. Though they have pulled
through to this point, Conseco Fieldhouse and the IHSAA state finals create a
whole different ballgame. It will be interesting to see how this team adjusts
to the pressure.
thereâ??s only one senior on the roster. All five starters for the Panthers are
underclassmen and tasting success for the first time. Though they have pulled
through to this point, Conseco Fieldhouse and the IHSAA state finals create a
whole different ballgame. It will be interesting to see how this team adjusts
to the pressure.
Defense. Yes,
the Panthers can score. But can they stop anybody? The Panthers let a double-digit
lead slip away in the second half against Kokomo
and were forced down to the wire. This was due, in large part, to a poor defensive
scheme that tends to overplay the ball quite frequently. This aggressive style
of defense tends to implode as the Panthers jump into passing lanes that sometimes
are not there.
the Panthers can score. But can they stop anybody? The Panthers let a double-digit
lead slip away in the second half against Kokomo
and were forced down to the wire. This was due, in large part, to a poor defensive
scheme that tends to overplay the ball quite frequently. This aggressive style
of defense tends to implode as the Panthers jump into passing lanes that sometimes
are not there.
The
Panthersâ?? aggressiveness sometimes plays to their advantage, but often it
merely creates free throw opportunities for the other squad. Interior foul
trouble was a problem for the Panthers in their semistate triumph against Kokomo. If they continue
this style of play defensively and Castle starts cashing in on free throw
opportunities, the Panthers could be in for a long night.
Panthersâ?? aggressiveness sometimes plays to their advantage, but often it
merely creates free throw opportunities for the other squad. Interior foul
trouble was a problem for the Panthers in their semistate triumph against Kokomo. If they continue
this style of play defensively and Castle starts cashing in on free throw
opportunities, the Panthers could be in for a long night.
Overall
South Bend Washington is the best girls basketball team,
regardless of class, that I have seen thus far this season. I have seen
Hamilton Southeastern, Carmel, and two-time
defending 4A state champ North Central (Indianapolis),
and they would all have trouble defending the Pantherâ??s attacking style of play.
That is why South Bend Washington is making the trip down U.S. 31
to the Fieldhouse and those Indianapolis-area powers are not.
regardless of class, that I have seen thus far this season. I have seen
Hamilton Southeastern, Carmel, and two-time
defending 4A state champ North Central (Indianapolis),
and they would all have trouble defending the Pantherâ??s attacking style of play.
That is why South Bend Washington is making the trip down U.S. 31
to the Fieldhouse and those Indianapolis-area powers are not.
If Washington is on top of
its game offensively, I do not see anyone that can match up with the talent
that coach Marilyn Coddens puts on the floor. Prediction: The Panthers cruise
by double digits.
its game offensively, I do not see anyone that can match up with the talent
that coach Marilyn Coddens puts on the floor. Prediction: The Panthers cruise
by double digits.
How South
Bend Washington got
here
Bend Washington got
here
South Bend Riley
Sectional
Sectional
LaPorte,
W 86-42
W 86-42
Michigan City,
W 78-71
W 78-71
Valparaiso
Regional
Regional
Chesterton,
W 71-48
W 71-48
Elkhart
Memorial, W 86-68
Memorial, W 86-68
Plymouth Semistate
Kokomo,
W 60-58
W 60-58
CASTLE KNIGHTS
After watching Castle (24-3) totally shut down No. 8 Hamilton
Southeastern and hold the Royals to their lowest point total (36) of the season
in last weekâ??s Jeffersonville
Semistate, itâ??s hard to
tell why the Knights are getting no love from the pollsters.
Southeastern and hold the Royals to their lowest point total (36) of the season
in last weekâ??s Jeffersonville
Semistate, itâ??s hard to
tell why the Knights are getting no love from the pollsters.
The Knights comes into their 4A showdown on a major roll, riding
a 14-game winning streak. Their last loss came nearly two months ago against Jeffersonville, whom the
Knights defeated by 29 points in a regional victory. Castle features a lot of
size, with every starter measuring 5â??9â? or taller. Three of the five starters
average 11 points or better a contest.
a 14-game winning streak. Their last loss came nearly two months ago against Jeffersonville, whom the
Knights defeated by 29 points in a regional victory. Castle features a lot of
size, with every starter measuring 5â??9â? or taller. Three of the five starters
average 11 points or better a contest.
It will be the Knightsâ?? first trip to the state championship
game.
game.
Backcourt
Of the five starters, only senior Stephanie Gehlhausen is listed
as a guard, but seniors Katelyn Smith and Lynn McKinney will also spend a lot
of time on the perimeter. Because of its size advantage, Castle has the ability
to adapt to whatever style it needs to match up best against the opponent.
as a guard, but seniors Katelyn Smith and Lynn McKinney will also spend a lot
of time on the perimeter. Because of its size advantage, Castle has the ability
to adapt to whatever style it needs to match up best against the opponent.
Smith handles the ball quite a bit as a point forward and likes
to dictate the offense. The 5â??11â? senior averages 11.3 points and shoots 42
percent from the field. Gehlhausen leads the team with 2.8 assists and also
chips in with 9.6 points a game. McKinney
will do whatever is asked, averaging 7.4 points and 3.9 rebounds.
to dictate the offense. The 5â??11â? senior averages 11.3 points and shoots 42
percent from the field. Gehlhausen leads the team with 2.8 assists and also
chips in with 9.6 points a game. McKinney
will do whatever is asked, averaging 7.4 points and 3.9 rebounds.
Frontcourt
Castle features a pair of skilled post players in 6â??1â? senior
Maria Olsthoom and 5â??11â? junior Jasmine Ussery. Both players average over 12
points and six rebounds a game.
Maria Olsthoom and 5â??11â? junior Jasmine Ussery. Both players average over 12
points and six rebounds a game.
Olsthoom leads the team at 12.3 ppg and is second to Ussery with
6.5 rpg. Despite being the taller of the two, Olsthoom is comfortable playing
away from the basket and can move around the court freely. Ussery seems to like
to play with her back to the basket and has several quality post moves. The junior
is the team leader with 8.4 rebounds per game and also averages an even dozen
in the points category.
6.5 rpg. Despite being the taller of the two, Olsthoom is comfortable playing
away from the basket and can move around the court freely. Ussery seems to like
to play with her back to the basket and has several quality post moves. The junior
is the team leader with 8.4 rebounds per game and also averages an even dozen
in the points category.
How Castle got here
Evansville Reitz Sectional
Evansville
Harrison, W 71-41
Harrison, W 71-41
Evansville
Central, W 58-45
Central, W 58-45
Bedford North
Lawrence Regional
Lawrence Regional
Jeffersonville,
W 61-32
W 61-32
Bloomington
North, W 65-53
North, W 65-53
Jeffersonville Semistate
Hamilton
Southeastern, W 43-36
Southeastern, W 43-36
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