Staff Report
Brandon Jones and Bubba Harnist preview the Class A girls basketball
championship game between No. 13 Lafayette Central Catholic and 15th-ranked
South Central (Elizabeth). Jonesie handles the former, while Bubs tackles the
latter â?¦
LAFAYETTE CENTRAL CATHOLIC KNIGHTS
The
Knights (17-10) have experience on their side. Starting three seniors who
basically run the show does not hurt.
Knights (17-10) have experience on their side. Starting three seniors who
basically run the show does not hurt.
In fact,
those three seniors are the teamâ??s top three leading scorers. Seniors Jenna
Jones and Katie Pechin are deadly from the outside, while Kathleen Mills is a
punisher in the paint. Expect a large quantity of Lafayette Central Catholicâ??s
points to come from â??the big three.â?
those three seniors are the teamâ??s top three leading scorers. Seniors Jenna
Jones and Katie Pechin are deadly from the outside, while Kathleen Mills is a
punisher in the paint. Expect a large quantity of Lafayette Central Catholicâ??s
points to come from â??the big three.â?
Strengths
Free throw
shooting. Sure, it may sound simple, but when the Knights get to the charity
stripe, they donâ??t miss very often. That was the difference in their Elkhart Semistate
victory over Argos
â??? the
Dragons were forced to foul late in the contest, and Central Catholic cashed in
from the line to put the game away.
shooting. Sure, it may sound simple, but when the Knights get to the charity
stripe, they donâ??t miss very often. That was the difference in their Elkhart Semistate
victory over Argos
â??? the
Dragons were forced to foul late in the contest, and Central Catholic cashed in
from the line to put the game away.
The
Knights seem to play their best basketball in the middle periods of the game. Both
the second and third quarters are what has catapulted the Knights this far in
the tournament. They turned a close contest into a double-digit blowout last
weekend at Plymouth
behind a huge ending to the second quarter and a solid beginning to the third.
Knights seem to play their best basketball in the middle periods of the game. Both
the second and third quarters are what has catapulted the Knights this far in
the tournament. They turned a close contest into a double-digit blowout last
weekend at Plymouth
behind a huge ending to the second quarter and a solid beginning to the third.
Whatever
is being said in the locker room by coach Geoff Salmon must be working!
is being said in the locker room by coach Geoff Salmon must be working!
Balance. Like
other state finals teams, the Knights feature a solid balance of inside and
outside play. They can strike quickly and are comfortable getting two or three
points from anywhere on the court. Jones and Pechin can cause headaches for
opposing guards, while Mills wreaks havoc inside with a variety of post moves.
other state finals teams, the Knights feature a solid balance of inside and
outside play. They can strike quickly and are comfortable getting two or three
points from anywhere on the court. Jones and Pechin can cause headaches for
opposing guards, while Mills wreaks havoc inside with a variety of post moves.
Destiny. Finally,
one may have to believe that this team is meant to finish something special. The
Knights played a tough schedule of large-school teams, and that has paid off
for them in this tournament. This team entered sectional play at 11-10, a
mediocre record at best. But none of that matters now as, six wins later, the
Knights are heading to Indianapolis
to play for a state championship.
one may have to believe that this team is meant to finish something special. The
Knights played a tough schedule of large-school teams, and that has paid off
for them in this tournament. This team entered sectional play at 11-10, a
mediocre record at best. But none of that matters now as, six wins later, the
Knights are heading to Indianapolis
to play for a state championship.
Weaknesses
The
Knights have gotten off to slow starts in a couple of their postseason
contests. Falling behind early and then coming back in the second quarter has
become a habit of this team. But the Knights probably cannot afford to do so again
this weekend at Conseco Fieldhouse.
Knights have gotten off to slow starts in a couple of their postseason
contests. Falling behind early and then coming back in the second quarter has
become a habit of this team. But the Knights probably cannot afford to do so again
this weekend at Conseco Fieldhouse.
Depth. Many
small-school teams have a hole in this department as the cupboard is sometimes
very thin after the first line of defense. LCC does feature some role players
who fill in nicely, but if the Knights get into serious foul trouble, then the
Knights themselves are in serious trouble.
small-school teams have a hole in this department as the cupboard is sometimes
very thin after the first line of defense. LCC does feature some role players
who fill in nicely, but if the Knights get into serious foul trouble, then the
Knights themselves are in serious trouble.
Lack of
patience. Sometimes the LCC guards get too anxious and do not wait patiently
for the best shot available. The Knights are at their best when they are
dumping the ball into Mills and letting her work to make the smartest decision.
patience. Sometimes the LCC guards get too anxious and do not wait patiently
for the best shot available. The Knights are at their best when they are
dumping the ball into Mills and letting her work to make the smartest decision.
Overall
Lafayette
Central Catholic is the real deal. The Knights have great balance and a trio of
scorers that can hurt the opposition. They also defend the paint very well.
South Central will have to bring its â??Aâ? game from the outside to have a shot
at beating them. Prediction: In a low scoring contest, pick Lafayette Central
Catholic by a handful.
Central Catholic is the real deal. The Knights have great balance and a trio of
scorers that can hurt the opposition. They also defend the paint very well.
South Central will have to bring its â??Aâ? game from the outside to have a shot
at beating them. Prediction: In a low scoring contest, pick Lafayette Central
Catholic by a handful.
How Lafayette Central Catholic got here
Frontier
Sectional
Sectional
Carroll
(Flora), W 41-19
(Flora), W 41-19
Clinton
Prairie, W 41-37
Prairie, W 41-37
Rossville,
W 49-40
W 49-40
Lapel
Regional
Regional
Indianapolis
Lutheran, W 58-53
Lutheran, W 58-53
Tri-Central,
W 53-50
W 53-50
Plymouth Semistate
Argos,
W 65-53
W 65-53
SOUTH
CENTRAL (ELIZABETH)
REBELS
CENTRAL (ELIZABETH)
REBELS
South Central (23-5) is going where no team in school history
has gone: a state championship game. Weâ??re not just talking about basketball here
â??? never has a team from any sport at
South Central made it to the finals of an IHSAA team sport. Still, the Rebels
have to like their chances.
has gone: a state championship game. Weâ??re not just talking about basketball here
â??? never has a team from any sport at
South Central made it to the finals of an IHSAA team sport. Still, the Rebels
have to like their chances.
They come into this game on an eight-game winning streak, and
they are 18-0 this season against the other Class A schools they have faced.
they are 18-0 this season against the other Class A schools they have faced.
Backcourt
The Rebels will come at Lafayette Central Catholic with a three-guard
lineup led by sophomore Brittany Schoen. Schoen is one of the stateâ??s leading
scorerâ??s at 20.5 points per game. If last weekâ??s 25-point effort in the Southport Semistate
win over Attica was any indication, then
Rebels go as Schoen goes.
lineup led by sophomore Brittany Schoen. Schoen is one of the stateâ??s leading
scorerâ??s at 20.5 points per game. If last weekâ??s 25-point effort in the Southport Semistate
win over Attica was any indication, then
Rebels go as Schoen goes.
Starting along with Schoen in the Rebelsâ?? enlarged backcourt is
junior Karen Deaton, who averages 9.1 points a game, and senior Sarah Pease (5.5
ppg).
junior Karen Deaton, who averages 9.1 points a game, and senior Sarah Pease (5.5
ppg).
Frontcourt
Junior Kaela Orwick, who averages 5.9 points a game, leads the
frontcourt. Last week, Orwick came up with some huge points in the second half
to help pace the Rebels. If the Knights can stop Schoen, Orwick will have to
step up to give her team a chance to win.
frontcourt. Last week, Orwick came up with some huge points in the second half
to help pace the Rebels. If the Knights can stop Schoen, Orwick will have to
step up to give her team a chance to win.
The other frontcourt starter for the Rebels is senior Valerie
Burnette.
Burnette.
Bench
The Rebel bench came up large last week after some early foul
trouble to the starters. South Central put eight players in the scoring column,
showing it has some depth to go along with the starting five.
trouble to the starters. South Central put eight players in the scoring column,
showing it has some depth to go along with the starting five.
Leading the way off the bench is senior Jenna Kingsley and her
6.6 points a game.
6.6 points a game.
Intangibles
This is a team that plays very well together and keeps its
composure when falling behind. In the win over Attica,
the Rebels proved that even if Schoen struggles (only two points in the third quarter),
they have the ability to keep the lead. All this should play into their hands Saturday
against a team that no one thought would be there.
composure when falling behind. In the win over Attica,
the Rebels proved that even if Schoen struggles (only two points in the third quarter),
they have the ability to keep the lead. All this should play into their hands Saturday
against a team that no one thought would be there.
Itâ??s hard to figure out which team has more pressure on them,
much less which one is the favorite. South Central is boldly going where no
team in school history has gone, while Lafayette Central Catholic is the
surprise of the Class A tournament.
much less which one is the favorite. South Central is boldly going where no
team in school history has gone, while Lafayette Central Catholic is the
surprise of the Class A tournament.
Prediction: Look for South Central to go to Schoen early and
often to get her involved. If Schoen is on, it could be a long day for
Lafayette Central Catholic and a great day for South Central â?¦ a day where the
Rebels can cut down the nets and be crowned the schoolâ??s first-ever state champ.
often to get her involved. If Schoen is on, it could be a long day for
Lafayette Central Catholic and a great day for South Central â?¦ a day where the
Rebels can cut down the nets and be crowned the schoolâ??s first-ever state champ.
How South Central got here
South
Central (Elizabeth)
Sectional
Central (Elizabeth)
Sectional
Restoration
Christian, W 66-15
Christian, W 66-15
Borden,
W 79-54
W 79-54
Lanesville,
W 62-41
W 62-41
Southwestern
(Shelbyville) Regional
(Shelbyville) Regional
Oldenburg
Academy,
W 56-40
Academy,
W 56-40
Northeast
Dubois, W 49-46
Dubois, W 49-46
Southport Semistate
Attica, W 54-43
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