32 teams vie
for eight spots
in 1999 state finals
Three state finalists from 1998 will be joined by eight first-time regional champions when the 89th Annual IHSAA Boys Basketball Tournament reaches the semi-state level Saturday (March 20) at eight sites across the state. The eight semi-state champions will advance to the state finals March 27 at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis.
Tickets -- $6 per session or $9 for the entire day -- will be on sale this week at the participating schools and the host schools.
Defending state champions Lafayette Central Catholic (Class A) and Alexandria (Class 2A) are among the 32 teams that advanced with regional championships. Also alive is Bloomfield, the Class A runner-up in 1998.
Schools that have never gone this far before are: Angola and Carroll (Fort Wayne) in Class 3A; Maconaquah, Monrovia and Westview in Class 2A; and Morgan Township, Tecumseh and Tri-Central in Class A. In the two years of the multiple-class tournament format, 21 schools have won their first regional championships.
Five schools broke regional championship droughts of 10 or more years with victories March 12, topped by
Huntington North. The Vikings wear their first regional crown since 1969 after defeating Harrison (West Lafayette) 69-63 in overtime at Class 4A Marion Regional. Milan, the 1954 state champion, ended a drought of 26 years with an 82-55 decision over Southwestern (Shelbyville) at the Class A Shelbyville Regional. The Indians last captured a regional championship in 1973 at Connersville and it's their fourth overall.
Gibson Southern celebrated its second regional title and first since 1975 at Evansville with a 45-22 triumph over Heritage Hills at the Class 3AVincennes Lincoln Regional. North Central of Indianapolis also won its second regional crown and first since 1979 by ousting New Castle 78-59 at the Class 4A Anderson Regional. Austin's 55-53 victory over Switzerland County at the Class 2A Madison Regional was its first title since 1985 and second overall.
Four of the eight regional champions in each class finished the regular season unranked in the Associated Press media poll which has a separate listing for each of the four classes. Among the 20 schools ranked in the final Indiana Basketball Coaches Association poll, eight survived the first two weeks of tournament play. The IBCA poll is a unified poll that does not distinguish teams by class.
Bloomington South's 55-50 overtime victory over Lawrence North at the Class 4A Columbus North Regional extended the state's longest active winning streak to 19 games. The Panthers, who meet Terre Haute North in the opening game of the Class 4A Lawrence Central Semi-State at Hinkle Fieldhouse, suffered their only loss of the season 51-31 to Chicago Westinghouse on Dec. 12 at Chicago in the Hoops in the Loop tournament. Chicago Westinghouse (31-1) was top-ranked in Illinois before falling 59-39 Sunday to Chicago King in the Illinois Class AA supersectional (round of 16) championship game.
Other teams with double-digit winning streaks are: Andrean (14 straight), Blue River Valley (13), Evansville Harrison (14), Monrovia (14) and Paoli (10).
The only rematch among regular-season opponents in semi-state openers will come at the Class 4A Lafayette Semi-State when Elkhart Central meets Penn. Elkhart Central defeated host Penn 67-66 in overtime Jan. 29. Both teams have first-year coaches, with Penn directed by Dean Foster and Elkhart Central by Mike Drews. Foster coached the previous six seasons at Elkhart Central.
1999 TOURNAMENT FACTS & FIGURES
FIRST-TIME REGIONAL CHAMPIONS (8)
4A: None.
3A: Angola, Carroll (Fort Wayne).
2A: Maconaquah, Monrovia, Westview.
A: Morgan Township, Tecumseh, Tri-Central.
REGIONAL DROUGHT BREAKERS
(Year of last title)
Huntington North (1969).
Milan (1973).
Gibson Southern (1975).
North Central (Indianapolis) (1979).
Austin (1985).
REPEAT REGIONAL CHAMPIONS (12)
4A: Elkhart Central.
3A: Andrean, Madison, Sullivan.
2A: Alexandria, Bremen, Paoli, Winchester.
A: Bloomfield, Blue River Valley, Graceland Christian, Lafayette Central Catholic.
BEST RECORDS IN THE SEMI-STATE FIELD
Bloomington South (24-1).
Plainfield (23-1).
Winchester (23-2).
Austin (22-2).
Blue River Valley (22-2).
Monrovia (22-2).
Sullivan (22-2).
Evansville Harrison (21-2).
Gibson Southern (21-2).
UNRANKED TEAMS ALIVE IN THE SEMI-STATE FIELD (16)
(Associated Press media poll)
4A: Elkhart Central, Huntington North, Penn, Terre Haute North.
3A: Angola, Andrean, Carroll (Fort Wayne), Muncie Southside.
2A: Alexandria, Bremen, Maconaquah, Paoli.
A: Graceland Christian, Milan, Morgan Township, Tri-Central,
1998 STATE FINALISTS ALIVE IN THE SEMI-STATE FIELD (3)
Alexandria (Class 2A), Bloomfield (Class A), Lafayette Central Catholic (Class A).
FORMER STATE CHAMPIONS ALIVE IN THE SEMI-STATE FIELD (5)
Alexandria (1998, Class 2A), Bloomington South (1919 as Bloomington), Lafayette Central Catholic (1998, Class A), Madison (1950), Milan (1954).
SMALLEST SCHOOL IN THE SEMI-STATE FIELD
Graceland Christian -- 96 students.
LARGEST SCHOOL IN THE SEMI-STATE FIELD
North Central (Indianapolis) -- 3,228 students.
TOP CONFERENCES
2 Regional Champions
Hoosier Heartland -- Lafayette Central Catholic, Tri-Central.
Metropolitan -- North Central (Indianapolis), Terre Haute North.
Northeast Corner -- Angola, Westview.
Northern Indiana -- Elkhart Central, Penn.
Olympic -- Huntington North, Muncie Southside.
Pocket -- Gibson Southern, Tecumseh.
AGGREGATE SEMI-STATE FIELD RECORDS
4A: Lafayette Jefferson 70-26 (.729); Lawrence Central 83-14 (.855).
3A: Muncie Southside 65-31 (.677); Washington 85-9 (.904).
2A: Marion 69-26 (. 726); Southridge 87-10 (.896).
A: Kokomo 67-28 (.705); Greencastle 66-29 (.694).
REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP LEADERS
(Year of last title)
38 -- Lafayette Jefferson (1996).
34 -- Marion (1998).
33 -- Kokomo (1997).
32 -- Muncie Central (1994).
29 -- Anderson (1996).
27 -- Logansport (1974).
21 -- Evansville Central (1992), Richmond (1992).
20 -- Bedford (1974), Connersville (1989), Frankfort (1985).
19 -- Rushville (1979).
18 -- Vincennes Lincoln (1997).
17 -- Columbus North/Columbus (1993), Elkhart Central/Elkhart (1999), Washington (1983).
16 -- Martinsville (1990), New Castle (1997).
15 -- New Albany (1997).
ACTIVE REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP STREAKS
Two straight titles
Alexandria, Andrean, Bloomfield, Blue River Valley, Bremen, Elkhart Central, Graceland Christian, Lafayette Central Catholic, Madison, Paoli, Sullivan, Winchester.
SEMI-STATE CHAMPIONSHIP LEADERS
Semi-State competition began in 1936
(Year of last title)
13 -- Lafayette Jefferson (1996).
12 -- Marion (1998).
11 -- Anderson (1990), Muncie Central (1988).
8 -- New Albany (1996).
7 -- Kokomo (1997).
6 -- East Chicago Washington (1985), Gary Roosevelt (1991), Jeffersonville (1995).
5 -- Evansville Bosse (1982), Fort Wayne Central (1960), Indianapolis Attucks (1959).
SEMI-STATE REMATCHES
|
1999 Pairings |
1998 TOURNAMENT Score |
|
3A Madison vs. Sullivan at Washington (if both win first-round games) |
Madison 60, Sullivan 44 at Evansville Semi-State, first round
|
|
2A Paoli vs. Winchester at Southridge Semi-State (first round)
Alexandria vs. Bremen at Marion (if both win first-round games) |
Paoli 65, Winchester 54 at Indianapolis Semi-State
Alexandria 56, Bremen 54 at Fort Wayne Semi-State, first round
|
|
A Blue River Valley vs. Lafayette Central Catholic at Kokomo (if both win first-round games) |
Lafayette Central Catholic 69, Blue River Valley 57 at Marion Semi-State, championship
|
FIRST-TIME SECTIONAL CHAMPIONS (5)
4A:
None.3A: None.
2A: Evansville Mater Dei, Indianapolis Ritter.
A: Morgan Township, Southwestern (Shelbyville), Tecumseh.
SECTIONAL DROUGHT BREAKERS
(Last title)
Triton (1965), Bluffton (1977), North Montgomery (1984), Perry Meridian (1984), Angola (1985), Carroll (Fort Wayne) (1985), Milan (1985), North Vermillion (1987), Austin (1986), West Central (1987), West Lafayette (1989).
REPEAT SECTIONAL CHAMPIONS (23)
4A: Elkhart Central, LaPorte.
3A: Andrean, Franklin, Gibson Southern, Lebanon, Madison, Plymouth, Sullivan.
2A: Alexandria, Bremen, Maconaquah, Monrovia, Northwestern, Paoli, Switzerland County, Winchester.
A: Bloomfield, Blue River Valley, Graceland Christian, Lafayette Central Catholic, Tri-Central, Wapahani.
BEST RECORDS IN THE REGIONAL FIELD
(After sectional)
Lawrence North (24-1), Bloomington South (23-1), Plainfield (22-1).
LOSING RECORDS IN THE REGIONAL FIELD
(After sectional)
Bluffton (10-11), Hamilton (8-14), Heritage Hills (9-13), Milan (11-12), Morgan Township (11-12), North Montgomery (9-13), North Vermillion (10-12).
RANKED TEAMS ELIMINATED IN SECTIONAL
(18 of 40 teams in Associated Press polls)
4A
: Indianapolis Arlington, Marion, Pike, Warsaw.3A: Benton Central, Evansville Bosse, Indianapolis Cathedral, Kankakee Valley, Peru.
2A: Eastern (Bloomfield), Heritage, Perry Central, South Spencer, Shenandoah.
A: Attica, Jac-Cen-Del, Rossville, South Central (Union Mills), Union (Dugger).
FORMER STATE CHAMPIONS ALIVE AFTER SECTIONAL (11)
Alexandria, Bedford North Lawrence, Bloomington South, Franklin, Lafayette Central Catholic, Lawrence North, Lebanon, Madison, Milan, New Castle, Plymouth.
1998 REGIONAL CHAMPIONS ALIVE AFTER SECTIONAL (16)
Alexandria, Andrean, Bloomfield, Blue River Valley, Bremen, Elkhart Central, Graceland Christian, Lafayette Central Catholic, LaPorte, Loogootee, Madison, Northwestern, Paoli, Plymouth, Sullivan, Winchester.
TOP CONFERENCES
(By number of sectional champions)
Hoosier Heartland 3 (Lafayette Central Catholic, Mt. Vernon (Fortville), Tri-Central); Metropolitan 3 (Lawrence North, North Central (Indianapolis), Terre Haute North); Northeast Corner 3 (Angola, Hamilton, Westview); Olympic 3 (Harrison (West Lafayette), Huntington North, Muncie Southside).
Pocket 3 (Gibson Southern, Heritage Hills, Tecumseh); Allen County 2 (Bluffton, Leo); Conference Indiana 2; (Bloomington South, Perry Meridian); Duneland 2 (LaPorte, Merrillville); Hoosier Hills 2 (Bedford North Lawrence, Madison); Mid-Eastern 2 (Blue River Valley, Wapahani); Mid-Indiana 2 (Maconaquah, Northwestern); Mid-Southern 2 (Austin, Charlestown); Mid-State 2 (Franklin, Plainfield); Northeast Hoosier 2 (Bellmont, Carroll of Fort Wayne); Northern Indiana (Elkhart Central, Penn); Northern State (Bremen, Triton); Ohio River Valley (Milan, Switzerland County); Patoka Lake (Orleans, Paoli); Porter County (Boone Grove, Morgan Township); Sagamore (Lebanon, North Montgomery); Southern Indiana (Evansville Harrison, Evansville Mater Dei).
SMALLEST SECTIONAL CHAMPIONS
Graceland Christian (96 students), Barr-Reeve (173), Morgan Township (196).
LARGEST SECTIONAL CHAMPS
North Central of Indianapolis (3,228 students), Penn (2,928), Lawrence North (2,209).
ACTIVE SECTIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP STREAKS
(Through 1999 sectionals)
6 -- Plymouth.
5 -- Franklin.
4 -- LaPorte.
3 -- Plymouth, Winchester.
ALL-TIME SECTIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP LEADERS
(Year of last title)
67 -- Kokomo (1998), Vincennes Lincoln (1997).
63 -- Lafayette Jefferson (1996).
62 -- Marion (1998), Richmond (1996).
57 -- Connersville (1997).
56 -- Logansport (1996).
53 -- New Castle (1999).
50 -- Columbus North/Columbus (1997); Muncie Central (1994).
49 -- Anderson (1998).
46 -- Frankfort (1997).
45 -- Franklin (1999).
44 -- Rushville (1993), Seymour (1992), Valparaiso (1997).
40 -- Michigan City Elston (1995), New Albany (1997).
ALL-TIME SECTIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP STREAKS
29 -- Lafayette Jefferson (1944-72).
24 -- Michigan City Elston (1952-75).
22 -- Franklin (1918-39).
20 -- Vincennes Lincoln (1921-40).
17 -- Rushville (1925-41).
16 -- Muncie Central (1923-38), Muncie Central (1948-63), Connersville (1922-37).