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INDIANAPOLIS - A total of 108 boys’ state championship games have been played since the introduction of class basketball.

Joe Bradburn coached in the third one. Clint Swan the 11th.

Now, after lengthy Finals’ hiatuses from both men, the two chase the same prize Saturday night when Mt. Vernon (27-3) plays Crown Point (25-1) in the Class 4A championship game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

“We go back a long way because of that first meeting,” said Swan, referring to Bradburn’s Yorktown ball club knocking off Swan’s Andrean team, 60-50, in a 3A semistate semifinal in 1998, the first season of the current four-class setup.

“I’ve always admired Joe. I’ve always appreciated how he’s gone about his business, and what a great coach he is. I think he and I have kind of taken a similar path. We got here early in our careers, and then there was this long gap in-between. Maybe he and I appreciate it a little more.”

Yorktown ultimately lost to Cathedral, 72-47, in the first 3A final, which took place inside the spacious confines of the RCA Dome. Two years later, Andrean came up short against Brebeuf Jesuit, 72-56, in the 3A title matchup inside the brand new Conseco (now Gainbridge) Fieldhouse.

By late Saturday evening, one of these longtime coaches, who between them have netted a total of 778 victories, will have claimed his first state championship.

“This is very special. You have teams that you hope get to this point, but you understand it takes togetherness and some breaks along the way,” said Bradburn. “I have a group of young men that do deserve to be here.
“They come to practice every day, they do what is asked of them. Just fun guys to work with every day.”

The majority of Mt. Vernon-related dialogue centers around Indiana Mr. Basketball hopeful Luke Ertel, a 6-3 senior lefthander averaging 24.4 points, 9.9 rebounds and 6.7 assists a game. The future Purdue Boilermaker shoots at a .403 clip from behind the 3-point arc and .884 from the free throw line.

Down low, Mt. Vernon features 6-8 junior forward Max Vise, who scores 14.2 points a contest and grabs 5.5 boards. Others playing their roles well are 6-4 senior forward Jack Guerre (8 ppg), 6-3 senior forward Jamaree Collins (5.8), 5-8 junior guard Owen Daugherty (5.8), 6-foot junior guard Ben Schaeffer (3.6) and 6-1 senior forward Brady Webber (3.0).

The Class 4A State Championship featuring Mt. Vernon (Fortville) (27-3) and Crown Point (25-1) will stream via PPV on IHSAAtv.org this Saturday at approx. 8:15 pm ET / 7:15 pm CT!

State championship games typically aren’t rematches, but this one is.

Two days prior to Christmas, Crown Point defeated the Marauders in the championship game at the Hall of Fame Classic in New Castle, 60-56.

Don’t be surprised in what ensues inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse packs the same drama. After all, both squads have been toughened by last season’s deep tournament runs.

Mt. Vernon advanced to semistate, but fell short against eventual 4A state champion Jeffersonville, 63-59, in the semifinal round. Crown Point went a step further, dropping a 73-48 decision to Fishers in the final of the north semistate.

“I think this is a really good group because everybody really knows their role. Everybody has bought in, and everybody knows what it takes to win,” said Vise. “We were in a similar situation last year, and this year, just being able to get over that hump, we know what we need to do to accomplish that goal.”

The lone blemish on Crown Point’s record is its 74-60 loss to Gary 21st Century on January 31. The Bulldogs have since rattled off 11 consecutive wins, defeating their five tournament opponents by an average score of 66 to 40. Only Crown Point’s 57-52 win against Lake Central in sectional action contained any suspense down the stretch.

Dikembe Shaw, a 6-7 senior forward committed to play at UIC (Illinois Chicago), is the Bulldogs’ leader in scoring (17.1) and rebounding (5.9).

Mason Darrell, a 6-2 senior guard, contributes 13.5 a game, while 5-9 senior guard Kingston Rhodes is at 10.4. Sophomore guard MJ Wilson (8.5), senior guard Kaiden Rhodes (5.4), 6-7 junior forward Cooper Malaski (5.0) and junior guard Reid Kaegi (3.8) factor into the success, as well.

“We have a special group of guys all the way from JV to varsity,” said Kingston Rhodes. “Our chemistry is so close both on and off the court. We get along, we do our thing together, and I think that’s what got us here.”