BASKETBALL SEMI-STATE FIELDS ANNOUNCED

Going along with the new format for the state basketball tournaments, the IHSAA announced the pairings for the upcoming basketball semi-states Sunday with a quick reveal show, much like the way the brackets were announced for the girls’ tournament in February.

Highlighting the matchups from a local perspective is the showdown between Fort Wayne Wayne and Kokomo in the morning 4A game at the Wolves Den in Michigan City. The 21-4 Generals, darlings of the SAC, will play the Wildkats at 10 a.m. (Central Time) and the winner will await the noon game between Penn and Hammond Central.

Another SAC team, Bishop Dwenger, will also be competing, but they face a tall task in the 3A Semi-State at North Side Gymnasium in Elkhart as they take on the seemingly unstoppable NorthWood Panthers in the noon semifinal.

The winners of the respective semi-states will play in the State Finals on March 25th at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in downtown Indianapolis.

Class 4A at Michigan City (Wolves Den) Fort Wayne Wayne (21-4) vs. Kokomo (22-4) 11:00 a.m.

Penn (27-1) vs. Hammond Central (26-1) 1:00 p.m.

Championship 8:30 p.m.

Class 3A at Elkhart (North Side Gymnasium) Delta (18-9) vs. John Glenn (17-10) 10:00 a.m.

NorthWood (25-2) vs. Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger (13-13) Noon Championship 8:00 p.m.

Class 2A at Logansport (Berry Bowl) Gary 21st Century (21-5) vs. Fort Wayne Blackhawk Christian (24-3) 10:00 a.m. Wapahani (25-1) vs. Lewis Cass (19-7) Noon Championship 8:00 p.m.

Class 1A at Lafayette Jeff Southwood (13-12) vs. Fountain Central (234) 10:00 a.m.

Marquette Catholic (20-7) vs. Kouts (17-9) Noon

Championship 8:00 p.m.

Class 4A at New Castle (New Castle Fieldhouse) Brownsburg (21-4) vs. Jennings (24-2) 10:00 a.m.

Ben Davis (30-0) vs. Bloomington North (195) Noon

Championship 8:00 p.m.

Class 3A at Seymour

Scottsburg (21-5) vs. North Daviess (24-5) 10:00 a.m.

Guerin Catholic (18-8) vs. Beech Grove (17-6) Noon

Championship 8:00 p.m.

Class 2A at Southport Brownstown Central (23-4) vs. Indianapolis Scecina (18-6) 10:00 a.m.

Parke Heritage (19-9) vs. Linton-Stockton (271) Noon

Championship 8:00 p.m.

Class 1A at Washington (Hatchet House) Indianapolis Lutheran (17-7) vs. Loogootee (20-7) 10:00 a.m.

Jac-Cen-Del (18-9) vs. Rock Creek (11-14) Noon

Championship 8:00 p.m.

Photo by Dane Fuelling Bellmont 8th grader Blake Christner showed plenty of guts Tuesday night at the NE8MS Tourney at New Haven, coming from behind to win two matches as the Braves remained in the hunt for the team title, just 10 points behind East Noble and just a half point behind Indian Springs. The Braves put five wrestlers into the championship bouts: Jacob Binegar (85), Ben Mills (95), Charlie Faurote (110), Gabe Myers (117) and Henry Faurote (125). The tournament concludes with a second session Thursday.

Photo by Dane Fuelling South Adams’ Kapri Bixler had a standout performance in the qualifiers for the Indoor State meet this Saturday at PFW. Running the 60M hurdles in the Bulldog Classic, Bixler finished 11th out of 56 girls in that event, with a time of 10.38 seconds. Bixler also ran well in the 60M dash as the Starfires attempted to get warmed up for the regular outdoor track season, set to kick off after Spring Break.

The Bishop Dwenger Saints are one of two SAC teams still alive in this year’s tournament.