IHSAA boys basketball: Semi-state previews for Delta, Monroe Central and Wapahani
Just 32 high school boys basketball teams in the state of Indiana are still alive in the postseason. After this weekend's semi-state tournaments, only the eight state finalists will be left standing.
Three East Central Indiana teams — Delta, Monroe Central and Wapahani — won regional titles to qualify for semi-states. Delta (17-7) will play in the Class 3A North bracket at Logansport, Wapahani (26-1) will play in the Class 2A North bracket at Michigan City, while Monroe Central (19-6) will play in the Class 1A North bracket at Lafayette Jefferson.
Winners from Saturday's early games will advance to their respective semi-state championships, which will all be played Saturday at 8 p.m. ET.
Here's a quick preview for all three Muncie-area teams seeking state championship berths:
Delta Eagles
- Opponent: East Chicago Central (20-8)
- When: Saturday, March 22, noon ET
- Where: Logansport High School
- Key Players: Bronson Edwards (senior), Jordan Furney (senior), Lucas Bragg (junior)
- Coach: Mark Detweiler
Delta won its third consecutive regional title with a 45-43 upset victory over FW Blackhawk Christian. The Braves had won state titles at the 1A level in 2019 and the 2A level in 2021 and 2023, but the Eagles ended their first season in Class 3A in the regional round. Edwards powered Delta to victory with 19 points, including the game-winner with two seconds to go.
The Eagles will take on East Chicago Central in the first game of the Class 3A North bracket in a matchup with quite the disparity in coaching experience. Now in his 26th season, Detweiler has been a head coach longer than East Chicago Central coach Alaa Mroueh, 24, has been alive.
East Chicago Central (20-8) is led by senior Dominique Murphy, a 3-star recruit and the 13th-ranked player in the state for the Class of 2025 by 247sports. It will be Delta's second game in a row facing one of the state's top seniors, as Blackhawk Christian featured 3-star Wright State commit Kellen Pickett. The Eagles held Pickett to just 11 points and should give Murphy similar defensive attention on Saturday.
Wapahani Raiders
- Opponent: Gary 21st Century (20-6)
- When: Saturday, March 22, 10 a.m. ET
- Where: Michigan City High School
- Key Players: Camden Bell (junior); Nate Luce (senior); Brock Zickgraf (senior)
- Coach: Matt Luce
Before 2023, Wapahani had never won a regional title. After last weekend's 53-45 comeback win over Western Boone, the Raiders have won three straight regionals and are seeking a second consecutive appearance in the 2A state championship.
Getting back to Gainbridge won't be an easy task for Wapahani. First, the Raiders will have to make the longest drive among all 32 teams left standing to get to their site — nearly 3-and-a-half hours from Selma to Michigan City. Then, Wapahani will take on Gary 21st Century Charter School, the favorites to win the 2A state title, in the first round. It should be a fast-paced, high-scoring game between two fast-paced, high-scoring teams.
The Cougars are led by junior guard Terrence Hayes Jr., who averages 20.7 points per game and holds multiple college offers. Wapahani plays elite team defense that can frustrate any guard, but they haven't seen one quite like Hayes Jr. this season.
Monroe Central Golden Bears
- Opponent: Kouts (23-4)
- When: Saturday, March 22, 10 a.m. ET
- Where: Jefferson High School (Lafayette)
- Key Players: Easton Foster (senior), Ta'Shaun Beatty (junior), Justus Ullom (senior)
- Coach: Brian Klein
Unlike Delta and Wapahani, it had been a while since Monroe Central last won a regional title — 15 years, to be exact. The Golden Bears won their first regional since 2010 with a 66-58 win over Daleville and just the second in school history.
After 16 years coaching Blue River Valley, Klein is a regional champion for the first time as a head coach. He has credited the Golden Bears' success with the buy-in he has gotten from his senior class, particularly Foster, one of the top scorers in Class 1A averaging 21.5 PPG, and Ullom, a high-energy, defensive spark plug who can also get hot from behind the arc.
Monroe Central has also seen good play from Beatty, a Muncie Central transfer who took some time to develop chemistry within the lineup but has come on strong in recent weeks.
Monroe Central will face a tough challenge in Kouts. The Mustangs are regional champions for the second time in the last three years and are the highest-scoring team in the 1A North bracket, averaging 69.1 PPG. The Mustangs run a fast-break, high-tempo-oriented offense led by junior guard Lucas Kleckner, who leads the team with 17.8 PPG and shoots 48% from deep.
Contact Cade Hampton via email at cbhampton@muncie.gannett.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @CadeHamp10.
This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: IHSAA basketball semi-states previews: Delta, Monroe Central, Wapahani
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