Captivating high school basketball matchups Saturday at Hinkle Fieldhouse

In the state of Indiana, basketball is king. Amidst the Big Ten Tournament that has invaded downtown Indianapolis, the Indiana high school regionals will tip-off Saturday morning with the most intriguing matchup at Hinkle Fieldhouse.

In the first game (beginning at 10 a.m.), No. 2 North Central meets No. 7 Pike for the third time of the year. The Panthers won the first matchup 87-69 at Pike but the Red Devils responded with a 84-77 county win. This matchup will be completely different than the previous two due to the absence of North Central’s best player, D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera.

As I previously posted, Smith-Rivera will serve a one-game suspension for throwing a punch in last Friday’s win over Lawrence North. Central Florida commit Michael Chandler initiated the whole ordeal with Tim Bass. Chandler & Bass were ejected and penalties were not handed out until this week. Things escalated and it’s all history now.

North Central has the talent to still overcome the loss of DSR. He leads the team with averaging 25.2 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game. Ronnie Johnson has improved by leaps-and-bounds this year. And sophomore Darius Latham is the most underrated player on the team. Build like a football player, it’s imperative for Latham to be a beast on the glass and finish at the rack. This will be a tremendous challenge for North Central but the right move to suspend DSR.

As for Pike, I’m still not sold on Kentucky-signee Marquis Teague. Until I see changes made on his front, he retains the title as the “most selfish high school basketball player of all-time.” Yes I said it before and I’ll say it again. He doesn’t posses winning qualities that I want in a player. That’s part of the reason Indiana has struggled these last few years—not all players are winners.

Yeah, I just turned this into a Teague rant, but he finally got his team out of sectionals. What Kentucky and scouts are banking on is potential. And it may be there, with the leadership of Coach Calipari.

I keep going back and fourth on the result. My head says North Central but my heart says Pike. North Central is more experienced team and posses the championship mentality.

At noon, No. 5 Hamilton Southeastern plays sixth-ranked Center Grove in what will be the more intriguing matchup. The Royals are led by junior stud Gary Harris who ultimately has his choice of college—with Indiana, Louisville and Michigan State atop his list currently. Harris provides a strong combination of basketball skills, athleticism and the “want-to.” Averaging 18.3 points and 5 rebounds a game, Harris reminds me of former NC & IU star Eric Gordon. With the exception of his physique, Harris is strong from long range and when driving the ball strong to the hoop.

I like HSE in this one by ten. Center Grove has had some quality wins on the season but does not have the athleticism or fire-power to contend with HSE. Should North Central advance in the early round, it will be a star-studded evening championship game. NC won a December meeting by just two on the road.

This is the best time of year. Basketball during the day, and basketball on at night—24/7. High school basketball is pure hard work and for the love of the game. Too often at the professional level, athletes lose the joy of the game and are mainly in it for the money (or tattoos if you’re Ohio State). Anything can happen—it’s these times when a player and team create history and prove their worthiness against their peers. Head out to Hinkle or one of the other enticing regional sites and enjoy the purity of high school basketball.