BB: Week 18 big state finals games

By E. Shawn Aylsworth
Managing Editor

Here is a Sagarin power ratings-based preview of the 100th Annual IHSAA Boys Basketball State Finals to be played March 27 at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis via the pertinent numbers taken from John Harrell’s Indiana high school basketball site (rankings are from the final regular-season Associated Press polls):

Saturday, March 27
Four biggies …

CLASS A
#1 Bowman Academy (23-1) vs. #2 Barr-Reeve (24-3)
GAME TIME: 10:30 AM ET, Conseco Fieldhouse.
COACHES: Marvin Rea, 49-12 in 3rd year at Bowman Academy. Bryan Hughes, 300-125 in 18th year at Barr-Reeve, 413-173 in 25th year overall.
SAGARIN RATINGS: Bowman Academy, 90.25, 13th overall, 1st in Class 1A. Barr-Reeve, 78.16, 76th overall, 3rd in Class 1A.
LAST OUTING: Bowman Academy defeated Monroe Central, 89-79, Mar. 20. Barr-Reeve defeated North Central (Farmersburg), 59-48, Mar. 20.
VS. COMMON FOES: None.
OPPONENTS’ RECORDS: Bowman Academy 214-168, Barr-Reeve 337-295.
SERIES LAST 15 YEARS: No meetings.

CLASS 2A
#2 Wheeler (26-1) vs. Park Tudor (15-10)
GAME TIME: 12:45 PM ET, Conseco Fieldhouse.
COACHES: Mike Jones, 115-28 in 6th year at Wheeler. Ed Schilling, 15-10 in 1st year at Park Tudor.
SAGARIN RATINGS: Wheeler, 85.54, 30th overall, 2nd in Class 2A. Park Tudor, 75.47, 108th overall, 11th in Class 2A.
LAST OUTING: Wheeler defeated Southwood, 68-61, Mar. 20. Park Tudor defeated Forest Park, 47-45, 4 overtimes, Mar. 20.
VS. COMMON FOES: None.
OPPONENTS’ RECORDS: Wheeler 305-286, Park Tudor 319-242.
SERIES LAST 15 YEARS: No meetings.

CLASS 3A
#5 Gary Wallace (19-4) vs. #6 Washington (22-3)
GAME TIME: 6:00 PM ET, Conseco Fieldhouse (WAMW, 107.9 FM).
COACHES: Renaldo Thomas, 55-56 in 5th year at Gary Wallace. Gene Miiller, 104-18 in 5th year at Washington, 572-246 in 35th year overall.
SAGARIN RATINGS: Gary Wallace, 93.84, 3rd overall, 1st in Class 3A. Washington, 88.91, 19th overall, 4th in Class 3A.
LAST OUTING: Gary Wallace defeated Fort Wayne Elmhurst, 57-47, Mar. 20. Washington defeated Danville, 57-38, Mar. 20.
VS. COMMON FOES: None.
OPPONENTS’ RECORDS: Gary Wallace 154-133, Washington 353-240.
SERIES LAST 15 YEARS: Washington, 1-0.
LAST MEETING: Washington, 61-46, Dec. 31, 2003.

CLASS 4A
#6 Warsaw (23-2) vs. #3 North Central (Indianapolis) (24-3)
GAME TIME: 8:45 PM ET, Conseco Fieldhouse (WJEL, 89.3 FM).
COACHES: Doug Ogle, 120-59 in 8th year at Warsaw. Doug Mitchell, 286-124 in 17th year at North Central (Indianapolis).
SAGARIN RATINGS: North Central (Indianapolis), 100.07, 1st overall, 1st in Class 4A. Warsaw, 92.8, 4th overall, 3rd in Class 4A.
LAST OUTING: Warsaw defeated Carroll (Fort Wayne), 58-53, Mar. 20. North Central (Indianapolis) defeated Jeffersonville, 82-77, Mar. 20.
VS. COMMON FOES: Warsaw 0-1. North Central (Indianapolis) 1-0.
OPPONENTS’ RECORDS: Warsaw 353-225, North Central (Indianapolis) 407-211.
SERIES LAST 15 YEARS: Tied, 2-2.
LAST MEETING: North Central (Indianapolis), 86-69, Feb. 21, 1998.