By JOSH SIGLER
Jeff Hodson has been a head basketball coach at the prep level for 19 years.
To add to that, he has led the Carroll Cougars to three-straight sectional titles, the first three in the program’s history.
To Hodson, though, all of the coaching know-how and tournament experience in the world still couldn’t keep he and his Cougars from entering Saturday’s Class 2A Tipton Regional with a restless excitement.
“We’re going to be nervous going in there with the huge crowd — and that’s normal,” Hodson said. “But, hopefully, once the jump ball goes up, the nerves are out and we’re playing the game of basketball. Hopefully, with being there before, we won’t be as intimidated by the large crowds and loud noises as some of the other teams.”
Carroll (13-10) is looking for its first regional win. Awaiting the Cougars in the opening round Saturday is a Guerin Catholic squad that is riding a hot streak into the regional, winning 10 straight, including a 66-53 victory over No. 4 Tipton last Saturday in the Sectional 40 championship game at Taylor.
The Golden Eagles (14-10) present a contrasting style of play when compared to Carroll.
With its tallest player standing at 6-foot-4, Guerin’s strength lies on the perimeter, led by senior Jordan Rapp, who averages 18.7 points a game. He scored 19 points to lead the Golden Eagles to the upset of Tipton.
Junior forward Danny Town (10 ppg) adds a double-figure offensive threat for Guerin, while sophomores Mitchel Paige (9.2 ppg) and Riley Rapp (8.7 ppg) and junior Like Hacherl (8.2 ppg) all add scoring depth.
Noah Allen (5-foot-10, 12.1 ppg) and Kyle Geheb (6-3, 10.6 ppg, 6 rpg) lead the Cougars in scoring, but front court players Eric Miller (6-5, 8.7 ppg), Riley Johnson (6-11, 7.3 ppg) and Seth Johnson (6-8, 7 ppg) all present formidable threats in the paint.
“They’re guard oriented, where our lineup is 6-11, 6-8, 6-5,” Hodson said. “It boils down to who can take advantage of their advantage. We have the size, and if we can take advantage of that, I think we’ll be all right. On the same token, we have to contain their outside shooting, because their guards are very, very good.
“We don’t need a run-and-gun pace. We need to try to slow it down and pound it inside.”
Carroll and Guerin are slated to tip off at noon. Southwood and No. 8 Fort Wayne Bishop Luers will kick off the day’s festivities at 10 a.m. The championship is set for 8 p.m. that night.
Southwood is enjoying its best season in school history, claiming the program’s first conference title before grabbing its first sectional crown in 10 years.
The Knights (16-6) are led by three seniors, 6-7 center Parker Stouffer (20.2 ppg, 8.3 rpg), 6-4 swingman Spencer Krhin (19.9 ppg, 6.6 rpg), and 6-2 guard Adam Dubuque (11.5 ppg, 4.3 apg).
Luers (14-9), the two-time defending state champion in 2A, is led by Mr. Basketball front-runner Deshaun Thomas, an Ohio State recruit who enters the regional round averaging 31.7 points and 15.7 boards per outing.
Thomas currently stands at 2,984 career points, and needs 36 to pass Marion Pierce (3,019) for second place on the IHSAA’s all-time scoring list. Damon Bailey (3,134 points) holds the all-time scoring record.
Evan Blackmon (14.6 ppg) and Kenny Mullen (11.8 ppg, 7.5 apg) are the second and third options for Luers, which plays the toughest schedule in 2A according to the Sagarin Ratings.
