SMALL AND MEDIUM SCHOOL REGIONAL ROUND-UP
By: Coach Robert Swank
First here are the raw statistics. Out of the 80 boys teams advancing to semi state action, 5 were small schools, 20 were medium schools and 55 were large schools. Among the 80 girls teams, 6 were small schools, 14 were medium schools and 60 were large schools. The boys and girls total of 11 teams qualifying for the semi state is the highest total since I have been doing small school polls. (7 years).
Two medium schools were regional champions in both the boys and girls. Evansville Memorial took both titles at the Pike Central Regional while Culver Academies pulled off the double win at their own Regional. The Culver Regional was dominated by small and medium schools as all 10 (5 boys and 5 girls) advancing spots were taken by either a small or a medium school. Other medium schools that advanced both a boy’s and a girl’s team were: New Prairie, Oak Hill, West Noble, West Lafayette, Batesville, Silver Creek and Heritage Hills.
While none of the small schools took a regional title, one school, Perry Central, under Coach Jason Barnett’s guidance, was able to advance both their boys and girls teams to the semi state.
SMALL SCHOOL BOYS
Five small schools boy’s teams advanced to the semi state. The small school number 1 ranked Perry Central Commodores took 2nd at Crawford County. The number 3 ranked Northfield Norsemen, under HALL OF FAME coach Dick Leming also took a second. (at Culver)
Both number 5 ranked Barr Reeve (at Pike Central) and number 7 ranked Rossville (at Harrison) took thirds in regional action.
Northeastern rounded out the small school semi state qualifiers with a 5th at Rushville.
While I would love to have several of them prove me wrong, most likely the only team with a realistic shot of competing at LaVern Gibson on Saturday is Perry Central.
SMALL SCHOOL GIRLS
Six small school girl’s teams will run at a semi state.
Number 2 ranked Perry Central had the highest regional finish with a second at Crawford County.
Four schools had regional third place finishes. They were: number 1 ranked Tri County (at Harrison), number 4 ranked Dubois (at Crawford County), Number 6 ranked South Knox (at Pike Central), and number 9 ranked Eastern (Greentown) at Culver.
Number 8 ranked Tri also qualified with a fifth at Rushville.
It would take an upset for any of these teams to advance to the state meet.
MEDIUM SCHOOL BOYS
Four medium schools took regional titles. They were: Number 2 ranked North Harrison (at Crawford County), Number 3 ranked West Lafayette (at Harrison), number 5 ranked Culver Academy (at Culver), and number 7 ranked Evansville Memorial (at Pike Central).
Number 1 ranked SB St. Joseph’s took a second (at Elkhart Central), while number 8 ranked Maconaquah took a third at (Culver).
Regional fourths went to: number 14 Yorktown (at Delta), number 6 Rensselaer (at New Prairie), number 11 Western (at Culver), number 9 Batesville (at Greensburg), Benton Central (at Harrison) and Mater Dei (at Pike Central)
Regional fifths went to: number 3 West Noble (at West Noble), number 9 New Prairie (at New Prairie), Brown County (at Brown County), Oak Hill (at Culver) Norwell (at Marion), Silver Creek (at Bedford) and Heritage Hills (at Crawford County).
MEDIUM SCHOOL GIRLS
Three schools took The Regional title, they were: Culver (at Culver), Evansville Memorial (at Pike Central), and Heritage Hills (at Crawford County)
Seconds went to: West Lafayette (at Harrison), West Noble (at West Noble), and Manchester (at Culver)
Fourths were taken by: Northwestern (at Culver), South Adams (at Marion), Concordia (at West Noble) and Silver Creek (at Bedford)
The following teams took fifths: New Prairie (at New Prairie), Oak Hill (at Culver), Batesville (at Greensburg) and Brownstown Central (at Bedford)