Glenn Hoping Historic Run Continues At Semi-State
John Glenn High School boys basketball team will attempt to make history tomorrow.
The Falcons will try to win the school’s first Semi-State championship in program history.
Can they do it? Absolutely, but it won’t be easy.
First up, is a meeting against the 18-9 Delta Eagles at 10 a.m. in Elkhart’s North Side Gym.
Delta downed Centerville, Hamilton Heights and New Castle all by double digits to win its third sectional since 2019.
The Eagles captured their first Regional title by beating Peru, 54-47.
Keep in mind, three of Delta’s losses came to 4A Hoosier Heritage Conference opponents in New Palestine, Mt. Vernon and Greenfield-Central.
Delta coach Mark Detweiler is in his sixth season at the school and has a 112-38 record. He had prior stints at Union County and Randolph Southern.
The Eagles are led by 6-foot-3 junior Jackson Wors, who averages 14.3 points per game and 4.1 rebounds, 6-3 junior D’amare Hood (13.3 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 37 percent 3-point shooting) and 6-1 junior Jayden Furney (10.5 ppg, 3.6 rpg).
Other key contributors include junior Kaiden Bond (6.7 ppg) and senior Blake Jones (4.8 ppg, 2.3 apg).
It will be interesting to say the least how Glenn deals with Wors and Hood among others.
Like the Falcons, the Eagles get key contributions from a handful of players so focusing on one or two players isn’t a good strategy.
You know Delta’s focus will be trying to 6-4 senior Brycen Hannah, something no one in this postseason has been able to do.
Hannah averaged more than 20 points a game in Sectional and Regional. His supporting cast was good, too, especially junior Joe Chrapliway (13.3 ppg in the postseason) and classmate Chase Miller (11 ppg). Senior Noah Dreibelbeis, one of Glenn’s defensive stoppers, can be a threat on the offensive end (he had 14 points in the Sectional upset over No. 10 Tippy Valley). Junior Carson Krueger must be accounted for as well as he has had a knack for burying some critical 3-pointers during Glenn’s run. Juniors Joey Shoue and Ty Larkin are key, too.
Glenn coach Travis Hannah would love nothing better than to lead his team to Indianapolis’ Gainbridge Fieldhouse and play for another state championship. Hannah, who has a 294-249 record, including 201-160 at Glenn, guided Oregon-Davis to the state championship in 2007.
The Glenn-Delta game has all the makings of being one of the most competitive Semi-State games you will find. Don’t be surprised if this comes down to a last-second shot.
Not many people are expecting the second game of the Elkhart Semi-State to be close, but don’t tell Fort Wayne Dwenger that.
Remember anything can happen in a single-elimination tournament.
Northwood is 25-2 and No. 1 in the state in Class 3A and fifth overall in the state (all classes).
Dwenger comes in with a .500 record (13-13)
With that being said, the Dwenger Saints hope to create some Hoosier Hysteria of their own and shock the state by knocking off top-dog Northwood.
Dwenger won its Sectional by beating Angola, Heritage and Fort Wayne Concordia. It was the Saints first Sectional victory in eight years. They followed those three victories up by blowing out Twin Lakes (65-43) to win the Regional.
Dwenger’s best player is 6-8 senior Preston Ross (14.9 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 61 percent FG). Classmate Sam Campbell (11.1 ppg, 3.9 apg, 35 percent 3-pointers) is good, too.
Dwenger also has another 6-8 player in junior Caleb Lehrman (10.2 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 65 percent FG). Plus, there’s senior Camren Quinlan (8.1 ppg, 43 percent 3-pointers).
Two coaching veterans will be roaming the sideline in this one.
Dwenger boss Matt Kostoff is in his 24th season and has a 294-248 record, leading the Saints to Regional titles in 2014 and ’15.
NorthWood’s Aaron Wolfe is in his 16th season at school and has a 278-110 mark. He has won ninth Sectional championships and one Regional. Wolfe played for IU legend Steve Alford at Manchester College.
Dwenger’s size could cause NorthWood issues, but the Panthers are really rolling.
NorthWood’s lone losses this season have come against defending 3A champion Beech Grove and to Class 4A No. 1 Ben Davis in the Hall of Fame Classic.
The Panthers have won 17 straight games, not losing in the 2023 calendar year.
They advanced to the Semi-State thanks to lopsided wins over Wawasee, Fairfield and West Noble in the Sectional, and Lake Station in the Regional – NorthWood’s first regional title since 2007 and second overall.
The closest game NorthWood has had this postseason has been by 26 points.
The Panthers are led by 6-3 senior Cade Brenner (17.7 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 1.0 spg, 38.3 percent 3-pointers) and 6-6 senior Ian Raasch (15.4 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 66.4 percent FG. They also have 6-7sophomore Tyler Raasch (9.3 ppg, 6.6 rpg), Ethan Wolfe (7.2 ppg, 3.7 apg, 39.5 percent 3-pointers) and Brock Bontrager (4.8 ppg, 4.5 rpg).
Keep in mind, Dwenger has played 10 of its 26 games against 4A teams this season, going 4-6. Although the Saints have certainly been tested throughout the season, it’s hard to see how they stay within 10 points of might NorthWood.
If Glenn is fortunate enough to get by Delta, it will meet the winner of the Northwood/Dwenger game at 8 p.m. tomorrow in Elkhart’s North Side Gym.
No, doubt Glenn will be the prohibitive underdog as few will pick the Falcons to win the Semi-State, but what else is new?
They have thrived in the underdog role this postseason and you know they won’t go down easily.
MAX 98.3 FM WYMR is looking forward to yet another terrific day of Indiana high school basketball tomorrow and we’ve got you covered!
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