Marion County Tournament Preview

There might not be a more competitive week in Indiana high school basketball than the Marion County Tournament. Featuring 16 teams ranging from large 4A schools to 1A squads, talent is definitely not going to be lacking in gyms around the Indianapolis area.  Our preview looks at each team's top players, their matchups, and chances to take home the title on Saturday night.

Lawrence North
Top Trio: Pat Bacon, Jaylen McKay, Kevin Easley
Coming off a win over conference foe Warren Central and putting up 98 points on Tech, Jack Keefer's group should not be lacking in confidence. Pat Bacon has taken his game to another level this year, and Jaylen McKay is one of the better defensive guards in the area. Freshmen Kevin Easley and Antwaan Cushingberry play more poised than their grade would suggest. They face a tough North Central team in the opening round, but Lawrence North definitely has the tools to be cutting down the nets Saturday night.

North Central
Top Trio: Kris Wilkes, Wes Stowers, Tyrie Johnson
North Central started the year off strong before falling Friday night to Ben Davis by a point. When their press is active and generating steals, there might not be a more dangerous team in the state. Wes Stowers brings experience at the point guard position, while Wilkes and Johnson are as athletic a wing tandem as you can find. Their game against Lawrence North could be the best game of the tournament. Doug Mitchell has been here before as a coach, and it would shock no one if the Panthers wound up winning the whole thing.

Lawrence Central
Top Trio: Kyle Guy, Mekhi Biffle, Chris King
Al Gooden's first year at Lawrence Central hasn't gone as most would have expected, but the 3-9 Bruins could do a lot to salvage their season by making a run this week. The Bear aren't lacking in backcourt talent as they have Virgina pledge junior Kyle Guy alongside fellow classmates Mekhi Biffle and Chris King. Their weakness is size and rebounding, but their first round matchup against Roncalli shouldn't pose those problems. Making it to Friday night at Southport would be a quality week for LC.

Brebeuf Jesuit
Top Trio: Andrew Terrell, Aaron Banks, Mason Grout
First year coach Todd Howard faces an uphill battle in his first Marion County Tourney, but he'll be fighting that battle with veterans Andrew Terrell and Aaron Banks. Junior Mason Grout gives the Braves a shooter from behind the arc. While not the most talented team in the field, Brebeuf will have toughness and discipline. They could get past Speedway in the first round, but advancing to Friday night could be a tall task for the Braves.

Pike
Top Trio: Justin Thomas, Justin Roberts, Tahjai Teague
Pike has the firepower to claim the Marion County title, with Ball State signee Tahjai Teague and the two headed Justin backcourt of Thomas and Roberts.  They have outside shooting in Jeff White and Dejoin Shelton, but may lack in post play, which could spell trouble in a potential semifinal matchup with Southport or Park Tudor. Bill Zych returns much of his regional finalist team from last year, and winning the Marion County Tournament could be a good stepping stone for another March run for the Red Devils.

Speedway
Top Duo: Anthony Jones, Shannon Hall
Speedway is one of the smaller schools in this tournament, and the team from the west side looks to be a bit outgunned. Senior wing Anthony Jones is capable of going for 30 on any given night, and Shannon Hall plays much bigger than his 6'2 frame. But the Sparkplugs are struggling, having lost four of their last five coming into this week. A win over Brebeuf would be a minor upset, and it's tough seeing Speedway playing past Wednesday night.

Ben Davis
Top Trio: Brennan Gillis, DeShon Tate, Tylor Shane
Ben Davis is getting Northern Kentucky commit Brennan Gillis back from injury, and has already beaten some of the tournament favorites this season. Mark James gets the best out of his kids, and with a possible four games in five days, a week prepared team can easily beat a more talented one. DeShon Tate is capable of putting this team on his back on any given night. While they may not be the sexiest pick, Ben Davis is a serious contender to come out of the week as champions.

Decatur Central
Top Trio: CB Bennett, Antoine Divine, Damani McEntire
Decatur Central Gets a home game in round one, which would be nice if they weren't winless at home this year, and the opponent wasn't Class 4A #1 Southport. Coach Joe Preda simply doesn't have the horses to make much noise this week. CB Bennett and Antoine Divine will do all they can, but it would take a major upset for them to get by Southport on Tuesday.

Park Tudor
Top Trio: Bryce Moore, Evan Frank, Jaren Jackson
Seniors Bryce Moore, Evan Frank, and Dwayne Gibson have won a lot of games for Park Tudor, including last year's Marion County Tournament, and their experience plus a talented sophomore pairing of Kobe Webster and Jaren Jackson make Park Tudor a formidable opponent for anyone in the field this week. They travel to the south side for a date with Beech Grove Tuesday, and a win would mean most likely Southport on Wednesday evening. If the Panthers are able to get to the weekend, a repeat would not be out of the question.

Warren Central
Top Trio: Djimon Henson, CJ Hardaway, Trequan Shivey
Last year's runner up has a different look this season, thanks to the graduation of frontcourt standouts Jordan Garnett and Jaraan Lands. Back though is junior guard Djimon Henson, who has really stepped up as a main weapon this year. Joining him in the backcourt is senior CJ Hardaway, while undersized post Paul Minor packs a wallop in a 6'4 frame. Sophomore Trequan Shivey has given Warren Centranl an added boost this year as well. They draw a home match against Perry Meridian, which they would be favored in. Their Wednesday game would be the winner of Lawrence North and North Central, a game which Warren would be the underdogs. While a weekend game isn't out of the question, it would come as a bit of a surprise.

Perry Meridian
Top Trio: Dylan Windler, Dusty Baird, Devin Parrish
The Falcons have Belmont signee Dylan Windler, and the 6'6 forward can do a little bit of everything on the floor. What they don't have is name recognition beyond Windler, and much of their success comes on how well Windler plays.  They could be one and done after a trip to Warren Central on Tuesday, and anything beyond Wednesday night would be a tremendous success.

Franklin Central
Top Trio: Marcus Burk, Grant Pedigo, Matt Anderson
Junior guard Marcus Burk is the main weapon for the Flashes, but Pedigo and Anderson are capable players as well. What Franklin Central doesn't have is a ton of depth. Their opponent in the first round is Pike, who will test the limits of the Franklin Central roster. Burk is a powerful guard and Anderson is a physical presence inside, but the sheer talent of Pike will likely prevent the Flashes from advancing this year.

Beech Grove
Top Trio: Marcus Rush, Jordan Boyd, Chase Andries
The Hornets come in having lost seven of their last eight, and have scored over 50 points in just four of those eight games. Offense is an issue for Matt English's squad, and having to keep pace with Park Tudor is another issue entirely. Sophomores Boyd and Andries give them a nice young duo to build on, but they look to be one and done in this year's tournament.

Roncalli
Top Trio: Jimmy King, Max Clifford, Danny Annee
King has been nothing short of spectacular this year, averaging 27 points a game and taking the opponent's best shot night in and night out. When double teams come his way, shooting guard Max Clifford can make teams pay from deep, as evidenced by his 26 point performance against Scecina. Danny Annee gives the Rebels a physical body inside capable of controlling the glass. They head around 465 to Lawrence Central on Tuesday to face a struggling LC Bears squad, and could easily pick up a win there. If they do win, a Pike team would likely be their quarterfinal matchup. Friday night might be a stretch for Roncalli, but if King is hot, then anything is possible.

Indianapolis Lutheran
Top Trio: Tommy Miner, Blake Sobieralski, Tyler Johnson
Lutheran is the smallest school in the tournament, but they've had some success at the 1A level. Miner is a junior guard that leads the team in scoring and Sobieralski is a 6'7 forward and gives them height inside. They travel is the largest school in the tournament, Ben Davis on Tuesday, in a true David and Goliath matchup. Expect this story to be a little different, as Lutheran should be no match for the Giants.

Southport
Top Trio: Paul Scruggs. Joey Brunk, Malik Bennett
Southport comes in as the #1 team in Class 4A, and the undefeated Cardinals look to cut down the nets on their home floor Saturday night. They have solid point guard play in Bennett, a monster on the wing in Scruggs, and maybe the best interior player in the tournament in Brunk. Coach Kyle Simpson has dealt with lofty expectations all year to the tune of 11-0. A trip to Decatur Central should be a formality on Tuesday, but Park Tudor potentially awaits on Wednesday. This Southport team looks to have all the pieces necessary to come away Saturday night as Marion County champions.