(Curf Hopf leads Barr-Reeve into the 2021 state final)

 

After an extra week break, the IHSAA boys basketball state final games are this weekend. Indiana Basketball Source takes a deep dive into the 1A match-up between No. 1 Barr-Reeve and No. 2 Kouts.

Kouts (29-2) plays at a pace few teams around the state are executing. It led the Mustangs to 75.8 points per game. Despite the uptempo style, Kouts only plays a six-player rotation. There were multiple times this season when a main player saw early foul trouble, but the Mustangs found a way to get through it. That happened against Washington Township in the sectional as Cole Wireman picked up three fouls in the first quarter. Of course, that did not keep Kouts from winning the sectional.

 

As mentioned, leading that charge is Cole Wireman at 26.1 points per game. The senior guard is a roadrunner in transition. He will also leak out after an opponent makes a basket as Kouts will throw the baseball pass the length of the court. Cole mixes in three-point attempts, but he loves to slash to the basket. He is a physical guard that features a solid first step. He will also make an impact on the defensive end as he plays the passing lanes and is active on the help side.

 

Cale Wireman is a scorer (16.8 PPG) but more of a distributor and shooter compared to his twin brother. Cale gets to the free-throw line frequently as well. He shoots about five per game. Although Cole is usually the leading scorer, Cale can take over the game when he is needed.

 

The Kouts frontcourt is athletic – Parker Kneifel, Hunter Kneifel, and Cooper Schoon will finish above the rim. The Kneifels are usually the ones throwing the long outlet passes after the opponent scores. All three are best around the basket but will shoot the occasional three-pointer. The Kneifel twins are lanky while Schoon provides a bit more muscle inside.

 

The last loss for Kouts, January 13, came against a solid 2A Andrean team. For a small class team, Andrean is long and athletic. That gave Kouts problems on both ends. Gabe Gillespie went for 27 points inside, and Nick Flesher and Ben Jones added 20 and 18 points, respectively. Against Barr-Reeve, Kouts is going to see size and athleticism, too. Will Kouts be able to produce in the lane against Barr-Reeve?

 

Late in December, Barr-Reeve (28-2) lost consecutive games against Carmel and Blackhawk Christian. Those losses occurred in overtime, too. Both of those teams could win state titles on Saturday. The Vikings had a close call against North Daviess in the sectional but have been rolling since. Their second-half performance against Tindley in the semi-state made a ton of noise. The Vikings were up 24-16 at halftime before winning 72-25. Against a talented team like Tindley, that does not happen, especially late in the state tournament.

 

Last season, Barr-Reeve had a great chance to win the 1A title. The Vikings captured their only 1A championship against Marquette Catholic in 2015. This version is led by senior forward Curt Hopf. The Bellarmine University signee is averaging 19.4 points and 9.2 rebounds. The powerful lefty is a dominant force inside as Brycen Graber hits him with feed after feed. Hopf will also step out for the occasional three-pointer. He is going to be a major match-up nightmare for Kouts.

 

As mentioned, Graber is a fantastic passer. In fact, he is the state’s all-time assist leader for a career. This season he averaged eight dimes per game. He is a big guard for this level with plus quickness, too. Graber against the Wiremans will be fun on both ends.

 

The second leading scorer for Barr-Reeve is junior Hagen Knepp. He gets 11.5 points per game. He is an athletic wing that likes to get to the basket or pull-up in the mid-range. He will also make a defensive and rebounding impact.

 

The supporting cast – Kayden Graber, Jamison Miller, Devin Graber, and Tommy Kidwell – all space the floor with their three-point shooting. That shooting allows Hopf room to work inside, and Knepp to slash to the basket. Opposing teams cannot sit in the lane with the plethora of shooters Barr-Reeve features.

 

From start to finish, Barr-Reeve held the top spot in the Indiana Basketball Source 1A rankings. They have the talent, athleticism, skill, and basketball IQ to beat any team in the state. The Vikings played a tough schedule and still went 28-2. Will Barr-Reeve cap it off with the state title?

 

Indiana Basketball Source is anxious to see how Cole Wireman does against the Barr-Reeve guards and Hopf in the paint. On most possessions, he will need to beat both to score. The exception would be the leak outs that he likes. It would be huge for Wireman and Kouts if he can get one or two of those early in the game.

 

On the other end, will Kouts be able to slow down Hopf inside without bringing extra defenders? If it takes two or three defenders, Barr-Reeve will find the open player for a three-pointer. That likely would not go well for the Mustangs as the Vikings shot 43.7 percent from the three-point line this season.