One of the high school basketball season’s biggest days is set with six games at Southport Fieldhouse.
The FORUM Tipoff Classic will be played Dec. 14. Tickets, which are $15 for the day, will go on sale on Dec. 1 at SouthportCardinals.com. Here is a look at the times and matchups:
Warren Central vs. South Bend Riley, 12:30 p.m.
Warren Central, coming off a 14-11 season, brings back a strong group of returners, including 6-6 senior Jevon Guess (13.8 ppg, 8.1 rebounds) and senior guards Zeke Kirby, Keshaun Harlan and Madden Beriault. South Bend Riley was a 21-5 team a year ago, losing in overtime to Mishawaka in the sectional final. The top returner is senior guard Marvin Schindler (12.3 ppg, 2.3 assists).
New Palestine vs. Zionsville, 2 p.m.
New Palestine brings back its top six scorers from a team that went 22-6 and won a Class 4A sectional championship last season. The Dragons, led by seniors Julius Gizzi (28.9 ppg, 8.0 rebounds), Moses Haynes (11.4 ppg, 6.7 assists) and Ben Slagley (9.3 ppg, 6.6 rebounds), is now in Class 3A under the new alignment. Zionsville, coming off an 11-13 season, brings back one of the top duos in the state in seniors Maguire Mitchell (20.9 ppg, 5.1 rebounds) and Drew Snively (17.8 ppg, 4.0 rebounds).
Southport vs. Avon, 3:30 p.m.
Southport, coming off a 9-14 season, will have a new coach this year in Ben Rhoades, an assistant last year on the Southport staff for Bill Zych. The Cardinals’ top returners are 6-7 junior James Kalala (11.2 ppg, 9.0 rebounds) and senior Jack Turner (10.8 ppg, 4.7 rebounds). Avon coach Drew Schauss brings back almost all his top players from a 15-11 sectional title team, including junior Jedidiah Minnett (12.6 ppg) and seniors Rashod Bethley (8.1 ppg), DeAndre Lott-Hancock (10.5 ppg, 7.2 rebounds), Kendrick Dunmore (8.7 ppg, 7.1 rebounds) and Rohan Pearson (7.4 ppg, 3.7 rebounds). Keriawn Berry, a 6-5 junior transfer from Louisville Trinity, is a big addition.
Lawrence North vs. Greenfield-Central, 5:15 p.m.
This will be a marquee matchup between two of the top seniors in the state in Lawrence North’s Azavier Robinson, a Butler commit who averaged 19.6 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.3 steals last season, and Greenfield-Central’s Braylon Mullins, a UConn commit who averaged 25.0 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 3.2 steals last season. Greenfield-Central, a 24-1 team last season, also brings back seniors Boston Willard (10.8 ppg, 4.8 assists) and Dallas Freeman (8.4 ppg, 4.6 rebounds). The Cougars add senior guard Michael Johnson (13.0 ppg, 5.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists), a transfer from Southport. Lawrence North’s loaded list of returners also includes juniors Kai McGrew (10.4 ppg, 6.8 rebounds) and Brennan Miller (9.4 ppg, 9.2 rebounds).
Noblesville vs. Jeffersonville, 7 p.m.
Noblesville’s top two scorers from a 22-3 team are gone to graduation but coach Scott McClelland brings back a strong group of returners, including juniors Justin Curry (10.0 ppg, 4.2 rebounds) and Baron Walker (6.6 ppg, 2.1 rebounds) and seniors T.J. Davidson (4.7 ppg) and Aiden Brewer (3.5 ppg, 3.0 rebounds), a Bowling Green football commit. Jeffersonville, a 20-8 team a year ago that came within one point of the state finals, brings back seniors Tre Singleton (14.2 ppg, 7.1 rebounds), a Northwestern commit, and Wright State recruits Michael Cooper (16.4 ppg, 4.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists) and P.J. Douglas (13.8 ppg, 5.6 rebounds).
Fishers vs. Crispus Attucks, 8:30 p.m.
The nightcap will feature the defending Class 4A state champions (Fishers) against the defending City champs (Crispus Attucks), which will be one of the top contenders in Class 3A. The Tigers bring back senior and Stanford football commit JonAnthony Hall (11.5 ppg, 4.1 rebounds), seniors Justin Kirby (5.8 ppg, 2.1 rebounds) and Millen McCartney (5.3 ppg, 2.1 rebounds) and sophomore standouts Cooper Zachary (7.4 ppg, 3.7 assists) and Jason Gardner Jr. (7.2 ppg, 2.9 rebounds). Attucks will be led by City Player of the Year Dezmon Briscoe (14.3 ppg, 10.8 rebounds) and seniors Chris Hurt (9.9 ppg, 3.9 assists) and Eric Jackson II (6.1 ppg, 3.7 rebounds), along with Brownsburg senior transfer Kayden English and Tech junior transfer Elexander Harris (14.0 ppg).
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