Who’s it going to be?
Defending champion Center Grove is the No. 1 seed in this week’s Johnson County boys basketball tournament, but the Trojans are nowhere near the heavy favorite that they were the last two years, when 2019 Mr. Basketball Trayce Jackson-Davis was still around. Depending on how you view things, they might not be the favorite at all.
At least three other teams come into tonight’s first-round games believing that they have a good chance of cutting down the nets in Franklin’s gym come Saturday night, and those beliefs aren’t unreasonable.
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Fourth-seeded Indian Creek, which hosts Whiteland tonight, dropped a tough opening game at Franklin but hasn’t lost since. Led by a balanced lineup featuring at least six players capable of big scoring nights, the Braves have won nine in a row and done so by an average margin of 28.7 points. Drew Glentzer’s club hasn’t faced the same schedule strength as the county’s other top teams, but it’s coming in on a roll and eager to prove that it’s legit after cracking the Class 3A top 10 for the first time last week.
Greenwood’s two losses came against county foes Greenwood Christian and Center Grove, but the No. 3-seeded Woodmen possess one of the stingiest defenses in the state (39.33 points allowed per game) heading into tonight’s matchup with Edinburgh. The Woodmen are physically tough inside and out, and when they can get rolling offensively — as they did in a blowout win over Franklin last month — they’re capable of beating almost anyone.
And then there’s No. 2 seed Greenwood Christian, which plays at Franklin tonight. The Cougars have been a first-round out in both of their previous county tournament appearances, but there are several who consider them the favorite as this week begins. Jonny Marlin’s club is the lone remaining unbeaten in the county at 10-0, already owns a double-digit victory at Greenwood and is the highest-rated county team in the Sagarin ratings (84.63, 36th statewide and second in Class A). With nine seniors, it’s also the most experienced club in the field.
Center Grove had to replace not only Jackson-Davis, but its entire starting lineup after last season’s semistate run — but Zach Hahn’s team seems to be rounding into shape. The Trojans came back from a long holiday layoff to beat Greenwood and Perry Meridian before coming up short at Carmel last weekend. With several players in the rotation who also saw action on the school’s state runner-up football team, Center Grove has more athleticism on the floor than it’s had in a while. It’s a largely unproven but intriguing squad.
Those four favorites shouldn’t take anything for granted just yet, though. The host Grizzly Cubs could certainly play spoiler — with senior Drew Byerly leading the way, they’ve already handed Indian Creek its lone defeat — and Whiteland took Greenwood to the wire in a hard-fought grudge match last weekend. Neither should be overlooked tonight.
There has been some intrigue each of the last two years, with Center Grove getting pushed into semifinal overtime games by Indian Creek (2018) and Greenwood (2019), but the Trojans wound up winning the championship game in pretty comfortable fashion.
It would be a surprise if anyone does anything comfortably this weekend. Get strapped in.
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Johnson County tournament
Today
Edinburgh vs. Greenwood at Franklin, 6 p.m.
Greenwood Christian at Franklin, 7:30 p.m.
Whiteland at Indian Creek, 7:30 p.m.
Friday
At Franklin
Edinburgh-Greenwood winner vs. GCA-Franklin winner, 6 p.m.
Whiteland-Indian Creek winner vs. Center Grove, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday
At Franklin
Championship, 7 p.m.
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