By GREG MENGELT
The Pioneers (18-6) will face Forest Park (15-10) after defeating the Miners 50-47. This time appears to be the favorite to move on to next week’s semistate. Forest Park entered the postseason with just 11 wins but beat Paoli 64-49 this morning.
Borden (17-7) will take on No. 2 North Daviess (24-3) after beating the Blackhawks 48-44. North Daviess, which is on a 7-game winning streak, edged Edinburgh 38-37 in the semifinal round.
TODAY’S GAMES
SATURDAY’S REGIONALS
CLASS 2A SOUTHRIDGE REGIONAL
PROVIDENCE VS. FOREST PARK
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Memorial Gym (412 East 5th Street, Huntingburg)
• Records:
Providence 18-6. The Pioneers have won four games in a row.
Forest Park 15-10. The Rangers have won eight straight.
• Coaches:
Providence — Ryan Miller (48-22 in third season at Providence)
Forest Park — David Welp (61-35 in fourth season at Forest Park)
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
Providence — No. 102, No. 9 Class 2A
Forest Park — No. 161, No. 24 Class 2A
• Southridge Regional Semifinals:
Providence — Defeated Linton-Stockton 50-47
Forest Park — Defeated Paoli 64-49
• Regional titles (most recent): Providence 3 (2016); Forest Park 6 (2018).
• Regular-season result: Did not play.
• Last postseason matchup: March 11, 2006 — Forest Park 59, Providence 53 (Class 2A Southridge Regional championship).
• Potential semistate opponents: No. 9 Eastern Hancock (21-5) or University (16-9), at Seymour or Washington.
• John Harrell prediction: Providence 55, Forest Park 49.
• Sagarin projection: Providence by 6.
• Outlook: I’m taking Providence, but that could be bad news. I’m 0-4 in my regional predictions so far today.
• Greg’s pick: Providence 53, Forest Park 48.
CLASS A LOOGOOTEE REGIONAL
BORDEN VS. NORTH DAVIESS
• Time: 8 p.m.
• Location: Jack Butcher Arena (201 Brooks Ave., Loogootee)
• Records:
Borden 17-7. The Braves have won their last three games and four of their last five.
North Daviess 24-3. The Cougars have won seven straight and 10 of their last 11.
• Coaches:
Borden — Doc Nash (220-156 in 16th season at Borden)
North Daviess — Brent Dalrymple (313-213 in 22nd season at North Daviess)
• Rankings:
Borden — No. 16 AP (Class A).
North Daviess — No. 2 AP (Class A).
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
Borden — No. 223, No. 26 Class 3A
North Daviess — No. 65, No. 3 Class 3A
• Southridge Regional results:
Borden — Defeated Springs Valley 48-44.
North Daviess — Defeated Edinburgh 38-37.
• Regional titles (most recent): Borden 2 (2013); North Daviess 2 (2011).
• Regular-season result: Did not play.
• Last postseason matchup: March 4, 2009 — North Daviess 49, Borden 37 (Class A Loogootee Regional championship).
• Potential semistate opponents: No. 9 Indianapolis Lutheran (19-5) or No. 10 Jac-Cen-Del (21-5), at Seymour or Washington.
• John Harrell prediction: North Daviess 54, Borden 42.
• Sagarin projection: North Daviess by 17.
• Outlook: Today I was reminded that you never bet against Doc Nash in a regional postseason game. … Apparently I didn’t learn well enough. North Daviess appears to be the best team in the southern part of the state (especially defensively), so I’m taking the Cougars. The good news for the Braves is I’ve been wrong on every pick today.
• Greg’s pick: North Daviess 46, Borden 35.
