By GREG MENGELT
Winners of the 59 of its last 66 games, Creek isn’t often an underdog. It certainly looks like that’s the case Saturday when the fourth-ranked Dragons (26-2) take on top-ranked South Bend Washington (26-3) at 6 p.m. at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
The Dragons beat Washington 54-48 in what many considered a small upset a year ago.
“They want their crown, but they have to go through us,” Silver Creek veteran coach Scott Schoen said. “We worked hard to get that state championship (last year), but we’re relaxed. We have nothing more to prove. We can go up there relaxed. The pressure really is on them. They’re the favorites and they’re a very good basketball team. It will be a great game. We’re going to have to play well, but we feel like they’re going to have to play well, too.”
The Sagarin Ratings, which predicts the favorites based on a computer algorithm, predicts the Panthers will beat Silver Creek by 14 points. Based on Washington’s experience and size, the Dragons will have to be at their best to compete with what many believe is the state’s best overall team.
“I look at it that both teams are really good and it’s going to be a war either way,” said Silver Creek senior point guard Kynidi Mason-Striverson, who was named the Mid-Southern Conference Player of the Year on Thursday. “I think both teams are going to be prepared and we both want the same thing, so it’s going to come down to who finishes strong, who’s the toughest team, things like that.”
Both teams have won one state championship. The Panthers have been to state six times and won it in 2007. Before last year, Silver Creek had never won a regional championship, but the only players in Saturday’s title game with championship experience will be wearing orange and blue.
“It’s going to be a challenge,” Schoen said. “I feel very good about going up there. We’re 26-2 and have played really good basketball teams. We played the best teams around. Our schedule speaks for itself and we’ve been competitive with those schools.”
While Silver Creek lost six of its top players from last year’s squad, Washington returns most of its arsenal, including senior forward Mila Reynolds — a Maryland signee — junior guard Rashunda Jones and junior guard Amiyah Reynolds. The trio averages 43 points, 23 rebounds and 10 assists per game.
Reynolds is 6-foot-3 and isn’t even the tallest Reynolds on the roster. The Panthers also feature a pair of talented freshmen, including 6-4 Kira Reynolds, who is averaging 10 points and 9.5 rebounds in her first varsity season.
“Obviously, their size is a big obstacle,” senior guard Sydney Sierota said. They’re a good team. They’re very talented, they’re long, they’re quick, they play very fast. We just have to be a little sharper, a little quicker to compete with a team like that.”
Senior Emme Rooney said she’s been keeping up with the Panthers all year.
“They’re a great basketball,” she said. “We’re going to play our game and we’re going to trust in concepts that we’ve built the last four years and play as tough as we can.”
“The state championship is ours, but we know we’re going to have to work really hard to retain the championship,” senior Meredith Wilkinson said.
Schoen says his team is going to have to play particularly well to take back-to-back state championships, but he knows his team, which has won six straight games and 14 of its last 15, has the ability to do it.
“We’re going to have to shoot the ball well, we’re going to have to not turn the ball over and we’re going to have to rebound,” Schoen said. “But those are things that we’ve been stressing since Day 1. It’s not like we’re going in with an elaborate gameplan. I feel confident in these kids that they’re going to perform.”
Tingle believes the state championship is going to come down to which team executes best with the game of the line Saturday.
“As a team, we’re ready,” senior Lacey Tingle said. “We are the defending champs, so I guess you could say they have to go through us this year. But they are a good team, so really it’s going to be two good teams going at each other. I think it’s going to come down just a couple possessions.”
Saturday is the final game for five Silver Creek seniors — Mason-Striverson, Sierota, Rooney, Wilkinson and Tingle.
Mason-Striverson, an Evansville signee, leads the Dragons at 18.2 points, seven rebounds and four assists per contest.
“I’m excited to play with these girls one last time on the biggest stage of our lives,” she said. “That’s really all I’m thinking about, honestly.”
CLASS 3A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
SATURDAY
SILVER CREEK VS. SOUTH BEND WASHINGTON
• Time: 6 p.m. (gates open at 5 p.m.)
• Television: All four state championship games will air live on Bally Sports Indiana. For viewers outside of the Bally Sports Indiana coverage area, a live stream will be available at IHSAAtv.org. Brodcasters: Mark Jaynes (play by play), Jane Schott (color), Allison Hayes (sideline reporter).
• Tickets: $15 per person. All tickets are reserved seating for one session only (two games, morning session or evening session). All tickets are digital only through your mobile phone and may be purchased via Ticketmaster.com. Purchased tickets will be sent as mobile tickets to the purchaser’s smart phone and that verification should be shown at the admission gate. Participating schools will also have digital tickets to sell in their own sections during the week of the state finals.
• Location: Gainbridge Fieldhouse (125 S. Pennsylvania Street, Indianapolis). Parking: There are multiple parking options throughout the downtown area that are within walking distance of the Fieldhouse. The Virginia Avenue Garage, which charges a fee and is located directly to the east of the venue, connects to the Fieldhouse from the third floor of the garage via a walkway over Delaware Street. The entrance to the Virginia Avenue Garage is located off of Maryland Street.
• Records:
Silver Creek 26-2. The Dragons have won six consecutive games and 14 of their last 15.
South Bend Washington 26-3. The Panthers have won six games in a row and 16 of their last 17.
• Coaches:
Silver Creek — Scott Schoen (181-110 in 12th season at Creek)
Washington — Steve Reynolds (118-81 in eighth season at Washington)
• Rankings:
Silver Creek — No. 12 IBCA (single class); No. 4 AP (Class 3A).
Washington — No. 3 IBCA (single class); No. 1 AP (Class 3A).
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
Silver Creek — No. 17, No. 3 Class 3A
Washington — No. 2, No. 1 Class 3A
• Most recent game:
Silver Creek — Defeated Bishop Chatard 64-54 (Feb. 19, Class 3A Jeffersonville Semistate)
Washington — Defeated Garrett 66-39 (Feb. 19, Class 3A LaPorte Semistate)
• State titles (most recent): Silver Creek 1 (2021); Washington 1 (2007).
• Regular-season result: Did not play.
• Last postseason matchup: Feb. 27, 2021 — Silver Creek 54, South Bend Washington 48 (Class 3A state championship)
• John Harrell prediction: Washington 58, Silver Creek 46.
• Sagarin projection: Washington by 14.
• Outlook: What an accomplishment it would be if the Dragons could find a way to upset Washington and win its second straight state championship. It’s going to take a mammoth effort. All indications are the Panthers are the team to beat.
• Greg’s pick: Washington 63, Silver Creek 50.
