IHSAA girls basketball: These are the best semistate matchups across Indiana

The bingo balls hath spoken — on live webstream, no less — and the IHSAA girls basketball semistate pairings are set. We ranked some games for the first two rounds, so of course we’re doing it again for the state quarterfinals.

We’ll preview the entire slate (and make some picks) on The Scorers Table later this week.

More: Semistate pairings, schedule set

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Regionals: Statewide superlatives

Here are the eight best semistate matchups.

A: North Central (Farmersburg) (18-10) vs. Wood Memorial (16-10)

Noon at New Albany

Following her performance against Bethesda Christian in regionals (25 points, 15 in the fourth quarter), North Central junior Jalyn Davidson is probably worth the price of admission on her own, but Wood Memorial has some firepower, too. The Trojans scored the first 16 points of the second quarter and picked up 21 points apiece from Josie Page and Katie Sevier to score a blowout win over Trinity Lutheran (first regional since 2017).

4A: Homestead (23-4) vs. Lake Central (24-4)

Lake Central’s guard Vanessa Wimberly (23) attempts to score against Indian Creek’s forward Lexi Sichting (32) on Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023, during the Hall of Fame Classic girls basketball tournament at New Castle Fieldhouse in New Castle. Lake Central defeated Indian Creek, 51-45.

11 a.m. at LaPorte

There are plenty of threads to follow in the first 4A North semifinal, but the overarching theme is age/experience: Homestead is young (one senior in Emma Reust), but upset a senior-driven Columbia City squad in the sectional final; Lake Central is upperclassmen-heavy and was a win away from Gainbridge last season. Homestead’s shooters can light up a scoreboard; Lake Central’s defense can heat up its opponent and turn a game in a hurry.

From HOF Classic: Road-weary Lake Central splits holiday gauntlet

A: Caston (22-3) vs. Marquette Catholic (22-4)

Noon at Frankfort

For starters, Frankfort boasts an awesome nickname (Hot Dogs) and a uniquely awesome arena. The matchup itself features a pair of prolific tandems at opposite ends of their high school careers. Seniors Isabel Scales and Addison Zimpleman have been putting up video game numbers for first-time regional champ Caston, while sophomore Laniah Davis and Marissa Pleasant have been similarly potent for Marquette Catholic.

3A: Danville (23-3) vs. Bishop Chatard (19-8)

Danville’s Alexis Lynch (23) yells in excitement with Danville’s guard Emma Ancelet (33) on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024, during the game at Danville Community High School in Danville.

10 a.m. at Jasper

Chatard will have the size advantage with the 6-0 tandem of junior Anna Caskey and sophomore Olivia Berzai, but Danville is super scrappy with 5-5 Emma Ancelet and 5-9 Addison Davis combining for about 13 rebounds per game. Fans of the fundamentals will love this game, as I reckon it’ll come down to free throw shooting and turnovers (points figure to be at a premium).

‘We almost lost our head.’ Chatard gets gritty, beats Indian Creek for regional

3A: Scottsburg (22-4) vs. Gibson Southern (23-4)

Gibson Southern’s Chloey Graham (41) drives as the Gibson Southern Lady Titans play the Washington Lady Hatchets Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024.

Noon at Jasper

If you make the trip to Jasper for Danville-Chatard, make sure you stick around to see the second game, if for no other reason than to see GS senior Chloey Graham and junior Gabby Spink. They’re both scoring around 17-20 ppg, with Spink throwing out six assists per game. They’re really good (same goes for the Titans as a team, of course) and so is Scottsburg, which has overcome late-season losses to Jeffersonville and Lanesville. Ellie Richardson scored a game-high 28 in their regional win over Greensburg.

2A: Fort Wayne Bishop Luers (17-6) vs. Lapel (23-4)

Lapel Bulldogs Jocelyn Love (22) rushes up the court Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2023, during the game at Lapel High School in Lapel. Eastern Hancock defeated the Lapel Bulldogs, 62-55.

10 a.m. at Logansport

This is perhaps the best 2A semifinal with both teams built to win a state championship. Luers is a battle-tested bunch — FW Snider, Homestead, Columbia City, etc. — and can rebound with the best of them (35 rpg, 13 OREB per game). Lapel’s shooters are more efficient and the Bulldogs, who are coming off a runner-up finish last season, have two of the best players in the field: Madelyn Poynter and Laniah Wills.

4A: Franklin (24-3) vs. Center Grove (26-1)

Noon at Southport

This one has long felt inevitable: A state tournament showdown between the Johnson County rivals. Center Grove won the county championship at Franklin; the Grizzly Cubs got revenge 10 days later in Greenwood. Both teams were exceptional last weekend. A side note: Center Grove had to win true road games in order to advance through sectionals (at Whiteland) and regionals (at Bedford North Lawrence), so do not be surprised if this game is inexplicably relocated to Franklin township.

‘Let’s go get it.’ Center Grove’s defense, balance key girls hoops regional win over BNL.

Franklin onto semistate: ‘We look forward to things like this, celebrating.’

3A: Hamilton Heights (24-2) vs. Norwell (21-4)

Fort Wayne Snider High School’s Johnea Donahue (2) defends Norwell High School’s Kennedy Fuelling at Noblesville High School, Dec 28, 2023. Ft. Wayne Snyder won 65-50.

10 a.m. at Huntington North

A rematch of last year’s regional featuring some of the best 3A has to offer. Camryn Runner and Ella Hickok have suffered more than their fair share of February heartbreak (lost in regionals twice, then by seven to Twin Lakes at semistate), but once again look the part of a title contender. They’ll face a Norwell squad led by Kennedy Fuelling and Makenzie Fuess that endured the toughest schedule in 3A in preparation for this weekend.

Hamilton Heights wins regional: ‘They think it’s all about Camryn Runner, and it’s not.’

Follow Brian Haenchen on Twitter at @Brian_Haenchen.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: IHSAA girls basketball: These are the best semistate matchups across Indiana