GREENCASTLE GIRLS' BASKETBALL REGIONAL: Bishop Chatard rules the boards, bounces Indian Creek

Indiana high school basketball is always intense at tournament time. The deeper you go into the tournament, the higher the intensity and competition.

The Class 3A regional meeting of Indianapolis Bishop Chatard squaring off against No. 6 Indian Creek was no different.

The Trojans got an early lead and then managed to repel a Braves comeback to advance to the semistate with a 64-60 victory at McAnally Center as part of the IHSAA Greencastle Girls’ Basketball Regional.

The game featured two tough, physical teams that pushed the pace and each squad would have players step up big at times, but the Trojans used a decisive edge on the boards and balanced scoring to prevail.

Chatard held a 48-23 rebounding advantage at the end of the game.

The loss ended the season for the Braves at 21-5, while Chatard improved to 19-8 and will be part of the Class 3A South semistate at Jasper, facing Danville in the opening game.

Chatard came out and took a quick early lead. Alyx Kendall hit a pair of mid-range jump shots and Anna Caskey knocked down three free throws for an early 7-0 lead before the Braves got on the board with a Lexi Sichting jumper.

The Trojans routinely got second and third shots on the offensive end as they handled the Indian Creek press during the period. Caskey had an impressive nine points and eight rebounds in the period as Chatard was able to maintain the lead and held a 24-15 advantage at the first stoppage of play.

After a relatively turnover free first quarter, the physicality of the game began to bother both offenses in the second period.

The scoring pace dropped with both teams picking up eight points in the period, which both teams matched with eight turnovers each. The Trojans took a 32-23 lead into the intermission.

Indian Creek stormed out to start the second half with an 11-3 run. The Braves consistently forced turnovers and had four players score during the run, which saw them cut the Chatard lead to 35-34 in the first three minutes of the third period.

The game’s pace increased to frenetic level as Indiana University-bound Faith Wiseman found some offense for Indian Creek with eight points. She was supported by Lauren Foster who had six points in the quarter.

The Braves had all the momentum and took a lead twice at 45-44 and 47-46 before the versatile Olivia Berzai and the ever-present Caskey had two offensive rebound baskets to retake the lead at 50-47 ending the third quarter.

Kendall hit a couple of jumpers again to start the fourth period for the Trojans to boost the lead back to eight points. The two teams battled evenly during the stanza and Berzai seemed to put the game away for Chatard with a pair of free throws with under two minutes left and a 61-56 lead.

Not so fast. Wiseman hit a free throw and Ayla Lollar drilled a three-pointer to cut the lead to 61-60 with just under a minute to play.

The next 40 seconds saw both teams miss some easy shots and the ball carom around the floor in a frenetic pace until finally Duncan hit a free throw with :14 left for a two-point Trojan lead.

Indian Creek could not convert on the other end and Berzai iced the game late with two more free throws and a 64-60 victory.

Chatard was led by Caskey with 16 points and 21 rebounds, while Berzai also had a double-double with 16 points and 13 boards. Kendall supported the pair with 14 points.

Indian Creek had 18 from Wiseman and 16 from Foster. Ellie Oliver came off the Brave bench to add 10 points.

INDIAN CREEK (60) – Lollar 2-7 0-0 6, Foster 6-12 3-3 16, Day 1-3 0-0 2, Wiseman 6-16 5-11 18, 2-4 0-0 4, Pendleton 0-1 2-2 2, Tunell 1-4 0-0 2, Oliver 4-6 0-0 10. Totals 22-53 FG, 10-16 FT, 60 TP.

BISHOP CHATARD (64) – Duncan 2-8 3-6 7, Tragessor 2-4 1-1 6, Kendall 7-12 0-0 14, Berzai 4-13 8-9 16, Caskey 5-11 6-10 16, Johnson 1-3 0-0 3, McAllister 1-1 0-0 2, Mason 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 22-52 FG, 18-26 FT, 64 TP.

3-point shooting –IC 6-16 (Lollar 2-6, Foster 1-2, Wiseman 1-4, Pendleton 0-1, Tunell 0-1, Oliver 2-2), BC 2-10 (Duncan 0-4, Tragessor 1-1, Kendall 0-2, Berzai 0-1, Johnson 1-2) Rebounds –IC 23 (Lollar 1, Foster 4, Wiseman 12, Sichting 2, Tunell 1), BC – 48 (Duncan 1, Kendall 6, Berzai 13, Caskey 21, Johnson 1, McAllister 1, Mason 1) FG Pct. – IC 41.5, BC 42.3. FT Pct. – IC 62.5, BC 69.2. Turnovers – IC 17, BC 21.