Latest / The Central Indiana Sports Report / Greg & His Friends Talk Sports ... with Justin Ullom, Chad Ballenger & Elijah Poe (2.192.1)

Transcript

Greg & His Friends Talk Sports ... with Justin Ullom, Chad Ballenger & Elijah Poe (2.192.1) · The Central Indiana Sports Report

0:06
[SPEAKER_02]: Welcome Central Indian Esports fans to the Central Indian Esports Report for my new podcast, Greg and his friends talk sports, I'm your host Greg Mendel and every day my friends and I are talking about the cults, Pacers, fever, IU, Purdue, Indicard, National Sports, Local Colleges, and of course high school sports here on the Central Indian Esports Report.
0:28
[SPEAKER_02]: Coming up today, IU was eliminated from the Women's Big 10 Basketball Tournament.
0:32
[SPEAKER_02]: We have NAIA both men's and women's tournament pairings that were announced Thursday, and 14 teams from Indiana made the field.
0:42
[SPEAKER_02]: Plus, look ahead to Friday's sectional semi-finals, including a deep look.
0:46
[SPEAKER_02]: at the Class 3A sectional in Newcastle with my friend Yorktown head coach Justin Allem and my friend Chad Ballinger the head coach at Hamilton Heights talking about their teams and their matchups and my friend Elijah Poe will be here with an Indie car preview of the weekend at Phoenix.
1:07
[SPEAKER_02]: Before we get to all that, when I let you know it's going on at the Central Indiana Sports Group and later Friday we
1:17
[SPEAKER_02]: talking about all the silliness that's going on with that franchise.
1:21
[SPEAKER_02]: Thank you so much for joining us.
1:23
[SPEAKER_02]: My friends and I will be back tomorrow and the next day.
1:26
[SPEAKER_02]: And the next day and the day after that.
1:33
[SPEAKER_02]: Number 11 Ohio State squashed any Cinderella hopes I you had in the big 10 tournament the buck guys quick strike offense outscored the Hoosiers 49 to 28 in the middle two quarters but it was really the buck ID fence that shined in the win
1:50
[SPEAKER_02]: They held the Hoosiers the 33% shooting for 15 turnovers, leading to 21 buck eye points.
1:58
[SPEAKER_02]: And they held IU Star Sheski to 12 points on 6th of shooting.
2:03
[SPEAKER_02]: They also got 56 points off their bench to the Hoosiers 59 Turbo.
2:08
[SPEAKER_02]: It's Ohio State Ann, Minnesota, and Friday's Big 10 Quarter Finals.
2:12
[SPEAKER_02]: Also in the Big 10 Illinois upset number 18 Michigan State, Washington B. USC, and Oregon upset number 14 Maryland 73268.
2:21
[SPEAKER_02]: Today starts with Washington UCLA at noon, so it's already begun.
2:26
[SPEAKER_02]: Followed by the buck guys and gofers, then number 9 Iowa against upstart Illinois, and the night ends with number 8 Michigan against Oregon.
2:37
[SPEAKER_02]: In the ACC Notre Dame advanced with a 69-54 win over Miami, the fighting Irish now 21-9 and the Great.
2:45
[SPEAKER_02]: And a Hidalgo 28.8 rebounds, 5 assists and 5 steals.
2:51
[SPEAKER_02]: It'll be Notre Dame against 29 North Carolina State at 130 this afternoon on the ACC Network.
2:57
[SPEAKER_02]: The winner gets top-seed Duke or Climbs in it noon, Saturday on ESPN.
3:02
[SPEAKER_02]: 17 from Indiana made the women 64 N.A.I.
3:06
[SPEAKER_02]: field announced Thursday, Indiana Wesley and Taylor Huntington, number 4, Marion, number 7, St. Francis, number 24, Indiana Tech, and Bethel.
3:17
[SPEAKER_02]: Number 4, Marion and St. Francis will host their sites.
3:22
[SPEAKER_02]: Indiana Wesley and makes a short trip to Rio Grande, Ohio.
3:25
[SPEAKER_02]: I think it's actually pronounced
3:29
[SPEAKER_02]: the wild cats and uncommonly low tinsey.
3:33
[SPEAKER_02]: Taylor is in Georgetown, Kentucky, and will face the host Tigers.
3:38
[SPEAKER_02]: And we will have more on the matchups coming up next week, and I hope to talk with my friend Kevin Helferick.
3:45
[SPEAKER_02]: For previews of both the women's and men's tournament, seven men's teams also made the tournament.
3:52
[SPEAKER_02]: with regionals being played March 13th and 14th.
3:55
[SPEAKER_02]: That's next Friday and Saturday at 16 different sites, including Marion Huntington and Winona Lake.
4:03
[SPEAKER_02]: So along with number two, race number three, Indiana Wesleyan and number 19, Huntington, number 11 Bethel, Indiana Tech, IUK and Taylor also all made the field.
4:18
[SPEAKER_02]: Indiana Way, Indiana Wesleyan placed St. Francis Hill in the way on Friday, mine and producers Susie's all-mama-moder Taylor, kind of a surprise, getting in the field really speaks to the crossroads leagues power because the Trojan really struggled down the stretch anyway.
4:35
[SPEAKER_02]: They will be in Iowa and face the top seat there in northwestern.
4:43
[SPEAKER_02]: Grace hosts Grace London Iowa Lindsey Wilson and Bellevue Nebraska starting at 6 o'clock Friday.
4:50
[SPEAKER_02]: IUK makes the short trip to Georgetown Kentucky and will play 6 o'clock Friday against the host Tigers and could face Bethel and in all Indiana final at 5 o'clock on Saturday the 14th.
5:04
[SPEAKER_02]: I'm supposed to be unbiased but you're gonna be honest I love IUK freshman Alonzo Kloss and Smith's game since I saw him
5:13
[SPEAKER_02]: And number 13, Indiana Tech, is in Williamsburg, Kentucky, and we'll face the host Comberlands.
5:22
[SPEAKER_02]: Again, more on that turn of both of those tournaments next week.
5:27
[SPEAKER_02]: Valbo's men be Indiana State 63 to 62 and Evansville lost 68 to 59 to Northern Iowa in the opening round of arch madness.
5:36
[SPEAKER_02]: the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament in St. Louis.
5:39
[SPEAKER_02]: So only the Crusaders remain for the Hoosier hopes and they play two seed Bradley in Friday's Quarter Finals at seven.
5:46
[SPEAKER_02]: So yeah, game can be seen on ESPN plus if you can endure it.
5:52
[SPEAKER_02]: Top seed Belmont faces Drake, IUC Murray State, and Northern Iowa Illinois State in the other Quarter Finals.
6:00
[SPEAKER_02]: Big 10 champion Michigan held off Iowa 71 to 68 in Iowa City, the Wolverines now 28 and 2, 18 and 1 in the Big 10.
6:09
[SPEAKER_02]: That's impressive.
6:11
[SPEAKER_02]: And sizzling hot number eight Michigan State had its worst performance in weeks, but still beat Rutgers 91 to 87 for.
6:17
[SPEAKER_02]: the Spartan's 5th Street win and as of Friday morning, March 6th, Michigan of course is the number one seed in next week's Big Ten tournament.
6:26
[SPEAKER_02]: Nothing can be done about that.
6:27
[SPEAKER_02]: Michigan State now has a game lead on Nebraska in Illinois for second Spartans close at Michigan so that could be interesting.
6:36
[SPEAKER_02]: Purdue will be the 5th or 6th seed without an Iowa upset of Nebraska.
6:40
[SPEAKER_02]: The Boythermakers close Saturday with Wisconsin, both teams are 13 and 6 in the big 10.
6:46
[SPEAKER_02]: And that makes me sick.
6:48
[SPEAKER_02]: UCLA is 7th at 12 and 7 in Ohio State, Iowa and Indiana currently 10th at 10 and 9.
6:56
[SPEAKER_02]: Looks like they're going to be the 10th seed.
6:57
[SPEAKER_02]: And once again on the opposite side of the bracket from Purdue,
7:01
[SPEAKER_02]: It's crazy 28 years now since the two played in the Big Ten tournament after playing in the very first one.
7:07
[SPEAKER_02]: And I'm obsessed with this.
7:11
[SPEAKER_02]: And Spring Training, the Reds improved to 64 when they 14 13 win over the Dodgers Thursday afternoon and good year Matt McLean was three for three and hit his fourth home run in four spring training games.
7:23
[SPEAKER_02]: He's 11 for 17 with 11 RBIs and is batting 647 with a 2.112 OPS.
7:31
[SPEAKER_02]: Will Rutherford says it's all meaningless.
7:33
[SPEAKER_02]: I'm going to put a point on the line in our new podcast, our debate slash prediction podcast.
7:40
[SPEAKER_02]: Great versus will versus the world, which will be pre-mearing next week.
7:47
[SPEAKER_02]: And the Cubs are 6 and 7 after beating the Diamondbacks 8 to 1.
7:51
[SPEAKER_02]: Hope to have an MLB report with Paul Tipton and Will Rutherford soon, maybe as early as next week.
7:57
[SPEAKER_02]: And now something that really doesn't matter.
7:59
[SPEAKER_02]: The Giants are 9 and 2 and lead the Cactus League.
8:02
[SPEAKER_02]: The Braiser 9 and 2 and lead the grapefruit league.
8:06
[SPEAKER_02]: The short-handed Noblesville Boom continued to scuffles, taking a 140-21 loss to the hapless, college park skyhawks, of course.
8:14
[SPEAKER_02]: Most of the Noblesville regulars are playing with the Pacers, so the Boomer and Detroit Tuesday at 11 AM, the game can be seen on the SP and Plus.
8:25
[SPEAKER_02]: And here's what's happening on Friday, March 6, 2026, and of course.
8:31
[SPEAKER_02]: It starts with high school, boys basketball sectional, semi-finals, all across Central Indiana.
8:38
[SPEAKER_02]: And of course, we start with class 2A, where most of our local injuries lies at Lwood, Eastbrook and Manchester, and we're going to go a little out of order with good reason.
8:49
[SPEAKER_02]: After the previews, I talked with two of the coaches from the Newcastle sectional, and with the night's head coach, Chad Ballinger, and Yorktown, had coached Shusson all of them, ahead of their semi-finals this evening.
9:01
[SPEAKER_02]: Nothing against Delta or Connor'sville, but I really hope they play each other on Saturday night.
9:06
[SPEAKER_02]: All of the sectionals I'm about to preview are in the north half of the statinless otherwise indicated.
9:13
[SPEAKER_02]: And if otherwise indicated, that means they're in the south half of the drum.
9:18
[SPEAKER_02]: And we started Elwood, where Michelle Garmin and I will be tonight with a full recap, and it starts with 18 and four, Sheridan against 16 and 8 Taylor and a rematch of a good one during the regular season.
9:28
[SPEAKER_02]: Sheridan beat the Titans 59 to 53 on January 30th on their way to a Hoosier Heartland Championship.
9:36
[SPEAKER_02]: And in the seconds of my final, it's 9th Rank LaPelle, 18 and 5 against 10 and 13 Elwood, LaPelle the favorites to win their first sectional
9:47
[SPEAKER_02]: And at Eastbrook, it starts with 18 and 6 Blackbird against 13 and 9 Eastbrook, a couple CIC rivals.
9:53
[SPEAKER_02]: The Bruins beat the Panther's 60, 3 to 39 in Hartford City on January 30th.
10:00
[SPEAKER_02]: But this one is in the Panthers gym.
10:02
[SPEAKER_02]: Second game is 12 and 10 Wabanhani against 10 and 13 Burris.
10:06
[SPEAKER_02]: The Raiders have won 3 straight sectional championships, 5 in the last 6 years and 7 since 2013.
10:13
[SPEAKER_02]: They've made the sectional final seven years in a row and should make it eight.
10:17
[SPEAKER_02]: In the south half of the class two a draw at Indianapolis Ritter, it's 16 and 8 and defending champion University against 12 and 10 covenant Christian followed by 14 and 8 part tutor against 12 and 12 Ritter.
10:32
[SPEAKER_02]: At Eastern Hancock, 10th ranked the scene is 17 and 6 and takes on 11 and 14 kept legacy in 6th ranked Triton Central, the defending champions are 20 and 3, take on 12 and 11 heritage Christian.
10:44
[SPEAKER_02]: And at the Hagueers town, 6th, number 5 centerville takes on Hagueers town, the Bulldogs are 12 and 2, the Tigers 13 and 9, the Bulldogs won their first sectional championship in 14 years last year and should repeat this year, I think they are a serious state championship
11:02
[SPEAKER_02]: N18 and 5 Shenandoah takes on 11 and 12 Northeastern, the Raiders beat Northeastern 52 to 48 in the regular season.
11:12
[SPEAKER_02]: And now to Class 4 A, again going a little out of order.
11:15
[SPEAKER_02]: We start in the south at the Greenfield Central sectional and it's number 4 Mount Vernon against Mudsy Central.
11:22
[SPEAKER_02]: The Marauders are the defending champions and 22 and 3.
11:26
[SPEAKER_02]: the Bearcats are 12 and 11.
11:28
[SPEAKER_02]: The second semi-final Greenfield Central is 16 and 7 Anderson against the 11 and 11 post-cougars.
11:36
[SPEAKER_02]: Anderson's last sectional championship was 17 years ago.
11:41
[SPEAKER_02]: and attack its number 11 Lawrence North against 8 and 13 North Central and 12 and 11 Lawrence Central at 6 and 15 Lawrence Central and a playing field number 3 pike against number 5 playing field in a good one and it's 15 and 6 been Davis against 14 and 9 Brownsburg and absolutely loaded field.
12:01
[SPEAKER_02]: In the north at Noblesville, it's number 10 Carmel against Noblesville, the millers are 13 and 10, the Greyhound's beat Noblesville by 12 points in the third game of the season.
12:11
[SPEAKER_02]: Then it's number one fishers against number 12 Hamilton South Eastern, the Tigers 23 and O, the only unbeaten team in class 4A, the Royals are 15 and 9.
12:23
[SPEAKER_02]: The 4A sectional Lafayette Jeff gets underway tonight and it's 16 and 8 Harrison
12:31
[SPEAKER_02]: The Raiders are the defending champions and one both matchups with McCutcher during the regular season.
12:37
[SPEAKER_02]: Then it's the big one, 17 and 6 Cocomol against 16 and 7 Jeff, the Wildcats B Jeff, 62 to 57 and over time on January 30th on their way to the NCC Championship.
12:49
[SPEAKER_02]: They're going for their record 78th sectional championship.
12:53
[SPEAKER_02]: In Class A in the North, it is 14 and 9 North Miami, it's 9 and 15 Tri-Central, the worst beat the Trojans 51 to 34 on January 24th, the Trojans star J.J. and Kovieck didn't play in that one.
13:07
[SPEAKER_02]: Then it's the sectional favorites against the defending champions, when number 6 South Wood takes on Daleville, the Knights are 23, the Broncos 5 and 17.
13:22
[SPEAKER_02]: With 18 and 5 Rossville against 10 and 13 Carroll, Carroll gave the 10th ranked Hornets one of their 5 regular season losses, 56 to 55 in Rossville on December 19th.
13:33
[SPEAKER_02]: The second semi-final at Clinton Central is 17 and 6 Frontier against 14 and 10, Bethesda Christian.
13:39
[SPEAKER_02]: At Cambridge City, the first semi-final no one cares about its 10 and 13 union city against 7 and 14 union.
13:46
[SPEAKER_02]: And then the big one, the De facto Championship game, 18 and 4 Monroe Central against
13:52
[SPEAKER_02]: should be a great one.
13:54
[SPEAKER_02]: In the South of Class A, Purdue Broad Ripple is 16 and 9 and takes on 10 and 13 APA, a chance looking to make the sectional championship game for the second year in a row.
14:04
[SPEAKER_02]: If they do that, it will likely be an all Anderson matchup once again.
14:07
[SPEAKER_02]: Number 9, Liberty Christian is 16 and 7 and takes on 3 and 16 tinley in the second semi final.
14:14
[SPEAKER_02]: The Lions are heavy favorites to win their fifth straight sectional championship and 11th in 16 years.
14:20
[SPEAKER_02]: We start in the south in Class 3A and it's number 7 Shelbyville against Greenwood, the Bears are 19 and 5, the woodsman, 14 and 9.
14:29
[SPEAKER_02]: And then it's number 16 Ron Colley against Beach Grove, Ron Colley's 15 and 7 Beach Grove 9 and 16.
14:38
[SPEAKER_02]: In the north at Bellmont it's 5 and 16 Marin against 16 and 8 Heritage, the Giants are going to have to get past a couple of tough opponents at Bellmont to defend their
14:49
[SPEAKER_02]: And when they're 72nd overall, the second semi final at Belmont is 17 and 7 new haven against 7 and 16 Belmont, new haven dominated Belmont in the regular season and should again.
15:04
[SPEAKER_02]: At Logan's port, it's 16 and 5 north-western against 13 and 9 Logan's port.
15:08
[SPEAKER_02]: Retagers, their eyes on their first sectional title in a decade, and it's number 9 West Lafayette against Peru, Red Devils, or 24 of the Tigers, are 7 and 16.
15:18
[SPEAKER_02]: West Lafayette is the favorite in this sectional.
15:20
[SPEAKER_02]: I'm going to have a tough title game match up against either of the Tigers or the berries.
15:25
[SPEAKER_02]: And Frankford, it's number 10 berbuff against Levinon and number 5, Garen against Danville.
15:31
[SPEAKER_02]: If it's not Garen number buff, everyone will be shocked.
15:34
[SPEAKER_02]: And at Newcastle, 14th ranked Yorktown takes on Conner'sville.
15:39
[SPEAKER_02]: The Tigers are 15 and 8.
15:41
[SPEAKER_02]: Yorktown is 9 and 1, and it's last 10 games with the only loss coming against 4A number 4 Mount Vernon.
15:49
[SPEAKER_02]: The Tigers definitely am contingent for their second sectional title in the last 5 years.
15:54
[SPEAKER_02]: And my friend, Yorktown head coach, Justin Olen, joined me on Thursday night, too.
16:01
[SPEAKER_02]: Tell us about his team and previews Friday night's game against Connorsville.
16:10
[SPEAKER_02]: Well coach, Mason Tramell and Zaden's out couldn't miss a shot and your defense was really good and you'd be a really good Jay County team on Tuesday night.
16:18
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, I thought, you know, we've been shooting it well recently in practice.
16:23
[SPEAKER_00]: We shot it well when we played at Newcastle this season.
16:26
[SPEAKER_00]: And so I think guys felt confident that the ball was going to go in.
16:30
[SPEAKER_00]: And yeah, I thought our defense was about as good as it could be in the first half, especially.
16:35
[SPEAKER_02]: And Mason, you know, had a really good year last year, but his really kind of had a a breakout season for you, hasn't he?
16:43
[SPEAKER_00]: He's one of those kids that, you know, if we told him we needed to be needed him to be the, you know, the best screener he'd go do that.
16:52
[SPEAKER_00]: He just every challenge.
16:53
[SPEAKER_00]: We've given him garden the other teams best player.
16:55
[SPEAKER_00]: Hey, we need you to do that with your length.
16:57
[SPEAKER_00]: And he's become elite at it.
16:59
[SPEAKER_00]: He's a great, great kid.
17:01
[SPEAKER_00]: But he will take any challenge and go.
17:03
[SPEAKER_00]: Obviously, we need him to put the ball in the basket also.
17:07
[SPEAKER_02]: And he's been doing that at a high rate.
17:15
[SPEAKER_00]: We've got, uh, we just have, I know it's coach speak, but it is true.
17:19
[SPEAKER_00]: Like we just have a great locker room and it starts with those older guys.
17:23
[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, jayman barns kind of row Ray, Ryan Burkholder, Noah Kelly, four of them, um, all in the rotation one way or another kind of row Ray's been out for the year.
17:32
[SPEAKER_00]: But, uh, you know, he's a guy that, at halftime, we, we let him have the first, you know, two minutes with the players, like give him some feedback.
17:40
[SPEAKER_00]: Like, smart kids, they, they're together and they play a lot of basketball.
17:45
[SPEAKER_02]: But you miss Connor a lot, don't you?
17:47
[SPEAKER_00]: We do, you know, I think he really would have helped this in so many ways.
17:52
[SPEAKER_00]: He's a great shooter.
17:54
[SPEAKER_00]: He's long and he can guard the three, four, and five.
17:59
[SPEAKER_00]: But we've tried to really find some ways for him to have
18:02
[SPEAKER_00]: you know a meaningful impact on the team I hope he's he's feeling that but just little things like that others are been a few time out to our best him to you know give us what he's seen so he's a he's a tremendous kid now he's seen basketball kind of from a different angle because he's not getting prepared to go in the game and I think we're trying to use that to our advantage too.
18:24
[SPEAKER_02]: You talk Indiana high school basketball history doesn't give very long to get down
18:28
[SPEAKER_02]: The great 72 and 83 teams fill Cox all that.
18:31
[SPEAKER_02]: A program that seems to be back on the rise, kind of a dangerous opponent on Friday.
18:36
[SPEAKER_00]: Yes, you know, not only Conner's Ville's history, but then throw coach McCullough in there.
18:43
[SPEAKER_00]: You know, he's going to have he'll have something for us.
18:46
[SPEAKER_00]: His guys play hard.
18:48
[SPEAKER_00]: They move seamlessly between three and four different types of defenses.
18:53
[SPEAKER_00]: And that that can pose some challenges.
18:56
[SPEAKER_00]: The thing I'm most impressed with is they're just.
18:59
[SPEAKER_00]: togetherness on offense.
19:01
[SPEAKER_00]: They they cut and move and find each other and then they they offensive rebound at a high rate.
19:07
[SPEAKER_00]: So we've we've got our work cut out for us.
19:10
[SPEAKER_02]: It's amazing how much difference the great coach makes isn't it?
19:14
[SPEAKER_00]: Man he is uh he's one of my favorites to talk to.
19:17
[SPEAKER_00]: He's been one of my favorites to coach against that but to had too much success against him in those Shannon Doha.
19:23
[SPEAKER_00]: years when he went one maybe five or six sectionals in a row, but he's he's a great teacher.
19:28
[SPEAKER_00]: And that's that's what I think he does best like his teams do what he's asking them to do and that's a big deal.
19:36
[SPEAKER_02]: All right coach has been a little while for this program and for you to win a sectional championship is this thing capable of doing that this week.
19:43
[SPEAKER_00]: We're absolutely capable of doing it.
19:46
[SPEAKER_00]: Our guys have been bought in and playing confidently and free for the last couple of months here.
19:52
[SPEAKER_00]: And I think they're up for the challenge.
19:56
[SPEAKER_02]: Thank you so much for your time.
19:57
[SPEAKER_02]: Go to and good luck tonight.
19:59
[SPEAKER_00]: All right.
20:00
[SPEAKER_00]: Thanks, Greg.
20:00
[SPEAKER_00]: See you.
20:02
[SPEAKER_02]: And the second semi-final is 14-9 Hamilton Heights winners of 14 of their last 16 against
20:13
[SPEAKER_02]: and what should be a great one.
20:17
[SPEAKER_02]: My friend and Hamilton Heights had coach Chad Ballinger joined me and Michelle Garmin, the sports editor of the Tipton Tribune and Elwood Collator, to talk about his team and preview the matchup with Coach Dettwiler and the Eagles.
20:32
[SPEAKER_02]: Welcome to this has been one adventurous season for your team.
20:36
[SPEAKER_04]: Yeah, it's been exciting that it started extremely slow, but we've worked our way through it and we've been on quite a run here the second half and it's been fun.
20:50
[SPEAKER_03]: Chet, I know you and I talked earlier and you said it's been fun.
20:55
[SPEAKER_03]: Maybe not talent-wise.
20:57
[SPEAKER_03]: but this may be one of the more enjoyable teams you've had just to watch these guys compete as a fan to watch them really seem as a collective team.
21:07
[SPEAKER_03]: You don't see individuals out there trying things you see at team effort.
21:13
[SPEAKER_04]: 100% correct.
21:15
[SPEAKER_04]: Our big word thrown around now is culture.
21:17
[SPEAKER_04]: It's all culture and our culture right now is really good.
21:22
[SPEAKER_04]: Our senior leadership is outstanding.
21:25
[SPEAKER_04]: We've got a good mix of seniors and we've got a bunch of juniors apply and then we've thrown in a few.
21:31
[SPEAKER_04]: under classmen in there too, and they've just really supported each other.
21:37
[SPEAKER_04]: Kurt Ogden, our athletic director, came in the other day and said, man, you know, you're just sharing the ball, like nobody really cares.
21:43
[SPEAKER_04]: And that's true, that's a great compliment.
21:47
[SPEAKER_04]: Our kids don't really care who scoring as long as we've been playing well, or whoever's been hot, they get them the ball.
21:54
[SPEAKER_04]: It's a definition of a teen, so it's been fun, it's been enjoyable, it's really been that way the last two years, I thought our seniors last year kind of set that up and then our seniors this year just kind of ran with the two to the whole other level.
22:08
[SPEAKER_02]: A really good junior class.
22:12
[SPEAKER_04]: Yeah, I mean, it's exciting.
22:13
[SPEAKER_04]: It's a good group to come back.
22:14
[SPEAKER_04]: We're actually at coaches.
22:15
[SPEAKER_04]: We're talking about it tonight after practice.
22:18
[SPEAKER_04]: It's our JV team.
22:21
[SPEAKER_04]: I just don't know where those kids go.
22:23
[SPEAKER_04]: Next year, it's going to be a battle to filter in.
22:27
[SPEAKER_04]: But that's a problem we can wait.
22:30
[SPEAKER_04]: We're excited to be playing.
22:32
[SPEAKER_04]: Tomorrow night and see what happens, you know, it's fun, it's fun to make that step and kind of get that monkey off our back and our kids you're excited.
22:42
[SPEAKER_03]: So how, how?
22:44
[SPEAKER_03]: What was the key to getting the big win over Newcastle at first round the other night?
22:49
[SPEAKER_04]: Well, I just, we're ready to play.
22:51
[SPEAKER_04]: I mean, we started the game nine to nothing.
22:53
[SPEAKER_04]: We were up 15 to two.
22:54
[SPEAKER_04]: Our seniors again, they were all talking about like, hey, we got to set the standard.
23:00
[SPEAKER_04]: It's been a while last year.
23:01
[SPEAKER_04]: I really thought we had a chance to win last year.
23:05
[SPEAKER_04]: And we just got sick at the wrong time.
23:07
[SPEAKER_04]: It wasn't.
23:08
[SPEAKER_04]: anything except you know we just we didn't shoot well last year but we had a bunch of kids that were sick and I'm not throwing excuses out there because we had a really good team that had a chance but they just were like hey this is going to be a different year and we got a really good start and we're defending really at a pretty good level and that's been a key that this whole second half we've been a really good defensive team.
23:35
[SPEAKER_04]: We're getting there, we're getting there, definitely improved since those first seven games.
23:41
[SPEAKER_04]: We still have our moments, we're not anywhere I'd like to be, but we've definitely improved in that area.
23:48
[SPEAKER_04]: We've been in situations, we've been in close games, we'll be yorked down in over time.
23:53
[SPEAKER_04]: You know, earlier in the year, we didn't win those.
23:56
[SPEAKER_04]: We'd be Lebanon and a close game and a real hard fought game and they'd freak those down the stretch.
24:02
[SPEAKER_04]: Jay County was another one we kind of left slip away.
24:04
[SPEAKER_04]: They ended up 24 and we're up six to half time with the second half we turned the ball over a little bit in this shot, but other than that, we've really played well the second half of the year.
24:15
[SPEAKER_03]: Tell us about Friday's game and the matchup.
24:20
[SPEAKER_04]: Well, Delta's a young team.
24:23
[SPEAKER_04]: There are a lot like Newcastle.
24:24
[SPEAKER_04]: We've got to be able to keep them in front.
24:26
[SPEAKER_04]: We've got to contest.
24:27
[SPEAKER_04]: They can really shoot the basketball.
24:29
[SPEAKER_04]: Ramsey, kids, a junior, and a shooting 48% from three very talented.
24:36
[SPEAKER_04]: Lynch, kids, a sophomore point guard, is guy.
24:40
[SPEAKER_04]: That Lynch name is really a pretty good name in the months of the area.
24:45
[SPEAKER_04]: You think Coach Lens, the football coach, and Billy, and he's just a winner, and that and I are really good friends, and we've talked a lot, and that's the word he uses, like Lens could just wins, and we've got to find a way to get him out of the game, get him in some foul trouble.
25:01
[SPEAKER_04]: Speaking of winning, Coach, that's why there knows how to win a postseason game doesn't he?
25:06
[SPEAKER_04]: He does.
25:07
[SPEAKER_04]: And that's, you know, it goes to them.
25:09
[SPEAKER_04]: I told our kids until somebody knocks them off.
25:11
[SPEAKER_04]: They won three straight.
25:13
[SPEAKER_04]: They won three straight regionals.
25:14
[SPEAKER_04]: And they're the champions, I said.
25:16
[SPEAKER_04]: And I'm not even going to know that.
25:17
[SPEAKER_02]: They lost here.
25:18
[SPEAKER_04]: Yeah, I mean, they're going to come in expecting the win.
25:22
[SPEAKER_04]: We talk a lot that I do and we're Texan actually before Tuesday's game.
25:29
[SPEAKER_04]: And we're just talking about everything.
25:32
[SPEAKER_04]: And I know he's a great coach and his kids aren't going to roll over at all.
25:37
[SPEAKER_04]: I think we match up really well.
25:40
[SPEAKER_04]: But those kids just walk out and they're going to take something that not come off and get a new champion
25:48
[SPEAKER_02]: coach, thank you so much for your time and good luck on Friday.
25:51
[SPEAKER_04]: Hey, thanks.
25:52
[SPEAKER_04]: I appreciate you having me.
25:56
[SPEAKER_02]: Also on Friday night, the Pacers.
25:59
[SPEAKER_02]: Remain and Los Angeles to take on the Lakers.
26:03
[SPEAKER_02]: Paysers currently 15 and 47.
26:05
[SPEAKER_02]: Seven straight losses in our 5 and 25 on the road this year.
26:09
[SPEAKER_02]: Two of those wins are against the mix and thunder, by the way.
26:13
[SPEAKER_02]: So I guess you never know.
26:14
[SPEAKER_02]: The Lakers are 37 and 24th, sixth in the West.
26:17
[SPEAKER_02]: Just two games behind Minnesota for third and two games ahead of Phoenix for seventh.
26:22
[SPEAKER_02]: They won the third straight game on Tuesday, one-tenth, a one-on-one over the Pelicans.
26:26
[SPEAKER_02]: tip-off is 1030 and as usual can be seen on the fan dual network.
26:32
[SPEAKER_02]: Hey check out the Charlotte Hornets, winners of 6 games in a row clearly in the playoffs while the play and going out to the southeast division not just two games behind co-leaders Orlando and Miami hope to discuss the rise of the Hornets with will on our new podcast next week.
26:50
[SPEAKER_02]: one game in college basketball tonight and it's it's seven o'clock at were the arena where eleven and nine ball state host ten and twenty michigan state in the regular season finale a chance to the right in the regular season on a four game winning streak and maybe sneak into the back tournament isn't that such a
27:10
[SPEAKER_02]: First practice at Phoenix was held this morning in Indicar.
27:13
[SPEAKER_02]: Qualifying is right now.
27:15
[SPEAKER_02]: I couldn't hold the podcast for it.
27:16
[SPEAKER_02]: We usually do a preview with Elijah Poe.
27:19
[SPEAKER_02]: After qualifying, but this week is a weird format.
27:22
[SPEAKER_02]: So, but we will have his reaction and others following the race on Saturday afternoon.
27:29
[SPEAKER_02]: It's one it's on.
27:30
[SPEAKER_02]: And here's Elijah with a quick preview.
27:35
[SPEAKER_02]: Elijah, great first.
27:37
[SPEAKER_02]: event of the year at St. Petersburg except for the final result was a 13 second win and now they head to an oval at Phoenix where the Indie cars are really shining.
27:49
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, this might be a little odd for any car fans to have a back-to-back race weekend to open up the season, but we're right in the thing of it here and back-to-the next on a short oval.
27:58
[SPEAKER_01]: Love it.
27:59
[SPEAKER_01]: Especially because they're pairing this up with NASCAR, the cup series is going to be there as well.
28:03
[SPEAKER_01]: So this is a huge event for any car.
28:05
[SPEAKER_02]: The JV League is going to be there as well, huh?
28:08
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, I think somebody got confused.
28:10
[SPEAKER_01]: The varsity is actually playing it before the JV.
28:13
[SPEAKER_01]: That's right.
28:15
[SPEAKER_02]: At least it's getting that way.
28:16
[SPEAKER_02]: Maybe it's not to to this very day, but it's getting that way.
28:20
[SPEAKER_02]: And we saw some excellent numbers to there are showing that the first week, right?
28:25
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, 4 million viewers came in and watched Indie Car in there.
28:28
[SPEAKER_01]: first week at St. Pete with to match last year's total, and I've actually heard some accounts as well that it appeared to be more people at the track as well.
28:38
[SPEAKER_01]: So just more people in general, super interested to see what's going to happen at Phoenix, pairing alongside NASCAR as a great opportunity, and there's nothing like a short oval.
28:49
[SPEAKER_01]: And a rare Saturday afternoon.
28:51
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, nice Saturday, 3 p.m. start with qualifying 2 p.m.
28:56
[SPEAKER_01]: It's going to be really, really quick turnaround for these teams.
28:59
[SPEAKER_01]: I think something to watch for sure is if a car goes off and practice one, you know, they only got a couple hours to really turn that car around for qualifying.
29:08
[SPEAKER_01]: So it's going to be very, very interesting for some cars.
29:11
[SPEAKER_02]: Now I'll explode.
29:12
[SPEAKER_02]: I've been really dominant in the series the last couple of years, but not dominant on short ovals.
29:16
[SPEAKER_02]: So who are you looking at as the top contenders with below?
29:21
[SPEAKER_02]: Who's obviously contender, even though that's probably not as best driving quality?
29:26
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, for sure.
29:27
[SPEAKER_01]: I think when you mention, you have to mention Alex blow, but alongside him on short ovals, you have to immediately go to Joseph, New Garden and Pato Award, who have just been unreal on pretty much any ovally touch.
29:40
[SPEAKER_01]: Those are some definitely names I'm going to be watching.
29:42
[SPEAKER_01]: New Garden, especially because he won this race last time they were there in 2018, but Pato Award is well just because he is so so aggressive, especially on the short ovals.
29:52
[SPEAKER_02]: new else has been impressive on short ovals that it's never resulted in a win but man as he fun to watch his David Malukas now in a pinsky maybe watch out for him.
30:03
[SPEAKER_01]: I agree especially off of the racie had last weekend at St. Pete when he kind of had his own error to his own fault there but he was very very very fast at St. Louis last year and had some some great moments throughout the years where he was able to kind of shine on those short ovals and he is definitely really looking for that first win with pinsky.
30:23
[SPEAKER_02]: All right, Elijah and I are going to be on the Indie Car Report we're about to do that right now.
30:28
[SPEAKER_02]: Actually, as you're listening, we did it yesterday.
30:32
[SPEAKER_02]: But as of right now at the Elijah, we're about to do that.
30:36
[SPEAKER_02]: So we're going to be talking about what happened to St. Pete.
30:39
[SPEAKER_02]: We're going to be talking about what's going to happen at Phoenix.
30:42
[SPEAKER_02]: And we're going to be talking about a lot more.
30:44
[SPEAKER_02]: Thanks Elijah.
30:45
[SPEAKER_02]: Thank you, Greg.
30:48
[SPEAKER_02]: By the way, you've got mine and Will's picks for this weekend, Michelle is taking Scott and Glocklin.
30:53
[SPEAKER_02]: Go check out that indie car report, please.
30:56
[SPEAKER_02]: It's it for today, my friends and I will be back tomorrow.
31:00
[SPEAKER_02]: On tomorrow's show, we'll have an IU Ohio State Preview with Grant Shows, a Purdue Wisconsin Preview with Jake Dunn, and of course, tons of high school boys basketball sectional semi final results from Friday night.
31:14
[SPEAKER_02]: Thanks so much for listening.
31:33
[SPEAKER_02]: The Central Indiana Sports Report is a product of ITG media, and I love Susie.