No. 1 South Bend Washington girls draw No. 11 Lake Central in 4A Huntington North semistate

South Bend Washington girls basketball coach Steve Reynolds admitted he would have liked another trip to LaPorte for the semistate. That didn't happen.

He also emphasized that he is just fine with a noon start for his team that is not overly fond of early mornings.

The top-ranked and undefeated Panthers (27-0) are set to meet No. 11 Lake Central (22-5) in the second semifinal game of the Class 4A Huntington North Semistate Saturday. No. 10 Fort Wayne Snider (21-4) clashes with No. 3 Fishers (24-2) in the opener at 10 a.m. The semistate title game for a spot in the state championship contest Feb. 18 in Indianapolis will tipoff at 8 p.m.

4A LaPorte Regional:South Bend Washington girls looked vulnerable until until they didn't

The IHSAA with the new format for the regional and semistate rounds of the state tournament series implemented this year held the semistate pairings Sunday afternoon.

"I was hoping for LaPorte as a site, but I'm very pleased with the draw," Reynolds said Sunday via text after the pairings were released. "I have a bunch of sleepy heads on my team, so 12 p.m. works."

Washington won the LaPorte Regional Saturday with a 60-41 win over No. 13 Valparaiso. The Panthers, who were Class 3A state champions a year ago, outscored the Vikings 36-9 in the second half. Washington, which has now won its last 34 games, won the semistate title at LaPorte a year ago.

The Panthers, who lead the state in scoring at 70 ppg., are led by senior guard Rashunda Jones. The Purdue recruit and Miss Basketball candidate averages 20 ppg. and had 18 in Saturday's win. Star sophomore Kira Reynolds led her team with 19 points in the regional.

Lake Central topped Northridge 42-29 to win the other regional game at LaPorte Saturday. The Indians rely on their defense and only allow 34.9 ppg. Lake Central is coached by Joe Huppenthal, the former Clay boys basketball coach. Huppenthal is in his seventh season at Lake Central.

Fairfield, sitting at 25-2 will make the trip to LaPorte to face Tippecanoe Valley in the Class 3A North Semistate. The No. 7 Falcons rallied from a seven-point deficit in the second half to beat Highland 40-32 Saturday in the Jimtown Regional. Fairfield, which lost in the Class 2A semistate last year, is led by its stellar senior class. The quartet, led by standout Brea Garber, is the program's all-time winningest class with 78 victories and this year's 25 wins are a single-season record.

Tippecanoe Valley, owners of a 22-3 mark, used a fine defensive effort Saturday to upset No. 8 Marian 67-54 in the Jimtown Regional. The Vikings are led by senior star Kaydence Mellott, the team's lone double digit scorer at 19 ppg. Mellott scored a game-high 20 points in the regional win.

Girls regional roundup:Tippecanoe Valley defense shuts down Mishawaka Marian; Fairfield advances

No. 1 ranked Twin Lakes (27-0) faces No. 11 Hamilton Heights (20-5) in the opener at LaPorte.

Bethany Christian continues its historic season with a trip to the Class 1A North Semistate at Frankfort. The No. 7 Bruins, who won the first regional in program history Saturday by downing Tri-County 38-30 at the Caston Regional, will face No. 6 Washington Township (20-6). Bethany, owners of a 22-3 mark, are led by star junior Zoe Willems. Willems had 18 points and 11 rebounds in the regional victory.

No. 2 Tri (25-1) meets Tri-Central (12-13) in the opener at Frankfort.

IHSAA NORTH SEMISTATE PAIRINGS

Saturday, Feb. 18, all times EST

CLASS 4A

At Huntington North

10 a.m.: Fort Wayne Snider (21-4) vs. No. 3 Fishers (24-2)

12 p.m.: No. 1 South Bend Washington (27-0) vs. No. 11 Lake Central (22-5)

8 p.m.: Championship

CLASS 3A

At LaPorte

11 a.m.: No. 1 Twin Lakes (27-0) vs. No. 11 Hamilton Heights (20-5)

1 p.m.: Tippecanoe Valley (22-3) vs. No. 7 Fairfield (25-2)

8:30 p.m.: Championship

CLASS 2A

At Logansport

10 a.m.: No. 4 Andrean (25-3) vs. Lapel (20-7)

12 p.m.: No. 3 Central Noble (25-2) vs. No. 5 Lafayette Central Catholic (20-6)

8 p.m.: Championship

CLASS 1A

At Frankfort

10 a.m.: No. 1 Tri (25-1) vs. Tri-Central (12-13)

12 p.m.: No. 7 Bethany Christian (22-3) vs. No. 6 Washington Township (20-6)

8 p.m.: Championship

IHSAA SOUTH SEMISTATE PAIRINGS

CLASS 4A

At Southport

10 a.m.: No. 7 Bedford North Lawrence (24-3) vs. No. 9 Center Grove (22-4)

Noon: Lawrence North (18-9) vs. Ben Davis (18-9)

8 p.m.: Championship

CLASS 3A

At Jasper

10:30 a.m.: Gibson Southern (21-4) vs. No. 6 Corydon Central (25-2)

12:30 p.m.: Indianapolis Bishop Chatard (12-13) vs. No. 5 Indian Creek (26-1)

8 p.m.: Championship

CLASS 2A

At Shelbyville

10 a.m.: No. 2 Forest Park (23-3) vs. Greencastle (23-4)

Noon: No. 1 North Knox (27-1) vs. No. 8 Eastern Hancock (23-3)

8 p.m.: Championship

CLASS 1A

At New Albany

10 a.m.: Bloomfield (14-14) vs. No. 14 Jac-Cen-Del (16-11)

Noon: No. 1 Lanesville (25-2) vs. No. 4 Trinity Lutheran (22-6)

8 p.m.: Championship

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: The IHSAA set girls basketball semistate pairings: South Bend Washington