By Jeremy Shapiro
Danville’s opponent in today’s boys’ basketball regional is known for its defense, a fact the Warriors know firsthand.
While Danville beat Brebeuf Jesuit 42-36 Feb. 6., it was easily the lowest scoring output of the season by the Warriors. Danville’s next lowest score was 58 points against Avon. The team averages 70 a game.
The Warriors will face Brebeuf at noon today in Shelbyville. The game will be preceded at 10 a.m. by a battle between Greensburg (20-2) and Mt. Vernon Fortville (21-2). The winners will meet in the regional championship at 8 p.m.
Danville is playing in its second regional in three years. In 2008, the team lost a heartbreaker to Rushville 105-101 in four overtimes.
The Warriors last won a regional in 2000.
Last week. the Class 3A No. 1 ranked Warriors (23-1) cruised through the sectional rounds beating Crawfordsville by 14, Western Boone by 34 and Lebanon by 16. The Warriors are 12-0 against other 3A schools. Danville’s only loss came late in the season at North Central, the No. 2 ranked team in Class 4A.
Brebeuf Jesuit comes into today’s game with a 14-8 record. The Braves opened the season 3-4, including losses to fellow Indianapolis schools Roncalli and Cathedral. After the holidays, the team won six of seven before the close loss to Danville.
Brebeuf went 3-2 over the rest of the regular season. They got revenge on Roncalli in the sectional semifinals 52-42 and edged Howe 56-55 for the sectional championship. Those low scoring games were the norm for the Braves. They average 53 a game and hold teams to 46 points.
The Braves have been led by 6-foot-4 senior forward Trent Hoffman and senior point guard Austin Bruen.
Evan Kroot and Bob Dillon also are capable scorers, averaging 10 and 8 points per game respectively.
No one on the Braves roster is taller than 6-4, which means Danville’s Travis Carroll will have the size advantage. The Purdue recruit is averaging 20 points and 12 rebounds a game. Jordan Weidner averages 17 a game while Tyler Hall contributes 11 points and 6 assists a contest.
Danville has won seven of the last 10 in the series.
If the Warriors get the win, they will face a challenge in the regional final Saturday evening. Mt. Vernon is ranked third in the state while Greensburg is seventh.
Mt. Vernon has won 17 straight and is undefeated in 3A play. Greensburg opened the season 15-0 and beat a strong Batesville team in overtime in the sectional finals.
