Episode 34: Zionsville and Warsaw preview, & conclusion of football

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Episode Transcript

(00:05):
Hello, Hello, Hello, Welcometo the Shamrock Sports Casts. I'm Rowan
Elbert, joined by Cali Sigler,Drew Taylor, the usual gang. If
you're not used to it by now, you should get used to it.
We're on episode I'm not even goingto bother counting, and today we're going
to be talking mainly about I guessboys and girls basketball. But at the

(00:31):
same time, we never really gavefootball a proper conclusion, so we'll do
that later on. And yeah,let's get straight into it. I do
want to talk about the last twogames for boys basketball, the first two
winning against Kokomo sixty two fifty seven, beating the number three player in the

(00:54):
country, Flory Baduga. We allknow the big storyline though, Nicko dunking
on floor, rubbing him on thehead. That should be illegal. But
I have to ask you, whatwere your thoughts when you saw the video
and you saw the video going viral. I mean, I thought it was
funny. I'm kind of surprised ithappened. I meanfully honest, I don't

(01:18):
think coach Sumter was very happy aboutthe what happened after that, But you
know, all around just really wantto pull the guys for that win at
Cocomo. I mean, obviously,when you're going against the third best player
in the country committed to Kansas,you got to bring in and they brought
up for sure. Yeah, thatwas an amazing dunk, and I agree
probably Sumter wasn't that happy with whathappened, but I mean, you got

(01:41):
national attention from it. We gotwhat overtime. Yeah, So I mean
it was a great dunk in agreat win, and I can't wait to
see what continued down the road.Fram Yeah, I mean, I mean
it's great when a guy like NickBook and the Westfield Shamrocks are getting more
national media attention than the Detroit Pistons. You know, it's wild, a

(02:01):
wild time to be alive. ButI will say I did talk to coach
Sumpter and he said he loved thedunk. He loved the play, but
not the antics afterwards. And Idon't blame him. I mean, a
whistle was blown right after for atech. You know, I talked to

(02:23):
Nick too. He didn't give agreat answer to I guess how he was
feeling in the moment. He wassaying he wasn't really thinking when he did
that, which honestly do I believeit. Sure. Anyway, let's talk
about the last matchup though Pendleton Heightswith Penelton Heights. Obviously, the big

(02:50):
storyline set La Ravia returning to Westfield. We did that game on the issaatv
dot org and that is also whereyou can catch this Friday's boys game and
this Saturday's girls game. I willsay with this game very tight in the

(03:12):
beginning, but then Westfield pulled awayone sixty four to thirty nine. Now,
let me ask you what was yourbiggest takeaway from not only that game
but the first two games in general. Two really good wins to have to
start off your season. Obviously you'reexpected to beat Pendleton, but Kokomo on

(03:37):
the road, that's an extremely toughenvironment. I kind of compare it to
so in the Big Ten. BigTen road games are some of the most
brutal games for the away team,and I kind of compare it to that.
But just with Pendleton all around,it's a good win, and then
it gives you a little bit ofmotivation to carry into a tough Signsville team
you're playing this Friday. Yeah,I agree. You know, they're really

(03:59):
spreading them around on offense, youknow, it's not just one person.
We have like four people that areputting up a good number of points.
So I think it's good that wehave multiple like targets and stars that we
can use on the court. OhI know, I mean like Nick Book
an incredible player. But like withBook, he did attempt ten shots.
Yeah, but like when he's onlyscoring ten points, you know that you'll

(04:24):
be okay because guys like Will Harvey, Trade Buchan and Charles Ferrell, they
can all turn up. And that'sexactly what Trade Bucannon did twenty one points.
Once again, he's the shot attemptsvery high. If if he's not
in a groove early, he'll bein a groove later on in the game.

(04:44):
Trade Buchanon an unreal talent. Ithink he's a preferred walk on at
Iowa and Arizona, which I thinkhe'll show this year that he deserves that
honor to be on a Division oneroster, not only a Division one roster,
a Power five Division one roster.I think Tray Buchanan has the it

(05:10):
factor when it comes to that.And let's talk about the next matchup.
Zionsville one to zero. They beatCarmel fifty seven forty at home. But
they have not played since then.That was November twenty first. Man,
it's going on two weeks that theyhaven't played a game, and they were

(05:33):
going to play Ben Davis, butthat game got postponed because Ben Davis won
the state championship for football. Theymade it to state. Had Westfield made
it to state as well, thanthe Cocomo game likely also would have been
postponed. And by the way,congratulations to Ben Davis getting the job done.

(05:59):
You know, revenge feels sweet anyway. With Zionsville, the leading scorer
a guy who has never played varsitybefore, Maguire Mitchell twenty nine points.
Wow. I mean, like,there's so much to talk about with this

(06:19):
team. What do you guys feellike Zionsville brings to the table in the
matchup with Westfield. I think it'spretty evenly matched. I think the guard
play is very similar. I thinkZionsville, well, it's going to be
the toughest test Wests had the experiencein their conference so far. So for

(06:41):
Westfield, you got to control thepace of this game. I got to
get it in the book. Ifthat's not there, kick it out to
Trey or even some of the youngerguys like Drew Haffner or Rock Detimore or
Will Harvey for three, just allaround spacing the court, and I think
you can get the job done againstthe Eagles. Yeah, I agree.
And you know, Zionsville has agood player named Mitchell that I think when

(07:03):
he he probly carries Zionsville and Ithink if we can really stop them,
we can like reduce the amount ofpoints they score. Oh yeah, I
mean McGuire Mitchell. I mean,very small sample size, but twenty nine
points in one game. Great EugeneHilton. They're leading rebounder with four rebounds
per game. The rebounding, Ithink that is where you'll you'll see Nick

(07:27):
Book. I think he will havehis first ten rebound game of his career.
I mean, I'm not career Westfieldcareer. I mean we definitely saw
him do it in the U seventeenWorld Cup, which people might not know
this, but Nick Book and theU seventeen World Cup he outscored Alex Sar.

(07:51):
If you don't know who Alex Saris, the projected number one pick
in this year's NBA draft. Imean, it's wild what Book was doing
in that tournament. And he bringsthat it factor which I talked about with
Trey. He brings it to Westfield, which is huge. And he had

(08:13):
the choice of going to IMG Academyor here, and we somehow got him
here. I think it was mainlybecause you know, we had so much
more to offer to not only him, but also to his family. I
think that shows how high of acharacter Nick Book really has. I think

(08:35):
it shows the kind of person hetruly is, which is putting others before
him. But not only that,I mean Nick Book he knows what's best
for his career and I applaud himfor that. Anyway, I do want
to talk about their head coach,JR. Howell. You may recognize the

(08:56):
last name Howell because his father,Jimmy Howe in the Indiana Basketball Hall of
Fame for coaching. JR. Howelljoining the team in twenty twenty and so
far has not had a losing record. And I guess how can I think
this whole coaching matchup is incredible.The Sumpter Howell both great friends off the

(09:22):
court, but on the court bitterenemies. It's going to be a great
matchup. How can Sumter prevail?Obviously, you whin a Ziono's got a
player like McGuire Mitchell. You gotto lock them up defensively and for on
offense. Really, like I saidearlier, spacing out the ball, run
in the court. You've got tonsof guys. When you go to a

(09:45):
six A high school like this,you have more options. But they're west
who was loaded with weapons offensively,so just if one guy's not hitting,
you got another guy that likely can. So for this Westfield team, the
depth is truly there, which iswhy I think they'll prevail. Yeah,
I agree, I think we havethe depth. And I also think this
game we have the most homecode homecourt advantage we're going to have for a

(10:05):
long time because this game kind ofmeans so much to everybody because it's for
Tucker. If you guys don't knowwho Tucker is, he's yeah, I
mean I will say, yeah Fridaynight, if you can make it out,
do it. Play for Tucker Night. Also, if you are going

(10:26):
to come to the game, bringa children's book. I think there should
be a drop box somewhere there.I think if yeah, you donate a
children's book and that will that willmean a lot to everybody. And I
think and I talked to coach Sumpter. I talked about how fans can get
involved on play for Tucker night,and he said, one thing, be

(10:48):
there. I mean, just showup and you know, bring the energy.
But also it's going to be anemotional night. But yeah, Westfield
Signsville definitely game of the week.Let's get a score prediction around here.
I'll go Westfield sixty four, Zionsvillefifty eight. Ooh, I was going

(11:16):
to go Westfield sixty five, Zionsvillefifty two. Okay, okay, I'm
going to go I'm going to goWestfield fifty eight and Zionsville I will go
fifty two. And look, Westfield, great offense, but look at what

(11:37):
Zionsville did to Carmel, only allowingforty points. And I know Carmel they're
on they're kind of on like adown they're on the bro I can't find
the words to describe it. They'reon kind of a downhill, you know,
spiral. But still forty points toa team in U like in your

(12:00):
own sectional, that's very impressive.And I will say that I think Westfield
will have the edge mainly because well, Zionsville they have not played a team
like Westfield when it cut, becauseyou know, they've only played one game.
I think Westfield's the better team thanCarmel, and I don't know if
Zionsville is quite prepared for that.And I do want to bring up last

(12:26):
year Zionsville winning on a game winningthree against Westfield at the Buzzer. Westfield
feeling heartbroken. They're going to lookto recover from that. Now, let's
talk about the girls. They've hadan incredible start to the year. I
think a lot of people doubted them, and they came in with a very

(12:50):
experienced group. They're five and oneand this Saturday they're taking on a pretty
good Warsaw team that is five andtwo, and Warsaw they they've got a
couple of girls averaging above fifteen pointsper game. But I guess not only
that, what Westfield's been able todo with their five and one start has

(13:13):
just been you know, it showsthe experience of the team. There wasn't
a lot of seniors leaving, andEllie keller Heer obviously having a great season.
We did the Pike game on playby play me and CALLI did and
Kellerer had twenty one points. Butnot only what she's been able to do

(13:33):
offensively, but defensively, she hadfour steals in that game. She really
I mean she's been playing more oflike a post up type of player now.
She's was playing more like a guardlast year, but with the lack
of height on this team, she'sbeen playing more like a forward, which
is really interesting. I want toget your take on that. What has

(13:56):
been your biggest takeaway with Ellie Keller. I mean, when I was talking
to coach Steele yesterday, she saidshe's grown so long, so much in
like the offseason. She's she improvedin this last year and I think she
knew she gonna have to step upeven more this season and she's gonna have
done it. But she also hasother teammates that have stepped up also in

(14:16):
the process. I mean, she'salways taken on a big leadership role.
But really this what this whole teamhas really kind of turning it around,
and this has been a great start. But it also influences on Coach Steel
has done a great job with theyouth programs and for girls basketball there they
show out to all the games,so that's been cool to see as well.

(14:37):
Yeah, I mean with coach Steeleonly in year two coaching, which
obviously when you take on you know, when you take over for Ginny Smith,
a great coach, you know,that's a very hard thing to go
about. But the way she's beenable to do it. Last year did
not end well, had the lossand one to Zionsville, but this year

(15:01):
truly balancing back. But a player. I want to talk about that nobody
saw her breakout coming. I wantto talk about Reagan Lorenzen averaging twelve points
per game on the year, shehad seventeen against Pike twenty one in the
opener, but last year she barelyplayed and she averaged like three points per

(15:24):
game. What a growth for herto go from her junior year not getting
a lot of touches with the ballto now her final year, her senior
year proving a point. How hasshe been able to do it? I
think it's just with coaching. Honestly, I think coach Steele is done a

(15:46):
great job developing the talent of thesegirls, and just I think that's the
nice thing about like I say allthe time, playing for a six A
schools, there's so much depth andtalent that even got people on your bench,
they can come out and surprise somepeople as well. That's what she's
done for this team, and she'sbrought a whole new outlook. Yeah,

(16:07):
she really has. She's really like, we've not seen much growth and she's
really sad. Look at me now. And that's what I love, you
know. I love when players showup and they just show out. And
that's what something that Westfield does alot. And we shouldn't be surprised at
this point how many players are sogood at this school. But I mean,
coach still like she gives a lotof credit to her team, and

(16:30):
I think that's why the players likeshow out because she is always there and
supporting them. Anyway, Warsaw thatthat's a long drive for Warsaw going all
the way down to Westfield. It'sdown right, Warsaw is up north,
Okay, didn't want had to getmy facts straight anyway, Warsaw. Yeah,

(16:52):
that's like almost the two that's likealmost two hours north. I think.
I mean, do you think thatplays a factor into the game.
I definitely do. We saw itand what I believe happened in Westfield Crown
Point Carol HSC. I mean,you have to make these long drives,
and for me, I think itplays a factor. It's a long bus

(17:15):
riding. Can jewele tired and thentakes a little longer to get loose warm
ups and stuff like that. SoI definitely believe it plays a factor.
Yeah, I also agree does playa factor, especially when you're like Westfield.
You can come around and shoot aroundlike an hour before, two hours
before versus Warsaw, they'll be ona bus ride. Still, Oh,
I know it. That definitely playsa big factor. I do want to

(17:37):
talk about a very good matchup,Battle of the Tens. Let's talk about
their jersey number, Jocelyn Bricker,And she also plays volleyball too. In
her sophomore year averaging fifteen points pergame. That's absurd. But then you
have Ellie Keller Heer too for whatField in her senior year, the Indiana

(18:03):
Westland commit, having such a greatyear. How can Keller her come out
on top in that matchup? Ithink for Keller her, she's gotta find
her shots, take those shots she'scomfortable taking, but also driving in the
basket, make those contact, makethose contact shots. So for her,
just taking control of this offense,just taking control of this offense and hopefully

(18:30):
leading this Rocks team to win.Yeah, it's definitely taking control of offense
and defense. We saw versus thePike game. She well, she was
driving in and she was shooting.She was making those smart plays. So
I think that that makes her sucha smart player. And on the other

(18:51):
side, yeah, she is,who are fifteen points, but we also
have a great defense to stop her. Oh yeah, I mean what Westfield
did to Pike, especially in thesecond quarter. I do want to point
out Pike. They didn't score untilthe three minute mark in the second quarter.
I'm not talking about for the wholegame. I'm talking about for that
quarter. But that was an impressiveperformance. And it's also worth knowing Westfield

(19:17):
only a couple days after Warsaw.They've got Carmel at Carmel and Westfield they're
not going to be at home untilDecember sixteenth. Yeah, I mean,
it's going to be a while untilthey have the home court advantage again.
So I have to ask you now, Warsaw, they've been playing great basketball

(19:41):
all year, but the competition,they've not quite played a team like Westfield.
So what is your score prediction forthis matchup? For west I'm gonna
go I think wessell Thov's gonna winbecause I think the bus ride definitely plays
into it. But I also thinkWestfold's a better team. I'll go Westfield.

(20:02):
I think it's I'm gonna go Westfieldthirty six Warsaw thirty. I'm gonna
go Westfield forty two Warsaw thirty three. Wow, low scoring man, I'll
say Westfield. I think the defensewill show up, and with Warsaw,

(20:23):
I think their defense will maybe notshow up as much. I think Westfield
that ends up winning the matchup fiftytwo to forty. I think Westfield's going
to show out the way I expectthem to. Okay, let's talk about
swimming. The girls their first meet, they won their first place. Great

(20:47):
performance last week not so much,finishing third to Fishers and Brownsburg. They
have the home pool advantage next week, hopefully they can bounce back to They
also had their first meet last weekto Fishers and Brownsburg and they also finished
third. Also looking to bounce backwith the home pool advantage. And wrestling.

(21:14):
Yeah, believe it or not,we're gonna have wrestling, you know,
coming up. They had their firstmeet last week and obviously Porter Temples
is a guy you know, youhave to keep an eye on a guy
who went to State last year,I believe, and now this year he
finished first already in his perspective inhis respective category, I believe. So

(21:42):
they have a meet this Saturday hereat home at nine am, so that
will be something to keep an eyeon. Now that we are moving on
from that, I do want toask you a national question. And I

(22:04):
really haven't thought of a national questionuntil now, but it's a very important
issue that I think needs to cometo light, and it's it's very important.
It's been weighing on my mind.Where will show Heyotani Land, Texas
Rangers if you're right. If you'reright about that, man, I don't

(22:29):
know how I'll react. Well.I want to say the Cubs, but
will that happen? Probably not.But I also think the Dodgers. Thank
you, I said, Texas Rangers. How come? I mean, obviously
the World Series champions, But Ijust see him. I think he fits
that roster. I just he'll fitany roster for me. I would like

(23:00):
to see him. I'm a Dodgersfan. If you can't already tell by
my obvious bias, I would loveto see him and Dodger blue. Will
it happen. I don't know,but I think it's very I think it's
it's very well possible that we mightsee him and Yamamota, the other big

(23:21):
Japanese free agent. We might seethem both teaming up, teaming up because
Otani made it quite clear that hewanted to team up with another Japanese player,
and that's what Chicago can offer tothe Cubs with a Suzuki that that's
a great combination there. But theDodgers, they can afford Otani and Yamamota,

(23:41):
and I think they can do it. I mean, we saw at
the Laker game last week. Yamamotawas in the front row. Maybe him
and Andrew Friedman were having a conversation. But could you imagine the first three
in a lineup, Mookie Betts,who was coming off a top three MVP

(24:02):
season, top three in the MVPrunning, Freddie Freeman also who another guy
who was top three in the MVPrunning, and then you have the al
MVP show. Hey, Otani,that's a dangerous lineup. Yeah, hopefully
they can actually hit in October.I mean, Otani, he can't pitch

(24:22):
until twenty twenty five. But thegreat thing about his injury. Well,
it's not great, obviously, butthe great thing about that only affects his
pitching. He'll be able to hitby opening day. And even if Otani
can't pitch, I'm still giving himany amount of money he wants because he's,

(24:45):
in my opinion, he's probably thebest hitter in all of baseball,
and he's a top ten, topfifteen pitcher as well. We've never quite
seen anyone like show Hey Otani inthe last one hundred years, and I
the Dodgers got to do whatever ittakes after that heartbreaking playoff loss to go
get them. Let's talk about WestfieldCrown Point. We never gave football a

(25:10):
true conclusion. Westfield Crown Point semistate. Me and Allen made the trip.
Allen, you're right there. Howwas the trip? Did you enjoy
it? Yeah? It was veryfun. Oh yeah, I mean yeah,
it was very fun for us,but not necessarily the Westfield team losing

(25:30):
in double overtime to Crown Point absolutelyheartbreaking, that last pass from Jackson Gilbert
incomplete and overtime. But then also, I mean Westfield, they dug themselves
deep in a hole first half,they were down seventeen to nothing, but
they outplayed Crown Point in the secondhalf. But now that football season's officially

(25:56):
over, what was your biggest takeawayfrom this year, but also what are
you looking forward to the most nextyear? My biggest takeaway was really just
how talented this team really was.I mean, obviously we went to stay
twenty twenty twenty twenty one, butI feel like overall, this team,
just an overall depth, was justextremely talented and it really is unfortunate to

(26:19):
come up that short. But really, what I'm looking for next year is
Carson Melvin season. I mean,that's a guy that I think with when
he gets developed, he's wanting tobe something scary, that's for sure,
and I'm so excited to be ableto see it happen next year. Yeah,
I agree. I think we hadthe talent this year, and we
also have like the perseverance. Wenever gave up and Crimepa is a great

(26:42):
example when we were down seventeen,Oh, they didn't give up and they
came back and they tied it.So I think it was a perseverance that
we showed and just a talent wehave on this team. And then next
season, I can't wait for evenmore talent. Like, we have lots
of young players are ready to shine, and I think we saw a little
bit of it this season with likeDeacon and Alex, So I think it's

(27:06):
just gonna be the talent again inCarson Melvin. Yeah, I do want
to point out though, I meanthe returning talent from injury. Lenox Williams
will be going into his senior year. He did not play a single snap
this year, and he'll finally getto show why. Like going into this
year, he was probably our bestdefensive player and overall probably our best player

(27:32):
going into the season. We lost, We lost our best player, and
we made it and we made itto Semi State. That's an incredible accomplishment
and Lennox is going to have alot to prove. Gabe Aaron Bolis also
coming off of a torn acl thatit'll be great to really see him shine
once again. But also all thewide receivers he heard the bell maybe,

(27:56):
but all the wide receivers there goingto be back together. Gabe Parker,
bo the whole lineup. Brock Parker, he'll slide in perfectly at that tight
end spot. And you mentioned Melvin, he'll be great at quarterback. The
future is bright when it comes toWestfield football. And next year, you

(28:18):
never know, I might be relivingmy glory days coming out to watch the
team play and everyone's going to wonderwhy I'm there. And yeah, I
think that's going to do it whenit comes to football, And yeah,
that's going to do it for ourshow. Peace. Peace,