INDIANAPOLIS — Parke Heritage boys basketball will get their chance to play for a spot in the Class 2A State Championship.
Saturday afternoon at Southport Fieldhouse the Wolves took on Forest Park and used a great second half to defeat the Rangers 64-54. Leading by a single point at 26-25 at the break, Parke Heritage (24-5) out-scored the Rangers 38-29 in the final 16 minutes as the pace quickened for both teams.
The third quarter set the tone as it did a week ago for the Wolves in their regional championship win and a Treigh Schelsky two to open the fourth, gave the Wolves a double-digit lead at 47-37 with their largest swelling to 14 points in the fourth.
“We knew going in it was going to be a tough game because Forest Park is a lot like we are,” Wolves coach Rich Schelsky said. “They’re athletic, tough and strong kids on both teams who play multiple sports. We were in this spot last year and got a tough draw and were just happy to be here. Now this year they want to win and we came out and took care of business.”
The scoring for the Wolves was balanced all game long. Senior Max Dowd led the way early with 12 points at halftime and he finished the game scoring 17. Treigh Schelsky led all scorers with 22 and Renn Harper came out on fire in the second half to end the game with 16 points. Freshman Carter Crum got timely lay-ins near the rim to finish with eight.
Forest Park who ends its season at 18-10 was led in scoring by Reid Howard’s 19. Trevor Berg scored 11, Jace Berg and Jared Burger both nine, Jaxon Lueken five and Bryson Frick one.
“Max was excellent early on and carried us for the first six to 10 minutes,” Schelsky said of his senior. “That’s the beauty of our team and we can hit you in so many different ways. Treigh was really good throughout, Max doing what he did early, and then Renn stepped up in the third quarter while also getting Carter involved. Everyone out there is a really good basketball player and you never know who is going to be the guy. Max is probably the third or fourth guy probably on most people’s scouting reports and I’m super happy for him as a senior to play the way he did.”
For the game Parke Heritage shot 27-42 (64%) in the win. The Wolves were 5-8 (62.5%) from long range including 4-5 in the second half. They did only shoot 5-13 (38%) from the free-throw line while grabbing 28 rebounds and turning the ball over 12 times. Forest Park went 19-45 (42.%) from the floor and 5-19 (26%) from three and 12-16 (75%) from the foul line. They grabbed 17 rebounds and turned the ball over just six times.
With the win, Parke Heritage advances to tonight’s semi-state championship game against No. 1 ranked Brownstown Central. The Braves are led by Purdue commit Jack Benter and defeated Park Tudor in game one of the day by a single point 50-49.
“We’re one game away from playing for a state title,” Schelsky said. “We have to go out there and leave all the chips on the table and let them fall where they may. We knew all season how good Brownstown is and knew we’d have to probably go through them if we got here. We’re here now and these guys believe that they belong.”
The championship game is slated for an 8 p.m. start with the winner earning a spot in the state championship next weekend.
Class 2A Semi-State Semi-Finals
Parke Heritage 64, Forest Park 54
Score By Quarter
FP 13 12 12 17 — 54
PH 13 13 19 19 — 64
Forest Park (18-10): FG-FGA FT-FTA PTS: Jace Berg 3-7 2-3 9, Jared Burger 3-5 2-2 9, Reid Howard 7-13 3-4 19, Trevor Berg 4-11 2-3 11, Bryson Frick 0-0 1-2 1, Reece Wolf 0-3 0-0 0, Jaxon Lueken 2-5 0-0 5; Totals 19-45 12-16 54
Parke Heritage (24-5): Max Dowd 8-12 0-5 17, Brenden Goins 0-1 0-0 0, Renn Harper 6-9 1-2 16, BT Luce 0-3 1-2 1, Treigh Schelsky 10-12 1-2 22, Carter Crum 3-5 2-2 8; Totals 27-42 5-13 64
3-Point Shooting: FP 5-19 (Howard 2-5, Burger 1-3, J. Berg 1-4, T. Berg 1-4, Lueken 0-2); PH 5-8 (Harper 3-3 , Dowd 1-1, Schelsky 1-2, Luce 0-1, Goins 0-1)
Rebounds: FP 17 (Lueken 4, J. Berg 4, Howard 4); PH 28 (Schelsky 7, Dowd 7, Crum 6, Harper 4)
Turnovers: FP 6; PH 12
