Six returning teams and six schools that have never traveled this far before will continue their post-season journey at eight sites Saturday (March 17) in the semi-state round of the 91^st IHSAA Boys Basketball Tournament. The eight semi-state champions will advance to the state finals March 24 at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

Brebeuf (Class 3A) is the only defending state champion left in the field, and Bloomington North (Class 4A runner-up) is the only other 2000 state finalist still alive.

Bloomington North and Brebeuf are joined by Blue River Valley (Class A), Evansville Mater Dei (Class 3A), Harding (Class 2A) and Penn (Class 4A) from the semi-state field of 2000. It’s the fourth straight trip for Blue River Valley, who had never won a sectional title prior to 1998. Penn is making its third straight semi-state trek.

The first-time entries are Central Noble, Eastern (Bloomfield) and River Forest in Class 2A, and Hamilton, New Washington, and Park Tudor in Class A. Of those six schools, only Central Noble and New Washington had ever won a sectional title prior to the 2001 tournament. In the first four years of the multiple-class tournament format, 31 schools have won a regional title for the first time and 19 schools won their first sectional crown.

Covington topped Cascade 56-40 to win its first regional title since 1960. Other long regional title droughts were ended by Corydon Central (1961), Attica (1968), Oak Hill (1971), Shenandoah (1981), Benton Central (1983), Hammond Noll (1988) and Lawrence North (1989).

For a complete look at regional highlights, go to:

• Class 4A at Hinkle Fieldhouse, Indianapolis – Bloomington North (No. 2) vs. Lawrence North (No. 6).
• Class A at Kokomo – Park Tudor (No. 5) vs. Blue River Valley (No. 7).
• Class A at Greencastle – Loogootee (No. 2) vs. New Washington (No. 3).

Eastern (Bloomfield) brings the state’s longest winning streak – 18 games -- into its game battle with Batesville. Other semi-state teams on a long roll include Bloomington North (16), Sullivan (15), Blue River Valley (14), Muncie Southside (14), Evansville Mater Dei (13) and Hamilton (13).

The only rematch of a 2000-01 regular season game comes at the Lafayette Semi-State where Penn (21-2) will try to avenge a 48-45 loss to East Chicago Central (15-9). That occurred Dec. 29 in the championship game of the Elkhart Central Holiday Tourney.

There are no rematches of first-round games from the 2000 semi-states. But one could occur in the Washington Semi-State championship where Brebeuf grabbed a 66-63 victory over Evansville Mater Dei on its way to the 2000 Class 3A state title.

Semifinal session begins at 10:30 a.m. except where noted; championship games at 8:05 p.m.

Tickets: $7 for one session, $9 for both sessions.

Media Credentials: Contact host school athletic director.

Game 1 – Carroll (Fort Wayne) (21-4) vs. McCutcheon (21-2).

Game 2 – Penn (21-2) vs. East Chicago Central (15-9).

Championship -- Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2.

Game 1 -- Bloomington North (22-2) vs. Lawrence North (21-5).

Game 2 -- Bedford North Lawrence (17-7) vs. Pike (23-3).

Championship -- Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2.

Game 1 -- Muncie Southside (20-3) vs. Hammond Noll (18-6).

Game 2 -- Benton Central (20-4) vs. Columbia City (13-10).

Championship -- Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2.

Game 1 – Sullivan (24-2) vs. Evansville Mater Dei (24-1).

Game 2 -- Corydon Central (17-6) vs. Brebeuf (15-9).

Championship -- Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2.

Game 1 -- River Forest (15-9) vs. Harding (20-5).

Game 2 – Central Noble (18-6) vs. Oak Hill (17-6).

Championship -- Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2.

Game 1 -- Shenandoah (18-6) vs. Covington (13-11).

Game 2 – Batesville (19-5) vs. Eastern (Bloomfield) (23-1).

Championship -- Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2.

Game 1 -- Blue River Valley (20-4) vs. Park Tudor (19-4).

Game 2 – Kouts (18-5) vs. Hamilton (21-4).

Championship -- Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2.

Game 1 (11 a.m.) -- New Washington (23-3) vs. Loogootee (19-4).

Game 2 (12:45 p.m.) – Milan (20-4) vs. Attica (18-6).

Championship -- Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2.

4A: None.

3A: None.

2A: Central Noble, Eastern (Bloomfield), River Forest.

A: Hamilton, New Washington, Park Tudor.

Covington (1960)

Corydon Central (1961)

Attica (1968)

Oak Hill (1971)

Columbia City (1975)

Shenandoah (1981)

Benton Central (1983)

Hammond Noll (1988)

Lawrence North (1989)

4A: Bloomington North, Penn.

3A:.Brebeuf, Evansville Mater Dei,

2A: Harding.

A: Blue River Valley,

Evansville Mater Dei (24-1).

Eastern (Bloomfield) (23-1).

Bloomington North (22-2).

McCutcheon (21-2).

Penn (21-2).

Sullivan (24-2).

4A: Bedford North Lawrence, Carroll (Fort Wayne), East Chicago Central.

3A: Brebeuf, Columbia City, Corydon Central, Hammond Noll.

2A: Central Noble, Covington, Oak Hill, River Forest, Shenandoah.

A: Hamilton, Kouts.

Bloomington North, Class 4A runner-up.

Brebeuf, Class 3A champion.

Hamilton – 211 students.

Penn – 2,772 students.

Bedford North Lawrence (1990).

Bloomington North (1997).

Brebeuf (2000, Class 3A).

Lawrence North (1989).

Milan (1954).

Pike (1998, Class 4A).

4A: Lafayette Jefferson 78-17 (.821); Indianapolis 83-17 (.830).

3A: Frankfort 71-23 (.755); Washington 80-18 (.816).

2A: Huntington North 70-26 (.729); Southridge 73-23 (.760).

A: Kokomo 78-17 (.821); Greencastle 80-17 (.824).

4 – Blue River Valley.

3 – Penn.

2 – Bloomington North, Brebeuf, Evansville Mater Dei, Harding.

32 -- Kokomo (1997), Marion (2000).

29 -- Muncie Central (1994).

27 -- Lafayette Jefferson (1996).

26 -- Anderson (1996).

25 -- Logansport (1974).

22 – Muncie Central (1994).

19 -- Richmond (1992).

18 -- Evansville Central (1992).

17 -- Connersville (1989), New Castle (2000), Rushville (1979), Washington (1983).

16 -- Bedford (1974), Columbus North/Columbus (1993), Elkhart Central/Elkhart (1999),

15 -- Jeffersonville (2000), New Albany (1997).

As reported to the IHSAA

Jake Parker, Portage vs. South Bend Washington, March 10.

Levi Carmichael, Eastern (Bloomfield) vs. North Knox, March 10.

David Logan, North Central (Indianapolis) vs. Noblesville, March 6.

Otis Shannon, Indianapolis Cathedral vs. Beech Grove, March 9.

Dennis Coutee, Jeffersonville vs. Floyd Central, March 6.

Austin Brooks, Evansville Day vs. New Harmony, March 6.

Brett Koebcke, Rensselaer vs. North White, March 6.

Evan Seacat, Paoli vs. Crawford County, March 9.

Anthony Winchester, Austin vs. Silver Creek, March 9.

Sean May, Bloomington North vs. Center Grove, March 9.

Blake Schoen, Benton Central vs. Whitko, March 14.

Tyson Parker, Central Noble vs. Churubusco, March 6.

Jeremy Peckinpaugh, Shenandoah vs. Speedway, March 13.

Josh Smith, Attica vs. Turkey Run, March 9.

Daniel Trabant, North Knox vs. Eastern (Bloomfield), March 10.

Troy Wenger, Boone Grove vs. Wheeler, March 6.

David Hoover, Cowan vs. Monroe Central, March 6.

Seth Colclasure, Bellmont vs. Maconaquah, March 10.

Marques Bennett, Brebeuf vs. Indianapolis Chatard, March 6.

Seth Colclasure, Bellmont vs. Muncie Southside, March 14.

Drew Gore, Monrovia vs. South Putnam, March 6.

Brandon Jones, Peru vs. Norwell, March 6.

B.J. McAlister, Switzerland County vs. North Decatur, March 6.

Josh Smith, Attica vs. North Daviess, March 13.

Gabe Miller, Carroll (Fort Wayne) vs. East Noble, March 13.

Jake Parker, Portage vs. Michigan City, March 6.

T.J. Wolf, Martinsville vs. Northview, March 6.

Ricky Hise, Kouts vs. Triton, March 14.

Sean May, Bloomington North vs. Bloomington South, March 10.

Craig Schoen, South Central (Elizabeth) vs. New Washington, March 9.

Cole Sinclair, Bedford North Lawrence vs. Jeffersonville, March 9.

Caleb Strickland, New Washington vs. Northeast Dubois, March 13.

Logan Whitman, Northview vs. Martinsville, March 6.