DANE FUELLING
WZBD.com
After five weeks of this high school basketball season, fans of the Bellmont Braves are understandably excited about what Payton Selking has done in his first season as head coach with this talented class of seniors.
Off to a 7-1 start, the program and its fans have basically written off the loss at Concordia in November as a small blip on the season radar.
Now, after convincing and satisfying victories on the road against New Haven and Adams Central, the team is ready to play some unfamiliar foes in an effort to prepare for a run at an NE8 title.
The Braves will be competing in the 16-team Bob Wettig Memorial Tournament at Richmond High School this week, beginning with a first-round game against long-time hoops powerhouse Bloomington South. The Panthers and coach J.R. Holmes are one of the most successful combinations in the last 30 years and Bloomington South have had just one losing season in that span, winning a state title in 2009 and 2011.
That game between Braves and Panthers will take place at noon on Thursday and will be broadcast live on WZBD, 92.7 FM.
The other two teams in the quarter bracket with the Braves are Indianapolis Scecina (2-4) and Greensburg (4-2). There will be no shortage of storylines if the Braves face the Greensburg Pirates in the second round, with former head coach Shaun Busick now at the helm of the Greensburg program.
Whether the Braves play in the losers’ bracket or in the winners’ in round two, that game will also be broadcast on WZBD with Ed Thurman on the call.
First Round Schedule from top to bottom in bracket:
Heritage Christian vs. Seton Catholic
FW North Side vs. Indianapolis Shortridge
NorthWood vs. North Decatur
Indianapolis Tindley vs. Centerville
Bottom Half
Greensburg vs. Indianapolis Scecina
Bellmont vs. Bloomington South
Homeschool Wildcats vs. Richmond
East Central vs. Phalen Academy