Parke Heritage looks to get back to semi-state

It has been a historical run for the Parke Heritage boy's basketball team the last few years.

The Wolves became the first team in the history of Parke County to win four straight sectional titles, according to head coach Rich Schelsky. 

And, Parke Heritage hopes the history isn't done, as they look to get back to the semi-state for the fourth consecutive season.

Standing in the way is a Centerville team that enters Saturday's contest at Martinsville with a 24-2 record. The game is a rematch of last year's regional, which the Wolves won, 47-41.

Saturday's game will be broadcasted on GIANT fm WAXI, beginning with the pregame show at 3:30 p.m. and tipoff at 4 p.m. 

Parke Heritage enters Saturday's contest having won 11 of its last 12 games, including 10 in a row after turning back Greencastle, South Vermillion and South Putnam to win the Class 2A Sectional 41 title. 

"We have had a great season, and it has kind of evolved like we thought it might go. We had some games on our schedule that were really tough. We were supposed to play Centerville back in December, but got snowed out. One of the remarkable things about this group of kids is they win all the games they are supposed to win, and that is hard for high school kids to do. The biggest thing is the community buy-in. Obviously, we are a sports minded community, and basketball is very passionate in this county. It takes a village, and it is all the way from our youth to our middle school kids to the high school level. Everyone is on the same page, and everyone buys into the concept of winning and the team. We play the game to win, and it has been a lot of fun," Schelsky told The Parke County Post. 

Schelsky said as he watches film of his team throughout the season, he can see where the Wolves have "evolved."

"We have gotten back to pressuring on defense a little bit more. In the middle of the season, for whatever reason, we got away from that, and we have turned the heat up a little bit more in the postseason. That makes our guys play a little bit harder. Offensively, we have been pretty consistent all year. They know how to score, and they like to score. I am pretty pleased with where we are at right now," Schelsky said. 

For all the success the Wolves have had, Schelsky constantly reminds his team that there is no room for complacency to creep in. 

"I make sure to talk about it in the preseason and during the season. When you have high expectations and you expect to win, the big thing is you get worried about being complacent and not being engaged all the time. We talk about it a lot, and our guys do a good job with that. We have been blessed with a lot of really good players," Schelsky said. 

Schelsky said he told his players before the postseason began that he was "at peace" with what his team had accomplished. 

With that said, the veteran coach still has a main goal.

"Our goal, obviously, is to not lose another game and to play on the last Saturday of the season and win. If we don't, I am going to be able to put my head on my pillow at night and be really proud of what we have done and have no regrets. Our guys and our program has done everything they have needed to do, and this is the fun part now. I always say winning a sectional is the hardest thing to do. It is a hard week, the teams are all familiar with each other, there are rivalries or perceived rivalries and people are trying to knock us off the perch. Once you get to this week, everything is gravy. Let's go have some fun, and be together for another week and take advantage of the opportunity," he said. 

That opportunity includes another regional title. Schelsky said his team will face a tough Centerville team that has won 17 of its last 18 games, including 11 in a row. The Bulldogs beat Hagerstown and Shenandoah to win a sectional crown. 

"The best thing about it is we are familiar with them because we played them last year and they bring everyone back. They are basically the same exact team we played last year. When we popped the film in, all of our guys knew their guys and were comfortable with what they saw on film. They are a really good basketball team, and it is going to be a huge challenge. I don't care what class you are talking about, our game on Saturday is probably one of the top five games in the state in terms of two teams that are really good, two teams that have aspirations of playing on the last Saturday of the season, and it is going to be a really good basketball game," Schelsky said. 

Having played Centerville before and being back in the regional, there is an experience factor for Parke Heritage, who will be playing at Martinsville for the third straight year. 

"We are going to know them really well, and they will know us well. I don't know if that is an advantage or not. Their guys are really tough and physical, and now our guys know that and know what to expect. They are big, long and physical and they play bully ball. We had to talk about that a lot last year, and now our guys have lived that. We know what the expectation will be and what the game will be like. I think for our guys' sake, that helps," Schelsky said. 

As for what it will take for the Wolves to punch their ticket back to the semi-state, Schelsky said Parke Heritage has to handle the "little things."

"Shea Hollendollar is a hard guard to defend, and is a tough matchup. He plays on the perimeter. He's their school's all-time leading scorer. He shoots a lot of layups. If we can minimize that, it cripples them offensively. To me, the game comes down to rebounding, our toughness and the little things will be the things that win the game for us. We have to be strong with the ball and get defensive rebounds. As long as we are us on offense and scoring the ball, I think we will be alright, but we have to do the little things that will win the game for us.