Parke Heritage looks to bring state title home

Over the last four years, it can be argued nobody has been as consistent in high school boy's basketball as the Parke Heritage Wolves. 

There's been four straight sectional titles, which is a Parke County record.

There's been four straight trips to the semi-state.

However, for all the success, there was something missing -- a chance to play for a state title. All that came to a crashing end last week, as the Wolves knocked off Triton Central and Linton-Stockton to win the semi-state and advance to Saturday's Class 2A state championship game against Westview (27-1). 

"We knew going in against Triton Central, it would be a bloodbath. We had our last minute scout, and I told our kids no matter how much we wanted a faster pace and to score the ball, it just wasn't going to be that way and we had to be patient on defense and offense. They play the way they play, and sure enough, it was a grinder game. Fortunately, we got ahead in the second half and, luckily, we made plays down the stretch and put it away," Parke Heritage coach Rich Schelsky said of the game against Triton Central.

Schelsky said his team had an advantage going into the Linton-Stockton game, having played in the morning. 

"Their game against Austin played a factor. We talked about that when we went to Plainfield High School between games. When we got our guys into their film room and started talking about Linton, I was adamant that we needed to get going, score early and often, and to our credit, we did," Schelsky said. 

This marks the second time Schelsky has taken the Wolves to the state championship game, as Parke Heritage fell in 2021 to Fort Wayne Blackhawk. 

"It's really special. As a coach, it is always your dream. I have been a basketball guy my entire life. Growing up, I played basketball and was a pretty good player. It was my goal as a player to make it. I have been to the state finals every year since I was a young teenager, and it is what you do as a coach. Growing up, I wanted to play here once. We got that opportunity in 2021, and you think you'd love to get back again, and here we are. It is really cool," Schelsky said. 

Schelsky called the opportunity to play for a state title "surreal."

"It means everything. I got to thinking driving home from Indianapolis, we can win our last game of the season. We always talk about that, but we have a chance to win the last game and be a state champion. That is something you dream of as a player and a coach. You want to try to attain this, and the fact that it is here now, it is a pinch me moment," Schelsky said. 

The veteran coach said it hit him just what is at stake earlier this week as he headed back from the State Finals meeting in Indianapolis. 

"We have a legit chance to win, and when that sinks in, it is the pinnacle. As a coach, your ultimate goal is molding kids into young adults and make sure they have a great experience, but if you win this game, you can't do anything to top it. It is the pinnacle of coaching and it is right there. It would mean everything to my career to get it done. It is neat. We have 407 schools in the IHSAA that play basketball, around 100 in our class and I have no idea what the math is, but it is well under 50 percent that have been in a state championship since class basketball came in. You are talking about things that are very rare, and it is cool to be thought of in that regard. No matter what happens during this postseason run, nobody can ever take away the memories I have with this team. Now that we have gotten where they wanted, what a fitting way to go out, and that is our goal Saturday," he said. 

In Westview, the Wolves find a team that has won 26 straight games. The Warriors, coached by Chandler Prible, defeated Churubusco and Lakeland to win a sectional, defeated Gary 21st Century in the regional and then knocked off Lapel and Fort Wayne Luers in the semi-state. 

Schelsky said he has seen enough of Westview to know they are a good basketball team. 

"They are a really good offensive basketball team. I think they are the best offensive team we have played in the tournament. They have two really good players that do a lot for them. I see a team that likes to play up-tempo, and I think this has a chance to be a very entertaining game. I think both teams are going to look to get out and score and it will be a unique matchup. They play five guys that like to face the bucket. We play two guys that face up a lot, and I think the key factor is who wins out in that regard. They are 27-1 for a reason, they play a pretty good schedule," Schelsky said.

With a schedule full of tough games, including games against Fishers, Ben Davis and Terre Haute North, along with a tough semi-state slate, Schelsky believes the Wolves are battle tested heading into Saturday.

"They beat two solid teams last week. I am, obviously, biased, but I think our semi-state was tougher. I do, and that is not a knock on any of those teams or a knock on Westview, but I think the style of play was much different. I think our semi-state was much more physical and tough nosed basketball. I think they can be physical, but I think our physicality is an advantage. There are a lot of interesting things with the matchup. It will be a great challenge for us because of how tough they are offensively. I think we are prepared for Saturday. There is nothing we are going to see Saturday that we haven't seen already. It's nothing we haven't seen, but we still have to go out and execute. It is the beauty of our schedule. In a lesser world, we could be 30-0 and not tested like we have been. It is 100 percent prepared us for this Saturday," Schelsky said. 

What will it take for Parke Heritage to cut down the nets at Gainbridge Fieldhouse?

"I think it starts on the defensive end. If we can keep them out of the paint and force them to be one dimensional on offense and shoot more three's, that plays into our favor. We have to rebound defensively and get out and run. We have an advantage in the post, and everything we can do to get post touches and collapse the defense, they will probably have a hard time playing us one on one with the bigs. If we score the ball Saturday, it could be a fun day," Schelsky said.