Wolves look to take final step in 2A title game

With 26 wins under their belt, Parke Heritage's Treigh Schelsky, Isaac Pickel and Carter Crum have had quite a bit of success.

However, they have a chance to take it to a whole different level Saturday, capturing the first state title in Parke Heritage High School boy's basketball history. 

For senior guard Treigh Schelsky, the success has come with playing for his father, head coach Rich Schelsky. 

Schelsky averages just under 16 points per game, 2.9 rebounds per game, 3.5 assists and just over a steal a game for the Wolves this season. 

And, the senior, who, according to his father, has been the face of the program since stepping foot into high school, has an opportunity to end his high school career winning a state title in his last game. 

"It literally is a perfect, fairy tale ending to a perfect, fairy tale career. I don't talk about him a lot, and I am not a big social media guy, so I am not on there pubbing him up. He gets what he gets because he deserves it. There isn't a more deserving kid. He has been the face of our program since he stepped foot in high school. With how hard he works and everything that he has accomplished and done for our program and community, there isn't a better way to send him off," Schelsky said of his guard. 

The father-son duo have been a regular at the Indiana High School Boys Basketball State Championships, and the elder Schelsky noted his son has been alongside him in the gym since birth. 

"Before I came back home and took the Rockville job, I was at Western Boone for 10 years as the girls basketball coach. We still lived in Rockville, my wife taught here and the kids went to Rockville, but Treigh was my manager. He has been with me in the gym since he was basically born. He's been to the state finals with me. We always talked about playing in a state finals game one day, and it just so happens to be his senior year and his last game of his career. That is the stuff they make movies about. When I sit and think about that part of it, I am amazed it came to fruition like it did. It has been the joy of my life to coach him. I was hard on him because I knew what was inside of him. He's a small school kid, doesn't ooze athleticism, but he is a winner and there is no substitute for that. When your team is led by a winner, usually, great things will happen and that has come to fruition," Schelsky said. 

Coach Schelsky says he's thrilled this group gets the full experience.

Treigh Schelsky says to reach the state title game after previous disappointments makes it extra special.

While Treigh Schelsky handles the perimeter, Parke Heritage has benefitted nicely from the "Twin Towers" of Pickel and Crum. 

Last week in the semi-state, it was the play of Crum, who is 6-foot-4-inches, that helped lift the Wolves past Linton-Stockton in the semi-state championship game. On the season, the junior averages 13.7 points and 7 rebounds. According to his coach, Crum is the most "unsung" player in Western Indiana. 

"He is the most unsung best player in the Wabash Valley that gets no publicity. He is the dirty work guy, but he was big time Saturday night. He did something that he hasn't done much of throughout the season and that was shoot the three and make the three. They were huge, and he was 3-for-5 in the first half. I implore him every day to be a threat and shoot the ball. If you look at him statistically, he is one of our best free throw shooters, one of our best shooters but for whatever reason in games, he reverts to going to his comfort zone. I am glad the light bulb went off because those three's blew the guard open and he became impossible to guard. When we have won big games this year, Carter has been a major factor. When he has big games, we are hard to beat," Schelsky said. 

And, then in the paint is Pickel, who stands 6-foot-9-inches and is averaging 10.4 points per game and 7.7 boards. 

Schelsky maintains Pickel, who is headed to Taylor University after the season, is a "diamond in the rough."

"He continues to get better. I challenged him and Carter after the Triton Central game. I thought Triton was very physical with them and tried to limit their touches in the paint, sped them up a little and they were looking to pass. I told them we weren't winning unless they decided to come out and be studs. When Isaac is engaged fully and wants to get a rebound, nobody else in the gym is getting a rebound. Every rebound that was in his area against Linton, he got. It's not scoring or something fancy, but it is a key component to the game and something he excels at," Schelsky said. 

The veteran coach admits he has seen his center improve nicely as the season has progressed. 

"He gets better every week and continues to work hard. When you see him go through the post drills and see the improvement he has made is phenomenal. His footwork and patience in the post has gotten better since Christmas. When he becomes 21-22 years old, he is going to be a beast. Just like Carter, he has taken some three's this year and has it in him, as well. I think when Isaac gets to college, you will see his game really expand. He will be a ball screen guy and pop some. That's when I think his game will really take off. He has it in him, and as he gets older, stronger and more confident, he is going to be a heck of a basketball. He is a freak athlete," Schelsky said of Pickel.