Parke Heritage earns berth in Class 2A state championship game

INDIANAPOLIS – Treigh Schelsky had front row seats that last time Parke Heritage played for a state championship. He was a seventh-grader watching his dad coach the Wolves at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

The father-son duo will get a second chance at securing Parke Heritage a first state championship after defeating Linton-Stockton, 66-53, Saturday night at Southport Fieldhouse in the Class 2A semistate championship game.

“We’ve got one more. That’s what I told my dad when I walked off the court. We’ve got one more,” said Treigh Schelsky. “Every kid dreams of getting to this game and that’s what we’ve talked about all year. To go win (a state championship) would be so special with this group.”

In its fourth consecutive semistate appearance, Parke Heritage dispatched Triton Central, 44-38, in the morning semifinal game then watched Linton need overtime to defeat Austin, 82-74, to set up the championship game.

The Wolves blitzed the Miners, 18-3, in the opening five minutes and never trailed. But it was never easy.

“Even though we didn’t play (Linton) this year, we’ve played them a lot in the last three or four years so there is a lot of familiarity,” said Parke Heritage head coach Rich Schelsky. “Those dudes may not be the best basketball players in the world but they are some of the best 2A athletes in the state.”

The quick start was bolstered by Carter Crum hitting a trio of three-pointers, matching his season made total entering the game.

 “Believe it or not, I employ Carter to shoot the ball all the time and he does shoot the ball in practice,” said Rich Schelsky. “When we get in games, sometimes that confidence comes with seeing the ball go in. He just hasn’t taken enough of them.”

Reuben Goodman, who hit a career high eight 3s and scored 26 points in the semifinal win over Austin, splashed back-to-back 3s to settle down the Miners (25-5).

But every time Linton started building momentum, Parke Heritage had an answer.

Schelsky hit a 15-foot jumper and then a 3 to get the Wolves a 34-23 halftime advantage.

Schelsky and Isaac Pickel combined to scored six straight points in the third quarter for a 42-29 lead.

And a 7-2 Linton run early in the fourth quarter was stalled by Pickel hitting a free throw then converting in the lane.

“Isaac in the last two years, the transformation of him as a player has been so much fun to watch,” said Rich Schelsky.

Parke Heritage’s final 11 points came from the free throw line.

Crum finished with a game-high 24 points and added six rebounds. Schelsky and Pickel each scored 16. Schelsky had five assists while Pickel grabbed 10 rebounds.

Paul Oliver led Linton with 21 points, seven rebounds and seven assists. Goodman finished with 11 points.

The Class 2A State Championship Game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse is set. Parke Heritage (26-4) will battle No. 3 Westview (27-1) at approximately 12:45 p.m.

“It has been a phenomenal season. It’s a fairy tale,” said Rich Schelsky.