Throughout the IHSAA playoffs, teams must play a plethora of tough games during March if they want to come out victorious as champions. However, no game is as difficult as the semi-state championship — the second game of a doubleheader to determine whether or not the season continues through Gainbridge Fieldhouse in a week. 

To claim the South side of the 3A bracket and a ticket into the 3A state championship, New Palestine took on Crispus Attucks on March 22 — just six hours after the Tigers held on against Princeton in the semi-final game. 

From the tip, it was clear that these two teams were rightfully playing for a trip to the state championship. The Dragons and Tigers went back and forth in the first half as Crispus Attucks ultimately pulled away for the 67-49 win. 

“It’s a great team win, we got one more left,” Crispus Attucks head coach Chris Hawkins said. “Just really excited about our team, we’re deep and everybody steps up when their number is called.” 

The buckets were falling for both teams early as senior Julius Gizzi finished the first half with 12 points for the Dragons while sophomore AJ Jones and senior Dezmon Briscoe combined for 14 for the Tigers. 

With timely buckets and momentum going back and forth between the two teams, Crispus Attucks held a slim 27-23 lead at the half. 

Early second-half fouls on New Palestine helped to quickly grow the Tiger lead to as big as 13 points in the third quarter — despite Crispus Attucks ultimately finishing the quarter with more fouls. 

The double-digit lead would quickly capsize; though, as Gizzi continued to light up the box score with 20 points through three quarters — finishing with 23 points. 

“He’s a great scorer [who’s] going to be able to score,” Hawkins said. “We just wanted to make all his looks tough, I give a lot of credit to Kayden [English], Che Brownlow and Chris Hurt — they all played him and gave him different looks.” 

Iowa commit Briscoe shined as well — securing his second double-double in a few hours in the third quarter — finishing with 18 points and 10 rebounds. 

“He’s a kid who started as a freshman and played his heart out,” Hawkins said. “He is a true Crispus Attucks Tiger, his brother won state in 2017 and now he has a chance to get his own championship.”

Taking a 46-37 lead into the final period of play, the Tigers once again got out to a strong start thanks to several acrobatic moves to the rack from Jones. 

With under five minutes to play, the Tiger faithful could taste victory as their battle-tested squad grew the lead to as large as 19 points late. 

The Tigers will take on Sout Bend St. Joseph next week for a chance at their first state title since 2017. 

“They have guards that can get downhill,” Hawkins said. “It’s a big group, it will be a great game and I will start watching film on that once we leave here. We will enjoy this one right now.”