Mark Morrow's My View/Your View: Girls basketball teams 4 wins from state title in each class

The 34th Indiana high school state basketball tournament now boils down to a four-game season. In other words, the first team to win four games in each of the four classes will capture a state championship. The number "4'' could be especially meaningful for Heritage Christian (22-1), ranked No. 1 in Class 2A all season and winner of three straight state championships. If successful once again, coach Rick Risinger would become the first coach to win four straight titles at the same school - in all of basketball - since 1911, and his Heritage Christian Eagles would become the first team to win four straight tiles in the same class. Heritage Christian, led by Kelly Faris, who scored 23 points and pulled down 22 rebounds in two games en route to the sectional crown at Triton Central, continues its quest Saturday in the Lawrence Central Regional. The Eagles have not lost to an Indiana opponent since the 2006-07 season. That streak covers 58 games. They have not lost to a 2A foe since 2004-05. That streak is at 39 going into Saturday's regional. Not overlooking any other teams along the way, the Eagles' biggest hurdle to walk away with another state championship would appear to be second-ranked Oak Hill (24-1). They could not meet until the State Finals at Lucas Oil Stadium. Oak Hill was state runner-up last season. While history may be waiting for Heritage Christian, the Southport Regional should draw a huge amount of attention if reigning 4A champion Carmel (18-4) and nationally ranked No. 1 Ben Davis (26-0) advance to the championship game. Carmel beat Ben Davis, which was No. 1 in Hoosier land last year in the regional after losing to the Giants in the regular season. Ben Davis, put away the ninth-ranked Greyhounds in another regular-season game this season. They are favored to meet in a rematch. And should Ben Davis and Carmel snuff out Lawrence North (15-8) and Perry Meridian (21-4), respectively, here are some scenarios that could make a difference in the title showdown: Ben Davis oozes with depth and speed and can play with reckless abandon, and the Giants have a tremendous shooter and scorer in Alexandria Bentley, who had 37 points in the three sectional games on a very balanced and unselfish team. Her 16 first-half points were crucial in the Giants' victory over the Greyhounds on Jan. 30. Chrissy Steffen, a mainstay on Carmel's state championship team, again has done it all for the Greyhounds while being asked to step up her all-around game by coach Scott Bowen. She's getting nearly 19 points and 8.4 rebounds per game and is arguably enhancing her bid for an Indiana All-Star Jersey among other possible accolades. And then there's 6-foot Torrie Thornton, who proved to be the difference for Carmel in the Zionsville Sectional. Thornton, an extremely athletic sophomore, had 60 points nine assists and eight steals and shot 56 percent from the floor in the three tournament wins, and her defensive play on top Fishers senior guard Karli Harris, was exceptional. More facts: 4 area schools seek 1st regional titles Lawrence North and Pendleton Heights (4A) seek their first regional crowns, as do 2A Covenant Christian (15-7) and Class A Waldron (13-9), also Indianapolis-area schools. . . . Roncalli (16-6) in 3A, along with Ben Davis, Perry Meridian and 4A No. 7 Mooresville (21-1), have not cut down regional nets since 1995, 2002, 2003 and 2004, respectively. Of the area schools listed, Ben Davis leads the way with 10 regional championships. . . . In addition to reigning state champs Carmel and Heritage Christian, Plymouth (3A) and Fort Wayne Canterbury (Class A) also repeated as sectional champs last week. . . . University (19-4), a private school off west 116th street in Carmel, reached the State Finals last season in Class A and is still alive in the tournament and was ranked No. 6 in the final regular-season poll. . . . The girls semistate locations will be announced Sunday at IHSAA. . . . Ben Davis junior guard Jordan Huber made a verbal commitment earlier this week to attend Ball State on a basketball scholarship.