Latest news with #LogansportSemistate
Chicago Tribune
21-03-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Bowman transfer Jamarie Pollard brings ‘a spark' to East Chicago Central, which catches fire in the playoffs
It has all gone smoothly for East Chicago Central's Jamarie Pollard. The 6-foot junior guard changed schools and then changed roles but has handled it all with aplomb. In his first season after transferring from Bowman, Pollard has helped the Cardinals win their first regional title since their Class 4A state championship season in 2007. 'It was a great transition,' he said. 'I adapted to the coaching system, the players on the team, and figured out what to do to help the team win and play my role.' Pollard is averaging 8.8 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.9 steals for East Chicago Central (20-8), which will try to take another step against Delta (17-7) in the semifinals of the Class 3A Logansport Semistate on Saturday. Pollard began this season as a starter. He has more recently been the Cardinals' top reserve. 'He's in a new role as sixth man,' East Chicago coach Alaa Mroueh said. 'He was starting up until February. Now he's coming off the bench with a spark every time. That's been pivotal in how our defensive game has improved.' Pollard, who averaged 10.1 points, 2.0 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.9 steals last season before returning to his hometown school, has gotten better defensively too. 'Pollard's defensive improvements over the year have been big in our success,' Mroueh said. 'He's just super active, brings a lot of energy. 'Seeing what Jamarie's been able to do, he started the year off leading the area in 3-pointers made, then sort of slowed down in that aspect. But he picked up on the defensive end, and with him picking up on the defensive end, he's found his spark back on the offensive end. He's dangerous on both ends right now.' Pollard has embraced whatever he has been asked to do, including coming off the bench. 'It's been good,' he said. 'I adapted to it these last few games. I got used to it. I'm happy I'm playing the same role and just bringing the same energy as when I started. 'Just make shots, play defense really hard, communicate on both ends of the court, help people find their right positions on plays that he calls.' Senior forward Greg Williams knew Pollard, who scored 12 points during the Cardinals' 78-55 win against Hanover Central in the Michigan City Regional championship game last week, would make an impact from the get-go. 'He's an amazing defensive player,' Williams said. 'He's a spark for us, and he's a knockdown shooter. You don't have to worry about him when he's out there at all. He knows what he's doing.' Pollard has deep roots in East Chicago. His family includes the iconic LaTaunya Pollard, who led East Chicago Roosevelt to two state titles, was named Indiana Miss Basketball and a McDonald's All-American in 1979, was the national player of the year at Long Beach State in 1983 and played professionally overseas. She has been inducted into multiple halls of fame. 'This year, it's been what I expected,' Jamarie Pollard said. 'I just wanted to play in front of my family, in my hometown, and for the community, and it's been great. We just want to keep going.'
Chicago Tribune
17-03-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Joseph Watkins may be ‘the underdog.' But don't underestimate him or semistate-bound East Chicago Central.
There will come a time when Joseph Watkins is heavily involved in the East Chicago Central boys basketball team's offense. Until then, the 6-foot-2 junior guard doesn't mind a role that's more focused on the other end of the court. Not when the Cardinals are winning. 'I've embraced it,' White said. 'I just got that scoring mentality out of my mind. But at the defensive end, I knew I had to take that role.' Watkins' willingness to handle that assignment has been an essential part of a deep postseason run for the Cardinals (20-8), who will play Delta (17-7) in the semifinals of the Class 3A Logansport Semistate on Saturday after winning their first regional title since E'Twaun Moore led the team to the 4A state championship in 2007. East Chicago Central coach Alaa Mroueh said he expects Watkins to find some way to factor into the result, even if it's not on the scoreboard, like he did during the 78-55 regional win against Hanover Central on March 15. 'He takes the toughest assignment that we can give him, and he rebounds at a high level too,' Mroueh said. 'His ability to crash the offensive glass was major for us in the first half, and he kick-started the other guys to join him in that area.' Watkins' numbers are modest this season, as he entered the regional ranked fifth on the team in most categories, averaging 4.7 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 0.7 steal. Playing alongside senior guard/forward Dominique Murphy, who is averaging a team-high 22.3 points and has passed Moore to become East Chicago Central's all-time scoring leader, Watkins knows scoring isn't what's needed from him yet. 'I'm just waiting for my time, and I can keep playing this role because it's still getting me the exposure that I want,' Watkins said. 'Because we have a scorer or two on the team, I can show more defensively this year. Then next year, they can know me as an all-around player, not just my scoring ability.' Mroueh made no secret of the expanded role that he expects Watkins to have next season, believing Watkins already has the tools to be a prolific scorer. 'He's just explosive,' Mroueh said. 'He's very gifted, and he can score at all three levels. I'd anticipate him averaging 16 to 20 points per game next season. He'll be taking the shots that Dominique is taking this season. But he's found so many different ways to impact the game this year.' Mroueh pointed to Watkins' emphatic breakaway dunk against Class 4A regional runner-up Portage on Jan. 11 that went viral on social media as evidence of Watkins' physical tools. 'He's going to be one of the next staples of this program, and we've already asked him to do so much for us because he has the ability to do so many different things,' Mroueh said. 'It's just good to see him out there producing.' East Chicago Central junior guard JeVaughn Wofford, whom Mroueh expects to join Watkins and junior guard Jamarie Pollard in larger roles next season, said Watkins' ability to thrive at both ends of the court stems from the consistent way he plays basketball. 'It's his motor,' Wofford said. 'He's just a competitive person who plays hard constantly and doesn't give up. He won't back down from anyone.' Watkins said he'll take that aggressive mindset to semistate with the belief that he can thrive on offense if the opportunity arises. 'Because of the attention that Dom and my other teammates get, I'm not really on scouting reports,' he said. 'I'm the underdog, and I like that because when I'm out there, I can show off my talents, that I can really hoop.'
