MaxPreps Indiana Team of the Week: Homestead boys basketball

The Homestead (Fort Wayne) boys basketball team is an agreeable bunch.

The Spartans opened the Section 6 playoffs by racing to an 88-45 victory, followed by a fast 76-57 semifinal win before winning the title with a 51-35 victory over Jay County.

That advanced Homestead to the state 4A tournament and it opened with a 59-57 squeaker over Carroll, followed by a 41-37 slowdown win over Carmel before a 90-69 semifinal win over South Bend Riley.

That vaulted the Spartans into a championship game this Saturday versus Evansville Reitz at Bakers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. It is the first time they have reached the state final in program history.

"We will play at any pace the other team wants to play," Homestead coach Chris Johnson said.

That appears so for the state's fourth-ranked team and No. 78 team in the nation.

The Spartans have gone 30-2 going slow or fast, but always playing team basketball. That is why they are the MaxPreps Indiana Team of the Week, presented by the Indiana National Guard.

"I have been most pleased with the way we share the ball, trust teammates and understand roles on the team," Johnson said. "It's a great group of young men who understand what it takes to make a team successful."

It helps that the team's starters go 6-foot-9, 6-8, 6-5, 6-2 and 6-1.

"Defensively, our length gives a lot of teams fits," Johnson said.

So does the balance. Every starter has scored at least 20 points per game, the last of whom was 6-8, 265-pound senior Caleb Swanigan, who is the No. 14 recruit in the country, according to 247Sports.

Swanigan has Kentucky, Michigan State and Duke among his finalists. In the team's win over South Bend Riley, Swanigan had 40 points and 19 rebounds. He made 13 of 18 shots.

"We saw on film they were going to have a tough time guarding Caleb," Johnson said. "He's a hard worker who wants to be the best, and a true competitor who wants to win and lead by example."

Jordan Geist, a 6-foot senior guard, had 23 against Riley and according to Johnson, "He's a hard-nosed defender who plays at a high level all the time."

Other starters with comments from Johnson:

Tahj Curry a 6-2 junior guard: "He's our leader in assists and finishes at the basket."

Teddy Ray, a 6-5 senior guard: "He defends other teams' best player. He also is a strong 3-point shooter who helps space the floor."

Dana Batt, a 6-9 senior forward: "A tough rebounder who can finish around the basket."

The 20-man roster is filled with 10 seniors, two juniors, seven sophomores and a freshman.

The team went 18-8 last year and 23-5 the two seasons before that.

What will it take to be successful against Reitz (29-1)?

"Handling their pressure by taking care of the ball and making the extra pass," Johnson said. "We need to defend their shooters and only give them one shot opportunity."