To be the best, you have to beat the best.

That’s what Pioneer’s boys basketball team is going to have to do to advance past Saturday morning’s Class A Triton Regional semifinal game, when the Panthers face No. 1-ranked Bowman Academy of Gary.

The Panthers (12-10) go up against the Eagles (20-1) in the 10:30 a.m. semifinal, followed by No. 3 Triton (22-2) vs. No. 9 Fort Wayne Blackhawk Christian (16-7) in the 12:30 p.m. semifinal. The final is set for 7:30 p.m.

Pioneer won its fourth-ever sectional title and first in eight years by grinding out wins late against Tri-County and West Central last weekend. The Panthers erased an early deficit against the Trojans in the title game en route to their 35-30 overtime victory against the Midwest Conference champions.

Pioneer coach Pat Skaggs fondly recalled the win.

“Tyler Miller’s 3-pointers were huge. Deven Lee scored some big baskets inside. Cory Hipsher came off the bench and was huge for us in the second half. Logan Brock did an outstanding job battling inside and playing defense and rebounding. It was a total team effort.”

The Panthers are seeking their first-ever regional championship. They enter having won eight of their last 10 games.

“At a point in the season after 12 games we were 4-8, so for us to finish winning eight of 10 probably exceeded the expectations that I had for our ballclub,” Skaggs said. “I couldn’t be prouder of our kids for how they’ve competed and played together as a unit near the end of the season. In the tournament games they’ve been very poised and did a much better job of taking care of the basketball, and they really, really played well when games were on the line in both the Tri-County game and the West Central game. Both those games went right down to the wire, and I thought the kids really did a nice job.

“It was really great to see the Pioneer community support. They gave us great crowds Friday and Saturday night, and the kids and the coaching staff really appreciate the support they gave us.”

Lee is leading the Panthers in scoring at 12 points per game and Miller adds 10. Both Lee and Brock average 7.5 rebounds per contest.

Pioneer and Bowman Academy had one common opponent this season in Culver Academy. Pioneer lost on the road 57-45 on Jan. 16, while Bowman Academy suffered its lone setback of the season there, 59-56, on Feb. 11.

“We played well against Culver and it was really closer than a 12-point game, and they beat Bowman,” Skaggs said.

Looking at Bowman

Bowman Academy is the highest-scoring team in the state, averaging 85 points per game. The Eagles averaged over 102 points per game in their three sectional wins.

“Bowman Academy is easily one of the top 10, 15 teams in the whole state of Indiana,” Skaggs said. “They are extremely athletic and deep. From studying tape all week, obviously they’re someone who can really get up and down the floor in a hurry. They’ll cause serious problems if we don’t take care of the ball. First and foremost, the thing we need to do is get the ball down the floor, spread the floor and run out some of the clock and make sure we don’t get caught up playing their game.

“They have size, strength and depth, and they want to play 84 feet, 32 minutes nonstop. They press fullcourt and trap in the halfcourt. It’s relentless pressure the whole game.”

Bowman Academy is one of the most controversial teams in the state, and Skaggs explained why from his point of view.

“Watching them play, you wonder what was the purpose, whether you agree with it or not, of class sports? When class sports came into existence 10 or 12 years ago, surely what they had in mind wouldn’t be like what’s happening today. Obviously Bowman Academy is a situation where it doesn’t cost to go there, it’s a situation where they’ve obviously have kids coming in from states other than Indiana, and it’s a situation where it’s a high-powered basketball school. At the next enrollment, which is not next year but the following year, they’ll at least be 2A if not 3A. They obviously go by completely different rules than what the majority of the state does. Sometime down the road there will need to be a public and private school tournament.”

The Eagles are led by 6-foot-6 sophomore forward DeJuan Marrero, who is being recruited by schools such as Indiana, Purdue, Ohio State and Illinois.

“He’s a 6-6 sophomore from the state of Texas who is just an outstanding athlete,” Skaggs said. “Several big-time DI schools want him. He’s long and athletic and really covers the floor. But they have two or three other guys who are not too far behind him. [Christopher] Bond is a 6-4 senior who from the games I’ve seen averages three or four dunks a game. Bond is averaging 20 points, 13 boards, and Marrero is not too far behind that.”

Bond and senior point guard Tyrae Robinson are also being recruited by DI schools.