BY MIKE HUTTON

Post-Tribune

Two teams that like to play fast meet in the Class 1A state finals.

So do you change styles because perhaps no team can play with the machine-gun, up-and-down-the-court intensity of Bowman? That's a hard one for Barr-Reeve coach Bryan Hughes to answer.

He's well aware that the Vikings, an excellent team (24-3) and probably the best squad that the Eagles have played in the state tournament (They're ranked No. 2 in the Class 1A poll while Bowman is No. 1), is the prohibitive, hands-down underdog despite the lofty ranking.

But he's inclined to have his team go just as hard (for the most part) as it has all year, rejecting the notion that the only way to beat Bowman is to play slow.

"We're not going to change the way we play now," he said.

Hughes notes that it's essential for his players to take open shots if they beat the vaunted Bowman press because those are better than some of the looks they'll get in a half-court set.

What this means is Barr-Reeve won't go into a complete slow-down mode.

The star for the Vikings is Trey Hughes, Bryan's son. A 6-1 point guard, Hughes is averaging 17.3 points and 4.8 assists per game.

The Vikings do have state championship experience, losing the state title game in 2007 and in 2002. Hughes was on that 2007 team. Bryan Hughes figures that counts for something.

"Having gone through the whole week leading up to the finals is helpful," he said.

The other double-digit scorer for the Vikings is 6-3 center Christian Duncheon. He averages 13.5 points and 5.3 rebounds per game.

Ashton Wagler, a 6-2 forward, is averaging nine points per game.

Hughes wasn't sure his team, which lost three starters from last year, was going to be this good until last summer when work ethic collided with talent and chemistry.

"I thought we had a chance to be decent after that," he said.

They have only lost three times -- and one of those defeats was to Washington in double overtime at Washington. That's the same Washington that will play Lew Wallace for the 3A title.

Trey Hughes had 24 points in that game.

As far as Byran Hughes is concerned, the key factor won't be in slowing down Bowman.

He believes they need to limit second-chance baskets on the offensive end and slow down their transition game. Easier said than done.