North Daviess wouldn't be back at semistate without identical twins Lance, Logan Wilson

ELNORA, Ind. — Lance Wilson knows it sounds odd. Logan Wilson swears there’s a reasonable explanation.

You must understand something. The brothers do everything together: Basketball, school work and even a summer lawn mowing business. Everything side by side since they could walk. They are identical twins.

They're stubborn and competitive, too. What started from contempt turned into what one calls mutual respect. A simple act their coach has exhausted every effort to coerce out of them.

They will not high-five each other on the basketball court.

“That’s been a thing,” said Logan. “When we make a good play, we mutually respect it.”

“It’s almost a superstition,” added Lance. “People like to make fun of us on the court.”

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If something works, why stop? Because what North Daviess has accomplished the past two years, this season certainly, has a lot to do with 21 and 23 in orange and black.

The No. 6 Cougars (24-5) continue their best two-year stretch in program history with the Class 3A semistate on Saturday at Seymour. North Daviess plays Scottsburg in the opening semifinal at 10 a.m. CDT. There have been several factors in getting the team into this position. It doesn’t happen without the Wilson twins.

Their coach knows it. Others on the schedule do, too.

“They are absolutely complete basketball players this year,” said North Daviess coach Brent Dalrymple. “They’ve done it with a lot of hard work and time in here when nobody is watching.”

The four-year transformation is impressive considering their starting point. Dalrymple called them strictly perimeter shooters as underclassmen, starting occasionally as freshmen before becoming full-time fixtures the following year. Sure, the Wilsons could always defend. The offensive game took time.

Everything changed last winter. The Cougars determined midseason they weren’t going to win shooting 3-pointers. The coaches turned to the Wilson brothers to score inside. Next came their ability to attack the basket. Oh, and they are still the team's best defenders and capable shooters.

North Daviess won the Class 1A state championship last season. It has continued to win despite playing in 3A this winter – the Cougars were bumped one class due to enrollment but chose to play up another. Give the Wilson twins their share of the credit.

Lance Wilson is second on the team in scoring (12.1), fourth in rebounding (4.2) and second in assists (4.2). Logan Wilson is third in scoring (11.2), first in rebounding (5.3) and third in assists (3.0). They both shoot near or above 40% from deep.

“Nothing they can’t do,” said Dalrymple. “Absolute workhorses and attentive to detail. We’ve never been a dominant team. You have to do a lot of things right and they understand how important all the little stuff is.”

Like many others on this team, the long-time North Daviess coach credits their upbringing. There’s an emphasis on hard work and academics. Lance and Logan Wilson will both graduate as valedictorians, as will teammate Brycen Skinner. Both were selected as First Team Academic All-State by the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association.

What starts in the classroom has a direct correlation to the hardwood. During film study on Wednesday, the Cougars looked to make a change. Dalrymple implored them to use their “telepathic brainwaves to figure out how.” They are also good communicators despite their apprehension about a high-five with one another.

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Did they also mention they’ll mow nearly 50 yards each summer? All this is impressive. It all comes easy to them because it’s what they love.  

“We have to put in a lot of effort,” said Lance Wilson. “But when all is said and done, it’s not that hard. We’re doing what we love. (That bond) is something special you can’t have with another teammate.”

Playing basketball together didn’t always come easy. This is where stubbornness comes in. Competitive brothers who push each other daily but can teeter on fighting. Logan Wilson surmises they didn’t fully get past it on the court until this season.

That doesn’t mean anything comes easy. Put them on the spot and true opinions are given. Who is the better player?

“Me in anything,” Lance said rather quickly. “I just am. It’s simple.”

Logan was more judicial. He said his brother was the better shooter this season, strictly by percentage. That was the only leeway he would give.

“I’m definitely the better defender and post player,” said Logan. “All around you could say I’m the better player.”

Their continued success will be paramount for North Daviess returning to Gainbridge Fieldhouse next week. No. 11 Scottsburg (21-5) is similar in terms of size with a strong, athletic offense averaging 66 points, 25th best in the state. Junior point guard Kody Clancy scored 27 points in the 48-46 regional victory over Greensburg.

Win in the morning and the Cougars would still need to beat No. 12 Guerin Catholic (18-8) or No. 14 Beech Grove (17-6) to reach Indianapolis. A tough schedule prepared North Daviess for this opportunity. Past experience will be helpful in possibly winning twice in one day.

But this is what Cougars aspired towards when making the jump last spring. It's the first time the program has won back-to-back regional championships.

“We are right where we wanted to be,” said Dalrymple. “Scottsburg is a really good team. Get up and down the floor with a nice point guard, big guy inside, couple of shooters. The team that executes and makes a couple more plays than the other will come out on top.”

Follow Courier & Press sports reporter Kyle Sokeland on Twitter @kylesokeland.