Talk to Marty Beasley for a while about his Carroll boys basketball team, and he starts to sound like Norman Dale, coach of the famed Hickory Huskers.

“It's five guys working together to get stops,” Beasley says of the Chargers defense. “It's something we've preached from Day One.”

Or about the offense: “They are intelligent and unselfish. They don't force shots and they make you play defense.”

North Side coach Mike Novell isn't buying it. His Redskins (10-13) play the Chargers (19-3) at 10 a.m. Saturday in the Class 4A Marion Regional semifinals.

“Marty is going to tell you his kids have no athleticism,” Novell said. “But they are more athletic than he gives them credit for. They can shoot, jump and run with anyone. They are 19-3 for a reason.”

The truth, as usual, lies somewhere in the middle. Carroll is ranked No. 16 in the state and has the sixth-best defense, allowing only 42 points per game. After all, the Chargers led DeKalb, 22-2, at halftime in Saturday's Northrop Sectional championship.

But the Chargers are hardly going to burn out the dunk-o-meter, and they score an average of only 57 points per game. Athletes or no athletes, this all makes for an interesting matchup Saturday as North Side scores more than 74 points per game, ninth-best in the state.

When asked who was the key to beating North Side, Beasley responded: “We need all our guys to step up because we are the least athletic team there.”

In the other semifinal (at noon), Muncie Central (13-10) plays Lafayette Jefferson (17-6).

When pushed for an X-factor, Beasley pointed to senior point guard Stephen Jones.

“Guard play is especially important in the post-season,” Beasley said. “You need to handle the ball well, get the ball to the right (position) and play good defense.” Beasley went on to say that having a senior point guard like Jones is a luxury.

“Stephen has done a tremendous job this year,” Beasley said. “He's always had the ability but hasn't brought it all together until this year. He runs the offense, and defensively his play has been huge.” Beasley said these skills will be in demand Saturday when a pressing North Side squad tries to rattle the Chargers.

“It's not just breaking the press but finding the right guy in the right spot (for a layup),” Beasley said.

Jones says he's ready for the task: “North Side is definitely one of the quickest, longest defenses we have played. Their pressure is really good. You think you can (clear) the pass, but then someone comes out of nowhere and takes it.” Carroll beat North Side 70-51 on Feb. 19, but it's an improved Redskins team that the Chargers will face Saturday.

“We can tell by their scores that they are a different team,” Jones said. “We know they are playingwith a lot of confidence.”

Jones said North Side's quickness could cause some troubles for the Chargers' man defense but that his teammates literally have each other's backs.

“We'll need to play a step back, for sure,” Jones said. “But we know if we get beat, we'll have someone there to cover for us. And if we get screened, someone will switch over for us.”