New season for HS boys bball starts next week
Sectional games for the 113th annual IHSAA boys basketball state tournament begin next Tuesday, Feb. 28.
The pairings were announced Sunday and area teams will play at four different sites over all four classes. In all, 401 teams statewide will be competing with 397 games taking place over 26 days, culminating with four state championship games at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in downtown Indianapolis on March 25.
Like the girls tourney, a different format will be used as the regional round and semi-state have essentially switched. The regional will be a single-game championship and the semi-state a three-game, one-day event with the winner advancing to the state finals.
Here is a preview of the four sectionals involving local teams.
CLASS 4A
Plymouth will head to Laporte HS as part of the six-team field for Sectional 3. The Pilgrims (9-12) get a second shot at Mishawaka (16-6) in the nightcap Tuesday. The Cavemen won, 63-55, when the two Northern Lakes Conference foes met at The Rock on Jan. 6. That started a fivegame losing streak for Plymouth, but the Pilgrims have played much better the last month. Having the whole roster available has been one key to the team’s improved play. If PHS gets past Mishawaka, another rematch happens in the semifinal game as South Bend Riley (13-9) awaits. The Wildcats defeated the Pilgrims, 58-48, back on Dec. 20. SB Adams is the defending sectional champ, but has the worst record in the field (7-13 before Wed vs Merrillville) and may not have its coach due to a recent incident. Michigan City, Mishawaka and the host Slicers all have 16 wins as of tonight so are the co-favorites based on record. Will Plymouth crash the party?
CLASS 3A
All but one team in Sectional 18 has double-digit wins, led by 11th-ranked Tippecanoe Valley with 18. Glenn (139) plays the Vikings in the lone game Tuesday night. TV won the regular season meeting, 55-43. The winner will be the prohibitive favorite in the second semifinal game against Bremen. Culver Academy (14-7) won sectionals a year ago and opens against the host Redskins in the first semi. The Eagles have not played either Glenn or TV during the regular season, adding more intrigue to a possible final involving those teams.
CLASS 2A
North Judson is the defending sectional champ, will be on its home court, and has - by far - the best record in the 2A field for Sectional 34. So crowning the 14th-ranked Bluejays (19-3) as the champs again is a foregone conclusion, right? A path to the final
game does seem likely, but Laville may have a say in the ultimate outcome. The Lancers lost to NJ by just three points, 55-52, in their Hoosier North Athletic Conference meeting. LV has a challenging road to get another shot at NJ though. First the Lancers must get past Hebron, who knocked off LV, 60-47, during the regular season. Get past the Hawks and the Lancers will have to defeat a high-scoring South Bend Career Academy squad for a second time. An LV-NJ finale is a possibility and would be a fantastic game with a trophy on the line.
CLASS 1A
The seven-team field at Sectional 50 could be the most competitive one involving area teams. Either Argos or Triton has won the sectional the past four years, but this time around those two have just the third- and fourth-best record, respectively, heading into the postseason. On top of that, these rivals will play each other on a rare Wednesday night of action so one of them will be out of the playoffs quickly. Triton is the defending sectional champ and host site, but the Dragons topped the Trojans in overtime back on Feb. 2. The game following that one has the two favorites (by record) going at it when No. 10 Marquette Catholic (16-7) takes on Westville (15-7). Wednesday night’s winners will then play in the second semifinal contest Friday. Meanwhile, on the other side of the bracket, Culver received a favorable draw. As long as the Cavaliers don’t get overconfident and just play their game, they have a very doable path to the championship game. It would take victories over two teams they have double-digit wins over during the regular season. If the Cavs do reach the sectional finale, they lost to both Triton and Argos (twice) during the regular season, but all those games were close. They have not played Westville or Marquette Catholic this season. The last time Culver won sectionals was 2014. A title this year would be the season’s highlight.