By GREG MENGELT
A look at each of the area’s five girls’ sectionals:
CLASS 4A JEFFERSONVILLE SECTIONAL
• Location: William S. Johnson Arena, Jeffersonville H.S. (2315 Allison Ln., Jeffersonville)
• Schedule:
First round (Tuesday) — New Albany (5-18) vs. Seymour, 6 p.m.; Bedford North Lawrence (20-2) vs. Jeffersonville (10-7), 7:30 p.m.
Semifinals (Friday) — Jennings County (16-6) vs. New Albany/Seymour winner, 6 p.m.; Floyd Central (9-13) vs. BNL/Jeffersonville winner, 7:30 p.m.
Championship (Saturday) — Semifinal winners, 7:30 p.m.
• Favorites: Bedford North Lawrence. The Stars have won 10 sectionals in a row and should again this week.
• Serious contenders: Jennings County. The Panthers, who lost 50-34 to BNL in the regular season, are probably the only team with a chance to upset the Stars.
• Outside contenders: Jeffersonville and Floyd Central. The Red Devils and Highlanders are playing well late in the season. Neither is likely to win the sectional, but who knows what could happen with a little bit of luck?
• Best first-round matchup: New Albany vs. Seymour. The Owls beat New Albany by two points last week.
• Best draw: Jennings County. Avoiding BNL until the championship game had to be exactly what the Panthers wanted.
• Toughest route: Jeffersonville. Jeff’s chances of winning this tournament probably ended on the night of the draw.
CLASS 3A NORTH HARRISON SECTIONAL
• Location: North Harrison H.S. (1070 Hwy. 64 N.W., Ramsey)
• Schedule:
First round (Tuesday) — Charlestown (17-5) vs. Corydon Central (19-2), 7 p.m.
First round (Wednesday) — North Harrison (9-11) vs. Madison (11-7), 6 p.m.; Scottsburg (10-11) vs. Silver Creek (20-2), 7:30 p.m.
Semifinals (Friday) — Salem (11-9) vs. Charlestown/Corydon winner, 6 p.m.; North Harrison/Madison winner vs. Scottsburg/Silver Creek winner, 7:30 p.m.
Championship (Saturday) — Semifinal winners, 7:30 p.m.
• Favorites: Silver Creek. The Dragons would likely be the favorites in any 3A sectional in the state, with the possible exception of one.
• Serious contenders: Corydon Central and Charlestown. It’s doubtful any 3A sectional has three teams this good in its field.
• Outside contenders: Salem. Ignore the record. No one wants to play the Lions.
• Best first-round matchup: Charlestown vs. Corydon Central. This is an easy one. It’s the best game in the region Tuesday night and a standalone at North Harrison.
• Best draw: Silver Creek. You’d think it would be Salem because it got the bye, but the Dragons’ top three threats — Charlestown, Corydon and Salem — are on the other side of the bracket.
• Toughest route: Charlestown. The Pirates have had a great year, but in order win the sectional, they have to beat Corydon, Salem then Silver Creek in order. Yikes.
CLASS 2A CRAWFORD COUNTY SECTIONAL
• Location: Ron Ferguson Gymnasium, Crawford County H.S. (1130 South State Road 66, Marengo)
• Schedule:
First round (Tuesday) — Eastern (12-11) vs. Henryville (9-12), 6 p.m.; Clarksville (3-18) vs. Austin (7-11), 7:30 p.m.
Semifinals (Friday) — Providence (6-14) vs. Eastern/Henryville winner, 6 p.m.; Crawford County (10-12) vs. Clarksville/Austin winner, 7:30 p.m.
Championship (Saturday) — Semifinal winners, 7:30 p.m.
• Favorites: Eastern. This isn’t the toughest of fields and the Musketeers are easily the favorites.
• Serious contenders: Crawford County and Austin. Both teams are capable of beating Eastern in a given night.
• Outside contenders: Henryville. The Hornets have been playing well lately. If they get past Eastern, perhaps they could make a run.
• Best first-round matchup: Eastern vs. Henryville. This sectional should go according to plan and none of the games will be very close until a potential Crawford County-Austin semifinal.
• Toughest route: Clarksville. The Generals route to a championship is to beat Austin, Crawford County then Eastern, the top three teams in the field.
• Most likely regional semifinal opponent: Forest Park (19-3). It should
CLASS A NEW WASHINGTON SECTIONAL
• Location: James Matthews Gymnasium (a.k.a. The Jim), New Washington H.S. (226 N. Highway 62, New Washington)
• Schedule:
First round (Tuesday) — South Central (1-14) vs. Christian Academy (6-15), 6 p.m.; Lanesville (22-1) vs. Rock Creek (9-8), 7:30 p.m.
Semifinals (Friday) — New Washington (13-9) vs. South Central/CAI winner, 6 p.m.; Borden (12-10) vs. Lanesville/Rock Creek winner, 7:30 p.m.
Championship (Saturday) — Semifinal winners, 7:30 p.m.
• Favorites: Lanesville. Easily.
• Serious contenders: None.
• Outside contenders: New Washington and Borden. If the Eagles should slip up, the Braves and Mustangs should be there to steal the title.
• Best first-round matchup: Lanesville vs. Rock Creek. Lanesville is the state championship favorite and Rock Creek had its second-best season in school history. This likely won’t be a competitive game, but we had to acknowledge what both programs have accomplished this season.
• Best draw: New Wash. The Mustangs should have a pretty easy route to the championship game.
• Toughest route: Rock Creek. After its best season in 20 years, the Lions would have to beat Lanesville then Borden then New Wash to win their first sectional title in school history.
CLASS A WEST WASHINGTON SECTIONAL
• Location: Tower Gymnasium, West Washington H.S. (8028 W. Batt Rd., Campbellsburg)
• Schedule:
First round (Tuesday) — West Washington (13-7) vs. Edinburgh (8-10), 7 p.m.
Semifinals (Friday) — Trinity Lutheran (14-8) vs. Crothersville (3-13), 6 p.m.; Shawe (9-10) vs. West Washington/Edinburgh winner, 7:30 p.m.
Championship (Saturday) — Semifinal winners, 7:30 p.m.
• Favorites: Trinity Lutheran. The Cougars have won the last two sectional crowns and are a pretty serious favorite this year.
• Serious contenders: West Washington. Then host Senators didn’t play Trinity this year, but they look like the field’s second-best team.
• Outside contenders: Edinburgh. The Lancers had a chance to beat West Washington in Campbellsburg, so they’re probably the third-best team at the sectional.
• Best first-round matchup: West Washington vs. Edinburgh. One of the top three teams will be eliminated on the first night.
• Best draw: West Washington. The draw should allow West Washington to advance to the championship game. Anything can happen from there.
• Toughest route: Crothersville. Any chance the Tigers had went away with the draw.
