By GREG MENGELT

While three local sectionals resumed play Saturday, two local sectionals — with teams traveling as long as an hour to reach their sectional sites — decided to wait until Monday to play their semifinals.

It’s rare that a Hoosier Hills Hoops Game of the Night will feature one team that beat another by 34 points just a few weeks ago, but things have changed a little bit.

Floyd Central (9-13) is no longer playing like a below .500 team, while Bedford North Lawrence (21-2) didn’t play like a state championship contender last Tuesday in its first-round victory over the host Red Devils at the 4A Jeffersonville Sectional.

The Highlanders and Stars will meet in Monday’s second sectional semifinal, following Seymour (11-10) vs. Jennings County (16-6) in the first semi. The winners will battle for the sectional championship Tuesday.

The Highlanders won their last two regular-season games, including a 55-50 upset of Jennings County on Jan. 25, and the streak was nearly four. Floyd nearly upset 21-win Corydon Central before losing in overtime and lost by a point to Class A No. 11 Trinity Lutheran on Jan. 20.

In fact, the last time the Highlanders were dominated was the 62-28 loss at BNL on Jan. 25.

“We keep getting better,” Floyd head coach Randy Gianfagna said. “We knew we would get it was going. We just had to find a way to finish.”

It will still be a tough task for Floyd to upset the 10-time defending sectional champions. The Stars are the third-ranked team in Indiana despite being mostly depending on underclassmen.

In Monday’s other sectional action, 2-time defending champion Eastern (13-11) is expected to advance past Providence (6-14) in Monday’s first semifinal at the Class 2A Crawford County Sectional. The Musketeers beat Providence 47-15 on Dec. 2. The second semifinal is expected to be a good one. Austin (9-11) enters the semi having won four of its last six games, including a 53-30 win over Clarksville in the sectional’s first round. The Eagles’ opponent, Crawford County (10-12), started the season 0-7 but has gone 10-5 since, including a 74-73 overtime win over Austin at Marengo on Jan. 4.

CLASS 4A JEFFERSONVILLE SECTIONAL
FLOYD CENTRAL VS. BEDFORD NORTH LAWRENCE
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: William S. Johnson Arena, Jeffersonville H.S. (2315 Allison Ln., Jeffersonville)
• Records:
Floyd Central 9-13. The Highlanders won their last two regular-season games.
Bedford North Lawrence 21-2. The Stars have won five straight.
• Coaches:
Floyd Central — Randy Gianfagna (29-60 in fourth season at Floyd)
BNL — Jeff Allen (176-36 in eighth season at BNL)
• Rankings:
BNL — No. 4 IBCA (single class); No. 3 ICGSA (Class 4A).
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
Floyd Central — No. 116, No. 55 Class 4A
BNL— No. 12, No. 11 Class 4A
• Most recent game:
Floyd Central — Won at Providence 61-26 (Jan. 27)
BNL — Defeated Jeffersonville 51-42 (Feb. 1, Class 4A Jeffersonville Sectional first round)
• Sectionals titles (most recent): Floyd Central 6 (2010); BNL 30 (2021, 10th straight).
• Regular-season result: Jan. 15 — At BNL 62, Floyd Central 28.
• Last postseason matchup: Feb. 2, 2016 — BNL 33, Floyd Central 23 (sectional first round)
• John Harrell prediction: BNL 58, Floyd 31.
• Sagarin projection: BNL by 29.
• Outlook: Floyd’s made a ton of progress over the second half of the season. However, it’s hard to imagine the Highlanders have improved 35 points since Jan. 15.
• Greg’s pick: BNL 60, Floyd Central 41.

JENNINGS COUNTY VS. SEYMOUR
• Time: 6 p.m.
• Location: William S. Johnson Arena, Jeffersonville H.S. (2315 Allison Ln., Jeffersonville)
• Records:
Seymour 11-10. The Owls have won their last two games.
Jennings County 16-6. The Panthers lost three of their final four regular-season games.
• Coaches:
Seymour — Jason Longmeier (123-102 in 10th season at Seymour, 157-152 in 14th season overall)
Jennings County — Kristi Sigler (77-67 in sixth season at Jennings)
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
Seymour — No. 103, No. 52 Class 4A
Jennings County— No. 49, No. 34 Class 4A
• Most recent game:
Seymour — Defeated New Albany 59-47 (Feb. 1, Class 4A Jeffersonville Sectional first round)
Jennings County — Lost at Franklin 82-57 (Jan. 27)
• Sectionals titles (most recent): Seymour 11 (2008); Jennings County 10 (2005).
• Regular-season result: Dec. 7 — At Jennings County 70, Seymour 42.
• Last postseason matchup: Feb. 2, 2021 — Jennings County 72, Seymour 48 (sectional first round)
• News & notes: Longmeier was the head coach at Jennings County from 2007-2010.
• John Harrell prediction: Jennings 58, Seymour 42.
• Sagarin projection: Jennings by 13.
• Outlook: The Owls will make a game of this, but the Panthers are the better team despite their late struggles.
• Greg’s pick: Jennings County 55, Seymour 48.

CLASS 2A CRAWFORD COUNTY SECTIONAL
PROVIDENCE VS. EASTERN
• Time: 6 p.m.
• Location: Ron Ferguson Gymnasium, Crawford County H.S. (1130 South State Road 66, Marengo)
• Records:
Providence 6-14. The Pioneers lost their final two regular-season games.
Eastern 13-11. The Musketeers have won their last two games.
• Coaches:
Providence — Brad Burden (165-162 in 14th season at Providence)
Eastern — Michael McBride (232-126 in 15th season at Eastern)
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
Providence — No. 311, No. 80 Class 2A
Eastern— No. 114, No. 21 Class 2A
• Most recent game:
Providence — Lost to Floyd Central 61-26 (Jan. 27
Eastern — Defeated Henryville 54-18 (Feb. 1, Class 2A Crawford County Sectional first round)
• Sectionals titles (most recent): Providence 2 (2016); Eastern 6 (2021, third straight).
• Regular-season result: Dec. 2 — At Eastern 47, Providence 15.
• Last postseason matchup: Feb. 1, 2019 — Eastern 27, Providence 24 (sectional first round)
• John Harrell prediction: Eastern 53, Providence 25.
• Sagarin projection: Eastern by 30.
• Outlook: The Musketeers should win handily. The question is who they’ll face in Tuesday’s championship game.
• Greg’s pick: Eastern 50, Providence 25.

CRAWFORD COUNTY VS. AUSTIN
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Ron Ferguson Gymnasium, Crawford County H.S. (1130 South State Road 66, Marengo)
• Records:
Crawford County 10-12. The Wolfpack won seven of their final nine regular-season games.
Austin 9-11. The Eagles have won their last two games and three of their last four.
• Coaches:
Crawford County — Christopher Broughton (121-94 in ninth season at Crawford)
Austin — Jared Petersen (240-175 in 17th season at Austin)
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
Crawford County — No. 208, No. 52 Class 2A
Austin— No. 180, No. 38 Class 2A
• Most recent game:
Crawford County — Lost to Corydon Central 55-21 (Jan. 27
Austin — Defeated Clarksville 53-30 (Feb. 1, Class 2A Crawford County Sectional first round)
• Sectionals titles (most recent): Crawford County 3 (1993); Austin 11 (2016).
• Regular-season result: Jan. 4 — At Crawford County 74, Austin 73, OT.
• Last postseason matchup: Feb. 2, 2021 — Crawford County 48, Austin 37 (sectional first round)
• John Harrell prediction: Crawford County 46, Austin 44.
• Sagarin projection: Austin by 5.
• Outlook: It’s going to be tough to overcome the Wolfpack’s homecourt advantage, but we’re calling it. This should be the most competitive game of the night.
• Greg’s pick: Austin 54, Crawford County 48.