By GREG MENGELT

It’s Championship Tuesday!

Apparently that’s a new thing in Southern Indiana, thanks to last week’s winter storms that pushed the five local sectional championships to Tuesday.

Here’s a brief look at each one of our local sectionals:

CLASS 3A NORTH HARRISON SECTIONAL: SILVER CREEK VS. CORYDON CENTRAL
This is easily the best game of the bunch. Both teams have been dominant this season. In fact, one of Corydon Central’s two losses was to Silver Creek (69-40 in Sellersburg on Nov. 22).

The 21-2 Panthers have won nine games in a row, including a 59-52 win over Salem in Satudray’s semifinal, but fourth-ranked Silver Creek (22-2) is the favorite by virtue of the earlier victory and its postseason experience. The defending Class 3A state champion Dragons have won 10 of their last 11 games but they struggled to beat Madison (52-48) on Saturday.

CLASS 2A CRAWFORD COUNTY SECTIONAL: AUSTIN VS. EASTERN
Eastern (14-11) is the 3-time defending sectional champion and the favorite again this year. However, Austin (10-11) has been playing very well and is a dangerous opponent.

The Eagles haven’t won a sectional since winning the 2010 state championship but coming into Tuesday’s championship having won three straight and nine of their last 12 games after a 1-7 start.

Eastern struggled down the stretch against a tough schedule but has rebounded to win its last three games … by a combined 150-54 score.

Eastern won at Austin 46-22, but that was nearly three full months ago.

CLASS A NEW WASHINGTON SECTIONAL: NEW WASHINGTON VS. LANESVILLE
New Washington is one of the area’s hottest teams. The Mustangs have won three in a row and eight of their last nine. In the lone loss during that stretch, New Wash (14-9) led Jeffersonville at halftime.

But no one expects the Mustangs to win Tuesday. That’s because Lanesville (24-1) is probably the best Class A team in Southern Indiana. The Eagles have won 20 games in a row and beat New Washington 67-22 on Dec. 18.

CLASS A WEST WASHINGTON SECTIONAL: WEST WASHINGTON VS. TRINITY LUTHERAN
Not quite like Lanesville but Trinity Lutheran (15-8), which has won three sectional titles in the last four years, is a pretty big favorite at West Washington (15-7).

The teams have similar records, but the Cougars play teams like Brownstown, Scottsburg, North Harrison, Floyd Central and Jennings County. Trinity is 7-2 against Class A teams with their only losses coming to 19-6 Vincennes Rivet and 24-1 Lanesville.

But the Senators have been playing well and should feel they have a chance to win their second sectional crown in four years.

West Washington and Trinity Lutheran did not meet in the regular season.

CLASS 4A JEFFERSONVILLE SECTIONAL: BEDFORD NORTH LAWRENCE VS. JENNINGS COUNTY

No local teams left in this one. No. 3 Bedford North Lawrence (22-2) and Jennings County (17-6) are left standing at Jeffersonville.

It seems that Jennings’ chances of winning depend on which BNL team shows up. Last Tuesday, the Stars struggled to put away Jeffersonville, but in Monday’s semifinal, they controlled Floyd Central from start to finish.

Jennings, which struggled down the stretch of the season, beat Seymour 46-26 in Monday’s semifinal. The Stars beat the Panthers 50-34 on Nov. 30.

CLASS 3A NORTH HARRISON SECTIONAL
SILVER CREEK VS. CORYDON CENTRAL
• Time: 7 p.m.
• Location: North Harrison H.S. (1070 Hwy. 64 N.W., Ramsey)
• Records:
Silver Creek 22-2. The Dragons have won 10 of their last 11 games.
Corydon Central 21-2. The Panthers are on a 9-game winning streak.
• Coaches:
Silver Creek — Scott Schoen (177-110 in 12th season at Creek)
Corydon Central — Josh Conrad (31-13 in second season at Corydon, 150-106 in 11th season overall)
• Rankings:
Silver Creek — No. 12 IBCA (single class); No. 4 ICGSA (Class 3A).
Corydon Central — No. 12 ICGSA (Class 3A).
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
Silver Creek — No. 19, No. 3 Class 3A
Corydon Central— No. 40, No. 8 Class 3A
• Most recent game:
Silver Creek — Defeated Madison 52-48 (Feb. 5, Class 3A North Harrison Sectional semifinal)
Corydon Central — Defeated Salem 59-52 (Feb. 5, Class 3A North Harrison Sectional semifinal)
• Sectionals titles (most recent): Silver Creek 6 (2021); Corydon 17 (2013).
• Regular-season result: Nov. 22 — At Silver Creek 69, Corydon Central 40.
• Last postseason matchup: Feb. 4, 2019 — Silver Creek 43, Corydon 33 (sectional first round)
• John Harrell prediction: Silver Creek 52, Corydon Central 46.
• Sagarin projection: Silver Creek by 6.
• Outlook: Silver Creek is definitely the favorite, but the Panthers certainly have a chance. The 29-points Dragon win in the regular season makes us lean toward Creek.
• Greg’s pick: Silver Creek 66, Corydon Central 56.

CLASS 2A CRAWFORD COUNTY SECTIONAL
EASTERN VS. AUSTIN
• Time: 7 p.m.
• Location: Ron Ferguson Gymnasium, Crawford County H.S. (1130 South State Road 66, Marengo)
• Records:
Eastern 14-11. The Musketeers are currently on a 3-game winning streak.
Austin 10-11. The Eagles have won four of their last five games.
• Coaches:
Eastern — Michael McBride (232-126 in 15th season at Eastern)
Austin — Jared Petersen (241-175 in 17th season at Austin)
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
Eastern — No. 112, No. 21 Class 2A
Austin— No. 181, No. 40 Class 2A
• Most recent game:
Eastern — Defeated Providence 46-18 (Feb. 7, Class 2A Crawford County Sectional semifinal)
Austin — Defeated Crawford County 68-54 (Feb. 7, Class 2A Crawford County Sectional semifinal)
• Sectionals titles (most recent): Eastern 6 (2021, third straight); Austin 11 (2016).
• Regular-season result: Nov. 13 — Eastern 46, at Austin 22.
• Last postseason matchup: Feb. 4, 2019 — Eastern 37, Austin 30 (sectional semifinal)
• John Harrell prediction: Eastern 49, Austin 39.
• Sagarin projection: Eastern by 9.
• Outlook: Austin’s been playing well, but it would still be a pretty big upset for the Eagles to take the title.
• Greg’s pick: Eastern 45, Austin 40.

CLASS A NEW WASHINGTON SECTIONAL
LANESVILLE VS. NEW WASHINGTON
• Time: 7 p.m.
• Location: James Matthews Gymnasium (a.k.a. The Jim), New Washington H.S. (226 N. Highway 62, New Washington)
• Records:
Lanesville 24-1. The Eagles have won 20 games in a row.
New Washington 14-9. The Mustangs have won nine of their last 10.
• Coaches:
Lanesville — Angie Hinton (86-16 in fourth season at Lanesville, 259-89 in 15th season overall)
New Washington — Kirsti Holloway (69-92 in seventh season at New Wash)
• Rankings:
Lanesville — No. 2 ICGSA (Class A).
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
Lanesville — No. 51, No. 2 Class A
New Washington— No. 218, No. 25 Class A
• Most recent game:
Lanesville — Defeated Borden 50-8 (Feb. 5, Class A New Washington Sectional semifinal)
New Washington — Defeated Christian Academy 45-25 (Feb. 5, Class A New Washington Sectional semifinal)
• Sectionals titles (most recent): Lanesville 3 (2021, third straight); New Wash 6 (2013).
• Regular-season result: Dec. 18 — Lanesville 67, at New Washington 22.
• Last postseason matchup: Feb. 6, 2021 — Lanesville 72, New Washington 30 (sectional championship).
• John Harrell prediction: Lanesville 54, New Washington 30.
• Sagarin projection: Lanesville by 28.
• Outlook: It’s a shame that this isn’t a regional because both teams are good enough to be sectional champions.
• Greg’s pick: Lanesville 52, New Washington 27.

CLASS A WEST WASHINGTON SECTIONAL
WEST WASHINGTON VS. TRINITY LUTHERAN
• Time: 7 p.m.
• Location: Tower Gymnasium, West Washington H.S. (8028 W. Batt Rd., Campbellsburg)
• Records:
West Washington 15-7. The Senators have won three games in a row.
Trinity Lutheran 15-8. The Cougars have won four of their last six games.
• Coaches:
West Washington — Matthew Myers (23-22 in second season at West Washington)
Trinity Lutheran — Mike Lang (182-86 in 11th season at Trinity Lutheran)
• Rankings:
Trinity Lutheran — No. 11 ICGSA (Class A).
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
West Washington — No. 270, No. 41 Class A
Trinity Lutheran— No. 162, No. 14 Class A
• Most recent game:
West Washington — Defeated Shawe 37-23 (Feb. 7, Class A West Washington Sectional semifinal)
Trinity Lutheran — Defeated Crothersville 80-9 (Feb. 7, Class A West Washington Sectional semifinal)
• Sectionals titles (most recent): West Washington 3 (2019); Trinity 5 (2021, second straight).
• Regular-season result: Did not play.
• Last postseason matchup: Feb. 6, 2021 — Trinity Lutheran 67, West Washington 31 (sectional championship)
• John Harrell prediction: Trinity Lutheran 49, West Washignton 38.
• Sagarin projection: Trinity Lutheran by 17.
• Outlook: It’s been a great season for West Washington. Perhaps the kind of season to build on going forward.
• Greg’s pick: Trinity Lutheran 56, West Washington 45.

CLASS 4A JEFFERSONVILLE SECTIONAL
BEDFORD NORTH LAWRENCE VS. JENNINGS COUNTY
• Time: 7 p.m.
• Location: William S. Johnson Arena, Jeffersonville H.S. (2315 Allison Ln., Jeffersonville)
• Records:
Bedford North Lawrence 22-2. The Stars are on a 6-game winning streak.
Jennings County 17-6. The Panthers have lost three of their last five games.
• Coaches:
BNL — Jeff Allen (177-36 in eighth season at BNL)
Jennings — Kristi Sigler (78-67 in sixth season at Jennings)
• Rankings:
BNL — No. 4 IBCA (single class); No. 3 ICGSA (Class 4A).
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
BNL — No. 11, No. 10 Class 4A
Jennings — No. 46, No. 33 Class 4A
• Most recent game:
BNL — Defeated Floyd Central 61-16 (Feb. 7, Class 4A Jeffersonville Sectional semifinal)
Jennings — Defeated Seymour 46-26 (Feb. 7, Class 4A Jeffersonville Sectional semifinal)
• Sectionals titles (most recent): BNL 30 (2021, 10 straight); Jennings 9 (2005).
• Regular-season result: Nov. 30 — BNL 50, at Jennings County 34.
• Last postseason matchup: Feb. 6, 2021 — BNL 55, Jennings County 51 (sectional championship).
• John Harrell prediction: BNL 53, Jennings County 42.
• Sagarin projection: BNL by 15.
• Outlook: Jennings is definitely capable of an upset but probably not good enough to predict it.
• Greg’s pick: BNL 55, Jennings County 36.