By GREG MENGELT

Floyd Central lost twice last week. It wasn’t a huge deal. They were two non-conference games late in the season. Two games stuck in between the Highlanders clinching the Hoosier Hills Conference championship and the sectional beginning next week. The Highlanders were also playing without Caleb Washington.

Of course, any team — even one as good as 12th-ranked Floyd Central (16-4) — doesn’t want to enter the postseason on a losing streak. That makes Wednesday’s regular-season finale against Columbus East (7-13) more important than it originally looked. The Olympians are in last place in the HHC standings but have won five in a row, including a 59-55 upset win over Jennings County two weeks ago.

The Highlanders will look to bounce back from losses against Brownstown Central and Bloomington North last week by finishing their HHC slate unbeaten.

“We made mistakes in both (losses),” Floyd Central coach Todd Sturgeon said. “Those are two good teams and we had a chance to win both games and didn’t. There are things we have to button down and improve upon. We’re talking about two possessions per half when you’re talking about whether you advance in the postseason. Through the regional, anybody we play, it could be two possessions per half that could decide a game.”

With a 5-0 record against the sectional field this season, Floyd Central clearly will enter next week’s sectional as the favorites. However, Sturgeon knows there’s not a team in the balanced sectional field not capable of beating any other team.

The Highlanders open the sectional against a 14-6 Jennigs County team that took them to overtime in late January. A win and they’d face rival New Albany (11-10). The championship game could be against Bedford North Lawrence (10-10), host Seymour (13-6) or defending champion Jeffersonville (6-10) next Saturday.

“Clearly, when you take a look at the scores, anybody is capable of beating anybody else,” Sturgeon said. “Nobody thinks New Albany can’t win two games (to win the sectional), Seymour is sitting there with the bye, homecourt advantage and a strong defensive team and everybody knows how good Jeff is. I think it’s wide open.”

Sturgeon says he expects Washington to return Wednesday unless he suffers a setback. He said 6-foot-5 junior wing probably could’ve played against North but the team is taking a “slow approach” to his return.

GAME OF THE NIGHT
COLUMBUS EAST AT FLOYD CENTRAL
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Joe Hinton Court, Floyd Central H.S. (6575 Old Vincennes Rd., Floyds Knobs)
• Records:
Columbus East 7-13, 1-4 HHC. The. Olympians have won five games in a row.
Floyd Central 16-4, 5-0 HHC. The Highlanders lost their last two.
• Coaches:
Columbus East — Brent Chitty (127-143 in 12th season at East, 313-301 in 28th season overall)
Floyd Central — Todd Sturgeon (138-44 in eighth season at Floyd)
• Rankings:
Floyd Central — No. 13 IBCA (single class); No. 12 AP (Class 4A).
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
Columbus East — No. 140, No. 74 Class 4A
Floyd Central — No. 9, No. 9 Class 4A
• Most recent game:
Columbus East — Defeated Madison 60-40 (Feb. 18)
Floyd Central — Lost to Bloomington North 51-48 (Feb. 19)
• Last 20 years: East 13-7. Floyd has a 4-game winning streak against the Olympians.
• Most recent meeting: Feb. 24, 2021 — Floyd Central 85, at East 54.
• John Harrell prediction: Floyd 64, East 38.
• Sagarin projection: Floyd by 25.
• Outlook: We’re going to find out real fast if East’s winning streak is legit.
• Greg’s pick: Floyd 70, East 47.

NEW WASHINGTON AT SWITZERLAND COUNTY
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Switzerland County H.S. (1020 W. Main St., Vevay)
• Records:
New Washington 6-15. The Mustangs have lost four of their last five games.
Switzerland County 8-13. The Pacers have lost three in a row.
• Coaches:
New Washington — Kyle Brown (15-30 in second season at New Wash)
Switzerland County — Travis Wrightsman (11-34 in second season at Switzerland County, 275-193 in 19th season overall)
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
New Washington — No. 331, No. 62 Class A
Switzerland County — No. 296, No. 68 Class 2A
• Most recent game:
New Washington — Lost to Rock Creek 68-60 (Feb. 19)
Switzerland County — Lost at South Dearborn 48-37 Feb. 19)
• Last 20 years: Switzerland County 14-6.
• Most recent meeting: Jan. 29, 2021 — At New Washington 50, Switzerland County 44.
• John Harrell prediction: Switzerland County 59, New Wash 51.
• Sagarin projection: Switzerland Count by 9.
• Outlook: I’ll be surprised if New Wash isn’t the better team.
• Greg’s pick: New Albany 58, Switzerland County 55.