By GREG MENGELT
The defending sectional champion Red Devils were viewed as outside state championship contenders when the season began, but due to circumstances — many of them out of their control — they started the season 2-8 and looked lost at times.
Recently, Jeff (7-1) has started to play better. The last month has included wins over Columbus East, Bedford North Lawrence, New Albany, Rock Creek and Madison. More than that, Jeffersonville head coach Andrew Grantz says he’s seeing signs of the team he expected.
Jeff has won five of its last seven games and blew out Madison 76-33 in its most recent outing Tuesday.
“We’ve believed in this team all year, even as we went through our struggles earlier,” Grantz said. “A lot of teams, the kids would’ve folded and said this just isn’t our year. The fact that every game the last six or seven games, they’ve played hard speak to the commitment of this team. I’m very pleased nobody has quit and the guys have battled.”
Heading into the postseason, the time for excuses is over. Jeff hosts Castle (14-7) on Friday in its regular-season finale. Grantz says he wants to see continued improvement as the Devils approach next Tuesday’s Seymour Sectional opener against BNL (11-11).
“We just want to continue to do things have been doing a better job of and continue to play hard, clean up our rebounding, work on our zone offense, making sure we’re in the right spots. Simple fundamental things,” Grantz said. “We want to continue to simplify the basics but at a quicker pace and a higher level.”
Castle, which has won 11 of its last 13 games after it struggled to a 3-4 start. The Knights have four players who average double-figure scoring, led by junior Weston Aigner’s 19 points per game. Castle — a potential regional opponent for whichever team comes out of the Seymour Sectional — is a perfect opponent for the finale.
“They screen hard and execute,” Grantz said. “Their scoring is spread out. They have a lot of guys who can get to the rim and finish. It will be a good physical test for us as we head into the sectional.”
GAME OF THE NIGHT
CASTLE AT JEFFERSONVILLE
• Time: 8 p.m.
• Location: William S. Johnson Arena, Jeffersonville H.S. (2315 Allison Ln., Jeffersonville)
• Records:
Castle 14-7. The Knights have won two of their last three games.
Jeffersonville 7-10. The Red Devils have won two of their last three games.
• Coaches:
Castle — Brian Gibson (301-148 season at Castle)
Jeffersonville — Andrew Grantz (22-17 in second season at Jeff, 110-59 in seventh season overall)
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
Castle — No. 83, No. 51 Class 4A
Jeffersonville — No. 88, No. 55 Class 4A
• Most recent game:
Castle — Lost to Evansville North 64-63 (Feb. 18)
Jeffersonville — Defeated Madison 76-33 (Feb. 22)
• Last 20 years: Jeffersonville 10-1. The Red Devils have won three in a row vs. Castle.
• Most recent meeting: Feb. 26, 2021 — Jeffersonville 76, Castle 64 (OT).
• John Harrell prediction: Jeff 60, Castle 55.
• Sagarin projection: Jeff by 3.
• Outlook: This is a tough call. I’ll take Jeff at home on Senior Night.
• Greg’s pick: Jeffersonville 69, Castle 65.
NEW ALBANY AT BLOOMINGTON NORTH
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: The Cougar Den, North H.S. (3901 N. Kinser Pike, Bloomington)
• Records:
New Albany 11-10. The Bulldogs have lost two of their last three games.
Bloomington North 18-3. The Cougars are on an 11-game winning streak.
• Coaches:
New Albany — Jim Shannon (440-137 in 24th season at New Albany, 605-276 in 38th season overall)
North — Jason Speer (69-39 in fifth season at North, 184-87 in 12th season overall)
• Rankings:
North — No. 19 IBCA (single class); No. 13 AP (Class 4A).
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
New Albany — No. 103, No. 63 Class 4A
North — No. 13, No. 13 Class 4A
• Most recent game:
New Albany — Won at Evansville Central 66-46 (Feb. 19)
North — Won at Edgewood 70-41 (Feb. 22)
• Last 20 years: New Albany 13-6. The Bulldogs have won six of their last seven vs. North.
• Most recent meeting: Feb, 26, 2021 — At New Albany 56, North 41.
• John Harrell prediction: North 61, New Albany 47.
• Sagarin projection: North by 19.
• Outlook: North isn’t only a sectional favorite, it’s one of the regional frontrunners.
• Greg’s pick: North 58, New Albany 47.
SEYMOUR AT SILVER CREEK
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Silver Creek H.S. (557 Renz Ave., Sellersburg)
• Records:
Seymour 14-6. The Owls have won three games in a row.
Silver Creek 11. The Dragons are on a 3-game winning streak.
• Coaches:
Seymour — Kirk Manns (32-33 in third season at Seymour)
Silver Creek — Brandon Hoffman (212-84 in 12th season at Creek)
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
Seymour — No. 45, No. 34 Class 4A
Silver Creek — No. 129, No. 36 Class 3A
• Most recent game:
Seymour — Won at Shelbyville 54-18 (Feb. 22)
Silver Creek — Defeated Salem 110-35 (Feb. 22)
• Last 20 years: Silver Creek 11-9. The Dragons have a 7-game winning streak vs. Seymour.
• Most recent meeting: Feb. 26, 2021 — Silver Creek 72, at Seymour 56.
• News & notes: Seymour’s 14 wins is its most since it went 15-7 in 2006-07.
• John Harrell prediction: Seymour 58, Silver Creek 51.
• Sagarin projection: Seymour by 6.
• Outlook: If Silver Creek wins this one, the rest of the Salem Sectional will be on notice.
• Greg’s pick: Silver Creek 67, Seymour 65.
CLARKSVILLE AT ROCK CREEK
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Rock Creek Academy/Restoration Christian Church (8000 Diefenbach Ln., Sellersburg)
• Records:
Clarksville 7-14. The Generals have won their last two and three of their last four games.
Rock Creek 12-8. The Lions have won three in a row.
• Coaches:
Clarksville — Kyle Hankins (7-14 in first season at Clarksville)
Rock Creek — Chris Brown (360-289 in 26th season at Rock Creek)
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
Clarksville — No. 301, No. 71 Class 2A
Rock Creek — No. 204, No. 21 Class A
• Most recent game:
Clarksville — Defeated Henryville 51-46 (Feb. 22)
Rock Creek — Defeated West Washington 63-36 (Feb. 22)
• Last 20 years: Clarksville 13-2. The Generals have won six in a row against Rock Creek.
• Most recent meeting: Feb. 26, 2021 — At Clarksville 59, Rock Creek 52.
• John Harrell prediction: Rock Creek 63, Clarksville 48.
• Sagarin projection: Rock Creek by 17.
• Outlook: Both teams are playing really well, but Rock Creek looks like a sectional favorite. Because of a really though schedule, the Lions are way better than their 12-8 record.
• Greg’s pick: Rock Creek 64, Clarksville 54.
BORDEN AT SALEM
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Brooks Memorial Gymnasium, Salem H.S. (700 N. Harrison St., Salem)
• Records:
Borden 14-6. The Braves have won five of their last six games.
Salem 4-16. The Lions have lost nine in a row.
• Coaches:
Borden — Doc Nash (218-155 in 16th season at Borden)
Salem — Duane Malloy (4-16 in first season at Salem)
• Rankings:
Borden — No. 15 AP (Class A).
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
Borden — No. 229, No. 28 Class A
Salem — No. 341, No. 91 Class 3A
• Most recent game:
Borden — Defeated Orleans 56-41 (Feb. 19)
Salem — Lost at Silver Creek 110-35 (Feb. 22)
• Last 20 years: Salem 23-10. The Lions have won six of their last seven vs. Borden.
• Most recent meeting: Feb. 26, 2021 — At Borden 71, Salem 47.
• John Harrell prediction: Borden 64, Salem 47.
• Sagarin projection: Borden by 11.
• Outlook: Doc Nash has Borden playing like a postseason contender. That should be scary for the rest of the sectional field.
• Greg’s pick: Borden 57, Salem 45.
EASTERN AT SOUTH CENTRAL
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: South Central H.S. Main Gym (6675 E. Hwy. 11 S.E., Elizabeth)
• Records:
Eastern 16-5. The Musketeers have lost two of their last three games.
South Central 8-14. The Rebels have lost three of their last four.
• Coaches:
Eastern — Chandler Prible (28-18 in second season at Eastern)
South Central — Greg Robinson (181-182 in 16th season at South Central, 203-245 in 20th season overall)
• Rankings:
Eastern — No. 14 AP (Class 2A).
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
Eastern — No. 137, No. 20 Class 2A
South Central — No. 334, No. 63 Class A
• Most recent game:
Eastern — Lost at Springs Valley 69-58 (Feb. 22)
South Central — Defeated Corydon Central 65-58 (Feb. 22)
• Last 20 years: Eastern 6-2.
• Most recent meeting: Feb. 26, 2021 — At Eastern 66, South Central 44.
• John Harrell prediction: Eastern 62, South Central 45.
• Sagarin projection: Eastern by 21.
• Outlook: The Musketeers will bounce back after a tough loss Tuesday.
• Greg’s pick: Eastern 72, South Central 49.
MITCHELL AT SCOTTSBURG
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Charles E. Meyer Gymnasium (1 Jim Barley Way, Scottsburg)
• Records:
Mitchell 7-14. The Bluejackets have lost eight of their last nine games.
Scottsburg 13-8. The Warriors are on a 4-game winning streak.
• Coaches:
Mitchell — Jackson Ryan (10-28 in second season at Mitchell)
Scottsburg — Eric Richardson (19-26 in second season at Scottsburg)
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
Mitchell — No. 304, No. 72 Class 2A
Scottsburg — No. 110, No. 29 Class 3A
• Most recent game:
Mitchell — Defeated Shoals 56-47 (Feb. 22)
Scottsburg — Won at Jennings County 52-50 (Feb. 22)
• Last 20 years: Scottsburg 13-6.
• Most recent meeting: Feb. 26, 2021 — Scottsburg 65, at Mitchell 47.
• John Harrell prediction: Scottsburg by 27.
• Sagarin projection: Scottsburg 66, Mitchell 40.
• Outlook: After winning at Jennings County, Scottsburg has clearly announced that it is an outside contender at the sectional at Salem.
• Greg’s pick: Scottsburg 63, Mitchell 45.
AUSTIN AT CROTHERSVILLE
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Crothersville H.S. (109 S. Preston St., Crothersville)
• Records:
Austin 5-14. The Eagles have lost five of their last six games.
Crothersville 3-18. The Tigers have lost seven of their last eight.
• Coaches:
Austin — Randy Edwards (40-76 in fifth season at Austin)
Crothersville — Bryant Layman (3-18 in first season at Crothersville)
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
Austin — No. 309, No. 75 Class 2A
Crothersville — No. 391, No. 91 Class A
• Most recent game:
Austin — Won at Lanesville 63-51 (Feb. 22)
Crothersville — lost to Henryville 81-46 (Feb. 19)
• Last 20 years: Austin 27-5. The Eagles have won 12 of the 13 in the rivalry.
• Most recent meeting: Feb. 26, 2021 — At Austin 71, Crothersville 56.
• John Harrell prediction: Austin 74, Crothersville 46.
• Sagarin projection: Austin by 20.
• Outlook: This is a particularly bad Crothersville team and Austin has been pretty good at times this season.
• Greg’s pick: Austin 70, Crothersville 40.
SHOALS AT WEST WASHINGTON
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Tower Gymnasium, West Washington H.S. (8028 W. Batt Rd., Campbellsburg)
• Records:
Shoals 9-13. The Jug Rox have won two of their last three games.
West Washington 8-13. The Senators have won two of their last three.
• Coaches:
Shoals — Bryson Able (69-100 in seventh season at Shoals)
West Washington — Clayton Sullivan (47-49 in fourth season at West Washington)
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
Shoals — No. 283, No. 46 Class A
West Washington — No. 300, No. 50 Class A
• Most recent game:
Shoals — Won at Wood Memorial 52-42 (Feb. 23)
West Washington — Lost at Rock Creek 63-36 (Feb. 22)
• Last 20 years: West Washington 13-2.
• Most recent meeting: Feb. 26, 2021 — West Washington 45, at Shoals 40.
• John Harrell prediction: Shoals 49, West Washignton 46.
• Sagarin projection: West Washington by 1.
• Outlook: The Senators lost some momentum with an ugly loss at Rock Creek. They need this one.
• Greg’s pick: West Washington 59, Shoals 53.
CHRISTIAN ACADEMY AT NORTHEAST DUBOIS
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Northeast Dubois H.S. (4711 N. Dubois Rd. NE, Dubois, IN 47527)
• Records:
Christian Academy 9-13. The Warriors have lost their last two games but have won three of their last five.
Northeast Dubois 7-14. The Jeeps have lost four of their last five.
• Coaches:
Christian Academy — Hayden Casey (18-30 in second season at CAI)
Northeast Dubois — Terry Friedman (183-192 in 16th season at Northeast Dubois)
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
CAI — No. 263, No. 38 Class A
Northeast Dubois — No. 281, No. 45 Class A
• Most recent game:
CAI — Lost at South Spencer 61-42 (Feb. 22)
Northeast Dubois — Lost at Evansville Christian 84-51 (Feb. 22)
• Last 20 years: First meeting.
• John Harrell prediction: CAI 54, NE Dubois 51.
• Sagarin projection: Northeast Dubois by 1.
• Outlook: Tough road trip for the Warriors. I think they get the job done.
• Greg’s pick: CAI 51, Northeast Dubois 47.
