By GREG MENGELT
CLASS 4A SEYMOUR SECTIONAL
• Location: Lloyd E. Scott Gymnasium, Seymour H.S. (1350 W. Second St., Seymour)
• Schedule:
First round (Tuesday) — Jeffersonville (7-11) vs. Bedford North Lawrence (11-11), 6 p.m.; Floyd Central (17-4) vs. Jennings County (14-8), 7:30 p.m.
Semifinals (Friday) — Seymour (15-6) vs. Jeff/BNL winner, 6 p.m.; New Albany (11-11) vs. Floyd/Jennings winner.
Championship (Saturday) — Semifinal winners, 7:30 p.m.
• Favorites: Floyd Central. The Highlanders dominated the sectional field during the season.
• Serious contenders: Jennings County, Seymour and Jeffersonville. Jennings is big enough, Jeff is athletic and skilled enough and the host Owls have the homecourt advantage and their best team in years.
• Outside contenders: New Albany and BNL. Every team in the sectional is .500 or better except defending champion Jeffersonville.
• Best first-round matchup: Floyd Central vs. Jennings County. The championship could be determined on the first night.
• Best draw: Seymour. The Owls have a great chance of getting to the championship game. Their 30-year sectional drought could come to an end.
• Toughest route: Jennings County. A couple weeks ago, an argument could be made that the Panthers were co-favorites with Floyd, but they struggled down the stretch. Now they have the sectional’s toughest draw.
• Potential regional first-round opponents: Whiteland (14-9), Franklin Central (8-13), Center Grove (10-12), Franklin (8-14).
• Potential regional final opponents: No. 13 Bloomington North (19-3), Bloomington South (17-7), Evansville Reitz (11-9), Columbus North (16-7), Evansville North (13-10), Castle (15-7).
• Potential semistate opponents: No. 8 Cathedral (19-6), No. 15 Indianapolis Tech (17-7), No. 5 Ben Davis (18-6), Pike (14-8), No. 11 Lawrence North (19-6), No. 17 North Central (16-7), No. 14 Terre Haute North (20-4), Warren Central (15-7).
• Potential state finals opponents: No. 1 Chesterton (23-0), No. 2 Fishers (21-2), No. 3 Homestead (19-5), No. 4 Carmel (17-5), No. 6 Penn (20-2), Westfield (18-6), Zionsville (14-7).
CLASS 3A SALEM SECTIONAL
• Location: Brooks Memorial Gymnasium, Salem H.S. (700 N. Harrison St., Salem)
• Schedule:
First round (Tuesday) — North Harrison (16-3) vs. Charlestown (8-14), 7 p.m.
First round (Wednesday) — Salem (5-16) vs. Silver Creek (11-12), 6 p.m.; Scottsburg (14-8) vs. Madison (6-17), 7:30 p.m.
Semifinals (Friday) — Corydon Central (14-8). vs. North Harrison/Charlestown winner, 6 p.m.; Salem/Silver Creek winner vs. Scottsburg/Madison winner, 7:30 p.m.
Championship (Saturday) — Semifinal winners, 7 p.m.
• Favorites: North Harrison. The Cougars have an excellent shot at ending their 26-year sectional championship drought. They were 6-0 against sectional opponents this season.
• Serious contenders: Silver Creek. All season we’ve been warning our readers not to count out the 3-year reigning state champions. Believe us yet?
• Outside contenders: Corydon Central and Scottsburg. Corydon was the hottest team in the sectional a couple weeks ago. Scottsburg is now.
• Best first-round matchup: Scottsburg vs. Madison. The Warriors and Cubs have played twice already (in back-to-back games to end 2021 and start 2022), with both teams winning once.
• Best draw: Silver Creek. The Dragons avoid North Harrison and Corydon until the final. That’s not what the rest of the field wanted to see.
• Toughest route: Charlestown. The Pirates have played well late in the season, but their route seems impossible.
• Potential regional first-round opponents: No. 3 Sullivan (21-2), Washington (12-10).
• Potential regional final opponents: No. 10 Connersville (18-6), No. 12 Greensburg (20-4), Lawrenceburg (17-7), Heritage Hills (14-9), Evansville Bosse (14-9), Evansville Memorial (12-10).
• Potential semistate opponents: No. 8 Brownstown Central (20-3), No. 11 Brebeuf (15-7), Northview (15-9), Beech Grove (15-6), Crawfordsville (17-5).
• Potential state finals opponents: No. 1 Glenn (22-1), No. 2 Mishawaka Marian (19-3), No. 5 NorthWood 22-2, No. 7 Peru (17-2), No. 6 Norwell (19-4), Oak Hill (17-5), No. 9 New Castle (17-4), Jay County (19-4).
CLASS 2A SOUTHWESTERN SECTIONAL
• Location: Delbert O. King Gymnasium, Southwestern H.S. (167 S. Main Cross St., Hanover)
• Schedule:
First round (Tuesday) — Austin (6-14) vs. Switzerland County (10-13), 6 p.m.; Southwestern (15-7) vs. Henryville (8-14), 7:30 p.m.
Semifinals (Friday) — Providence (15-6) vs. Austin/Switzerland Co. winner, 6 p.m.; Clarksville (7-15) vs. Southwestern/Henryville winner, 7:30 p.m.
Championship (Saturday) — Semifinal winners, 7 p.m.
• Favorites: Providence. By virtue of its 1-point win over Southwestern on Jan. 4, Providence is the favorite. But it really does seem like a tossup between the two.
• Serious contenders: Southwestern. The Rebels have won four sectionals in the last six years. Wouldn’t be at all surprising if they do it again.
• Outside contenders: None. Austin, Henryville and Clarksville are both capable of pulling off one upset, but it seems unlikely neither Southwestern nor Providence will win the sectional.
• Best first-round matchup: Henryville vs. Southwestern. The Hornets have been playing well. Perhaps they can give the host Rebels a challenge.
• Best draw: Providence. A bye and a seemingly easy semifinal. Doesn’t get much better than that.
• Toughest route: Austin. The Eagles would probably have been listed as outside contender, but they have to go through both Providence and Southwestern to win their first sectional since 2018.
• Probable regional first-round opponent: No. 4 Linton-Stockton (20-4).
• Potential regional final opponents: No. 8 South Spencer (18-3), No. 14 Eastern (17-5), Southridge 12-11, Evansville Mater Dei (9-13), Paoli (13-9), Forest Park (11-10).
• Potential semistate opponents: No. 16 University (13-9), No. 10 Eastern Hancock (17-5), No. 12 Park Tudor (14-6), No. 9 Northeastern (16-5), No. 17 North Putnam (18-4), Southmont (16-6), Park Heritage (14-9), Shenandoah (12-10).
• Potential state finals opponents: No. 1 Monroe Central (21-0), No. 2 Eastside (23-1), No. 3 Central Noble (22-2), No. 5 Fort Wayne Blackhawk (19-4), No. 11 Lake Station (19-3), No. 13 Clinton Prairie (19-4), No. 15 Fairfield (14-8).
CLASS 2A TELL CITY SECTIONAL
• Location: Bryan Taylor Sports Arena, Tell City H.S. (900 12th St., Tell City)
• Schedule:
First round (Tuesday) — Paoli (13-9) vs. Crawford County (3-19), 5:30 p.m.
Semifinals (Friday) — Eastern (17-5) vs. Perry Central (12-10), 5:30 p.m.; Tell City (2-21) vs. Paoli/Crawford winner, 7:15 p.m.
Championship (Saturday) — Semifinal winners, 6 p.m.
• Favorites: Eastern. The Musketeers could definitely find their way to a regional final.
• Serious contenders: Paoli. These aren’t the same Rams that won sectional titles in 2019 and 2021, but they’re definitely a threat to Eastern.
• Outside contenders: Perry Central. If Perry can get by Eastern, it will have a shot at Paoli.
• Best early matchup: Eastern vs. Perry Central. Two of the three contenders meet in the first round.
• Best draw: Paoli. To get to the championship, the Rams have to beat two teams with a combined 5-40 record.
• Toughest route: Perry Central. The Commodores were a contender coming in, but winning their first sectional since 2014 means beating the two favorites on back-to-back nights.
• Potential regional first-round opponents: No. 8 South Spencer (18-3), Southridge 12-11, Evansville Mater Dei (9-13), Forest Park (11-10).
• Potential regional final opponents: No. 4 Linton-Stockton (20-4), No. 14 Eastern (17-5), Paoli (13-9).
• Potential semistate opponents: No. 16 University (13-9), No. 10 Eastern Hancock (17-5), No. 12 Park Tudor (14-6), No. 9 Northeastern (16-5), No. 17 North Putnam (18-4), Southmont (16-6), Park Heritage (14-9), Shenandoah (12-10).
• Potential state finals opponents: No. 1 Monroe Central (21-0), No. 2 Eastside (23-1), No. 3 Central Noble (22-2), No. 5 Fort Wayne Blackhawk (19-4), No. 11 Lake Station (19-3), No. 13 Clinton Prairie (19-4), No. 15 Fairfield (14-8).
CLASS A BORDEN SECTIONAL
• Location: Borden Junior-Senior H.S. (301 West St., Borden)
• Schedule:
First round (Tuesday) — Rock Creek (13-8) vs. New Washington (6-17), 6 p.m.; Christian Academy (10-13) vs. Lanesville (6-17), 7:30 p.m.
Semifinals (Friday) — Borden (14-7) vs. Rock Creek/New Wash winner, 6 p.m.; South Central (8-15) vs. CAI/Lanesville winner, 7:30 p.m.
Championship (Saturday) — Semifinal winners, 7 p.m.
• Favorites: Rock Creek. The Lions went unbeaten against the field during the season and is playing their best basketball late in the year.
• Serious contenders: Borden and Christian Academy. Borden is at home and CAI is on a roll. Neither would be a surprising champion.
• Outside contenders: New Washington, South Central and Lanesville. There literally isn’t a team in this field incapable of winner the sectional.
• Best first-round matchup: CAI vs. Lanesville. The Eagles upset the Warriors 59-55 on Jan. 14.
• Best draw: Christian Academy. The draw moved the Warriors from outside contenders to serious contenders. They should get to the championship game.
• Toughest route: New Washington. The Mustangs are the complete opposite of CAI. Their draw probably takes them out of serious contention.
• Potential regional first-round opponents: Springs Valley (19-3), Northeast Dubois (7-15).
• Potential regional final opponents: No. 1 North Daviess (20-3), No. 5 Barr-Reeve (16-7), No. 8 Edinburgh (19-3), No. 4 Loogootee (18-5), No. 16 Orleans (16-7).
• Potential semistate opponents: No. 3 Bloomfield (17-6), No. 12 Jac-Cen-Del (17-5), No. 10 Indianapolis Lutheran (15-5), No. 7 Tindley (16-7).
• Potential state finals opponents: No. 2 Gary 21st Century (18-4), No. 13 Lafayette Central Catholic (14-9), No. 6 North White (18-3), No. 9 Covington (16-6), No. 11 Triton (15-7), No. 14 Argos (15-5).
CLASS A EDINBURGH SECTIONAL
• Location: Edinburgh H.S. (300 S. Keeley, Edinburgh)
• Schedule:
First round (Tuesday) — West Washington (9-13) vs. Shawe Memorial (8-12), 6 p.m.; Trinity Lutheran (9-14) vs. Edinburgh (19-3), 7:30 p.m.
Semifinals (Friday) — Medora (4-19) vs. West Washington/Shawe winner, 6 p.m.; Crothersville (3-19) vs. Trinity/Edinburgh winner, 7:30 p.m.
Championship (Saturday) — Semifinal winners, 7 p.m.
• Favorites: Edinburgh. The Lancers are a huge favorite, perhaps the biggest favorite in all six local sectionals
• Serious contenders: West Washington. The draw helped. The Senators will need a big effort to beat No. 8 Edinburgh, but they’re likely to get there.
• Outside contenders: Trinity Lutheran. If the Cougars get past Edinburgh, as unlikely as it is, they would become a serious contender.
• Best first-round matchup: Edinburgh vs. Trinity Lutheran. The Lancers won by 10 in Seymour a couple weeks ago.
• Best draw: West Washington. The Senators should skate into the final.
• Toughest route: Trinity Lutheran. The Cougars were hoping Edinburgh and West Washington would be on the other side of the bracket. No luck.
• Potential regional first-round opponents: No. 1 North Daviess (20-3), No. 5 Barr-Reeve (16-7), No. 4 Loogootee (18-5), No. 15 Orleans (16-7).
• Potential regional final opponents: Springs Valley (19-3), Rock Creek (13-8), No. 15 Borden (14-7), Christian Academy (10-13).
• Potential semistate opponents: No. 3 Bloomfield (17-6), No. 12 Jac-Cen-Del (17-5), No. 10 Indianapolis Lutheran (15-5), No. 7 Tindley (16-7).
• Potential state finals opponents: No. 2 Gary 21st Century (18-4), No. 13 Lafayette Central Catholic (14-9), No. 6 North White (18-3), No. 9 Covington (16-6), No. 11 Triton (15-7), No. 14 Argos (15-5).
