By GREG MENGELT
The Highlanders completed the regular season 17-4 and closed the regular season with a 56-33 victory over Columbus East on Wednesday. Floyd faces Jennings County (14-8) in the opening round of the Seymour Sectional on Tuesday. Floyd beat the Panthers 67-58 in overtime in the Knobs on Jan. 21. Jennings was one of 38 teams to receive at least one vote from the coaches this week.
Floyd is the only local team to received votes this week, but Bloomington North (19-3) is ranked No. 17, is a potential regional opponent and beat the Highlanders 51-48 on Feb. 19. Regionally, Brownstown Central (20-3), Columbus North (16-7), North Daviess (20-3) and Sullivan (22-2) are honorable mention.
Chesterton is unbeaten (23-0) heading into the postseason and received all 20 first-place votes. The Trojans start their postseason run against winless Lowell, who they beat 82-20 on Dec. 4, but will get tough tests in the semifinals and championship games at Portage.
Fishers (21-3), Homestead (19-5), Carmel (17-5), Ben Davis (18-6), Cathedral (19-6), Mt. Vernon (19-2), Valparaiso (19-4), Penn (20-2) and Lawrence North (15-6) are the top 10. Eleven of the top 20 are from the Indianapolis Metro area.
INDIANA BASKETBALL COACHES POLL
Rank, School (1st place votes) Record
1. Chesterton (20) 23-0, 2. Fishers 21-2, 3. Homestead 19-5, 4. Carmel 17-5, 5. Ben Davis 18-6, 6. Cathedral 19-6, 7. Mt. Vernon (Fortville) 19-2, 8. Valparaiso 19-4, 9. Penn 20-2, 10. Lawrence North 15-6, 11. Westfield 18-6, 12. North Central 16-7, 13. Floyd Central 17-4, 14. Mishawaka Marian 19-3, 15. Anderson 19-4, 16. Zionsville 14-7, 17. Bloomington North 19-3, 18. Monroe Central 21-0, 19. Indianapolis Tech 17-7, 20. Pike 14-8.
Others receiving votes: Brebeuf 15-7, Brownsburg 15-8, Brownstown Central 20-3, Central Noble 22-2, Columbus North 16-7, Crispus Attucks 13-10, Eastside 23-1, Fort Wayne Blackhawk 19-4, Gary 21st Century 18-4, Glenn 22-1, Jennings County 14-8, Lafayette Jeff 19-4, Leo 16-5, North Daviess 20-3, NorthWood 22-2, Sullivan 21-2, Warren Central 15-7.
NOTE: Records as of Sunday.
