By GREG MENGELT
The Highlanders shot 61.2 percent for the game (30 of 49), made 11 of their 19 3-pointers and their aggressive defense held Jeff to 17 field goals in the win.
That doesn’t tell the entire story. In the middle two quarters, No. 13 Floyd (20-4) made 15 of 19 shots (79 percent) and made seven of its nine 3-point attempts (77.8 percent).
The Highlanders will face 11-14 Franklin in the regional semifinal round Saturday at noon back at Seymour’s Scott Gymnasium. With a win in the semifinal, Floyd would battle either Evansville North (16-10) or would get a second shot at No. 12 Bloomington North (22-3), which beat Floyd 51-48 three weeks, for the program’s first regional championship in 33 years.
“I think we can compete with anybody,” Floyd senior point guard Kyle Poates said following the victory.
Like usual, the Highlanders were balanced. Seniors Cole Harritt and Wesley Celichowski had 16 and 13 points, respectively. Harritt was the player of the night, going 6 for 7 from the field and connecting on all four of his 3-point shots.
Junior forward Caleb Washington finished with 11 points, four assists and three rebounds and Poates had a 10-point, 3-assist, 2-steal outing. Senior Max Tripure added eight.
Despite Floyd’s hot shooting, Will Lovings-Watts was equally hot early and Jeff trailed just 16-15 with 3 minutes left in the first period. The Highlanders closed the quarter on a 6-2 run thanks to back-to-back 3s from Washington and Tevi Ali.
Then came the Highlanders’ dominating second quarter. The Red Devils went the first 7 minutes and 4 seconds without a basket. For the quarter, Jeff was 1 for 12, while the Highlands went 5 for 8. Floyd shot 61 percent before halftime (14 of 23).
“I felt good all day,” Floyd head coach Todd Sturgeon said. “They were serious and into it with a certain relaxation. Man, did they step up.”
The Highlanders then scored the first nine points of the third quarter and ended any Jeff hope of repeating as sectional champion.
“Credit to them,” Red Devil second year coach Andrew Grantz said. “They’re really hard to guard. If they shoot it like that, I don’t know any team that will beat them.”
The Highlanders outscored Jeff 23-10 in the third quarter and led 59-29 going into the final period. It was a running clock and mostly subs in the fourth.
“We kept our foot on the gas,” Sturgeon said. “I thought (Friday in a 52-39 win over New Albany), we were a little tentative with the lead. We were not going into this game tentative. We were going to be aggressive. Man, they were just sensational.”
Lovings-Watts paced Jeff with 18 points in his final game as a Red Devil. The Drake commit was 8 for 13 from the field and also had a four rebounds, a steal and a blocked shot. Classmate Brandon Rayzer-Moore contributed six points.
Jeff (9-12), which beat Bedford North Lawrence and Seymour en route to the championship game appearance, went 17 for 51 (32 percent) in the loss. Take out the first period and the Devils shot 25.6 percent (10 for 39).
“Coach has told us all year that defense was going to be the key,” Poates said. “We just executed today very well.”
A rough season comes to an end for the Red Devils. They lose four seniors, including their top three players: Lovings-Watts, Rayzer-Moore and point guard Kobe Stoudemire, who went scoreless Saturday but had three of Jeff’s five assists.
“I was proud of our guys,” Grantz. “I told our guys that all that’s gone on this season, they could’ve given up and quit. This group didn’t quit. I really, really hope that the Jeffersonville community recognizes the commitment these boys had. I’m really proud of this group for sticking this out.”
CLASS 4A SEYMOUR SECTIONAL CHAMPIONS
2022 — Floyd Central
2021 — Jeffersonville
2020 — Floyd Central
2019 — Jeffersonville
2018 — New Albany
2017 — New Albany
2016 — New Albany
2015 — New Albany
2014 — New Albany
2013 — Jeffersonville
2012 — Jeffersonville
2011 — New Albany
2010 — Jeffersonville
2009 — New Albany
2008 — New Albany
2007 — New Albany
2006 — Jeffersonville
2005 — Jennings County
2004 — New Albany
2003 — New Albany
2002 — New Albany
2001 — Bedford North Lawrence
2000 — Jeffersonville
1999 — Bedford North Lawrence
LOCAL SECTIONALS
CLASS 4A SEYMOUR SECTIONAL
FIRST ROUND
Tuesday, March 1
Jeffersonville 61, Bedford North Lawrence 48
Floyd Central 61, Jennings County 54 (2OT)
SEMIFINALS
Friday, March 4
Jeffersonville 55, Seymour 40
Floyd Central 52, New Albany 39
CHAMPIONSHIP
Saturday, March 5
Floyd Central 77, Jeffersonville 38
CLASS 3A SALEM SECTIONAL
FIRST ROUND
Tuesday, March 1
North Harrison 55, Charlestown 41
Wednesday, March 2
Silver Creek 76, Salem 34
Scottsburg 81, Madison 48
SEMIFINALS
Friday, March 4
North Harrison 58, Corydon Central 52
Scottsburg 68, Silver Creek 60 (OT)
CHAMPIONSHIP
Saturday, March 5
North Harrison 57, Scottsburg 47
CLASS 2A SOUTHWESTERN SECTIONAL
FIRST ROUND
Tuesday, March 1
Switzerland County 52, Austin 50
Southwestern 45, Henryville 37
SEMIFINALS
Friday, March 4
Providence 56, Switzerland County 26
Southwestern 57, Clarksville 54
CHAMPIONSHIP
Saturday, March 5
Providence 56, Southwestern 32
CLASS 2A TELL CITY SECTIONAL
FIRST ROUND
Tuesday, March 1
Paoli 42, Crawford County 36
SEMIFINALS
Friday, March 4
Eastern 47, Perry Central 39
Paoli 60, Tell City 51
CHAMPIONSHIP
Saturday, March 5
Paoli 68, Eastern 61 (OT)
CLASS A BORDEN SECTIONAL
FIRST ROUND
Tuesday, March 1
Rock Creek 72, New Washington 44
Christian Academy 61, Lanesville 28
SEMIFINALS
Friday, March 4
Borden 46, Rock Creek 42
Christian Academy 43, South Central 25
CHAMPIONSHIP
Saturday, March 5
Borden 53, Christian Academy 51
CLASS A EDINBURGH SECTIONAL
FIRST ROUND
Tuesday, March 1
West Washington 53, Shawe Memorial 38
Edinburgh 57, Trinity Lutheran 38
SEMIFINALS
Friday, March 4
West Washington 72, Medora 39
Edinburgh 81, Crothersville 46
CHAMPIONSHIP
Saturday, March 5
Edinburgh 49, West Washington 38
