By GREG MENGELT

The wins have been sparse but the 2021-22 Floyd Central Highlanders can be considered one of the state’s most improved teams from the start of the season to Thursday, which is the finish line of the regular season.

Floyd began the season 3-9, but lately the Highlanders have played well even in losses. In fact, the Highlanders lost a road game in overtime to 18-2 Corydon Central on Saturday.

On Tuesday, Floyd Central (8-13) the improvement paid off in a statement win. The Highlanders knocked off Jennings County (16-5) — a team that’s been in an out of the state rankings this season — in their penultimate regular-season game.

Floyd is 3-3 since the calendar turned to 2022. All three losses were against teams ranked in the top 12 in their classes.

“Our team continues to improve, especially since the new year began,” Floyd’s fourth-year coach Randy Gianfagna said. “We are continuing to work on finishing games. We had two tough losses last week but played well.”

The Highlanders close their regular season slate in Thursday’s Hoosier Hills Hoops Game of the Night against rival Providence (6-13) at Larkin Arena. The Pioneers have beaten Floyd five of the last seven years.

“Playing Providence is always special,” Gianfagna said. “Our players and fans know each other very well and it is usually a great atmosphere. Looking forward to the opportunity Thursday.”

“Floyd has always been a rival for us as it is in all sports at Providence. We have been fortunate to win five of the last seven against them,” said Providence 14th-year head coach Brad Burden, who will miss Thursday’s game after testing positive for Covid. “However, this year’s FC team is very good. Long, athletic and of course, very well coached.”

Burden will return for next week’s sectional. Providence will face either 2-time defending champion Eastern (11-11) or Henryville (9-11) in next Friday’s semifinal at the 2A sectional at Crawford County.

“Fortunately we have a great staff and the girls are in good hands with (assistant coaches) Bill Schneider and Sara Copeland,” Burden said.

GAME OF THE NIGHT
FLOYD CENTRAL AT PROVIDENCE
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Larkin Center, Our Lady of Providence (707 Providence Way, Clarksville)
• Records:
Floyd Central 8-13. The Highlanders have won five of their last nine.
Providence 6-13. The Pioneers have won four of their last seven.
• Coaches:
Floyd Central — Randy Gianfagna (28-60 in fourth season at Floyd)
Providence — Brad Burden (165-161 in 14th season at Providence)
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
Floyd Central — No. 134, No. 58 Class 4A
Providence — No. 307, No. 78 Class 2A
• Most recent game:
Floyd Central — Defeated Jennings County 55-50 (Jan. 25)
Providence — Lost at Crawford County 52-24 (Jan. 25)
• Last 20 years: Floyd Central 12-5. Providence has won five of its last seven vs. the Hgihlanders.
• Most recent meeting: Jan. 28, 2021 — At Floyd Central 39, Providence 28.
• John Harrell prediction: Floyd Central 53, Providence 27.
• Sagarin projection: Floyd Central by 22.
• Outlook: Looks like Floyd Central is peaking at the right time. It’s not the first time a Gianfagna-coached team has done that. That was his specialty at Corydon.
• Greg’s pick: Floyd Central 59, Providence 29.

SEYMOUR AT NEW ALBANY
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Doghouse, New Albany H.S. (1020 Vincennes Street, New Albany)
• Records:
Seymour 9-10, 1-3 HHC. The Owls have lost four of their last five.
New Albany 5-17, 0-5 HHC. The Bulldogs have lost nine in a row.
• Coaches:
Seymour — Jason Longmeier (121-102 in 10th season at Seymour, 155-152 in 14th season overall)
New Albany — Shelby Gliebe (11-33 in second season at New Albany, 15-52 in third season overall)
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
Seymour — No. 106, No. 52 Class 4A
New Albany — No. 170, No. 67 Class 4A
• Most recent game:
Seymour — Lost to Charlestown 44-42 (Jan. 25)
New Albany — Lost at Evansville Central 50-42 (Jan. 22)
• Last 20 years: Seymour 15-11. The Owls have won the last two matchups with New Albany.
• Most recent meeting: Jan. 28, 2021 — At Seymour 43, New Albany 33.
• News & notes: The Bulldogs and Owls play each other again next Tuesday in the opening round of the Class 4A sectional at Jeffersonville.
• John Harrell prediction: Seymour 50, New Albany 48.
• Sagarin projection: Seymour by 6.
• Outlook: New Albany could really use a win heading into the postseason. And this feels like a New Albany win.
• Greg’s pick: New Albany 50, Seymour 48. (Again, Greg makes his picks before looking up the Sagarin Ratings or Harrell’s projection.)

SOUTH CENTRAL AT ROCK CREEK
• Time: 6:30 p.m.
• Location: Rock Creek Academy/Restoration Christian Church (8000 Diefenbach Ln., Sellersburg)
• Records:
South Central 1-13. The Rebels have dropped seven in a row.
Rock Creek 8-8. The Lions have lost four of their last five.
• Coaches:
South Central — Lynne Thomas (4-47 in third season at South Central)
Rock Creek — Sara Nord (10-17 in second season at Rock Creek)
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
South Central — No. 377, No. 83 Class A
Rock Creek — No. 331, No. 67 Class A
• Most recent game:
South Central — Lost to New Washington 69-27 (Jan. 26)
Rock Creek — Won at St. Francis 57-12 (Jan. 24)
• Last 20 years: South Central 22-0.
• Most recent meeting: Jan. 30, 2020 — South Central 48, at Rock Creek 44.
• News & notes: South Central has never lost to the Lions. The closest Rock Creek came was on Jan. 25, 2018 in a 51-48 defeat. The widest margin during the Rebels’ domination in the series was a 98-34 win on Nov. 24, 2007.
• John Harrell prediction: Rock Creek 54, South Central 30.
• Sagarin projection: Rock Creek by 21.
• Outlook: All streaks must end. Rock Creek should get its first win ever over the Rebels.
• Greg’s pick: Rock Creek 54, South Central 31. (We reiterate, Greg makes his picks first.)

CORYDON CENTRAL AT CRAWFORD COUNTY
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Ron Ferguson Gymnasium, Crawford County H.S. (1130 South State Road 66, Marengo)
• Records:
Corydon Central 18-2. The Panthers have won six in a row and 11 of their last 12.
Crawford County 10-11. The Wolfpack have won six of their last seven.
• Coaches:
Corydon Central — Josh Conrad (28-13 in second season at Corydon, 147-106 in 11th season overall)
Crawford County — Christopher Broughton (121-93 in ninth season at Crawford)
• Rankings:
Corydon Central — No. 12 ICGSA (Class 3A).
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
Corydon Central — No. 53, No. 12 Class 3A
Crawford County — No. 210, No. 52 Class 2A
• Most recent game:
Corydon Central — Defeated Floyd Central 68-65, OT (Jan. 22)
Crawford County — Defeated Providence 52-24 (Jan. 25)
• Last 20 years: Corydon Central 14-6. Crawford County has won four of the last five meetings with the Panthers.
• Most recent meeting: Jan. 28, 2021 — At Corydon Central 48, Crawford County 32.
• John Harrell prediction: Corydon Central 57, Crawford County 35.
• Sagarin projection: Corydon Central by 23.
• Outlook: What a fantastic regular season for the Panthers in their second year under Conrad.
• Greg’s pick: Corydon Central 52, Crawford County 31.

AUSTIN AT SALEM
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Brooks Memorial Gymnasium, Salem H.S. (700 N. Harrison St., Salem)
• Records:
Austin 7-10, 1-6 MSC. The Eagles have won five of their last seven.
Salem 10-9, 3-4 MSC. The Lions have lost three straight.
• Coaches:
Austin — Jared Petersen (238-174 in 17th season at Austin)
Salem — Jerry Hickey (147-74 in ninth season at Salem)
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
Austin — No. 178, No. 39 Class 2A
Salem — No. 70, No. 17 Class 3A
• Most recent game:
Austin — Defeated Orleans 66-32 (Jan. 25)
Salem — Lost at Bedford North Lawrence 57-34 (Jan. 25)
• Last 20 years: Austin 12-8. Salem has won four straight in the MSC rivalry.
• Most recent meeting: Jan. 28, 2021 — Salem 50, at Austin 24.
• John Harrell prediction: Salem 59, Austin 36.
• Sagarin projection: Salem by 21.
• Outlook: Salem’s record makes it look average. It’s not. One of the favorites could mess around and find out at the sectional.
• Greg’s pick: Salem 54, Austin 39.

BROWNSTOWN CENTRAL AT NORTH HARRISON
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: North Harrison H.S. (1070 Hwy. 64 N.W., Ramsey)
• Records:
Brownstown 12-11, 2-5 MSC. The Braves have won three of their last four.
North Harrison 9-10, 3-4 MSC. The Lady Cats have lost six in a row.
• Coaches:
Brownstown — Brandon Allman (57-22 in third season at Brownstown)
North Harrison — Jamie Kolkmeier (21-16 in second season at North Harrison)
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
Brownstown — No. 122, No. 37 Class 3A
North Harrison — No. 167, No. 50 Class 3A
• Most recent game:
Brownstown — Defeated West Washington 50-30 (Jan. 22)
North Harrison — Lost to Evansville Memorial 61-29 (Jan. 22)
• Last 20 years: North Harrison 11-10. Brownstown has beaten the Lady Cats the last two years.
• Most recent meeting: Jan. 28, 2021 — At Brownstown 55, North Harrison 48.
• John Harrell prediction: North Harrison 49, Brownstown 48.
• Sagarin projection: Brownstown by 3.
• Outlook: What an interesting late-season series this has been over the years. How many times over the last 20 years did one of these teams get momentum by beating the other before a big postseason run? Multiple times off the top of my head. This round will go to Brownstown.
• Greg’s pick: Brownstown 57, North Harrison 31.

EASTERN AT HENRYVILLE
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Furnish Gym, Henryville H.S. (213 N. Ferguson St., Henryville)
• Records:
Eastern 11-11. The Musketeers have lost five of their last six.
Henryville 9-11. The Hornets have won seven of their last 11.
• Coaches:
Eastern — Michael McBride (230-126 in 15th season at Eastern)
Henryville — Tuesday Guernsey (24-38 in third season at Henryville)
• Rankings:
Eastern — No. 14 ICGSA (Class 2A).
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
Eastern — No. 101, No. 17 Class 2A
Henryville — No. 327, No. 82 Class 2A
• Most recent game:
Eastern — Lost at Paoli 40-37 (Jan. 25)
Henryville — Won at Clarksville 33-23 (Jan. 25)
• Last 20 years: Eastern 20-4. The Musketeers have won five consecutive games in the series.
• Most recent meeting: Jan. 28, 2021 — At Eastern 55, Henryville 22.
• News & notes: These teams play each other again Tuesday in the first round of the Crawford County Sectional. The 2-time defending sectional champion Musketeers and the Hornets will play at 6 p.m. on Feb. 1.
• John Harrell prediction: Eastern by 32.
• Sagarin projection: Eastern 56, Henryville 20.
• Outlook: This is Eastern’s time of year. The Musketeers seem to come alive during the tournament every year. Austin and Crawford County will be dangerous, but Eastern is still the favorite despite losing 5 of 6 games late in the season.
• Greg’s pick: Eastern 50, Henryville 25.

SPRINGS VALLEY AT BORDEN
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Borden Junior-Senior H.S. (301 West St., Borden)
• Records:
Springs Valley 11-9. The Blackhawks have won two of their last three.
Borden 12-9. The Braves have won three of their last five.
• Coaches:
Springs Valley — Marty Niehaus (71-44 in fifth season at Valley, 443-232 in 30th season overall)
Borden — Matt Vick (46-65 in fifth season at Borden)
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
Springs Valley — No. 255, No. 36 Class A
Borden — No. 311, No. 57 Class A
• Most recent game:
Springs Valley — Lost at Paoli 51-31 (Jan. 22)
Borden — Lost to West Washington 55-44 (Jan. 25)
• Last 20 years: Springs Valley 13-7. The Blackhawks are on an 8-game winning streak vs. Borden.
• Most recent meeting: Jan. 30, 2021 — At Springs Valley 50, Borden 20.
• John Harrell prediction: Springs Valley 46, Borden 35.
• Sagarin projection: Springs Valley by 6.
• Outlook: This feels like a tossup, but I’ll take the Blackhawks in a game that should be decided by fewer than 10 points.
• Greg’s pick: Springs Valley 47, Borden 40.