By GREG MENGELT

Silver Creek senior Branden Northern completed his Player of the Year-type season with 53 points and 16 assists in the final two games of the Dragons’ regular season.

Northern helped Creek beat Salem 110-35 with 24 points, nine assists, three steals and two rebounds. He went 9 for 11 from the field, 2 for 3 from behind the 3-point stripe and was 4 for 5 at the foul line.

In Friday’s 63-54 overtime loss to Seymour, the Dragons senior finished with 29 points, seven assists and three rebounds. He was 9 for 17 overall, 4 for 8 from deep and 7 for 10 at the foul line in the defeat.

Northern and the 4-time defending sectional champion Dragons (11-12) will face host Salem (5-16) again in Wednesday’s first semifinal.

WEEK’S TOP PERFORMERS
• Will Lovings-Watts, Jeffersonville: The future Drake Bulldog scored game-high 25 points in the Red Devils’ 76-33 win over Madison then put up 20 points, nine rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocked shots as the Red Devils dropped a 57-55 decision to Castle on Friday.
• Cole Thomas, South Central: The South Central freshman contributed 23 points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals to the Rebels’ 65-58 Win of the Week victory over Corydon Central last Tuesday then had a team-high 15 points in their 70-49 loss to Eastern on Friday.

By GREG MENGELT

Scottsburg spent most of the year considered the Team of the Future. The Warriors spent the last three weeks of the regular season proving they may be the Team of Now.

And now the Warriors are the Hoosier Hills Hoops Boys’ Team of the Week.

Scottsburg (14-8) started the final week of the regular season with perhaps their biggest win of the season with a 52-50 victory over a Jennings County (14-8) team considered a serious contender at this week’s 4A sectional. Senior Hayden Cutter’s 18 points and sophomore Jack Miller’s 15 helped lead the Warriors to the win.

Scottsburg then closed the regular season with a 79-30 victory over Mitchell (7-15) in which the Warriors led 48-16 at halftime. Cutter scored 28 in the win and sophomore Kody Clancy added 22.

The Warriors roll into Wednesday’s sectional opener against Madison (6-17) on a 5-game winning streak. With a win Wednesday, Scottsburg would face likely face 4-time defending champion Silver Creek (11-12) in the semifinal round Friday. Scottsburg and Silver Creek split a pair of tightly-contested games this season.

By GREG MENGELT

Christian Academy closed its regular season with a 58-53 overtime win over Northeast Dubois on Friday and senior Brady Dunn was the catalyst.

Dunn scored 37 of the Warriors’ 58 points and also had 15 rebounds, three assists and four steals as CAI improved to 10-13 heading to this week’s sectional in the Hoosier Hills Hoops Boys’ Performance of the Week. He also banked in a 30-footer at the buzzer to send the game into overtime.

Dunn and the Warriors will try to avenge an earlier 59-55 loss and a defeat in last year’s sectional championship when they battle Lanesville in Tuesday’s opening round at Borden.

WEEK’S TOP PERFORMANCES
• Dakota Capps, Clarksville: In his final home game at Clarksville, Capps had 18 points, six assists and four steals as the Generals defeated Henryville 51-46 on Tuesday.
• Jacob Cherry, Eastern: Cherry was a perfect 10 for 10 and finished with 25 points, 12 rebounds, four assists, four blocked shots and a steal as the Musketeers closed their regular season with a 70-49 victory over South Central on Friday.
• Hayden Cutter, Scottsburg: Cutter scored a game-high 28 points as the Warriors knocked off Mitchell 79-30 in Friday’s regular-season finale.
• Christian Kiper, South Central: Kiper put up 29 points, eight rebounds and four assists in the Rebels’ 65-58 Win of the Week over Corydon Central on Tuesday.
• Zac Stricker, Silver Creek: Stricker went 12 for 15 from the field and scored 31 points as the Dragons defeated Salem 110-35 on Tuesday.

By GREG MENGELT

This week’s Hoosier Hills Hoops Boys’ Win of the Week may be the upset of the season.

On Tuesday, South Central (8-15) pulled off a 65-58 victory over Corydon Central. The Panthers entered the contest having won 11 of its last 13 games and the Rebels had lost three in a row.

Hoosier Hills Hoops picked South Central to lose 63-36. Instead, South Central beat their country rivals for just the fourth time in school history.

South Central got a pair of huge performances from its young players in the win. Sophomore Christian Kiper had 29 points, eight rebounds and four assists in the win, while Cole Thomas finished with 23 points, four rebounds, three assists and a pair of steals.

South Central drew an opening-round bye for this week’s Class A Borden Sectional. The Rebels will face either Christian Academy (10-13) or archrival Lanesville (6-17) in Friday’s second semifinal. South Central beat Lanesville 57-50 on Jan. 7 but lost to CAI 66-34 on Dec. 17.

By GREG MENGELT

Three of the last four times Floyd Central has faced Jennings County, the game has come down to a single possession — or an overtime — to determine the winner. The other time time was a 70-33 victory that gave Floyd its first sectional championship in 39 years.

Earlier that season, the Highlanders beat Jennings 49-46 in overtime. Last year, Floyd held off the Panthers for a 55-52 victory. Earlier this season, the Panthers took the Highlanders to overtime before Floyd Central prevailed 67-58 en route to the Hoosier Hills Conference championship and a perfect record against the Seymour Sectional field.

The 12th-ranked Highlanders (17-4) and Jennings County (14-8) meet again in tonight’s Hoosier Hills Hoops Game of the Night as the HHC rivals play the nightcap in a doubleheader to open the sectional at the famed Lloyd E. Scott Gymnasium.

“They’ve matched up well against us,” Floyd Central coach Todd Sturgeon said. “They present a lot of challenges on offense and they have the size to match up with us that a lot of teams don’t. They have size and shooters. They have a good team.”

Floyd could play rival New Albany (11-11) in Friday’s semifinal and defending champion Jeffersonville (7-11) or host Seymour (15-6) in Saturday’s championship game, but Sturgeon is confident his favored Highlanders won’t overlook the Panthers.

“We are not,” he said. “That would be a grave error on our part.”

Jeffersonville battles Bedford North Lawrence (11-11) in the first game of the sectional Tuesday evening. The Red Devils won last year’s sectional but started the 2021-22 season 2-8. Jeff has looked much better in the second half of the season, including a 44-42 victory over the Stars on Feb. 10. The Jeff-BNL winner faces the host Owls in Friday’s first semifinal. This is Seymour’s winningest team since the 2004-05 Owls, who lost to Jennings County 54-52 in the sectional championship that year.

There’s only one game at the Class 3A sectional at Salem on Tuesday. That pits sectional-favorite North Harrison (16-3) team against a Charlestown (8-14) squad that has won three of its last four games. The No. 13 Cougars beat Charlestown 61-32 on Feb. 5 and went 6-0 against the sectional field in 2021-22.

The second round of quarterfinals will be played Wednesday with a strong possibility of a great semifinals featuring North Harrison against 14-8 Corydon Central and Scottsburg (14-8) against 4-time defending champion Silver Creek (11-12). The Dragons have won the sectional seven times in the last eight years.

At Southwestern, the host Rebels (15-7) will be heavily-favored against Henryville (8-14), although the Hornets have played well down the stretch, winning four of their last six regular-season games. The winner gets Clarksville (7-15) in Friday’s second semifinal.

In the first semifinal of the 2A sectional, Austin (6-14) will try to avenge an earlier 68-64 loss at Switzerland County (10-13). Co-favorite Providence (15-6) awaits the Austin-Switzerland County winner.

There are two interesting games at Borden on Friday. First, Rock Creek (13-8) faces New Washington (6-17). The Lions went 5-0 against the sectional field, 8-0 against Class A competition and are clearly the frontrunners at Borden. However, all six teams have to feel like they can win the title, including New Wash, which took a 68-60 loss to Rock Creek on Feb. 19. The winner will face No. 15 Borden (14-7) in Friday’s first semifinal.

In the other semi, defending champion Lanesville (6-17) will try to beat Christian Academy (10-13) for a second time. The Eagles defeated CAI 59-55 on Jan. 14 and 61-49 in last year’s sectional championship. Fresh off its 65-58 upset of Corydon Central, South Central (8-15) will await the winner in Friday’s second semifinal.

West Washington (9-13) opens the sectional at Edinburgh against Shawe Memorial (8-12) on Tuesday. The Senators, who have won three sectionals in the last seven years, appear to have a clear path to the championship game, where the host Lancers (19-3) will likely be the opponent. With an expected win Tuesday, West Washington will play Medora (4-19) in Friday’s first semifinal. In Tuesday’s second quarterfinal, Edinburgh faces a Trinity Lutheran (9-14) team it beat 54-44 on Feb. 15. The winner gets Crothersville (3-19) in Friday’s second game at Edinburgh.

In the other local sectional, the only local team, No. 14 Eastern (17-5), doesn’t play until Friday’s semifinal round when the Musketeers will face Perry Central (12-10) in the Class 2A Tell City Sectional. In Tuesday’s only game at Tell City, Paoli (13-9) will battle Crawford County (3-19) with the winner getting the host Minutemen (2-21) in Friday’s second semifinal.

GAME OF THE NIGHT
CLASS 4A SEYMOUR SECTIONAL
FLOYD CENTRAL VS. JENNINGS COUNTY
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Lloyd E. Scott Gymnasium, Seymour H.S. (1350 W. Second St., Seymour)
• Records:
Floyd Central 17-4. The Highlanders have lost two of their last three games.
Jennings County 14-8. The Panthers have lost their last two games.
• Coaches:
Floyd Central — Todd Sturgeon (139-44 in eighth season at Floyd)
Jennings County — Josh Land (66-77 in sixth season at Jennings)
• Rankings:
Floyd Central — No. 13 IBCA (single class); No. 12 ICGSA (Class 4A).
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
Floyd Central — No. 11, No. 11 Class 4A
Jennings County— No. 33, No. 27 Class 4A
• Most recent game:
Floyd Central — Defeated Columbus East 56-33 (Feb. 23)
Jennings County — Lost at Franklin 79-67 (Feb. 25)
• Sectionals titles (most recent): Floyd 15 (2020); Jennings 10 (2005).
• Regular-season result: Jan. 21 — At Floyd Central 67, Jennings County 58 (OT).
• Last postseason matchup: March 7, 2020 — Floyd Central 70, Jennings County 33 (Class 4A Seymour Sectional championship).
• John Harrell prediction: Floyd 61, Jennings 52.
• Sagarin projection: Floyd by 7.
• Outlook: It’ll be easier for Floyd this time around.
• Greg’s pick: Floyd Central 60, Jennings County 50.

JEFFERSONVILLE VS. BEDFORD NORTH LAWRENCE
• Time: 6 p.m.
• Location: Lloyd E. Scott Gymnasium, Seymour H.S. (1350 W. Second St., Seymour)
• Records:
Jeffersonville 7-11. The Red Devils have lost two of their last three games.
Bedford North Lawrence 11-11. The Stars have lost two of their last three.
• Coaches:
Jeffersonville — Andrew Grantz (22-18 in second season at Jeff, 110-60 in seventh season overall)
BNL — Jeff Hein (40-32 in third season at BNL, 335-238 in 25th season overall)
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
Jeffersonville — No. 88, No. 55 Class 4A
BNL— No. 99, No. 59 Class 4A
• Most recent game:
Jeffersonville — Lost to Castle 57-55 (Feb. 25)
BNL — Lost at Jasper 52-33 (Feb. 24)
• Sectionals titles (most recent): Jeff 41 (2021); BNL 18 (2001).
• Regular-season result: Feb. 10 — At Jeffersonville 44, BNL 42.
• Last postseason matchup: March 6, 2021 — Jeffersonville 57, BNL 53 (Class 4A Seymour Sectional championship).
• News & notes: Jeff’s Will Lovings-Watts hit a game-winning floater at the buzzer in the regular-season matchup.
• John Harrell prediction: Jeff 56, BNL 51.
• Sagarin projection: Jeff by 2.
• Outlook: Jeff got an advantageous draw and I expect the Devils to get to Saturday’s championship game.
• Greg’s pick: Jeffersonville 59, BNL 41.

CLASS 3A SALEM SECTIONAL
NORTH HARRISON VS. CHARLESTOWN
• Time: 7 p.m.
• Location: Brooks Memorial Gymnasium, Salem H.S. (700 N. Harrison St., Salem)
• Records:
North Harrison 16-3. The Cougars are on an 8-game winning streak
Charlestown 8-14. The Pirates have won three of their last four.
• Coaches:
North Harrison — Lou Lefevre (52-13 in third season at North Harrison, 317-93 in 18th season overall)
Charlestown — Matt Lynch (8-14 in first season at Charlestown, 77-64 in sixth season overall)
• Rankings:
North Harrison — No. 13 ICGSA (Class 3A).
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
North Harrison — No. 56, No. 11 Class 3A
Charlestown— No. 282, No. 78 Class 3A
• Most recent game:
North Harrison — Defeated Paoli 53-38 (Feb. 22)
Charlestown — Lost to Southwestern 78-58 (Feb. 22)
• Sectionals titles (most recent): North Harrison 9 (1996); Charlestown 9 (2008).
• Regular-season result: Feb. 5 — North Harrison 61, at Charlestown 32.
• Last postseason matchup: Feb. 28, 2018 — North Harrison 61, Charlestown 46 (Class 3A North Harrison Sectional first round).
• John Harrell prediction: North Harrison 65, Charlestown 37.
• Sagarin projection: North Harrison by 26.
• Outlook: What the Pirates have done over the last month has been impressive, but North Harrison is much better.
• Greg’s pick: North Harrison 58, Charlestown 42.

CLASS 2A SOUTHWESTERN SECTIONAL
AUSTIN VS. SWITZERLAND COUNTY
• Time: 6 p.m.
• Location: Delbert O. King Gymnasium, Southwestern H.S. (167 S. Main Cross St., Hanover)
• Records:
Austin 6-14. The Eagles won their final two regular-season games.
Switzerland County 10-13. The Pacers won their last two regular-season games.
• Coaches:
Austin — Randy Edwards (41-76 in fifth season at Austin)
Switzerland County — Travis Wrightsman (13-34 in second season at Switzerland Co., 277-193 in 19th season overall)
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
Austin — No. 309, No. 75 Class 2A
Switzerland County— No. 296, No. 69 Class 2A
• Most recent game:
Austin — Won at Crothersville 91-55 (Feb. 25)
Switzerland County — Defeated Madison 53-49 (Feb. 24)
• Sectionals titles (most recent): Austin 8 (2018); Switzerland County 7 (2013).
• Regular-season result: Nov. 27 — At Switzerland County 68, Austin 64.
• Last postseason matchup: March 6, 2015 — Switzerland County 61, Austin 56 (Class 2A South Ripley Sectional semifinal).
• John Harrell prediction: Switzerland County 61, Austin 57.
• Sagarin projection: Switzerland County by 3.
• Outlook: Austin is better. I’ll be surprised if the Eagles don’t advance.
• Greg’s pick: Austin 68, Switzerland County 58.

HENRYVILLE VS. SOUTHWESTERN
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Delbert O. King Gymnasium, Southwestern H.S. (167 S. Main Cross St., Hanover)
• Records:
Henryville 8-14. The Hornets have lost two of their last three games.
Southwestern 15-7. The Rebels have lost two of their last three.
• Coaches:
Henryville — Jared Hill (99-90 in eighth season at Henryville)
Southwestern — Zac Nussbaum (40-15 in third season at Southwestern)
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
Henryville — No. 291, No. 66 Class 2A
Southwestern— No. 126, No. 18 Class 2A
• Most recent game:
Henryville — Lost at Clarksville 51-46 (Feb. 22)
Southwestern — Won at Charlestown 78-58 (Feb. 22)
• Sectionals titles (most recent): Henryville 2 (2005); Southwestern 9 (2021).
• Regular-season result: Did not play.
• Last postseason matchup: March 5, 2021 — Southwestern 56, Henryville 41 (Class 2A Southwestern Sectional semifinal).
• John Harrell prediction: Southwestern 65, Henryville 43.
• Sagarin projection: Southwestern by 23.
• Outlook: Henryville may make this a game for a while, but Southwestern should win going away.
• Greg’s pick: Southwestern 66, Henryville 48.

CLASS A BORDEN SECTIONAL
ROCK CREEK VS. NEW WASHINGTON
• Time: 6 p.m.
• Location: Borden Junior-Senior H.S. (301 West St., Borden)
• Records:
Rock Creek 13-8. The Lions are on a 4-game winning streak.
New Washington 6-17. The Mustangs have lost three straight.
• Coaches:
Rock Creek — Chris Brown (361-289 in 26th season at Rock Creek)
New Washington — Kyle Brown (15-32 in second season at New Wash)
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
Rock Creek — No. 204, No. 21 Class A
New Washington— No. 330, No. 61 Class A
• Most recent game:
Rock Creek — Defeated Clarksville 52-50 (Feb. 25)
New Washington — Lost at Switzerland County 60-46 (Feb. 23)
• Sectionals titles (most recent): Rock Creek 2 (2016); New Wash 5 (2017).
• Regular-season result: Feb. 19 — Rock Creek 68, at New Washington 60.
• Last postseason matchup: Feb. 28, 2017 — New Washington 49, Rock Creek 47 (Class A New Washington Sectional first round)
• John Harrell prediction: Rock Creek 62, New Washington 46.
• Sagarin projection: Rock Creek by 18.
• Outlook: The Mustangs going to hang in this one. They’re too tough and talented not to, but the Lions are too big for New Wash.
• Greg’s pick: Rock Creek 49, New Washington 39.

CHRISTIAN ACADEMY VS. LANESVILLE
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Borden Junior-Senior H.S. (301 West St., Borden)
• Records:
Christian Academy 10-13. The Warriors lost two of their last three regular-season games.
Lanesville 6-17. The Eagles lost their last two regular-season games.
• Coaches:
Christian Academy — Hayden Casey (19-30 in second season at CAI)
Lanesville — Mikel Miller (293-226 in 22nd season at Lanesville)
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
Christian Academy — No. 263, No. 38 Class A
Lanesville— No. 325, No. 60 Class A
• Most recent game:
Christian Academy — Won at Northeast Dubois 58-53, OT (Feb. 25)
Lanesville — Lost to Austin 63-51 (Feb. 22)
• Sectionals titles (most recent): CAI 5 (2020); Lanesville 6 (2021).
• Regular-season result: Jan. 4 — Christian Academy 63, at New Washington 47.
• Last postseason matchup: March 6, 2021 — Lanesville 61, CAI 49 (Class A Borden Sectional championship)
• John Harrell prediction: CAI 59, Lanesville 47.
• Sagarin projection: CAI by 10.
• Outlook: Don’t be stunned if Lanesville pulls off the upset, but I’m taking CAI in a close one.
• Greg’s pick: CAI 65, Lanesville 60.

CLASS A EDINBURGH SECTIONAL
WEST WASHINGTON VS. SHAWE MEMORIAL
• Time: 6 p.m.
• Location: Edinburgh H.S. (300 S. Keeley, Edinburgh)
• Records:
West Washington 9-13. The Senators have won three of their last four games.
Shawe Memorial 8-12. The Hilltoppers are on a 3-game losing streak.
• Coaches:
West Washington — Clayton Sullivan (48-49 in fourth season at West Washington)
Shawe — Dan Hambrick (18-45 in third season at Shawe)
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
West Washington — No. 300, No. 50 Class A
Shawe— No. 384, No. 87 Class A
• Most recent game:
West Washington — Defeated Shoals 53-41 (Feb. 25)
Shawe — Lost at Rising Sun 65-32 (Feb. 23)
• Sectionals titles (most recent): West Washington 5 (2019); Shawe 5 (2011).
• Regular-season result: Jan. 29 — Canceled.
• Last postseason matchup: March 2, 2021 — West Washington 77, Shawe 29 (Class A West Washington Sectional first round)
• News & notes: West Washington has eliminated Shawe in each of the past three postseasons.
• John Harrell prediction: West Washington 60, Shawe 39.
• Sagarin projection: West Washington by 19.
• Outlook: It’s going to be all Senators.
• Greg’s pick: West Washington 66, Shawe 35.

By GREG MENGELT

No team wants to lose by 58 points.

That goes double for a team that had won 26 games coming into Saturday’s Class 3A state championship game at Gainbridge Fieldhosue in Indianapolis. Reigning state champion Silver Creek expected to go up and have a chance to win another state championship against the same team it beat a year ago.

But it wasn’t the same South Bend Washington team. This team was special. The previous week, the top-ranked Panthers beat No. 2 Garrett by 27 points. They’ve been doing this to teams all year.

Silver Creek coach Scott Schoen said he’s coached against some great teams, including state championship teams (a Kelly Farris-led Heritage Christian team and the 28-1 Evansville Memorial team in 2011), but the Panthers are “by far” the best he’s ever seen. They may be the best team in 3A history, he argued.

“They’re one of the best teams in the nation and they proved it,” Schoen said. “It felt like we were playing the Fever.”

In fact, freshman Kira Reynolds out-rebounded Silver Creek by herself. She finished with 17 points and a record 24 rebounds in the victory. She’s one of the major differences in the 2021 state runners-up and the 2022 state champions.

“This team we played on Saturday, hands down is far better (than last year),” Schoen said. “It was the perfect storm in that we beat them last year. We had a bullseye on us. Then Emme (Rooney) tears her ACL a minute into the game. It just went sideways, but I’m so proud of our girls and the way they dealt with it. They’re high-character kids.”

While most of the state watched the second half with admiration for the way Silver Creek’s players handled themselves — making the most of a second state finals appearance and giving it their all for 32 minutes instead of pouting or losing focus — some used social media to attack the Dragons. Schoen said some on social media said it looked like his team didn’t care that it was suffering an historic loss.

“First of all, social media is the devil,” he said. “What people don’t understand, in the locker room, there wasn’t a dry eye after the game. We had the expectations that we would go up there and compete.”

Any hope of that vanished with a 27-point Washington scoring run and a 51-16 halftime deficit. Going into the locker room, Schoen had to decide how to approach his players.

“There was no ‘win one for the Gipper’ speech,” he said. “You just had to be honest. This was not longer about winning a basketball game. I told them, ‘Let’s just go out and compete for a half.’ They found the love for each other. They care about each other. The score was irrelevant. They enjoyed their final moments together on a basketball court.

Kynidi Mason-Striverson led the Dragons with 10 points in her final game before heading to Evansville to star for the Purple Aces. After the postgame press conference, WLKY reporter Dominique Yates tweeted a clip of Mason-Striverson trying to describe what it meant to play with her four senior classmates one final time.

“We have had so much chemistry and we have worked so hard,” she said in the clip that had 295 likes by Monday evening. “I think that shows, because some people who haven’t played in the last years, they still came in and they’re always ready to roll. Nobody knew what was going to happen to Emme tonight and every single player who came in stepped up. … I think that says a lot about our coaches, I think that says a lot about our leaders, I think that says a lot about our people, in general. I think we always think of it as playing for something bigger.”

Rooney, who had played huge roles in the Dragons’ regional and semistate championship, tore her ACL but was named the Patricia L. Roy Mental Attitude Award recipient and scholar.

Schoen said he left Indianapolis as proud of his team as if it had repeated as state champions.

“It says a lot about them,” he said. “I told them after the game that if a 58-point loss in the state championship is the worst thing that every happens to you, you’ll have a really great life.”