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.

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).

By GREG MENGELT

LARAMIE, Wyoming — Tre Coleman and the Nevada Wolf Pack outscored Wyoming 35-32 in the second half Saturday, but it wasn’t enough as the host Cowboys won for the eighth time in 10 games, 74-61 at Arena Auditorium.

Coleman, a former Jeffersonville star, finished with six points, two assists and a steal as the Pack lost for the second straight game on the heels of a 3-game winning streak. The sophomore wing was 2 for 6 from the field and made a 3-pointer on four attempts.

Nevada (12-15, 6-10 Mountain West) got 12 points apiece fro junior guard Grant Sherfield and senior guard Desmond Cambridge. Sherfield, the team’s leading scorer on the season at 18.4 points per game, also had five rebounds and five assists.

Nevada 7-foot junior Warren Washington scored the game’s first points, but Wyoming sophomore Xavier DuSell hit a 3-pointer and the Cowboys (23-5, 12-3) never trailed again.

The Wyoming duo of sophomore Graham Ike and senior Hunter Maldonado dominated again. Ike finished with 23 points, 15 rebounds and three assists, while Maldonado had 22 points, nine rebounds and six assists. Wyoming trails Boise State by a game and a half at the top fo the Mountain West standings with three games to play.

Nevada and help out the Cowboys on Tuesday when Boise hosts the Wolf Pack at 9 p.m. The Broncos are 23-6 overall, 14-2 in the Mountain West and beat UNLV 86-76 on Saturday for their fourth straight victory.

By GREG MENGELT

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Before the season, the Conference USA coaches picked Middle Tennessee as the worst team in the league.

On Saturday, Josh Jefferson and the Blue Raiders clinched the top seed out of the East Division by beating Western Kentucky 69-52 at the Murphy Center. The win was the Blue Raiders’ eighth in a row.

Middle Tennessee (22-7, 13-3) will enter the conference tournament at Frisco, Texas, on March 8 as a top seed, along with defending champion North Texas, which has won the West Division.

Middle Tennessee dominated the final 30 minutes Saturday. The Hilltoppers led 21-20, but a 3-pointer from freshman forward Christian Fussell gave the Raiders the lead for good.

Jefferson went 4 for 9 from the field and 2 for 7 from behind the 3-point line for 10 points. Sophomore Eli Lawrence had 15 points to lead the Raiders, who go to Charlotte (15-13, 8-8) on Wednesday. The game tips at 7 p.m. and will air on ESPN2.

Western Kentucky (17-12, 9-7), which had won seven in a row coming into Saturday’s contest, was led by sophomore guard Dayvion McKnight (Shelbyville, Ky./Collins) with 13 points, four rebounds and two assists.

By GREG MENGELT

It is the Grizzlies’ 10th conference tournament title, breaking a tie with Hanover for the most in league history.

The regular-season champion Panthers looked in control of Saturday’s championship when they led 45-40 at the half and 64-59 with 9:04 left, but the Franklin duo of freshman Cody Samples and senior Matt Krause was too much down the stretch.

Samples keyed a 14-6 run that put Franklin ahead 73-70. A jumper from Hanover senior Isaac Hibbard (New Albany) cut the Grizzly lead to a point, but Krause scored five points in 44 seconds — a jumper and a 3-pointer — to ice the victory.

Sample (Versailles/South Ripley) finished with a game-high 34 points on 10 of 12 shooting. He made seven of his eight 3-point attempts and seven of his eight free throw attempts. Krause (West Lafayette) had 22 points on a perfect 7 of 7 shooting. He was 2 for 2 from deep and 6 for 6 at the foul line.

Hibbard, who was named to the All-Tournament team, led Hanover with 27 points, five assists and four rebounds. The former New Albany star was 11 for 20 from the floor and made five of his seven free throws.

Junior forward Ty Houston (Union, Ky./Cooper) added 18 points and was also named to the tournament team. Senior guard Noah Williams (Jeffersonville/Christian Academy) added eight points, six rebounds and three assists.

By GREG MENGELT

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Jake Heidbreder had another big night for Air Force, but his Falcons couldn’t hold on to a halftime lead and dropped a 69-65 decision at The Pit on Saturday.

Heidbreder, a freshman from Floyd Central, scored in double figures for the fifth straight game. He finished Saturday’s loss with 16 points, six rebounds and four assists. He was 4 for 7 from the field, 2 for 5 from the 3-point line and made all six of his free throw attempts.

The Falcons led 30-24 at halftime but were outscored 45-35 in the second half. Air Force (10-17, 3-13 Mountain West), which has lost 16 of its last 17 games, was within 63-61, but junior forward Jay Allen-Tovar’s dunk with 54 seconds left was followed by clutch free throws from Jamal Mashburn Jr. that put the game away.

Mashburn was the game’s leading scorer with 24 points. The victory snapped a 3-point losing streak for the Lobos (12-17, 4-11).

Sophomore guard Joseph Octave had a team-best 18 points for the Falcons, who go to San Jose State (8-20, 1-15) on Tuesday for a 9 p.m. tip.