Sectional Preview: 3A South
Now that the Sectional draw has taken place this past weekend, we are ready to preview each Sectional heading into next week and the beginning of the playoffs. Here is our breakdown for each Semistate pod. Sectional 25: Crawfordsville Champion…
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Continue ReadingNow that the Sectional draw has taken place this past weekend, we are ready to preview each Sectional heading into next week and the beginning of the playoffs. Here is our breakdown for each Semistate pod.
Sectional 25: Crawfordsville
Champion Prediction: Greencastle
Greencastle is a great team this year going with a record of 17-4 and have a very sound offensive team. They are 2-1 against Sectional opponents with their loss being to Western Boone in kind of a let down game. However, they got a really good draw and have some solid wins against Tri-West, Danville, Crawfordsville, South Putnam, and Monrovia. They should be set to go for this Sectional.
Sleeper Pick: Benton Central
This is an odd pick but Benton Central is in the midst of their best season since 2004-05 and they are a team that can shoot the ball. They get the obvious tough draw of Greencastle first but they get to prepare, and have been hot late in this season with some solid wins. They have won 6 straight games and could really do some damage if they get hot. Get past the first game and anything is possible.
Best (Potential) Matchup: Crawfordsville vs. Greencastle
While Greencastle got the early season win over Crawfordsville, Crawfordsville has more wins at 15 and has been better in the second half of the season. Things can change between the beginning and the end of the year and it could be a much more interesting game with a Sectional Championship on the line and Greencastle looking for their first since 2003-04.
Sectional 26: Owen Valley
Champion Prediction: Edgewood
As one of the best teams in 3A, Edgewood has the ability to go well beyond just the first weekend. They are 17-4 overall, 3-0 against their Sectional opponents and 6-0 against teams in their class. They have tested themselves this year and only have losses to 4A teams. Their path in this Sectional isn’t too bad with no real other top teams in this Sectional.
Sleeper Pick: Owen Valley
Owen Valley is the one team to watch out for here. They would end up facing each other in the Sectional Championship and Owen Valley does have a much easier path as Brown County and Northview have less combined wins than Owen Valley does right now.
Best (Potential) Matchup: Owen Valley vs. Edgewood
With not a ton of options, this would be the best of the bunch. They played Edgewood tough and only lost by 10 points in the regular season. Although, they were better in the early part of the season, they still have the ability to be defensively solid and could drag this into a lower scoring game. If they can do that, they have a shot here.
Sectional 27: Guerin Catholic
Champion Prediction: Crispus Attucks
Attucks has been one of the best teams in 3A for the last few years and this year they have been tested with off and on the court things but at their best, they can compete with anyone. Their path is extremely difficult and would have to overcome a loss to Brebeuf in order to get back to the Sectional Championship but they have that kind of ability and enough upside to make a very deep run this March.
Sleeper Pick: Cardinal Ritter
Ritter gets a beauty of a draw with Chatard first in the bye round. If they can get through that, then they would only have to face one of Brebeuf, Guerin, or Attucks. They have had some really strong performances this year but would have to pull off their biggest win of the year to do it.
Best (Potential) Matchup: Brebeuf Jesuit vs. Crispus Attucks
These two teams know each other really well but Brebeuf Jesuit go the upper hand earlier in the year as they won, 46-45 in a tight one. But come tournament time, anything can happen. Crispus Attucks has won the last three meetings before this past regular season game. Attucks up and down style has the potential to get out of hand for some teams but Brebeuf has seen it time and time again. Will they be able to get past one more time?
Sectional 28: Danville
Champion Prediction: Beech Grove
Well, could there be any other team that needs this win more in the state? After the loss of their head coach, Beech Grove has been really solid this year winning 12 games and has the two key regular season wins against Manual and Tri-West. They have won 4 out of their last 5 games and have two tuneup games against Lapel and Whiteland this week. Could be quite an interesting run for them if they were able to pull it off.
Sleeper Pick: Danville
Danville has been all over the place this year but does have a 13-7 record heading into the final week. They have the win against Beech Grove and they get to play Indianapolis Manual this Tuesday as a test before next week. They do look like they have been better late in the season here but their draw is tough. But, this is a team that at the beginning of the year we would have thought they were the best team in this Sectional hands down. That upside still belongs.
Best (Potential) Matchup: Beech Grove vs. Indianapolis Manual
Right now, the two best teams this season have been Beech Grove and Indianapolis Manual and with the Sectional Championship on the line for a Saturday, this game would be fun involving two Southside Indianapolis teams. With all the storylines involving Beech Grove, this will be one game to keep track of.
Sectional 29: Greensburg
Champion Prediction: Greensburg
Greensburg is the obvious pick here. They are 21-1 on the season, 7-0 against Sectional opponents and they have been nothing but spectacular all season long. Their only loss was to Cathedral. Now, their schedule hasn’t been too difficult so you could nitpick that but they are averaging 71.1 points per game and only giving up 51.9. They are playing about as well as you can find.
Sleeper Pick: Madison
Madison is better than their record says they are. They have had a ton of tough games against 4A teams in the second half of the season. They are 11-10 but have tested themselves against teams like Floyd Central, New Albany, Silver Creek, Jeffersonville, and Columbus East. Now, they have Greensburg right off the bat but if they can pull it off, the rest of the Sectional should be a breeze, relatively.
Best (Potential) Matchup: Greensburg vs. Batesville
Greensburg vs. Batesville is one of the best rivalries in the state and these are the two best teams in this Sectional so if Saturday comes down to this game, not sure many will complain. Now, Batesville hasn’t been able to win either of their first two meetings but they lost the first time by 10 and the second time by 5. Beating a rival, a good team, three times in a year is tough.
Sectional 30: Charlestown
Champion Prediction: Silver Creek
While Brownstown Central beat Silver Creek earlier in the year, Silver Creek is a stellar team that has the possibility of winning a State Championship this year. They have played well against some really good teams and has size and shooting ability that is tough to stop. They also drew the bye game with knowing Brownstown Central is likely going to be their opponent with time to prepare.
Sleeper Pick: Corydon Central
Picking a team that doesn’t even have a .500 record is tough but Corydon Central does have a DI commit on their team and they have played the best against Silver Creek and Brownstown Central. They are 9-12 on the season but I think they have the best top-end performance ability to be able to take down either of the top teams. They got lucky with the draw and should have a good chance to get to the Championship game and would only have to play one of Brownstown Central or Silver Creek.
Best (Potential) Matchup: Brownstown Central vs. Silver Creek
Regardless of how this game went the first time, you know this is going to be a really good game. These two teams are talented with Silver Creek having more firepower but Brownstown Central having a coach that knows how to win in March. This will be one of the best potential Semifinal matchups in the state on Friday.
Sectional 31: Washington
Champion Prediction: Southridge
Southridge got the gauntlet with their draw having to play a good Sullivan team with Princeton waiting but this is a team that has the best player in the Sectional and can be basically unstoppable when his team needs a bucket. In Sectional games, scores are lower and tighter and going with the guy that get a bucket is a smart play. Not too mention, they are 17-5 and one of the best teams in the state in 3A. They have also won 13 of 14 games to end the year.
Sleeper Pick: Princeton
Princeton does get a sweet setup here with a bye game and then likely facing Southridge who they have already beat this year. They will need to lock in as they would have to end with Southridge and Washington who they did get beat by pretty handily but this team has the wins other resume to justify as a potential winner.
Best (Potential) Matchup: Washington vs. Southridge
Washington and Southridge look like the two most likely teams to end up in the Championship game as Washington has a dream draw. However, Southridge was able to get a 1-point win early in the year against them. Will the two tough games Southridge have in their pocket if they get to Saturday take enough out of them for Washington to get by them this time?
Sectional 32: Boonville
Champion Prediction: Heritage Hills
Having seen both of these teams this season, Heritage Hills has a lot of what Bosse has had the last few years, winners. They have guys that play as tough as possible and guys that can make plays. They also have size and shooting ability and have no problem running the floor which Bosse will try and do. At this stage, HH is more suited to win this game and then things get quite a bit easier with the way the draw went down.
Sleeper Pick: Evansville Memorial
This draw is so unbalanced but Memorial gets some luck as they get a bye game and only have to face one of Bosse or Heritage Hills. While this team has squandered away their season and struggled, they do have a ton of talent and could pull the upset on either team. They also know they can blow all of their energy on Friday with the best team they would have to face on Saturday being, maybe, Boonville.
Best (Potential) Matchup: Heritage Hills vs. Evansville Bosse
For so long, Bosse has been the class of this Sectional but their core is gone and they have regrouped this year, with success. They aren’t quite as good as they have been the last couple but Heritage Hills is in the middle of their talent pool and they are 20-1 this season. Will this be a passing of the torch or will Bosse show them how it is done?