Regional 3 Preview: Breakdown

The high school season is almost over and we are getting locked in for the State Playoffs. It is that time of year where we start looking ahead and previewing each and every Sectional. Time to take a look at the pairings that make up Regional 3.    Sectional 9: Richmond The Teams: Pendleton Heights, Muncie, Anderson, Mount Vernon (Fortville), Richmond, New Palestine, Greenfield Our Contenders: Mount Vernon (Fortville), New Palestine, Greenfield Player To Watch: Will VanDuynWillVanDuyn6'1" | SGGreenfield-Central | 2021StateIN (2021) Prediction: Three teams standout in this one with those teams being Mount Vernon (Fortville), New Palestine, and Greenfield. Mount Vernon got the favorable draw here with them facing a beatable Richmond team in the opening round. However, New Palestine and Greenfield will go at each other right away and the winner of that one will more than likely go on to face Mount Vernon. The pick for the Sectional 9 winner is New Palestine here. They have already beaten both Greenfield and Mount Vernon and if Steele BrasfieldSteeleBrasfield6'5" | SFNew Palestine | 2022StateIN gets going they will be tough to beat. New Palestine will for sure have the toughest road to get to the finals and will probably meet Anderson there.      Sectional 10: Arsenal Tech The Teams: North Central, Crispus Attucks, Arsenal Tech, Cathedral, Lawrence North, Lawrence Central, Warren Central Our Contenders: Crispus Attucks, Cathedral, Lawrence North, Warren Central Player To Watch: Jalen HooksJalenHooks6'6" | SFCrispus Attucks | 2023State#88NationIN (2023) Prediction: Can you even pick a for sure winner in this one? This is without question the most stacked Sectional in the state and not one other can even compare. Every team in Sectional 10 has a chance in this one but realistically only 4 teams have a legit shot. Attucks got the best draw here as they face Tech in the opening round before going on to face North Central in semi-finals. Expect Attucks to be one of the teams in the Sectional Finals as on the other side of the bracket it is a legit toss-up almost. Warren Central goes up against Lawrence Central, which they should beat, but you also have the huge game of Lawrence North vs Cathedral opening things up on Tuesday. It will for sure be a classic of an opening round but I expect Lawrence North to go on to face Warren Central and beating them as well. Then you will have the huge final matchup between Attucks and North and I believe both DJ HughesDJHughes6'8" | PFLawrence North | 2021State#219NationIN and Chris GunnChrisGunn6'4" | SGLawrence North | 2022State#115NationIN will carry North to another Sectional Championship.          Sectional 11: Decatur Central  The Teams: Ben Davis, Roncalli, Southport, Decatur Central, Pike, Perry Meridian Our Contenders: Ben Davis, Pike, Perry Meridian Player To Watch: Ryan ConwellRyanConwell6'2" | PGIndianapolis Pike | 2022StateIN (2022) Prediction: This Sectional is pretty loaded with talent and really comes down to three teams, Ben Davis, Pike, and Perry Meridian. Ben Davis easily has the best draw in this one with their bye and they will face the winner of the of Roncalli (8-12) and Southport (3-15) game. The bottom part of the bracket is a little more competitive with two of the favorites, Pike and Perry Meridian, facing off in the opening round where the winner will face Decatur Central in the semis. Going to go with a slight upset here with Pike over Perry Meridian and then going on to beat Decatur Central. So expect Ben Davis vs Pike in the Sectional Final where Pike’s loaded roster of Edward JonesEdwardJones6'5" | PFIndianapolis Pike | 2021StateIN, Justin DobbinsJustinDobbins6'6" | PFIndianapolis Pike | 2021StateIN, Ryan ConwellRyanConwell6'2" | PGIndianapolis Pike | 2022StateIN, J.J. Louden Jr. and others will carry them to a second straight Sectional title.      Sectional 12: Avon The Teams: Terre Haute South, Mooresville, Brownsburg, Avon, Terre Haute North, Plainfield  Our Contenders: Brownsburg, Terre Haute North, Plainfield Player To Watch: Pierce ThomasPierceThomas6'5" | SGBrownsburg | 2021State#153NationIN (2021) Prediction: Brownsburg and Terre Haute North may be slight contenders but this is Plainfield’s Sectional to lose. Plainfield has been in the top 5-10 all season long and just came off a streak where they won 17 straight. Matt GauerMattGauer6'5" | PFTerre Haute North | 2021StateIN Terre Haute North will put up a tough fight in the opening round but in the end Plainfield should beat them and then blow right past Avon in the semis. One the other side of the bracket the opening game of Brownsburg and Mooresville should be a fun one but Pierce ThomasPierceThomas6'5" | SGBrownsburg | 2021State#153NationIN will probably be too much for the Pioneers to handle. Brownsburg should then blow past Terre Haute South in the semis where they will meet Plainfield in the finals. There, you should see Ian ScottIanScott6'7" | PFPlainfield | 2021StateIN and Plainfield beat Brownsburg in close battle.