Boys sectionals: A look at the 10 toughest draws among area teams

With boys basketball sectional play set to begin on Tuesday, here is a look at 10 area boys basketball teams with the toughest draws:

1.Fishers – The Tigers' reward for winning the Hoosier Crossroads Conference? A first-round date in Sectional 8 at Carmel with eighth-ranked North Central (16-5). Fishers (12-9) lost 69-47 to North Central back on Dec. 29. If Fishers can upset the Panthers, second-ranked Carmel (19-2) awaits on its home floor in the semifinal. The Tigers lost to Carmel 59-46 on Jan. 3.

2.North Central – The No. 8 Panthers (16-5) were cruising along until an 0-2 weekend with losses to Center Grove and Fort Wayne Carroll. North Central draws improving Fishers (12-9) in the first round of Sectional 8 at Carmel on Tuesday. With a win, North Central would face nemesis and second-ranked Carmel (19-2) on Friday. The Panthers defeated Carmel in December but have had their season ended by the Greyhounds the last two years.

3.Warren Central – The Warriors (10-10) are a dangerous team in Sectional 10 at Lawrence Central but didn't catch a break in the draw. Warren Central faces Cathedral (11-9) on Tuesday. The Irish are a different team now with Eron Gordon than on Dec. 13, when Warren Central won 56-53. With a win, the Warriors would play defending 4A state champion Tech (14-7) in a semifinal on Friday night. Warren Central defeated Tech 80-77 in the season opener but the Titans have won four in a row and six of eight. Sectional 10 is wide open this year.

4.Ben Davis – The Giants (16-7) are one of the few teams in the state that can has a front line that can match up with third-ranked Southport (20-2). Ben Davis will get its chance assuming it can get past Northwest (2-16) in its first game in Sectional 11 at Perry Meridian. The Giants took Southport to the wire in a 55-52 loss back on Dec. 6.

5.Southport – The third-ranked Cardinals will have to earn it if they are to win the program's first sectional title since 2000. Southport (20-2) did get a bye to Friday but will likely have to get past a Ben Davis team that it edged in December. A win there likely means a meeting with Pike in the championship, a rematch of Southport's four-overtime loss to the Red Devils in the Marion County tournament.

6.Scecina – The Crusaders (18-5) have battled injuries and attrition this season but remain a serious threat as the fourth-ranked team in Class 2A. Scecina wasn't done any favors with its draw in Sectional 42 at Shortridge, Broad Ripple (3-17) may not provide much resistance on Tuesday, but with a win there Scecina will get rematch of the City tournament championship against second-ranked Howe (18-3). The Hornets won the first game, 75-72. And a win there likely means a showdown against top-ranked and defending state champion Park Tudor (18-2).

7.Roncalli – The Rebels have stumbled a bit of late, losing three of four. In Sectional 10, Roncalli is matched up with host Lawrence Central (10-12) on Tuesday. The Bears beat Roncalli 64-52 in the first round of the Marion County tournament. A win there would match Roncalli up with Lawrence North (16-5), which is probably the favorite of the field.

8.Howe – The Class 2A second-ranked Hornets (18-3) do get a bye into the semifinals of Sectional 42. But waiting for them there is a likely meeting with fourth-ranked Scecina (18-5). Howe beat the Crusaders 75-72 in the City tournament championship in January. If Howe can get through that one, top-ranked and defending champion Park Tudor (18-2) is probably the team it'll see in the championship.

9.Guerin Catholic – If Guerin Catholic (15-8) is to make a run in Class 3A, it'll have to survive a tough road in Sectional 26. Up first is a meeting with Herron (12-7), a team it defeated 70-44 in the season opener. With a win there, Guerin will face Brebeuf Jesuit (12-9), a team it defeated 65-48 but has won five of six since. The top team on the other side of the bracket is Bishop Chatard (8-14), which it defeated by 23 points in January.

10.Danville – The Class 3A sixth-ranked Warriors (17-3) open with Greencastle (12-9) in Sectional 27, a team it defeated 58-57 earlier this season. Danville would then face Indian Creek (15-5) in a semifinal matchup and with a win there would likely have to defeat eighth-ranked Tri-West (18-3) for a third time this season in the championship.