Taking a closer look at local Class 4A sectional draw
Here's a closer look at the boys basketball sectional draw from a local perspective in Class 4A. Sectional games start on March 4 and all sectional championship games are March 8:
Class 4A
Sectional 8
Site: Noblesville
Matchups: Hamilton Southeastern (18-3) vs. Fishers (7-12), Tuesday, 7 p.m.; Zionsville (13-5) vs. Carmel (17-1), Wed., 6 p.m.; Westfield (2-16) vs. North Central (14-6), Wed., 7:30 p.m.; Noblesville (13-6) vs. Hamilton Southeastern-Fishers winner, 6 p.m. Friday; Other semifinal, 7:30 p.m. Friday.
Favorite: Carmel. The Greyhounds are the two-time defending state champion and are ranked No. 1 again. Doubt them at your own peril. Carmel has a couple guys in senior Zach McRoberts and junior Ryan Cline who have played key roles on championship teams and a solid cast around them.
Top challenger: Hamilton Southeastern. The Royals have lost three games by a total of four points and came within a 17-foot jumper of beating Carmel (a 55-54 loss) a couple weeks ago. HSE has the pieces to win it all, but getting out of the sectional will be difficult as always.
Overview: This is one of the toughest sectionals – if not the toughest – in the state, but it's also reasonably balanced. Carmel likely has the toughest road, with possibility of having to beat Zionsville, North Central and Hamilton Southeastern to win the title. Noblesville is lurking in the weeds with homecourt advantage and a bye to the semifinals. Remember the Millers had Carmel on the ropes last year in the sectional before Michael Volovic rescued the Greyhounds with a last-second 3-pointer in a 43-40 win.
Keep an eye on: North Central. After an 0-4 start, the Panthers have won 14 of 16. North Central lost 63-51 to Carmel, its potential semifinal opponent, way back on Dec. 13. Sophomore Eron Gordon (15.9 ppg) and freshman Kris Wilkes (10.0 ppg) have led the Panthers, but seniors Michael Loggan (8.7 ppg, 5.0 rebounds) and Jeff Harris (7.3 ppg) have also been key contributors during the recent hot stretch.
The pick: I'm going with Carmel, but expect the Greyhounds will have to survive at least one game decided in the final seconds.
Sectional 9
Site: New Castle
Matchups: Mt. Vernon (8-12) vs. Richmond (18-2), Tuesday, 7 p.m.; Anderson (9-11) vs. Pendleton Heights (14-5), Wednesday, 6 p.m.; Connersville (12-8) vs. New Castle (7-11), Wednesday, 7:30 p.m.; Greenfield-Central (5-16) vs. Mt. Vernon-Richmond winner, Friday, 6 p.m.; Other semifinal, Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Favorite: Richmond. The Red Devils are 3-0 against other teams in the sectional, losing only to North Central and Columbus North. Can you believe Richmond hasn't won a sectional since 1996? This could be the year the streak ends. Senior Mike Tillman (16.2 ppg) leads Richmond.
Top challenger: Pendleton Heights. The Arabians have knocked Richmond out in the sectional each of the last three years. With junior Sean McDermott (14.5 ppg) and sophomores Kenton Dunham (14.7 ppg) and Caleb Hardy (10.6 ppg), the Arabians have enough firepower to make it tough on Richmond again.
Overview: In the first round, Richmond will have to beat a young but talented Mt. Vernon team that is without its top player, senior C.J. Coleman, due to injury. Anderson has been up-and-down, but did beat Pendleton Heights in early January. The Connersville-New Castle game looks like a tossup.
Keep an eye on: Connersville. The Spartans will keep the score down, as shown by the 42.2 points allowed per game. Connersville, which lost to Richmond 51-37 early in the season, hasn't won a sectional since 1997.
The pick: Richmond. The Red Devils look like the real deal, but will have to grind it out in this sectional.
Sectional 10
Site: Lawrence North
Matchups: Warren Central (11-9) vs. Cathedral (14-6), Tuesday, 6 p.m.; Lawrence North (11-8) vs. Tech (19-2), 7:30 p.m.; Roncalli (10-7) vs. Warren Central-Cathedral winner, Friday, 6 p.m.; Lawrence Central (10-7) vs. Lawrence North-Tech winner, Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Favorite: Tech. The Titans are loaded for a deep run with an experienced and talented senior class, led by Kentucky recruit Trey Lyles, one of the favorites for Mr. Basketball.
Top challenger: Cathedral. This is a far different Cathedral team from last year's experienced group that made it to the state championship game. But the Irish did play Tech to a much closer score (66-58) in the City tournament championship than they did in a 30-point loss earlier in the season. Cathedral will have to beat Warren Central and Roncalli before thinking about Tech - or anyone else - in the championship.
Overview: Tech is the best team in this field. But in a 32-minute high school game, there are a few teams in this group (the only sectionalin the state where all teams have a winning record) that could knock off the Titans. Tech's draw is probably as difficult as it could have been.
Keep an eye on: Lawrence Central. The young Bears have been playing well of late, winning four of five (the only loss by four points to Hamilton Southeastern). The bye helps, but would Lawrence Central have enough inside to negate the 6-10 Lyles in a potential semifinal matchup?
The pick: Tech. If the Titans can navigate past the Lawrences, old nemesis Cathedral could be waiting in the sectional championship. But first things first: Lawrence North has some beef on the interior and has been playing its best ball in the last three weeks. If the Wildcats can make some shots from the outside, it could get a little sticky for the Titans.
Sectional 11
Site: Ben Davis
Matchups: Perry Meridian (13-5) vs. Southport (11-7), Tuesday, 6 p.m.; Northwest (4-11) vs. Ben Davis (10-7), Tuesday, 7:30 p.m.; Decatur Central (6-13) vs. Perry Meridian-Southport, Friday, 6 p.m.; Pike (11-8) vs. Northwest-Ben Davis winner, Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Favorite: Pike. This hasn't been a vintage Pike team, but the Red Devils have lost some close games and against good competition. Pike has played just one game against fellow sectional teams, defeating Ben Davis 64-56.
Top challenger: Ben Davis. The Giants have quietly won seven of their last 10, including a 50-44 win over Cathedral on Friday. Ben Davis gets to play on its home court, but hasn't won a sectional since 2010.
Overview: Pike and Ben Davis is a likely semifinal matchup. These programs have met six of the last eight years in the sectional, with Pike winning all but one (in 2010). On the other side of the bracket, Southport looks like the team to beat but Perry Meridian and Decatur Central are both capable of springing and upset.
Keep an eye on: Southport. The Cardinals are young, but have played very well after a 1-4 start. Beating rival Perry Meridian a third time won't be easy. Southport is capable of beating either Pike or Ben Davis and winning its first sectional since 2000.
The pick: Ben Davis. The Giants came close to knocking off Pike last in the sectional final, losing in overtime. It might not be pretty, but look for Mark James to win his first sectional as the Ben Davis coach.
Sectional 12
Site: Avon
Matchups: Terre Haute North (7-12) vs. Brownsburg (17-2), Tuesday, 7 p.m.; Martinsville (13-6) vs. Terre Haute South (8-13), Wednesday, 6 p.m.; Plainfield (5-14) vs. Avon (8-12), Wednesday, 7:30 p.m.; Mooresville (17-4) vs. Terre Haute North-Brownsburg winner, Friday, 6 p.m.; Other semifinal, Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Favorite: Brownsburg. The Bulldogs have enjoyed a revival this year under first-year coach Steve Lynch and the future looks bright with juniors K.J. Walton and Darrian Ringo. Brownsburg is 3-0 against other teams in the sectional but hasn't played Mooresville or Martinsville.
Top challenger: Mooresville. The Pioneers dropped games to Martinsville and New Palestine two weeks ago but have won four in a row since. Mooresville also owns impressive wins over Hamilton Southeastern and Columbus North. Seniors Jacob Johnson and Carter Van Wanzeele are an explosive combination.
Overview: The potential for an exciting semifinal night exists with the possibility of Brownsburg-Mooresville and Martinsville-Avon matchups.
Keep an eye on: Martinsville. The Artesians own wins over Franklin, Mooresville and Park Tudor and have a standout senior in guard Troy Spears, but also lost to 7-13 Whiteland last weekend. Martinsville got a pretty good draw on the other side of the bracket from Brownsburg and Mooresville.
The pick: Brownsburg. The Bulldogs have been the most consistent team in this group, with its only losses coming to No. 1 Carmel and No. 3 Hamilton Southeastern.
Sectional 13
Site: Center Grove
Matchups: Franklin (14-5) vs. New Palestine (10-9), Tuesday, 6 p.m.; Center Grove (7-11) vs. Whiteland (7-13), 7:30 p.m.; Greenwood (6-12) vs. Franklin-New Palestine winner, Friday, 6 p.m.; Franklin Central (10-10) vs. Center Grove-Whiteland winner, Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Favorite: Franklin Central. The Flashes have hit the skids a bit at the end of the season, losing seven of their last nine. But Franklin Central still has the best body of work in this field and has a number of players back from last year's sectional title team.
Top challenger: Franklin. The Grizzly Cubs dropped a couple games recently to Columbus North (by 27) and Perry Meridian (by nine), but are 5-1 against sectional opponents.
Overview: Franklin Central looks like the best team but certainly not invincible. New Palestine vs. Franklin should be a good first-round game and the winner gets a favorable matchup with Greenwood in the semifinal.
Keep an eye on: Center Grove. Granted, the Trojans have lost seven in a row, but the schedule is the toughest in the sectional with the possible exception of Franklin Central's. Michael Benkert and Tyler Bryant are good players. If it can get past Whiteland, Center Grove will play Franklin Central in a semifinal. Franklin Central won the first meeting, 72-57.
The pick: Franklin Central. Despite the recent slide, the Flashes are the most talented team and are capable of making noise beyond the sectional.