The post-season began on a decent note as I went 40-9 (82 percent) during sectional week. Heading into the regionals, my overall mark is now 293-83, which has me at 78 percent for the season.
SATURDAY
CLASS 4A MICHIGAN CITY
Adams (14-12) vs. Chesterton (26-0): The Eagles soared to a 61-49 win over Chesterton a year ago. Gion Parks accounted for 12 points in Adams’ 78-71 win over Michigan City. Chris Mullen came up with 10 points in the Trojans’ 59-31 win over Portage. Matt’s pick: Chesterton 57, Adams 50.
Penn (23-2) vs. Munster (22-4): The Mustangs edged No. 6 Penn, 54-53, during the 2015-16 campaign. Joe Smith chipped in 12 points in Penn’s 68-44 win over Concord. David Cundiff added nine points in the Mustangs’ 59-44 win over Lake Central. Matt’s pick: Penn 63, Munster 55.
CLASS 4A LOGANSPORT
Kokomo (17-7) vs. Fort Wayne Snider (18-7): Flory Bidunga recorded 30 points, 14 rebounds, and 10 blocked shots in the Wildkats’ 49-42 win over Lafayette Jeff. Karson Jenkins poured in 39 points in the Panthers’ 72-69 win over Fort Wayne Northrop. Matt’s pick: Kokomo 51, Fort Wayne Snider 48.
Homestead (22-5) vs. Westfield (21-6): The No. 5 Spartans downed Westfield, 58-55, on December 11. Fletcher Loyer’s 16 points lifted Homestead to a 51-48 win over Fort Wayne South. Braden Smith racked up 22 points as the Shamrocks earned their first sectional crown with a 59-54 upset of No. 3 and defending state champion Carmel. Matt’s pick: Westfield 61, Homestead 59.
CLASS 4A SOUTHPORT
Indianapolis Ben Davis (21-6) vs, Mount Vernon (Fortville) (22-2): Sheridan Sharp tallied 14 points in the No. 5 Giants’ 65-44 win over Southport. Razhaun Wells added 15 points in the No. 7 Marauders’ 83-68 win over New Palestine. Matt’s pick: Ben Davis 70, Mount Vernon (Fortville) 67.
Indianapolis Cathedral (22-6) vs. Terre Haute North (23-4): The No. 8 Fighting Irish earned a 57-48 win over Terre Haute North during the 2010-11 season. Xavier Booker accounted for 15 points in Cathedral’s 63-49 win over Lawrence North. Mark Hankins registered 17 points in the Patriots’ 49-43 win over Avon. Matt’s pick: Cathedral 58, Terre Haute North 53.
CLASS 4A SEYMOUR
Evansville North (16-10) vs. Bloomington North (22-3): The Cougars claimed a 54-44 win over Evansville North on January 21. Ryan Caddell netted 18 points in the Huskies; 63-49 win over Evansville Harrison. Nick Klaiber ended with 15 points in Bloomington North’s 32-28 win over Bloomington South. Matt’s pick: Bloomington North 52, Evansville North 45.
Floyd Central (20-4) vs, Franklin (11-14): Kyle Poates racked up 10 points in the Highlanders’ 77-38 win over Jeffersonville. Micah Davis’ 23 points vaulted the Grizzly Cubs to a 54-45 win over Center Grove. Matt’s pick: Floyd Central 71, Franklin 54.
CLASS 3A SOUTH BEND WASHINGTON
Marian (21-3) vs. Lighthouse CPA (8-12): Deaglan Sullivan tallied 10 points in the No. 2 Knights’ 46-43 win over No. 1 Glenn. Shamar Mays contributed 24 points as the Lions claimed their first sectional title with a 74-59 win over Calumet. Matt’s pick: Marian 77, Lighthouse CPA 58.
Culver Academy (18-7) vs. Peru (20-2): Thomas Collins registered 15 points in the Eagles’ 64-26 win over New Prairie. Matthew Roettger paved the way with 14 points in the Bengal Tigers’ 47-43 win over Benton Central. Matt’s pick: Culver Academy 49, Peru 46.
CLASS 3A NEW CASTLE
Yorktown (10-14) vs. NorthWood (24-2): A.J. Dunn managed 19 points in the Trojans’ 60-41 win over Jay County. Brock Bontrager totaled eight points in the No. 3 Panthers’ 40-23 win over Wawasee. Matt’s pick: NorthWood 64, Yorktown 50.
Leo (19-5) vs. Norwell (22-4): The No. 8 Lions roared to a 62-55 win over No. 7 Norwell on January 8. Ayden Ruble scored 14 points in Leo’s 50-43 win over Fort Wayne Concordia. Luke McBride ended with 25 points and 11 rebounds in the Knights’ 63-61 win over Oak Hill. Matt’s pick: Leo 47, Norwell 44.
CLASS 3A GREENCASTLE
Brebeuf Jesuit (18-7) vs. Danville (20-3): The Warriors rolled to a 76-55 win over Brebeuf Jesuit during the 2019-20 campaign. Alex Gothard finished with 13 points in the Braves’ 37-35 win over Guerin Catholic. Matt’s pick: Danville 67, Brebeuf Jesuit 65.
Beech Grove (18-6) vs. Brownstown Central (22-3): Anthony Ball recorded 23 points and 10 rebounds in the Hornets’ 59-52 win over Indianapolis Washington. Jack Benter came up with 19 points in the No. 5 Braves’ 58-39 win over Northview. Matt’s pick: Brownstown Central 54, Beech Grove 49.
CLASS 3A WASHINGTON
Evansville Bosse (17-9) vs. Lawrenceburg (20-7): Matthew Wagner added 22 points in the Bulldogs’ 66-63 win over Evansville Memorial. Logan Ahaus racked up 11 points for the Tigers in their 45-39 win over Franklin County. Matt’s pick: Evansville Bosse 55, Lawrenceburg 51.
North Harrison (19-3) vs. Sullivan (23-2): Ethan Oakley’s 18 points helped the Cougars to a 57-47 win over Scottsburg. Randy Kelley accounted for 18 points, including the game-winning basket, for the No. 4 Golden Arrows in their 55-53 overtime win over Pike Central. Matt’s pick: Sullivan 48, North Harrison 44.
CLASS 2A NORTH JUDSON
North Judson (21-5) vs. Fort Wayne Blackhawk (22-4): Payton Cox had 13 points in the Bluejays’ 57-54 overtime win over Westville. Josh Furst scored 21 points in the No. 4 Braves’ 60-46 win over Adams Central. Matt’s pick: Fort Wayne Blackhawk 62, North Judson 51.
Hammond Bishop Noll (11-12) vs. Central Noble (25-2): Angel Alvarez’s 17 points lifted the Warriors to a 66-63 win over No. 10 Lake Station. Connor Essegian amassed 24 points in the No. 3 Cougars’ 50-36 win over No. 2 Eastside. Matt’s pick: Central Noble 69, Hammond Bishop Noll 50.
CLASS 2A LAPEL
Tipton (17-6) vs. Monroe Central (24-0): The Blue Devils downed top-ranked Monroe Central, 60-55, during the 2019-20 season. Nate Powell poured in 32 points in Tipton’s 60-51 win over Madison-Grant. Jackson Ullom contributed 27 points in the Golden Bears’ 54-41 win over Lapel. Matt’s pick: Monroe Central 60, Tipton 57.
Rensselaer Central (12-12) vs. Carroll (Flora) (22-1): Jamison Chapman managed 14 points in the Bombers’ 47-43 win over Lewis Cass. Chris Huerta tallied 14 points in the No. 6 Cougars’ 62-36 win over Rossville. Matt’s pick: Carroll (Flora) 65, Rensselaer Central 48.
CLASS 2A GREENFIELD-CENTRAL
Southmont (19-6) vs. Eastern Hancock (20-5): Logan Oppy helped the Mounties to their first sectional crown since 1994 with 24 points in a 65-48 win over Parke Heritage. Landon O’Neal poured in 28 points for the No. 9 Royals in their 61-48 win over Northeastern. Matt’s pick: Eastern Hancock 67, Southmont 59,
Triton Central (13-11) vs. University (15-9): Caleb Miller’s eight points lifted the Tigers to a 40-35 win over South Ripley. Sabien Cain had 24 points in the Trailblazers’ 67-57 win over Heritage Christian. Matt’s pick: University 71, Triton Central 64.
CLASS 2A SOUTHRIDGE
Forest Park (14-10) vs. Paoli (16-9): The Rangers slipped past Paoli, 54-49, on January 28. Drew Howard contributed 13 points in Forest Park’s 46-41 win over North Posey. Fletcher Cole rolled up 27 points for the Rams in their 68-61 overtime win over Eastern (Pekin). Matt’s pick: Forest Park 50, Paoli 49.
Providence (17-6) vs. Linton-Stockton (22-4): The No. 5 Miners suffered a 50-44 loss to Providence in the 2016 regional final. Grant Williams chipped in 14 points in the Pioneers’ 56-32 win over Southwestern (Hanover). Joey Hart ended with 19 points in Linton-Stockton’s 37-33 win over South Knox. Matt’s pick: Linton-Stockton 52, Providence 40.
CLASS 1A TRITON
North White (21-3) vs. Gary 21st Century (21-4): Nate Miller recorded 28 points in the No. 5 Vikings’ 65-46 win over Pioneer. Ashton Williamson contributed 15 points, eight rebounds, and 14 assists in the top-ranked Cougars’ 67-56 win over Marquette Catholic. Matt’s pick: Gary 21st Century 75, North White 64.
Fremont (17-8) vs. Triton (18-7): Logan Brace registered 14 points in the Eagles’ 58-47 win over Elkhart Christian. Cole Shively’s 11 points helped the Trojans to a 45-39 win over Argos. Matt’s pick: Triton 43, Fremont 40.
CLASS 1A FRANKFORT
Southwood (14-11) vs. Lafayette Central Catholic (17-9): The Knights slipped by Lafayette Central Catholic, 54-53, in last year’s regional final. Cole Winer ended with 12 points in Southwood’s 58-57 win over Lakeland Christian. Clark Barrett scored 24 points in the Knights’ 63-24 win over North Vermillion. Matt’s pick: Lafayette Central Catholic 56, Southwood 53.
Liberty Christian (17-9) vs. Blue River Valley (15-10): Adonis Hill mustered 25 points in the Lions’ 85-50 win over Daleville. Ethan Blackburn tallied 14 points in the Vikings’ 63-56 win over Randolph Southern. Matt’s pick: Liberty Christian 64, Blue River Valley 61.
CLASS 1A MARTINSVILLE
Indianapolis Lutheran (18-5) vs. Indianapolis Metropolitan (13-12): The No. 9 Saints registered a 55-53 win over Indianapolis Metropolitan on January 21. Montasi Clay recorded 17 points in Indianapolis Lutheran’s 62-60 win over No. 6 Indianapolis Tindley. David Meriweather scored 16 points in the Pumas’ 56-48 win over Bethesda Christian. Matt’s pick: Lutheran 54, Metropolitan 46.
Jac-Cen-Del (20-5) vs. Bloomfield (20-6): Devin Grieshop netted a game-high 18 points in the No. 10 Eagles’ 61-45 win over Hauser. Baylin Graf came up with 16 points in the No. 8 Cardinals’ 47-39 win over North Central (Farmersburg). Matt’s pick: Bloomfield 45, Jac-Cen-Del 40.
CLASS 1A LOOGOOTEE
North Daviess (23-3) vs. Edinburgh (22-3): The No. 2 Cougars managed a 55-47 win over No. 7 Edinburgh on February 19. Lance Wilson accounted for 10 points in North Daviess’ 35-29 win over No. 4 and defending state champion Barr-Reeve. Riley Palmeter chipped in 12 points in Edinburgh’s 49-38 win over West Washington. Matt’s pick: North Daviess 48, Edinburgh 41.
Borden (16-7) vs. Springs Valley (22-3): The Blackhawks went to overtime to post an 80-71 win over Borden a season ago. Sterling Mikel totaled 16 points, including the game-winning layup, in the Braves’ 53-51 win over Christian Academy. Kannon Chase’s 19 points helped Springs Valley to a 66-54 win over Northeast Dubois. Matt’s pick: Springs Valley 72, Borden 65.
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