Saturday Brings The Expected, Unexpected Matchups
As we look through the lineup of Sectional Championship games, there are plenty of interesting matchups, some expected and some unexpected. Here are a just a few of the ones that standout to us. Expected: 4A Sectional 5 – Fort…
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Continue ReadingAs we look through the lineup of Sectional Championship games, there are plenty of interesting matchups, some expected and some unexpected. Here are a just a few of the ones that standout to us.
Expected:
4A Sectional 5 – Fort Wayne Carroll vs. Fort Wayne North
This was the expected outcome but it didn’t come without it’s challenges. DeKalb actually had an early lead on Carroll before they were able to pull it out. North has been strong this season at times but Northrop was able to give them a fight. This will be the third meeting between the two and they have split so far.
3A Sectional 27 – Brebeuf Jesuit vs. Crispus Attucks
There aren’t many great teams in this Sectional but the one trip up on the Attucks side was going to be if they could get past Manual. Well, it took two overtimes but they managed to pull it out. Brebeuf had an easy time of things to get to the Championship game to face Attucks, a team they beat earlier in the season by 12.
2A Sectional 42 – Indianapolis Howe vs. Shenandoah
Shenandoah had a couple closer games but it was always going to be Howe vs. Shenandoah in this one. The difference in style of play is going to be interesting. Dave McCollough has had experience coaching against teams like Howe so this could be a battle of wills at the close of the game.
1A Sectional 56 – Seton Catholic vs. Union City
Seton Catholic hasn’t really been tested to this point in Sectionals and Union City shouldn’t give them too much trouble either. Seton has already beaten them once this year 59-42. Union City is looking at their best season since 2007-08 but would have to get their biggest win of the season if they are to get to Regionals.
Unexpected:
4A Sectional 9 – Connersville vs. New Castle
Connersville used their bye game well by putting an attack on Greenfield-Central to get the win and vault into the Championship game. Could have went either way but thought Greenfield had been playing really well down the stretch. On the other side, Mt. Vernon had all the tools to not only get through this round, but possibly make some noise in a difficult Regional. That was quickly upended by New Castle’s 85-76 win on Friday night.
3A Sectional 20 – Northwestern vs. Maconaquah
The two schools that probably should have been in the Championship game, Peru and West Lafayette, were knocked out in the first round. That allowed the two bye teams to get some easy matchups. Between Maconaquah and Northwestern, they have a combined 21 wins. Not the type of teams you thought would be in this position.
2A Sectional 33 – River Forest vs. Hammond Noll
It started with River Forest’s win over a 17-win Boone Grove team that had already beaten them earlier in the season. Follow that up with Hammond Noll’s huge win over Bowman Academy and you have a pair in the Championship that probably would have been the next best teams, not the first choice. But, that is why you play the games and gives an interesting battle in the Northern half of the 2A bracket.
1A Sectional 54 – Clinton Central vs. Lafayette Central Catholic
There weren’t a ton of 1A shockers but if you think back to where Clinton Central was a year ago, this could fall into that category. They didn’t win one single game last season. Now, they are at 11-15 and upset a Faith Christian team that was looking good to win their first Sectional game ever. However, now they have to take down powerhouse Central Catholic on Saturday night.