Sectional Draw: 1A South Breakdown
The Sectional Draw was last night and we are beginning our look and preparation for the upcoming week of elimination games. Today, we have our Sectional-by-Sectional Breakdown in 1A South.
Sectional 57: White River Valley
Breakdown: At 72.4%, Bloomfield is the clear leader in the White River Valley Sectional. No other team in this Sectional has a winning record or even double-digit wins. Not to mention, Bloomfield got the bye game with the next best team, Shakamak, on the other side. Good draw for them in a weak Sectional. Shakamak is the most likely sleeper but really hard to pick anyone other than Bloomfield here, especially with how the draw came down.
Best First Round Matchup: Clay City vs. Eminence
Prediction: Bloomfield
Sleeper: Shakamak
Sectional 58: Bethesda Christian
Breakdown: At Bethesda, look for University to be the clear favorite. Harrell predicts them at 71.1% with only Metropolitan at 25.2% as a competitor. Where it really gets difficult, University got the bye game and has beaten both of their possible semifinal opponents by a combined 54 points. If you want the sleeper pick, Metro is the team to watch. They are 10-11 this year but have played a fairly difficult schedule and haven’t faced University this year. It won’t be an easy road but they could be able to do it if things fall right on Saturday night.
Best First Round Matchup: Indianapolis International vs. Bethesda Christian
Prediction: University
Sleeper: Indianapolis Metropolitan
Sectional 59: Indianapolis Lutheran
Breakdown: Much like Sectional 58, this is really Indianapolis Tindley’s to lose. They are favored at 78.2% and are a huge favorite to win state this year. Not too mention, they were able to secure a bye game and would be able to prep for their biggest competition in Central Christian. Looking at other teams to focus on, look for Greenwood Christian who is 13-9 this year and on the other side of the Sectional but no one is winning this Sectional without beating Tindley.
Best First Round Matchup: Greenwood Christian vs. Providence Cristo Rey
Prediction: Indianapolis Tindley
Sleeper: Central Christian
Sectional 60: Southwestern (Shelbyville)
Breakdown: At Sectional 60, look for a three-team battle with Morristown being the team to beat. However, they will have to take down Hauser in the Semifinal game if they are going to do it and Hauser has already beaten them this year. It won’t be easy but Harrell is giving Morristown a 56% chance to pull it off. Looking at potential sleepers, Oldenburg is that team. Given that they are on the opposite side of Hauser and Morristown and got the bye game, that will be a big break for them.
Best First Round Matchup: Jac-Cen-Del vs. Southwestern (Shelbyville)
Prediction: Morristown
Sleeper: Oldenburg Academy
Sectional 61: Borden
Breakdown: At Borden, look for quite an interesting Sectional. While Christian Academy and Lanesville are the two teams to watch, they are on the same side in a Sectional that has a lot of past success. New Washington, Rock Creek, and Borden are always difficult in the postseason. Christian Academy is the favorite here and Harrell gives them a 39.2% chance while Lanesville gets a very close 38.9% chance. We like Borden as the sleeper given their favorable draw and being the home team.
Best First Round Matchup: Borden vs. South Central (Elizabeth)
Prediction: Christian Academy
Sleeper: Borden
Sectional 62: Edinburgh
Breakdown: At Sectional 62, it is pretty top heavy. Crothersville, Edinburgh, and West Washington are the favorites here. Edinburgh is the top pick with Harrell giving them a 67.5% chance and that is solid as they got a great draw and a bye game while only having to face one of West Washington or Crothersville. West Washington is the sleeper pick as they were able to pick off Crothersville earlier this year and they got the bye game to prep for it.
Best First Round Matchup: Medora vs. Shawe Memorial
Prediction: Edinburgh
Sleeper: West Washington
Sectional 63: Loogootee
Breakdown: Sectional 63 is going to be a fun one. Barr-Reeve is always viewed as a state champion level contender and Harrell is giving them the edge here as a 59.4% favorite. However, look out for Loogootee who not only got the bye game but gets the much easier competition before Saturday. Also consider this, the one time these two teams played this year, Loogootee lost but only by 7 in triple overtime. While we think Barr-Reeve will push through and even further than Sectionals, it isn’t a slam dunk.
Best First Round Matchup: Barr-Reeve vs. Shoals
Prediction: Barr-Reeve
Sleeper: Loogootee
Sectional 64: Springs Valley
Breakdown: At Sectional 64, Wood Memorial is looking to finally make their large run this year. They are 40.3% favorites from John Harrell with Northeast Dubois, their first round matchup, and Springs Valley as the only real competition. Now, Northeast Dubois did beat Wood Memorial this year but Wood is really the better team overall. We like Springs Valley as the sleeper here as they get the bye game and an easier opener against Evansville Day before a short turnaround to Saturday.
Best First Round Matchup: Wood Memorial vs. Northeast Dubois
Prediction: Wood Memorial
Sleeper: Springs Valley