Sectional Preview: 1A South
Now that the Sectional draw has taken place this past weekend, we are ready to preview each Sectional heading into next week and the beginning of the playoffs. Here is our breakdown for each Semistate pod. Sectional 57: Clay City…
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Continue ReadingNow that the Sectional draw has taken place this past weekend, we are ready to preview each Sectional heading into next week and the beginning of the playoffs. Here is our breakdown for each Semistate pod.
Sectional 57: Clay City
Champion Prediction: Bloomfield
Bloomfield is the far better team in this Sectional with a 15-6 record and 6-0 against Sectional opponents. They are 7-1 against 1A teams with their only loss to Vincennes Rivet early in the season. They are a team that is playing a little more slowed down of an offense at times, holding opponents to 43.6 points per game and that has seemed to be good for them. They drew the toughest possible draw on paper having to play Eminence and then Clay City but neither is extremely difficult and they should be able to get through and possible beyond the next weekend as well.
Sleeper Pick: Clay City
Clay City is the one team here that has some things on it side. First off, they get a bye game and know they will like face Bloomfield so they can prep pretty well for them. They are 10-13 this year and have won 5 of their last 6 games. They have also played Bloomfield once this year and stayed with them until the final minute, losing by just 3 points.
Best (Potential) Matchup: Bloomfield vs. Clay City
With the lack of options, Bloomfield and Clay City seems to be the easy pick for the best matchup. They would take on each other on Friday night and this was the closest game against a Sectional opponent that Bloomfield had in the regular season. While this has the potential to be a blow out because of how good Bloomfield is, there is a decent chance here on paper for Clay City to pull an upset.
Sectional 58: University
Champion Prediction: University
University has been ranked amongst the best teams in the state all year long and at 19-4, they have proven just how good they are playing a really tough schedule. They get a nice draw and avoid the two other decent teams in the Sectional until the Championship game. This is a team that should be able to get through this weekend and make a run to downtown at Bankers Life. That is their kind of upside this year.
Sleeper Pick: Traders Point
Traders Point is an odd pick here at 11-10 on the year but they are surprisingly solid. They are 5-1 against Sectional opponents with their only loss to University. They are 10-2 against 1A opponents. They get a nice draw with Indiana Math & Science up first and then likely Metro waiting in the wings. This is a team that is just good enough to beat you and if they can get their offense going, having scored over 70 points in a few games this year, they could be able to outrun tougher teams.
Best (Potential) Matchup: University vs. Indianapolis Metropolitan
This is the best matchup to look forward to. Metro is a surprisingly good team that has had a bad stretch in the middle of the season but their upside is plenty good enough to beat a team like University. Metro is 12-8 on the season and they have beaten teams like Park Tudor and Cardinal Ritter. This would be for a Sectional Championship and be a really good test for both teams.
Sectional 59: Indianapolis Lutheran
Champion Prediction: Greenwood Christian
This is a Sectional that doesn’t have many secure picks. It is kind of wide open and no dominant teams so really anything can happen. Greenwood Christian has played a difficult schedule, more difficult than this Sectional so they seem like as good of a pick as any of them. They also have the easiest draw so getting to Saturday seems likely.
Sleeper Pick: Indianapolis Tindley
Tindley is the one to watch for here. Their record isn’t great but they have been tested as well and if they can make it past Greenwood Christian, which isn’t unreasonable, they should have a very solid chance on Friday and then anything can happen on Saturday.
Best (Potential) Matchup: Greenwood Christian vs. Central Christian
These are probably the best two teams in this Sectional and it would line up to be a Sectional Championship. Greenwood Christian beat them but just narrowly in the regular season. Tough to know how good Central Christian is with their schedule this year but they are 17-6. If this is the matchup on Saturday, it looks like it should be a close one on paper.
Sectional 60: Southwestern (Shelbyville)
Champion Prediction: Oldenburg Academy
You could probably go either way here between Oldenburg and Morristown but Oldenburg does have an advantage as they have already beaten them this year. Oldenburg has been pretty consistent this year and while they have to play Hauser and Jac-Cen-Del likely, they are 4-0 against Sectional teams and 8-0 against 1A teams overall.
Sleeper Pick: Southwestern (Shelbyville)
There are two clear cut leaders here so the easiest pick as a sleeper is a team that has some sort of an advantage. Southwestern (Shelbyville) has two of them. They are not only playing on their home floor but they also get the bye game. They need some luck as they were blowout by Morristown earlier in the year but if they can get some help they are golden.
Best (Potential) Matchup: Oldenburg Academy vs. Morristown
This is the matchup that is pretty likely but also should be really good. These two teams played earlier in the season and Oldenburg won, 64-47. That isn’t going to be the score this time around based on how well Morristown has been playing. This game would be for the Sectional Championship so expect the best from both teams. Morristown’s time was last year and they graduated some key guys but can they make one more run?
Sectional 61: Borden
Champion Prediction: Christian Academy
Christian Academy has really come on late this season winning 7 straight games and is 15-7 overall Their games earlier in the year that they lost all came against non-1A team including Floyd Central, Paoli, Southridge, and Jeffersonville. They played some big school teams and have been tested. They have also beaten the next toughest team in the Sectional by 7 points. They also get a bye game. Everything is setup for them to make their run.
Sleeper Pick: Lanesville
Lanesville has had a really solid season but with a stretch in the middle that really hurt them. They have, however, been better as of late and have also taken care of business against the lesser three teams in the Sectional. They also get a bye game here and would get South Central (Elizabeth) or Rock Creek first.
Best (Potential) Matchup: Christian Academy vs. South Central (Elizabeth)
This is the matchup of not only the two best teams but also would pair up with the Sectional Championship on Saturday. The odds are stacked more against South Central but they have been pretty solid this year winning 15 games. They would need to overcome some things but they have also been great down the stretch winning 8 of their last 9 games.
Sectional 62: West Washington
Champion Prediction: Crothersville
Crothersville comes into this Sectional winning 13 games but losing 10. They aren’t a dominant team this year but in this Sectional, they are. They are 6-0 against Sectional opponents beating each at least one time and Trinity Lutheran twice. They get them first up and then have a 10-12 Edinburgh team waiting. This is also the only team in this Sectional that is above .500 this year.
Sleeper Pick: West Washington
While they are going to need some help, West Washington sits in a great spot as they got the bye game and will only have to face 3-18 Shawe Memorial or 4-19 Medora. So, getting to Saturday is the easy part. They need to see anyone other than Crothersville and they have a great chance to pull the upset.
Best (Potential) Matchup: Edinburgh vs. Crothersville
These are the two best teams in the Sectional by record but also by schedule and their wins. Also, Edinburgh was also able to keep things pretty close the first game, close enough to give them some hope the second time around. They also get a bye game and should be prepared and fully rested heading into a potential Friday matchup.
Sectional 63: Loogootee
Champion Prediction: Barr-Reeve
Barr-Reeve is having a dominant season, going 21-2 so far. They are also 5-0 against their Sectional opponents, beating each one once and 9-1 against 1A teams with their only loss to Blackhawk Christian who has really been the only team better than them all year long. This Sectional is set for them to take it over this season.
Sleeper Pick: Loogootee
There is only one team in this Sectional that has the history and opportunity to upset a very strong Barr-Reeve team and that is Loogootee. They are the team that not only played them the closest in the Sectional but have played them 5 times in the last three season already and have been very close, single digits every time. Might not be having their best year but they are still in the best shape.
Best (Potential) Matchup: Barr-Reeve vs. Shoals
For the Jug Rox, this is a chance to change their future. For Shoals, this is their first winning season since 1996-97 and they are hoping to get a second chance against powerhouse Barr-Reeve. While this was a 27-point win the first time around for Barr-Reeve, there is some pride for Shoals in this possible rematch and it would take place for Saturday and a Sectional Championship, something Shoals has never done before. The storylines alone are worth the draw.
Sectional 64: Wood Memorial
Champion Prediction: Springs Valley
Springs Valley is 17-6 and working on back-to-back great years. They got to Regionals last year but fell to Barr-Reeve. They are setup with a bye game and Wood Memorial first. This is a great draw for them and with their domination of the Sectional this season, going 4-0 beating each team once, they shouldn’t have a terrible time getting through unless they get in their own way.
Sleeper Pick: Evansville Day
Evansville Day isn’t a great team at 9-11 but they do have a matchup problem that people will have to figure out in Noah Hupmann. The 7-footer is a guy that can go out and get a double-double anytime he wants and can change things inside. They also get a bye game and so if they can get through their first game on Friday, they might be able to trip Springs Valley up.
Best (Potential) Matchup: Wood Memorial vs. Evansville Day
The reason for this pick is mainly because it would have signaled all heck is breaking loose. These two teams are both under .500 but have a handful of interesting wins. We detail why Day could be in the finals and if Wood Memorial could get past Springs Valley, this would be a very, very interesting result based on how it would effect the Regional rounds.