Sectional Preview: 2A North
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 33: Lake Station…
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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 33: Lake Station
Champion Prediction: Andrean
Andrean has been the team all year long that has looked the best and has been tested against top teams from all over the state. They are 13-8 overall but 3-1 against 2A teams and 2-0 against Sectional opponents. They get a very difficult draw with Noll and Lake Station but they do have the ability to dominate inside and have enough shooters to get hot down the stretch to win games.
Sleeper Pick: Hammond Noll
Noll is a team that has the same terrible draw as Andrean but they have the wins this season that prove they can beat good teams and they also have played Andrean tight before, only losing by 5 points. Would be a real sleeper to make it through but they could be looking at a 5-game winning streak heading into the postseason.
Best (Potential) Matchup: Andrean vs. Lake Station
These are the two best teams in this Sectional and would be battling it out on Friday night, possibly. They haven’t played each other this season but Lake Station has been solid only being beat by double-digits one time. Andrean would have the advantage heading in with talent but Lake Station getting a full week or so to game plan with their bye game is very helpful.
Sectional 34: Winamac
Champion Prediction: Winamac
Winamac has been great this year, going to 16-4 with some solid wins a a few tough tests. They beat Plymouth, Marquette Catholic, Manchester, and Pioneer already this season. They are keeping games tight and low scoring and that tends to do better in March. They were able to do that against Marquette Catholic the first time around so it stands to reason they could do it again.
Sleeper Pick: Hebron
Hebron is only 8-11 but they already hold wins over the two teams they would possibly face in the semifinal round as they drew the bye game on the bottom half of the bracket. They also have not yet had to play Marquette. They could easily get to the Championship game and be full strength on Saturday with the chance to play a team they haven’t played yet. Deep sleeper but best option here.
Best (Potential) Matchup: Marquette Catholic vs. Winamac
The matchup you want to see here is Marquette vs. Winamac. Both teams have had great seasons and while Marquette is the team with more recent success, Winamac beat them early in they year and has been excellent all around. A rematch between these two teams could be fun as they are both deserving of moving into the second weekend.
Sectional 35: Westview
Champion Prediction: Westview
While Westview had a four-game losing streak in the middle of the year, they tested themselves and it gave us a great idea at just how good this team is. Those games against Warsaw, Center Grove, Valparaiso, and East Noble were difficult but they were in each on them and scored the ball well. Outside of that stretch, they took care of business and are ready to go make a run at a State Championship.
Sleeper Pick: Prairie Heights
Being on the opposite side of the bracket as Westview gives them some time to wrap their heads around things but also their first game is relatively easy with Bremen. This is also a team that has played a solid schedule and has amassed 15 wins already this season. LaVille is a team we still are not sure how good they are and if they aren’t that great, then they might be able to make it to Saturday.
Best (Potential) Matchup: LaVille vs. Westview
This is the matchup you want to see because these are two teams that have the best records but one team was tested more than the other. We know what Westview is a bit more and LaVille we are still unsure of. They have a good win against South Bend St. Joseph but not sure if that is enough to tell us. This will tell us which is team is really ready for the tournament.
Sectional 36: Eastside
Champion Prediction: Adams Central
Adams Central has the best record at 12-10 and while they have had an easier route than some of the other teams, they do have a win over Canterbury and if somehow they don’t get Churubusco, they should be fin to get to the next round. This isn’t a super secure pick here as you could make an argument for 3-4 teams but this is the best season to this point so it’s the pick.
Sleeper Pick: Churubusco
Not really the definition of a sleeper pick but kind of fits this season as they are below .500 right now. They have a nice path to Saturday and already have a key win over Adams Central this year. They have a lead guard that knows how to score and win and that matters quite a bit in March. Give them the path and momentum and they could find themselves into the next round.
Best (Potential) Matchup: Fort Wayne Canterbury vs. Churubusco
This is a matchup for obvious reasons that could be fun. But these two teams have had down years in a way but should and could be much better. This would end up being for a Sectional Championship and it is perfectly plausible by the way the draw happened with Busco getting a much easier path and Canterbury has been tested quite a bit more than Adams Central so these teams are probably closer than at 15 point win Adams Central had on them early in the year. Give me these two and it would be entertaining.
Sectional 37: Oak Hill
Champion Prediction: Wabash
Wabash has been very good this season, surprising a lot of people. They are 16-4 this year and drew a very good path avoiding Manchester until Saturday. With North Miami and Oak Hill waiting, these are two teams they have beaten already. This even could be a team that ends up making it deeper than just the first week.
Sleeper Pick: Oak Hill
Oak Hill is a team in rebuild from a loaded senior class a season ago. However, they are 8-12 but with an 6-5 record after the new year. They are gaining some momentum and have had a tough schedule. Add in the fact that they got the bye game and only lost to Wabash by 10 points in the first game of the season and it is a sleeper pick for sure but one that could happen.
Best (Potential) Matchup: Wabash vs. Manchester
Manchester and Wabash are the clear cut two best teams in the Sectional and this will be a rematch game that lines up on Saturday for the Championship. If this happens, Manchester will have to overcome their earlier loss by 16 points. Wabash has been very good this season but Manchester has been a little more tested. If they can catch a groove and keep the game at a lower score, this could be a fun one.
Sectional 38: Delphi
Champion Prediction: Covington
Covington has had a very underrated year now sitting at 18-3 overall. They are 9-0 against 2A teams and 6-0 against their Sectional. That is what you want if you are making a prediction for a winner. They have been a team capable of really scoring the ball, putting up 100 this year in a game against Delphi. Their draw is tough but if they are as good as their record indicates, they should find themselves moving into the second phase of the tournament.
Sleeper Pick: Rossville
Rossville is an interesting team as they have a great record in 17-3 but don’t have a great win this year. Their toughest games ended in a loss but were to really good teams like Central Catholic, Harrison, and Northwestern. There was not many in-betweens here. So, they could be a really solid team and their path is pretty setup with Delphi followed by Seeger and only having to play one of Clinton Prairie or Covington.
Best (Potential) Matchup: Covington vs. Clinton Prairie
This should be a fun game. Last year, Clinton Prairie had one of their best teams that finished at 20-4 but were knocked out by Covington. Clinton Prairie has had to deal with Central Catholic in their Sectional for so long, Covington by default seems like an easier path and it has been since 1982 when they last won a Sectional. This should have more fire in it than ever before.
Sectional 39: Eastern-Greentown
Champion Prediction: Tipton
Tipton is 16-3 and started off the year really well knocking off Frankton and Western. They picked up some “bad” losses to Westfield, Northwestern, and Hamilton Heights but obviously none that stand out. They have a pretty balanced draw here and if they can get past the first game, things should get easier in the second round to let them save up energy for Saturday night.
Sleeper Pick: Alexandria
Alexandria lost their best player in Avery Paddock early in the year but they have done nothing to show they can’t win games. They are 13-7 and while some might overlook them, this team still has enough weapons to do damage in March. They do have to play Eastern (Greentown) in the first game but they have already beaten them this year. They have gone 7-5 since the Paddock in jury with wins over Lapel, Eastern (Greentown), and Liberty Christian. They have found ways to win this year.
Best (Potential) Matchup: Madison-Grant vs. Tipton
This is a game where they haven’t played each other this year but both teams have things going for it. Tipton is the better team on paper at 16-3 and have been dominant against teams in 2A this year. However, Madison-Grant has played spoiler a ton this year beating Wabash, Blackford, Eastern-Greentown, and Alexandria. Could they do it again?
Sectional 40: Elwood
Champion Prediction: Frankton
Frankton is 18-3 and had a pretty rough start to the year. I’m not sure they have really put it all together this season but they have won 12 straight games and might have a 14 game winning streak heading into the postseason based on their two games this week. They did lose to Lapel earlier in the year but they are coached well and have veteran, senior talent. Could be late March before someone knocks them out.
Sleeper Pick: Wapahani
Wapahani is the obvious pick here. They have kind of been third-string behind Lapel and Frankton but have really been just as good but without the obvious state-title run. Wapahani is 14-5 this season with a win over Lapel and a 3-point loss to Frankton. Since 2010-11, Wapahani only has one season with less than 17 wins. Just saying, this might be a team to watch here.
Best (Potential) Matchup: Frankton vs. Lapel
Like every other year, the matchup everyone wants to see is Frankton and Lapel. These two teams win State Championships and come from the same Sectional so it bares to reason that they will likely see each other again this year as both have been solid. Lapel has had a little rougher of a time but they did beat Frankton earlier in the year. In this game, anything can happen.