Regional 13 Preview: Breakdown

Landon Bundy

February 28, 2021 @ 10:47 AM

The high school season is almost over and we are getting locked in for the State Playoffs. It is that time of year where we start looking ahead and previewing each and every Sectional. We begin today at the top.   Sectional 49: Kouts The Teams: Covenant Christian (DeMotte), Gary 21st Century, Hammond Science & Tech, Kouts, Morgan Township, Washington Township Our Contenders: Kouts, Gary 21st Century Player To Watch: [player_tooltip player_id="963914" first="Cole" last="Wireman"] (2021) - Kouts Prediction: Kouts comes into the Sectional a clear favorite to make a run to State from the Northern half, and they should roll over Hammond Science & Tech in the first round. In the semis, they will have a tough test with Morgan Township, and despite the talent on Morgan Township’s roster, Kouts will be too much. On the other half of the bracket, Gary 21st Century couldn’t have asked for a better draw. Washington Township should take down Covenant with ease, and then Gary 21st shouldn’t have a problem with Washington Township. This will set up a clash between Kouts and Gary 21st in the finals, and Kouts was able to knock off the Cougars 68-67 just last week. This could really be a pick-em game between these two powerhouses, but Kouts is led by four seniors who know how to win basketball games which makes it hard to pick against Kouts winning just their second Sectional title in the last 20 years.   Sectional 50: Culver The Teams: Argos, Culver, LaCrosse, Oregon-Davis, Triton, West Central Our Contenders: Argos, Triton Player To Watch: J.J. Morris (2023) - Argos Prediction: The favorites, Argos and Triton, should roll through their first-round matchups with LaCrosse and West Central. Both of them should continue to roll in the semis as well with matchups with Culver and Oregon-Davis. This will be Triton's sixth Sectional title in seven years, and Argos will make their third consecutive. Argos beat Triton 51-39 earlier in the season, and I would expect them to take home the Sectional title for the third consecutive year in a row.   Sectional 51: Bethany Christian The Teams: Bethany Christian, Elkhart Christian, Fremont, Hamilton, Lakewood Park Our Contenders: Bethany Christian, Elkhart Christian, Fremont Player To Watch: Beck Willems (2022) - Bethany Christian Prediction: Fremont is the favorite to win the Sectional, and they really couldn't have asked for a better draw. They got the bye at the bottom of the draw, and they take on the winners of Lakewood Park and Hamilton. They should roll through this one to reach the Sectional finals. The Bethany Christian-Elkhart Christian game should be a close game down to the wire, but I am going to give Bethany Christian the edge thanks to the home-court advantage. This will be the first Sectional finals appearance since 2009 for the Bruins. In the finals, I am going to give the edge to Fremont to win the Sectional, but this game could really go either way. Fremont hasn't won a Sectional since 2005 and Bethany Christian since 2009, so whichever way this game goes, it will be a huge accomplishment for the school.   Sectional 52: Tri-County The Teams: Caston, Frontier, North White, Pioneer, South Newton, Tri-County Our Contenders: Caston, North White, Pioneer Player To Watch: Hunter Pogue (2022) - North White Prediction: North White is the only team in this Sectional that comes in with a winning record, and they are the favorites to take home the title. On the top of the draw, Caston should get through their first two games with South Newton and Tri-County fairly easily to make the Sectional finals for the second straight year. Frontier and Pioneer is really a toss-up game on the other side of the bracket, but North White should be able to beat either one to advance to the Sectional finals. North White beat everyone in the Sectional this season by double-digits, and I can't see them falling in the Sectional this year. I expect North White to win their first Sectional since 2014 and just their second since 1984.