Regional 14 Preview: Breakdown

Landon Bundy

February 28, 2021 @ 04:36 PM

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 53: North Miami The Teams: Lakeland Christian, North Miami, Northfield, Smith Academy, Southern Wells, Southwood Our Contenders: Southwood, Northfield, Lakeland Christian Player To Watch: Carson Rich (2021) - Southwood Prediction: Southwood comes into the Sectional as the clear favorite in Sectional 53, and they should have an easy road to the Sectional title game with games against Southern Wells and North Miami, who they beat by 32 during the regular season. On the other half of the draw, Lakeland Christian should get past Smith Academy, but Northfield will more than likely prove to be too much for the Cougars. If chalk holds as expected, Northfield will take on Southwood in a rematch of a great game from last weekend. Southwood won this game by 10 on their home court, and I think that Carson Rich, Dawson Filip, and Cole Winer will lead Southwood to their fourth Sectional title in five years.   Sectional 54: Attica The Teams: Attica, Clinton Central, Covington, Faith Christian, Lafayette Central Catholic, North Vermillion Our Contenders: Covington, Lafayette Central Catholic Player To Watch: [player_tooltip player_id="874216" first="Logan" last="Pinkerton"] (2021) - Covington Prediction: Last year, we were deprived of a thriller Sectional final matchup as Covington and LCC met up in the first round of the Sectional. This year, the draw worked out perfectly as both Covington and LCC received the bye and will meet in the Sectional finals. None of the other schools should be a factor here without a monumental upset and perfect performance that can happen in March. However, I am not expecting it. Covington beat Lafayette Central Catholic last season, 60-55, and this year, it is a complete coin-toss on who will come out on top. I am going to take Lafayette Central Catholic to get the win and avenge last year’s defeat in a playoff rivalry that we could see year after year in Sectional 54.   Sectional 55: Wes-Del The Teams: Anderson Prep Academy, Cowan, Daleville, Liberty Christian, Tri-Central, Wes-Del Our Contenders: Cowan, Liberty Christian, Tri-Central Player To Watch: [player_tooltip player_id="870284" first="Christian" last="Nunn"] (2022) - Liberty Christian Prediction: Liberty Christian should get past Wes-Del fairly easily, and Anderson Prep shouldn’t put up much of a fight either to put Liberty Christian in the Sectional title game. On the other side, Tri-Central should handle business against Daleville, but the game of the Sectional will probably be in this second semifinal between Cowan and Tri-Central. This game really could go either way, but I give a slight edge to Cowan thanks to the outstanding basketball that [player_tooltip player_id="874121" first="Riley" last="Duncan"] has been playing as of recent. In the Sectional finals, I have Liberty Christian taking home their first Sectional title since their string of six consecutive championships came to an end in 2018, thanks to a strong performance by [player_tooltip player_id="870284" first="Christian" last="Nunn"].   Sectional 56: Randolph Southern The Teams: Blue River, Randolph Southern, Seton Catholic, Tri, Union (Modoc), Union City Our Contenders: Blue River, Seton Catholic Player To Watch: [player_tooltip player_id="874138" first="Jacob" last="Moynihan"] (2021) - Seton Catholic Prediction: Blue River and Seton Catholic sit on opposite sides of the draw which could make for a great game on Saturday night. Neither Tri nor Union (Modoc) will be able to give [player_tooltip player_id="870281" first="Brevin" last="Hallatt"] and the Vikings a game on Friday which means that Blue River will be in their second straight Sectional finals game. After winning five straight Sectionals, Seton Catholic will look to avoid their third straight first-round exit from the Sectional tournament, but I wouldn’t expect them to be beaten by Randolph Southern or Union City this year which would put them in the Sectional finals. A Blue River vs. Seton Catholic championship game is what everyone wants from this Sectional. A matchup between [player_tooltip player_id="870281" first="Brevin" last="Hallatt"] and [player_tooltip player_id="874138" first="Jacob" last="Moynihan"] for the ultimate prize. I have Seton Catholic avenging last year’s defeat to win their first Sectional title in three years.