Regional 3 Preview: Breakdown
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. Time to take a look at…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingThe 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. Time to take a look at the pairings that make up Regional 3.
Sectional 9: Richmond
The Teams: Pendleton Heights, Muncie, Anderson, Mount Vernon (Fortville), Richmond, New Palestine, Greenfield
Our Contenders: Mount Vernon (Fortville), New Palestine, Greenfield
Player To Watch: Will VanDuyn Will VanDuyn 6'1" | SG Greenfield-Central | 2021 State IN (2021)
Prediction: Three teams standout in this one with those teams being Mount Vernon (Fortville), New Palestine, and Greenfield. Mount Vernon got the favorable draw here with them facing a beatable Richmond team in the opening round. However, New Palestine and Greenfield will go at each other right away and the winner of that one will more than likely go on to face Mount Vernon. The pick for the Sectional 9 winner is New Palestine here. They have already beaten both Greenfield and Mount Vernon and if Steele Brasfield Steele Brasfield 6'5" | SF New Palestine | 2022 State IN gets going they will be tough to beat. New Palestine will for sure have the toughest road to get to the finals and will probably meet Anderson there.
Sectional 10: Arsenal Tech
The Teams: North Central, Crispus Attucks, Arsenal Tech, Cathedral, Lawrence North, Lawrence Central, Warren Central
Our Contenders: Crispus Attucks, Cathedral, Lawrence North, Warren Central
Player To Watch: Jalen Hooks Jalen Hooks 6'6" | SF Warren Central | 2023 State #282 Nation IN (2023)
Prediction: Can you even pick a for sure winner in this one? This is without question the most stacked Sectional in the state and not one other can even compare. Every team in Sectional 10 has a chance in this one but realistically only 4 teams have a legit shot. Attucks got the best draw here as they face Tech in the opening round before going on to face North Central in semi-finals. Expect Attucks to be one of the teams in the Sectional Finals as on the other side of the bracket it is a legit toss-up almost. Warren Central goes up against Lawrence Central, which they should beat, but you also have the huge game of Lawrence North vs Cathedral opening things up on Tuesday. It will for sure be a classic of an opening round but I expect Lawrence North to go on to face Warren Central and beating them as well. Then you will have the huge final matchup between Attucks and North and I believe both DJ Hughes DJ Hughes 6'8" | PF Lawrence North | 2021 State #219 Nation IN and Chris Gunn Chris Gunn 6'5" | SG Lawrence North | 2022 State #114 Nation IN will carry North to another Sectional Championship.
Sectional 11: Decatur Central
The Teams: Ben Davis, Roncalli, Southport, Decatur Central, Pike, Perry Meridian
Our Contenders: Ben Davis, Pike, Perry Meridian
Player To Watch: Ryan Conwell Ryan Conwell 6'2" | SG Pike | 2022 State #155 Nation IN (2022)
Prediction: This Sectional is pretty loaded with talent and really comes down to three teams, Ben Davis, Pike, and Perry Meridian. Ben Davis easily has the best draw in this one with their bye and they will face the winner of the of Roncalli (8-12) and Southport (3-15) game. The bottom part of the bracket is a little more competitive with two of the favorites, Pike and Perry Meridian, facing off in the opening round where the winner will face Decatur Central in the semis. Going to go with a slight upset here with Pike over Perry Meridian and then going on to beat Decatur Central. So expect Ben Davis vs Pike in the Sectional Final where Pike’s loaded roster of Edward Jones Edward Jones 6'5" | PF Indianapolis Pike | 2021 State IN , Justin Dobbins Justin Dobbins 6'6" | PF Indianapolis Pike | 2021 State IN , Ryan Conwell Ryan Conwell 6'2" | SG Pike | 2022 State #155 Nation IN , J.J. Louden Jr. and others will carry them to a second straight Sectional title.
Sectional 12: Avon
The Teams: Terre Haute South, Mooresville, Brownsburg, Avon, Terre Haute North, Plainfield
Our Contenders: Brownsburg, Terre Haute North, Plainfield
Player To Watch: Pierce Thomas Pierce Thomas 6'5" | SG Brownsburg | 2021 State #153 Nation IN (2021)
Prediction: Brownsburg and Terre Haute North may be slight contenders but this is Plainfield’s Sectional to lose. Plainfield has been in the top 5-10 all season long and just came off a streak where they won 17 straight. Matt Gauer Matt Gauer 6'5" | PF Terre Haute North | 2021 State IN Terre Haute North will put up a tough fight in the opening round but in the end Plainfield should beat them and then blow right past Avon in the semis. One the other side of the bracket the opening game of Brownsburg and Mooresville should be a fun one but Pierce Thomas Pierce Thomas 6'5" | SG Brownsburg | 2021 State #153 Nation IN will probably be too much for the Pioneers to handle. Brownsburg should then blow past Terre Haute South in the semis where they will meet Plainfield in the finals. There, you should see Ian Scott Ian Scott 6'7" | PF Plainfield | 2021 State IN and Plainfield beat Brownsburg in close battle.