Regional 16 Preview: Breakdown

Landon Bundy

March 1, 2021 @ 01:55 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 61: Borden The Teams: Borden, Christian Academy, Lanesville, New Washington, Rock Creek Academy, South Central (Elizabeth) Our Contenders: Borden, Lanesville, Rock Creek Academy Player To Watch: Mason Miller (2021) - Lanesville Prediction: This Sectional could be won by any of the three teams mentioned above as they all split their season series. In the first round, Christian Academy takes on Rock Creek, and although Christian Academy won during the regular season, I think Rock Creek will avenge their loss on a neutral court. Then, Borden should sneak past the previous winners, Rock Creek, to make their first Sectional title game since 2018. On the other side of the bracket, Lanesville should cruise by New Washington and South Central (Elizabeth) to make the Sectional finals. Rock Creek beat Lanesville during the regular season, but I expect Lanesville to be able to come back and win it on a neutral court for just their second Sectional title in the past seven years.   Sectional 62: West Washington The Teams: Crothersville, Edinburgh, Medora, Shawe Memorial, Trinity Lutheran, West Washington Our Contenders: Edinburgh, West Washington Player To Watch: [player_tooltip player_id="935747" first="Caleb" last="Dewey"] (2023) - Edinburgh Prediction: Edinburgh comes in as the clear favorite being ranked #7 in the AP poll, and they really could not have gotten a much better draw. They got the bye on the bottom of the bracket and will play the winner of Trinity Lutheran and Crothersville. Trinity Lutheran should win it, but neither of these times will be able to compete with Edinburgh on Friday night. On the top of the bracket, West Washington should cruise past Shawe Memorial and Medora who have a combined record of 4-33 this season. This would give us a title game between Edinburgh and West Washington. Edinburgh beat West Washington by 28 earlier in the season, and although the home court will help a little bit, I don’t expect anyone to compete with Edinburgh this season.   Sectional 63: North Daviess The Teams: Barr-Reeve, Loogootee, North Daviess, Orleans, Shoals, Washington Catholic Our Contenders: Barr-Reeve, Loogootee, North Daviess Player To Watch: [player_tooltip player_id="874148" first="Silas" last="Bauer"] (2021) - Loogootee Prediction: In probably the second-best Sectional in the state of Indiana, four top ten teams collide at North Daviess: #1 Barr-Reeve, #2 Loogootee, #4 North Daviess, and #10 Orleans. The draw really couldn’t have worked out much better for these four teams as well. Barr-Reeve and Orleans should cruise past Washington Catholic and Shoals in the first round which will set up the best Friday night in the state. #2 Loogootee will take on #10 Orleans, and #1 Barr-Reeve will take on the host, #4 North Daviess. Loogootee should be in full control of the first game as they beat Orleans by 31 during the regular season. In the second game, I would expect an instant classic. Barr-Reeve and North Daviess played to a one-point contest at North Daviess in the middle of January, and I won’t think that this game will be any different. I can’t pick against Barr-Reeve, but I would not be surprised if the Cougars pulled it out. No matter, the winner of this game immediately has a difficult matchup with Loogootee in the Sectional finals. Loogootee beat North Daviess by 2 in overtime, and Barr-Reeve beat Loogootee by 3 during the season. Any of these three teams could win this Sectional and nobody would be surprised. I know this is a bold statement, but I believe the winner of the 1A State Championship will be the winner of Sectional 63.   Sectional 64: Wood Memorial The Teams: Cannelton, Evansville Day, Northeast Dubois, Springs Valley, Vincennes Rivet, Wood Memorial Our Contenders: Evansville Day, Northeast Dubois, Springs Valley Player To Watch: Tyler Myers (2023) - Evansville Day Prediction: Evansville Day will have to win two tough games over Northeast Dubois and Springs Valley to reach the Sectional title game, but I fully expect the Eagles to be able to get through these tough tasks and reach the finals. On the other half of the draw, Wood Memorial should get past Cannelton fairly easily, but Vincennes Rivet could make a run at them in the semifinals round. Nevertheless, it won’t make much of a difference as the winner from the bottom half of the draw with Evansville Day being the obvious choice.