Sectional Preview: Lapel Regional

Kyler Staley February 25, 2022 @ 12:00 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. Time to take a look at the pairings that make up the Lapel Regional.   Sectional 37: Winamac Community The Teams: Rochester, Winamac, Delphi, North Newton, Rensselaer Central, Lewis Cass Our Contenders: Lewis Cass, Rensselaer Central, North Newton Player To Watch: [player_tooltip player_id="1273739" first="Tyson" last="Good"] (2023) - Lewis Cass Prediction: If we are being honest here, with this being such a weak Sectional, pretty much any team besides Delphi could win this one. Lewis Cass is the only team with an above .500 record at the moment and they probably have the toughest route to the finals with having to go through Rochester before facing off with a 10-10 North Newton team. On the other side of the bracket, Rensselaer Central should be the favorite to make it to the finals there as they have a bye and will play the winner of Winamac/Delphi, which will more than likely be Winamac. In the finals, you should see Lewis Cass vs Rensselaer Central with Lewis Cass as the victor winning their Sectional since the 2013-14 season.   Sectional 38: Western Boone The Teams: Western Boone, Rossville, Clinton Prairie, Seeger, Carroll (Flora), Fountain Central Our Contenders: Clinton Prairie, Carroll (Flora) Player To Watch: [player_tooltip player_id="1391325" first="Owen" last="Duff"] (2023) - Carroll (Flora) Prediction: The two favorites, Clinton Prairie and Carroll (Flora), are on opposite sides of the bracket which surely means we are on track to see them in the Sectional 38 finals. However, Clinton Prairie does have a tough road to the finals once they get passed host Western Boone with 11-10 Rossville waiting for them in the semis. Rossville will be a challenge for sure but Clinton Prairie should be able to get passed them. Carroll (Flora) on the bottom side of the bracket has a much easier route with not only having a bye but guaranteed to play a team with a .500 record or below. Once in the finals, I believe Carroll (Flora) will get it done because I am predicting big games from both Duff and [player_tooltip player_id="1391465" first="Jake" last="Skinner"].   Sectional 39: Tipton The Teams: Tipton, Blackford, Madison-Grant, Eastbrook, Taylor, Sheridan Our Contenders: Tipton, Madison-Grant, Taylor Player To Watch: [player_tooltip player_id="1158205" first="Nolan" last="Swan"] - (2024) - Tipton Prediction: This Sectional is filled with 3 very sneaky good teams that could make a deeper run in the post-season if they come out of Sectional 39. The first thing that immediately stands out to me is the opening round matchup between Tipton and Taylor. Whoever wins that will surely get passed Sheridan in the semis. On the other side, [player_tooltip player_id="1149965" first="Jase" last="Howell"] and Madison-Grant have slightly easier path to the finals with having to go through Blackford and Eastbrook, two teams that the Argylls have already beaten this year. The key factor in this the health of Tipton cause if 2023 G [player_tooltip player_id="868266" first="Connor" last="Hussong"] is available to go cause if he is that is a huge outside threat for them. Either way, Tipton has an incredible 1-2 punch of Swan and [player_tooltip player_id="1180867" first="Samuel" last="Ridgeway"]. If Tipton can survive Taylor, they are my pick here. If not, Madison-Grant gets it done.   Sectional 40: Alexandria Monroe The Teams: Alexandria Monroe, Frankton, Lapel, Elwood, Wapahani, Winchester, Monroe Central Our Contenders: Monroe Central, Winchester, Wapahani, Lapel Player To Watch: [player_tooltip player_id="870304" first="Jackson" last="Ullom"] (2022) - Monroe Central Prediction: [player_tooltip player_id="1275901" first="Adam" last="Moore"] and Winchester may have been the only team to technically get a bye, but the undefeated Monroe Central basically got one with their opening round game against 1-20 Elwood. The other two opening round matchups consist of host Alexandria taking on Lapel and Frankton vs Wapahani. Layden Bair and Lapel should easily get pass Alexandria but Wapahani will be in for a fight vs Frankton, but the Raiders should advance. That sets up two very solid semi games of Winchester vs Lapel and Monroe Central vs Wapahani. Both will be a very tough battle but I like Monroe Central and Lapel, after upsetting Winchester, to advance to the finals where Monroe Central continues their undefeated season with a Sectional 40 win.