Sectional Preview: New Castle Regional

Kyler Staley February 23, 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 New Castle Regional.   Sectional 21: Wawasee The Teams: NorthWood, Lakeland, West Noble, Tippecanoe Valley, Wawasee Our Contenders: NorthWood, West Noble, Tippecanoe Valley Player To Watch: [player_tooltip player_id="1226596" first="Cade" last="Brenner"] (2023) - NorthWood Prediction: This is arguably the most bottom heavy draw in any 3A Sectional with NorthWood getting a bye and West Noble and Tippecanoe Valley facing off with each other in the opening round. NorthWood getting a bye here is a huge advantage because they are arguably the best team in this Sectional. The West Noble and Tippecanoe Valley is going to be a battle and it honestly going to come down to which 2023 prospect is going to have the better game between [player_tooltip player_id="1272950" first="Nolan" last="Cumberland"] and [player_tooltip player_id="1158635" first="Austin" last="Cripe"]. Going to go with West Noble here to advance to the semis before falling to NorthWood. Once NorthWood advances to the finals, expect an easy win over host Wawasee as the Panthers win their 3rd straight Sectional.   Sectional 22: Garrett The Teams: Leo, Fort Wayne Concordia, Woodlan, Garrett, Fort Wayne Luers, Angola, Fort Wayne Dwenger Our Contenders: Leo, Woodlan, Fort Wayne Dwenger, Fort Wayne Concordia Player To Watch: [player_tooltip player_id="870232" first="Caedmon" last="Bontrager"] (2022) - Leo Prediction: At first glance at this bracket, [player_tooltip player_id="870237" first="Luke" last="LaGrange"] and Leo got the best draw by far as they have an easy path to the finals only having to go through a poor Angola and Fort Wayne Luers team. The bottom half of the bracket is where things get a little more challenging to pick. Concordia got a good opening draw vs host Garrett, which they should win but the best game in Sectional 22 that opening round will be [player_tooltip player_id="870234" first="Joe" last="Reidy"] and Woodlan vs [player_tooltip player_id="1049161" first="Preston" last="Ross"] and Fort Wayne Dwenger. I like Woodlan to not only escape from Dwenger but to beat Concordia in the semis for a meetup with Leo, who they will actually play on 2/25 this week. Should get a better understanding of how Woodlan matches up with the loaded Leo team but until proven wrong, Leo is the team to beat in Sectional 22.   Sectional 23: Norwell The Teams: Mississinewa, Norwell, Oak Hill, Eastern (Greentown), Bellmont, Heritage Our Contenders: Norwell, Oak Hill, Bellmont Player To Watch: [player_tooltip player_id="935745" first="Luke" last="McBride"] (2023) - Norwell Prediction: Only fitting that the host Norwell gets the best draw here. In the opening round, the Knights will play a poor Heritage team before going onto the semis to face an Eastern (Greentown) team will give them a slight challenge but should ultimately defeat. The favorite of the bottom half is the 16-4 Oak Hill Golden Eagles who will likely play Bellmont after they defeat Mississinewa. Oak Hill and Norwell are destine to meetup in the finals for a rematch from there Dec. 2nd battle which saw Norwell win 47-35. Just like the outcome this past December, Norwell will win this one as well.   Sectional 24: New Castle The Teams: New Castle, Hamilton Heights, Yorktown, Delta, Jay County, Muncie Burris Our Contenders: New Castle, Jay County, Delta Player To Watch: [player_tooltip player_id="1158184" first="Jack" last="Wors"] (2024) - Delta Prediction: Kind of like Sectional 21, this one is another lopsided bracket in Class 3A with New Castle, Jay County, and Hamilton Heights all on the top half. The winner of Sectional 24 will likely be decided by whoever wins the [player_tooltip player_id="1160379" first="Trey" last="Miller"] and New Castle vs Jay County opening round game. Feel like the home court advantage will help push New Castle not only past Jay County but will get them all the way to the finals after they beat Hamilton Heights in the semis. As far as the bottom half, that really is Delta’s side to lose and Yorktown and Muncie Burris two very beatable teams. That sets up solid clash between New Castle and Delta and I think with an even more fired up Trojan fanbase in attendance, they will be able to win their 2nd straight Sectional championship.