Sectional Preview: Washington Regional
In this article:
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 the Washington Regional.
Sectional 29: Connersville
The Teams: South Dearborn, Franklin County, Lawrenceburg, Connersville, Rushville, Greensburg, Batesville
Our Contenders: South Dearborn, Franklin County, Lawrenceburg, Connersville, Greensburg
Player To Watch: Colin Comer Colin Comer 6'4" | SG Greensburg | 2022 State IN (2022) – Greensburg
Prediction: Bedsides Rushville and Batesville, this Sectional could very well be wide open now. Eli Hoffman Eli Hoffman 6'1" | SG South Dearborn | 2022 State IN and South Dearborn got the advantage with the bye and will very likely play Jackson Bobo Jackson Bobo 6'8" | PF Lawrenceburg | 2022 State IN and Lawrenceburg in the semis after they beat Rushville. Other opening round games will feature Franklin County vs Batesville and without question the biggest game of Sectional 29 between Greensburg and Connersville. Chad Cox Chad Cox 6'4" | SF Franklin County | 2022 State IN and Franklin County should get past Batesville but it will be a battle between Greensburg and Connersville and due to homecourt advantage, got to give the edge to the Spartans just a little bit here. In the semis, expecting Lawrenceburg to fight past South Dearborn and Connersville having a slightly easier win over Franklin County setting up a huge up a rematch between the Spartans and Tigers that just recently saw Connersville destroy them 52-31. Connersville will win this Sectional because they simply have the better surrounding talent with Tobey Billups Tobey Billups 6'0" | PG Connersville | 2022 State IN and Lucas Barron Lucas Barron 6'4" Connersville | 2023 IN . Plus they have been one of the best teams in 3A all season long.
Sectional 30: Salem
The Teams: Silver Creek, Charlestown, North Harrison, Corydon Central, Scottsburg, Madison, Salem
Our Contenders: Silver Creek, North Harrison, Corydon Central, Scottsburg
Player To Watch: Branden Northern Branden Northern 5'11" | PG Silver Creek | 2022 State IN (2022) – Silver Creek
Prediction: Another Sectional that could realistically see one of four teams win it is Sectional 30. Corydon Central (14-8) got the bye here and has been a team that has done way better than any had expected for them. They will likely play North Harrison after the Cougars beat Charlestown in the opening top half of the bracket. In the bottom half, expect Silver Creek to get past the host Salem and Scottsburg to beat Madison. The semis will probably see Logan McIntire Logan McIntire 6'4" | SG North Harrison | 2022 State IN and North Harrison beat Corydon Central and close, hard-fought battle between Hayden Cutter Hayden Cutter 6'4" | PF Scottsburg | 2022 State IN and Scottsburg and Silver Creek which should see the Dragons just barely getting by. In the finals, even though Silver Creek has a tough backcourt duo of Northern and Kaden Oliver Kaden Oliver 6'2" | PG Silver Creek | 2023 State IN , I think North Harrison has the better overall team, especially if McIntire goes off. North Harrison is the projected winner of Sectional 30.
Sectional 31: Princeton Community
The Teams: Pike Central, Princeton, Vincennes Lincoln, Sullivan, Washington
Our Contenders: Washington, Sullivan
Player To Watch: Randy Kelley Randy Kelley 6'0" | PG Sullivan | 2022 State IN (2022) – Sullivan
Prediction: The winner of Sectional 31 will be decided in the semis when Washington and Sullivan face off. In bottom half, Julian Gish Julian Gish 6'0" | PG Pike Central | 2024 IN and Pike Central should have an easy route to the finals first beating host Princeton (3-19) and then Lincoln (1-2). Going back the semi game between Sullivan and Washington, Sullivan should win this one simply due to having more talent but if Washington could somehow pull off the upset, they might win their first Sectional championship since the 2019-20 season. However, Sullivan should be the one to be cutting down the nets when it is all said and over when they beat Pike Central in the finals. Kelley plus Jackson Hills Jackson Hills 6'5" | PF Sullivan | 2022 State IN and Rocco Roshel Rocco Roshel 5'10" | SG Sullivan | 2022 IN will be giving all the others teams trouble throughout the tournament.
Sectional 32: Boonville
The Teams: Evansville Bosse, Boonville, Heritage Hills, Evansville Memorial, Gibson Southern, Mount Vernon (Posey)
Our Contenders: Evansville Bosse, Heritage Hills
Player To Watch: Trent Sisley Trent Sisley 6'8" | PF Heritage Hills | 2025 State #47 Nation IN (2025) – Heritage Hills
Prediction: The likely two favorites to win Sectional 32 are on the opposite sides of the bracket, which is beautiful to see. Starting with Heritage Hills, they have a tougher route to the finals than Bosse does because they have to get through Gibson Southern and Evansville Memorial while Bosse will need to go though Mount Vernon (Posey) followed by host Boonville. However, don’t expect either one to get beat by any of those four as both Bosse and Hills are undefeated this year vs Sectional 32 teams. The finals here is going to be just a battle of two 13 win teams with two very talented underclassman in Taray Howell Taray Howell 5'8" | PG Evansville Bosse | 2024 State IN and Trent Sisley Trent Sisley 6'8" | PF Heritage Hills | 2025 State #47 Nation IN facing off. Even though Sisley is a phenom of a freshman, I think experience will hurt him a bit here and Bosse has that with senior Matt Wagner Matt Wagner 6'2" | SG Evansville Bosse | 2022 State IN . Bosse is my pick to win here.