Section Preview – Frankfort Regional

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It is officially almost time for Indiana High School Basketball to enter into the most exciting time of year. We have made it through over three months of regular season action and now culminate with a win-or-go-home state tournament. Here at Prep Hoops Indiana our staff will be previewing all 64 sectionals around the state over the next several days. Let's dive on in with Sectionals 53-56 which feed into the Class 1A Frankfort Regional.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Sectional 53: Southwood</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The Teams:</strong> Fort Wayne Canterbury, Northfield, Smith Academy, Southern Wells, Southwood</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The Contenders:</strong> Fort Wayne Canterbury (6-16), Southwood (10-12)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players to Watch:</strong> Nathan Lehner (Southwood H.S. 2023), [player_tooltip player_id='1761696' first='Devon' last='Lewis'] (Fort Wayne Canterbury 2024)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> There isn't a single team out of the five here in Sectional 53 at Southwood who enters tournament play at .500 or above. Neither Southwood or Fort Wayne Canterbury have lost to a fellow Class 1A team, but neither have played each other this season. Senior guard Nathan Lehner leads Southwood with 15.7 points per game while junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1761696' first='Devon' last='Lewis'] is the player to watch for Canterbury averaging 17.6 points per game. The Cavaliers 6-16 record certainly doesn't make you think of them as a contender, but they play an extremely tough schedule of mostly larger schools in the Fort Wayne area. However, the home court advantage could be enough to flip the edge to the Knights. These two are on opposite sides of the bracket and should play for the championship on Saturday night. <strong>Southwood</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Sectional 54: Fountain Central</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The Teams:</strong> Attica, Clinton Central, Faith Christian, Fountain Central, North Vermillion, Rossville</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The Contender:</strong> Fountain Central (19-4)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Player to Watch:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1049183' first='Mason' last='Larkin'] (Fountain Central H.S. 2023)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> This is the first sectional we have covered where it is really hard to consider anyone a favorite aside from one team. Not only is Fountain Central the host with a 19-4 record and ranked #9 in the Prep Hoops Indiana Class 1A poll, but they also received the best draw. They will take on winless Attica in round one and then North Vermillion in the semifinals. In the bottom half of the bracket Rossville has the best record at 11-12, but it is hard to see them having what it takes to knock off the Mustangs. <strong>Fountain Central</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Sectional 55: Tri-Central</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The Teams:</strong> Anderson Prep Academy, Cowan, Daleville, Liberty Christian, Tri-Central</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The Contenders:</strong> Cowan (10-12), Liberty Christian (13-9)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players to Watch:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1556505' first='Cedric' last='Anderson'] (Liberty Christian 2023), [player_tooltip player_id='1275811' first='Cole' last='Duncan'] (Cowan H.S. 2024), [player_tooltip player_id='1554067' first='Kobe' last='Watson'] (Liberty Christian 2023)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> It is hard to imagine anyone besides Liberty Christian cutting down the nets in Sectional 55 at Tri-Central. They are the only above .500 team, are the most battle-tested in terms of schedule, and feature the most talent. The Lions have four seniors who all average in double-figures including [player_tooltip player_id='1556505' first='Cedric' last='Anderson'] (13.4 points per game), [player_tooltip player_id='1554067' first='Kobe' last='Watson'] (13.2 points per game), [player_tooltip player_id='935729' first='Eric' last='Troutman'] (10.7 points per game), and Ethan Troutman (10.5 points per game). They certainly have the talent to advance even beyond the sectional here in Class 1A. However, their first round opponent Cowan at least deserved mention. They defeated Daleville twice during the regular season to solidify themselves as the second best team in this sectional field. 6'8" junior [player_tooltip player_id='1275811' first='Cole' last='Duncan'] averages 12.6 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 4.7 blocks per game. His ability to impact both ends of the floor will at least give the Blackhawks a fighting chance. <strong>Liberty Christian</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Sectional 56: Tri</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The Teams:</strong> Blue River, Cambridge City Lincoln, Randolph Southern, Seton Catholic, Tri, Union City, Union (Modoc)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The Contenders:</strong> Blue River (17-6), Seton Catholic (10-14), Randolph Southern (9-12), Tri (16-5)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players to Watch: </strong>Joe Burke (Randolph Southern H.S. 2023), [player_tooltip player_id='1578439' first='Mason' last='Harvey'] (Seton Catholic 2024), [player_tooltip player_id='1275899' first='Braiden' last='Hogg'] (Seton Catholic 2024), Wyatt Tornburgh (Blue River H.S. 2023)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> Tri defeated Blue River 41-36 way back on December 2nd in their third game of the season. Then, Blue River responded with a 64-40 win in the Henry County Tournament on January 5th. Those programs will open sectional play with their rubber match that could also determine who cuts down the Sectional 56 nets. Senior forward Wyatt Tornburgh leads the Vikings with 17.6 points and 6.1 rebounds per game as they have won seven of their last eight games. Having those two face-off in the first round is unfortunate, but it does open things up for those in the bottom half of the bracket. Randolph Southern and Seton Catholic will likely meet in the semifinals with the Rebels having won the regular season matchup 54-50. Don't count out the Cardinals though who arguably feature the two most talented players in the sectional in juniors [player_tooltip player_id='1578439' first='Mason' last='Harvey'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1275899' first='Braiden' last='Hogg']. This one is wide open, but look for Blue River to stay hot and advance to the regional round. <strong>Blue River</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->