Sectional Preview – Lebanon Regional

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 25-28 which feed into the Lebanon Regional.   <h2>Sectional 25: Danville</h2>   The Teams: Crawfordsville, Monrovia, Danville, Western Boone, Tri-West, Lebanon   The Contenders: Tri-West, Danville, Lebanon   Players to Watch: [player_tooltip player_id='1578391' first='Evan' last='Lawrence'] (Danville, 2024), [player_tooltip player_id='1578355' first='Caden' last='Collins'] (Danville, 2024), [player_tooltip player_id='1578440' first='Max' last='Robertson'], (Tri-West, 2024), [player_tooltip player_id='1162775' first='Korbyn' last='Sloggett'] (Lebanon, 2023), [player_tooltip player_id='1420346' first='Cayden' last='Young'] (Lebanon, 2023)   Prediction: The Sectional 25 winner will likely be decided in the semifinals this year. The two overall favorites, Lebanon and Danville, are on the same side and once Danville gets passed 6-15 Western Boone, they will meet up with Lebanon, who has a bye. On the other side Tri-West got a bye and is the favorite to make it to the championship. In the final game, I am going to go with Lebanon getting past Danville and then beating Tri-West to win Sectional 25. The Tigers, on paper, have the more experience and talent this year in this field.   <h2>Sectional 26: Northview</h2>   The Teams: Owen Valley, Northview, South Vermillion, Brown County, Edgewood, West Vigo, Indiana Creek   The Contenders: West Vigo, Indiana Creek   Players to Watch: [player_tooltip player_id='868264' first='Drew' last='Cook'] (Northview - Wabash commit, 2023), [player_tooltip player_id='1253266' first='Zeke' last='Tanoos'] (West Vigo, 2024)   Prediction: With only one team above .500 in Sectional 26, you could argue anyone could win this one. However, when I look at this one, it comes down to West Vigo and Indiana Creek, and both are on opposite sides. Indian Creek got the best draw here with the only bye and will face the winner of Owen Valley and Northview. Even though Northview has Wabash commit [player_tooltip player_id='868264' first='Drew' last='Cook'], Owen Valley waxed them earlier in the season. On the bottom side, I don't see any of South Vermillion, Brown County, or Edgewood being able to beat West Vigo. In the championship game, I am going with West Vigo this time around even though Indian Creek beat them earlier in the season. It will be tough for West Vigo to stop [player_tooltip player_id='1253266' first='Zeke' last='Tanoos'] in Sectional play.   <h2>Sectional 27: Indianapolis Shortridge </h2>   The Teams: Heritage Christian, Brebeuf Jesuit, Bishop Chatard, Indianapolis Herron, Guerin Catholic, Indianapolis Shortridge   The Contenders: Brebeuf Jesuit, Indianapolis Chatard, Guerin Catholic   Players to Watch: [player_tooltip player_id='868229' first='Myles' last='J. Colvin'] (Heritage Christian - Purdue commit, 2023), [player_tooltip player_id='1042495' first='Dylan' last='Doss'] (Heritage Christian, 2023), [player_tooltip player_id='1556382' first='Cam' last='Freeman'] (Brebeuf Jesuit, 2023), [player_tooltip player_id='1578390' first='Evan' last='Haywood'] (Brebeuf Jesuit, 2024), [player_tooltip player_id='1402477' first='Robert' last='Davidson'] (Bishop Chatard, 2023), [player_tooltip player_id='1560973' first='Ethan' last='Roseman'] (Bishop Chatard, 2026), [player_tooltip player_id='868267' first='Lucas' last='Parker'] (Guerin Catholic - Carroll (WI) commit, 2023), [player_tooltip player_id='1547883' first='Dylan' last='Murans'] (Guerin Catholic, 2024)   Prediction: In my humble opinion as far as talent, Sectional 27 has the best at the 3A level. Really almost any team could rely on their talented players to push them to the championship. Looking at the bracket, it is pretty balanced for the most part. On the top half, Guerin Catholic got the bye and will face the winner of Heritage Christian/Brebeuf Jesuit. Even though Heritage Christian has the best player here in [player_tooltip player_id='868229' first='Myles' last='J. Colvin'], Brebeuf Jesuit has the overall better team so I got them advancing. On the bottom half, the host Indianapolis Shortridge got the bye and will likely play Bishop Chatard once they beat a 2-17 Indianapolis Herron team. I am going to predict a rematch from January 6th with Bishop Chatard and Guerin Catholic in the championship. As far as a winner, I like Bishop Chatard to win this one like they did in early January. It's a toss up, but the Trojans look to be the most complete to me.   <h2>Sectional 28: Christel House Manual</h2>   The Teams: Indianapolis Washington, Purdue Poly Englewood, Speedway, Christel House Manual, Cardinal Ritter, Beech Grove   The Contenders: Purdue Poly Englewood, Christel House Manual, Beech Grove, Cardinal Ritter   Players to Watch: [player_tooltip player_id='1162851' first='Nate' last='Matelic'] (Speedway, 2023), [player_tooltip player_id='1560953' first='David' last='Brigham Jr'] (Christel House Manual, 2026), [player_tooltip player_id='1578443' first='Mikial' last='Miller'] (Cardinal Ritter, 2023), [player_tooltip player_id='1530699' first='Jeremiah' last='Alexander'] (Beech Grove, 2023), [player_tooltip player_id='1556397' first='Jeremiah' last='Tate'] (Beech Grove, 2023)   Prediction: When looking at the bracket, on paper, the 16-6 Purdue Poly Englewood Techies got the best draw as they have to go through a 4-17 Indianapolis Washington team and a 9-12 Cardinal Ritter. However, there are always a few upsets during Sectional time and I feel we will get one when [player_tooltip player_id='1578443' first='Mikial' last='Miller'] and Cardinal Ritter take advantage of their bye lead get past Purdue Poly Englewood to make it to the final game. On the other side, the defending 3A state champs Beech Grove got the bye and will play either Speedway or host Christel House Manual, which likely be Christel House Manual. In the Sectional 28 championship game, I am going to go with Beech Grove and Cardinal Ritter going at it in what might be an exciting game. The Beech Grove Hornets have proved a ton of people wrong this season and until proven otherwise, they are the team to beat in 3A. Beech Grove makes it to the Lebanon Regional.

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 25-28 which feed into the Lebanon Regional.