Sectional Preview – Southport 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 9-12 which feed into the Southport Regional.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Sectional 9: Muncie Central</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The Teams:</strong> Anderson, Greenfield-Central, Mount Vernon (Fortville), Muncie Central, New Palestine, Pendleton Heights, Richmond</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The Contenders:</strong> Anderson (18-4), Greenfield-Central (20-1), New Palestine (20-2)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players to Watch:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1391283' first='Ahmere' last='Carson'] (Anderson H.S. 2023), [player_tooltip player_id='1049171' first='Dylan' last='Moles'] (Greenfield-Central H.S. 2023 - Marian), Braylen Mullins (Greenfield-Central H.S. 2025), [player_tooltip player_id='1295323' first='Ian' last='Stephens'] (New Palestine H.S. 2023)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> This sectional is wide open and should be extremely competitive. Every team aside from 7-15 Pendleton Heights is at least five games above .500 at this point in the season. Anderson, Greenfield-Central, and New Palestine have all spent time in the Class 4A Top 10 at different times as well. The Indians and Cougars will face-off immediately in the first round while New Palestine was able to draw the bye and avoid those two teams on the top half of the bracket. Richmond is no push over, but the Dragons certainly have the easiest path to the finals. Anderson is the toughest matchup in the sectional due to their athleticism and the star-power of Carson. That could push them over the edge and allow them to cut down the nets at Muncie Central. <strong>Anderson</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Sectional 10: Warren Central</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The Teams:</strong> Arsenal Tech, Cathedral, Crispus Attucks, Lawrence Central, Lawrence North, North Central, Warren Central</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The Contenders:</strong> Cathedral (16-5), Lawrence North (16-7)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players to Watch:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='868219' first='Xavier' last='Booker'] (Cathedral H.S. 2023 - Michigan State), [player_tooltip player_id='1297019' first='Dezmon' last='Briscoe'] (Crispus Attucks H.S. 2025), [player_tooltip player_id='1296979' first='Azavier' last='Robinson'] (Lawrence North H.S. 2025), [player_tooltip player_id='868252' first='Jaron' last='Tibbs'] (Cathedral H.S. 2023 - Purdue, Football)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> This is another sectional that you could easily say that everyone is a contender to cut down the nets. 9-12 Arsenal Tech is the only sub-.500 team in the field. Cathedral is the defending state champion, but they were knocked off in the Indianapolis City championship by Crispus Attucks proving that anyone can beat anyone in a tournament atmosphere. It is certainly still the Irish's sectional to lose, but there is plenty of talent to go around. Sophomore guard [player_tooltip player_id='1296979' first='Azavier' last='Robinson'] is having an outstanding season for Lawerence North as is senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1273741' first='DaJohn' last='Craig'] for Lawrence Central. Both North Central and Warren Central have proven to be dangerous at different points in the season with unsigned senior wings [player_tooltip player_id='868259' first='Joey' last='Brown'] and [player_tooltip player_id='868218' first='Jalen' last='Hooks'] respectively. This is always a fun sectional to follow. <strong>Cathedral</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Sectional 11: Perry Meridian</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The Teams:</strong> Ben Davis, Decatur Central, Franklin Central, Perry Meridian, Pike, Roncalli, Southport</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The Contenders:</strong> Ben Davis (24-0), Pike (15-7), Southport (14-8)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players to Watch:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='935723' first='Anthony' last='Dancler'] (Southport H.S. 2023), [player_tooltip player_id='1042497' first='Zane' last='Doughty'] (Ben Davis H.S. 2023 - Valparaiso), [player_tooltip player_id='1273713' first='Sheridan' last='Sharp'] (Ben Davis H.S. - Nicholls State), [player_tooltip player_id='1049176' first='Devon' last='Woods'] (Pike H.S. 2023)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> At this point it is probably disrespectful to Ben Davis to even consider anyone else. The Giants have put together one of the most dominant seasons we have seen in quite a while here in the state of Indiana. They are 24-0 with an absolutely loaded rotation of talent. 6'9" big man [player_tooltip player_id='1042497' first='Zane' last='Doughty'] has led the way averaging 13.2 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 2.7 blocks per game. However, the backcourt quartet of seniors [player_tooltip player_id='1160716' first='Clay' last='Butler'], [player_tooltip player_id='1273713' first='Sheridan' last='Sharp'], junior [player_tooltip player_id='1158204' first='K.J.' last='Windham'], and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1373105' first='Mark' last='Zackery'] have all been excellent in their own right. Senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='1273740' first='Shaun' last='Arnold'] and junior wing [player_tooltip player_id='1295351' first='Mark' last='White'] are X-Factors for Ben Davis as well. Their quest for an undefeated season will begin with a tough first round matchup against Southport. Pike got the best draw getting the bye and avoiding Ben Davis until the final. Still, it likely won't matter. <strong>Ben Davis</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Sectional 12: Plainfield</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The Teams:</strong> Avon, Brownsburg, Plainfield, Terre Haute North, Terre Haute South</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The Contenders:</strong> Brownsburg (18-3), Plainfield (16-5)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players to Watch:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1275779' first='Kanon' last='Catchings'] (Brownsburg H.S. 2024 - Purdue), [player_tooltip player_id='1391626' first='Elhadj' last='Diallo'] (Brownsburg H.S. 2023), [player_tooltip player_id='1172872' first='Jordan' last='Lomax'] (Avon H.S. 2024)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> Brownsburg has had an excellent season and will be the overwhelming favorites to cut down the nets in Sectional 12. They are well coached, have the best player in the sectional in Class of 2024 Purdue commit [player_tooltip player_id='1275779' first='Kanon' last='Catchings'], and excellent backcourt depth. However, tournament play rarely ever goes exactly as planned. Host Plainfield is 16-5 but three of those losses came to other teams in this sectional. Avon is a sleeper that has proven to be dangerous playing a ton of close games against some of the best teams in the state. However, all roads still go through Brownsburg. <strong>Brownsburg</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->