Prep Hoops Indiana Sectional Preview – Class 3A North

We are just a week away from the beginning of the 115th Annual IHSAA Boys Basketball State Tournament. On Sunday evening we received brackets for the Sectional round as 403 teams learned how their path to Gainbridge Fieldhouse would begin. We will spend the week here at Prep Hoops Indiana going in-depth across the state touching on all 64 Sectionals. Let's take a look at the eight Sectionals that make up the Class 3A North.   <a href="https://prephoops.com/2025/02/prep-hoops-indiana-sectional-preview-class-1a-north-2/">Class 1A North</a>   <a href="https://prephoops.com/2025/02/prep-hoops-indiana-sectional-preview-class-1a-south-2/">Class 1A South</a>   <a href="https://prephoops.com/2025/02/prep-hoops-indiana-sectional-preview-class-2a-north-2/">Class 2A North</a>   <a href="https://prephoops.com/2025/02/prep-hoops-indiana-sectional-preview-class-2a-south-2/">Class 2A South</a>   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Brackets</h2>   Sectional 17 (East Chicago Central): East Chicago Central vs. Griffith, Highland vs. Gary West, Hammond Noll vs. Winner Game 1, Calumet vs. Winner Game 2   Sectional 18 (Kankakee Valley): Illiana Christian vs. Hanover Central, River Forest vs. Kankakee Valley, Lowell vs. Winner Game 1   Sectional 19 (Plymouth): New Prairie vs. John Glenn, Mishawaka Marian vs. Plymouth, South Bend Washington vs. South Bend St. Joseph, Culver Academy vs Winner Game 1   Sectional 20 (NorthWood): Tippecanoe Valley vs. West Noble, NorthWood vs. Columbia City, Wawasee vs. Winner Game 1, Fairfield vs. Winner Game 2   Sectional 21 (Garrett): Angola vs. Garrett, Leo vs. DeKalb, Fort Wayne Dwenger vs. East Noble, Fort Wayne Blackhawk vs. Fort Wayne Concordia   Sectional 22 (Belmont): Mississinewa vs. Norwell, Marion vs. Bellmont, New Haven vs. Winner Game 1, Heritage vs. Winner Game 2   Sectional 23 (Logansport): Peru vs. Twin Lakes, Western vs. Maconaquah, West Lafayette vs. Northwestern, Logansport vs. Winner Game 1   Sectional 24 (New Castle): Jay County vs. Yorktown, Connersville vs. Hamilton Heights, Delta vs. Winner Game 1, New Castle vs. Winner Game 2   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Toughest Sectional</h2>   When looking at the northern part of Class 3A, the toughest Sectional in my opinion is going to be Sectional 19 at Plymouth. One of the main reasons I see this one being the toughest is because out of the gate in the first round, you have the two favorites to win this one in both South Bend Washington and South Bend St. Joe going at it. Whoever wins that one, it does not get any easier with 13-9 Mishawaka Marian team likely waiting for them in the semifinals on Friday. On the other side of the bracket, Culver Academy got the best draw with the bye facing the winner of 2 sub .500 teams between New Prairie and John Glenn. The odds on favorite in this one is South Bend St. Joe as they look to get back to Indianapolis and cut down the nets this time. If they want to do that, they are going to have to go through a straight gauntlet of South Bend Washington, Mishawaka Marian, and Culver Academy most likely.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Under-the-Radar Sectional</h2>   As far as the top under-the-radar Sectional in Class 3A North, I am going to have to go with Sectional 20 at NorthWood. The thing that immediately stands out is there being two teams with at least 17 wins on the year in both NorthWood and Tippecanoe Valley. With them being on different sides of the bracket, it is assumed that they will meet up in the Sectional 20 championship game on Saturday. However, do not sleep on teams such as Fairfield and Columbia City, both with at least 12 wins and the potential to snag an upset at some point that week. If we do in fact get a NorthWood and Tippecanoe Valley clash on that Saturday, it will be one of the best Sectional Championship Games that whole day.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Players to Watch</h2>   [player_tooltip player_id='1297020' first='Dominique' last='Murphy Jr'] (East Chicago Central), [player_tooltip player_id='2390221' first='Yamauree' last='Wallace'] (East Chicago Central), [player_tooltip player_id='2053673' first='Derek' last='Collins'] (Gary West), [player_tooltip player_id='1297122' first='Tyler' last='Raasch'] (NorthWood), [player_tooltip player_id='1297002' first='Chase' last='Konieczny'] (South Bend Saint Joseph), [player_tooltip player_id='1364589' first='Kellen' last='Pickett'] (Blackhawk), [player_tooltip player_id='1747066' first='Josiah' last='Ball'] (Maconaquah), [player_tooltip player_id='1539482' first='Jordan' last='Furney'] (Delta), [player_tooltip player_id='1560973' first='Ethan' last='Roseman'] (South Bend St. Joseph), [player_tooltip player_id='2024513' first='Nick' last='Shrewsberry'] (South Bend St. Joseph), [player_tooltip player_id='2140359' first='Elijah' last='King'] (South Bend St. Joseph), [player_tooltip player_id='1561449' first='Steven' last='Reynolds III'] (South Bend Washington), [player_tooltip player_id='1560995' first='Reggie' last='Hinton'] (Gary West)   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Predictions</h2>   Sectional 17 – East Chicago Central   Sectional 18 – Hanover Central   Sectional 19 – South Bend St. Joseph   Sectional 20 – NorthWood   Sectional 21 – Fort Wayne Blackhawk   Sectional 22 – New Haven   Sectional 23 – Maconaquah   Sectional 24 – Delta

We are just a week away from the beginning of the 115th Annual IHSAA Boys Basketball State Tournament. On Sunday evening we received brackets for the Sectional round as 403 teams learned how their path to Gainbridge Fieldhouse would begin. We will spend the week here at Prep Hoops Indiana going in-depth across the state touching on all 64 Sectionals. Let's take a look at the eight Sectionals that make up the Class 3A North.