BOYS’ HOOPS: Sectional breakdown for best week of year

By KEVIN HARRIS

kevinharris1972@gmail.com

JEFFERSONVILLE – The sectional pairings are set throughout the state for the 108^th annual IHSAA state tournament. Now, it is time for the best week of the season to start Tuesday night for most Southern Indiana teams.

The following is the pairings and breakdowns of each of the area sectionals:

CLASS 4A SEYMOUR SECTIONAL

FIRST ROUND

Tuesday, Feb. 27

Bedford North Lawrence (14-8) vs. No. 4 Floyd Central (22-1), 6 p.m.

Seymour (11-11) vs. Jennings County (5-18), 7:30 p.m.

SEMIFINALS

Friday, March 2

No. 6 Jeffersonville (20-3) vs. BNL or Floyd Central, 6 p.m.

No. 3 New Albany (21-1) vs. Seymour or Jennings County, 7:30 p.m.

CHAMPIONSHIP

Saturday, March 3

Semifinal winners, 7:30 p.m.

BEST DRAW: New Albany. The Bulldogs are in the bottom part of the bracket with the two teams with the two worst records in the tournament. In its victories over Seymour and Jennings, New Albany won by an average margin of 46.5 points.

TOUGHEST DRAW: Floyd Central. If the Highlanders are going to reach the sectional championship game for the second year in a row, they will need to beat a pair of teams they defeated in the regular season by a combined eight points. Floyd downed Jeff on Jan. 16 at home, 55-51. A few weeks later on Feb. 1, the Highlanders won at BNL in overtime, 46-42.

MY SECTIONAL PICKS: Floyd Central d. BNL; Seymour d. Jennings County; Floyd Central d. Jeff; New Albany d. Seymour; New Albany d. Floyd Central.

CLASS 3A NORTH HARRISON SECTIONAL

FIRST ROUND

Tuesday, Feb. 27

Scottsburg (6-17) vs. Corydon Central (5-18), 7 p.m.

Wednesday, Feb. 28

North Harrison (15-8) vs. Charlestown (3-19), 6 p.m.

Brownstown Central (17-6) vs. Salem (17-6), 7:30 p.m.

SEMIFINALS

Friday, March 2

No. 8 Silver Creek (17-5) vs. Scottsburg or Corydon Central, 6 p.m.

North Harrison or Charlestown vs. Brownstown Central or Salem, 7:30 p.m.

CHAMPIONSHIP

Saturday, March 3

Semifinal winners, 7 p.m.

BEST DRAW: Silver Creek. The Dragons received the only bye in the sectional and they will play a below-.500 Mid-Southern Conference foe in the first semifinal.

TOUGHEST DRAWS: Brownstown Central and Salem. The MSC rivals will square off in the first round in what is expected to be an extremely competitive and physical matchup. The winner then will most likely have to defeat North Harrison in the semifinals and the Dragons in the title game to collect the sectional championship. The Braves and Lions each have their work cut out for them.

MY SECTIONAL PICKS: Scottsburg d. Corydon Central; North Harrison d. Charlestown; Brownstown Central d. Salem; Silver Creek d. Scottsburg; North Harrison d. Brownstown Central; Silver Creek d. North Harrison.

CLASS 2A PAOLI SECTIONAL

FIRST ROUND

Tuesday, Feb. 27

Eastern (6-17) vs. Austin (12-11), 7 p.m.

Wednesday, Feb. 28

No. 16 Clarksville (16-6) vs. Providence (9-14), 6 p.m.

No. 6 Henryville (20-3) vs. No. 5 Paoli (21-2), 7:30 p.m.

SEMIFINALS

Friday, March 2

Crawford County (10-13) vs. Eastern or Austin, 6 p.m.

Clarksville or Providence vs. Henryville or Paoli, 7:30 p.m.

CHAMPIONSHIP

Saturday, March 3

Semifinal winners, 7:30 p.m.

BEST DRAW: Crawford County: The defending 2A state runner-up earned the lone bye in the sectional. The Wolfpack has momentum on their side entering the sectional. They have won three games in a row, with the latest victory being a 62-60 double-overtime triumph over Paoli on Friday. In addition, prior to its win streak, Crawford gave Henryville a run for its money before losing to the host Hornets in double overtime Feb. 10, 47-41.

TOUGHEST DRAW: Henryville. The Hornets have their work cut out in both trying to keep their 20-game winning streak alive and capturing their first sectional championship in 13 years. Henryville must try to oust host Paoli in the opening round, followed by a possible matchup with Clarksville in the semifinals. The Hornets nipped the Generals by three points, 51-48, last Tuesday at Clarksville.

MY SECTIONAL PICKS: Austin d. Eastern; Clarksville d. Providence; Paoli d. Henryville; Crawford County d. Austin; Paoli d. Clarksville; Paoli d. Crawford County.

CLASS A BORDEN SECTIONAL

FIRST ROUND

Tuesday, Feb. 27

Rock Creek (7-16) vs. Christian Academy of Indiana (14-9), 6 p.m.

Borden (7-14) vs. South Central (8-15), 7:30 p.m.

SEMIFINALS

Friday, March 2

Lanesville (13-10) vs. Rock Creek or CAI, 6 p.m.

New Washington (3-20) vs. Borden or South Central, 7:30 p.m.

CHAMPIONSHIP

Saturday, March 3

Semifinal winners, 7:30 p.m.

BEST DRAWS: Borden, South Central: The host Braves and Rebels are in the lower half of the bracket, opposite of CAI and Lanesville. Unfortunately, Borden and South Central play each other in the first round, so only one team will be alive after Tuesday night. The victor of that game will face a struggling New Wash squad.

TOUGHEST DRAW: CAI. The Warriors must find a way to contain Rock Creek standout Terrence Browning in the sectional opener. If CAI wins, it will have to play a Lanesville squad that lost to the Warriors 60-58 in double overtime on Feb. 26 at CAI. To top it off if the Warriors reach the title game, they might play Borden in front of the Braves’ fans.

MY SECTIONAL PICKS: CAI d. Rock Creek; Borden d. South Central; CAI d. Lanesville; Borden d. New Washington; CAI d. Borden.