4A 9 @ MT. VERNON
SECT;CLASS;OVERALL
Mt. Vernon;6-0;13-2;19-2
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Greenfield-Central;3-2;12-6;16-6
New Castle;3-2;7-4;15-5
Richmond;2-2;9-4;15-6
Pendleton Heights;2-3;6-7;14-9
Connersville;2-4;3-9;11-11
Anderson;0-5;3-15;6-16
Intrasectional meetings
Nov. 14 Mt. Vernon 47, Connersville 35
Nov. 21 Greenfield 46, Pendleton Hts. 41
Nov. 22 Connersville 54, Anderson 52 OT
Dec. 6 Mt. Vernon 74, Pendleton Hts. 39
Dec. 9 Mt. Vernon 73, Anderson 38
Dec. 10 New Castle 44, Connersville 29
Dec. 12 Richmond 66, Anderson 59
Dec. 18 Pendleton Hts., 59 New Castle 55
Dec. 23 Greenfield 69, Connersville 61
Dec. 29 New Castle 69, Anderson 44
Jan. 3 Greenfield 49, Richmond 44 OT
Jan. 6 Mt. Vernon 73, Richmond 40
Jan. 6 Pendleton Hts. 54, Anderson 50
Jan. 13 Richmond 49, Connersville 43
Jan. 16 New Castle 48, Greenfield 34
Jan. 23 Connersville 55, Pendleton Hts. 49
Jan. 23 Mt. Vernon 39, Greenfield 32
Jan. 27 Mt. Vernon 68, New Castle 55
Key Indicators
Mt. Vernon: Sagarin Rating, 91.70; Offense ppg, 60.9; Defense ppg, 41.7
Greenfield-Central: Sagarin Rating, 86.63; Offense ppg, 57.3; Defense ppg, 43
Richmond: Sagarin Rating, 83.98; Offense ppg, 59.9; Defense ppg, 51
New Castle: Sagarin Rating, 82.18; Offense ppg, 52.4; Defense ppg, 40.7
Pendleton Heights: Sagarin Rating, 78.05; Offense ppg, 53.9; Defense ppg, 49
Connersville: Sagarin Rating, 74.39; Offense ppg, 46.5; Defense ppg, 46.5
Anderson: Sagarin Rating, 71.55; Offense ppg, 54.7; Defense ppg, 58.7
Schedule
Tuesday
Pendleton Heights vs. Connersville, 7 p.m.
Wednesday
Greenfield-Central vs. Mt. Vernon, 6 p.m.
New Castle vs. Richmond, 7:45 p.m.
Feb. 13
Anderson vs. PH-CO winner, 6 p.m.
GC-MV winner vs. NC-RI winner, 7:45 p.m.
Feb. 14
Championship, 7:30 p.m.
Winner advances to Decatur Central Regional, Feb. 21
Analysis: 4A No. 12 Mt. Vernon and future Indiana All-Star Sydney Shelton (22 ppg) ran roughshod over the sectional field during the regular season, but never underestimate the motivating power of a regular-season loss. One of the Marauders’ victims was Greenfield-Central, which fell in Fortville, 39-32, Jan. 23. What I remember most from that game is G-C coach Doug Laker’s upbeat demeanor in the postgame hallway. He couldn’t have been more pleased with his team’s effort and thought his squad was doomed only by a few off-the-mark shots. I suspect Laker was also in a good mood, because, as important to the conference race as that game was, the sectional is where final bragging rights are earned. It was a lesson G-C learned a year ago, when they beat the Marauders in a charged regular-season contest, then watched veteran MV win the sectional rematch. Wednesday’s quarterfinal winner is the sectional favorite, but don’t overlook Richmond, which possesses the best guard duo in the sectional. Sophomore Destiny Perkins (23.4 ppg) and senior MacKenzie Taylor (17.5 ppg) are dangerous. G-C survived for an overtime regular season win over the Red Devils, while Taylor sat our Richmond’s loss to Mt. Vernon.
4A 13 @ GREENWOOD
SECT;CLASS;OVERALL
Center Grove;5-0;16-6;16-6
Franklin Central;2-0;13-8;15-8
Greenwood;3-3;8-9;10-11
New Palestine;1-2;3-10;11-11
Whiteland;2-5;6-13;9-14
Franklin;1-4;5-10;9-13
Intrasectional Meetings
Nov. 13 Franklin Cent. 68, Whiteland 45
Nov. 18 Franklin Cent. 62, New Palestine 42
Nov. 21 Franklin 40, Greenwood 39
Nov. 21 Center Grove 64, Whiteland 40
Nov. 22 Whiteland 42, Greenwood 36
Nov. 22 Center Grove 76, Franklin 35
Dec. 2 Center Grove 59, Franklin 35
Dec. 19 Greenwood 48, Franklin 41
Jan. 6 Center Grove 74, Whiteland 30
Jan. 9 Greenwood 50, Whiteland 44
Jan. 17 New Palestine 48, Whiteland 40
Jan. 24 Whiteland 56, Franklin 52
Jan. 27 Center Grove 62, Greenwood 39
Jan. 31 Greenwood 47, New Palestine 42
Key Indicators
Center Grove: Sagarin Rating, 94.84; Offense ppg, 60.5; Defense ppg, 44.7
Franklin Central: Sagarin Rating, 85.72; Offense ppg, 59; Defense ppg, 48.4
Greenwood: Sagarin Rating, 74.20; Offense ppg, 51.3; Defense ppg, 52.2
Whiteland: Sagarin Rating, 72.49; Offense ppg, 49; Defense ppg, 56.3
Franklin: Sagarin Rating, 71.22; Offense ppg, 52.5; Defense ppg, 53.5
New Palestine: Sagarin Rating, 69.3; Offense ppg, 42.3; Defense ppg, 42.1
Schedule
Tuesday
Center Grove vs. Whiteland, 5:30 p.m.
Greenwood vs. Franklin, 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 13
Franklin Central vs. CG-WH winner, 5:30 p.m.
New Palestine vs. GW-FR winner, 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 14
Championship, 7 p.m.
Winner advances to Bedford North Lawrence Regional, Feb. 21
Analysis: In seven of New Palestine’s 11 losses, it has held the other team to 47 or fewer points. The Dragons just haven’t been able to find enough offense to get over the hump consistently. On Tuesday, however, New Palestine registered 56 points in a win against a solid Connersville unit. It marked the most points allowed by the Spartans since December and New Palestine’s highest output since November. So, maybe the Dragons have found their mojo. A semifinal win against decent Greenwood and Franklin teams in the semifinal is well within New Palestine’s reach. After that, 4A No. 16 Center Grove will provide the Dragons the largest of upset opportunities.
2A 41 @ CAMBRIDGE CITY LINCOLN
SECT;CLASS;OVERALL
Hagerstown;8-0;11-1;17-4
Knightstown;5-1;5-5;14-8
Union County;3-3;5-5;11-10
Eastern Hancock;2-3;3-7;12- 9
Centerville;2-4;3-6;4-15
Cambridge City Lincoln;2-7;2-10;4-15
Northeastern;1-5;2-5;7-13
Intrasectional Meetings
Nov. 13 Hagerstown 40, Knightstown 25
Nov. 17 Hagerstown 54, Eastern Hancock 37
Nov. 20 Knightstown 58, Northeastern 34
Nov. 22 Knightstown 50, Centerville 39
Nov. 22 Union County 53, Eastern Hancock 44
Nov. 25 Centerville 59, Cambridge City 53
Dec. 5 Centerville 40, Northeastern 28
Dec. 10 Hagerstown 45, Union County 35
Dec. 11 Eastern Hancock 66, Northeastern 26
Dec. 16 Hagerstown 37, Centerville 31
Dec. 19 Knightstown 65, Eastern Hancock 63
Dec. 27 Cambridge City 39, Union County 37
Jan. 3 Eastern Hancock 69, Cambridge City 40
Jan. 9 Cambridge City 39, Centerville 35
Jan. 10 Hagerstown 52, Northeastern 31
Jan. 12 Hagerstown 51, Cambridge City 25
Jan. 15 Hagerstown 53, Cambridge City 26
Jan. 17 Knightstown 51, Union County 33
Jan. 20 Hagerstown 62, Northeastern 32
Jan. 20 Knightstown 60, Cambridge City 29
Jan. 27 Union County 59, Cambridge City 20
Jan. 30 Northeastern 55, Cambridge City 50 OT
Jan. 30 Union County 47, Centerville 46
Key Indicators
Hagerstown: Sagarin Rating, 60.12; Offense ppg, 47.1; Defense ppg, 35.1
Eastern Hancock: Sagarin Rating, 58.97; Offense ppg, 55.2; Defense ppg, 48.7
Knightstown: Sagarin Rating, 56.13; Offense ppg, 51.7; Defense ppg, 46
Union County: Sagarin Rating, 52.11; Offense ppg, 41.9; Defense ppg, 40.5
Centerville: Sagarin Rating, 42.86; Offense ppg, 37.8; Defense ppg, 51.6
Northeastern: Sagarin Rating, 39.02; Offense ppg, 36.3; Defense ppg, 47.2
Cambridge City Lincoln: Sagarin Rating, 32.84; Offense ppg, 36.7; Defense ppg, 52.8
Schedule
Tuesday
Knightstown vs. Union County, 7 p.m.
Wednesday
Cambridge City Lincoln vs. Centerville, 6 p.m.
Northeastern vs. Hagerstown, 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 13
Eastern Hancock vs. KN-UC winner, 6 p.m.
CCL-CE winner vs. NE-HA winner, 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 14
Championship, 7:30 p.m.
Winner advances to Speedway Regional, Feb. 21
Analysis: Eastern Hancock is eager for a rematch with Knightstown, its most fierce rival. The Panthers ended the Royals’ best chance at a sectional title in more than a decade with a 59-55 win in last year’s championship. Knightstown also has a victory against Eastern Hancock this season. If that semifinal comes to fruition, and comes out in the Royals’ favor, they’ll have to put what would likely be an emotional victory behind them quickly. This tourney’s best defense, by a wide margin, belongs to sectional favorite Hagerstown. If the Tigers get knocked off in the quarterfinal or semifinal, look for Eastern Hancock to claim the program’s first sectional crown since 2001. If Hagerstown is waiting for the Royals in the championship, EH will have to settle for another sectional second-place basketball “trophy.”
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“I’ll make my adjustments. But, our system has worked for three-and-a-half years. We’ve won 58 games. Why would we want to change everything completely? You’ll see some minor adjustments, just to keep other teams guessing. Our high-pressure identity won’t change, though.”
– Jeremy Powers, Eastern Hancock girls basketball coach
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Pre-sale all-sectional tickets are available at local high school athletic offices through early next week. Tickets are $10, good for the entire sectional. Single-day sectional tickets are $6, and will only be sold at the door.
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