Things went well during sectional week as I posted a 33-6 (85 percent) record. This leaves me with an overall mark of 275-68, which is good for 80 percent.
CLASS 4A
MICHIGAN CITY
Valparaiso (20-5) vs. Riley (18-6): The Vikings posted a 61-46 win over Riley during the 1998-99 campaign. Mason Jones tallied 13 points in Valparaiso’s 59-53 win over Portage. Nate Macht’s six points helped the Wildcats in their 47-43 upset of No. 4 Adams. Matt’s pick: Riley 65, Valparaiso 64.
Gary West (20-4) vs. Elkhart (14-11): Parion Roberson came off the bench to score 11 points in the No. 10 Cougars’ 49-29 win over Munster. Demarion Anderson registered 14 points in the Lions’ 49-34 win over Penn. Matt’s pick: Gary West 59, Elkhart 52.
Championship: Gary West 76, Riley 69.
LOGANSPORT
Homestead (25-0) vs. Carmel (22-2): The No. 2 Greyhounds slipped past top-ranked Homestead, 46-41, in the 2017-18 regional semifinals. Andrew Leeper netted 18 points in the Spartans’ 75-56 win over New Haven. Charlie Williams racked up 19 points in Carmel’s 53-27 win over Westfield. Matt’s pick: Homestead 53, Carmel 50.
Carroll (Fort Wayne) (18-6) vs. Lafayette Jeff (24-2): Jalen Jackson poured in 45 points in the Chargers’ 63-53 win over Fort Wayne Snider. Brooks Barnhizer came up with 31 points in the No. 8 Bronchos’ 69-55 win against McCutcheon. Matt’s pick: Lafayette Jeff 70, Carroll (Fort Wayne) 58.
Championship: Carmel 65, Lafayette Jeff 61.
SOUTHPORT
Lawrence North (25-2) vs. Indianapolis Ben Davis (14-11): The No. 3 Wildcats clawed past Ben Davis, 57-39, on February 12. D.J Hughes netted 19 points in Lawrence North’s 62-49 win over North Central (Indianapolis). Jayden Brewer finished with 25 points in the Giants’ 68-56 win over Indianapolis Pike. Matt’s pick: Lawrence North 61, Ben Davis 51.
Mount Vernon (Fortville) (17-6) vs. Plainfield (23-2): The No. 6 Quakers claimed a regional crown in 1999 with a 71-63 win over Mount Vernon (Fortville). Armon Jarrard had 25 points in the Marauders’ 69-65 win over Anderson. Aiden Moyers finished with 16 points in Plainfield’s 29-28 win over Brownsburg. Matt’s pick: Plainfield 64, Mount Vernon (Fortville) 56.
Championship: Lawrence North 66, Plainfield 59.
SEYMOUR
Bloomington South (23-4) vs. Jeffersonville (15-6): The Panthers downed Jeffersonville, 68-52, in the 2019 regional semifinals. Trevor Taylor’s 23 points lifted Bloomington South to a 76-53 win over Bloomington North. Kobe Stoudemire chipped in 11 points in the Red Devils’ 57-53 win over Bedford North Lawrence. Matt’s pick: Bloomington South 67, Jeffersonville 61.
Center Grove (14-6) vs. Evansville Reitz (16-4): Landen Hacker ended with 14 points in the Trojans’ 41-35 win over Greenwood. Jadyn McHugh managed 16 points in the Panthers’ 67-54 win over Evansville Central. Matt’s pick: Center Grove 48, Evansville Reitz 43.
Championship: Bloomington South 58, Evansville Reitz 53.
CLASS 3A
SOUTH BEND WASHINGTON
Saint Joseph (19-4) vs. Twin Lakes (21-4): The No. 5 Indians rolled to a 98-61 win over Twin Lakes on December 29. J.R, Konieczny recorded 20 points for Saint Joseph in its 60-56 win over Glenn. Kahari Jackson finished with 21 points in the Indians’ 59-55 win over Peru. Matt’s pick: Saint Joseph 75, Twin Lakes 65.
Hammond (17-1) vs. New Prairie (19-7): Jordan Woods added 17 points in the top-ranked Wildcats’ 84-53 win over Calumet. Braydon Flagg had 13 points in the Cougars’ 56-40 win over Hanover Central. Matt’s pick: Hammond 62, New Prairie 52.
Championship: Saint Joseph 55, Hammond 54.
NEW CASTLE
NorthWood (15-8) vs. New Castle (9-15): Ian Raasch’s 10 points helped the Panthers to a 46-40 win over West Noble. Cole McDaniel registered 17 points in the Trojans’ 51-49 win over Hamilton Heights. Matt’s pick: NorthWood 57, New Castle 54.
Mississinewa (17-8) vs. Leo (21-4): Colin Yoder scored 13 points as the Indians captured their first sectional crown since 1954 with a 49-45 win over Norwell. Blake Davison accounted for 23 points in the No. 9 Lions 55-45 win over Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger. Matt’s pick: Leo 63, Mississinewa 51.
Championship: Leo 53, NorthWood 48.
GREENCASTLE
Northview (17-7) vs. Beech Grove (18-5): Caleb Swearingen accounted for 15 points in the Knights’ 60-52 win over Edgewood. Gavin Mitchell tallied 15 points in the Hornets’ 67-48 win over Indian Creek. Matt’s pick: Beech Grove 62, Northview 60.
Guerin Catholic (19-3) vs. Greencastle (21-6): Kaleb Edwards racked up 14 points in the No. 6 Golden Eagles’ 44-36 win over Brebeuf Jesuit. Brody Whitaker poured in 26 points in the Tiger Cubs’ 58-31 win over Frankfort. Matt’s pick: Guerin Catholic 55, Greencastle 50.
Championship: Guerin Catholic 50, Northview 47.
WASHINGTON
Heritage Hills (19-3) vs. Silver Creek (21-4): The No. 2 Dragons went to overtime to post an 82-78 win over No. 4 Heritage Hills a year ago. Blake Sisley ended with 23 points in the Patriots’ 54-32 win over Boonville. Trey Kaufman-Renn mustered 30 points in Silver Creek’s 83-71 win over Madison. Matt’s pick: Silver Creek 76, Heritage Hills 71.
Connersville (17-7) vs. Sullivan (21-3): Braxton Myers chipped in 12 points in the Spartans’ 46-35 win over No. 10 Greensburg. Jackson Hills recorded 22 points in the No. 7 Golden Arrows’ 57-47 win over Vincennes Lincoln. Matt’s pick: Sullivan 51, Connersville 47.
Championship: Silver Creek 64, Connersville 54.
CLASS 2A
NORTH JUDSON
Boone Grove (18-6) vs. Bowman Academy (11-12): Trey Steinhilber netted 23 points in the Wolves’ 53-39 win over North Judson. Jevon France came up with 18 points in the Eagles’ 70-58 win over Marquette Catholic. Matt’s pick: Bowman Academy 66, Boone Grove 57.
Churubusco (21-4) vs. Fort Wayne Blackhawk (24-3): Ayden White’s 10 points paved the way for the Eagles in their 49-41 win over Eastside. Caleb Furst poured in 24 points in the top-ranked Braves’ 93-51 win over Fort Wayne Canterbury. Matt’s pick: Fort Wayne Blackhawk 74, Churubusco 70.
Championship: Fort Wayne Blackhawk 75, Bowman Academy 60.
LAPEL
Blackford (23-4) vs. Wapahani (18-7): The No. 8 Bruins opened the 2014-15 campaign with a 54-37 loss to Wapahani. Luke Brown accounted for 50 points in Blackford’s 86-57 win over Taylor. Isaac Andrews netted 17 points in the Raiders’ 45-41 win over Frankton. Matt’s pick: Blackford 62, Wapahani 51.
Rossville (17-7) vs. Rochester (18-1): Kaleb Del Real’s three-pointer at the buzzer helped the Hornets to a 45-44 win over Carroll (Flora). Quin Stesiak scored 20 points for the No. 10 Zebras in their 53-50 win over Lewis Cass. Matt’s pick: Rochester 46, Rossville 41.
Championship: Blackford 52, Rossville 44.
GREENFIELD-CENTRAL
Parke Heritage (24-3) vs. Triton Central (13-8): Connor Davis recorded 17 points in the No. 5 Wolves’ 48-42 win over North Putnam. Josh Kemper’s 10-foot jumper at the buzzer lifted the Tigers to a 66-65 win over South Decatur. Matt’s pick: Parke Heritage 53, Triton Central 49.
Shenandoah (24-3) vs. Covenant Christian (22-4): Andrew Bennett registered 17 points in the No. 2 Raiders’ 61-38 win over Eastern Hancock. Graham Shelton racked up 16 points for the No. 7 Warriors in their 71-68 triple-overtime victory against Heritage Christian. Matt’s pick: Shenandoah 54, Covenant Christian 52.
Championship: Shenandoah 61, Parke Heritage 57.
SOUTHRIDGE
Paoli (16-5) vs. Southridge (15-10): The Rams downed Southridge, 48-44, during the 2016-17 campaign. Cornett McBride knocked down the game-winner in the Rams’ 32-31 win over Eastern (Pekin). Colson Montgomery poured in 38 points in the Raiders’ 58-44 win over No. 9 South Spencer. Matt’s pick: Southridge 42, Paoli 41.
Southwestern (Hanover) (21-5) vs. Linton-Stockton (23-4): Austin Kramer had 23 points in the Rebels’ 74-51 win over Providence. Lincoln Hale had 27 points as the No. 6 Miners rallied for a 45-44 win over North Knox. Matt’s pick: Linton-Stockton 60, Southwestern 55.
Championship: Southwestern 48, Southridge 44.
CLASS 1A
TRITON
Triton (19-5) vs. Caston (10-15): The Trojans claimed a 56-37 win over Caston on February 6. Ashton Oviedo accounted for 14 points in Triton’s 59-43 win over Argos. Sam Smith racked up 18 points in the Comets’ 55-54 win over North White. Matt’s pick: Triton 56, Caston 45.
Fremont (12-11) vs. Kouts (26-2): Gable Pentecost had 28 points in the Eagles’ 69-45 win over Elkhart Christian. Connor Croff scored 19 points in the No. 3 Mustangs’ 67-53 win over Washington Township. Matt’s pick: Kouts 70, Fremont 52.
Championship: Kouts 69, Triton 55.
FRANKFORT
Cowan (15-8) vs. Lafayette Central Catholic (8-10): The Knights crowned Cowan, 71-35, during the 2001-02 season. Jacob Thomas finished with 20 points in the Blackhawks’ 55-53 win over Liberty Christian. Clark Barrett tallied 21 points in Lafayette Central Catholic’s 67-49 win over Covington. Matt’s pick: Lafayette Central Catholic 61, Cowan 58.
Seton Catholic (9-9) vs. Southwood (15-10): The Knights won a regional crown in 2018 with a 92-57 win over Seton Catholic. Jake Moynihan ended with 25 points in the Cardinals’ 49-47 win over Blue River Valley. Carson Rich registered 40 points in Southwood’s 69-44 win over Lakewood Park Christian. Matt’s pick: Southwood 47, Seton Catholic 45.
Championship: Lafayette Central Catholic 50, Southwood 45.
MARTINSVILLE
Southwestern (Shelbyville) (13-10) vs. Bethesda Christian (18-7): Riley Snepp managed 17 points in the Spartans’ 68-67 double-overtime win over Morristown. Demonte Ferguson finished with 14 points in the Patriots’ 59-47 win over Indiana Math and Science. Matt’s pick: Bethesda Christian 64, Southwestern 61.
Indianapolis Tindley (16-9) vs. Shakamak (10-12): The No. 8 Tigers claimed a 64-49 win over Shakamak in the 2017 regional semifinals. Aaron Humphrey scored 16 points in Tindley’s 58-46 win over No. 5 Indianapolis Lutheran. Coy Gilbert had 13 points in the Lakers’ 52-44 win over North Central (Farmersburg). Matt’s pick: Tindley 77, Shakamak 56.
Championship: Tindley 77, Southwestern 60.
LOOGOOTEE
Barr-Reeve (25-2) vs. Trinity Lutheran (12-13): The top-ranked Vikings cruised to a 51-31 win over Trinity Lutheran in the 2014 regional semifinals. Curt Hopf tallied 15 points in Barr-Reeve’s 56-38 win over No. 2 Loogootee. Jack Marksberry’s 14 points helped the Cougars to a 57-41 win over West Washington. Matt’s pick: Barr-Reeve 56, Trinity Lutheran 44.
Lanesville (17-7) vs. Evansville Day (13-5): Mason Miller rolled up 19 points in the Eagles’ 61-49 win over Christian Academy. Tyler Myers scored 26 points in the Eagles’ 64-49 win over Wood Memorial. Matt’s pick: Evansville Day 43, Lanesville 42.
Championship: Barr-Reeve 44, Lanesville 38.
