After going 30-9 (77 percent) during sectional week, my overall record is now 291-72, which leaves me at 80 percent for the season.
SATURDAY
CLASS 4A MICHIGAN CITY
Chesterton (20-5) vs. Penn (26-1): The Trojans earned a 59-48 win over No. 2 Penn in last year’s Michigan City regional final. Tyler Parrish netted 31 points in Chesterton’s 66-50 win over Valparaiso. Marcus Burton poured in 37 points in the Kingsmen’s 75-62 win over Northridge. Matt’s pick: Penn 72, Chesterton 60.
Hammond Central (25-1) vs. Mishawaka (20-6): Kenneth Grant managed 14 points in the No. 3 Wolves’ 54-53 win over No. 8 Munster. Arthur Jones added 20 points in the Cavemen’s 77-68 win over Michigan City. Matt’s pick: Hammond Central 54, Mishawaka 48.
CLASS 4A LOGANSPORT
Fort Wayne Wayne (20-4) vs. Noblesville (19-6): The Generals edged Noblesville, 51-49, during the 2019-20 season. Jevon Lewis had 14 points, including the game-winning basket, in Fort Wayne Wayne’s 55-53 triumph over Homestead. Luke Almodovar tallied 23 points in the Millers’ 58-50 win over Zionsville. Matt’s pick: Noblesville 56, Fort Wayne Wayne 53.
Kokomo (21-4) vs. For Wayne North (16-9): The Legends posted a 59-57 win over No. 5 Kokomo during the 2020-21 campaign. Shayne Spear’s 24 points lifted the Wildkats to an 85-51 win over Marion. Brauntae Johnson registered 26 points in Fort Wayne North’s 64-48 win over Fort Wayne Northrop. Matt’s pick: Kokomo 70, Fort Wayne North 58.
CLASS 3A WASHINGTON
NorthWood (24-2) vs. Lake Station (22-3): Brock Bontrager racked up 10 points in the top-ranked Panthers’ 57-24 win over No. 7 West Noble. Willie Miller scored 12 points as the No. 8 Fighting Eagles captured their first sectional title since 1941 with a 66-48 win over Hanover Central. Matt’s pick: NorthWood 52, Lake Station 44.
Glenn (16-10) vs. Washington (18-5): The Falcons soared to a 52-31 win over No. 9 Washington on December 16. Chase Miller chipped in six points in Glenn’s 58-47 win over Culver Academy. Steven Reynolds III accounted for 21 points in Washington’s 62-61 overtime win over Saint Joseph. Matt’s pick: Washington 63, Glenn 57.
CLASS 3A NEW CASTLE
Twin Lakes (10-14) vs. Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger (12-13): Luke Deno ended with 20 points in the Indians’ 61-59 win over Rensselaer Central. Preston Ross ended with 21 points in the Saints’ 36-33 win over Fort Wayne Concordia. Matt’s pick: Twin Lakes 43, Bishop Dwenger 40.
Delta (17-9) vs. Peru (17-7): The Eagles needed a pair of overtimes to come away with a 57-54 win over Peru in the 2009 regional semifinals. Jackson Wors came up with 20 points in Delta’s 50-37 win over New Castle. Gavin Eldridge mustered 23 points in the Bengal Tigers’ 78-68 upset of No, 3 Norwell. Matt’s pick: Peru 55, Delta 51.
CLASS 2A NORTH JUDSON
North Judson (23-3) vs. Lewis Cass (18-7): Ty Schumacher finished with 21 points in the Bluejays’ 56-48 win over Career Academy. Luke Chambers amassed 26 points in the Kings’ 61-56 win over Wabash. Matt’s pick: North Judson 50, Lewis Cass 44.
Westview (17-8) vs. Gary 21st Century (20-5): Luke Helmuth’s 23 points lifted the Warriors to a 78-65 win over Central Noble. Lemetrius Williams contributed 15 points in the No. 7 Cougars’ 71-52 win over Illiana Christian. Matt’s pick: Gary 21st Century 61, Westview 54.
CLASS 2A LAPEL
Fort Wayne Blackhawk (23-3) vs. Tipton (18-9): Isaac Smith managed 13 points in the No. 3 Braves’ 39-32 win over Adams Central. Nolan Swan accounted for 28 points in the Blue Devils’ 58-40 win over Taylor. Matt’s pick: Fort Wayne Blackhawk 48, Tipton 41.
Wapahani (24-1) vs. Carroll (Flora) (22-4): Nathan Nelson recorded 24 points in the No. 2 Raiders’ 53-34 win over Muncie Burris. Owen Duff registered 21 points in the No. 10 Cougars’ 50-36 win over Clinton Prairie. Matt’s pick: Wapahani 51, Carroll (Flora) 45.
CLASS 1A TRITON
Tri-County (12-12) vs. Marquette Catholic (19-7): The No. 10 Blazers were a 69-60 winner over Tri-County in the 2015 regional final. Kobe Bahler’s 12 points lifted the Cavaliers to a 43-40 overtime win over North White. Lukas Balling amassed 24 points in Marquette Catholic’s 49-41 win over Culver, Matt’s pick: Marquette Catholic 63, Tri-County 50.
Kouts (16-9) vs. Bethany Christian (16-10): The Bruins recorded a 64-59 victory against Kouts in the 2002 regional title game. Spencer Andrews scored 16 points in the Mustangs’ 60-52 upset of No. 7 Morgan Township. Tyson Chupp surpassed the 1,000-point mark for his career with 29 points in Bethany Christian’s 63-49 win over Lakeland Christian. Matt’s pick: Kouts 53, Bethany Christian 48.
CLASS 1A FRANKFORT
Fountain Central (22-4) vs. Liberty Christian (15-9): Isaac Gayler ended with 14 points in the No.2 Mustangs’ 44-40 win over Rossville. Cedric Anderson came up with 17 points and eight rebounds in the Lions’ 69-51 win over Daleville. Matt’s pick: Fountain Central 47, Liberty Christian 44.4
Southwood (12-12) vs. Blue River Valley (20-6): Devon Lewis poured in 32 points in the Knights’ 70-57 win over Fort Wayne Canterbury. Landan Gibson scored 11 points in the Vikings’ 74-65 win over Seton Catholic. Matt’s pick: Blue River Valley 66, Southwood 58.