Things just were average last week as I registered a 29-9 (76 percent) record during the sectionals. My overall mark is now 267-85, which keeps me at 76 percent for the season. All contests take place on March 9.
CLASS 4A
MICHIGAN CITY
Penn (22-3) vs. Chesterton (19-6): Kegan Hoskins tallied eight points for the No. 9 Kingsmen in their 63-60 victory over Adams. Jake Eaton’s seven points helped the Trojans claim a 35-30 win over defending champion Valparaiso. Penn is going for its first regional crown since 2006, while Chesterton is looking for its first title. Matt’s pick: Penn 64, Chesterton 55.
Northridge (18-8) vs. Munster (22-4): Alex Stauffer came up with 12 points in the Raiders’ 59-46 win over Warsaw. Luke Balac had nine points for the Mustangs in their 56-33 win against Lowell. Northridge has never won a regional, while Munster’s last title came in 2011. Matt’s pick: Munster 51, Northridge 47.
Championship: Penn 69, Northridge 63.
LOGANSPORT
Carmel (22-1) vs. Fort Wayne Northrop (16-8): Karsten Windlan recorded 10 points for the top-ranked Greyhounds in a 45-39 win over Hamilton Southeastern. Isaac Anderson poured in 33 points for the Bruins in their 72-66 decision over East Noble. Carmel is trying for its second consecutive regional crown, while Fort Wayne Northrop’s previous title came in 1987. Matt’s pick: Carmel 61, Fort Wayne Northrop 52.
Huntington North (22-4) vs. Zionsville (20-5): Trey Williams accounted for 12 points in the Vikings’ 51-40 victory over Fort Wayne Wayne. Nate Childress racked up 18 points for the No. 7 Eagles in a 64-41 win over McCutcheon. Huntington North has not celebrated a regional championship since 1999, while Zionsville’s last crown was in 1953. Matt’s pick: Zionsville 58, Huntington North 50.
Championship: Carmel 68, Zionsville 60.,
CLASS 3A
SOUTH BEND WASHINGTON
Hanover Central (17-8) vs. Culver Academy (21-3): Joey Glidewell added 10 points in the Wildcats’ 50-42 victory against defending champion Calumet. Trey Galloway registered 16 points for the No. 3 and defending state champion Eagles in their 52-41 win over No. 5 Marian. Hanover Central has never claimed a regional title, while Culver Academy is going for two in a row. Matt’s pick: Culver Academy 66, Hanover Central 49.
Hammond (17-7) vs. West Lafayette (16-9): Reggie Abram ended up with 17 points in the Wildcats’ 50-40 win over Gary West. Tyler Boyle finished with 18 points in the Red Devils’ 79-58 win over Maconaquah. Hammond is in pursuit of its first regional crown, while West Lafayette’s last championship came in 1989. Matt’s pick: West Lafayette 76, Hammond 70.
Championship: Culver Academy 71, Hammond 54.
MARION
Angola (20-5) vs. Marion (17-7): Joel Knox managed 14 points in the Hornets’ 47-37 win against New Haven. Qu’Ran Howard tallied 19 points for the Giants in a 64-40 win over Heritage. Angola’s previous regional championship came in 1999, while Marion has not won one since 2016. Matt’s pick: Marion 59, Angola 48.
Delta (26-0) vs. Tippecanoe Valley (15-9); Josh Bryan scored 25 points for the No. 1 Eagles in a 59-55 win against defending champ New Castle. Cameron Parker netted eight points in the Vikings; 43-31 win against Wawasee. Delta is looking for its first regional championship since 2009, while Tippecanoe Valley’s lone crown came in 2000. Matt’s pick: Delta 62, Tippecanoe Valley 53.
Championship: Marion 73, Delta 68.
CLASS 2A
NORTH JUDSON
Marquette Catholic (16-8) vs. Andrean (17-8): The 59ers earned a 69-55 win over Marquette Catholic on January 5. Karson Grott tallied 14 points for the Blazers in a 59-49 win against North Judson. John Carrothers recorded 17 points in Andrean’s 70-64 win over Bowman Academy. Marquette Catholic is looking for its first regional crown since 2017, while the 59ers’ previous championship was in 2013. Matt’s pick: Andrean 65, Marquette Catholic 60.
Westview (24-5) vs. Bluffton (9-15): Nic Rensberger registered 13 points for the No. 5 Warriors in their 63-46 win over Prairie Heights. Landon McLish came up with 14 points in the Tigers’ 44-38 win over Adams Central. Westview is going after back-to-back regional titles, while Bluffton has not celebrated one since 2002. Matt’s pick: Westview 69, Bluffton 50.
Championship: Westview 57, Andrean 52.
LAPEL
Wabash (21-4) vs. Frankton (23-3): The No. 5 Eagles soared to a 69-55 win over Wabash during the 2005-06 campaign. Trenton Daugherty rolled up 20 points in the Apaches’ 63-60 win over Manchester. Rylan Detling recorded 14 points in Frankton’s 53-50 win over Wapahani. Wabash’s last regional championship came in 1956, while the Eagles claimed one in 2017. Matt’s pick: Frankton 47, Wabash 44.
Covington (21-4) vs. Alexandria (19-7): Colton Brown accounted for 20 points in the Trojans’ 71-53 victory over Delphi. Brennan Morehead came up with 26 points in the Tigers’ 63-30 triumph against Madison-Grant. Covington is trying for its first regional title since 2017, while Alexandria’s last championship came in 1999. Matt’s pick: Covington 68, Alexandria 63.
Championship: Frankton 66, Covington 61.
CLASS 1A
TRITON
Argos (21-4) vs. Covenant Christian (DeMotte) (22-4): The No. 7 Dragons cruised to a 67-28 win over No. 10 Covenant Christian in the 2007-08 season. Owen Nifong racked up eight points for Argos in its 47-37 win over Triton. Carson Bakker recorded 16 points in the Knights’ 64-62 win over Pioneer. The Dragons have not won a regional championship since 1979, while Covenant Christian is going for its first title. Matt’s pick: Argos 53, Covenant Christian 49.
Fort Wayne Blackhawk (24-2) vs. Gary 21st Century (19-6): The top-ranked Braves rolled to a 100-62 win over No. 3 Gary 21st Century in last year’s Culver regional final. Frank Davidson scored 27 points for Blackhawk in 99-44 win over Fremont. Triyonte Lomax’s 18 points lifted the Cougars to 75-62 win over No. 5 Kouts. The Braves are looking for their second straight regional crown, while Gary 21st Century won its previous title in 2017. Matt’s pick: Fort Wayne Blackhawk 79, Gary 21st Century 71.
Championship: Fort Wayne Blackhawk 75, Argos 60.
FRANKFORT
North Vermillion (19-8) vs. Southern Wells (11-14): Zyaan Taylor came up with 17 points in the Falcons’ 57-44 victory over Attica. Colton Paxson racked up 16 points for the Raiders in their 63-54 win over Liberty Christian. North Vermillion’s last regional championship occurred in 1969, while Southern Wells is trying for its first since 2000. Matt’s pick: North Vermillion 56, Southern Wells 48.
Randolph Southern (12-12) vs. Lafayette Central Catholic (22-4): Alex Wigginton’s 23 points vaulted the Rebels to a 67-58 win over Union City. David Schwartz netted 28 points in the No. 3 Knights’ 65-49 win against Northfield. Randolph Southern has never captured a regional crown before, while Lafayette Central Catholic’s last championship was in 2017. Matt’s pick: Lafayette Central Catholic 72, Randolph Southern 54.
Championship: Lafayette Central Catholic 74, North Vermillion 56.