Throughout the weekend, your favorite amphibian is going to be checking in on the sectionals that will most interest our area teams and readers. The favorite team listed, well that is my pick to walk out of Saturday, February 8 with a trophy.
We continue in class 2A with a Sectional at Bluffton, where the host Tigers are the two-time defending champions. This fun field starts on Tuesday with a single 7 p.m. game with other games Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.
Note: Records are as of the morning of Saturday, February 1
FAVORITE
ADAMS CENTRAL (16-7)
You could name multiple favorites here, but my pick is for the ACAC Tournament runner up team for two main reasons: McKenna Dietsch and Carly Holley. Dietsch is a real gamer and capable of getting hot at almost any time of any game; if she does, that is a real problem for any other team in this Sectional. On top of that, Holley has been playing her best basketball lately as a major double-double threat. Their inside-out tandem is the best that Sectional 36 has to offer. Junior Sage Hammond is also playing well.
The Flying Jets made it to last year’s Sectional final before losing to Bluffton. They have not won a Sectional crown since 2001.
CONTENDERS
EASTSIDE (15-6)
What a year it has been for Eastside, who is very young overall and with a new head coach. Part of that screams rebuild, but the Blazers spent much of the season sitting in the top 10 of Outside the Huddle’s Power Poll. Losing 4 of their last 6 takes them out of a favorite role here but this is a team capable of beating anyone else in this Sectional and it wouldn’t be any surprise. Sullivan Kessler sets a very fun pace and Allyson King is going to be a fun challenge in a Sectional that is actually full of quality post play.
THE REST
BLUFFTON (7-15)
The two time defending champs have home court and that is great ground for them to stand on. Coach Karl Grau will be the first to tell you that their record is a let down, but this is a third team that is capable of beating anyone if they get hot. Emme Boots is arguably the best all around player in the Sectional, Olivia King is a knockdown shooter if she gets hot and Zoe Barger has developed multiple dimensions of her post play this season. Their draw means they likely get to Friday and if they can get momentum rolling at home, they are more of a contender.
SOUTH ADAMS (11-11)
Senior Lydia Loshe certainly isn’t going to go out without a fight and it keeps the Starfires viable as potential contenders in the Sectional. It is time for the underclassmen, including Peyton Pries to gear up to the next level. South Adams is going to have to rely on a solid defensive structure and rebounding against bigger teams if they want their first Sectional since 2017.
CHURUBUSCO (6-15)
When you watch Busco, the first thing you will notice is the motor of Mariah Hosted. She helped will this team to a near upset of Central Noble this past Friday. The Eagles are willing to fly around at a lot of different speeds and it makes playing them tough without being able to take much time off.
CANTERBURY (2-16)
Canterbury isn’t back from the dead officially, but they are pushing forward with a pair of wins, including against Whitko, a fellow Sectional 36 team. Like Whitko, they need to build off a lineup that mostly returns, led by junior Marissa Rivers.
WHITKO (1-15)
Things have not stacked up good for the Wildcats. They have lost 15 straight after opening the season with a win and struggle with any kind of pressure defense. This is year one of a major rebuild. The good news is they have time to grow; freshman Morgan Howard leads a lineup that, save for one senior, is all freshmen and sophomores.
Sectional 36 at Bluffton Schedule
Tuesday, Feb. 4
Churubusco vs. Adams Central, 7 p.m.
Wednesday, Feb. 5
Bluffton vs. Whitko, 6 p.m.
South Adams vs. Eastside, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 7
Canterbury vs. Churubusco/Adams Central winner, 6 p.m.
Bluffton/Whitko winner vs. South Adams/Eastside winner, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 8: Finals, 7:30 p.m.
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