Outside the Huddle is breaking down every area boys basketball sectional as the playoffs loom.
Today we look at Class 4A Sectional 5, which will be hosted by DeKalb.
FAVORITE
CARROLL (15-7)
It is a crowded field of contenders in Sectional 5, and you could make a case for any number of teams. But Bounce is going with Carroll.
The Chargers dropped close decisions to Homestead and Huntington North in the final few weeks of the regular season, but rebounded by winning two straight heading into the playoffs.
While Dan McKeeman and David Ejah are exceptional offensive players, Carroll gets the nod as the sectional favorite primarily because of its defense. In six regular-season games against teams in this bracket, the Chargers allowed an average of 40.5 points.
CONTENDERS
EAST NOBLE (19-3)
Can the Knights end an 18-year sectional championship drought? Coach Ryan Eakins has put his squad in the conversation to do just that. The trio of Ali Ali, Brent Cox and Hayden Jones give East Noble plenty of talent and experience at the top.
East Noble got a pretty favorable draw in playing North Side in the first round. While Carroll faces Northrop and Snider takes on Bishop Dwenger, the Knights should coast into the semis.
SNIDER (14-8)
Which Snider Panthers team will we see this week at DeKalb? Even after 22 games, there is no consistency in terms of what we see from game to game out of Coach Jeremy Rauch’s squad.
Snider has lost three of five, but it capped the regular season with a very impressive home victory over Marion in which it held super sophomore Jalen Blackmon scoreless in the second half other than 4 points late in meaningless minutes.
Junior Dillon Duff has become Snider’s most consistent scoring threat, averaging just over 17 points per contest. Can he lead the Panthers on the court and in the huddle to a sectional crown?
NORTHROP (13-8)
The Bruins have just two wins in the month of February, but there is enough talent that this team could win a sectional if it figures some things out.
Unfortunately, the last several losses have not necessarily been close games. Bishop Dwenger handled Northrop by double digits, as did Blackhawk Christian and Carroll.
Opponents have figured out how to neutralize others on the team while frustrating Sydney Curry in the post. If the Bruins can figure out how to break down some defensive looks, they have a chance.
THE REST
BISHOP DWENGER (11-10)
Can the Saints upset a team in this sectional? Absolutely. Can it pull out enough upset wins to win the sectional? Probably not.
That’s where the Saints stand, having to knock off Snider, likely East Noble and then probably Northrop or Carroll in the championship. That’s a tough road.
DEKALB (6-16)
The Barons have played all the teams in this sectional with the exception of North Side. They are 0-5 in those games with an average margin of defeat of 23.8.
The bye into Friday is nice, but it only delays the inevitable.
NORTH SIDE (3-18)
It has been a trying year for the Legends under Gary Andrews. With a roster largely devoid of talent, North has fought hard but fell short time after time.
Unfortunately, the draw pits the Legends against East Noble in Wednesday’s second game. That’s not good.
These opinions represent those of Bounce and Outside the Huddle. No opinions expressed on Outside the Huddle represent those of any of our advertisers. Follow Bounce on Twitter at Bounce_OTH
1 Trackback / Pingback