Outside the Huddle is previewing every area sectional and giving our thoughts on who to watch.
Today, we head to Grant County in what appears on paper to be a wide-open sectional.
THE FAVORITE
MISSISSINEWA
Four losses in February has done nothing to diminish in Bounce’s mind that Mississinewa is still the favorite here. The Indians are loaded with experienced upperclassmen who lead them on the scoreboard – including Landen Swanner, Tai McClung and Colin Yoder.
Mississinewa is very calculated offensively in the half court. The team averages 17 assists per game and has the confidence to execute in the clutch.
The fact that Mississinewa is hosting the sectional is the final push to pick the Indians here. Yes, there may not be huge crowds, but not having to get on a bus and travel is a definite positive.
THE CONTENDER
BELLMONT
In the discussion of the Northeast Eight over the course of the season, rarely did anyone mention Coach Jonathon Fuelling’s Braves.
Yet here is Bellmont, winners of seven of its last nine regular-season games and sitting on 15 wins entering the playoffs.
Much like Mississinewa, the Braves are laden with experience. Leading scorers Tyler James (13.9 ppg) and Caden Staub (10.1 ppg) are both seniors, while the rest of the rotation is mostly juniors and seniors.
Bellmont is not going to blow anyone out of the gym, but it also is going to keep the game close and in the 40s and 50s on the scoreboard. The Braves beat both Heritage and Norwell during the regular season, but by just a combined six points.
Fuelling’s team wants to grind you down and win ugly. Is it enough for the program’s first sectional title since 2005?
THE OTHERS
HERITAGE
The Patriots will benefit from the bye and could be a factor with their 10 wins. However, it is tough to look at Heritage’s regular-season performance and see a title here.
Heritage earned just one victory over a 3A or 4A foe outside the ACAC this year – a 12-point win over Garrett in December. While this is a highly-competitive team, it is led by sophomore stud Luke Saylor and other underclassmen who just may not quite be ready yet to knock off solid teams in the playoffs.
EASTERN
A 12-win regular-season looks impressive, but Eastern is 0-5 this season against 3A competition and dropped February games to the likes of a two-win Northwestern team and a seven-win Wabash squad.
The inside-out duo of Evan Monize and Levi Mavrick will dictate just how much noise the Comets can make. Monize is the team’s leading scorer at 13.8 points per game, while Mavrick has connected on 41 percent of his three-point attempts.
NORWELL
The Knights very well may be a year away from being a threat to win a sectional title, but their young core is dangerous when it is on its game.
Norwell has been competitive against solid foes but lacks the experience to be able to execute in the clutch and put a team away. The Knights had teams like New Haven, Bishop Dwenger and Bellmont in trouble and let them all escape.
If the regular-season growing pains gave this team the ability to play a full 32 minutes in the playoffs, then Norwell could be a threat.
OAK HILL
Sophomore Landon Biegel can score and rebound on the regular for the Golden Eagles, but the team is stumbling into the playoffs, having lost six of its last eight.
Oak Hill and Mississinewa Round 2 will come on Tuesday, with the first matchup going to the Indians by a lopsided 19 points. If the Golden Eagles are to prevail, they will need a big night from Biegel, who has connected on 40 percent of his three-point tries.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Hayden Ulerick, Mississinewa: A versatile weapon who can score, rebound, find the open man and force turnovers, Ulerick is the Swiss Army knife for the Indians. The junior is also very solid from the free throw line, having not missed from the charity stripe since January.
Tyler James, Bellmont: The Braves’ leading scorer has launched 122 three-pointers this season, 35 percent of which he has hit. James is the definition of a streaky shooter. He is going to put up a lot of shots, and he may miss a fair share. But sometimes he can get as hot as they come. If he does that in key moments, Bellmont can win this sectional.
Luke Saylor, Heritage: Does the sophomore know any better? Perhaps he doesn’t and will come out unfazed by the playoff atmosphere and continue to drop points at nearly 20 points per game. The Patriots have a lot of faith in Saylor in guiding the offense and being the primary scorer. He has hit 57 percent of his shots inside the arc this year. Defenders must be aware of this when he steps in towards the hoop.
SCHEDULE
SECTIONAL 23 AT MISSISSINEWA
Tuesday
Oak Hill (11-11) vs. Mississinewa (14-8), 6 p.m.
Bellmont (14-7) vs. Eastern (12-9), 7:30 p.m.
Friday
Heritge (10-9) vs. Oak Hill/Mississinewa, 6 p.m.
Norwell (9-13) vs. Bellmont/Eastern, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 6
Championship, 7:30 p.m.
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
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