With boys basketball postseason coming around quickly, Bounce is here to quickly preview and discuss the area Sectionals, now in Class 2A.
SECTIONAL 35 AT WESTVIEW
Projected winner: Westview
The Warriors have beaten every other team in this sectional, with the closest game an 18-point victory over Lakeland in mid-December. Westview received a bye and will play the winner of Churubusco and Eastside on Friday in the first semifinal. A likely rematch with Lakeland looms in Saturday’s championship game.
Coach Chandler Prible’s team is seeking its fourth-straight sectional championship in Prible’s fourth year. Westview’s lone loss this season came at Class 4A Northridge in the second game of the season. Since then, it has been 21-consecutive dubs for the Warriors.
This sectional should be a breeze for Westview.
Player You Can’t Miss: Kyle Hartsough, Lakeland
Underrate this 5-foot-9 point guard at your own risk. Despite his diminutive frame, Hartsough runs the Lakers offense exceptionally well, plays very good defense and is not afraid to go mix it up close to the basket and battle for rebounds. His three point shooting prowess has continued to grow throughout his senior season and he is a real asset for the Laker to alter games.
To knock off Westview, Lakeland will need Hartsough to be at his best.
Don’t be surprised if: You aren’t surprised.
We always hope for exciting sectionals. This one just isn’t giving off those vibes. Now, anything can happen, but if Westview comes out and plays to its potential, no one in this field will touch them. It is evident from head-to-head matchups in the regular season that no one else in the bracket has what it takes to hang with the Warriors when they are on…and even when they are off.
So barring something crazy, Westview will make it 4-for-4 in sectional titles under Coach Prible.
SCHEDULE
Tuesday
Churubusco (3-18) vs. Eastside (9-13), 6 p.m.
Prairie Heights (11-10) vs. Central Noble (4-17), 7:30 p.m.
Friday
Westview (22-1) vs. Churubusco/Eastside, 6 p.m.
Lakeland (15-7) vs. Prairie Heights/Central Noble, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday
Championship, 7:30 p.m.
SECTIONAL 36 AT BLUFFTON
Projected winner: Bishop Luers
This is a battle-tested Knights team that has seen a little bit of everything through the course of the regular season. Over its final 10 games of the year, nine were played against teams that finished with double-digit victories.
Bishop Luers finished the regular season with five road games, picking up wins at Huntington North and North Side, but falling to Columbia City and Carroll.
The draw was friendly to Coach Seth Coffing’s club, a bye followed by a matchup with either Whitko or Adams Central. As long as the Knights have not been worn down by the brutal stretch of games it played throughout February, it should feel good about a second-straight sectional championship.
Player You Can’t Miss: Declan Grieser, Bluffton
Bluffton limps into the playoffs with losses in three of its last four games, but Grieser is exceptional when it comes to filling up the bucket.
Despite falling to 19-win Southwood last week, Grieser did all he could to keep the Tigers in the game, dropping 24 points to lead all scorers.
The senior seems to shine in the biggest moments, and will be needed to perform this week as Bluffton seeks its first sectional title in seven years.
Don’t be surprised if: Woodlan puts up a bit of a fight
In mid-January, Woodlan went on the road to Bluffton and dropped a 46-39 decision to the Tigers, one of five-consecutive losses for the Warriors.
But Coach John Baker’s team finished strong, winning four of five down the stretch, including at Bishop Dwenger, to gain some momentum heading into March.
This is a team with an exceptional amount of youth – its top six scorers are all underclassmen – which can be a blessing and a curse. The urgency may not be there for those who have remaining eligibility, but Woodlan can also play carefree and loose knowing the pressure isn’t on them.
That could be dangerous in a potential rematch against Bluffton in the semis, with Woodlan receiving a bye to Friday.
SCHEDULE
Tuesday
Bluffton (15-7) vs. South Adams (9-12), 6 p.m.
Whitko (9-14) vs. Adams Central (4-17), 7:30 p.m.
Friday
Woodlan (9-12) vs. Bluffton/South Adams, 6 p.m.
Bishop Luers (12-11) vs. Whitko/Adams Central, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday
Championship, 7 p.m.
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