With boys basketball postseason coming around quickly, Bounce is here to quickly preview and discuss the area sectionals. Let’s take a look at Class 3A.
SECTIONAL 20 AT COLUMBIA CITY
Projected winner: Columbia City
Of the 15 games against Class 3A opponents that Columbia City has played this season, the Eagles have dropped just one of them – a three-point overtime loss to New Haven on the last day of January.
And, if you can’t tell, New Haven isn’t in the field at Columbia City.
Between the comfort of playing on your home floor and the balance of Columbia City’s roster, things are shaping up to be a fun week for Eagles fans looking to celebrate a second-consecutive sectional championship.
Player You Can’t Miss: Mason Pearson, NorthWood
Pearson’s smarts off the floor (he recently received a Lilly Endowment Scholarship covering all of his tuition for four years of college) are just as impactful on the floor.
A true big man on the block, the 6-foot-7 Pearson can play the four or the five and causes considerable issues around the bucket on both ends. Teaming up with fellow big Brogan Ferrell, the duo will make NorthWood a tough out in this field.
Don’t be surprised if: Fairfield, with their depth, holds the trophy in the end
We can’t predict Columbia City is just going to run away with this. That’s just boring. So keep an eye on the Falcons, who despite losses in two of their final three-regular season games, are a perfect 5-0 against Class 3A foes this year.
What makes Fairfield so troublesome is the fact that there are numerous guys on the roster who can beat you on any given night. Parker Smith. Drew Beachy. Brant Garber. Matthew Holsopple. Ben Kio. All are capable of stepping up and draining buckets.
Do not overlook the Columbia City-Fairfield matchup likely coming on Friday.
COLUMBIA CITY SECTIONAL SCHEDULE
Tuesday
Columbia City (19-4) vs. West Noble (5-17), 6 p.m.
Tippecanoe Valley (9-13) vs. Wawasee, (16-8), 7:30 p.m.
Friday
Fairfield (16-5) vs. Columbia City/West Noble, 6 p.m.
NorthWood (13-11) vs. Tippecanoe Valley/Wawasee, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday
Championship, 7:30 p.m.
SECTIONAL 21 AT DEKALB
Projected winner: Blackhawk Christian
Winner of eight-consecutive sectional crowns, the Braves are looking to do it again in their second year competing in Class 3A.
Naturally, Coach Matt Roth’s team has momentum entering the playoffs, having won five-straight games. While the scoring is led by a pair of sophomores in Bryce Lacross (18.9 ppg) and Drake Sefton (11.9 ppg), the senior presence is considerable, meaning this is not a team that lacks in-game playoff experience.
The road isn’t easy, with 18-win Angola to open sectional play on Tuesday and a potential showdown with 14-win DeKalb on Friday. But Blackhawk Christian is still the favorite by a considerable margin.
Player You Can’t Miss: Ayden O’Neal, Garrett
While it hasn’t been a very memorable season for Garrett, it has a chance to turn things around with a rematch against DeKalb in Tuesday’s quarterfinals.
O’Neal has had a stop-start season with injuries, but has seemed to find his stride. He dropped 17 points against DeKalb in an 11-point loss on Feb. 20, one of four-consecutive games he has scored 13 points or more and led Garrett in scoring last Friday in a regular season closing win.
O’Neal, a junior, could be the catalyst for the Railroaders as they seek an upset.
Don’t be surprised if: Angola’s physicality and depth prevail
The best game of this entire sectional could be the first one – Blackhawk Christian and Angola. While they did not meet in the regular season, both have been very impressive against Class 3A foes this year, going a collective 17-2 against class opponents and 7-0 in games with sectional foes.
To play with Blackhawk Christian, you have to be both physical and deep. The Hornets can do both as they have eight players who average double-digit minutes per game. While sophomore Niles Knox and senior Ryan Stuckey will need to be on offensively, it is how Angola plays on the defensive end and the boards that will largely play into if the Hornets can keep it close against the Braves. If they can do that, and perhaps catch Blackhawk Christian a tad unawares in a sleepy atmosphere at 6 p.m. on a Tuesday (don’t get us started about sectional seeding), anything can happen.
DEKALB SECTIONAL SCHEDULE
Tuesday
Blackhawk Christian (17-7) vs. Angola (18-5), 6 p.m.
DeKalb (14-9) vs. Garrett (6-17), 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday
East Noble (5-17) vs. Bishop Dwenger (6-16), 6 p.m.
Concordia Lutheran (4-17) vs. Leo (7-15), 7:30 p.m.
Friday
Blackhawk Christian/Angola vs. DeKalb/Garrett, 6 p.m.
East Noble/Bishop Dwenger vs. Concordia Lutheran/Leo, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday
Championship, 7:30 p.m.
SECTIONAL 22 AT BELLMONT
Projected winner: New Haven
Just two years ago, the Bulldogs stumbled to a 7-17 overall record and a 25-point loss to Wayne in the sectional opener.
Since then, Coach Brandon Appleton has rebuilt the New Haven program and has the team poised to win their first sectional championship in six years.
The final third of the regular-season schedule was brutal for the Bulldogs, who fell to the likes of Homestead, Huntington North, Noblesville and South Side, but did pick up wins over the likes of 14-win Carroll, 12-win Norwell and Columbia City (70-67 in overtime) that helped New Haven win the Northeast Eight.
The draw is friendly, with seven-win Mississinewa in the first round and Bellmont (7-16) receiving the bye and lining up to be Friday’s foe.
With a seasoned roster of juniors and seniors who remember that campaign a few years ago, this group has confidence despite the two-losing streak to cap the regular-season.
Player You Can’t Miss: Daniel Selking, Bellmont
While Bellmont may not be picked to make much noise in this sectional, Selking, its super sophomore, is worth the price of admission.
A pure scorer who seemingly has no range limits on the outside, Selking has emerged as one of the best in the area at filling in the bucket, regardless of class.
He dropped 40 points on Adams Central on Jan. 2 and 33 points against Huntington North later in the month. He can play the point or as an off guard and must be accounted for at all times.
Don’t be surprised if: New Haven wins every game by 20-plus
There are teams in the top half of the field that could present some problems for the Bulldogs. In fact, all three could – Norwell, Heritage and Marion.
But New Haven has already beaten Norwell and Heritage, and New Haven would like nothing more than to see Marion again after the Giants took down Coach Appleton’s team in overtime in last year’s sectional final.
If New Haven enters the week mentally set on what it can accomplish and play to its potential, no one will touch it.
BELLMONT SECTIONAL SCHEDULE
Tuesday
Norwell (12-10) vs. Heritage (15-8), 6 p.m.
Mississinewa (7-15) vs. New Haven (16-7), 7:30 p.m.
Friday
Marion (5-16) vs. Norwell/Heritage, 6 p.m.
Bellmont (7-16) vs. Mississinewa/New Haven, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday
Championship, 7:30 p.m.
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