With boys basketball postseason coming around quickly, Bounce is here to quickly preview and discuss the area Sectionals, now in Class 4A.
SECTIONAL 4 AT ELKHART
Projected winner: Northridge
The Raiders have been a powerhouse all season, finishing the regular season with a 22-1 record after last week’s win over DeKalb to complete the season. They are the overwhelming favorites in this Sectional that also boasts some familiar foes.
The Raiders’ success has been fueled by balanced scoring, disciplined defense, and momentum-building streaks. Northridge features standout senior forward Brady Scholl, a 6-foot-6 interior presence who anchors the frontcourt and provides star-level production. Earlier in the seasonm he showcased his dominance at the Phil Cox Memorial Invitational, averaging 26.3 points and 11 rebounds across three games—including a 40-point outing in the opener—while leading the Raiders to the tournament title. Scholl had 32 points in the regular season ending win over DeKalb.
Player You Can’t Miss: Mydin Burgher, Warsaw
Burgher came into the year emerging as one of the Tigers’ primary offensive leaders and most reliable all-around players. He has consistently delivered quality performances this season, including a 16-point performance in Warsaw’s early win over Blackhawk Christian and a 15-point outing in a conference matchup against Wawasee. Burgher led Warsaw in scoring 19 times in their first 22 games, highlighted by a 22-point effort against Harrison, and underscoring his role as the team’s go-to scorer and closer. His steady production and leadership reinforced his reputation as a poised floor leader.
Don’t be surprised if: Northridge rolls and it isn’t even close
While Scholl is the go to and arguably the best player in this entire Sectional, he is supported by a veteran lineup that included guards Hayden Johnson and Hayden Gorball and forward Luke Mann, giving Northridge both perimeter creation and interior strength. Northridge’s regular season run highlighted their efficiency, depth, and experience, positioning the Raiders as a dangerous and deep postseason opponent capable of making a deep tournament run.
In other words, even though there is some strong play elsewhere in this bracket, this may not be much of a contest at all if Northridge plays to their potential.
SCHEDULE
Tuesday
Concord (7-12) vs. Goshen (14-6), 7 p.m.
Friday
Elkhart (10-10) vs. Warsaw (11-11), 6 p.m.
Northridge (20-1) vs. Concord/Goshen, 7:45 p.m.
Saturday
Championship, 7:30 p.m.
SECTIONAL 5 AT NORTHROP
Projected winner: Snider
Senior Xavier Wilson has been the engine of the Panthers’ offense, leading the team with 15.9 points per game and also topping the squad in assists at 3.6 per game. Behind Wilson, junior Ketron Paschall has been a key two-way contributor, ranking as Snider’s most efficient shooter and leading the Panthers in rebounding with 6.4 boards per game, with 1.5 blocks per contest. Junior Trell Hogue has also added scoring punch with double-digit points per outing, rounding out a balanced attack.
The Panthers’ ability to both score in bunches and snag rebounds helped fuel high offensive outputs, including a recent 96-74 win over Marion; the Panthers have scored 70 or more points on ten occasions, winning each of those.. Snider’s strong balance has been key in building a team capable of grinding out close games
Player You Can’t Miss: Jack Van Order, Carroll
He’s had standout performances — including a 20-point outing in a key victory over Fort Wayne Snider where he led a balanced attack — and his efforts have helped Carroll stay competitive in a challenging schedule as he averages a team second best 12 points per game. Something that stands out from VanOrder is his work ethic and defensive intensity (team best 1.3 steals per game). His junior campaign has cemented him as a cornerstone for the Chargers as they push toward sectional title hopes.
Don’t be surprised if: North Side makes a comfortable run
North Side flipped a 1-6 start pretty well to put up a 13-10 mark with wins in three of their last five heading into the postseason. This has become a program not as reliant on one offensive threat, though Sebastian Moore (16.8 ppg) has been stellar for them. North Side opens with a Northrop team that they beat by 20 in January and if they can reach the finals, they will have to get back a loss from earlier this season as they fell to Carroll by 10 and Snider by 2.
But this is a team getting more comfortable, with four guys averaging double figures scoring. The Snider rematch is a wash from the first outing, which came on December 19, far before the Legends had formed an identity under new (old?) head coach Shabaz Khaliq. When they met Carroll just a month ago, North struggled from the field shooting just 31 percent, which is 17 percent less than their season average.
SCHEDULE
Friday
Snider (16-7) vs. Carroll (12-9), 6 p.m.
North Side (12-10) vs. Northrop (6-16), 7:45 p.m.
Saturday
Championship, 7:30 p.m.
SECTIONAL 6 AT HUNTINGTON NORTH
Projected winner: South Side
The Archers’ success has been fueled by balanced scoring and guard-driven production, led by junior Jayvon Irby (12.9 points per game) and senior J.T. Timberlake-Johnson adding 11 per contest. Their efficiency has also stood out, highlighted by Kendrick Alexander Jr.’s 59% field-goal shooting and Timberlake-Johnson’s 58% mark, numbers that reflect a team that converts at a high rate rather than relying solely on volume scoring.
Statistically, South Side’s versatility shows across multiple categories. Timberlake-Johnson leads the team on the glass at 6.4 rebounds per game, while Irby orchestrates the offense with 4.5 assists per game. The Archers also get strong perimeter production, as Irby and Josh Sandoval each shoot 36% from three. With multiple juniors topping key statistical leaderboards and producing, South Side has built a deep, balanced roster that is built for a postseason run.
Player You Can’t Miss: Mack Welker, Homestead
What else do you say about Mack Welker at this point. While the Spartans haven’t had a banner year yet, their lineup always lends to the expectation that they capture a title fairly easily. Welker is the catalyst for that, averaging 21.1 points and 10.3 rebounds per game, he is one of the few area players to flirt with double double averages on the season. He takes a lot of pressure off Homestead in so many areas. It will be a fun Sectional to see how other teams choose to match up with him, whether its Huntington North for the first time or South Side and Wayne in rematches of games that Welker and Homestead won.
Don’t be surprised if: Wayne is harder to eliminate than expected
It has been a deeper and more prepared than some expected showing from Wayne this season. And just because the other three teams have bigger wins, do not ever count Wayne out. Junior guard Tyree Eldridge is averaging 15.0 points per game, followed closely by senior LaShawn Green at 12.7 PPG and breakout sophomore Everen Akison at 11.4 PPG, giving Wayne multiple scoring options on any given night. On the glass, Javontae Eldridge leads the pack with 7.5 rebounds per game, while Tyree Eldridge also helps crash the boards at 6.2 per contest. Akison has paced the Generals in assists (3.8 per game) and steals (2.1 per game), highlighting his playmaking and defensive instincts that have blossomed greatly this season, and Wayne also gets notable shot-blocking from both Javontae Eldridge and Uriah Williams with 1.3 blocks per game each.
SCHEDULE
Friday
South Side (17-4) vs. Homestead (16-6), 6 p.m.
Huntington North (13-8) vs. Wayne (12-10), 7:45 p.m.
Saturday
Championship, 7:30 p.m.
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