Today begins the 98th annual boys basketball tournament. No better way to prepare than to do what I did last night - watch "Hoosiers." That's right, I sat down with my old friends Norman Dale and Jimmy Chitwood late last night. And while that kind of tournament (single-class) is no longer with us, there's still plenty of story and intrigue in this year's Indiana high school boys basketball tournament.
Here's a couple that come to mind:
- Who will come out of loaded the Class 4A Sectional 10 at Warren Central? No. 4 Cathedral would be the favorite based on record and ranking - but the Irish have to face the home team, Warren Central, in their first game. And with Walter Offutt possibly returning, Joshua Jones and so many others on a very talented Warrriors squad, Cathedral could be a top 5 team facing a one and down situation. Lawrence North has the height to challenge for a state crown, but the Wildcats went just 3-3 over their final six games.
- Elsewhere in Class 4A, can No. 5 Carmel make a run like the girls basketball team has? It would be an incredible story for the school: State titles in football, girls swimming, possibly girls basketball and boys basketball for the Greyhounds. As someone asked The Mind yesterday, has a school ever won 3-4 state titles in a school year?
- Looking at Class 3A, Sectional 26 may be just as loaded as 4A Sectional 10. Chatard (15-5), Beech Grove (16-3), Northwest (15-6), Roncalli (14-5) and Howe (15-6) all have a legitimate shot to not only win the sectional, but advance to the state finals at Conseco Fieldhouse next month.
- And can the Class 2A Guerin Catholic Golden Eagles keep up their unbelievable season? Pete Smith's 16-5 squad will take on Madison-Grant (14-6) tonight. Here's a look at all tonight's games featuring Central Indiana schools:
Sectional 8
Muncie Central (13-7) vs. Pendleton Heights (12-9), 6 p.m.
Anderson (15-6) vs. Richmond (12-7), 7:30 p.m.
Sectional 9 at Carmel
Carmel (18-2) vs. Zionsville (8-12), 6 p.m.
Westfield (5-15) vs. Hamilton SE (13-7), 7:30 p.m.
Sectional 10 at Warren Central
Cathedral (20-2) vs. Warren Central (16-6), 7 p.m.
Sectional 11 at Perry Meridian
Perry Meridian (12-8) vs. Center Grove (12-8), 7 p.m.
Sectional 12 at Brownsburg
Ben Davis (5-14) vs. Brownsburg (15-5), 7 p.m.
Sectional 13 at Martinsville
Plainfield (16-3) vs. Terre Haute South (18-4), 6 p.m.
Terre Haute North (8-13) vs. Martinsville (9-11), 7:30 p.m.
CLASS 3A
Sectional 25 at North Montgomery
Western Boone (15-5) vs. Southmont (8-12), 6 p.m.
Lebanon (2-17) vs. Crawfordsville (9-11), 7:30 p.m.
Sectional 26 at Beech Grove
Bishop Chatard (15-5) vs. Howe (15-6), 6 p.m.
Roncalli (14-5) vs. Beech Grove (16-3), 7:30 p.m.
Sectional 27 at Shelbyville
Shelbyville (6-13) vs. Mount Vernon (11-8), 7 p.m.
CLASS 2A
Sectional 40 at Tipton
Guerin Catholic (16-5) vs. Madison-Grant (14-6), 7 p.m.
Sectional 41 at Alexandria
Muncie Burris (4-15) vs. Wapahani (12-7), 7 p.m.
Sectional 42 at Hagerstown
Cambridge City (7-14) vs. Shenandoah (6-14), 6 p.m.
Union County (10-10) vs. Northeastern (8-11), 7:30 p.m.
Sectional 43 at Triton Central
Scecina (7-13) vs. Park Tudor (9-10), 7 p.m.
Sectional 46 at South Putnam
Covenant Christian (13-6) vs. Monrovia (14-7), 6 p.m.
Cloverdale (8-13) vs. Speedway (4-15), 7:30 p.m.
CLASS A
Sectional 58 at Edinburgh
Morton Memorial (8-11) vs. Greenwood Christian (3-14), 7 p.m.
Sectional 59 at Lutheran
Indiana Deaf (15-5) vs. Bethesda Christian (6-15), 6 p.m.
International (5-14) vs. University (6-14), 7:30 p.m.
Now, just sit back, relax...and watch the tournament unfold. Indiana high school basketball's tradition continues - and I think Norman Dale would be proud.
Now, just sit back, relax...and watch the tournament unfold. Indiana high school basketball's tradition continues - and I think Norman Dale would be proud.
Posted by: Rich People.... on Tuesday, February 26, 2008
STINK! Look, it's great that Carmel has the facilities of a small college or university, but I am so sick and tired of hearing about this from the Star: "Carmel's great, blah, blah, blah. At least you guys put a twist on it when you cover them, but don't start talking about how great it could be if the school wins 543 titles this year. Newsflash - they SHOULD. They have the resources, the facilities, the athletes, the size to do so.
Posted by: Butch D. on Tuesday, February 26, 2008
I think the 3a sectional at Beech Grove could be indeed the toughest. From top to bottom, any of those teams have a chance to do something special.
Posted by: Derrick on Tuesday, February 26, 2008
What about WeBo? That team's prolly got an e-z sectional, but still have a solid record and a great bunch of players?
Posted by: Norman Dale (from the grave) on Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Since I would be about 110 years old, I haven't been paying attention, much like most of the high school basketball fans in this state. Go BACK TO THE ONE-CLASS BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT!!!! Unless basketball folks enjoy being trumped by football every year.
Posted by: Broom It on Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Yeah, just broom all the talk of Plainfield since the Cox brothers were dismissed. Just like most did with Offutt and Warren Central. There are other players on those teams, you know.
Posted by: Pax on Tuesday, February 26, 2008
great blog and very informatative..cant wait until the new magazine comes out this weekend. this is a great lead in to NCAA hoops in this state, so here's wishing everyone the best of luck. carmel does seem to have an easier path, since they moved out North central. cathedral will have their work cut out for them.