The Switzerland County Pacer boys basketball team will begin its journey towards a Sectional title this Tuesday, March 1st with the opening game in the Southwestern Sectional.
Coach Adam Dennis and his Pacer squad (7-13) will play in the tournament’s opening game on Tuesday beginning at 6 p.m. versus Milan (10-9). Tuesday’s second game will pit Austin (4-16) against Southwestern (7-14).
The two favorites in Sectional #45 drew the bye games, and will play on Friday, March 4th.
The winner of the Switzerland County vs. Milan game will play North Decatur (15-6) in the first game at 6 p.m.; and that will be followed by the winner of the Austin vs. Southwestern game taking on South Ripley (18-4, ranked #11 in the state).
The two winners in Friday’s semifinals will then play for the Sectional title on Saturday, March 5th, which is set to tip off at 7 p.m.
The winner of the Southwestern Sectional will then move on to the Paoli Regional on Saturday, March 12th.
The first Regional game will feature the Sectional winner at Paoli versus the Sectional winner at Jasper.
The Paoli Sectional features favorites Providence (14-6) and Crawford County (14-7). Paoli (11-9) and Henryville (11-10) could be poised for an upset.
Over at the Jasper Sectional, the favorite figures to be Forest Park (15-5); while South Spencer (12-8) and Evansville Mater Dei (10-10) could also make some Sectional noise.
The second game at the Paoli Regional will feature the winner at Southwestern against the winner of the North Knox Sectional.
North Knox figures to be a real battle, with Barr-Reeve (19-3), which won the State Championship in Class 1A last year; moves up a class this season, and is currently ranked #2 in the state this year. Also in the mix at North Knox is Linton-Stockton (19-4), currently ranked #7 in the state.
Eastern Greene (15-7) and South Knox (13-8) are also ready to battle for the sectional title.
The winner of the Paoli Regional will then move on to the South Semistate on Saturday, March 19th, and that will be played at either Seymour or Richmond. That winner will then travel to Indianapolis on Saturday, March 26th to play for the state title.
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In other area Sectional pairings:
– In Class 1A at South Decatur, a single game on Tuesday, March 1st, will feature South Decatur (3-18) versus Oldenburg Academy (14-8).
On Wednesday, March 2nd, Rising Sun (8-13) will take on Jac-Cen-Del (16-5) in the opening game; while Hauser (13-8) will play Waldron (9-12) in the second game.
On Friday, March 4th, Southwestern Shelbyville (11-10) will play the South Decatur vs. Oldenburg winner in the first game; while the two winners on Wednesday night will play in the second game.
The winner at South Decatur will move on to the Martinsville Regional.
– The Class 1A Sectional at New Washington will feature Shawe Memorial (4-18) against New Washington (14-8) in the first game on Tuesday, March 1st; while the second game on Tuesday will see South Central (1-21) versus Christian Academy of Indiana (13-8).
Rock Creek Academy (13-8) will play the Shawe Memorial vs. New Washington winner in the first semifinal on Friday night, March 4th; while the second match up on Friday will see Lanesville (15-6) play the South Central vs. Christian Academy winner.
The New Washington champion will play in the Loogootee Regional.
– The Class 3A Sectional at Greensburg, the Tuesday, March 1st game will pit South Dearborn (1-20) versus Batesville (5-16); while on Wednesday, March 2nd, Madison (9-11) will play Lawrenceburg (13-9) in the first game; while the second game will feature Franklin County (11-10) against Rushville (7-14, coached by former Pacers coaches Brian Bowen and Steve Goddard).
Greensburg (13-7) drew the bye, and will play the South Dearborn vs. Batesville in Friday’s first game; with Wednesday’s two winners in the second semifinal.
The winner of the Greensburg Sectional will advance to the Washington Regional against the winner of the Charlestown Sectional.
Note: season records are as of Monday, February 22nd.