This week’s winter storm forced a delay in the first round games of the IHSAA Class 2A Sectional #44 in Milan that were to be held on Tuesday night; but so far the Switzerland County game is still on as scheduled for tomorrow (Friday).
On Tuesday night, South Ripley was to play North Decatur in the first game; with Southwestern playing Milan in the second game.
The winter storm brought a halt to all of that, as sectional officials delayed Tuesday’s games to Wednesday night – but even that is tentative as everyone continues to watch the weather.
Should the first round games get played – even if they are delayed until tonight (Thursday); the two semifinal games set for tomorrow should be able to be played on schedule.
The first game tomorrow night would feature the two winners of the first round games; with Switzerland County and Lawrenceburg scheduled to play the second game tomorrow night.
If all of that falls into place, the two winners of the semifinal games should square off for the Sectional Championship on Saturday night at 7:30 p.m.
The first games in the first round and in the semifinal round are set to get underway at 6 p.m.
The Lady Pacers finished off their regular season last Thursday night with a victory over Madison Shawe which raised the Switzerland County record to 10-10.
The Switzerland County opponent – Lawrenceburg – comes into the sectional reeling from the sudden firing of head coach Nick Scalf, who was terminated by the school board with two regular season games to go.
Lawrenceburg split those final two games, losing to Rising Sun and defeating Taylor (Ohio).
Those games put Lawrenceburg’s regular season record at 3-17 as they prepare to face Switzerland County.
The Lady Tigers will be coached in the tournament by Abby Carrigan Friend, a former player at Rising Sun and the current Lawrenceburg jayvee coach.
Other regular season records include: South Ripley, 8-12; North Decatur, 13-7; Southwestern, 18-3; and host Milan, 7-13.
The clear favorite in this year’s sectional is Southwestern, as the Lady Rebels are one of the elite teams in the state regardless of class, finishing the regular season ranked second in Class 2A behind Heritage Christian.
As luck would have it, the winner of the Milan Sectional will play the winner of the Speedway Sectional in the first round of the Batesville Regional. The favorite at Speedway? Heritage Christian.
If the state rankings hold, the top two teams in the state would meet in the opening round of the Regional – but Coach Wayne Ellegood and his Lady Pacer squad are entering the tournament with little regard to state rankings; having played Southwestern close for a big part of the two teams’ last meeting before suffering a defensive letdown in the third quarter.