The boys basketball season hits high gear on Tuesday night as the Tri-Eastern Conference schools begin the opening round of the sectional in the Indiana High School Athletic Association state tournament.
In Class 2A action at Hagerstown, the host Tigers (15-8) and Lincoln (8-13) square off in the first game.
“Lincoln will be no easy task,” Hagerstown Head Coach Bobby Jones said. “We have to refocus and take it one game at a time.”
During the regular season, Hagerstown defeated Lincoln 50-32 (Dec. 4).
“It’s been a long season,” Jones said. “We feel that our schedule has definitely prepared us for the sectional.”
Two-time defending champ Northeastern (19-4), which is ranked No. 2 in the latest poll, meets Winchester (14-8) in the second contest.
“We need to come out and play well against Winchester,” Northeastern Head Coach Brent Ross said. “We have to get to the free throw line, we’ve got to take it inside and we’ve got to rebound.”
“Those were the things we did the first time we played them,” Ross added. “Of course, we’ve got to slow down Kiante Enis.”
Northeastern won 75-53 over Winchester (Feb 19).
On Friday night, Centerville (6-14) plays the winner of the first contest. The Bulldogs have lost twice to Hagerstown this season. The Tigers won 46-31 (Dec. 4) and 59-52 (Jan. 8).
In the second game, Union County (15-8) gets the winner of Northeastern and Winchester. The Patriots lost to Northeastern 62-56 (Dec. 29) and 72-46 (Feb. 12), while they defeated Winchester 50-34 (Dec. 18).
Class 1A Sectional
Tri (6-16) faces Blue River (6-16) in the first contest on Tuesday. Union (2-16) and Union City (11-11) play in the second game.
The Titans and Vikings split a pair of games during the regular season. Blue River won 70-59 (Dec. 4) and Tri won 66-60 (Jan. 9).
Union City beat Union 63-26 (Jan. 6) during the Randolph County Tournament.
No. 2 (21-3), which won the title a year ago, plays the winner of the Tri-Blue River match-up on Friday. The Cardinals are 5-0 against teams in the sectional with an 84-50 win over Blue River (Jan. 26) and a 61-56 decision over Tri (Feb. 16).
Randolph Southern (1-21) faces the Union-Union City winner. The Rebels lost to Union City 58-39 (Dec. 4) and to Union 61-48 (Feb. 26).
Both championship contests are scheduled for Saturday night.
Class 2A Sectional 41 at Hagerstown
Tuesday, March 1
Hagerstown (15-8) vs. Lincoln (8-13), 6 p.m.
Northeastern (19-4) vs. Winchester (14-8), 7:30 p.m.
Friday, March 4
Centerville (6-14) vs. Game 1 winner, 6 p.m.
Union County (15-8) vs. Game 2 winner, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 5
Championship, 7:30 p.m.
Class 1A Sectional 56 at Blue River
Tuesday, March 1
Tri (6-16) vs. Blue River (6-16), 6 p.m.
Union (2-16) vs. Union City (11-11), 7:30 p.m.
Friday, March 4
Seton (21-3) vs. Game 1 winner, 6 p.m.
Randolph Southern (1-21) vs. Game 2 winner, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 5
Championship, 7:30 p.m.
Tri-Eastern Conference
Boys Basketball Sectional Championships
(Also listed are the titles won prior to consolidation)
WINCHESTER (26) – 1928, 1929, 1932, 1936, 1942, 1943, 1949, 1951, 1952, 1956, 1957, 1964, 1971, 1974, 1975, 1980, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011. RIDGEVILLE (5) – 1920, 1921, 1926, 1936, 1938. JEFFERSON (1) – 1949.
UNION CITY (12) – 1927, 1930, 1931, 1933, 1934, 1954, 1962, 1966, 1969, 1972, 1973, 1984. WAYNE TOWNSHIP (1) – 1937. WARD TOWNSHIP (1) – 1961.
CENTERVILLE (7) – 1944, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011.
UNION COUNTY (5) – 1976, 1977, 1979, 2012, 2013. LIBERTY (3) – 1938, 1945, 1967. KITCHEL (2) – 1942, 1943. BROWNSVILLE (1) – 1946.
HAGERSTOWN (4) – 1928, 1929, 1959, 1965. GREENSFORK (1) – 1936.
TRI (3) – 1976, 1977, 2005. SPICELAND (3) – 1919, 1920, 1947. LEWISVILLE (2) – 1945, 1961. STRAUGHN (1) – 1942.
LINCOLN (2) – 1951, 1961. MILTON (1) – 1954.
NORTHEASTERN (2) – 2014, 2015. WHITEWATER (1) – 1927. FOUNTAIN CITY (1) – 1949.
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