Breaking down boys basketball sectionals in Lafayette area

Sam King, Lafayette Journal & Courier
·4 min read

It's sectional week for Indiana high school girls basketball.

A total of 401 teams will compete in 397 games over the next month beginning on Tuesday.

Here's a look at the four sectional fields including Tippecanoe County teams.

Class 4A at Kokomo

The bracket: Tuesday - Harrison (17-6) vs. Lafayette Jeff (13-10), 6 p.m., Logansport (8-15) vs. Marion (14-8), 7:30 p.m.; Friday - Kokomo (19-4) vs. Harrison/Jeff, 6 p.m.; McCutcheon (16-7) vs. Logansport/Marion, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday - Championship, 7:30 p.m.

The favorite: Last year Kokomo made an improbable run and was one shot away from going to the Class 4A state championship game. This season came with raised expectations and so far the Wildkats, led by 6-foot-10 junior Flory Bidunga, have met them. Kokomo hasn't lost since Dec. 30 and put together a more challenging regular season schedule to prepare for this moment.

Also watch out for: Harrison and Lafayette Jeff is always a clash and a solid tournament opener. Despite a late-season funk, Harrison hopes to have snapped out of it with two wins to close the regular season. No team in the North Central Conference played Kokomo tougher than Lafayette Jeff. Marion got a good draw and should have a path to the championship game.

McCutcheon Mavericks guard Eli Swank (11) is defended by Lafayette Jeff Bronchos Ah'keem Wilson (01) during the IHSAA boy’s basketball game, Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023, at McCutcheon High School in Lafayette, Ind. McCutcheon won 64-55.
McCutcheon Mavericks guard Eli Swank (11) is defended by Lafayette Jeff Bronchos Ah'keem Wilson (01) during the IHSAA boy’s basketball game, Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023, at McCutcheon High School in Lafayette, Ind. McCutcheon won 64-55.

Class 3A at Frankfort

The bracket: Tuesday - West Lafayette (13-10) vs. Western (12-10), 7 p.m.; Wednesday - Frankfort (11-12) vs. Benton Central (16-7), 6 p.m., Rensselaer (18-5) vs. North Montgomery (5-18), 7:30 p.m.; Friday - Twin Lakes (8-14) vs. West Lafayette/Western, 6 p.m., Frankfort/BC vs. Rensselaer/N. Montgomery, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday - Championship, 7:30 p.m.

The favorite: Western is limping into the postseason with four losses in its last five games, but the Panthers also are 4-0 against teams in this sectional field. Western already has defeated first-round opponent West Lafayette twice this season.

Also watch out for: This is a jumbled field and a wide-open sectional. Rensselaer won the Hoosier Conference championship, a league that has five of the seven teams in this sectional. The Bombers enter the tournament on a 10-game winning streak. West Lafayette also has momentum, winning eight of nine, the lone loss to first-round opponent Western during that stretch. Benton Central hasn't won a sectional since 2002, but has the right roster makeup to win this if shots fall.

in the championship game of the IU Health Hoops Classic at Crawley Center on Dec. 3, 2022.
in the championship game of the IU Health Hoops Classic at Crawley Center on Dec. 3, 2022.

Class 2A at Delphi

The bracket: Tuesday - Clinton Prairie (14-8) vs. Central Catholic (12-11), 6 p.m., Seeger (15-6) vs. Carroll (19-4), 7:30 p.m.; Friday - Delphi (12-10) vs. CP/CC, 6 p.m., Covington (12-12) vs. Seeger/Carroll, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday - Championship, 7:30 p.m.

The favorite: Carroll was one win away from playing in the Class 2A state championship game last season. The Cougars have a trio of high-scoring players who've been together for three seasons now in Owen Duff, Jake Skinner and Chris Huerta. Carroll got some solid wins down the stretch over Taylor and Western.

Also watch out for: This sectional seems loaded. Never count out Central Catholic, even though the Knights have been really good at times, really bad at times and mostly somewhere in between. No team in the field has the postseason success of CC, which lost in the Class A state title game last season before moving up. Clinton Prairie owns a victory over Carroll and enters the tournament on an eight-game winning streak. Seeger doesn't have a bad loss on its resume.

Carroll Cougars Jake Skinner (24) reacts to making a shot during the IHSAA boy’s basketball game against the Taylor Titans, Friday, Feb. 17, 2023, at Carroll High School in Flora, Ind. Carroll won 59-54.
Carroll Cougars Jake Skinner (24) reacts to making a shot during the IHSAA boy’s basketball game against the Taylor Titans, Friday, Feb. 17, 2023, at Carroll High School in Flora, Ind. Carroll won 59-54.

Class A at Fountain Central

The bracket: Tuesday - Attica (0-21) vs. Fountain Central (19-4), 6 p.m., Clinton Central (6-17) vs. Faith Christian (9-14), 7:30 p.m.; Friday - North Vermillion (6-16) vs. Attica/F. Central, 6 p.m., Rossville (11-12) vs. C. Central/Faith, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday - Championship, 7 p.m.

The favorite: Sectional host Fountain Central has been one of the best teams in Class A all season. The Mustangs also have the best player in the tournament in 6-foot-9 senior Mason Larkin. Fountain Central is 6-0 against Class A teams this season and has a relatively easy trail to the sectional championship game.

Also watch out for: Rossville's schedule is tougher than anyone in this sectional. Because of that, the Hornets don't boast the best record coming in, but perhaps are the most prepared. Rossville ended the regular season losing five of its final six games. Despite its late-season struggles, Rossville defeated both Clinton Central and Faith Christian in the past five weeks, one of which will be Friday's semifinal opponent. Coach Cory Dunn also has won three sectionals in the past eight years, once with a team that had a losing record.

Sam King covers sports for the Journal & Courier. Email him at sking@jconline.com and follow him on Twitter and Instagram @samueltking.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Breaking down boys basketball sectionals in Lafayette area