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Sectional boys basketball: Breaking down Wayne County teams’ matchups a week ahead

zach piatt, richmond palladium-item
·7 min read

RICHMOND, Ind. — There’s one week of regular season high school boys’ basketball left to play in Indiana, which means sectionals are practically here. The IHSAA released sectional brackets Sunday evening during its pairings show. Games will start Tuesday, Feb. 28, and run through championship Saturday, March 4.

The six teams from Wayne County are spread across four different sectionals, and it looks like a few of them have a good shot at playing for a title in just under two weeks. Here’s a breakdown of each team’s sectional:

Note: All records and statistics are as of Feb. 20.

Richmond Red Devils (4A)

Richmond junior Ryder Cate high-fives his teammates as the starting five is announced before a game against Connersville Dec. 17, 2022.
Richmond junior Ryder Cate high-fives his teammates as the starting five is announced before a game against Connersville Dec. 17, 2022.

Current record: 15-6 (5-4 NCC)

Games remaining: Feb. 23 vs. Franklin County

Sectional game info: 7 p.m. Feb. 28 vs. Pendleton Heights at Muncie Central

Last season: Lost in semifinals

More:Cate, Horton, Carpenter key to Richmond basketball's success, but they say ‘it’s everyone’

Richmond is a dangerous team to play right now. The Red Devils found something at the start of this season’s Bob Wettig Memorial Tournament, a sense of confidence, and it led to an eight-game winning streak. They’re coming off two straight wins against North Central Conference foes after dropping two battles to the top two teams in the NCC. Outside of their season-opening loss to New Palestine, all of the Red Devils’ losses have been gritty, none of them out of reach until the end.

Junior Ryder Cate and sophomores Cedric Horton and Mason Carpenter have been the go-to scorers all year long, and they’ve come through time and time again, averaging a combined 42.2 points per game. But plenty of others have proven they can put the ball in the basket.

Richmond and Pendleton Heights have not played this season, but they have played five of the same opponents. The Red Devils are 2-3 in those games, and the Arabians are 0-6 (lost twice to Anderson). If Richmond can keep its momentum going, a rematch of last year’s semifinal with New Palestine awaits.

Centerville Bulldogs (3A)

Centerville freshmen Ethan Vecera (right) and Shea Hollendonner (left) talk before a game against Northeastern Dec. 1, 2022.
Centerville freshmen Ethan Vecera (right) and Shea Hollendonner (left) talk before a game against Northeastern Dec. 1, 2022.

Current record: 7-13 (3-4 TEC)

Games remaining: Feb. 24 vs. Lincoln

Sectional game info: 7 p.m. Feb. 28 vs. Delta at New Castle

Last season: Lost in first round

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Centerville didn’t turn it all the way around this year, but it certainly took some steps in the right direction. After a winless 2021-22 season, the Bulldogs snapped a 29-game losing streak in mid-December, and they’ve won six of their last 10 games.

The headliners for this team have been the freshmen. Shea Hollendonner is averaging 17 points per game, 10 more than anyone else, and he leads the team in rebounds. Ethan Vecera has provided a solid second option, leading the way in assists and steals and second to Hollendonner in points and rebounds.

Centerville hasn’t played Delta this season. Their most notable like opponent has been Northeastern. The Bulldogs lost both their games against the Knights, staying with them for three quarters both times before falling off in the fourth. Delta took Northeastern down to the wire and only lost by four. Centerville should prepare for a physical game and hope somebody other than Hollendonner steps up. A win would move them on to play Hamilton Heights in the semifinals.

Northeastern Knights (2A)

Northeastern senior Keaton Mikesell dribbles the ball up the court during the Wayne County Tournament championship against Hagerstown Jan. 7, 2023.
Northeastern senior Keaton Mikesell dribbles the ball up the court during the Wayne County Tournament championship against Hagerstown Jan. 7, 2023.

Current record: 18-4 (8-0 TEC)

Games remaining: Feb. 21 vs. Connersville

Sectional game info: 7 p.m. Feb. 28 vs. Shenandoah at Shenandoah

Last season: Lost in championship

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Another season, another Tri-Eastern Conference championship and another schedule full of wins for Northeastern. There isn’t much else left to say. This is the Knights’ third straight season going undefeated in TEC play and their eighth title in the last 10 years. Plus, head coach Brent Ross broke the program record for career coaching wins.

This year’s team is led by its senior starting five — Keaton Mikesell, Grant Luebbe, Carson Terrell, Caleb Harmon and Karsen Scarrette — four of whom are averaging at least eight points a game. Oh, and the defense is still tough as nails, per usual.

Northeastern is undefeated against every opponent in its sectional this year, winning by an average of 20 points. This sectional is the Knights’ to lose. Last year took a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to beat Shenandoah. This time shouldn’t be as close, as the Raiders are much less experienced. From there, Northeastern has a clear path to regionals.

Hagerstown Tigers (2A)

Hagerstown senior Mason Romack looks for an open teammate during a Wayne County Tournament game against Lincoln Jan. 5, 2023.
Hagerstown senior Mason Romack looks for an open teammate during a Wayne County Tournament game against Lincoln Jan. 5, 2023.

Current record: 7-14 (3-4 TEC)

Games remaining: Feb. 21 at Tri, Feb. 24 vs. Eastern Hancock

Sectional game info: 6 p.m. March 3 vs. Knightstown at Shenandoah

Last season: Lost in first round

More:Northeastern basketball sweeps Wayne County Tournament, and ‘no,’ it doesn’t get old

This season for the Tigers was similar to last in that they’re still searching for that “it” factor to put them in the upper echelon of their conference, but it’s different in that you never know where the scoring is coming from. Senior Mason Romack leads the way at 11 points per game, but anyone could be that guy right now. Freshman Isaac Schmitz, who scores just 3.6 points per game, put up 20 in the opening round of the Wayne County Tournament.

Hagerstown received a bye to the semifinals, where it’ll play Knightstown. Hagerstown beat the Panthers by 23 just last weekend, and 10 different Tigers found the scoring column. They should cruise to the championship, where they’ll most likely meet Northeastern, a team Hagerstown has fell to twice this season.

Lincoln Golden Eagles (1A)

Lincoln senior Tyler Wyles looks to the sideline during a game against Northeastern Jan. 26, 2023.
Lincoln senior Tyler Wyles looks to the sideline during a game against Northeastern Jan. 26, 2023.

Current record: 9-11 (4-4 TEC)

Games remaining: Feb. 24 at Centerville

Sectional game info: 6 p.m. March 1 vs. Randolph Southern at Tri

Last season: Lost in semifinals

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Lincoln’s story this year has been senior Tyler Wyles. He’s leading the team in points (20.5 per game), assists (4 per game) and steals (2.1 per game) and is second in rebounds (5.3 per game). Fellow senior Logan Vance has also had a solid year, posting 14.2 points and 7.2 rebounds a game.

If previous matchups are any indication, Wyles is going to have himself a sectional. Against the Golden Eagles’ first-round opponent, Randolph Southern, earlier this season, Wyles dropped 34 points, leading to a win. If Seton beats Union City, like it did last week, Wyles will have a semifinal matchup against a team he scored 36 on. Should Union City win, well, Wyles put up 28 in that game earlier this season. No matter the results, look for Wyles to take over and Vance to be a quality second option.

Seton Cardinals (1A)

Seton junior Mason Harvey high-fives his teammates during starting lineups before a Bob Wettig Memorial Tournament game against Greensburg Dec. 27, 2022.
Seton junior Mason Harvey high-fives his teammates during starting lineups before a Bob Wettig Memorial Tournament game against Greensburg Dec. 27, 2022.

Current record: 10-13 (1-3 PAAC)

Games remaining: Feb. 21 at Christel House

Sectional game info: 7:30 p.m. March 1 vs. Union City at Tri

Last season: Lost in first round

'Backyard rivalry':Richmond has way with Seton in anticipated Wettig Tournament matchup

As mentioned above, Seton beat Union City by 21 earlier this month. Juniors Mason Harvey and Braiden Hogg have been the go-to guys this year, and they scored 27 and 14, respectively, in that game. Those two have been the stars from the jump, Harvey averaging 17 points and 10.5 rebounds and Hogg 12.7 points per game. Hogg missed some time in the middle of the season, but Harvey kept the Cardinals competitive with a supporting cast head coach Josh Jurgens said is deeper than any team he’s had.

Just like Wyles for Lincoln, expect Harvey and Hogg to go off if they meet the Golden Eagles in the semifinals. In that game, Harvey scored 33 points, and Hogg added 23. After Seton and Lincoln are done beating each other up, provided that matchup occurs, the winner will likely play Tri or Blue River Valley in the championship.

Zach Piatt is a reporter for The Palladium-Item. Contact him at zpiatt@gannett.com or on Twitter @zachpiatt13.

This article originally appeared on Richmond Palladium-Item: Sectional boys basketball: Breaking down Wayne County teams’ matchups