Tourney journey begins as girls hoops sectional pairings are released
The South Bend Washington girls basketball team has proven all season long it has the best squad in the state.
Now, the undefeated and top-ranked Panthers know exactly what the start to their postseason path looks like.
Washington, now shooting for the Class 4A state title after blitzing to the 3A crown a year ago, will open sectional play versus Mishawaka in the opening game of the Plymouth Sectional.
Pairings for the 48th state tournament series were drawn by the Indiana High School Athletic Association Sunday night. Sectional play begins January 31 with sectional finals Feb. 4. Regionals are Feb. 11 with semistates Feb. 18 and the State Finals Feb. 25.
A night for LaVillians as Lancers sweep Bi-County Tourney titles
Column: 4A state championship feels inevitable with this South Bend Washington girls team
A change in the tourney format this year now has regionals as just one game affairs. Semistates will be four teams with three games played. Pairings for the semistates will be made in a random draw on Feb. 12.
Washington, 21-0 and ranked in the top 10 nationally, has rolled through the regular season. The Panthers lead the state in scoring at 79 points a game and an average margin of victory at 43 points a contest. Washington has just one win by single digits, over Bolingbrook of Illinois, and just smashed Class 4A No. 5 Fort Wayne Northrop 70-42 last Wednesday.
"I'm extremely confident in my team," said Washington coach Steve Reynolds Sunday prior to the draw. "This year is no different from last year. This team has proven all season that they are the best team.
"Our kids understand the moment. They've prepared very well and executed our plan very well all season. We feel we have the most talented and most prepared team. Our mindset is that we are the best team."
Washington, which was 3A state runner-up in 2021, boasts the best backcourt in the state in seniors Rashunda Jones and Amiyah Reynolds. The pair of Miss Basketball candidates lead the way for a team with all five starters averaging in double figures. Jones has committed to Purdue and Reynolds to Maryland.
The Panthers, who have games left versus Crown Point and LaLumiere before the sectional, are nursing injuries to both Amiyah Reynolds and star sophomore forward Kira Reynolds.
"We plan to have everyone ready to go by tournament time," said coach Reynolds Sunday. "The key for us the past couple of years is that anytime we've had someone out or someone hurt, we've had other players step up."
The Panthers are trying to become the third team in program history to go undefeated in the regular season. The 2008-09 team finished at 26-1 with a loss to Ben Davis 71-69 in the state title game. The 2003-04 team went 21-1, losing to Gary West in the regional.
Marian a 3A contender
Marian, now considered a contender in 3A with Washington moved up to 4A, faces Jimtown in its own sectional opener. The No. 8 Knights are 18-5 overall and 4-0 versus the sectional field. Senior star and All-Star hopeful Nevaeh Foster leads Marian. The Knights also welcomed back senior MaKaya Porter Saturday. The star, who has been out all season due to a knee injury, scored 20 points in an 84-59 win over Luers.
The Knights, who lost in the sectional final to Washington last year, last won a sectional in 2020. All five of Marian's losses this season are to Class 4A teams.
A 4A fracas at Concord
One of the strongest sectional fields in the state will be the 4A fracas at Concord. Five of the six teams there boast winning records, including five-time defending champion Penn. The Kingsmen meet No. 16 Northridge, who they lost to during the regular season, in the sectional opener. Penn had won seven in a row prior to a 60-38 loss at Fort Wayne Carroll Saturday.
The Concord Sectional also includes Northern Lakes Conference champion Warsaw at 16-5. Northridge is 4-1 versus the sectional field with just a 53-52 league loss to Warsaw this season.
Fairfield on the move
No. 7 Fairfield will be one to watch in Class 3A. The Falcons, who are 20-2, lost in the Class 2A semistate game a year ago. Fairfield, which has won its last nine games, plays West Noble to open sectional action. Coach Brodie Garber's veteran team's two losses are to 4A teams Fort Wayne Snider and Columbia City.
LaVille peaking at right time?
LaVille, 15-6 under first-year coach Nick Amor, faces host North Judson in the Class 2A event. The Lancers won the Bi-County Tournament title Saturday night for the first time in 30 years. South Central at 19-3 is also in the field at North Judson.
Watch for Bethany Christian
Bethany Christian, No. 8 in Class 1A, will face host Fort Wayne Blackhawk Christian. The Bruins are 19-2 and recently defeated Fort Wayne Blackhawk Christian. Bethany, which has won two sectional titles in program history, have won nine in a row. Bethany's two losses are to Central Noble and Highland.
Area rgional hosts are LaPorte (4A), Jimtown (3A), Winamac (2A) and Caston (1A). LaPorte will once again host the North Semistate
For complete pairings, visit ihsaa.org.
Area Sectional Pairings
All Times EST
CLASS 4A
At Plymouth
Jan. 31: 7 p.m.: Game 1: Washington (21-0) vs. Mishawaka (11-9)
Feb. 1: 6:30 p.m.: Game 2: LaPorte (0-20) vs. Michigan City (7-12); 8 p.m.: Game 3: Riley (3-18) vs. Plymouth (8-12)
Feb. 3: 6:30 p.m.: Game 4: Adams (10-11) vs. Game 1 winner; 8 p.m.: Game 5: Game 2 winner vs. Game 3 winner
Feb. 4: 7:30 p.m.: Game 6: Championship
At Concord
Jan. 31: 6 p.m.: Game 1: Penn (15-6) vs. Northridge (18-5); 7:30 p.m.: Game 2: Concord (4-17) vs. Warsaw (16-5)
Feb. 3: 6 p.m.: Game 3: Goshen (11-10) vs. Game 1 winner; 7:30 p.m.: Game 4: Elkhart (13-8) vs. Game 2 winner
Feb. 4: 6 p.m.: Game 5: Championship
CLASS 3A
At Marian
Jan. 31: 7 p.m.: Game 1: Marian (18-5) vs. Jimtown (8-12)
Feb. 3: 6 p.m.: Game 2: Clay (6-14) vs. Saint Joseph (3-20); 7:30 p.m.: Game 3: New Prairie (12-8) vs. Game 1 winner
Feb. 4: 7 p.m.: Game 4: Championship
At Bremen
Jan. 31: 6 p.m.: Game 1: Glenn (8-13) vs. Culver Academy (13-8); 7:30 p.m.: Game 2: Bremen (7-13) vs. Rochester (11-11)
Feb. 3: 6 p.m.: Game 3: Knox (5-18) vs. Game 1 winner; 7:30 p.m.: Game 4: Tippecanoe Valley (17-3) vs. Game 2 winner
Feb. 4: 7:30 p.m.: Game 5: Championship
At Fairfield
Jan. 31: 7 p.m.: Game 1: NorthWood (12-10) vs. Wawasee (11-10)
Feb. 3: 6 p.m.: Game 2: West Noble (3-17) vs. Fairfield (20-2); 7:30 p.m.: Game 3: Lakeland (11-9) vs. Game 1 winner
Feb. 4: 7 p.m.: Game 4: Championship
CLASS 2A
At North Judson
Jan. 31: 6:30 p.m.: Game 1: Hebron (4-17) vs. South Central (19-3); 8 p.m.: Game 2: North Judson (14-7) vs. LaVille (15-6)
Feb. 3: 6:30 p.m.: Game 3: South Bend Career Academy (6-13) vs. Game 1 winner; 8 p.m.: Game 4: Wheeler (4-16) vs. Game 2 winner
Feb. 4: 8 p.m.: Game 5: Championship
CLASS 1A
At Culver
Jan. 31: 7 p.m.: Game 1: Michigan City Marquette Catholic (12-7) vs. Oregon-Davis (5-15)
Feb. 1: 6 p.m.: Game 2: Argos (10-10) vs. Culver (8-11); 7:30 p.m.: Game 3: South Bend Trinity (2-15) vs. Westville (8-9)
Feb. 3: 6 p.m.: Game 4: Triton (13-7) vs. Game 1 winner; 7:30 p.m.: Game 5: Game 2 winner vs. Game 3 winner
Feb. 4: 7 p.m.: Game 6: Championship
At Fort Wayne Blackhawk Christian
Jan. 31: 7 p.m.: Game 1: Lakewood Park Christian (8-11) vs. Hamilton (2-10)
Feb. 3: 6 p.m.: Game 2: Fort Wayne Blackhawk Christian (11-10) vs. Bethany Christian (19-2); 7:30 p.m.: Game 3: Elkhart Christian Academy (5-13) vs. Game 1 winner
Feb. 4: 7:30 p.m.: Game 4: Championship
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: The stage is set for the prep girls basketball state tournament
