By Mike McGraw
Executive Director
Uncle Mike is feeling very feisty after his glowing success at picking the girls basketball regional action (if 11 of 16 signifies success). So, he thought he would offer his wisdom to the masses on next week’s boys sectionals. His advice? Just pick opposite, and you should be just fine.
Today, Uncle Mike is looking at the Class A sectionals. As an added bonus for our loyal readers, Managing Editor E. Shawn Aylsworth will offer up his sacrificial picks as well – remember, this is the man that was convinced the Colts would win the Super Bowl this year. Yikes.
Uncle Mike’s picks appear below after Unkey Mike; Aylsworth’s appear after Ed Zeppelin, his catch-all team name for unsuccessful fantasy sports teams across the globe.
Sectional 49 @ Morgan Township
Unkey Mike: Top-ranked Bowman Academy is the only team in the field with a winning record. That should spell a walk in the park. Besides, there is political pressure for Bowman to win. If they don’t win the sectional, then they won’t go far enough for the screaming to begin about private schools, and what fun would the tourney be without that annual ritual? Seriously, Bowman is very good. But the Eagles have sparked a debate in northwest Indiana that folks in Central Indiana are far too familiar with in recent years.
Ed Zeppelin: Bowman, with full disclosure. I am referencing John Harrell’s sectional picks that are based on Sagarin power ratings, the sectional draw, and sectional site. In addition, I am rubbing my picks across my gut, which these days is pudgy going on doughy according to Uncle Mike. Alluding to Bowman’s 32-point power numbers superiority in this scenario, however, I will without hesitation select Bowman.
Sectional 50 @ Triton
Unkey Mike: No. 15 South Central (Union Mills) has the talent to challenge the defending state champion, third-ranked Triton. The draw, however, is much harder for the Satellites. That, and the home court, should be enough to carry Triton to the title.
Ed Zeppelin: Triton. Tough not to go with the defending state champs, a 16-point power favorite, here.
Sectional 51 @ Fort Wayne Blackhawk Christian
Unkey Mike: This is a hard one to pick because so many of the schools are small private institutions, and the quality of schedule varies so much. It should come down to Lakewood Park Christian versus Bethany Christian (though the host Braves are ranked 14th despite a 9-9 record as of Feb. 25). I will take Lakewood Park, but I wouldn’t want to stake my reputation on it.
Ed Zeppelin: FW Blackhawk. After winning its first five games, Blackhawk has gone 4-10 over the next 14. But only two of those losses have come to 1A schools, and one of them was the aforementioned Bowman Academy. That’s strength of schedule, McLovin. A recent one-point loss to sectional foe Fort Wayne Canterbury will provide the home-standing Braves the motivation they need … to get thumped the following week at regionals against home-standing Triton.
Sectional 52 @ West Central
Unkey Mike: The best record in the entire field belongs to Pioneer at 6-13, so there is some ammunition for class basketball haters. I think South Newton might actually be the best team here, but the Rebels would have to be consistent for three games to win. Pioneer only has to pull that trick for two games, and that is enough for me to pick the lads from Royal Center.
Ed Zeppelin: Pioneer. The power numbers say that this is the cruddiest sectional in the state, regardless of class. That’s almost always a recipe for prognostication disaster, yet the Harrell/Buddha methodology saddles up with Pioneer as well.
Sectional 53 @ Tri-Central
Unkey Mike: This should come down to sixth-ranked Lafayette Central Catholic and Rossville in the finals. Central Catholic is the clear favorite here, and I will go along with that choice. But it will be far closer than the first time the two teams met (an 83-57 CC victory just last week). Rossville is streaky because of the type of offensive game the Hornets play. If they get hot from the field, this could get real interesting real fast.
Ed Zeppelin: Central Catholic. The Harrell/Buddha methodology ALWAYS settles on the small private school with a history of state championships in these situations.
Sectional 54 @ Southern Wells
Unkey Mike: No. 10 Cowan is the favorite in this field, and that is my choice. The Blackhawks have beaten Daleville, the biggest challenger, already this season, and they are playing good ball right now.
Ed Zeppelin: Cowan. A 58-percent favorite to win, according to Harrell.
Sectional 55 @ Monroe Central
Unkey Mike: I’m going to pick an upset here and take Blue River Valley. No. 9 Monroe Central is the clear favorite and got a great draw, but the Golden Bears have not been playing particularly well down the stretch. Frankly, after the two teams they will play first, Blue River is likely to look like the Celtics in the finals.
Ed Zeppelin: Monroe Central. All the Golden Bears’ six losses have come to ranked teams except this week’s seven-point defeat at 4A New Castle. That’s enough SOS to demolish this field.
Sectional 56 @ North Vermillion
Unkey Mike: This is the last time around for the talented senior class at Rockville. I just can’t see the fourth-ranked Rox falling victim to an upset this early on the tournament trail.
Ed Zeppelin: Yes.
Sectional 57 @ White River Valley
Unkey Mike: The favorite is No. 11 North Central of Farmersburg, but I am going to go with No. 15 Clay City. North Central is better at its best, but the Thunderbirds have been a little inconsistent whereas Clay City has been getting better all year.
Ed Zeppelin: Holy toss-up, Batman. Each of these teams has lost to sectional opponents at least twice. The top four teams are within five points of each other Sagarin-wise. Thus, to the draw! Clay City has by far the easiest route to the final, so I’m jellin’ with the Eels.
Sectional 58 @ Edinburgh
Unkey Mike: I will take Morristown, although the home-standing Lancers intrigue me. Third-year coach Curt Chase has done a great job at Edinburgh, and the Lancers do have the home court. Nonetheless, Morristown won the regular-season game handily (60-46), and I think they will slip past the host.
Ed Zeppelin: Edinburgh. The second-weakest sectional in the state, according to Hoyle – er, Sagarin. The top four teams are within 3.5 points of each other, but Edinburgh is the only team here that’s not at least four games under .500.
Sectional 59 @ Bethesda Christian
Unkey Mike: The host should probably be favored, but I am going to go with the tiny Indianapolis school, Tindley. Coach Bobby Wonnell has done a great job there. Besides, he used to play for me, so my heartstrings are tugging at my judgment a little. In addition to all that, I want to see the commotion when a charter school wins a sectional!
Ed Zeppelin: Ah, the 19-team sectional. You’ve got to love a state tournament where five schools compete at one site and nine play at another in the same class – seems fair, don’t it? Of the 27 teams assembled here, the top three are within five Sagarin points of each other. The draw tells us there are 57 rounds of this sectional, so that’s really no barometer. Bethesda has gone 6-0 against the field, with all the victories decisive except a two-point home win over Metropolitan. So my choice comes down to a small private school or three ice cream flavors (yummy). The gut thus hates the non-ice cream pick of the host Patriots.
Sectional 60 @ South Decatur
Unkey Mike: Second-ranked Jac-Cen-Del, which should see No. 15 host Cougars in the final, could rest the starters and still win this one.
Ed Zeppelin: Jac-Cen-Del. The Iggles will be a 13-point favorite should they face the host Cougs in the final. I like hyphens (except in last names).
Sectional 61 @ Orleans
Unkey Mike: Orleans is not what it has been in recent years. Nonetheless, the Bulldogs have more than enough to win this sectional at home.
Ed Zeppelin: Orleans. It’ll either be Orleans or Northeast Dubois (26- and 19-point favorites over the rest of the field), and the stars would have to align for them not to meet in the final. I’ll take the home team/’70s band for 200, Alex.
Sectional 62 @ Henryville
Unkey Mike: This should come down to No.13 Lanesville versus No. 12 Borden. Lanesville is probably a slight favorite, but I am going with defending sectional champ Borden.
Ed Zeppelin: Borden. The top four teams here are within six points of each other, but I was highly impressed by Borden’s fans in last year’s snow-delayed run to the regional at North Daviess.
Sectional 63 @ North Daviess
Unkey Mike: OK, understand the logic here. It is futile trying to predict this monster. I accept that whatever pick I make is undoubtedly going to be wrong. Now, I think fifth-ranked Barr-Reeve is probably the best team here. But I know and like coach Brian Hughes of the Vikings, and he would **** me for putting the kiss of death on them. So, I am going to go with the No. 8 host Cougars … based on nothing more than the home court could be enough to propel them. They are very good, and they won’t need much help. And I didn’t even mention seventh-ranked Vincennes Rivet!
Ed Zeppelin: Holy loaded small-school field, Batman. You got Nos. 5, 7 (Vincennes Rivet), and 8 in the latest rankings competing at rural Elnora. Rivet, which has been ousted by either Barr-Reeve or Loogootee every year since 1999 (including that fan favorite 23-21 double-overtime win by Loogootee to start the streak) has the favorable draw as the host Cougars, Loogootee, and Barr-Reeve all get to beat up on each other in some fashion. Plus, fate HAS to be on the Patriots’ side, right? Awwwwwww, yeah.
Sectional 64 @ Tecumseh
Unkey Mike: The scenario is the same in this one as at Orleans. The host is not a vintage Tecumseh team, yet the Braves are good enough to win against a field where the other four schools have lopsided losing records.
Ed Zeppelin: The host Braves will tie this field up like so many of those neckties favored by William Tecumseh Sherman’s impressive Union troopery.
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