By Mike McGraw
Executive Director
Uncle Mike sat down to do these predictions on the heels of a 5-for-8 performance on the girls semistates. This once again proves that you are safest to simply go the opposite of what the old codger says. Nonetheless, here are his Class 4A sectional picks.
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 convinced that three of the most overrated shows in the history of television are “Seinfeld,” “The Office,” and any reality show that is not food-based. Yummy.
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 1 @ East Chicago Central
Unkey Mike: Four of the six teams have winning records in this tourney. There is also a sleeper in the form of Lake Central – despite being 15-5 on the year, nobody is talking about the Indians. Eighth-ranked Munster (19-1) is the favorite on paper. So much of this one will depend on the officiating – a close whistle benefits Munster, a loosely called game benefits several other teams. In the end, I think Munster got the benefit of the draw and will come out of this site. That prediction is definitely made with great hesitation.
Ed Zeppelin: The second-most open field, according to John Harrell’s sectional picks that are based on Sagarin power ratings, the sectional draw, and sectional site. Munster is indeed the favorite, but at only 38.4 percent – still, double digits ahead of East Chicago Central (27.0 percent). But the Mustangs were a 65-48 winner at East Chicago back on Dec. 6. That’s enough for me.
Sectional 2 @ Michigan City
Unkey Mike: Three weeks ago, this would have been a tough one to pick. It isn’t now. Jim East has his No. 14 Merrillville Pirates (15-5) on top of their game coming into the postseason. They will get by tough Valparaiso (17-3) in the second round and take home the hardware.
Ed Zeppelin: Merrillville was a 54-40 home loser Jan. 3 to Valparaiso but a 53-42 winner at Valpo Feb. 20 – so much for home-court advantage. Not surprisingly, Merrillville is favored by a shade (41.8 percent to 41.4 percent) over the Vikings, and the Pirates indeed are hot, having won their last two games over Hobart and Portage by a combined 157-44. (No, that is not a typo.) They’ll see each other in the semis, and I am taking Merrillville.
Sectional 3 @ Mishawaka
Unkey Mike: All four South Bend city schools in this field come in with a winning record. It has been a long time since you could say that, and it is great to see. South Bend Washington is the favorite at 17-4, but I am going to take Clay (15-6). Don’t ask me why, because I really don’t know. It is just a gut feeling.
Ed Zeppelin: Hey, wanna-be fat man: LEAVE THE GUT PICKS TO ME!! Speaking of which, this is gonna have to be a gut pick as “favorite” Adams is at 25.6 percent and Washington is at 24.2. The shocker here is that Penn is having its worst season in forever at 7-13, and the Kingsmen have lost to all five sectional foes (though four were close). All the South Bends are within 2.36 points of each, according to Mr. Sagarin. So I busting out the lasso … and it lands on Clay. Dagnabbit, Mike!
Sectional 4 @ Elkhart Central (well, North Side Gym, actually)
Unkey Mike: This should lead to a great championship tilt between undefeated fifth-ranked Northridge (20-0) and No. 10 Warsaw, which is 18-2. Northridge won the regular-season game by five at Warsaw. In addition, Northridge got the better of it in the draw. I think the Raiders remain undefeated and add “sectional champion” to the resume.
Ed Zeppelin: Interchangeable, Warsaw and Northridge are! Except for the aforementioned draw, which gave Northridge the bye and either Goshen (11-9) or the host Blue Blazers (6-16) in the semis. The RAI-duhhhhhhhhs!
Sectional 5 @ East Noble
Unkey Mike: It should be a battle between 17-3 No. 12 Carroll (Fort Wayne) and sixth-ranked Fort Wayne Snider (20-1). I am not about to bet against Ray Sims in his farewell season. I will take Snider.
Ed Zeppelin: Ditto.
Sectional 6 @ Huntington North
Unkey Mike: No. 9 Marion (17-3) should win this one, but look for the Giants to have a tough time with Jay County (14-6) in the second round – the Patriots under Craig Teagle may be the best-coached team in Indiana. Still, I will take the Giants to survive. By the way, that pick offends every fiber of my rural Grant County upbringing.
Ed Zeppelin: This is Marion we’re talking about. Think Scott Wood isn’t going to have postseason blinders on after what happened against Brownsburg last March?
Sectional 7 @ Lafayette Jefferson
Unkey Mike: Will the real Jeff Bronchos please stand up? Please stand up?? PLEASE STAND UP?!?!?! If No. 15 host Jeff (16-7) is at its best, the Bronchos should win this sectional. I don’t think they will be, so I will take Kokomo (13-7).
Ed Zeppelin: LOL. Good one, McLovin. I was going to bust out the old Jekyll/Hyde thang, but you got there first. The Bronchos won 66-64 at Kokomo five days before Christmas, and they have won eight straight – including three in OT – after getting smoked 86-65 Jan. 17 by Anderson. I know too many people that are connected to Jeff, so I am assuming the doctor will be “in.”
Sectional 8 @ New Castle
Unkey Mike: The real championship game is Tuesday in the opening round, when Pendleton Heights (12-8) plays No. 17 Anderson (17-4). I will take the Indians to win that one as well as the next two.
Ed Zeppelin: Coach Heck threatened to quit if they close The Wigwam. Can you imagine the fire in his postseason pre-game talks? Anderson.
Sectional 9 @ Noblesville
Unkey Mike: Carmel (15-5) is the favorite in this field. In addition, it is always foolish to go against the Greyhounds at the sectional level. So, I am going to go against them. I think the surprise winner here is No. 12 Zionsville (18-2).
Ed Zeppelin: Yes, McLovin. A team ranked 12th is going to be a surprise to potentially three sectional opponents. D’OH! Zionsville’s losses are at Brownsburg and at Carmel, possibly the two best 4A teams in the state a year ago. Athletic Director Greg Schellhase is one of the nicest guys you’ll ever meet, so I’m leaning toward Zionsville to send out the ’Hounds in the championship round.
Sectional 10 @ Indianapolis Arlington
Unkey Mike: Any prediction here is an absolute guess. The championship should be Round 3 between No. 3 Lawrence North (21-2) and No. 4 North Central (21-1). I am going with the experience … and maybe a little bit with the wily nature of Jack Keefer. Lawrence North will be your winner.
Ed Zeppelin: No mention of seventh-ranked 20-2 Cathedral, Mikey Mike? Anyone with a hint of detective in them has been monitoring Lawrence North’s success from the free throw line all season, and yes I am using the term “success” very loosely. The recipe for sending LN and its litany of 6’7” guys home early is TO FOUL THEM, REPEATEDLY. A deep team with lots of fouls to give can avoid having to deal with some random University of Louisville-bound tree bringing the ball up the floor and creating subsequent havoc. Make the Wildcats shoot 40 free throws, and they’ll miss half of ‘em. Besides, North Central coach Doug Mitchell named me most improved weightlifter in Period 6 back in 1984. You don’t forget that kind of love. North Central.
Sectional 11 @ Center Grove
Unkey Mike: There simply is nobody in this field good enough to pull off the upset over Franklin Central (17-5). Flashes win it easily.
Ed Zeppelin: Unfortunately, McLovin is right. But the standout FC team I saw back in December has faded significantly, and I highly doubt the Flashes will show much electricity past the sectional round.
Sectional 12 @ Pike
Unkey Mike: OK. Here is the pick that will convince you I am insane. Ben Davis enters the tourney 3-16. They will exit at 6-16 with a sectional title. I am really not crazy. The Giants get a breather in Round 1 against a hapless Manual team (the Redskins just haven’t been the same since my then-mulleted business partner, Tim Fishburn, was raining threes on Indy’s southside back in the mid ‘70s). That puts them in the second round against Avon (12-9) which only beat BD by five the first time. Meanwhile, defending 4A state champion Brownsburg has to get past host Pike (both are 11-8). I am saying the Bulldogs will do that then get upset, if you call it that, by Decatur Central (17-3) in the semifinals. Ben Davis handily beat Decatur Central in the regular season.
Ed Zeppelin: Yes, it was me – and not Uncle Mike – who came up with the aforementioned dig on Fishburn. (HAPPY 50TH ON MARCH 23, HERBERT!) OK, we’ll also try this again. A train leaves Kansas City heading west at 35 mph … Decatur Central.
Sectional 13 @ Terre Haute North
Unkey Mike: The team that is favored never wins this sectional, but it will this time. No. 11 Terre Haute South (18-4) is just too good for the rest of this field.
Ed Zeppelin: He’s onto something there with that favorite-never-wins theme. Still, TH South has the bye (one less chance for an upset) and beat Lawrence North, for cryin’ out loud (and ruled from the free throw line!). Braves.
Sectional 14 @ Columbus North
Unkey Mike: Yeah, right. You could pick an All-Star team from the rest of the field, and top-ranked Bloomington South (20-0) would still beat them by 15.
Ed Zeppelin: Yes, and they are getting the College All-Star Game with the NFL Super Bowl champion back together, too. Nimwit. Bloomington South reminds me of the first Muncie Central team that played Lawrence North a few years back in the 4A final – the one that soiled its collective diaper once it stepped on the floor against Oden & Conley. For shame, as that was a great team … But I digress. Um, South!
Sectional 15 @ Seymour
Unkey Mike: It would take an act of Congress for the final not to be between unranked Jeffersonville (16-4) and No. 2 New Albany (20-0). I love it – a civil war when it counts. I say the Bulldogs will take another bite out of the Red Devils. New Albany moves on.
Ed Zeppelin: N’albany, That’s like N’awlins, right?
Sectional 16 @ Evansville Central
Unkey Mike: No. 16 Evansville Harrison (15-5) is the best of a mediocre field.
Ed Zeppelin: Indeed, Harrison is the lowest-rated sectional favorite according to the power numbers (28th in 4A). Calbert Cheaney’s alma also is the only team with a winning record in this five-team field. H … A … double-R, I … s-o-n spells Harrison!
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