Never mind the weather, here are the sectionals

Feb. 23—The precipitation you might see on Tuesday is not expected to be snow, but it will be time for Indiana high school boys basketball sectionals just the same.

If momentum entering the tournament is a decisive factor, that's good news for Terre Haute North, Northview (or South Vermillion) and Linton.

But if there were a factor that proves decisive, the coaches would have figured it out by now. Expect the usual unpredictability and excitement, and enjoy.

West Vigo plays Tuesday, a revenge game at Owen Valley. North, Northview and Terre Haute South all wait until Friday semifinal games, with the Braves getting to play at home.

—Class 4A — Tuesday's game at Terre Haute South should be a good one, even if from a tree-falling-in-the-forest standpoint in case no one comes to watch two teams 15 miles apart playing each other for the first time.

The winner of that Brownsburg-Plainfield game gets the Patriots, while the host Braves play the team that handed them their first loss nearly three months ago.

Any of the five teams could win the whole thing without it being a surprise.

—Class 3A — The favorite at Owen Valley has been a different team several times this season, and right now it could be the Knights — or the Wildcats.

Indian Creek was a top-10 team until an injury to its best player but is still in the mix. Edgewood is in a spot where it could sneak in. West Vigo has beaten Northview early in the season.

Don't bet on Brown County, and probably not the host team. But every game should be a hard-fought affair.

—Class 2A — Parke Heritage hasn't lost to a potential opponent at Greencastle, and Riverton Parke hasn't beaten one. Naturally, the county rivals drew each other, and if there's a law of averages ...

North Putnam has a great draw, while Parke Heritage will probably have to beat Greencastle to get to the finals.

At Paoli, we have just mentioned one of the keys to the outcome of Sectional 47.

Three of its teams have been in the top 10 and the one there the longest, Sullivan, has the worst draw imaginable. The Golden Arrows would have to beat the other two — the host team and then Linton — to get to the finals.

The sleeper, perhaps capable of beating the survivor of the three once-ranked teams? Mitchell.

—Class A — North Vermillion has a chance at Fountain Central, but so do a lot of other teams. Before the season started the host Mustangs would have been an overwhelming favorite, but the season hasn't been what was expected in Veedersburg.

At White River Valley, the on-paper favorite is Clay City; Shakamak and North Central are both capable of being spoilers.

This sectional is being played in Greene County, however, and I presume there's an old saying there that still applies: never count out Bloomfield, particularly with Blake Neill having the potential to hang a 50-burger on somebody.

Class 4A, at Terre Haute South

Tuesday — Plainfield (15-7 or 14-8) vs. Brownsburg (13-11), 7 p.m.

Friday — Terre Haute South (12-11, 11-12 or 10-13) vs. Avon (13-10), 6 p.m., followed by Terre Haute North (21-3 or 20-4) vs. Tuesday winners

Class 3A, at Owen Valley

Tueaday — West Vigo (11-12) vs. Owen Valley (8-14 or 7-15), 6 p.m.

Wednesday — South Vermillion (14-8) vs. Indian Creek (14-8 or 13-9), 6 p.m., followed by Brown County (8-13 or 7-14) vs. Edgewood (12-12 or 11-13)

Friday — Northview (12-11) vs. Tuesday winner, 6 p.m., followed by Wednesday winners

Class 2A, at Greencastle

Tuesday — Cloverdale (2-21) vs. North Putnam (14-9), 7 p.m.

Wednesday — South Putnam (8-14 or 7-15) vs. Greencastle (14-9 or 13-10), 6 p.m., followed by Parke Heritage (19-5 or 18-6) vs. Riverton Parke (3-20 or 4-19)

Friday — Southmont (10-11 or 9-12) vs. Tuesday winner, 6 p.m., followed by Wednesday winners

Class 2A, at Paoli

Tuesday — Sullivan (18-5) vs. Paoli (18-5 or 17-6), 7 p.m.

Wednesday — South Knox (9-13 or 8-14) vs. Mitchell (13-10 or 12-11), 6 p.m., followed by Eastern Greene (5-17 or 4-18) vs. North Knox (8-15 or 7-16)

Friday — Linton (18-4 or 17-5) vs. Tuesday winner, 6 p.m., followed by Wednesday winners

Class A, at Fountain Central

Tuesday — Faith Christian (11-12 or 10-13) vs. Clinton Central (3-19 or 2-20), 6 p.m., followed by Rossville (10-13 or 9-14) vs. Attica (3-20 or 2-21)

Friday — North Vermillion (14-9 or 13-10) vs. Winner Game 1, 6 p.m., followed by Fountain Central (10-12 or 9-13) vs. Winner Game 2

Class A, at White River Valley

Tuesday — White River Valley (8-15) vs. Clay City (18-5 or 17-6), 7 p.m.

Wednesday — Lighthouse Christian (7-15 or 6-16) vs. North Central (11-11 or 10-12), 6 p.m., followed by Bloomfield (12-12 or 11-13) vs. Dugger Union (6-15 or 5-16)

Friday — Shakamak (13-9 or 12-10) vs. Tuesday winner, 6 p.m., followed by Wednesday winners

All sectional championship games are Saturday night.