Tough tournament roads lie ahead for area teams

Feb. 26—ANDERSON — The 2024 IHSAA boys basketball sectional week begins with first-round games Tuesday and Wednesday followed by semifinals Friday and championship games Saturday.

Among the commonalities area teams share this week are very few will be close to home — only Alexandria will host — and most face an uphill climb to advance to next week's regional championship.

Here is a glance at the teams as they head into postseason play, who they will face, players to look out for and an outlook on each sectional:

CLASS 4A AT GREENFIELD-CENTRAL

Anderson (18-5)

First opponent: Greenfield-Central (22-0); Wednesday, 7:30 p.m.; Trending: Indians have beaten the Cougars the last four postseason meetings, including the last two years; Players to watch: Damien King (23.3 points, 8.5 rebounds per game), Javon Warfield (13.6 points, 5 rebounds per game); Key stat: Opponents winning percentage — Anderson 57.8%, Greenfield-Central 47.7%.

Pendleton Heights (11-12)

First opponent: New Palestine (19-5) or Mount Vernon (15-8); Friday, 6 p.m.; Trending: PH lost to both potential opponents by a total of five points during the regular season; Players to Watch: Josiah Gustin (14.7 points, 7.1 rebounds per game), Evan Mozingo (10.1 points per game); Key stat: Arabians commit less than 10 turnovers per game.

Sectional outlook: There are no easy draws for Sectional 9, and that certainly applies to both Anderson and Pendleton Heights, although the Arabians do have the luxury of drawing a bye into the semifinals. The Indians will have to beat star junior Braylon Mullins for the third straight year to advance while the Arabians will no doubt have to avenge regular-season losses to claim their first sectional since 2013.

CLASS 3A AT NEW CASTLE

Frankton (15-8)

First opponent: Delta (18-6); Wednesday, 7:30 p.m.; Trending: Frankton has won at least one postseason game in six of last seven years; Players to watch: Nate Moore (13.3 points per game), Joey Wright (11.9 points, 5 assists per game); Key stat: Frankton shoots 33% from 3-point range, 70% on free throws.

Sectional outlook: One of many tough draws for area teams has Frankton opening things up with the sixth-ranked Eagles on Wednesday night. On paper, Delta is the heavy favorite, but completely ruling out an upset from Brent Brobston and the Eagles would be a mistake.

CLASS 2A AT TIPTON

Elwood (8-15)

First opponent: Tipton (21-2); Tuesday, 7 p.m.; Trending: Elwood last won a sectional game in 2009; Players to watch: James Ward (9.5 points, 6.8 rebounds per game), Jackson Blackford (7.9 points per game); Key stat: Elwood has lost 18 straight games to Tipton.

Madison-Grant (6-16)

First opponent: Eastbrook (6-16); Wednesday, 7:30 p.m.; Trending: Argylls have lost five of six, Panthers have lost 11 of 13; Players to watch: Clayton Hull (13.4 points per game), Teagan Yeagy (12 points, 3.3 assists per game); Key stat: Argylls shoot 35% from 3-point range.

Sectional outlook: Don't let the loss at Lapel in the season finale fool you, Tipton is the runaway favorite in this sectional, especially playing at home. Madison-Grant split two meetings with Eastbrook this season — losing at home, but winning on the road — which sets up an attractive quarterfinal matchup with their CIC rivals.

CLASS 2A AT ALEXANDRIA

Alexandria (13-10)

First opponent: Winchester (12-11); Tuesday, 6 p.m.; Trending: Alex won five games in a row before dropping season finale; Players to watch: Carson Cuneo (10.9 points, 8.4 rebounds per game), Carson Hall (10.1 points per game); Key stat: Alexandria is 10-2 when scoring 55 points or more.

Lapel (18-5)

First opponent: Wapahani (20-2); Wednesday, 7:30 p.m.; Trending: Lapel has won 17 of last 18 games, including 13 in a row; Players to watch: Brode Judge (17 points per game), Bode Judge (15.9 points, 6.1 rebounds per game); Key stat: Bulldogs shoot 37% beyond the 3-point line.

Sectional outlook: After an upset of top-ranked Tipton, Lapel sets its sights on third-ranked Wapahani as the Raiders seek their fourth sectional championship in five years. Lapel lost at Wapahani 70-35 on Dec. 8, the only 2A loss of the season for the Bulldogs. The host Tigers could take advantage of a favorable draw and playing in The Jungle to surprise any naysayers.

CLASS 2A AT HAGERSTOWN

Shenandoah (12-10)

First opponent: Knightstown (11-11); Tuesday, 7 p.m.; Trending: Shenandoah has defeated Knightstown nine straight times; Players to watch: Haygen Tomlinson (8.5 points, 6.2 rebounds per game), Jonny Howard (7.5 points per game); Key stat: Raiders are 10-2 when holding opponents under 50 points.

Sectional outlook: Northeastern has knocked Shenandoah out in this sectional the last two years, and while the Raiders avoid another first-round meeting with the Knights, the favorites in this group await Rick Ellsworth's bunch in Friday's semifinal round. First, Shenandoah will need to dispatch Knightstown in Tuesday's quarterfinal.

CLASS 1A AT TRI-CENTRAL

Anderson Prep (4-18)

First opponent: Liberty Christian (13-9); Tuesday, 7 p.m.; Trending: Lost last eight games; Players to watch: Lincoln Fathauer (12.9 points per game), Camron Anderson (11.8 points per game); Key stat: Jets seeking first sectional game win in program history.

Liberty Christian (13-9)

First opponent: APA (4-18); Tuesday, 7 p.m.; Trending: Lions seeking their third straight sectional title; Players to watch: T.J. English (12.7 points per game), Kendrick Martin (11.4 points per game); Key stat: Lions have won 15 of 16 games against the Jets.

Daleville (12-9)

First opponent: Cowan (10-11); Friday, 6 p.m.; Trending: Broncos have lost three in a row on the heels of a five-game win streak; Players to watch: Meryck Adams (18.6 points per game), Koleman Newsome (17.7 points per game, 8 rebounds per game); Key stat: Broncos have won at least one sectional game in three of last four years.

Sectional outlook: Liberty Christian is the favorite once again at Tri-Central, but the Jets pushed the Lions to the brink earlier this season, and should it advance, LC will have to beat the host school just to have an opportunity to three-peat. The Lions could face another rematch in Saturday's final if the Broncos can avenge a three-point loss at Cowan back on Jan. 5. Liberty Christian has prevailed in the final against Daleville the last two seasons.

Contact Rob Hunt at rob.hunt@heraldbulletin.com or 765-640-4886.