10.29.07 Sectional Championship Preview
A sectional second round which included many potentially exciting games did not disappoint this past Friday. Here are some interesting notes about the second round contests and championship matchups.
Three teams were knocked out of the tournament after entering the second round with 10-0 records. In two of the cases, two 10-0 teams played each other and someone had to fall. Charlestown dropped a 42-24 decision to Heritage Hills in Class 3A, while Fairfield lost to Jimtown 35-27 in Class 2A. The third team to fall to 10-1 was also in 2A; Triton Central was on the short end of a 31-3 score against Heritage Christian. The Tigers had dealt the Eagles their only regular-season loss and Heritage Christian was able to get revenge. There now are just 12 undefeated teams remaining in this year’s tournament.
Keeping alive the old cliche that all teams are 0-0 again when the sectional begins, there are 11 sub-.500 regular season teams that are all still alive and playing for a
sectional title this Friday.
1-8 regular season record: Evansville Memorial (3A)
2-7 regular season record: Harrison (West Lafayette) (5A), Delphi (2A), Guerin Catholic (1A)
3-6 regular season record: Twin Lakes (3A), Manchester (2A), Triton (1A)
4-5 regular season record: Edgewood (3A), Elwood (2A), Lawrenceburg (2A), Tri (1A)
This Friday, 80 teams are battling for the 40 sectional championships. Six of those teams are participating in their first sectional championship game in school history: Wheeler, Heritage Christian, Triton, Guerin Catholic, Indiana School for the Deaf and Northeastern. In addition to those six, seven other teams will also be looking for their first sectional title: Warsaw, Pike, Jay County, Shelbyville, Hammond Clark, Bellmont and Brebeuf.
Carmel is going for their state-record 21st sectional championship. Hobart, which won 19 straight from 1979-1997, has a chance to finally earn their 20th sectional title. Warren Central has the longest current sectional streak at 7, followed by Chatard with 6 and Lowell with 4.
Among the 67 teams that have at least one sectional title, Delphi has the longest drought – the Oracles won their only crown way back in 1977. Western’s lone title was in 1984. Churubusco has two titles, but none since 1988. Monrovia won its only sectional in 1989, and Edgewood’s only championship was in 1990.
23 of last year’s 40 sectional champions remain alive in their quest for a repeat in 2007. Thanks to realignment prior to this season, three of this Friday’s games are between two defending champions: Lowell at Concord (met last year in the regional), Whiteland at Cathedral (met last year in the regional), and Evansville Mater Dei at Southridge (Mater Dei won in Class 3A last year).
Last week, there were 19 games where both opponents had at least 7 wins. This week, there are 19 games where both teams have won at least 8 times:
Sectional 2: Goshen (8-3) at Penn (11-0)
Sectional 5: Hamilton Southeastern (9-2) at Warren Central (8-3)
Sectional 6: Franklin Central (9-2) at Pike (11-0)
Sectional 7: Decatur Central (8-3) at Columbus North (10-1)
Sectional 8: Evansville North (9-2) at Jeffersonville (9-2)
Sectional 9: Griffith (8-3) at Hobart (8-3)
Sectional 10: Lowell (10-1) at Concord (8-3)
Sectional 13: Planfield (8-3) at Westfield (8-3)
Sectional 15: Shelbyville (11-0) at Columbus East (10-1)
Sectional 16: Evansville Reitz (11-0) at Jasper (9-2)
Sectional 17: Andrean (8-3) at Hammond Clark (8-3)
Sectional 21: Brebeuf (9-2) at Danville (10-1)
Sectional 22: Hamilton Heights (8-2) at Chatard (8-3)
Sectional 31: Brownstown Central (9-2) at Providence (8-3)
Sectional 32: Evansville Mater Dei (8-3) at Southridge (8-3)
Sectional 34: Churubusco (9-2) at Adams Central (9-2)
Sectional 35: Tri-County (8-3) at North Miami (9-2)
Sectional 37: Indiana Deaf (9-2) at Ritter (8-3)
Sectional 40: Perry Central (11-0) at Linton-Stockton (11-0)
Those are just some of the big games this Friday. There will be plenty of excitement in the other 21 championship matchups as well. What game are you going to see this week, and who do you think will win? Share your thoughts with fans around the state with the Indiana Sportstalk Message Boards!
