GBB pairings

The girls basketball pairings are currently being drawn. We'll pass along the pairings for the Hancock County sectionals as soon as we get them.

The schedule:
Tuesday, Feb. 7: Sectional 1st round (also Wednesday 2/8 for 7-8 team sectionals)
Friday, Feb. 10: Sectional semifinal
Saturday, Feb. 11: Sectional finals
Saturday, Feb. 18: Regionals, 10/11:30 semis, 8 p.m. final
Saturday, Feb. 25: Semistates, TBA
Saturday, March 3: State Finals at Hulman Center, Terre Haute (1A-10:30, 2A-1:30, 3A-6:30, 4A-8:30)

Class 4A sectional at Greenfield-Central
Tuesday, Feb. 7
Pendleton Hts. (13-7) vs. Greenfield-C. (12-6), 6 p.m.
Anderson (15-4) vs. Connersville (13-7), 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 10

Richmond (12-7) vs. PH/G-C winner, 6 p.m.
New Castle (5-14) vs. Anderson/Connersville winner, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 11
Championship, 7:30 p.m.
Analysis: G-C fell to PH in a close game in November, but both teams have changed a lot since then. A tough 2nd-round matchup with Richmond awaits, but the Cougars were able to handle the Red Devils earlier in December. Anderson has a tough draw, but the Indians had a very big win vs. Mt. Vernon earlier this year and are 4-0 against sectional foes. Anderson beat Connersville in OT on Jan. 17. Minus the bye, this is a pretty solid draw for G-C -- or at least the G-C/PH winner. Both pretty solid teams with a great first-round matchup.


Class 4A sectional at Franklin
Tuesday, Feb. 7
Franklin Central (11-7) vs. Center Grove (8-11), 6 p.m.
New Palestine (10-10) vs. Whiteland (6-14), 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 10

Greenwood (16-2) vs. FC/CG winner, 6 p.m.
Franklin (10-9) vs. NP/Whiteland winner, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 11
Championship, 7:30 p.m.

Regional (BNL): Franklin vs. Columbus N.; Seymour vs. Evansville
Analysis: This might be the most balanced sectional in the state. Greenwood, at 16-2, is a clear favorite, but the Woodmen are not invulnerable. Both losses were to sectional foes -- Center Grove and Whiteland. FC is a perfect 4-0 vs. the sectional and has had a great season against one of the state's strongest schedules. Meanwhile, New Palestine meets the team rated sixth in the sectional, but Whiteland is very solid. The Warriors live and die by the 3-point shot, which has allowed them to post some big wins (Greenwood) and some puzzling losses (Shelbyville). NP and Franklin played a great game on the sectional floor in December. Matter of fact, all of the Dragons' games against sectional teams were great ones -- the only one decided by more than four points was a 62-50 loss to Greenwood that was close until NP had to start fouling late.


Class 3A sectional at Arlington
Tuesday, Feb. 7
Brebeuf (7-11) vs. #2 Mt. Vernon (17-3), 6 p.m.
Chatard (8-11) vs. Arlington (1-16), 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 10
Howe (5-13) vs. Brebeuf/MV winner, 6 p.m.
Guerin (13-7) vs. Chatard/Arlington winner, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 11
Championship, 7 p.m.
Analysis: After years of being routed through brutal sectionals often featuring #1 or #2-ranked teams, the Marauders are the top dog in this sectional, as Sagarin has MV rated 25 points better than the rest of the field -- the second-team in the Sagarin ratings is first-round foe Brebeuf -- and only one other team, Guerin Catholic, has a winning record. Brebeuf has been down -- for them -- in recent years, but is still dangerous. Guerin is a dangerous team in a potential title-game matchup.

Class 2A sectional at Cambridge City Lincoln
Tuesday, Feb. 7
Eastern Hancock (12-6) vs. Hagerstown (18-2), 7 p.m.
Wednesday, Feb. 8
Centerville (13-6) vs. Cambridge City Lincoln (7-10), 6 p.m.
Knightstown (13-6) vs. Union County (3-15), 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 10
Northeastern (6-12) vs. EH-Hagerstown winner, 6 p.m.
Wednesday winners, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 11
Championship, 7:30 p.m.

Analysis: The Royals get a tough first-round draw, as Chris Oliger's Tigers have been playing some good basketball. The winner will be favored to play in the sectional final, as 6-12 Northeastern drew the bye. In the bottom bracket, Centerville -- whom the Royals will host Monday night -- is a solid team, and will be a good end-of-season matchup for the Royals. Knightstown has played some strong basketball. Hagerstown is 7-0 against sectional foes, EH is 3-1, Centerville 5-2. Knightstown has a strong, balanced team. The Royals are in the mist of their best season in nearly a decade under first-year coach Jeremy Powers, and they are young, so this could be the start of a run for them.