Sectional week! Here are 10 can't-miss IHSAA basketball tournament first-round games

Kyle Neddenriep, Indianapolis Star

March 1, 2023 at 8:49 AM·8 min read

Sectional week is here! If you are looking for a good high school basketball game to watch Tuesday or Wednesday, you are in luck. I’ve got you covered. The best, in my opinion, from No. 10 to No. 1:

Every first-round game, in one place: Indiana high school tournament 2023 pairings

No. 10 Southridge (13-10) vs. Heritage Hills (15-8)

This is a single game at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in Class 3A Sectional 31 at Washington. Heritage Hills won the regular-season matchup 51-49 in overtime as sophomore Trent Sisley went for 31 points and seven rebounds. The winner here will play Washington in the semifinals Friday. North Daviess is on the other side of the bracket.

Greenwood Christian Academy Cougars Max Booher (23) rushes up the court against Bethesda Christian Patriots Luke Stuckey (11) on Thursday, Feb. 9, 2023 at Bethesda Christian High School in Brownsburg. The Greenwood Christian Academy Cougars defeated the Bethesda Christian Patriots, 66-43.

No. 9 Tindley (11-13) vs. Greenwood Christian (17-6)

This Class A Sectional 59 game (7:30 p.m. Tuesday) is misleading by looking only at the records. But 10 of Tindley’s losses are to teams in Class 3A, 4A or out of state. The Tigers can really score, led by senior Arlondo Hall and freshman DeZhon Hall. Seventh-ranked Greenwood Christian, which last won a sectional in the pandemic-shortened 2020 tournament, has a chance to do some damage led by junior Max Booher. But the Cougars first half to get through this one and then likely No. 8 Lutheran (14-7) in the championship.

No. 8 Muncie Central (15-7) vs. Mt. Vernon (14-8)

This Class 4A Sectional 9 game (6 p.m. Wednesday) at Muncie Central is interesting. The Marauders are young but talented with freshmen Luke Ertel and Julien Smith as the team’s top scorers. Muncie Central is vastly improved and will be at home against a team that is dealing with some off-the-court distractions with coach Ben Rhoades on leave. Muncie Central has won seven of its past eight games with the only loss coming to Anderson. The winner will play either Anderson or Greenfield-Central in Friday’s semifinal.

Bedford North Lawrence's Colten Leach (2) drives to the hoop as New Albany's Josten Carter (4) defends. BNL won the HHC matchup, 43-37 on Friday, Feb. 17, 2023. The victory gave BNL a part of a three-way share of the HHC Championship, with Jeffersonville and Jennings County.

No. 7 Bedford North Lawrence (16-6) vs. Jennings County (20-2)

This Class 4A Sectional 15 game at 6 p.m. Tuesday in Seymour will be a good one. No. 9 Jennings County knocked off the Stars 51-40 in mid-January, but Bedford North Lawrence has won 10 of 11 since. Both of these teams can really shoot it and are hungry for a breakthrough. BNL’s girls just won a state championship, while the boys will be looking for a first sectional title since 2001. Jennings County has not won a sectional since 2005. There are no guarantees with a win, though. Jeffersonville (13-8), which beat Jennings County and lost to BNL, will play the winner Friday night.

Lawrence North High School sophomore Azavier Robinson (23) brings the ball up court while being defended by Ben Davis High School junior Mark White (1) during the second half of a Marion County tourney championship boys basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 14, 2023, at Southport High School.

No. 6 Lawrence North (17-7) vs. North Central (13-8)

You can’t go wrong with a Jack Keefer vs. Doug Mitchell game, right? Well, those coaches are retired and there might not be a Greg Oden or Eric Gordon on either team, but this is still a great rivalry and should be a highly-competitive game at 6 p.m. Wednesday in Sectional 10 at Warren Central. Lawrence North came from way behind to knock off North Central 67-66 in January’s regular-season matchup. The winner here will play either Crispus Attucks or Tech in Friday’s semifinal.

Heritage Christian Eagle Myles Colvin (11) leaves the court at half time of a game against University High School on Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023, at Heritage Christian High School in Indianapolis.

No. 5 Heritage Christian (11-11) vs. Brebeuf Jesuit (14-8)

It has been a crazy season for Heritage Christian, which saw its coach, Warren Wallace, step down in late January. Purdue recruit Myles Colvin gives the Eagles a chance against just about any opponent, including this one in Class 3A Sectional 27 at Shortridge (6 p.m. Tuesday). Brebeuf Jesuit knocked off Heritage Christian 54-52 in mid-February and is 7-0 against 3A opposition this season. The winner here does not catch a break with Guerin Catholic awaiting in Friday’s semifinal.

Carmel Greyhounds Sam Orme (14) yells after scoring three points Friday, Jan. 27, 2023 at Carmel High School in Carmel. The Ben Davis Giants defeated the Carmel Greyhounds, 46-45.

4. Carmel (15-7) vs. Westfield (15-7)

This one tips off Class 4A Sectional 8 at Carmel at 6 p.m. Tuesday. Westfield ended Carmel’s seven-year sectional title reign last year in a down-to-the-wire 59-54 sectional championship game. But Braden Smith and Cam Haffner graduated and this is obviously a much different Westfield team. Carmel controlled the regular-season game, winning 49-38, but Alex Romack and Trey Buchanan will give the Shamrocks a chance. Carmel is 7-2 in its last nine games, with the only losses coming to Ben Davis and Warren Central, and it has a surefire Indiana All-Star in Belmont commit Sam Orme. The winner here gets a tough test against Noblesville in Friday’s semifinals.

Da’John Craig (3) of Lawrence Central High School on Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2023, during a game won by Lawrence Central 72-67, at LCHS.

3. Warren Central (13-9) vs. Lawrence Central (15-7)

Sectional 10 is always a guaranteed good time and this single game at 7 p.m. Tuesday is a great way to get the party started. Senior Jalen Hooks has led Warren Central on a four-game winning streak to close the regular season. Prior to that run, Lawrence Central knocked off Warren Central 59-56 and the Bears have plenty of talent and scoring, starting with senior guard Da’John Craig. The prize for the winner here is a matchup Friday night with defending state champion Cathedral. Warren Central’s only sectional title since 2000 came in the state championship season of 2017-18. Lawrence Central’s most-recent sectional title was in 2019.

Dylan Moles works a possession, Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023, during practice at Greenfield Central High School.

2. Anderson (18-4) at Greenfield-Central (21-1)

This should be a good one in Class 4A Sectional 9 at Muncie Central (7:30 p.m. Wednesday). These teams did not meet in the regular season, but did play in the sectional last year as Anderson rolled by 25 points. I would expect a much closer game this time around. No. 10 Greenfield-Central will want to play a half-court game and find shots for Dylan Moles and Braylon Mullins while Anderson prefers a more uptempo style where Ahmere Carson and Jaquan Ingram can thrive. It’s a shame of those teams will go home so early. Anderson last won a sectional in 2009 while Greenfield-Central is after its first since 1998.

Ben Davis High School senior Sheridan Sharp (5) and battle under the basket during the first half of a Marion County tourney championship boys basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 14, 2023, at Southport High School.

1. Southport (14-9) vs. Ben Davis (25-0)

To be completely honest, I have no idea if this will actually be a good game (7:30 p.m. Wednesday in Class 4A Sectional 11 at Perry Meridian). The top-ranked Giants (26-0) have shown no weaknesses and no letup all season for coach Don Carlisle. Ben Davis is veteran and hungry and an excellent defensive team. But Southport (14-9) popping up on the draw had to draw the attention of the Giants. These teams are certainly familiar with one another, playing twice this season – a 55-52 Ben Davis overtime win in November and a 63-52 Giants’ win in the Marion County tournament semifinals in January. This will be the 10th game between the programs in four seasons. Southport has lost four of its past five games, which does not bode well heading into the sectional. But this one figures to be intense.

10 more to watch

Fishers (13-11) vs. Hamilton Southeastern (7-17): You can’t go wrong with the Mudsock rivalry. This game, at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in Class 4A Sectional 8 at Carmel, follows Carmel vs. Westfield. Fishers beat HSE 65-60 in mid-December.

Evansville Reitz (16-6) vs. Castle (14-8): This Class 4A Sectional 16 game is at Evansville North in the Tuesday opener. Castle won the regular-season meeting 62-56.

Tri (16-5) vs. Blue River (17-6): This is the lone game Tuesday night at Tri in Class A Sectional 56 for two programs just outside the top-10. Blue River is the defending sectional champion; Tri has not won a sectional since 2005.

Yorktown (14-8) vs. New Castle (12-11): This is the nightcap of a Wednesday doubleheader in Class 3A Sectional 24 at New Castle. Yorktown, the defending sectional champ, knocked off New Castle by 23 points during the season.

Mooresville (12-11) vs. Bloomington North (15-5): This is the second game at Center Grove on Tuesday night in Class 4A Sectional 13. Bloomington North defeated Mooresville 65-44 in early December.

Paoli (18-5) vs. Linton-Stockton (23-1): Upset alert? This is the second game Wednesday night in Class 2A Sectional 47 at North Knox. The top-ranked Miners are a big favorite, but Paoli has some good wins.

Crown Point (14-8) vs. Portage (14-8): This is the only game Tuesday in Class 4A Sectional 2 at Crown Point. Crown Point won the regular-season game by 11 points.

Sullivan (17-6) vs. South Knox (16-7): Another good one in Class 2A Sectional 47 at North Knox, this one on Tuesday night. South Knox won by 16 in the season opener.

Evansville Mater Dei (12-10) vs. Evansville Bosse (13-10): A good matchup in Class 3A Sectional 32 at Boonville, the second of two on Tuesday. Bosse won the first meeting by 17. The winner plays Evansville Memorial, the probable favorite, in the semifinal.

Bloomfield (20-3) vs. Clay City (17-6): Class A top-ranked Bloomfield is the team to beat in Sectional 57 at White River Valley. Clay City is the toughest challenger, but lost to the Cardinals by 16 in December. This game is Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.

Call Star reporter Kyle Neddenriep at (317) 444-6649.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana high school basketball sectionals: Best early tournament games