By GREG MENGELT
The Panthers, who are 20-2 and have won eight games in a row, passed the first test Tuesday when they knocked off Charlestown (17-6). Now they turn their attention to a Salem team much more dangerous than its 11-9 record indicates.
Corydon clashes with the Lions in the Class 3A North Harrison Sectional semifinal — and the Hoosier Hills Hoops Game of the Night — on Saturday, weather pending.
“Salem is a tall task for any team,” second-year Corydon coach Josh Conrad said. “They are very well coached and have talented players with a ton of experience.”
It’s the first postseason game for the Lions, who have sectional titles in four of the past seven seasons. Salem enters the sectional at 11-9.
In the second semifinal, defending state champion Silver Creek (21-2) faces off with Madison (12-8). The Class 3A No. 4 Dragons pulled away from Scottsburg for 62-36 victory in its first-ever postseason contest as reigning state champions. Madison held off host North Harrison in overtime to advance.
As of Friday evening, the sectional championship is scheduled for Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.
Also as of Friday evening, the Class A sectionals at New Washington and West Washington are still scheduled to play their semifinals Saturday evening. At New Wash, the host Mustangs (13-9) battle Christian Academy (7-5), followed by Class A No. 2 Lanesville (23-1) vs. Borden (12-10) with the winners meeting in Tuesday’s championship game. At West Washington, the host Senators (14-7) will play Shawe Memorial (9-10) with the winner taking on either Class A No. 11 Trinity Lutheran (14-8) or Crothersville (3-13) on Saturday evening for the sectional title.
The 2A sectional at Crawford County and the 4A sectional at Jeffersonville are scheduled to resume Monday with the championship games contested Tuesday.
CLASS 3A NORTH HARRISON SECTIONAL
SALEM VS. CORYDON CENTRAL
• Time: 5 p.m.
• Location: North Harrison H.S. (1070 Hwy. 64 N.W., Ramsey)
• Records:
Salem 11-9. The Lions lost three of their last four regular-season games.
Corydon Central 20-2. The Panthers are on an 8-game winning streak.
• Coaches:
Salem — Jerry Hickey (148-74 in ninth season at Salem)
Corydon Central — Josh Conrad (30-13 in second season at Corydon, 149-106 in 11th season overall)
• Rankings:
Corydon Central — No. 12 ICGSA (Class 3A).
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
Salem — No. 70, No. 17 Class 3A
Corydon Central— No. 51, No. 12 Class 3A
• Most recent game:
Salem — Defeated Austin 68-45 (Jan. 27)
Corydon Central — Defeated Charlestown 52-39 (Feb. 1, Class 3A North Harrison Sectional first round)
• Sectionals titles (most recent): Salem 9 (2020); Corydon Central 17 (2013).
• Regular-season result: Dec. 10 — At Corydon Central 48, Salem 44.
• Last postseason matchup: Feb. 2, 2021 — Salem 77, Corydon Central 63 (sectional first round)
• John Harrell prediction: Corydon Central 50, Salem 47.
• Sagarin projection: Corydon Central by 6.
• Outlook: Anyone counting out Salem is making a mistake, but there’s no doubt the Panthers have the edge in this one.
• Greg’s pick: Corydon Central 61, Salem 54.
SILVER CREEK VS. MADISON
• Time: 7 p.m.
• Location: North Harrison H.S. (1070 Hwy. 64 N.W., Ramsey)
• Records:
Silver Creek 21-2. The Dragons have won nine of their last 10 games.
Madison 12-8. The Cubs have won two of their last three games.
• Coaches:
Silver Creek — Scott Schoen (176-110 in 12th season at Silver Creek)
Madison — Sonja Bowyer (49-43 in fourth season at Madison)
• Rankings:
Silver Creek — No. 12 IBCA (single class); No. 4 ICGSA (Class 3A).
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
Silver Creek — No. 17, No. 3 Class 3A
Madison— No. 98, No. 28 Class 3A
• Most recent game:
Silver Creek — Defeated Scottsburg 62-36 (Feb. 2, Class 3A North Harrison Sectional first round)
Madison — Defeated North Harrison 44-38, OT (Feb. 2, Class 3A North Harrison Sectional first round)
• Sectionals titles (most recent): Silver Creek 6 (2021); Madison 11 (2014).
• Regular-season result: Jan. 11 — At Silver Creek 76, Madison 43.
• Last postseason matchup: Jan. 5, 2021 — Silver Creek 51, Madison 36 (sectional semifinal)
• John Harrell prediction: Silver Creek 58, Madison 38.
• Sagarin projection: Silver Creek by 20.
• Outlook: Silver Creek should dominate from start to finish after Wednesday’s slow start.
• Greg’s pick: Silver Creek 75, Madison 50.
CLASS A NEW WASHINGTON SECTIONAL
NEW WASHINGTON VS. CHRISTIAN ACADEMY
• Time: 6 p.m.
• Location: James Matthews Gymnasium (a.k.a. The Jim), New Washington H.S. (226 N. Highway 62, New Washington)
• Records:
New Washington 13-9. The Mustangs have won nine of their last 10 games.
Christian Academy 7-15. The Warriors have lost five of their last six games.
• Coaches:
New Washington — Kirsti Holloway (68-92 in seventh season at New Wash)
Christian Academy — Carson Casey (15-50 in third season at CAI)
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
New Washington — No. 211, No. 24 Class A
Christian Academy— No. 356, No. 75 Class A
• Most recent game:
New Washington — Defeated South Central 69-27 (Jan. 26)
Christian Academy — Defeated South Central 36-25 (Feb. 1, Class A New Washington Sectional first round)
• Sectionals titles (most recent): New Washington 6 (2013); CAI 0.
• Regular-season result: Nov. 13 — At New Washington 60, CAI 23.
• Last postseason matchup: Jan. 31, 2017 — CAI 52, New Washington 40 (sectional first round)
• John Harrell prediction: New Washington 57, CAI 25.
• Sagarin projection: New Washington by 29.
• Outlook: New Washington will win its 14th game of the season, their most since 2013.
• Greg’s pick: New Washington 55, CAI 23.
BORDEN VS. LANESVILLE
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: James Matthews Gymnasium (a.k.a. The Jim), New Washington H.S. (226 N. Highway 62, New Washington)
• Records:
Borden 12-10. The Braves lost their final two regular-season games.
Lanesville 23-1. The Eagles have won 19 games in a row.
• Coaches:
Borden — Matt Vick (46-66 in fifth season at Borden)
Lanesville — Angie Hinton (85-16 in fourth season at Lanesville, 258-89 in 15th season overall)
• Rankings:
Lanesville — No. 2 ICGSA (Class A).
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
Borden — No. 317, No. 59 Class A
Lanesville— No. 52, No. 2 Class A
• Most recent game:
Borden — Lost to Springs Valley 42-28 (Jan. 27)
Lanesville — Defeated Rock Creek 71-12 (Feb. 1, Class A New Washington Sectional first round)
• Sectionals titles (most recent): Borden 12 (2015); Lanesville 3 (2021, third straight).
• Regular-season result: Dec. 9 — Lanesville 59, at Borden 16.
• Last postseason matchup: Feb. 2, 2019 — Lanesville 50, Borden 19 (sectional championship)
• John Harrell prediction: Lanesville 63, Borden 18.
• Sagarin projection: Lanesville by 45.
• Outlook: It may be a while before Lanesville faces a serious postseason challenge.
• Greg’s pick: Lanesville 66, Borden 22.
CLASS A WEST WASHINGTON SECTIONAL
WEST WASHINGTON VS. SHAWE MEMORIAL
• Time: 7:45 p.m.
• Location: Tower Gymnasium, West Washington H.S. (8028 W. Batt Rd., Campbellsburg)
• Records:
West Washington 14-7. The Senators have won their last two games.
Shawe 9-10. The Hilltoppers won two of their last three regular-season games.
• Coaches:
West Washington — Matthew Myers (22-22 in second season at West Washington)
Shawe — Terry King (24-52 in fourth season at Shawe, 87-103 in 10th season overall)
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
West Washington — No. 272, No. 41 Class A
Shawe— No. 347, No. 71 Class A
• Most recent game:
West Washington — Defeated Edinburgh 47-33 (Feb. 1, Class A West Washington Sectional first round)
Shawe — Lost at Rising Sun 52-29 (Jan. 27)
• Sectionals titles (most recent): West Washington 3 (2019); Shawe 0.
• Regular-season result: Did not play.
• Last postseason matchup: Feb. 7, 2020 — West Washington 56, Shawe 21 (sectional semifinal)
• John Harrell prediction: West Washington 45, Shawe 47.
• Sagarin projection: West Washington by 15.
• Outlook: West Washington has quietly had a very strong season. There’s no question the Senators will beat Shawe. The question is whether they can beat Trinity Lutheran in the championship game.
• Greg’s pick: West Washington 49, Shawe 29.
TRINITY LUTHERAN VS. CROTHERSVILLE
• Time: 6 p.m.
• Location: Tower Gymnasium, West Washington H.S. (8028 W. Batt Rd., Campbellsburg)
• Records:
Trinity Lutheran 14-8. The Cougars have lost two of their last three games.
Crothersville 3-13. The Tigers lost eight of their final nine regular-season games.
• Coaches:
Trinity Lutheran — Mike Lang (181-86 in 11th season at Trinity)
Crothersville — Kevin Hensley (116-172 in 13th season at Crothersville)
• Rankings:
Trinity Lutheran — No. 11 ICGSA (Class A).
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
Trinity Lutheran — No. 165, No. 13 Class A
Crothersville— No. 378, No. 84 Class A
• Most recent game:
Trinity Lutheran — Lost at Madison 58-33 (Jan. 27)
Crothersville — Lost to New Washington 70-19 (Jan. 25)
• Sectionals titles (most recent): Trinity Lutheran 5 (2021, second straight); Crothersville 1 (2017).
• Regular-season result: Nov. 20 — Trinity Lutheran 55, at Crothersville 25.
• Last postseason matchup: Feb. 7 — Trinity Lutheran 62, Crothersville 36 (sectional semifinal)
• John Harrell prediction: Trinity Lutheran 71, Crothersville 23.
• Sagarin projection: Trinity Lutheran by 48.
• Outlook: The Cougars ease into Tuesday’s championship.
• Greg’s pick: Trinity Lutheran 59, Crothersville 24.
