By GREG MENGELT
But Silver Creek coach Brandon Hoffman knows what can happen when teenagers and young adults look past opponents.
Hoffman’s crew beat Salem 110-35 at home last Tuesday. On Wednesday, Silver Creek, which hasn’t lost a postseason game in four years, opens its state title defense against the Lions, who rebounded from the loss to Silver Creek by beating Borden last Friday.
Creek (11-12) faces Salem (5-16) in Wednesday’s first semifinal of the Class 3A Salem Sectional. That game will be followed by Scottsburg (14-8) and Madison (6-17) in Friday’s second sectional quarterfinal. The winners will meet in Friday’s second sectional semi.
“It’s going to be a sad state of affairs if we don’t take the game seriously,” said Hoffman, who’s led Silver Creek to back-to-back 3A titles. “We can’t depend on what happened last week to win this week. It’s not like Salem is going to lay down and give it to us. We’re dealing with teenagers. Anything can happen when you’re coaching teenagers.”
Hoffman does like the way his team is playing. After going 7-10 through 17 games, the Dragons closed the regular season winning four of their last six. The only losses during that stretch were to 4A foes New Albany (11-11) and Seymour (15-6). The Owls beat the Dragons in overtime in the regular-season finale last week.
“I feel a lot better about our team than I did in December,” Hoffman said Monday. “Our guys are starting to play better and are more comfortable in their roles. We proved that Friday when we played a really good Seymour team to overtime. For 29 minutes, we looked like a team that could compete for a sectional championship.”
If the teams wins that are expected to win Wednesday, the Salem Sectional semifinals will feature two rivalry games between four teams that are all capable of winning the sectional title. North Harrison (17-3), which defeated Charlestown 55-41 on Tuesday, will face rival Corydon Central (14-8) in the first semifinal Friday. The Cougars beat Corydon 65-41 on Dec. 3 en route to the Mid-Southern Conference championship and an unbeaten record against the sectional field this season.
Hoffman says if the teams that are expected to win Wednesday get the job done, “The environment is going to be electric Friday.”
GAME OF THE NIGHT
CLASS 3A SALEM SECTIONAL
SILVER CREEK VS. SALEM
• Time: 6 p.m.
• Location: Brooks Memorial Gymnasium, Salem H.S. (700 N. Harrison St., Salem)
• Records:
Silver Creek 11-12. The Dragons have won three of their last four games.
Salem 5-16. The Lions have lost nine of their last 10.
• Coaches:
Silver Creek — Brandon Hoffman (212-85 in 12th season at Silver Creek)
Salem — Duane Malloy (5-16 in first season at Salem)
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
Silver Creek — No. 129, No. 36 Class 3A
Salem— No. 341, No. 91 Class 3A
• Most recent game:
Silver Creek — Lost to Seymour 63-54, OT (Feb. 25)
Salem — Defeated Borden 76-73 (Feb. 25)
• Sectionals titles (most recent): Silver Creek 18 (2021, fourth straight); Salem 13 (2009).
• Regular-season result: Feb. 22 — At Silver Creek 110, Salem 35.
• Last postseason matchup: March 4, 2017 — Salem 70, Silver Creek 65, OT (Class 3A Salem Sectional semifinal)
• John Harrell prediction: Silver Creek 75, Madison 45.
• Sagarin projection: Silver Creek by 21.
• Outlook: Don’t think the homecourt advantage is going to make a 76-point difference.
• Greg’s pick: Silver Creek 72, Salem 39.
SCOTTSBURG VS. MADISON
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Brooks Memorial Gymnasium, Salem H.S. (700 N. Harrison St., Salem)
• Records:
Scottsburg 14-8. The Warriors have won five games in a row.
Madison 6-17. The Cubs have lost 10 of their last 11.
• Coaches:
Scottsburg — Eric Richardson (20-26 in second season at Scottsburg)
Madison — Adam Stotts (6-17 in first season at Madison)
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
Scottsburg — No. 110, No. 29 Class 3A
Madison— No. 242, No. 64 Class 3A
• Most recent game:
Scottsburg — Defeated Mitchell 79-30 (Feb. 25)
Madison — Lost at Switzerland County 53-49 (Feb. 24)
• Sectionals titles (most recent): Scottsburg 22 (2005); Madison 38 (2007).
• Regular-season results: Dec. 23 — At Madison 77, Scottsburg 75, OT (Jeffersonville County Invitational fifth-place game); Jan. 7 — Scottsburg 58, Madison 54.
• Last postseason matchup: March 5, 2021 — Madison 68, Scottsburg 51 (Class 3A Charlestown Sectional semifinal).
• John Harrell prediction: Scottsburg 66, Madison 48.
• Sagarin projection: Scottsburg by 13.
• Outlook: Madison isn’t the same team it was in December or January and Scottsburg has improved throughout the season.
• Greg’s pick: Scottsburg 69, Madison 50.
LOCAL SECTIONALS
CLASS 4A SEYMOUR SECTIONAL
FIRST ROUND
Tuesday, March 1
Jeffersonville 61, Bedford North Lawrence 48
Floyd Central 61, Jennings County 54 (2OT)
SEMIFINALS
Friday, March 4
Seymour (15-6) vs. Jeffersonville (8-11), 6 p.m.
New Albany (11-11) vs. Floyd Central (18-4), 7:30 p.m.
CHAMPIONSHIP
Saturday, March 5
Semifinal winners, 7:30 p.m.
CLASS 3A SALEM SECTIONAL
FIRST ROUND
Tuesday, March 1
North Harrison 55, Charlestown 41
Wednesday, March 2
Salem (5-16) vs. Silver Creek (11-12), 6 p.m.
Madison (6-17) vs. Scottsburg (14-8), 7:30 p.m.
SEMIFINALS
Friday, March 4
Corydon Central (14-7) vs. North Harrison (17-3), 6 p.m.
Salem/Silver Creek winner vs. Madison/Scottsburg winner, 7:30 p.m.
CHAMPIONSHIP
Saturday, March 5
Semifinal winners, 7 p.m.
CLASS 2A SOUTHWESTERN SECTIONAL
FIRST ROUND
Tuesday, March 1
Switzerland County 52, Austin 50
Southwestern 45, Henryville 37
SEMIFINALS
Friday, March 4
Providence (14-6) vs. Switzerland County (11-13), 6 p.m.
Clarksville (6-14) vs. Southwestern (16-7), 7:30 p.m.
CHAMPIONSHIP
Saturday, March 5
Semifinal winners, 7 p.m.
CLASS 2A TELL CITY SECTIONAL
FIRST ROUND
Tuesday, March 1
Paoli 42, Crawford County 36
SEMIFINALS
Friday, March 4
Eastern (17-5) vs. Perry Central (12-10), 5:30 p.m.
Tell City (2-21) vs. Paoli (14-9), 7:15 p.m.
CHAMPIONSHIP
Saturday, March 5
Semifinal winners, 6 p.m.
CLASS A BORDEN SECTIONAL
FIRST ROUND
Tuesday, March 1
Rock Creek 72, New Washington 44
Christian Academy 61, Lanesville 28
SEMIFINALS
Friday, March 4
Borden (14-7) vs. Rock Creek (14-8), 6 p.m.
South Central (8-15) vs. Christian Academy (11-13), 7:30 p.m.
CHAMPIONSHIP
Saturday, March 5
Semifinal winners, 7 p.m.
CLASS A EDINBURGH SECTIONAL
FIRST ROUND
Tuesday, March 1
West Washington 53, Shawe Memorial 38
Edinburgh 57, Trinity Lutheran 38
SEMIFINALS
Friday, March 4
Medora (4-19) vs. West Washington (10-13), 6 p.m.
Crothersville (3-19) vs. Edinburgh (20-3), 7:30 p.m.
CHAMPIONSHIP
Saturday, March 5
Semifinal winners, 7 p.m.
