BA: Sectional draw creates three head-to-head contests between HCC teams

Mike McGraw

Hoosier Authority

Pairings
have been released for the sectional round of the state tournament and the HCC
will be sending a number of powerful squads into action. In many instances, it
may be a league foe that will spell the end of the season for HCC squads. Let’s
take a look at the match-ups.

The Decatur
Central Sectional launched the host Hawks to last year’s state championship.
Brownsburg and Avon both play in this field and if you didn’t look past the
first round you would think they got great draws. The Bulldogs will face
Indianapolis Manual in round one and Avon will test Indianapolis Tech. The
problem is that the two would then meet in the semi-final. Meanwhile Decatur
Central drew a bye and will face the winner of Ben Davis and Pike.

The
head-to-head clashes are nowhere near as iffy at the Carmel Sectional.
Neighborhood foes Hamilton Southeastern and Fishers will open action against
each other and then Zionsville and Noblesville will have a conference spat in
the other first round contest. However, the big game is in the bye bracket. Westfield
will tangle with Carmel. That means one of the pre-tourney favorites will be
gone quickly.

In
Lafayette, Jefferson drew a first round contest with tradition laden
Logansport. Meanwhile, you guessed it; McCutcheon and Harrison will meet in the
other opening game.

Even with
the unlucky draws, look for at least two HCC teams to wear sectional crowns.
Brownsburg is the favorite at Decatur Central and we are picking Westfield to get
past Carmel and its league foes at Carmel. As for Lafayette, pick a name out of
the hat in this one.