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CLASS 4A
CONCORD
Defending champion: Elkhart Memorial
Favorite: Elkhart Memorial
Contenders: Warsaw, Northridge
Outlook: The Chargers are the team to beat, but don’t count out the Tigers and Raiders. In Northern Lakes Conference play, Elkhart Memorial lost to Northridge and beat Warsaw by only five.
Pairings
Tuesday: Northridge vs. Elkhart Memorial, 6 p.m.; Concord vs. Elkhart Central, 7:30 p.m.
Friday: Goshen vs. Winner of Game 1, 6 p.m.; Warsaw vs. Winner of Game 2, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday: Championship, 7 p.m.
EAST NOBLE
Defending champion: Northrop
Favorite: Snider
Contenders: DeKalb, Carroll
Outlook: Last year, Northrop surprised the field, and it could be a stunner again. But the Panthers are in the driver’s seat with wins against sectional opponents Carroll, Northrop and DeKalb this season.
Pairings
Tuesday: East Noble vs. Carroll, 7 p.m.
Friday: DeKalb vs. Northrop, 6 p.m.; Snider vs. Winner of Game 1, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday: Championship, 7:30 p.m.
JAY COUNTY
Defending champion: South Side
Favorite: Homestead
Contenders: Marion, Jay County, South Side
Outlook: The Spartans, who put together one of the best seasons for the school in some time, are 3-0 against the sectional field and looking for their first sectional title in 12 years. The Giants, Patriots and Archers are all looking to play spoiler.
Pairings
Tuesday: Jay County vs. Marion, 6 p.m.; Homestead vs. North Side, 7:30 p.m.
Friday: South Side vs. Winner of Game 1, 6 p.m.; Huntington North vs. Winner of Game 2, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday: Championship, 7:30 p.m.
CLASS 3A
WEST NOBLE
Defending champion: NorthWood
Favorite: NorthWood
Contenders: Columbia City, Wawasee
Outlook: The Panthers have the experience and the wins this season to be the marked team. Two teams they beat en route to the title last year, the Eagles and Warriors, look to again be the teams that could derail the Panthers’ championship run.
Pairings
Tuesday: Whitko vs. Tippecanoe Valley, 7 p.m.
Wednesday: Lakeland vs. Columbia City, 6 p.m.; Wawasee vs. NorthWood, 7:30 p.m.
Friday: West Noble vs. Winner of Game 1, 6 p.m.; Winner of Game 2 vs. Winner of Game 3, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday: Championship, 7:30 p.m.
WAYNE
Defending champion: Elmhurst
Favorite: Elmhurst
Contender: Norwell
Outlook: The Knights have the gaudy undefeated record and the No. 2 ranking, but the Trojans have the confidence, experience and two future Division I players. Look for the semifinal matchup between Elmhurst and Norwell to all but decide the sectional championship.
Pairings
Tuesday: Bellmont vs. Wayne, 6 p.m.; Norwell vs. Peru, 7:30 p.m.
Friday: Maconaquah vs. Winner of Game 1, 6 p.m.; Elmhurst vs. Winner of Game 2, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday: Championship, 7 p.m.
LEO
Defending champion: Leo
Favorite: Concordia
Contender: Leo
Outlook: The Cadets won their first SAC championship in almost a decade, while the Lions took home the ACAC title. The two teams could meet in the sectional finals, the way it should be.
Pairings
Tuesday: Leo vs. Bishop Dwenger, 7 p.m.
Wednesday: Heritage vs. Concordia, 6 p.m.; New Haven vs. Angola, 7:30 p.m.
Friday: Harding vs. Winner of Game 1, 6 p.m.; Winner of Game 2 vs. Winner of Game 3, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday: Championship, 7:30 p.m.
CLASS 2A
JIMTOWN
Defending champion: Fairfield
Favorite: Jimtown
Contenders: Fairfield, LaVille
Outlook: The NECC champion Falcons have two wins against sectional competition, but they also have one 20-point loss to the Jimmies. On its home court, Jimtown looks tough to beat.
Pairings
Tuesday: LaVille vs. Bremen, 7 p.m.
Friday: Westview vs. Fairfield, 6 p.m.; Jimtown vs. Winner of Game 1, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday: Championship, 7:30 p.m.
EASTSIDE
Defending champion: Garrett
Favorite: Fremont
Contenders: Garrett, Central Noble
Outlook: The Eagles will be in search of their first sectional title in seven years against a field in which they are 5-1 against. But don’t count out the Railroaders, who have owned this sectional for the past few years.
Pairings
Tuesday: Garrett vs. Central Noble, 6 p.m.; Fremont vs. Eastside, 7:30 p.m.
Friday: Prairie Heights vs. Winner of Game 1, 6 p.m.; Churubusco vs. Winner of Game 2, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday: Championship, 7:30 p.m.
WOODLAN
Defending champion: Bishop Luers
Favorite: Bishop Luers
Contender: Woodlan
Outlook: The Knights are the overwhelming favorites in the sectional, having played only one another 2A school all season and no teams in Class A. Playing with a heavy heart because of the injury to senior Shelby Gruss, Luers has plenty of motivation as well as the talent.
Pairings
Tuesday: Adams Central vs. Bluffton, 7 p.m.
Friday: Bishop Luers vs. Woodlan, 6 p.m.; South Adams vs. Winner of Game 1, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday: Championship, 7:30 p.m.
NORTH MIAMI
Defending champion: Wabash
Favorite: Wabash
Contender: Manchester
Outlook: The Apaches are on a storybook ride this year and a sectional championship is the first step. The Squires, the second-best team in the sectional, lost by 34 points to Wabash.
Pairings
Tuesday: Cass vs. Southwood, 6 p.m.; Wabash vs. Manchester, 7:30 p.m.
Friday: North Miami vs. Winner of Game 1, 6 p.m.; Northfield vs. Winner of Game 2, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday: Championship, 7:30 p.m.
CLASS A
HAMILTON
Defending champion: Canterbury
Favorite: Canterbury
Contender: Elkhart Christian
Outlook: The two-time defending Class A state champion Cavs (18-2) get a chance at the Eagles (10-10), the only other team at or above .500 in the sectional, in the first game. Staying motivated might be Canterbury’s biggest challenge.
Pairings
Today: Bethany Christian vs. Hamilton, 7 p.m.
Tuesday: Canterbury vs. Elkhart Christian, 6 p.m.; Lakewood Park vs. Blackhawk Christian, 7:30 p.m.
Friday: Keystone vs. Winner of Game 1, 6 p.m.; Winner of Game 2 vs. Winner of Game 3, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday: Championship, 7 p.m.
WES-DEL
Defending champion: Southern Wells
Favorite: Southern Wells
Contenders: Daleville
Outlook: The Raiders lost a lot to graduation from last year’s semistate team, but are in the same position as the teams to beat in the sectional. The Broncos are 6-14 but 3-1 against other sectional opponents.
Pairings
Tuesday: Southern Wells vs. Lakeview Christian, 6 p.m.; Wes-Del vs. Cowan, 7:30 p.m.
Friday: Liberty Christian vs. Winner of Game 1, 6 p.m.; Daleville vs. Winner of Game 2, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday: Championship, 7:30 p.m.
