CLASS 4A

GOSHEN

Favorite: Elkhart Memorial

Contenders: Warsaw, Northridge

Dark horse: Goshen

Outlook: The 10th-ranked Chargers are 6-0 against teams in the sectional. But the Tigers only lost by two and the Raiders fell by eight, leaving those teams with confidence despite the defeats.

Pairings:

Tuesday: Northridge vs. Goshen, 6 p.m.; Elkhart Central vs. Elkhart Memorial, 7:30 p.m.

Friday: Concord vs. Game 1 winner, 6 p.m.; Warsaw vs. Game 2 winner, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday: Championship, 7:30 p.m.

CARROLL

Favorite: Snider

Contender: DeKalb

Dark horse: Northrop

Outlook: Ranked ninth in the state poll, the Panthers are the team to beat in this field. Snider has yet to lose to a sectional foe, but beating teams multiple times in a season isn’t easy.

Pairings:

Tuesday: DeKalb vs. Snider, 7 p.m.

Wednesday: North Side vs. Carroll, 6 p.m.; East Noble vs. Northrop, 7:30 p.m.

Friday: Columbia City vs. Game 1 winner, 6 p.m.; Winner game 2 vs. winner game 3, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday: Championship, 7:30 p.m.

HOMESTEAD

Favorite: South Side

Contender: Homestead

Dark horse: Jay County

Outlook: The Archers have won 19 straight games entering the postseason and possess a stingy defense and a nice inside combination of Ariana Simmons and Brittni Clopton. The game that will probably decide the sectional title is a possible semifinal matchup between South Side and Homestead.

Pairings:

Tuesday: Homestead vs. Jay County, 6 p.m.; Wayne vs. Huntington North, 7:30 p.m.

Friday: South Side vs. Game 1 winner, 6 p.m.; New Haven vs. Game 2 winner, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday: Championship, 7:30 p.m.

CLASS 3A

WAWASEE

Favorite: NorthWood

Contenders: Fairfield, Tippecanoe Valley

Dark horse: West Noble

Outlook: A lofty ranking at No. 4 makes the Panthers the team to beat. But with four of the six teams possessing at least 12 wins, the field appears to be a dangerous and deep one.

Pairings:

Tuesday: Wawasee vs. Lakeland, 6 p.m.; Tippecanoe Valley vs. Fairfield, 7:30 p.m.

Friday: West Noble vs. Game 1 winner, 6 p.m.; NorthWood vs. Game 2 winner, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday: Championship, 7:30 p.m.

GARRETT

Favorite: Angola

Contenders: Concordia, Leo

Dark horse: Garrett

Outlook: Arguably the best sectional in the northeast Indiana, with the No. 3 Hornets, the No. 8 Cadets and the No. 13 Lions. Angola (NECC) and Leo (ACAC) are conference champions, while Concordia has the best postseason reputation in the field with two straight trips to the semistate and a 2010 3A state title. But the Railroaders will be tough on their home court and have a chance to beat Leo in the first round after two frustrating losses to the Lions in the regular season.

Pairings:

Tuesday: Garrett vs. Leo, 6 p.m.; Bishop Dwenger vs. Woodlan, 7:30 p.m.

Friday: Angola vs. Game 1 winner, 6 p.m.; Concordia vs. Game 2 winner, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday: Championship, 7:30 p.m.

MISSISSINEWA

Favorite: Norwell

Contender: Heritage

Dark horse: Whitko

Outlook: The No. 2 Knights are about as big a favorite as a team can be. Overconfidence might be Norwell’s lone challenger in getting a second straight sectional title.

Pairings:

Tuesday: Whitko vs. Mississinewa, 6 p.m.; Eastbrook vs. Heritage, 7:30 p.m.

Friday: Bellmont vs. Game 1 winner, 6 p.m.; Norwell vs. Game 2 winner, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday: Championship, 7:30 p.m.

CLASS 2A

WESTVIEW

Favorite: Westview

Contender: Fremont

Dark horses: Prairie Heights, Bremen

Outlook: Despite a record around the .500 mark, the Warriors are the slight favorite after going 4-1 against other sectional teams and also playing host to the sectional. Fremont comes into the sectional capable of playing with the other teams, but is staggering at the finish with six straight losses.

Pairings:

Tuesday: Fremont vs. Central Noble, 6 p.m.; Westview vs. Bremen, 7:30 p.m.

Friday: LaVille vs. Game 1 winner, 6 p.m.; Prairie Heights vs. Game 2 winner, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday: Championship, 7 p.m.

ADAMS CENTRAL

Favorite: Bishop Luers

Contender: Adams Central

Dark horse: Churubusco, Bluffton

Outlook: It would take a lot for the defending 2A state champion Knights not to emerge as the top team in this field. No other team has a record even close to .500, while Luers has wins against Angola, Warsaw and Concordia, among others.

Pairings:

Tuesday: Eastside vs. Bluffton, 6 p.m.; South Adams vs. Churubusco, 7:30 p.m.

Friday: Bishop Luers vs. Game 1 winner, 6 p.m.; Adams Central vs. Game 2 winner, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday: Championship, 7:30 p.m.

CLASS A

LAKEWOOD PARK

Favorite: Canterbury

Contender: Bethany Christian

Dark horses: Hamilton, Lakewood Park

Outlook: The Cavaliers have an offense few teams have been able to contain throughout the year with a state-best scoring average of 82 points per game. The second-best scoring team in the state – Fishers – averages 11 fewer points than Canterbury.

Pairings:

Today: Canterbury vs. Elkhart Christian, 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday: Lakewood Park vs. Bethany Christian, 6 p.m.; Hamilton vs. Howe, 7:30 p.m.

Friday: Blackhawk vs. Game 1 winner, 6 p.m.; winner game 2 vs. winner game 3, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday: Championship, 7:30 p.m.

WES-DEL

Favorite: Southern Wells

Contender: Monroe Central

Dark horse: Daleville

Outlook: The Raiders are out for their sixth straight sectional title. There are only two teams, Southern Wells and Monroe Central, with records above .500 in the field.

Pairings:

Tuesday: Daleville vs. Liberty Christian, 6 p.m.; Cowan vs. Southern Wells, 7:30 p.m.

Friday: Wes-Del vs. Game 1 winner, 6 p.m.; Monroe Central vs. Game 2 winner, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday: Championship, 7:30 p.m.