Two weeks since a solid showing at the state track meet, Bellmont’s Alexis Harvey was still in shape, and it showed in the Midwest Meet of Champions all-star meet at Northrop.
The destination again will be Terre Haute, which will play host to the girls basketball state finals for a second straight season. The journey begins Tuesday with the start of sectional play across northeast Indiana as well as the rest of the state.
Three area teams – Canterbury (Class A), Bishop Luers (2A) and Concordia (3A) – advanced to title games with the Cavaliers and Cadets winning state championships.
But a new year brings with it new expectations and goals and probably a few surprises.
The following is a look at the 11 area sectional sites:
CLASS 4A
CONCORD
Defending champion: Elkhart Memorial
Favorite: Warsaw
Contenders: Northridge, Elkhart Memorial, Goshen
Outlook: The Tigers flirted with a perfect regular season, winning their first 18 games. Warsaw is the favorite in this deep sectional field.
Pairings:
Tuesday: Elkhart Memorial vs. Warsaw, 6 p.m.; Goshen vs. Elkhart Central, 7:30 p.m.
Friday: Concord vs. Elkhart Memorial/Warsaw winner, 6 p.m.; Northridge vs. Goshen/Elkhart Central winner, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday: Championship, 7 p.m.
SNIDER
Defending champion: Snider
Favorite: Snider
Contenders: East Noble, DeKalb
Outlook: The Panthers are 7-0 against the rest of the field, giving them a good chance of defending their sectional championship.
Pairings:
Tuesday: Northrop vs. DeKalb, 7 p.m.
Wednesday: Carroll vs. Columbia City, 6 p.m.; East Noble vs. Snider, 7:30 p.m.
Friday: North Side vs. Northrop/DeKalb winner, 6 p.m.; Carroll/Columbia City winner vs. East Noble/Snider winner, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday: Championship, 7:30 p.m.
HOMESTEAD
Defending champion: South Side
Favorite: Homestead
Contender: South Side
Outlook: The Spartans are the slight favorite with the luxury of playing at home and already having a 1-point win against the Archers, who are in the mix for a title.
Pairings:
Tuesday: South Side vs. Wayne, 6 p.m.; Jay County vs. Homestead, 7:30 p.m.
Friday: New Haven vs. South Side/Wayne winner, 6 p.m.; Huntington North vs. Jay County/Homestead winner, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday: Championship, 7:30 p.m.
CLASS 3A
NORTHWOOD
Defending champion: NorthWood
Favorite: NorthWood
Contenders: West Noble, Fairfield
Outlook: Look for the perennial powerhouse Panthers to roll again in this sectional. NorthWood has the best record (19-3) and the program has a winning tradition.
Pairings:
Tuesday: NorthWood vs. Wawasee, 6 p.m.; West Noble vs. Tippecanoe Valley, 7:30 p.m.
Friday: Fairfield vs. NorthWood/Wawasee winner, 6 p.m.; Lakeland vs. West Noble/Tippecanoe Valley winner, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday: Championship, 7:30 p.m.
BISHOP DWENGER
Defending champion: Concordia
Favorite: Concordia
Contenders: Angola, Leo, Garrett
Outlook: Again this sectional is among the best, deepest in the state with five of the six teams having records above .500. The Lions will be out for revenge in Game 1 against the defending 3A state champion Cadets after losing in overtime in last year’s sectional finals.
Pairings:
Tuesday: Leo vs. Concordia, 6 p.m.; Woodlan vs. Garrett, 7:30 p.m.
Friday: Bishop Dwenger vs. Leo/Concordia winner, 6 p.m.; Angola vs. Woodlan/Garrett winner, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday: Championship, 7 p.m.
MISSISSINEWA
Defending champion: Norwell
Favorite: Norwell
Contender: Eastbrook
Outlook: The Knights lost Miss Basketball Jessica Rupright to graduation, but they have hardly missed a beat with an NHC title and the favorite role again in this sectional.
Pairings:
Tuesday: Mississinewa vs. Norwell, 6 p.m.; Bellmont vs. Heritage, 7:30 p.m.
Friday: Eastbrook vs. Mississinewa/Norwell winner, 6 p.m.; Whitko vs. Bellmont/Heritage winner, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday: Championship, 7:30 p.m.
CLASS 2A
CENTRAL NOBLE
Defending champion: Fremont
Favorite: Westview
Contenders: LaVille, Fremont
Outlook: None of the teams have outstanding records, but that’s what could make this sectional very interesting with no clear-cut favorite.
Pairings:
Tuesday: Bremen vs. Prairie Heights, 6 p.m.; Westview vs. Central Noble, 7:30 p.m.
Friday: LaVille vs. Bremen/Prairie Heights winner, 6 p.m.; Fremont vs. Westview/Central Noble winner, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday: Championship, 7 p.m.
BLUFFTON
Defending champion: Bishop Luers
Favorite: Bishop Luers
Contender: Adams Central
Outlook: This sectional is very interesting with no team over .500. The Knights, who have been to three straight 2A state title games, should emerge as champions again with a young, talented team that has taken its lumps this year.
Pairings:
Tuesday: Bishop Luers vs. Adams Central, 6 p.m.; Bluffton vs. South Adams, 7:30 p.m.
Friday: Eastside vs. Bishop Luers/Adams Central winner, 6 p.m.; Churubusco vs. Bluffton/South Adams winner, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday: Championship, 7 p.m.
CLASS A
CANTERBURY
Defending champion: Canterbury
Favorite: Canterbury
Contender: Lakewood Park
Outlook: The Cavaliers have won four of the last five Class A state championships and are the class of this sectional again. Canterbury has three players who average between 18-21 points and lead the state in scoring at 71 points per game.
Pairings:
Tuesday: Lakeland Christian vs. Hamilton, 6 p.m.; Bethany Christian vs. Howe, 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday: Elkhart Christian vs. Lakewood Park, 6 p.m.; Blackhawk Christian vs. Canterbury, 7:30 p.m.
Friday: Lakeland Christian/Hamilton winner vs. Bethany Christian/Howe winner, 6 p.m.; Elkhart Christian/Lakewood Park winner vs. Blackhawk Christian/Canterbury winner, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday: Championship, 7:30 p.m.
SOUTHERN WELLS
Defending champion: Southern Wells
Favorite: Southern Wells
Contender: Daleville
Outlook: The champion should come from the Raiders or Broncos, the only two teams with records over .500. The two teams could meet in the sectional semifinals, with the winner being the overwhelming favorite in the finals.
Pairings:
Tuesday: Daleville vs. Wes-Del, 6 p.m.; Southern Wells vs. Liberty Christian, 7:30 p.m.
Friday: Monroe Central vs. Daleville/Wes-Del winner, 6 p.m.; Cowan vs. Southern Wells/Liberty Christian winner, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday: Championship, 7:30 p.m.
