Shelbyville hasn’t won a boys basketball sectional title since going back-to-back with 3A titles in 2000 and 2001. Even receiving the bye in the upcoming 4A field at Whiteland won’t make it easy on the Golden Bears in their search for an elusive postseason championship.
Shelbyville (6-12) will wait until Friday of next week to open the postseason. The Golden Bears will play in the late semifinal against the winner of Tuesday’s quarterfinal between Franklin Central (8-12) and Center Grove (11-6).
#13 (4A) Center Grove downed Franklin Central in the season opener, 73-64. The Trojans have won 8 of their past 11. The losses are a Who’s Who of the MIC: #3 (4A) Lawrence North, #7 (4A) Warren Central and North Central.
The other half of the Whiteland Sectional bracket pits defending champ Greenwood (14-5) against Johnson County rival – Franklin (7-13). Greenwood defeated Franklin, 57-45, on December 11.
The Greenwood-Franklin winner would play Whiteland (12-7) in the other Friday semifinal.
Shelbyville is 0-3 against the rest of the sectional field and 1-8 against 4A competition. The Golden Bears didn’t play Center Grove this season and a game with Franklin Central was not rescheduled after being lost to a Covid-situation.
At Milan, Triton Central also will wait to begin postseason play. The Tigers (9-8) received a bye and will play Milan on the Indians’ home court in a Friday 2A semifinal.
Milan defeated Triton Central at Fairland on January 2, 66-49.
The Tigers avoid the juggernaut on the other side of the bracket. South Ripley (19-1) is ranked 6th in the 2A poll and is coming off a win over #5 (3A) Greensburg last week. The Raiders will play Tuesday in the lone quarterfinal against North Decatur (4-18). The winner will play South Decatur (12-7) in Friday’s other semifinal.
On December 19, South Ripley outscored South Decatur, 85-79
At Southwestern, the favorite is #7 (1A) Morristown. But even the regular season game that allows the Yellow Jackets that status comes marred by strange circumstances. On February 4, Morristown was scheduled to travel to Jac-Cen-Del (14-6). A leak in the gym roof at Jac-Cen-Del forced a move of the game to Morristown. But it was a decision that wasn’t made until 1:00 pm. Morristown (17-4) dominated the game in a 65-48 victory.
Morristown will play Oldenburg (6-9) in the only Tuesday night quarterfinal. The winner will meet Jac-Cen-Del in the Friday semifinal.
On Wednesday, Waldron (3-17) matches up with Rising Sun (5-9). The Shiners got by Waldron on January 30, 59-51.
In the final quarterfinal matchup, Hauser (8-11) plays Southwestern (7-9). The conference rivals play this Wednesday at Hauser in a rescheduled game. It’s one of four games the Spartans will play in consecutive days to finish the regular season.
