GBB: Hoosier Authority predicts three HHC teams will win sectional crowns

Mike McGraw

Hoosier Authority

It is time
to take a look at the pairings for sectionals which start this week, and the
prospects for Hoosier Heritage Conference teams. Two of the league’s clubs,
Pendleton Heights and Greenfield-Central, compete in 4A. The remaining six
teams will tangle in 3A competition.

Both the
Arabians and Cougars have to be happy with their draws in the Connersville
sectional. Pendleton Heights will get things started Tuesday evening against
New Castle. The Arabians easily handled the Trojans in the season opener,
52-41. Greenfield-Central will open Wednesday night versus a Richmond team that
has won only three games all season. Pendleton Heights would likely see host
Connersville in the semi-finals and that could be a challenge. Greenfield would
face the winner of Anderson and Muncie Central. Look for this to be an all HHC
final with Pendleton Heights being the clear favorite.

Four HHC
teams are in the 3A New Palestine Sectional. Three of those squads are very
happy. That is because the two titans in the field, Rushville and Hamilton heights,
drew each other in opening round action on Tuesday night. That means the rest of
the field will only have to beat one of them along the trail. The real winner
in the draw was New Palestine. The Dragons drew a struggling Shelbyville squad
in the short half of the bracket. Mount Vermin faces whoever wins the big
battle on Tuesday. The bottom line is this. No matter how the draw breaks out,
Rushville is absolutely the team to beat in this field.

Yorktown and
Delta will be in action at the Mississinewa Sectional. It is a wide open
affair. Yorktown has the best record in the field, but the Tigers open against
the host Indians and that is never easy. Delta is in the bye bracket and will
face the winner of that game. 13-6 Blackford got the best of it in the draw.
The Bruins face a subpar Muncie South squad and then have Eastbrook in the semi-finals.
Look for this to be a Yorktown-Blackford title contest. I will call for the
Tigers to emerge as champion.