TERRE HAUTE —
Two extremely balanced high school basketball sectional fields await Vigo County teams as boys postseason play begins today in Indiana.
In addition to the Class 4A sectional at Mooresville and the Class 3A affair at Greencastle, there’s a Class 2A tournament at North Knox that could feature the rubber game between two ranked teams; a pair of Class A tournaments, one that includes top-ranked, unbeaten Rockville; and the next steps in Illinois tournament play for Crawford County neighbors Oblong and Robinson.
Northview and Terre Haute North begin play tonight at Mooresville, the Knights facing the host Pioneers in the 6 p.m. opener followed by the Patriots against Plainfield.
Terre Haute South awaits the winner of the first game, while Martinsville — the only one of the six teams to finish the regular season above .500 — gets the North-Plainfield winner in the two Friday semifinals.
North’s record is misleading in that the Patriots finished the year against some of their toughest opponents, and the Patriots are two-time defending sectional champions who reached the regional championship game a year ago.
“I think we’re playing better [lately],” coach Todd Woelfle said, “but I’m very much concerned with us playing 32 minutes of quality basketball on both ends [of the court].”
North doesn’t play Plainfield during the regular season, and the Quakers have the worst record in the tournament field. All the teams this week are dangerous, however.
“I can honestly say any one of the six teams [at Mooresville] can win the sectional,” Woelfle said. “We have 10 seniors and it’s their last go-around, so I’m confident they will play with a sense of urgency.”
“I think [the sectional is] wide-open,” coach Scott Ridge of South agreed. “Terre Haute North has won the last two, and they have all those seniors, so maybe they’d get the overall nod.”
As far as the Braves are concerned, Ridge said, “We were very fortunate to get the bye. We’ve played both [Mooresville and Northview] close [losing to Mooresville, beating Northview], so either way we’ll have a tough matchup.”
West Vigo also has a first-round bye, and coach Joe Boehler and his staff will be waiting for the winner of tonight’s game between Edgewood and the host Tiger Cubs. If the Vikings happen to be rooting for Greencastle, it would be understandable.
Edgewood not only has the only winning record at the Greencastle Sectional, the Mustangs are also the only one of the sectional teams that’s beaten West Vigo this year. And historically, Edgewood has been a risky tournament matchup for West Vigo in virtually every sport.
“Edgewood is probably the early favorite,” Boehler said recently. “I think they’ve won six or seven in a row, and they beat us pretty easily.”
The Vikings are one of three teams that have lost to just one other potential sectional foe. Edgewood has lost to Owen Valley, and Owen Valley’s only loss was to West Vigo. Even Brown County, with one of the worst records in the field, looks like a threat since its three losses to prospective sectional opponents were by two points, in overtime and in two overtimes.
“All our games [against teams in the sectional] have been close games,” Boehler said in discussing the Vikings’ 4-1 record. “We’ve not blown anybody out … you never know who could win each game [this week].”
Linton (see related story) and Sullivan have combined to go 37-6 this year and are in opposite brackets at the North Knox Sectional. The 10th-ranked Miners won in overtime at Sullivan and the fifth-ranked Golden Arrows were winners the following week at the Pizza Hut Wabash Valley Classic. Eastern Greene, another top-10 team early in the season, could be a threat too, and Bloomfield has a first-round bye.
Clay City has beaten the other four teams at the Class A White River Valley Sectional, but needed overtime to beat Shakamak. If those two meet in the semifinals, as expected, the host Wolverines might be in good position to pull a Saturday night upset.
Upset is a word coach Dave Mahurin of Rockville would rather not hear for a few weeks as his Rox try to better last year’s state runner-up finish. Although Rockville has obviously beaten all the teams at the Class A North Vermillion Sectional, the team will be dealing — for the second time this season — with lineup adjustments after three players, including a starter, were suspended two weeks ago.
“The kids are happy, and I think we’re focused,” coach Mahurin said, “but [sectional week] is a terrible time. I’m terrified.”
In Illinois, Oblong plays Woodlawn tonight at the Class A Altamont Sectional while Robinson meets Breese Central on Wednesday at the Class 2A Greenville Sectional. Championship games at both sites are 7:30 p.m. CST on Friday.
Wabash Valley boys basketball sectionals
Indiana
Class 4A
At Mooresville
Today — Mooresville (9-11) vs. Northview (8-14), 6 p.m., followed by Plainfield (5-15) vs. Terre Haute North (11-11)
Friday — Terre Haute South (9-13) vs. Mooresville-Northview winner, 6 p.m., followed by Martinsville (11-9) vs. Plainfield-Terre Haute North winner
Saturday — Championship, 7 p.m.
Class 3A
At Greencastle
Today — South Vermillion (4-17) vs. Brown County (5-15), 6 p.m., followed by Edgewood (12-8) vs. Greencastle (3-17)
Friday — Owen Valley (10-11) vs. South Vermillion-Brown County winner, 6 p.m., followed by West Vigo (10-11) vs. Edgewood-Greencastle winner
Saturday — Championship, 7 p.m.
Class 2A
At North Knox
Today — North Central (7-14) vs. Sullivan (19-3), 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday — Linton (18-3) vs. South Knox (6-15), 6 p.m., followed by Eastern Greene (13-8) vs. North Knox (8-14)
Friday — Bloomfield (11-10) vs. North Central-Sullivan winner, 6 p.m., followed by Feb. 27 winners
Saturday — Championship, 7 p.m.
Class A
At North Vermillion
Today — Rockville (22-0) vs. Riverton Parke (6-15), 6 p.m., followed by Attica (11-9) vs. North Vermillion (6-14)
Friday — Turkey Run (3-18) vs. Rockville-Riverton Parke winner, 6 p.m., followed by Covington (13-7) vs. Attica-North Vermillion winner
Saturday — Championship, 7:30 p.m.
At White River Valley
Today — Shakamak (10-11) vs. Union (0-21), 7 p.m.
Friday — Eminence (5-15) vs. White River Valley (11-10), 6 p.m., followed by Clay City (13-8) vs. Shakamak-Union winner
Saturday — Championship, 7:30 p.m.
Illinois
Class 2A
At Greenville
Today — Roxana vs. Teutopolis, 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday — Robinson vs. Breese Central, 7:30 p.m.
Friday — Championship, 7:30 p.m.
Class A
At Altamont
Today — Woodlawn vs. Oblong, 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday — Nokomis vs. Louisville (North Clay), 7:30 p.m.
Friday — Championship, 7:30 p.m.
All Illinois games CST
Indiana
High School
Vigo teams face tough tasks in boys sectionals
Ranked teams could vie in 2A tourney final
- High School
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West Vigo comes up short against 19-9 Brown County softball
West Vigo got off to a good start but Brown County finished better in Class 3A high school softball sectional semifinal action Tuesday night at Edgewood.
The Eagles bested the Vikings 7-5 and will meet South Vermillion, a 12-7 winner over Owen Valley, for the sectional championship on Thursday starting at 6 p.m.
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Valley baseball teams have been keeping busy heading into sectionals
When high school baseball sectionals begin around the Wabash Valley today, one complaint that’s not expected to be heard from any coach is that his team has had too much time off.
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Northview powers way past Terre Haute South in sectional semifinal
Northview unleashed power rarely seen in high school girls softball Tuesday night to eliminate Terre Haute South 8-1 in the Class 4A Sectional at Martinsville High School.
The Knights hit three home runs in an eight-run third inning to reach the championship game. -
Terre Haute North dominates field at regional
Keirra Porter took first place in two individual events and helped Terre Haute North win one of its relays as the Patriots captured the Evansville Central Regional team championship in girls high school track and field Tuesday night.
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PREP ROUNDUP: South tennis cruises into regional final
Terre Haute South didn’t lose a game en route to blanking Seeger 5-0 in girls high school tennis Tuesday to advance to today’s championship match against Crawfordsville in the Greencastle Regional.
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Terry enjoys strong year with Wildcats, and still enjoying suiting up to play
South Vermillion’s Tim Terry is the longest tenured coach in Wabash Valley high school baseball as his Wildcats are set to begin sectional play Thursday against Owen Valley.
But on the Yankees, a 35-and-over team in the Terre Haute Men’s Senior Baseball League, Terry is “just a youngster” if you ask Larry Roesch, his 68-year-old teammate on the Volkers Group Yankees. -
West Vigo softball holds off nemesis Edgewood in softball sectional
Ice cream was enough of a reward Monday night after the West Vigo Vikings beat eight-time defending champion Edgewood 6-2 in extra innings in the opening game of the Class 3A softball sectional at Edgewood High School. But that’s not what Vikings want.
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PREP ROUNDUP: Shakamak's Green hits two homers in win over West Vigo
Shakamak improved to 22-3 on the season behind a complete-game effort from Brett Yeryar, and Patrick Green hit two solo home runs in a high school baseball game Monday.
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Terre Haute North offense unable to get going in loss to Mooresville
Jack Kirchner chose to give credit Monday night to Mooresville pitcher Taylor Chitwood, not to the Greg Maddux-size strike zone she seemed to enjoy.
But if there were no excuses forthcoming from Kirchner and his Terre Haute North High School softball team, it wouldn’t have been hard to find a spectator or two to come up with extenuating circumstances about the Patriots’ 4-1 loss at the Class 4A Martinsville Sectional. -
Terre Haute North looking strong going into girls track regional
Terre Haute North might need an off night for anyone to catch them in the girls track regional at Evansville Central.
The Patriots are as well-rounded as they’ve ever been, and two relay teams are state contenders with times ranking No. 2 in Indiana among times recorded all spring.
Terre Haute South, Northview and Sullivan have athletes among the contenders in multiple events as well. -
South tennis ready for potential challenge in regional
Terre Haute South and Northview take respective records of 10-5 and 11-5 into the Greencastle Regional today.
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Softball sectionals up for grabs
All three Vigo County high schools and Northview appear to have a realistic chance of winning sectional championships in softball this week.
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Terre Haute South, Northview vie for tennis regional title
Terre Haute South and Northview take respective records of 10-5 and 11-5 into the Greencastle Regional today.
Coach Bill Blankenbaker’s Braves will play Seeger at 4:30 p.m., while coach Emily Goff’s Knights will take on Crawfordsville about 6 p.m. -
Vikings win in extra innings at Rockville
West Vigo scored six runs in its first two innings Saturday, then needed a ninth-inning single by Lucas Fagg to escape with a 7-6 extra-inning win in nonconference high school baseball at Rockville.
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TH South beats Northview in Big Four makeup baseball game
Terre Haute South wrapped up a share of the MIC baseball title and finished up the Big Four Classic with an 8-1 victory over Northview in less than 24 hours on Saturday morning.
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Olds pitches South to share of MIC baseball title
Friday night, winning the second game 5-0 and earning a share of the Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference high school baseball title.
Damon Olds was dominant on the mound for the Braves, striking out 14 and walking just one while pitching a three-hit shutout. -
South wins first half of doubleheader against Lawrence North
Host Terre Haute South kept its Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference high school baseball title hopes alive — and clinched no worse than second place in the process — by downing Lawrence North 4-1 in the first game of a doubleheader Friday night.
The second game, which started after Senior Night festivities between games, ended past the Tribune-Star deadline. -
PREP ROUNDUP: Calleja pitches West Vigo past South Vermillion
Brandon Calleja had 13 strikeouts to lead West Vigo to a 5-1 victory against South Vermillion in high school baseball Friday.
Brandon Behringer went 2 for 4 with two RBI for the Vikings, who secured second place in the Western Indiana Conference.
Kaden Lawson had double for South Vermillion (15-7), which finished 4-2 in the WIC. -
Seibert returns from injury to win three events as Braves win sectional crown
His baseball equivalent might be Rick Sutcliffe of the 1984 Chicago Cubs.
When Tyler Seibert returned to the Terre Haute South track and field lineup Thursday for sectional action at Terre Haute North, it was like the midseason trade the Cubs made for Sutcliffe that earned them a playoff spot. -
South switches up lineup to defeat North in tennis sectional
Terre Haute South coach Bill Blankenbaker said two weeks ago that he would change the Braves’ lineup after the 3-2 dual-meet loss to Terre Haute North.
The Patriots knew it was coming, but they couldn’t do anything to stop it. -
PREP ROUNDUP: North slips past Northview in eight-inning baseball game
Colton Pittman drew a bases-loaded walk to score Zach Milam with the winning run in the bottom of the eighth inning as host Terre Haute North edged Northview 8-7 in high school baseball Thursday at Jennings Field.
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PREP ROUNDUP: North and South to face off for tennis sectional title
The winner of the Terre Haute sectional for girls high school tennis will come down to Terre Haute North and Terre Haute South.
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Terre Haute North gets 10 event victories to claim 12th straight sectional crown
Terre Haute North won 10 events Tuesday night while winning the Indiana High School Athletic Association girls track and field section at South Putnam High School for the 12th straight year.
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North, South to meet in first round of baseball sectional
The Indiana High School Athletic Association announced pairings for the baseball state tournament Tuesday and the draw offered up a Vigo County battle in the opening game.
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PREP ROUNDUP: West Vigo softball clinches share of WIC title
West Vigo clinched at least a share of the Western Indiana Conference softball title with a 6-4 victory over Edgewood on Tuesday.
Jacy McClain and Bailee Waters had RBI singles in the fourth inning to break the game open for the Vikings. -
Track sectional titles on the line
Expect one heck of a high school dual track meet Thursday night when Wabash Valley boys visit Terre Haute North for sectional action.
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Prep report: Patriots, Braves favored to advance from tennis sectional 1st round
Persons attending this week’s girls tennis sectional championship match at Terre Haute North might want to pack a lunch.
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Local ADs happy to see spring come to a close
Brian Mancuso is the most experienced of the high school athletic directors in Vigo County — and that’s a very relative term — but even he wasn’t quite ready for the headaches that have accompanied spring sports the last few weeks thanks to rain, rain and more rain.
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South baseball remains in first-place tie with Center Grove
Heading into Saturday’s Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference baseball doubleheader against Center Grove, coach Kyle Kraemer of Terre Haute South wasn’t completely optimistic.
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Kehrt Award goes to Emily Bell, Lee Davis
Emily Bell of Terre Haute South and Lee Davis of Terre Haute North are the 2013 recipients of the Willard M. Kehrt Mental Attitude Award.
Bell and Davis were nominated by their schools and chosen in a vote by the Kehrt Award panel. Both will be recognized at awards assemblies later in the month at the schools.
Bell played varsity basketball four years at South and is competing in track this season, running the 800 and two relays. “I wanted something to do my senior year,” Bell said.
She plans to attend DePauw University and play basketball. DePauw is the reigning NCAA Division III champ in women's basketball.
Bell tore an AÇL playing in a basketball tournament the summer after her sophomore season. She missed most of her junior season but came back to play her senior year and was second leading scorer and leading rebounder her final season.
Bell also was leading rebounder her sophomore year. - More High School Headlines
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