TERRE HAUTE —
Postseason dreams for Indiana girls high school basketball players become reality starting today — and could be shattered in a hurry, one coach warned this week.
“The first game at 6 [p.m.] is always the upset game,” said coach Cara Stuckey of Terre Haute South, whose Braves — not coincidentally at all — happen to be the on-paper favorite in their own gym at that hour this evening.
South hosts a Class 4A sectional that’s always interesting, although a little predictable lately. Mooresville, which won’t play until Friday’s second semifinal game, has won the last four.
South and Terre Haute North, with identical records and a split of two games so far this winter, would seem as likely as any to be the teams threatening the Pioneers’ dominance, but both have to win tonight to have a chance to do that.
“Our goal, just like all six teams, is to try to win a sectional championship,” said Stuckey, whose team meets a vastly improved Northview team in that sectional opener, “but that won’t happen without a win [today].”
The Knights gave North a major scare in last year’s sectional, even though they’d had a one-win season and weren’t completely healthy. This year Northview is close to .500 and at full strength.
“We know [the Knights will] be ready to play,” Stuckey said. “We’ll have to match their intensity.”
Coach Mike Allen of North has similar thoughts, since the Patriots open against a Martinsville team that rarely, if ever, takes a night off.
“We’ve got a tough road ahead of us,” he said. “[Martinsville] is always very fundamental and a very scrappy, aggressive team. … We have to eliminate our turnovers and value each possession.”
Class 3A sectional play for Wabash Valley teams is at Brown County, and coach Ryan Easton of West Vigo is hopeful his team, despite its 5-15 record, might be in a position to threaten.
“The biggest deficit we’ve had [against any potential sectional opponent] is 12 points,” he said this week. “That was against Greencastle [the Vikings’ 6 p.m. foe today], and they hit 15 more free throws than we did.”
West Vigo’s January slate included games against some of the best teams in the area on either side of the state line. “Our schedule was brutal after Christmas,” Easton said, “but that got us ready for this week.”
The Valley’s highest-rated team is Sullivan, third in the final Class 2A poll, and the Golden Arrows are sectional hosts as well. That doesn’t mean coach Julie Meeks is taking anything for granted.
“I’m very proud of the girls; we’ve had a great season, and they have a lot to look forward to,” she said. “But when you go into the sectional, that record doesn’t mean anything.
“You’ve got to believe in yourselves and keep doing what you’ve been doing,” Meeks continued. “I want us to be confident, but I don’t want us to go in overconfident. We need to make sure we play our best.”
The Valley’s best record among Indiana teams is North Vermillion’s 21-2 mark, but the Falcons aren’t even the highest-ranked team in their own Class A sectional.
Seventh-ranked North Vermillion has split with sixth-ranked Riverton Parke, and the Panthers are defending regional champions. Those two could meet in a highly anticipated championship game Saturday — or not.
“I’m not even looking there,” said coach Terry Naylor of North Vermillion. “Twelve or 13 years ago we had a team that was 20-0 and it got beat in the first game [of the sectional.”
Clay City’s Eels are the three-time defending champions of their own Class A sectional and open play Friday against White River Valley, the only team with a winning record this season. Most games involving the conference rivals in the field have been close, so the Eels, the Wolverines, Shakamak and Union all have hopes.
n Illinois under way — Play began Monday in Illinois regional tournaments, with Class 2A tournaments at Marshall and Tuscola and Class A affairs at Neoga and Villa Grove.
Eighth-ranked Marshall is hopeful of just its second girls regional championship, and the Lions have beaten the four Little Illini Conference teams in the field there.
Pana is the ninth-ranked Class 2A team and the top seed at Tuscola, while Shiloh is ranked ninth in Class A and plays at Villa Grove.
Girls postseason basketball
Indiana sectionals
Class 4A
At Terre Haute South
Today — Terre Haute South (14-7) vs. Northview (8-13), followed by Martinsville (11-10) vs. Terre Haute North (14-7)
Friday — Plainfield (9-11) vs. South-Northview winner, followed by Mooresville (16-4) vs. Martinsville-North winner
Saturday — Championship, 7 p.m.
Class 3A
At Brown County
Today — Greencastle (12-9) vs. West Vigo (5-15), followed by Edgewood (9-10) vs. Owen Valley (15-6)
Friday — South Vermillion (3-17) vs. Greencastle-West Vigo winner, followed by Brown County (11-9) vs. Edgewood-Owen Valley winner
Saturday — Championship, 7:30 p.m.
Class 2A
At Sullivan
Today — North Knox (13-9) vs. Bloomfield (7-13)
Wednesday — Sullivan (19-2) vs. Eastern Greene (9-10), followed by Linton (3-18) vs. South Knox (9-10)
Friday — North Central (7-14) vs. North Knox-Bloomfield winner, followed by Wednesday winners
Saturday — Championship, 7:30 p.m.
Class A
At North Vermillion
Today — Attica (14-6) vs. Covington (10-10), followed by Turkey Run (2-18) vs. Riverton Parke (17-3)
Friday — North Vermillion (21-2) vs. Attica-Covington winner, followed by Rockville (8-12) vs. Turkey Run-Riverton Parke winner
Saturday — Championship, 7:30 p.m.
At Clay City
Today — Union (8-11) vs. Eminence (1-19)
Friday — Clay City (7-13) vs. White River Valley (12-8), followed by Shakamak (9-11) vs. Union-Eminence winner
Saturday — Championship, 7:30 p.m.
Illinois regionals
Class 2A
At Marshall
Monday — Robinson vs. Lawrenceville (n)
Today — Monday’s winner vs. Marshall, 6 p.m., followed by Newton vs. Casey
Thursday — Championship, 7:30 p.m.
At Tuscola
Monday — Paris vs. Arthur (n), Tuscola vs. Macon Meridian (n)
Today — Pana vs. Paris-Arthur winner, 6 p.m., followed by Sullivan vs. Tuscola-Macon Meridian winner
Thursday — Championship, 7:30 p.m.
Class A
At Neoga
Monday — Palestine-Hutsonville vs. Oblong (n)
Wednesday — Dieterich vs. Palestine/Hutsonville-Oblong winner, 6 p.m., followed by Effingham St. Anthony vs. Neoga
Thursday — Championship, 7:30 p.m.
At Villa Grove
Monday — Chrisman vs. Martinsville (n)
Tuesday — Kansas vs. Monday’s winner, 6 p.m., followed by Shiloh vs. Villa Grove
Thursday — Championship, 7:30 p.m.
Sports
Pressure rises as girls begin sectionals
One coach warns that dreams can be shattered quickly
- Sports
-
IndyCar driver Helio Castroneves, of Brazil, stands in his team pit box as he waits for the start of the final practice session for the Indianapolis 500 auto race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Friday, May 24, 2013. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
-
Top guns, again
For the sixth time in his Indy career Friday, three-time Indy 500 champion Helio Castroneves won the Pit Stop Challenge on Carb Day at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
-
Sycamores bow out of MVC Tournament
Indiana State’s baseball was out of pitching, and after a loss to Wichita State on Thursday, the Sycamores were out of second-chances too at the Missouri Valley Conference baseball tournament. What the Sycamores weren’t out of was heart, guts and clutch performances from some unlikely sources. But in the end, Friday’s elimination game rematch against the Shockers was a sampling of ISU’s season overall — the Sycamores were out of luck.
-
Freshman Hambrock, THS seek semistate tennis title
Having already claimed Terre Haute North Sectional and Greencastle Regional championships in girls high school tennis, Terre Haute South will try to add a semistate title to its 2013 list of accomplishments today as the Braves battle No. 25-ranked Greenwood.
-
Coach adds regional host to job description
John Hayes has been a familiar face at high school baseball games this spring as he always is, enjoying the games but also looking for players who can help his Wayne Newton Post 346 American Legion team that will start its summer season shortly.
-
Prep roundup: South Vermillion reaches baseball sectional final
South Vermillion built an early 7-0 lead late Thursday night, then held off Owen Valley by a 10-4 score to advance to the championship game of the Class 3A West Vigo Sectional for high school baseball.
-
Metro Sports: Chalk up No. 5 for Liz Evans
Senior Liz Evans capped the top career in Rose-Hulman athletics history with her fifth national championship and eighth All-American award at Wisconsin-La Crosse on Friday.
-
Four Indiana State athletes advance to NCAA outdoor track and field championships
Three Indiana State seniors and a freshman have punched their tickets to the NCAA outdoor track and field championships in two weeks at Eugene, Ore., with their Friday efforts in the 2013 NCAA East Preliminary at Aggie Stadium on the campus of North Carolina A&T.
-
West Vigo advances to sectional championship with walk-off win in ninth
High school baseball sectional games between West Vigo and Edgewood have had a tendency to be unpredictable over the years, but the Vikings and Mustangs outdid themselves in that area Thursday evening — and Thursday night.
-
Wichita State shuts out ISU to force elimination-game rematch
Indiana State starting pitcher Greg Kuhlman did his best.
Actually, he did far better than he ever has previously in an ISU uniform, but while Kuhlman’s gutty pitching effort spoke volumes, ISU’s bats remained ominously silent. -
BOYS TRACK REGIONAL: North gets three winners, South two at Evansville
Terre Haute North had three winners, Terre Haute South two, and the Patriots and Braves finished second and third respectively at the Evansville Regional for boys track on Thursday at Evansville Central.
Hurdlers Cam Stewart and Cole Seward and discus thrower Lee Davis were the winners for North, enabling the Patriots to finish with 60 points to 59 for the Braves.
-
Top guns, again
- Local Interest
-
-
METRO ROUNDUP: Rose-Hulman's Evans honored as Great Lakes' top athlete
Rose-Hulman senior Liz Evans earned her fifth career NCAA Division III Great Lakes Region Field Athlete of the Year honor, according to results released Wednesday by the U.S. Cross Country and Track and Field Coaches Association.
-
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. -
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.
-
Indiana State baseball series canceled
Heavy rain from Thursday through Saturday has forced Indiana State and Tennessee Martin to cancel their three-game weekend baseball series in northwest Tennessee.
-
METRO ROUNDUP: Rose-Hulman baseball to play DePauw on Thursday after Tuesday's rain
The Rose-Hulman baseball team has rescheduled its non-conference game with DePauw to Thursday night.
The start time remains 7 p.m. for the single nine-inning game that was originally scheduled for today. Tuesday’s scheduled Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference game at Anderson was moved to Sunday because of rain.
-
METRO ROUNDUP: Rose-Hulman's Evans honored as Great Lakes' top athlete
- High School
-
-
Freshman Hambrock, THS seek semistate tennis title
Having already claimed Terre Haute North Sectional and Greencastle Regional championships in girls high school tennis, Terre Haute South will try to add a semistate title to its 2013 list of accomplishments today as the Braves battle No. 25-ranked Greenwood.
- Prep roundup: South Vermillion reaches baseball sectional final
- West Vigo advances to sectional championship with walk-off win in ninth
- BOYS TRACK REGIONAL: North gets three winners, South two at Evansville
- PREP ROUNDUP: Martinsville adavances in Class 4A THS Sectional
-
- College
-
-
Sycamores bow out of MVC Tournament
Indiana State’s baseball was out of pitching, and after a loss to Wichita State on Thursday, the Sycamores were out of second-chances too at the Missouri Valley Conference baseball tournament. What the Sycamores weren’t out of was heart, guts and clutch performances from some unlikely sources. But in the end, Friday’s elimination game rematch against the Shockers was a sampling of ISU’s season overall — the Sycamores were out of luck.
-
Metro Sports: Chalk up No. 5 for Liz Evans
Senior Liz Evans capped the top career in Rose-Hulman athletics history with her fifth national championship and eighth All-American award at Wisconsin-La Crosse on Friday.
-
Four Indiana State athletes advance to NCAA outdoor track and field championships
Three Indiana State seniors and a freshman have punched their tickets to the NCAA outdoor track and field championships in two weeks at Eugene, Ore., with their Friday efforts in the 2013 NCAA East Preliminary at Aggie Stadium on the campus of North Carolina A&T.
-
Wichita State shuts out ISU to force elimination-game rematch
Indiana State starting pitcher Greg Kuhlman did his best.
Actually, he did far better than he ever has previously in an ISU uniform, but while Kuhlman’s gutty pitching effort spoke volumes, ISU’s bats remained ominously silent. -
Indiana State baseball now one win from MVC Championship
Indiana State’s Wednesday morning wish list probably read something like this: a dominant complete game effort from starting pitcher Devin Moore, near-immaculate defense to support him, and a steady diet of clutch situational hitting from lineup spots one to nine.
-
Sycamores bow out of MVC Tournament
- Sports Columns
-
-
RAMBLIN' RECK: Sunday promises to be big day in Indy
Sunday promises to be a super day in Indianapolis.
It’s the 97th running of the Indianapolis 500 followed by Indiana vs. Miami in the third game of the National Basketball Association playoffs. - TRACKSIDE: Local drivers, owners looking to have strong night at Tony Hulman Classic
- Shooters compete to fight cancer
- TILL IT'S OVER: Terre Haute Triathlon's new race director seeks more events for his hometown
- TODD GOLDEN: Don't give up on ISU baseball just yet
-
RAMBLIN' RECK: Sunday promises to be big day in Indy
- Pro Sports
-
-
Luck having fun with his first OTAs
A year ago, quarterback Andrew Luck was unable to attend the Indianapolis Colts’ organized team activity practices due to school commitments at Stanford.
Luck, though, went on to have a stellar year for the Colts despite the lack of summer work with the team. Still, in a sense, he is a rookie during this year’s OTA workouts.
“These are my first OTAs. I missed these last year, so I think it’s great. It’s great to get on the field with the defense and trouble-shoot some stuff. Obviously, some of us ran some of this stuff [offense] at Stanford [under new offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton]. But to get out there with the defense and trouble-shoot some stuff is good,” Luck said Wednesday as the team wrapped up its first week of on-field voluntary practice sessions. - Colts hoping for more high marks on draft picks
- Colts in wait-and-see mode for tonight’s NFL draft
- Colts sign Matt Hasselbeck to back up Luck
- Colts introduce free-agent signees
-
Luck having fun with his first OTAs
- Terre Haute Rex
-
Consultation: Rex manager Brian Dorsett talks with his pitcher and players during a time-out Sunday, July 15, at Sycamore Field. (Tribune-Star file/Bob Poynter)
-
2012 an up, down season for Rex
The Terre Haute Rex went through plenty of trials and tribulations during the summer of 2012.
The team got off to a sluggish start to settle for third place during the first half of the Prospect League race, but manager Brian Dorsett rallied the troops to a second-half title. - Metro Roundup: Dorsett, Rex players honored in Prospect League postseason awards
- Rex out of playoffs
- Rex mix, match their way to win
- Rex turn eye to Prospect playoffs
-
2012 an up, down season for Rex
- Colts
-
-
Luck having fun with his first OTAs
A year ago, quarterback Andrew Luck was unable to attend the Indianapolis Colts’ organized team activity practices due to school commitments at Stanford.
Luck, though, went on to have a stellar year for the Colts despite the lack of summer work with the team. Still, in a sense, he is a rookie during this year’s OTA workouts.
“These are my first OTAs. I missed these last year, so I think it’s great. It’s great to get on the field with the defense and trouble-shoot some stuff. Obviously, some of us ran some of this stuff [offense] at Stanford [under new offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton]. But to get out there with the defense and trouble-shoot some stuff is good,” Luck said Wednesday as the team wrapped up its first week of on-field voluntary practice sessions. - Colts' coordinators enjoying getting rookies acclimated
- Werner, 36 others open Colts’ mini camp
- Colts hoping for more high marks on draft picks
- Werner at top of game
-
Luck having fun with his first OTAs
- Auto Racing
-
IndyCar driver Helio Castroneves, of Brazil, stands in his team pit box as he waits for the start of the final practice session for the Indianapolis 500 auto race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Friday, May 24, 2013. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
-
Top guns, again
For the sixth time in his Indy career Friday, three-time Indy 500 champion Helio Castroneves won the Pit Stop Challenge on Carb Day at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
- Looking for Indy breakthrough, Kanaan enjoying role as team mentor
- TRACKSIDE: Local drivers, owners looking to have strong night at Tony Hulman Classic
- Carpenter arrives as Indy 500 threat
- Carpenter wins Indy 500 pole
-
Top guns, again
New Galaxy Star Robbie Rogers Makes History
George discusses Game 2 performance
West happy with Game 2 win over Heat
Spoelstra on Heat's missed opportunities
Stephenson talks big Game 2 win
Castroneves, Franchitti on making history at Indy
Wertheim: Women's French Open Preview
Mattingly's Dodgers days still may be done
LeBron: 'My turnovers hurt more than anything'
Bosh, Heat not playing up to par
White Hot Heat! Heat vs. Pacers tonight
Cavaliers Use Day Off to Prepare for FSU
Nate Allen is looking for a bounce back season
Seabrook on Canucks series in 2011
Three and Out: Wheeler or Pineda
Cubs' Sveum on Jackson's struggles
Game 4: Blackhawks played against a "really smart team"
Game 4: Blackhawks' Seabrooks "deserved limited minutes"
Game 4: Blackhawks started, couldn't finish
Phil Jackson on leadership: 'You have to follow your intuitive nature'
Massive Flooding in San Antonio Area; Rescue Efforts Underway
Hope For The Boy Who Can't Smile
Raw: Apple 1 Computer Sells for More Than $650k
Young protestor goes viral on Youtube
High Wire Spectacle Thrills Crowd in Austria
Toronto Mayor says he's not a crack head
Maine island offers lighthouse getaway
Suspect in Killing of Officer Found Dead in Cell
Should We Prepare for Quakes?
Lynn Kindergarten Class Rescues Ducklings
Congressional gold medal awarded to civil rights heroes
Charles Ramsey visits Kentucky
Unique Display Greets Guests At Revel Casino
Cape Cod Train Service Worries Residents
BASE jumper rides snowmobile off cliff to honor dead friend
Bridge Collapse Survivor: 'Rough Day'
SHOCKING: School Guard Throws Girl Down Stairs
Star Wars X-Wing Star Fighter Made of Legos
Actress Amanda Bynes Arrested in New York
Singer Psy Has An Imposter
