Yeah, we all be getting old. Or older.
This coming week the 110th Indiana boys basketball state tournament tips off. Hoosier Hysteria is older than cars, refrigerators, TVs, I-phones and Joe Biden. This madness in March has kept us all warm for generations. Expect more of the same in the next few weeks. The Region has a lot of heavy favorites in our local sectionals. But we all know that doesn’t always mean so much. We’ve all seen Hoosiers, and the upset specials have a historical pull to Indiana residents. There are big favorites. There will be upsets. There always are. So this is how I see it. Class A Kouts Sectional Gary’s 21st Century is the heavy favorite. These Cougars are deep and good. Johnell Davis is one of the best players in the state. And they will be coming together for coach Rodney Williams, who will step down after this season. As long as this team doesn’t do a 2011 Bowman Academy, the 21C will cut down the nets. But host Kouts on a Saturday night will be a tough out. Class 2A Bowman Academy Sectional This is the toughest field to pick locally. Defending state champion Andrean is still good, but the talent losses in a year bring the 59ers back to the field. A solid Lake Station team will get to the final while Andrean, Bishop Noll, Bowman and Marquette Catholic battle it out on the other side. Which team will put together a great week of ball? This one’s tough. I am going to go with the host Eagles. Home cooking always tastes good. Class 3A Hammond Sectional And speaking of home cooking and wonderful things that are old, the Hammond Civic Center will be rocking this week and purple will be everywhere. The Hammond Wildcats are the best team and they might be the second-best squad, too. Coach Larry Moore Jr. and his staff have put together a great program that is looking for nets to cut down outside of the home town. Hanover Central Sectional The host Wildcats are 21-2 and need to beat Kankakee Valley (9-13) and Knox (12-10) to get to Saturday night. Coach Bryon Clouse’s team cut down the nets last year, for only the second time in school history, and the ‘Cats should do it again. But it will not be easy. Class 4A East Chicago Sectional Munster (21-1) is the best team in this tough tournament and Mike Hackett’s fellas got the bye, too. But with Merrillville (9-12), E.C. Central (11-11), Highland (12-11), Lake Central (12-11) and West Side (12-8), all solid programs with good talent, arriving at the same gym this week, this is going to be a lot of fun to watch. The tickets will be sold. The popcorn will be popped. And Munster will move on. Valparaiso Sectional Chesterton (21-2) has the best record and Valparaiso (15-8) got the best draw. On February 21st Chesterton beat Valpo by three in Chesterton. Expect these two programs to play again on Saturday night. This will be the best game on Saturday night. Three points or less. I’m going with Marc Urban’s Trojans in a nail-biter. Jake Wadding is the best player in this gym and he will find a way. So that’s how I see it. Now, where are my Nikes and Preparation H? It’s been 110 years. Wow.
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Meet SteveNWI's Steve Hanlon is forever a columnist, and he now writes a blog. Check it out. Archives
March 2020
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