> SOUTHERN INDIANA — Arguably the most anticipated Southern Indiana sectional matchup will happen right away.

Sunday’s IHSAA boys’ basketball sectional draw pitted rivals Clarksville and Providence in the opening round in the Class 2A Crawford County Sectional.

All area sectionals begin Tuesday, Feb. 26.

At Marengo, the 10th-ranked Generals (14-5) and the third-ranked Pioneers (16-3) will meet for the third time this season in next Tuesday’s second game, which follows Crawford County (13-6) against Henryville (0-17) in Tuesday’s opener.

Providence is 2-0 against its rivals this season, beating the Generals in two close contests. The Pioneers won over Clarksville 38-36 to win the Silver Creek Holiday Tournament title game. A week later, they beat the Generals 60-51 in their regular-season matchup.

The Clarksville-Providence winner will face Eastern (9-10) in the second semifinal on Friday, March 1. Clarksville won at Eastern 48-36 on Dec. 8. The Pioneers and Musketeers did not meet in the regular season. In the second semifinal, either the host Wolfpack or Henryville will face off against Paoli (12-6). The champion will be determined at 7 p.m. on Saturday, March 2.

In the Class 4A sectional at Seymour, favorites and rivals Jeffersonville (18-3) and New Albany (12-6) were drawn on opposite sides of the bracket. The Red Devils and Bulldogs have met in the Seymour Sectional championship in five of the last seven years.

Jeff, which has won 10 of its last 11 including two impressive victories last weekend over Louisville Trinity and Castle, is matched up against Floyd Central (5-16) in the first game of the tournament on Feb. 26. The Devils beat the Highlanders 59-39 on Jan. 11. The winner will face Bedford North Lawrence (8-11) in the first semifinal on March 1.

New Albany, which has won four in a row and eight of nine, drew Seymour (2-16) in next Tuesday’s second quarterfinal. The Bulldogs, who beat the Owls 69-26 in December, will likely face Jennings County (12-8) in the second semifinal on March 1. The Bulldogs and Panthers are scheduled to play tonight.

Host Borden (15-3) is the favorite in its Class A sectional, but there are several contenders. The Braves will face South Central (12-6) in the tournament’s second quarterfinal on Feb. 26, following Rock Creek (7-14) against Lanesville (12-8).

Borden, which would face New Washington (9-11) in the semifinals with a win over the Rebels, beat South Central 77-42 on Dec. 7. The Braves also beat New Wash 63-40 on Jan. 4.

Lanesville may be the favorite to advance on the other side of the bracket, however slightly. The Eagles beat Rock Creek 67-45 on Dec. 22 and Christian Academy (10-9), which they will play in the first semifinal on March 1, 62-54 to open the season.

However, Christian Academy has won five straight, is playing its best basketball of the season and could benefit from the first-round bye.

There likely isn’t a bigger favorite in a Southern Indiana sectional than Brownstown Central is at the seven-team Class 3A Charlestown Sectional.

The Braves (19-1) open the tournament at 6 p.m. on Feb. 26 against Silver Creek (8-11). Brownstown beat the Dragons 39-23 on Jan. 11. However, Creek has since won five of its last six games.

The winner will get winless Salem in the first semifinal on March 1.

On Wednesday, Feb. 27, the host Pirates (11-7) will meet Corydon Central (14-5) in the first quarterfinal. The Panthers beat the Pirates 60-50 at the Charlestown Sports Arena on Feb. 2.

In the other quarterfinal on Feb. 27, North Harrison (12-7) — having its best season in years — drew Scottsburg (3-16). North Harrison beat the Warriors 73-45 on Jan. 5. The Feb. 27 winners will face off in second semifinal on March 1.



SECTIONAL DRAW

CLASS 4A SEYMOUR SECTIONAL

QUARTERFINALS

Tuesday, Feb. 26

    Floyd Central (5-16) vs. Jeffersonville (18-3), 6 p.m.

    Seymour (2-16) vs. New Albany (12-6), 7:30 p.m.

SEMIFINALS

Friday, March 1

    Bedford North Lawrence (8-11) vs. Floyd Central/Jeffersonville winner, 6 p.m.

    Jennings County (12-8) vs. New Albany/Seymour winner, 7:30 p.m.

CHAMPIONSHIP

Saturday, March 2

    Semifinal winners, 7:30 p.m.



CLASS 3A CHARLESTOWN SECTIONAL

QUARTERFINALS

Tuesday, Feb. 26

    Brownstown Central (19-1) vs. Silver Creek (8-11), 6 p.m.

Wednesday, Feb. 27

    Charlestown (11-7) vs. Corydon Central (14-5), 6 p.m.

    North Harrison (12-7) vs. Scottsburg (3-16), 7:30 p.m.

SEMIFINALS

Friday, March 1

    Salem (0-19) vs. Brownstown/Silver Creek winner, 6 p.m.

    Charlestown/Corydon winner vs. North Harrison/Scottsburg winner, 7:30 p.m.

CHAMPIONSHIP

Saturday, March 2

    Semifinal winners, 6 p.m.



CLASS 2A CRAWFORD COUNTY SECTIONAL

QUARTERFINALS

Tuesday, Feb. 26

    Crawford County (13-6) vs. Henryville (0-17), 6 p.m.

    Clarksville (14-5) vs. Providence (16-3), 7:30 p.m.

SEMIFINALS

Friday, March 1

    Paoli (12-6) vs. Crawford County/Henryville winner, 6 p.m.

    Eastern (9-10) vs. Clarksville/Providence winner, 7:30 p.m.

CHAMPIONSHIP

Saturday, March 2

    Semifinal winners, 7 p.m.



CLASS A BORDEN SECTIONAL

QUARTERFINALS

Tuesday, Feb. 26

    Rock Creek Academy (7-14) vs. Lanesville (12-8), 6 p.m.

    Borden (15-3) vs. South Central (12-6), 7:30 p.m.

SEMIFINALS

Friday, March 1

    Christian Academy (9-9) vs. Rock Creek/Lanesville winner, 6 p.m.

    New Washington (9-11) vs. Borden/South Central winner, 7:30 p.m.

CHAMPIONSHIP

Saturday, March 2

    Semifinal winners, 7:30 p.m.