> SOUTHERN INDIANA — Every young basketball players dreams of playing for her high school one day.

Every high school player dreams of doning a varsity uniform. And every varsity players dreams of being good enough to play in a sectional.

Only a few actually get a chance to play for a sectional crown. Even fewer get the opportunity to bring glory to her town or city with a sectional championship.

Every year, there are tens of thousands of basketball games played all across Indiana — from YMCA ball to AAU, from elementary to middle school, from freshman to junior varsity to varsity. All of them matter or they wouldn’t be played.

But the only ones that really matter are played this weekend. For the girls, it’s the weekend champions are crowned and legends are born.



GIRLS’ SECTIONALS — FRIDAY AND SATURDAY

CLASS 4A NEW ALBANY SECTIONAL

FRIDAY SEMIFINALS

Floyd Central (11-11) vs. Jennings County (8-12), 6 p.m.

• Series last 10 years: Floyd Central 9-5.

• This season: Jan. 22 — At Jennings County 51, Floyd Central 41.

• Total Sectional championships: Jennings County 10, Floyd Central 6.

• Last sectional championship: Jennings County — 2005; Floyd Central — 2010.

• Analysis: The Highlanders have to play better than their first outing with Jennings. I think they’ll get the spot in the finals opposite BNL.

• Greg’s Pick: Floyd Central 53, Jennings County 51.



Bedford North Lawrence (22-0) vs. Seymour (9-12), approximately 8 p.m.

• Rankings: BNL — No. 2 ICGSA; No. 2 IBCA.

• Series last 10 years: BNL 8-6.

• This season: Jan. 31 — At BNL 58, Seymour 41.

• Total Sectional championships: BNL 21, Seymour 11.

• Last sectional championship: BNL — 2012; Seymour — 2008.

• Analysis: Like Tuesday night, it’s BNL in a landslide

• Greg’s Pick: BNL 55, Seymour 36.



PREDICTED CHAMPION: Bedford North Lawrence. After going 15 years without a title, the Stars will easily win back-to-back crowns.



CLASS 3A SCOTTSBURG SECTIONAL

FRIDAY SEMIFINALS

Corydon Central (17-5) vs. Brownstown Central (8-10), 6 p.m.

• Series last 10 years: Corydon 6-4.

• This season: Jan. 26 — Corydon 53, at Brownstown 46.

• Total Sectional championships: Corydon 16, Brownstown 5.

• Last sectional championship: Corydon — 2008; Brownstown — 2011.

• Analysis: Things sure look to be lining up in Corydon’s favor, but it gets much harder from here on in.

• Greg’s Pick: Corydon 60, Brownstown Central 52.



Scottsburg (14-7) vs. Silver Creek (16-6), approximately 7:30 p.m.

• Series last 10 years: Scottsburg 9-2.

• This season: Jan. 26 — Silver Creek 45, at Scottsburg 41.

• Total Sectional championships: Scottsburg 15, Silver Creek 5.

• Last sectional championship: Scottsburg — 2012; Silver Creek — 2011.

• Analysis: As well as Silver Creek has played and as much as the Warriorettes miss their top players, history makes it hard for me to imagine the Dragons going into Scottsburg and winning twice in a season.

• Greg’s Pick: Scottsburg 50, Silver Creek 47.



PREDICTED CHAMPION: Corydon Central. Jillian Romero’s injury paved the way for the Panthers to win their fifth sectional in nine years.



CLASS 2A PAOLI SECTIONAL

FRIDAY SEMIFINALS

Paoli (19-1) vs. Providence (11-10), 6 p.m.

• Rankings: Paoli — No. 4 ICGSA.

• Series last 10 years: Paoli 3-0.

• This season: Did not meet.

• Last meeting: Paoli 55, Providence 39 (2012 sectional).

• Total Sectional championships: Paoli 2, Providence 0.

• Last sectional championship: Paoli — 2012.

• Analysis: It was a nice season for Providence, but nothing will stop the Rams from rolling through this sectional.

• Greg’s Pick: Providence 63, Providence 42.



Henryville (14-9) vs. Eastern (9-12), approximately 7:30 p.m.

• Series last 10 years: Eastern 10-1.

• This season: At Eastern 41, Henryville 35.

• Total Sectional championships: Henryville 1, Eastern 1.

• Last sectional championship: Henryville — 1994; Eastern — 1996.

• Analysis: Winning sectional games may become a habit for the Hornets in the coming years, but their 2012-13 road likely ends on Friday.

• Greg’s Pick: Eastern 51, Henryville 41.



PREDICTED CHAMPION: Paoil. The Rams have been the class of the field from the start this season.



CLASS A NEW WASHINGTON SECTIONAL

FRIDAY SEMIFINALS

South Central (7-14) vs. Lanesville (10-10), 6 p.m.

• Series last 10 years: South Central 22-1.

• This season: Jan. 2 — At South Central 47, Lanesville 28.

• Total Sectional championships: South Central 7, Lanesville 0.

• Last sectional championship: South Central — 2010.

• Analysis: If ever one rival dominated the other, its the Rebels over Lanesville — and unfortunately for the Eagles, it will continue on Friday.

• Greg’s Pick: South Central 53, Lanesville 44.



New Washington (18-2) vs. Rock Creek Academy (0-19), approximately 7:30 p.m.

• Rankings: New Washington — No. 8 ICGSA.

• Series last 10 years: New Wash 9-1.

• This season: Nov. 29 — New Washington 90, at Rock Creek 12.

• Total Sectional championships: New Washington 5, Rock Creek 0.

• Last sectional championship: New Washington — 2007.

• Analysis: Mustangs easily.

• Greg’s Pick: New Washington 73, Rock Creek 21.



PREDICTED CHAMPION: New Washington. Getting past Borden was essentially the championship for the Mustangs.



BOYS

THURSDAY

Jennings County (11-6, 4-1 HHC) at Jeffersonville (14-3, 6-0), 7:30 p.m.

• Rankings: Jeff — No. 14 AP; No. 16 IBCA.

• Series last 15 years: Jeff 13-6.

• Last season: Jeffersonville 57, at Jennings County 55 (regular season); Jeffersonville 85, Jennings County 60 (sectional semifinal).

• Analysis: It’s the girls’ weekend, but we had to mention this game since it’s Jeff’s opportunity to win back-to-back Hoosier Hills titles for the first time in school history. They’ll pull away late to get it done.

• Greg’s Picks: Jeffersonville 78, Jennings County 66.



BOYS’ PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Josh Rogers, New Albany

Rogers went 6-for-10 from the 3-point line then made two crucial free throws down the stretch to help the Bulldogs beat rival Providence, 52-48 on Friday. Rogers finished with a game-high 20 points in the triumph.



Last Week’s Stars

• Josh Conrad, Charlestown: 28 points, including eight 3-pointers, in Thursday’s 76-62 MSC win over Austin.

• Wesley Napier, New Washington: Team-high 14 points in Friday’s 61-51 upset win over Lanesville; nine points in Saturday’s 48-39 win over Trinity Lutheran.

• R.J. Jackson, Eastern: Team-high 19 points in Saturday’s 51-49 win over Christian Academy.

• Michael Lynch, Borden: 16 points in Saturday’s 59-53 win over Rock Creek.

• Aaron Hayes, Christian Academy: 28 points in Saturday’s 51-49 loss to Eastern.

• Darryl Baker, Jeffersonville: 18 points, seven rebounds in Saturday’s 73-70 loss to Evansville Harrison.

• Aaron Daniel, Charlestown: 22 points in Saturday’s 60-50 loss to Corydon.

• Tyler Collins, Henryville: 21 points in Friday’s 58-53 loss to Crothersville.



BOYS’ POWER POLL

Team    Record    Last

1. Jeffersonville    14-3    1

2. Providence    13-2    2

3. Clarksville    12-4    3

4. Borden    13-2    4

5. New Albany    9-6    5

6. Charlestown    9-6    6

7. Silver Creek    6-10    7

8. Rock Creek    7-11    8

9. New Washington    8-9    —

10. Christian Academy    5-9    9

    Note on the Power Poll: The power polls aren’t based solely on which teams would beat which. Factors like team records and how they are expected to perform in their respective class sectionals are also taken into account.