2021 Boys Basketball Sectional Preview - The News-Banner Monday, March 1, 2021 - Bluffton
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The News-Banner Monday, March 1, 2021 2021 Boys Basketball Sectional Preview
Page 2 • The News-Banner • Monday, March 1, 2021 2021 Basketball sectional preview
BLUFFTON TIGERS
Tigers hope to handle adversity, stay composed
By JOSH BURRIS
It has been an up and down
year for the Bluffton Tigers.
The Tigers got off to a 7-7
start, but lost their last seven
games of the season. In those
seven losses, the Tigers were
outscored by 16.4 points per
game on average. Turnovers
and a lack of shooting have been
common issues in those games
as the Tigers averaged 16.4 turn-
overs and shot just 34 percent
from the field.
That fifth loss in that stretch
came against a strong Mississ-
inewa team by just 2 points, and
Bluffton coach Karl Grau saw
some positives from his team in
that game.
“We only lost by 2 and actu-
ally had a chance to win. Had the
ball with a minute to go. Unfor-
tunately, we turned it over. They
got it back and they hit two free
throws with two seconds on the
clock. That ended the game,”
Grau recalled. “I really liked
how our guys responded. I liked
how they competed in that game.
And I actually feel like we made
some good strides that game.”
In that Mississinewa game,
the Tigers shot 46 percent from
the field, committed 11 turn- Members of Bluffton’s boys’ basketball team are left to right: Front row, manager Alyssa Stevens, Kaden Gerber, Seth Bennett, Hayden Nern, Will Ball,
overs, and were led by Hayden Reece Johnston, and manager Ella Wheeler. Back row, assistant coach Chad Grieser, head coach Karl Grau, Lukas Hunt, Harrison Schreiber, Max Stop-
penhagen, Andrew Ball, and assistant coach Craig Helfrich. Not pictured: Kaleb Riley and assistant coach Robert Vanderkolk. (Photo by Glen Werling)
Nern’s 24 points.
Nern, Bluffton’s senior for-
ward, has been the team’s lead- times this season. averaging 49.1 points per game. Bluffton has had other players 15 points against South Adams
ing scorer this season, averag- Bluffton has not had much Fellow senior Will Ball is the step up at times alongside Nern last week, performances like that
ing 20.2 points per game. He consistent offense around Nern team’s next highest scorer, aver- this season. Junior Max Stop- have not been consistent from
has scored at least 30 points five though, as the team as a whole is aging 5.9 points per game. penhagen scored a season-high the Tigers.
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2021 Basketball sectional preview The News-Banner • Monday, March 1, 2021 • Page 3
BLUFFTON TIGERS
“Obviously in any game, you want to have good bal-
Bluffton Tigers ance. We’ve been striving to work for that all year. We’ve
had some other guys step up at times,” Grau said. “We’ve
had Andrew Ball and Will Ball both step up at times. We
Players Number Height Grade had Max Stoppenhagen step up, and Lukas Hunt step up,
and Harrison Schreiber has stepped up a few times. So
Max Stoppenhagen 2 5'8" 11 we just have got to find a way to maintain that consisten-
cy. That’s the part we are looking for, is can you continu-
ally do it game after game after game.”
Lukas Hunt 3 5'9" 11 Bluffton will need all the offense it can get in its first-
round matchup in sectional play. The Tigers, which are
Harrison Schreiber 10 6'2" 11 hosting Class 2A Sectional 36, will first take on Black-
hawk Christian Braves on Tuesday night at 7:30 p.m.
Blackhawk Christian, last year’s sectional champion
Seth Bennett 12 6'0" 12 and a state champion two years ago, boasts a 21-3 record
and is a heavy favorite to win the sectional again this
Hayden Nern 20 6'3" 12 year. The team is also a popular pick to win the 2A state
championship.
Kaleb Riley 24 6'2" 12 The Braves are led by Caleb Furst, who will be taking
his basketball talents to Purdue next season. The 6-foot-
9 senior is averaging 21.4 points and 14.1 rebounds per
Andrew Ball 35 6’0” 10 game. Zane Burke, a 6-foot-2 senior, is averaging 18.7
points and 5.8 rebounds per game.
Reece Johnston 40 6'2" 12 “Obviously we have our hands full. They’ve got tre-
mendous players and talent,” Grau said about his oppo-
Will Ball 52 6'4" 12 nent. “We are just going to have to go out and play the
best that we can and let the chips fall where they may.
Those are the things that when you are a player, a lot of
times you relish an opportunity to play against a really
good team. I think our guys will be excited for the oppor-
tunity to play against a very good opponent.”
Blackhawk Christian’s talent may have others disre-
garding the talent level of other teams in the sectional.
That may be rightfully so with how good the Braves are.
However, Grau said the field as a whole is strong as
well. Whitko (15-7), South Adams (15-8), and Manches-
ter (12-8) are all other teams in the field with winning
records.
“When you look at Blackhawk being in our sectional,
obviously everybody considers them the favorite, as they
should. So it really is hard to look past them, but there
are a lot of solid teams in our sectional. So there is a lot
of balance there. When you look outside of Blackhawk
Christian,” Grau said. “There’s a lot of teams that should
be very-well respected, and a lot of good coaching. It’s a Max Stoppenhagen launches a 3-pointer in the third quarter in
the final game of the regular season last Friday night at South-
(Continued on Page 9) wood. (Photo by Glen Werling)
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NORWELL KNIGHTS
Knights look to stay confident, mentally tough
By JOSH BURRIS
The Norwell Knights have
made some progress from their
0-5 start to the season.
A young group that starts four
sophomores and one senior, the
Knights have since gone 9-8 to
post a 9-13 overall record. The
Knights have played in several
close games this season as well,
with four losses coming by 4
points or less.
Coach Mike McBride said
his team has been growing and
showing improvement through-
out the season.
“I think we’ve made a lot
of improvements. I think early,
things were a real struggle, and
then we’ve just continually
improved throughout the year,”
McBride said. “I think guys are
playing with more confidence
as the season has progressed and
are doing a lot of things a lot bet-
ter. So I feel like at the end of the
day things are going in a good
direction for us and that we are
putting ourselves in a position
where hopefully we can play our
best basketball here.”
Norwell will head to Missis-
sinewa for Class 3A Sectional
23 competition and will play its
first game on Friday as it drew a
first-round bye. The Knights will
play the winner of a first-round
matchup between the Bellmont
Braves (15-7) and the Eastern Members of Norwell’s varsity boys’ basketball team are left to right: Front row, Cohen Bailey, Eli Riley, Alex Cameron, Lleyton Bailey, and Cale Mallery. Back
Greentown Comets (13-9). Nor- row, Brody Bolyn, Jake Parker, Jon Colbert, Luke Graft, Luke McBride, Ashton Federspiel, and Jared Conrad. (Photo by Josh Burris)
well drew a first-round by last
year as well when it hosted the things we need to work on for lent 3-point shooting group as (10-9), which drew the other ley, Brody Bolyn, Luke Graft,
sectional and won it. ourselves, and we are going to the team shoots 38 percent from first-round bye. Jon Colbert, and Jake Parker,
McBride said having the bye have some practice time here to deep. Four players on the team “I think the field is pretty bal- along with senior Eli Riley, have
has its benefits. It puts the team do that.” shoot at least 36 percent from anced overall,” McBride said stepped up around McBride at
one step closer to playing in that Bellmont is the team Nor- three, with junior Levi Maverick about the overall competition. “I times this season as well.
championship game for starters, well is more familiar with, and posting the highest percentage at think anybody could probably As a team, the Knights are
but it also takes away the possi- vice versa. The NE8 Conference 43. Senior Evan Monize leads beat anybody on any given night shooting 34.4 percent from the
bility of an injury or just general rivals played a close game ear- the team in points per game with this year. I think it’s going to be 3-point line and have been scor-
fatigue from playing an extra lier this season, with Bellmont 13.7. an exciting sectional and a lot of ing 52.8 points per game. Defen-
game. coming away with a 48-46 win. “It will be a good game,” close games.” sively, they have been allowing
“The fact that we are already The Braves are led by senior McBride said about the Bell- The Knights could definitely slightly more points at 54.3.
into Friday night is good, but it Tyler James, who is averaging mont-Eastern matchup. “Both have their hands full as they However, if that 0-5 start is
doesn’t change anything. You 13.9 points per game, and fellow of those teams are well-coached are the only team with a los- removed, the Knights are allow-
still have got to perform well. seniors Nic Ellsworth and Caden and do a good job. It’ll be a good ing record and also have a 1-3 ing 51.5 points per game and
You’ve got to play to the best Staub. The Braves are not a high- basketball game to watch.” record against the other teams in scoring 54.3.
of your ability,” McBride said. scoring team, averaging 47.9 Three more teams with win- the sectional. The only win came Defensive play is something
“Who we play really is out of points per game, but are allowing ning records are on the other half against Heritage by a 48-47 Coach McBride highlighted,
our control, so it’s just a mat- just 44.2, which ranks 18th in the of the bracket. Mississinewa (14- score. along with several other funda-
ter of we’ve now got to prepare state. 8), the team Norwell beat in last Sophomore Luke McBride mentals, that his team needs to
for both Bellmont and Eastern Norwell has not faced Eastern year’s sectional championship, has been the Knights’ main do in order to be successful.
and make sure we do our home- this year, or many of its oppo- will take on Oak Hill (11-11) in source of offense this season, “I think the No. 1 thing we
work and that we are ready. The nents for that matter. However, the other first-round matchup. averaging 21.3 points per game. are going to have to be able to do
nice thing for us is there are still McBride noted it is an excel- The winner will face Heritage Fellow sophomores Lleyton Bai- (Continued on Page 6)2021 BasketBall sectional preview The News-Banner • Monday, March 1, 2021 • Page 5
GOOD LUCK
at Sectionals! 2021
SOUTHERN Best of Luck
WELLS at Sectionals!
RAIDERS Bellmont
BLUFFTON Braves
TIGERS Adams Central
Flying Jets
NORWELL South Adams
KNIGHTS Starfires
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NORWELL KNIGHTS
Norwell
(Continued from Page 4)
Norwell Knights
is we are going to have to be able to Player Number Height Grade
defend. We are going to have to play
good defense. It’s something that we
have been improving on through- Jon Colbert 3 5'11" 10
out the season,” he said. “We need
to rebound the basketball very well. Eli Riley 4 5'11" 12
Those two things are key. And I think
the other two things are taking care of Jake Parker 5 6'2" 10
the basketball and then making shots.
When we make shots, we are usually
pretty solid. But when we don’t, we Alex Cameron 10 6’1” 11
have to be able to find ways to win
games when we don’t shoot it that Luke Graft 12 6'0" 10
well by playing defense and rebound-
ing.” Cale Mallery 14 6’0” 10
Mental toughness will also be
important for the Knights McBride
said. Twice in the Knights’ last four Jared Conrad 20 6'1" 12
games, they entered the fourth quar-
ter with a large lead but allowed their Lleyton Bailey 22 5'9" 10
opponent back in the game and had
to fight late to get the win.
As a younger team in the tourna- Luke McBride 24 6’1" 10
ment, McBride said it will be impor-
tant to stay tough down the stretch Ashton Federspiel 30 6’4” 9
and not get caught up in mistakes that
are made because there is a next play. Cohen Bailey 32 6’0” 9
“Going through some of the
things that we’ve gone through, the
adversity that we’ve faced, the chal- Brody Bolyn 40 6’3” 10
lenges that we’ve had throughout the
season, that’s why we have a whole
season to get us ready for the tourna-
ment and to be our best in the tour-
nament,” he said. “So we’ve faced a
lot of these mental challenges so to
speak, and this is the time for us to
show our best mental toughness this
year is right now. We are hoping that
we can do Tracking
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Chris DeSario Luke McBride lays in 2 of his 29 points in the third quarter against Mississinewa’s
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1383 East 950 N., Ossian, IN 467772021 Basketball sectional preview The News-Banner • Monday, March 1, 2021 • Page 7
SOUTHERN WELLS RAIDERS
Southern Wells
Raiders
Players Number Height Grade
Tanner Johnson 10 6'2" 12
Branson Rheinhart 12 6'3" 11
Dustin Woodward 14 6'2" 11
Keith Miller 20 5'10" 12
Austin Harris 22 6'1" 11
Brandon Kirtley 24 5'9" 9
Will Rickerd 30 6’2” 11
Evan Reynolds 32 5'11" 11
Quinton Mullins 34 5'11" 9
Cole Banter 50 6’1” 10
Owen Vickrey 52 6’3” 11
Members of Southern Wells’ boys’ basketball team are left to right: Front row, Austin Harris, Evan Reynolds, Keith Miller, Brandon
Kirtley, and Quinton Mullins. Back row, Dustin Woodward, Branson Rheinhart, Owen Vickrey, Will Rickerd, and Tanner Johnson.
(Photo by Josh Burris)
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SOUTHERN WELLS RAIDERS
Raiders must Indiana High School
Boys Basketball Top 5 Teams
hit 3-pointers, Teams
Class 4A
W-L Pts Prv
1. Homestead (13) 22-0 260 1
stay focused 2. Carmel
3. Lawrence North
19-2
21-2
214
198
2
3
4. Cathedral 18-2 178 4
By JOSH BURRIS
After the sophomore-heavy Southern Wells Raiders 5. S. Bend Adams 20-1 166 6
posted a 6-18 record last year with five losses coming
by 7 points or less, there was optimism this season with Class 3A
another year of experience that some of those close losses Teams W-L Pts Prv
could be flipped into wins.
Unfortunately, that has not been the case. 1. Hammond (11) 14-1 236 1
The now junior-heavy Raiders finished the regular 2. Silver Creek (1) 16-4 218 2
season with a 2-20 record, with once again five losses by
7 points or less. 3. Mishawaka Marian 16-3 180 3
The COVID-19 pandemic created issues for all teams, 4. Leo 18-2 126 4
but it took its toll on the Raiders a bit more than others. 5. Heritage Hills 15-3 121 8
Senior Keith Miller and junior Will Rickerd, who both
transferred in this year, did not get to work with the team
over the summer like they would have in a normal year. Class 2A
The Raiders also were all virtual during the first two Teams W-L Pts Prv
weeks of the season, setting them further back with no 1. Fort Wayne Blackhawk (12) 19-3 240 1
practicing. It happened once again around Christmas,
with two more lost weeks of practice. 2. Shenandoah 19-3 216 2
Meanwhile, coach Kyle Penrod was rescheduling and 3. Central Noble 20-1 170 4
moving up games so the team could play when healthy 4. Parke Heritage 20-3 143 5
– a move he said he now regrets. At the time, he was not
sure how many games they would get to play and want- 5. S. Ripley 19-1 140 6
ed to ensure they would get their full 22-game season
in. There was one stretch where the Raiders played five Class 1A
games in seven days. Teams W-L Pts Prv
The Raiders started the season 1-9, but only practiced
20 times at that point Penrod said. 1. Barr-Reeve (12) 20-2 240 1
“We just played too many games without having prac- 2. Loogootee 17-3 212 2
tice. So it got us off to a rough start because we played all 3. Kouts 21-2 192 3
these games,” Penrod said. “That was my fault for push-
ing games. I should have just been patient and we should 4. N. Daviess 18-3 166 4
have practiced more. And maybe we wouldn’t have got- 5. Lutheran 18-3 138 6
ten the full 22 in … but I think we would have been bet-
ter off record-wise and confidence-wise if I hadn’t done it (By The Associated Press, as of February 23, 2021. The Associated Press
Southern Wells’ Austin Harris drives to the basket while
that way.” defended by Woodlan’s Dakota Sparks. (Photo by Glen Wer-
Top 5 Indiana high school boys basketball teams, with first-place votes in
The Raiders’ lack of size has also been a tough obsta- ling)
parentheses, records, rating points and previous rankings.)
cle to overcome. It has caused problems with attacking
in the paint, rebounding, and sometimes defending. It be important in sectional play. The Raiders have allowed Penrod said Southwood’s pressure forces teams to be
has also forced the guard-heavy Raiders to shoot a lot of 67.4 points per game this season, with opponents scoring very focused with how they take care of the basketball,
3-pointers. at least 70 points eight times. which is a tough task for most high school kids.
Shooting from deep is something Penrod said they “The biggest thing for us right now is we need to be “They put a ton of pressure on the basketball with
have lived and died by. They have had great nights like better defensively so that when we go through those their defense. So you have to be prepared for full court
when they shot 57 percent from three against Bellmont stretches, or a poor shooting quarter, we don’t dig our- pressure in different ways,” he said. “It is constant and
and 51 percent against South Adams. However, they have selves a whole, which is kind of what’s happened,” Pen- relentless for the whole game. And so they give up a lot
also had four games this season when they shot below 20 rod explained. “Maybe we will shoot it really well for a of layups because of that. But they usually have a stretch
percent from three. couple quarters and then one quarter we don’t, and we where you mentally relax for a few minutes, and they will
Overall, the Raiders as a team have shot 29 percent end up losing that one quarter by 12 points. And that kind go on a 12-0 or 15-0 run if you are not completely locked
from three and have taken nearly 100 more 3-point of does us in.” in and focused on taking care of the basketball and being
attempts than 2-point attempts. Tanner Johnson has been On the topic of defense, the Raiders are about to face strong with it. They will take it from you four or five
the best from beyond the arc individually, shooting 38 a really aggressive one in the first round of Class 1A Sec- times in a row, and they will go finish quick. That’s a big
percent, with Rickerd behind at 33 percent. Rickerd has tional 53 at North Miami on Tuesday. They will take on task for any high school team.”
been the team’s leading scorer at 15.4 points per game. the Southwood Knights (12-10), who are a heavy favorite If the Raiders are able to break past Southwood’s trap,
Penrod said the defensive side of the ball is going to to win the sectional. (Continued on Page 9)2021 Basketball sectional preview The News-Banner • Monday, March 1, 2021 • Page 9
SOUTHERN WELLS/BLUFFTON
Southern Wells
(Continued from Page 8) bye. Northfield (7-15) drew the other sistent focus and effort. I can’t tell
it could open the door for a lot of bye and will face the winner of a you how many games where we
easy points inside. Penrod said most matchup between Lakeland Christian would play a really good half or a
of their layups this season have come (9-10) and Smith Academy (2-14). really good three quarters, and then
in transition when their opponent’s Southern Wells defeated Northfield just lose a little bit of that focus,”
defense has not been able to set up by 1 point this season, but Penrod he said. “So I’d really like to see us
on the other end. Getting past the trap said that team has improved since focused and locked in and executing
will open the door for a lot of two- that matchup. like we want to for a full game.
on-one and three-on-one situations. Smith is the only other team the “Especially in a sectional against
“We’ve done a pretty good job of Raiders beat, and lost its match- a team like Southwood. It could be
attacking the basket in transition,” he ups against Lakeland Christian and over in a hurry if you go through a
said. “When we get out and run I feel North Miami. They did not get to see four or five-minute stretch of just
like we’ve got a couple guys who Southwood in the regular season. relaxing mentally. I don’t think it’s
really do attack the basket in transi- If the Raiders are going to pull off effort or desire. I think our kids have
tion. So hopefully it gets us some the upset against Southwood, or play a desire. But for whatever reason, we
more easy ones.” a close game, Penrod said the team go through stretches where we lose
If the Raiders get past the Knights, will need to maintain focus and effort focus for a little bit.”
they will face the North Miami War- throughout the game. sports@news-banner.com
riors (6-16), who drew a first-round “A big issue for us has been con-
Bluffton
(Continued from Page 3) are all normal things you want to do COVID-19 restrictions.
solid sectional up and down. We just every year. We are just trying to be a Now with the season winding
happen to have a very elite team in solid, fundamental basketball team, down into state tournament play,
that pool of teams.” and those things are going to take Grau said he will continue to ask the
Grau noted a few things he hopes some time, and it has taken time.” same of his players, whether the sea-
to see his team do well this week in Grau also said he is grateful the son ends or continues past this week.
order for the best possible outcome team was able to have a season this “What I want to focus on with our
– win or lose. The most important year. Back at the start of the year team is just how do we handle our
is playing good defense. The Tigers when COVID-19 cases were on composure and how do we handle
have allowed 59 points per game this the rise, there was discussion about adversity. Are we playing to the best
season. whether or not the winter sports sea- of our ability. If we do that, that’s all
“I think the one thing that we’ve son would be fully played out. I’m going to ask from our guys,” he
got to do, and I thought we did a good It had its bumps in the road for said. “That’s all I’ve asked all year is
job at this on Saturday (against Mis- sure, like team quarantines, player to just be great teammates. Be there
sissinewa), was play good defense. quarantines, several reschedules, for each other, have great attitudes,
We just need to try to defend to stay and some games moved around due and compete at all times and not back
in games,” he said. “Obviously shar- to weather. Grau, a first-year coach, away.”
ing the basketball is important and also did not get to work much with sports@news-banner.com Southern Wells’ Will Rickerd splits between Bluffton’s Reece
taking care of the basketball. Those his team all summer because of Johnston (40) and Andrew Ball (35) at The Tiger Den earlier
this season. (Photo by Glen Werling)
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COLUMN
How has multi-class basketball panned out?
By RICK SPRUNGER would have placed Bluffton and sectional with Eastern, Mississ- every other year and the resulting arena at tipoff: 18. Not 1,800,
Be careful what you ask for, Norwell in the same class. Not inewa, and Oak Hill. Oak Hill is game of 52-pickup the IHSAA as might have been the case had
Indiana. You just might get it. long after this went to print, the clear on the other side of Marion, plays with sectional assignments, they played each other at the
Those were the last words of IHSAA scrapped the three-class and Eastern is near Kokomo. you’re never sure of who you are same time at Marion. Just 18.
a piece that appeared under my proposal in favor of the four- Those are schools Norwell and going to be paired with in any That’s not even two parents for
byline in this space 25 years ago class system it eventually adopt- Bellmont fans know far less given year. That makes it tough each starter. It’s not even one
this month. ed. Had I known that at the time, about than they know about the for new rivalries to develop. parent for each starter and cheer-
The IHSAA was in the midst that last sentence would have rest of the bi-county six. So I was right on this one but leader. (The student sections in
of conducting a study on the said that none of the three Wells The same is true in Class 2A for more reasons than I expected. the lower arena were full.)
merits of switching from single- County teams would ever again with Bluffton, Adams Central, I did see distance and unfamil- That’s not about class bas-
class to multi-class basketball meet in the sectional. and South Adams being matched iarity as being impediments in ketball, per se. That’s about
tournaments. That has proven correct. But, up with Manchester, Whitko, and the establishment of new rival- distance. Traveling from, say,
Being the fierce proponent of of course, that was like predict- Wabash. For a number of years, ries. But I also never took into Bluffton to Berne for a 6:00 p.m.
the single-class tournament that I ing cold weather in January. Southern Wells was in the same account the constant reclassifica- game on a Tuesday night isn’t a
was, I wrote this particular piece My greater concern was with sectional with Tri-Central, which tions every other year which are problem. But Madison-Grant and
to present my arguments for what the dynamiting of the local played at Frankfort in the old impacted not only by the recent Oak Hill, neighboring rivals to
keeping the traditional tourna- bi-county sectional would do to system, for crying out loud. explosion of Christian and char- be sure, had to travel between 60
ment in place and to make vari- the rivalries enjoyed by the six ter schools in Indiana but also by and 90 minutes each to get there.
ous predictions about “what all with each other. True to form, “Would new rivalries devel- the so-called “success factor.” That was just never going to hap-
baggage will go with class bas- Bluffton and Bellmont have op? To a point, yes. But the pen on a Tuesday night at 6:00.
ketball if the proposal is adopt- never met in a sectional tourna- geographic proximity is what “Not only would traditional Well, that’s just the luck
ed,” as I put it at the time. ment. Nor have Norwell and makes the rivalry sweet to rivalries be blown apart, but of the draw, you might say. If
The arguments that I made either Adams Central or South the participants; the enroll- fans would be asked to travel Bluffton and Adams Central had
then were far less concerned with Adams. Or Southern Wells and ment disparity is what makes in some instances double, even drawn each other in the 6:00
who was and was not winning those same two (in basketball). it interesting to the casual triple, the distances that they p.m. game, the place would have
state championships than with So I was right about that; but observer.” are currently being asked to been packed. True. But the point
the havoc that would be wreaked I was also wrong in that Bluff- I was pretty much right on travel to play opponents that is that in the single-class era it
at the sectional level. ton, Adams Central, and South that one, too. No one can say they are far less passionate didn’t matter who drew each
In any event, I thought it Adams have played in the same that Norwell has ever developed about beating. Attendance can other in that time slot. No one
might be fun to go back to that Class 2A sectional since 2002. any sort of rivalry with East- only go down, especially for the had to travel anywhere near 60 to
column, look at the predictions I Norwell and Bellmont have ern, Mississinewa, or Oak Hill. midweek games.” 90 minutes.
made 25 years ago, and see how always been together in Class Even if the Fort Wayne papers Attendance has gone down
well I did. One prediction pretty 3A. During the two years when were giving high school sports (in spades), to be sure. What’s “If attendance goes down
much leads into another. So, here Adams Central was a Class the coverage they did during the unclear is how much of this can (and if travel costs go up), what
goes: A school, it went to Southern single-class era, their coverage be laid at the feet of class basket- does that mean about available
Wells. never extended to those far-flung ball. revenues, particularly at small
“You can kiss annual rival- And you can’t really com- schools. In the second year of the schools? Could this mean the
ries good-bye. Barring reclassi- plain too much about Norwell Or take Bluffton. The Tigers multi-class tournament, Madi- eventual demise of certain non-
fication, Bluffton and Southern and Bellmont being lumped in are in the same sectional with not son-Grant and Oak Hill played revenue sports, such as cross
Wells would never again meet the same sectional with Heritage. only Whitko but also Manchester each other in the first game country or golf?”
in the sectional.” Those three were together in the (for the boys but not the girls) at South Adams. I was there, Or, if not their demise, at least
At the time this was writ- single-class baseball sectional for and Eastside and Churubusco and I personally hand-counted some sort of pay-to-play system?
ten, the proposal on the table years and years. (for the girls but not the boys). the number of fans from both Okay, I struck out on that one.
was for a three-class system that But those three are now in a With reclassification occurring schools combined in the upper I just graduated a senior myself
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BlufftonDental.com www.blufftonheating.com www.nb-digital.com2021 Basketball sectional preview The News-Banner • Monday, March 1, 2021 • Page 11
COLUMN
at South Adams last year. He was on the swim team for another school has been gone for close to 50 years. The fact is, that in all sports since everything was multi-
four years and the soccer team for three. Both of those Besides, a couple of generations ago, people graduat- classed in the fall of 1997, Norwell has been to four
are non-revenue sports, but he was never required to pay ed from high school, got a job, married their sweetheart, Class 3A championship baseball games (winning all but
to play. started a family, and settled down. All of their ties were one), two in football, and one in boys basketball. Bluff-
I have spoken with coaches and athletic directors at to the school and the community. Now, a Jay County ton has been to Indianapolis once each in girls and boys
other schools as well, and they all pretty much say the grad goes to college, marries someone from Northridge, basketball. Southern Wells has won a Class A football
same thing. The closest thing I saw to a pay-to-play pro- and they settle in the Westfield district. There are no ties championship. Bellmont has won a Class 3A football
vision was at one area school where a coach confirmed whatsoever to the local school. championship and two volleyball championships and has
that every athlete at that school is required to purchase a Make no mistake, people even now do come out for reached the final game in baseball. Adams Central has
season ticket. the sectional. And the crowds are larger and far more won a Class A football championship and has been to the
charged up than they are during the regular season. But softball finals twice and the baseball finals once. South
“What about the anticipation, the build-up, the there is still no comparison to the single-class era. Adams was last to the party but reached the Class A foot-
hype, the brackets and splashy sectional editions of Back in the heyday of the single-class era, if you want- ball championship game just last fall.
the newspaper, the memories, the talk? Do you really ed to go the sectional, you pretty much had to have a sea- So, I was right on some things and wrong on some
want to replace the fun of sectional basketball week son ticket just to be offered the privilege of buying a sec- others. If I had the power to switch back to a single-class
with the drab, business-as-usual approach of sectional tional pass. (At both Bluffton and Bellmont 50 years ago, system, would I?
football week?” all a season ticket got you was a ticket in a lottery to see No. My mind hasn’t changed, but circumstances have.
That has happened. But, like diminished attendance, who could buy a sectional ticket.) But sellout sectional But that’s a column for another day.
class basketball really cannot be blamed for it. At least crowds were starting to peter out before class basketball sports@news-banner.com
not entirely. Certainly, when we had an annual bi-county ever became a reality. Even reserved seats went by the
six, it was relatively easy to put together a sectional issue wayside.
featuring the six teams playing for one trophy. We would In short, the culture has changed. A bi-county, six-
write up our three teams and then simply swap stories team sectional today probably would be slightly better
with the Berne and Decatur papers. It’s quite a different attended than what we already have (due to the much
thing when our three are going in three different direc- shorter distances) but only slightly better.
tions with a total of twenty teams to cover.
More to the point, however, is that most of this has “If the basketball tournament goes classified, tele-
been simply a societal shift that was on its way well vision coverage will be discontinued.”
before the coming of class basketball. I missed on that one, too. My comment at the time was
Back when basketball was the only game in town, based on what WNDY, which owned the contract rights,
everyone went to the games. You just did. You went was saying. And it is true that, in the first several years,
to school or work five days a week, to church on Sun- television coverage of the state finals, while not discon-
day, and to the game on Friday night. It probably never tinued entirely, also wasn’t a part of every cable package.
occurred to most people that they had a choice. Now, due to streaming services on the internet, all tourna-
But now, in addition to other sports, we can get any ment games (even sectional games) are available through
college or pro game of our choosing on 500 cable chan- the IHSAA network. It’s pay-per-view, but the cost is no
nels or the internet. Games are no longer always on Fri- more than a ticket to the game itself.
day nights; as often as not, they are midweek. Girls bas-
ketball has doubled the number of games that are played, “Realistically, our bi-county six stand no more
but pep bands haven’t doubled their appearances. Accord- chance of winning a tournament that doesn’t include
ingly, half the games in any one year will be played with- Jeffersonville and Ben Davis and Gary Roosevelt as
out a pep band. Sometimes, there are not even cheerlead- one that does. The Norwell and South Adams power-
ers. A student pep block all wearing matching shirts and houses that reached the semi-state in the last 10 years
chanting in rhythm with coordinated hand motions today would have faced class competition just as strong as
would be considered corny and anachronistic. And the the teams that eventually beat them.”
fad of students dribbling a basketball to a sectional site at That probably wasn’t one of my stronger arguments.
Good Luck to ALL the Teams!
Celebrating Over
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families in the Markle
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Dr. Josh Bell
Communities. & The CORRECTIVE Scholarship
CHIROPRACTIC Southern Wells
Sports & Health Team
Monday 8 – 6 • Wednesday 7 – 7 • Thursday 8 – 7 Community Schools
360 N. Main St. Suite A • Bluffton, IN 46714 9120 South 300 West, Poneto, IN 46781-9601
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HERE ARE THE RULES: 1) One entry per person; 2) Predict the winners of ALL games in ALL three sectionals and predict the total points that will be scored in
the Championship Game at the Mississinewa Sectional. 3) Winner will receive a certificate good for $100 worth of gasoline at Pak-A-Sak. Decision of the judges
is final. 4) Entries must be dropped off ONLY at one of our 2 Bluffton Pak-A-Sak locations, 904 S. Main or 204 W. Wabash. Deadline: Tuesday, March 2, 2021
at 5:00 p.m. (Entries may be mailed to: Sectional Contest, News-Banner, P.O. Box 436, Bluffton, IN 46714, all mailed entries must be postmarked no later than
March 2, 2021). 5) Employees and their immediate families of Pak-A-Sak and the News-Banner are not eligible to win.
CLASS A SECTIONAL at North Miami CLASS 2A SECTIONAL at Bluffton CLASS 3A SECTIONAL at Mississinewa
North Whitko Heritage
Southwood Miami Wabash Oak Hill
Blackhawk
Southern Mississinewa
Wells Bluffton
Canterbury
Lakeland Sectional Sectional Bellmont Sectional
Christian Champion South Adams Champion Champion
Smith Adams Central Eastern
Academy Northfield Manchester Norwell
Tie Breaker:
Predict the total points scored in the championship game at the Mississinewa Sectional:__________________________________________________
Fill out the brackets
and bring your
Name____________________________Address_____________________________________________
entry to Pak-A-Sak. City______________________________Zip___________________Phone________________________
204 W. WABASH 904 S. MAIN
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