Weekend Watch: Before boys sectional draw, big games to play

The end of the high school boys basketball regular season is near (gasp!). How did that happen?

The sectional draw is set for Sunday at 5 p.m. Before we take a look ahead to some of the top matchups this weekend, here are a few storylines to watch before sectional pairings are released:

>> Sectional 10 shake out: Class 4A top-ranked Warren Central (20-1), No. 3 Lawrence Central (19-3), No. 6 Cathedral (16-4) and Lawrence North (12-6) are all in this field at Lawrence North, along with North Central (5-14) and Tech (5-14). The draw is especially important here. Warren Central and Lawrence Central are a short step ahead of Cathedral and Lawrence North, but any of the four are capable of taking home the crown.

>> Clear favorites in other 4A sectionals: Zionsville (Sectional 7), Carmel (Sectional 8), Brownsburg (Sectional 12) and Center Grove (Sectional 13) will all go into the tournament as clear favorites in respective sectionals. But there are potential sleepers in each sectional that could make life difficult for the favorites. Hamilton Southeastern, Fishers and Noblesville (Sectional 8) have all been playing well, Plainfield and Avon (Sectional 12) could push Brownsburg and Franklin and Greenwood (Sectional 13) could challenge Center Grove.

>> Oddity in Sectional 27: The closing of Northwest and Broad Ripple after last season means Class 3A Sectional 27 this year at Guerin Catholic is just a five-team field (all five with winning records). The two teams forced to play into Friday’s semifinals will be at a disadvantage. Brebeuf Jesuit beat Crispus Attucks 46-45 on Jan. 31 and it would be no surprise to see those two teams match up again, although Cardinal Ritter — looking for its first sectional title since 2009 — could also contend.

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>> Class 2A battles: Howe and Shenandoah have met three consecutive years in the Class 2A Sectional 42 championship. Howe won in 2016 and went to play for a state title. Shenandoah returned the favor with wins in 2017 and ’18. The teams seemed poised to clash again with Shenandoah ranked No. 2 and Howe No. 7.

Another two-team battle appears to await in Sectional 43 at Shortridge, where Park Tudor and Heritage Christian are both capable of making deep tournament runs. Park Tudor won the first meeting between the teams, 53-47, in early December.

We will have plenty more coverage of the sectional draw on Sunday and early next week. First, here is a look at what is to come this weekend in high school basketball (games 7:30 p.m. unless noted):

Friday in the area: Plenty of eyes will be on the matchup at Carmel as the 4A second-ranked Greyhounds (17-1) host No. 1 Warren Central (20-1) in the first meeting between the teams since Warren’s 54-48 comeback win in the state championship last March. The Warriors have won six in a row since the loss to Lawrence Central and Carmel is also riding a six-game winning streak following its loss to Brownsburg. Carmel can clinch the Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference title with a win. Warren Central would need a win here and a win against Pike next week to tie for the title. … A Hoosier Crossroads Conference championship is also on the line when Zionsville (16-5) plays at Fishers (15-6). The Eagles would win it outright with a win, while the Tigers need a win to share the title with Zionsville. … Hamilton Southeastern (14-6) is at Brownsburg (15-6) in a Hoosier Crossroads Conference matchup. Brownsburg senior guard Cameron Alford committed to Alabama A&M this week. … Class 3A top-ranked Delta (21-0) visits Shelbyville (10-9) at 8 p.m. Delta’s Josh Bryan (24.2 ppg) and Shelbyville’s Zach Kuhn (23.1 ppg, 9.5 rebounds) are both Indiana All-Star candidates. … The Circle City Conference championship is on the line when Heritage Christian (15-4, 4-0) plays at Brebeuf Jesuit (13-5, 3-0). Heritage Christian would clinch it outright with a win, while Brebeuf still has a league game remaining vs. Roncalli. … Cathedral (16-4) looks to snap a two-game losing streak against Ben Davis (12-7) when it travels across town to face the Giants. … Coach Kenny Roseman has a good turnaround going at Washington (9-8), where the Continentals have won more games since a 12-10 season in 2014-15. Washington is at Crispus Attucks (13-7). … It will be senior night at Pike (13-7) as the Red Devils host Lawrence North (12-6). Pike could still finish as high as tied for second in the Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference. … If Delta loses to Shelbyville, the Mt. Vernon (8-9) at New Palestine (12-7) game could be for a share of the Hoosier Heritage Conference title. It is also a potential Sectional 9 preview. … Noblesville (12-8) is at Avon (10-9) in a matchup of potential sectional sleepers. The Millers have won four in a row. … Plainfield (17-4) is at Franklin (13-7) as both teams look to keep Mid-State Conference title hopes alive. … Lafayette Central Catholic (16-3) is at Hamilton Heights (13-6) as part of the Hoosier Conference playoffs.

Friday statewide: Frankton (17-3), the Class 2A state champion two years ago, has won 11 consecutive games going into a home game against Alexandria (13-6). The Eagles are a senior-dominated team led by Kayden Key (18.9 ppg) and Rylan Detling (14.5 ppg) that will be a tough out in the tournament. … Bloomington South (18-3) visits Greencastle (16-3) as South coach J.R. Holmes continues to rocket toward the all-time coaching wins record. Holmes currently has 804, putting him just two behind Loogootee’s Jack Butcher. Bloomington South plays hosts Jennings County on Saturday and plays its regular-season finale on Thursday against Northview. … A great matchup at Penn (16-2) as the 4A fifth-ranked Kingsmen host 3A seventh-ranked Mishawaka Marian (14-3). Marian junior Jaden Ivey is averaging 25.9 points and shooting 40 percent from 3. … Valparaiso (16-5) hosts Chesterton (16-4) in a potential Class 4A Sectional 2 preview. … Evansville Bosse (14-6) has been surging lately with nine wins in 11 games. The 3A Bulldogs are at Evansville Mater Dei (13-6). … Sydney Curry and Fort Wayne Northrop (13-5) travel to play Fort Wayne Dwenger (9-9) in a potential Class 4A Sectional 5 preview. Sectional 5 looks to be wide open with East Noble, Carroll and Fort Wayne Snider also contenders. … New Albany (14-6) has won seven in a row but lost standout junior Julien Hunter for the season with a broken leg last weekend. The Bulldogs are at Bedford North Lawrence (12-8). … Is Homestead (17-2) the best 4A team outside of Central Indiana? The Spartans are at Carroll (13-6) in a rematch of Homestead’s 51-40 win in December. … Munster (16-4) looks to end a three-game losing streak when it travels to Andrean (13-7). … Shoals (12-8) can clinch its first winning season in 22 years when it hosts Orleans (7-14). It has been 20 years since the Jug Rox last beat Orleans. … Heritage Hills (19-1) hosts Tell City (16-4).

Saturday in the area: New Castle (10-8) is at Westfield (11-8). New Castle senior guard Luke Bumbalough is on a season-long tear, averaging 32.2 points per game. … Beech Grove (10-7) is at Batesville (11-7) at 2:30 p.m. in what should be a competitive game between 3A programs. … Cathedral (16-4) will host Fort Wayne Snider (13-6) in its second-to-last regular-season game. … Class A defending state champion Morristown (17-3) will test itself at 4A Shelbyville (10-9). … Noblesville (12-8) travels to Fort Wayne Northrop (13-5). … A night after hosting Warren Central, Carmel will play Warsaw (13-4) at home.

Saturday statewide: Class 3A Princeton (17-3) plays at Class A No. 2 Barr-Reeve (18-2) in what should be a cozy atmosphere. Princeton won last year’s meeting in overtime. Class 2A top-ranked Southwestern of Hanover (19-1) hosts 3A Scottsburg (14-6). … Blackford (14-4) and high-scoring sophomore Luke Brown (36.9 ppg) hosts Wabash (15-4). … Valparaiso will host a throwback game at Ben Franklin Middle School against Concord. The gym, built in 1927, was the former home for the Valparaiso varsity team. … Floyd Central (17-2) is at Bloomington North (13-4).

Call Star reporter Kyle Neddenriep at (317) 444-6649.