By: Dennis Dunn
The 2023-24 girls basketball season comes down to the final week of the regular season and on Sunday, January 21 the IHSAA held their annual sectional pairings show and all three country schools, Salem, Eastern and West Washington found out their fates.
The Lions (6-16) drew a bye in the Class 3A Sectional 30 at Charlestown and will play the winner of the Corydon Central (13-9) and Charlestown (15-6) game on Friday, Feb. 2 Madison (8-12) will play North Harrison (5-15) in the second game on Tuesday, Jan. 30. Scottsburg (19-2) drew the other bye and will play the winner of the Madison-North Harrison game. The championship game will be played on Saturday, Feb. 3.
The Lions are 1-4 this year against other sectional opponents this year as they lost to Madison (53-26), Scottsburg (61-24) and Charlestown (42-28). They did beat North Harrison (32-24). The Warriors are the only undefeated (5-0) team against other sectional opponents this year, while Corydon Central is the returning sectional champion from last year.
The Musketeers (2-19) will begin their play on the road this year in the Class 2A Sectional 46 at Providence. The Musketeers will play Clarksville (3-17) in the second game on Wednesday, Jan. 31. Southwestern (Hanover) (13-10) will play Brownstown Central (14-8) in the opening game on Tuesday, Jan. 30. In the first game on Wednesday, the host school Providence (14-7) will host Austin (16-6). Henryville (12-8) got the bye and will play the Southwestern (Hanover)-BCHS winner in the first game on Friday, Feb. 2, while the winners of the Providence-Austin game and the EHS-Clarksville winner will play the second game on Friday night. The championship game is scheduled for Saturday night, Feb. 3
The Braves are the defending sectional champions, but the Eagles (6-0) is currently the only undefeated team against sectional opponents this year. The Musketeers are 1-4 against sectional foes as they have losses to Austin (55-38), BCHS (45-22), and Providence (54-15). Their only win came against Clarksville (57-30).
The Senators (11-8) will host Class A Sectional 60 this year. They will play South Central (8-11) in the second game on Tuesday, Jan. 30. Lanesville (20-1) will play Christian Academy (8-11) in the first game. Rock Creek (11-11) drew the bye and will play the winner of the Lanesville-CAI winner on Friday, Feb. 2, while Borden (17-3) received the second bye and will play the winner of the South Central-WW winner. The championship game is slated for Saturday, Feb. 3.
Lanesville are the defending sectional and Class A state champs from last year and are 5-0 against other sectional teams. The Senators are 2-2 as they have defeated South Central (63-62) and CAI (59-31). They were defeated by Lanesville (64-51) and Rock Creek Academy (48-46).
Class 3A Sectional 30 at Charlestown
GM 1: Corydon Central vs. Charlestown
GM 2: Madison vs. North Harrison
GM 3: Scottsburg vs. Winner of G1
GM 4: Salem vs. Winner of G2
Championship: Winner of G3 vs. Winner of G4
Class 2A Sectional 46 at Providence
GM 1: Southwestern (Hanover) vs. Brownstown Central
GM 2: Providence vs. Austin
GM 3: Eastern vs. Clarksville
GM 4: Henryville vs. Winner of GM 1
GM 5: Winner of G2 vs. Winner of G3
Championship: Winner of G4 vs. Winner of G5
Class A Sectional 61 at West Washington
GM 1: Lanesville vs. Christian Academy
GM 2: South Central vs. West Washington
GM 3: Rock Creek vs. Winner of GM 1
GM 4: Borden vs. Winner of GM 2
Championship: Winner of GM 3 vs. Winner of GM 4