Class 3A

---

PAGE 6 ■ SECTIONAL

THE HERALD ■ MONDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2013

Class 3A Hatchet House, Washington

Jasper Wildcats Record: 11-9 Coach: John Goebel (67-62 in six seasons at Jasper; 153-99 in 11 seasons overall) Opponent: vs. Heritage Hills (14-7), 6:30 p.m. Tuesday Postseason history: 30 sectionals, 14 regionals, 1 semistate, 1 state title (1949) Probable starters: G Nick Gobert (6-0 Sr.); G Nate Messier (5-10 Sr.); G/F Cole Sermersheim (6-0 Sr.); F Austin Alles (6-2 Soph.); C Mark Giesler (6-4 Sr.) Team tidbits: By winning the sectional title, the Cats would avoid matching the longest

Mitchell Bluejackets Record: 6-14 Coach: Doug Thomas (6-14 in first season) Opponent: vs. Jasper (11-9) or Heritage Hills (14-7), 6:30 p.m. Friday Postseason history: 12 sectionals, 1 regional, 1 semistate Probable starters: G Luke Wykoff (6-0 Sr.); G Alex Speer (6-1 Jr.); F Chad Phillips (6-0 Sr.); F Alex Shipman (6-0 Sr.); C Jared Vance (6-3 Soph.) Team tidbits: Mitchell hasn’t beaten a team with more than six wins, though the Bluejackets are on the rebound after losing

Washington Hatchets Record: 9-11 Coach: Gene Miiller (146-46 in eight seasons at Washington; 614-274 in 38 seasons overall) Opponent: vs. Vincennes Lincoln (15-6) or Pike Central (3-16), 8 p.m. Friday Postseason history: 46 sectionals, 20 regionals, 6 semistates, 7 state titles (1930, ’41, ’42, 2005, ’08, ’10, ’11) Probable starters: G Jarrod Purdue (5-7 Soph.); G Colten Garland (5-11 Fr.); G Andy Garland (6-0 Jr.); F Tyler Stoll (6-5 Jr.); F Cullen Arnold (6-7 Sr.)

drought between sectional titles in program history. They went 11 years between titles from 1922 to ’33, and Jasper’s last sectional title arrived in 2002. ... Gobert, who scores 8.8 ppg on the season, is averaging 10.7 ppg in his last 12 contests; likewise, Giesler (14.6 ppg) has upped his scoring mark to 15.3 ppg in his last 10 games. Keep an eye on: The finish. In their last five sectional losses, the Cats have kept it close in the first half before being outscored 32-20, 26-19, 23-15, 27-19 and 4033 in the second halves of those defeats. Moment to remember: Within their 8-3 finish to end the regular season, Jasper picked off New Albany 51-46 in January for their first win over the Bulldogs since 2003.

Heritage Hills Patriots

20 of 21 games a year ago. ... The Jackets claimed five of their wins away from home and didn’t win at home until outlasting Brown County 64-61 two weeks ago. Keep an eye on: The backcourt. Wykoff and Speer combine to score 24 ppg, and Speer’s 20 points against Jasper on Feb. 4 matched a season-high. Wykoff posted 18 points in that game, and the duo has the potential to keep the Bluejackets in a game — Speer with his 3-point shooting and Wykoff with his slashing. Moment to remember: Mitchell won the Eminence Tournament on Dec. 31, downing Cloverdale and outlasting the host Eels 59-56 as Shipman preserved the win by blocking a shot in the final seconds.

Vincennes Lincoln Alices

Team tidbits: The Hatchets, 8-13 a year ago, haven’t endured back-to-back losing seasons since 1997-98 and 98-99. ... Arnold’s averages of 12.9 points and 7.2 rebounds per game lead Washington, which is just 4-6 on its home floor and has been held to 37 or fewer points in six of its losses. Keep an eye on: The Hatchets and a potentially favorable draw. Off until Friday, they could meet potentially shorthanded Vincennes Lincoln, a team they nearly knocked off at full strength in a 35-33 loss Feb. 3. Andy Garland scored 14 points in that game for Washington. Moment to remember: The Hatchets went on the road Dec. 21 and blitzed defending Class 1A state champ Loogootee 46-29.

Pike Central Chargers

Record: 14-7 Coach: Matt Sisley (55-77 in six seasons, all at Heritage Hills) Opponent: vs. Jasper (11-9), 5:30 p.m. CST Tuesday Postseason history: 9 sectionals Probable starters: G Sam Scherry (6-0 Jr.); G Gavin Schaefer (6-3 Soph.); G Devon Merder (6-3 Jr.); G Tyler Ward (5-11 Soph.); C Spenser Minto (6-4 Jr.) Team tidbits: The Patriots score 65.2 ppg, the highest mark since the 2003-04 squad ranked fifth in the state at a 71.9-ppg clip.

Record: 15-6 Coach: Jeff Hein (67-44 in five seasons at Lincoln; 239-183 in 19 seasons overall) Opponent: vs. Pike Central (3-16), 8 p.m. Tuesday Postseason history: 69 sectionals, 19 regionals, 4 semistates, 2 state titles (1923, ’81) Probable starters: G Brandt Nowaskie (6-0 Soph.); G Cole Claycomb (5-8 Sr.); G Ethan Claycomb (6-1 Fr.); G Conner Barmes (5-8 Soph.); F Josh Sprinkle (6-5 Jr.) Team tidbits: Uncertainty lingers over Lincoln’s lineup, as Avory Mickens, Patrick

Record: 3-16 Coach: John Mokris (3-16 in first season at Pike Central) Opponent: vs. Vincennes Lincoln (15-6), 8 p.m. Tuesday Postseason history: 1 sectional, 1 regional Probable starters: G Shaine Eck (5-8 Sr.); G Trevor Claridge (5-11 Sr.); F Tyler Toopes (6-2 Fr.); F Tyler Garland (6-1 Sr.); C Chris Downey (6-4 Soph.) Team tidbits: Pike Central won three of four during a patch early in the season but has dropped 12 straight games entering

... Tuesday will be the second postseason collision between the Patriots and Jasper; the Wildcats won the only other encounter, 67-53 in the 2010 sectional semifinals. Keep an eye on: Crunch time. The Patriots have rarely blown out teams this season or been blown out themselves. For a team without a senior, the length of Heritage Hills’ tournament stay could hinge on how young players handle pressure moments. Moment to remember: A comeback from 16 points down netted a 67-66 victory for the Pats against first-round sectional foe Jasper on Feb. 2 as Ward, who poured in 26 points, nailed the winning 3-pointer. That came amid a midseason stretch when the Pats won 10 of 11 games.

Toole and Devin Lett — who combine to average 30 ppg — were all suspended for the regular-season finale against Evansville North. The school or coaches have not commented on the length of the suspensions. ... The Alices are 7-3 in games decided by six or fewer points or in overtime. Keep an eye on: Who plays. With their full cast, the Alices are the sectional favorite. Without the three players who could still be suspended, it’s a huge blow to a team that only went seven deep in the first place. Moment to remember: By surviving its final two Big Eight Conference games (73-68 in double OT against Mount Vernon and 35-33 against Washington), Lincoln wrapped up its second straight Big Eight crown.

sectional play. ... Claridge (8.5 ppg) and Garland (8.2 ppg) set the pace in a balanced lineup, and the third-leading scorer is Kegan Aldridge (Jr., G), who comes off the bench to score 7.5 ppg. Keep an eye on: Staying power. Pike Central has trimmed its defensive scoring average from 60.6 ppg a year ago to 52.2 this season, allowing the Chargers to stay more competitive in games even if they’re not winning them. Moment to remember: Pike Central’s last win came Jan. 5 against sectional couterpart Mitchell, when Downey ripped down a rebound of a desperation 30-footer and tossed in a baseline jumper that beat the buzzer and gave the Chargers a 52-50 win.