Sectional pairings for the 108th annual high school boys basketball state tournament have been set.
The IHSAA announced the draw Sunday for the 403-team, four-class tournament that begins on Feb. 27 at 64 sectional sites and concludes March 24 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
Of the seven teams in the Times-Union coverage area, only the Warsaw Tigers enter tournament play as defending sectional champions.
Warsaw has won eight of its last 11 games and is looking for a third straight Class 4A Sectional 4 title.
The Tigers, who advanced to the semistate two years ago and the regional finals last season, have played each of the other six teams in the field at North Side Gym, posting a 5-1 record against them.
Warsaw opens tournament play on Feb. 27 against Goshen. Elkhart Memorial, the only team in the field to beat Warsaw, plays Plymouth the following night, followed by Elkhart Central and Concord.
In semifinal action, Northridge will play the Warsaw/Goshen winner, followed by the other two first-round winners.
The championship is set for March 3, with the winner advancing to the March 10 regional at Michigan City, where it will face the winner of the Chesterton Sectional.
In Class 2A Sectional 37, the hottest team in the area will host the sectional.
The Manchester Squires have won seven of their last nine games, taking momentum into the tournament as they try to win their first sectional title since 1995.
The Squires open the sectional by playing Oak Hill in the first game on Feb. 27. Starting the season with five straight losses, Manchester fell 59-45 to Oak Hill on Nov. 25.
Rochester and Cass play in the second game on Feb. 27.
In the semifinals on March 2, Wabash will play the Oak Hill/Manchester winner, while North Miami will play the Rochester/Cass winner.
The sectional champion will advance to the Lapel Regional and play the winner of the Lapel Sectional.
In Class 2A Sectional 35 at Westview High School, the Whitko Wildcats are in a six-team field that features No. 2 Westview (21-1) and No. 3 LaVille (22-0).
Whitko and Bremen square off in the first game on Feb. 27, followed by Prairie Heights and Westview.
In the first semifinal game on March 2, Central Noble plays the Whitko/Westview winner, followed by LaVille and the Prairie Heights/Westview winner.
The sectional champion at Westview will advance to the North Judson Regional, where it will play the winner of the South Adams Sectional.
Tippecanoe Valley and Wawasee are part of the six-team field in Class 3A Sectional 21 at NorthWood High School.
The Vikings and Warriors, who are scheduled to play each other in the regular season finale, will not meet in a first-round sectional game this season like they have so many times in recent years.
Wawasee will play Lakeland in the opener on Feb. 27, followed by NorthWood and Fairfield.
In the first semifinal game, West Noble will play the Wawasee/Lakeland winner, followed by Valley and the NorthWood/Fairfield winner.
The champion at NorthWood will advance to the Marion Regional and play the winner of the Norwell Sectional.
In Class 1A Sectional 51 at Culver Community, Triton will open the seven-team tournament against South Central on Feb. 27.
Triton was to host the sectional and regional, but a damaged gym floor because of a burst pipe changed things.
The host Cavaliers will play South Bend Career Academy on Feb. 28, followed by Elkhart Christian and Argos.
In the semifinals on March 2, Oregon-Davis will play the South Central/Triton winner, followed by the other two first-round winners.
The champion at Culver Community will advance to the Culver Community Regional, where it will play the winner of the Kouts Sectional.
In Class 1A Sectional 52 at Hamilton High School, Lakeland Christian Academy plays in a seven-team field.
Fremont and Lakewood Park Christian open play on Feb. 27, while Bethany Christian and Fort Wayne Blackhawk Christian play in the first game on Feb. 28, followed by LCA and Fort Wayne Smith Academy.
In the semifinals on March 2, the host Marines will play the Fremont/Lakewood Park winner, followed the other two first-round winners.
The sectional champion at Hamilton will advance to the Culver Community Regional, where it will play the winner of the Tri-County Sectional.
