Warsaw boys basketball coach Doug Ogle knows that his team will have to play well three times to win the sectional.

He also has plenty of reasons to feel confident that his team will do just that.

The sectional favorite Tigers will face the long and tough road to postseason hardware. Warsaw will need to beat three quality opponents in the Class 4-A Elkhart Central Sectional at North Side Gym.

Warsaw found out its sectional tourney trail Sunday as the IHSAA conducted the pairings for the 105th annual tournament.

The Tigers will face Concord on March 3 in the opening game at North Side Gym. Warsaw, which is 17-4 overall and 5-0 versus the sectional field, beat the Minutemen 39-37 at Warsaw on Jan. 23. Concord, which won the sectional a year ago, was without starter Brett Austin that night as he was sidelined due to an illness.

“There’s no denying that we will have to play well three nights to win it,” said Ogle in a phone interview Sunday night after the draw. “I myself would rather not play on Tuesday night. I think that it’s harder to win three games in five days than just two in two.

“Concord played us tough earlier. Anyone should know that Concord can beat us. The first game was at our place and they were without one of their top players in Austin.”

Warsaw, coming off a road loss at No. 4 Carmel Saturday night, still has a game left at home Friday night versus No. 10 Carroll. That being said, the Tigers will focus on Concord very, very soon.

“We will talk about the sectional at length on Monday, probably before practice,” Ogle said. “Our Concord preparation will start this week. I will see them play Tuesday night against Mishawaka.”

Ogle, whose team won the sectional title two years ago as an underdog, believes his team is the one to beat this year.

“I think we have the best team, but with that comes pressure,” remarked Ogle. “Most of our games this season we have been the favorite so this will not be foreign to us. But, the sectional is different. It’s final.”

Ogle points to plenty of reasons to have confidence in his well-rounded team.

“It’s a combination of things,” said Ogle. “We have a very good point guard in Paul Marandet.  We have good team depth and balanced scoring, both in terms of players who can score for us and in terms of scoring inside and outside. Our defense has been good too. And I go back to our seniors. I expect them to continue to lead the way for us.”

The winner of the Elkhart Sectional will face the Penn Sectional winner in the first game of the Michigan City Regional on March 14. Penn, coached by longtime Warsaw head coach Al Rhodes and 19-3, will be the favorite at Penn. Ogle served as a longtime assistant and JV coach under Rhodes, who is now in his seventh season at Penn and 34th overall.

Tippecanoe Valley coach Bill Patrick should be smiling tonight.

The Vikings got a great draw in the Class 3-A West Noble Sectional. Valley got the bye in the seven-team field and will face either Whitko or Wawasee. The Vikings, who are 13-8, beat Whitko 70-49 earlier this season and play Wawasee on Friday.

Wawasee (9-10) meets Whitko (6-15) in the opener in Ligonier on March 3. The Warriors beat the Wildcats 62-39 back on Dec. 13.

No. 8 NorthWood, the defending sectional champions, faces host West Noble on March 4. The Panthers, who are 18-2 and 6-0 versus the sectional field (with two wins over Fairfield), beat the Chargers 75-63 on Feb. 3.

Triton will face LaCrosse in the opener of its own Class 1-A Sectional. The Trojans have not faced LaCrosse (5-14) this season. Triton, boasting a 13-7 mark, is 4-0 versus the sectional field. Culver is the defending champion at Triton.

Lakeland Christian Academy will play host Hamilton in the Class 1-A sectional opener on March 6. Hamilton, 4-16, beat the winless Cougars 69-33 on Dec. 6. No. 7 Fort Wayne Blackhawk Christian at 16-6 and defending sectional champions is the team to beat at Hamilton.

Regionals are March 14 at Michigan City (4-A), Blackford (3-A) and Triton (1-A). Semistates are March 21 with the four state title games on March 28 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

 

BOYS BASKETBALL SECTIONAL PAIRINGS

Class 4-A
At Elkhart Central  (At North Side Gym)

March 3: 6 p.m.: Warsaw (17-4) vs. Concord (5-15)
March 3: 7:30 p.m.: Goshen (12-8) vs. Elkhart Central (3-15)
March 6: 6 p.m.: Elkhart Memorial (12-8) vs. Warsaw-Concord winner
March 6: 7:30 p.m.: Northridge (11-9) vs. Goshen-Central winner
March 7: 7:30 p.m.: Championship Game

Class 3-A
At West Noble

March 3: 7 p.m.: Whitko (6-15) vs. Wawasee (9-10)
March 4: 6 p.m.: Fairfield (14-8) vs. Lakeland (2-19)
March 4: 7:30 p.m.: West Noble (6-13) vs. NorthWood (18-2)
March 6: 6 p.m.: Tippecanoe Valley (13-8) vs. Whitko-Wawasee winner
March 6: 7:30 p.m.: Fairfield-Lakeland winner vs. West Noble-NorthWood winner
March 7: 7:30 p.m.: Championship Game

 

Class 1-A
At Triton

March 3: 6:30 p.m.: LaCrosse (5-14) vs. Triton (13-7)
March 4: 8 p.m.: Argos (9-11) vs. Oregon-Davis (6-13)
March 6: 6:30 p.m.: Culver (6-15) vs. LaCrosse-Triton winner
March 6: 8 p.m.: South Central (11-8) vs. Argos-OD winner
March 7: 7 p.m.: Championship Game

 

Class 1-A
At Hamilton

March 3: 6 p.m.: Lakeland Christian Academy (0-20) vs. Hamilton (4-16)
March 3: 7:30 p.m.: Elkhart Christian (11-8) vs. Bethany Christian (4-14)
March 6: 6 p.m.: Fort Wayne Blackhawk Christian (16-6) vs. LCA-Hamilton winner
March 6: 7:30 p.m.: Lakewood Park (6-14) vs. ECA-Bethany winner
March 7: 7:30 p.m.: Championship Game