IHSAA Girls Basketball Sectional Pairings Revealed

This year's state tournament will feature a slight change in format.

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INDIANAPOLIS – Sectional pairings for the upcoming Girls Basketball State Tournament were revealed on Sunday evening.

This year’s state tournament has a different format than previous years. The regional is now a single-game championship, followed by a two-game semi-state.

Two regional championship games will be played back-to-back at the same site with the winners finding our their next opponent and host site the following day.

The state tournament dates are as follows:

• Sectional games begin Tuesday, January 31 and run through Saturday, February 4.
• Regional games will be played on Saturday, February 11
• Semi-state games are scheduled for Saturday, February 18
• State championship games on Saturday, February 25 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in downtown Indianapolis

This year, 394 teams will compete across four classifications. In total, 390 games will be played in 26 days.

A list of sectional pairings featuring local schools is listed below.

Class 4A Sectional 14 at Shelbyville

G1: Franklin Community vs. Columbus North (Jan. 31)
G2: Columbus East vs. East Central (Jan. 31)
G3: Whiteland Community vs. Winner G1 (Feb. 3)
G4: Shelbyville vs. Winner G2 (Feb. 3)
Championship: Winner G3 vs. Winner G4 (Feb. 4)

*All six teams in Sectional 14 are rated in the Top 100 in the Sagarin Rankings. East Central’s first round matchup with Columbus East is a sectional championship rematch from a season ago. The Lady Trojans are seeking their 4th consecutive sectional championship.

Class 3A Sectional 29 at Rushville

G1: South Dearborn vs. Connersville (Jan. 31) 
G2: Franklin County vs. Batesville (Feb. 1) 
G3: Greensburg vs. Rushville (Feb. 1)
G4: Lawrenceburg vs. Winner G1 (Feb. 3)
G5: Winner G2 vs. Winner G3 (Feb. 3)
Championship: Winner G4 vs. Winner G5 (Feb. 4) 

*Rushville is the defending champion, defeating Greensburg 44-38 in overtime in the title game a season ago.  Rushville (6) and Greensburg (4) have dominated the sectional, combining to win the last 10 championships. Lawrenceburg is seeking their first sectional title since 1981, while South Dearborn has not won a sectional since 2002.

Class 2A Sectional 45 at Switzerland County

G1: North Decatur vs. South Ripley (Jan. 31)
G2: Hauser vs. Milan (Feb. 3)
G3: Switzerland County vs. Winner G1 (Feb. 3)
Championship: Winner G2 vs. Winner G3

*South Ripley defeated Switzerland County 42-26 in the sectional title game a year ago. The Lady Pacers avenged that loss with a 39-30 win over the Lady Raiders in December. North Decatur had the best record of the five teams at 15-5, including a 3-0 record against sectional opponents.

Class 1A Sectional 60 at Southwestern (Shelbyville)

G1: Waldron vs. Jac-Cen-Del (Jan. 31)
G2: Oldenburg Academy vs. South Decatur (Feb. 1)
G3: Morristown vs. Edinburgh (Feb. 1)
G4: Southwestern (Shelbyville) vs. Winner G1 (Feb. 3)
G5: Winner G2 vs. Winner G3 (Feb. 3)
Championship: Winner G4 vs. Winner G5 (Feb. 4)

*Jac-Cen-Del had their streak of 12 straight sectional championships snapped last season, losing to Waldron in overtime of the sectional championship. The two teams will meet again in round one. The Lady Eagles have a 5-0 record against sectional opponents this year, including a 47-33 win over Waldron.

Class 1A Sectional 62 at Rising Sun

G1: Shawe Memorial vs. #4 Trinity Lutheran (Jan. 31)
G2: Rising Sun vs. Medora (Jan. 31)
G3: Crothersville vs. Winner G1 (Feb. 3)
G4: New Washington vs. Winner G2 (Feb. 3)
Championship: Winner G3 vs. Winner G4

*Trinity Lutheran (15-6) currently sits as the #4 team in Class 1A. Shawe Memorial is having a strong season as well at 15-5 overall. Rising Sun is 9-10 and are seeking their first sectional championship since 2003.

See all tournament pairings below.