Sectional fields released for fall, winter seasons

INDIANAPOLIS — The Patriots will have new sectional rivals.

The IHSAA on Monday released its sectional alignments for the fall and winter sports seasons for the next two years, three weeks after revealing enrollment classifications.

Four Jay County High School teams had changes to their sectional lineups, most notably the Patriot boys basketball team, which drops to Class 3A after spending more than a decade as a Class 4A team.

South Adams also had a few changes to its sectional fields.

Jay County’s boys basketball team was placed into Sectional 24, which also includes Delta, Hamilton Heights, Muncie Burris, New Castle and Yorktown. The Patriots, who won the program’s lone Class 4A sectional title in 2011, replace Blackford after the Bruins dropped down to Class 2A.

The sectional for girls basketball includes the same six teams as the boys’ field, however it becomes a seven-team group with the addition of the Winchester Golden Falcons. After finishing as the state runner-up in Class 2A in back-to-back years, Winchester was moved up to Class 3A based on the tournament success factor.

Jay County’s football team had its sectional get four new teams — Delta Eagles, Marion Giants, Mississinewa Indians and Huntington North Vikings. They take the place of Columbia City, Bishop Dwenger, Leo and Logansport.

The Patriots host the Vikings in week two on Aug. 30.

The JCHS volleyball team had its sectional get massive changes. Gone are two-time Class 3A state champion New Castle and powerhouse Wapahani. Delta and Burris remain, while Heritage, Bellmont and Norwell are added to make a six-team field.

Jay County’s boys and girls soccer teams had their respective sectionals stay the same.

The South Adams boys basketball sectional saw Eastside and Churubusco leave. Class A state champion Blackhawk Christian was moved up to Class 2A. It was added to the Class 2A Sectional 36 field along with Manchester, Wabash and Whitko.

In football, the Starfires stayed in Class A but had a major shift in their sectional. They are now grouped with Madison-Grant, Monroe Central, Southern Wells, Taylor, Tri-Central, Union City and Wes-Del. 

The Starfires were previously in a sectional with Adams Central, Churubusco, Eastside, Fremont, Northfield, Southern Wells and Southwood.

South Adams’ girls soccer Class A sectional includes Bishop Luers, Blackhawk Christian, Canterbury and Woodlan, while the boys’ sectional has Blackhawk Christian, Lakewood Park, Wabash and Whitko.

The SAHS volleyball team was placed into Class 2A Sectional 38 with Bluffton, Adams Central, Canterbury, Manchester, Wabash and Whitko.

South Adams’ girls basketball sectional did not change.