Jay will play in opener

INDIANAPOLIS - The Patriots will get a chance to play three more games in front of their home fans.

Jay County High School will play the opening game as it hosts the girls basketball sectional for the first time, meaning it would need three victories to win its first sectional crown since 2006. It hosts the Marion Giants in the Class 4A Sectional 6 opener Tuesday, Feb. 9, at 6 p.m.

South Adams earned a first-round bye in the IHSAA sectional draw held Monday and will play in the semifinal round of the Class 2A Section 38 tournament at Woodlan Friday, Feb. 12.

The Patriots, who are 15-5 heading into tonight's game against Pendleton Heights, and Marion (14-4) will play the first game of the tournament with Homestead (16-2) and Fort Wayne North Side (6-12) to follow in the second game Feb. 9 at 7:30 p.m.

The JCHS/Marion winner will advance to play Fort Wayne South Side (13-7) in the semifinal round Friday, Feb. 12, at 6 p.m. Huntington North (4-15) will play the Homestead/North Side winner in the second semifinal game at 7:30 p.m.

In the Class 2A tournament at Woodlan, Adams Central (9-8) and Bluffton (3-15) will meet in the lone first-round game Feb. 9. Bishop Luers (12-7) and Woodlan (9-9) will meet in the first semifinal game Feb. 12 at 6 p.m., and South Adams (2-15) will play the Adams Central/Bluffton winner in the other semifinal game at 7:30 p.m.

Championship games for both tournaments will be Saturday, Feb. 13, at 7:30 p.m.

Marion and Jay County have faced seven common opponents this year, each with tremendous success. The Giants are 7-0 in those games, and the Patriots are 6-1 with the only loss coming by two points to Huntington North.

Against sectional opponents this season, the Patriots are 1-1. They defeated South Side 39-32 in the season opener and lost 46-44 to Huntington North.

Homestead is a perfect 3-0 against sectional opponents, followed by Marion (1-0), South Side (2-2), North Side (1-2) and Huntington North (1-4).

South Adams is 0-3 against sectional opponents this year, with losses of 42-41 to Bluffton, 38-32 to Adams Central and 45-30 to Woodlan. The host Warriors are a perfect 4-0 against sectional competition, followed by Adams Central (2-2) and Bluffton (1-2). Bishop Luers does not play any of its sectional foes during the regular season.[[In-content Ad]]