JC and SA draw byes (02/20/2009)

INDIANAPOLIS - The Patriots have played for a sectional championship in each of the last six seasons. They will have a difficult task in order to make it seven.

Jay County High School's boys basketball team got a bye in the IHSAA tournament draw Thursday evening, but will have to play either Marion (16-2) or Fort Wayne North Side (13-5) in the semifinal round.

South Adams, which hosts Class 2A's sectional 38, also picked up a first-round bye and will meet the winner of an opening-round game between Woodlan (1-15) and Adams Central (2-14).

Both the Patriots and Starfires will play Friday, March 6, at 7:30 p.m.

The Class 4A tournament at Huntington North will begin Tuesday, March 3, with Homstead (12-6) and Fort Wayne South Side (3-13) meeting at 6 p.m. The game between Marion, which is ranked No. 7, and North Side will follow.

On March 6, the host Vikings will play the Homestead/South Side winner at 6 p.m. with Jay County's game to follow.

Woodlan and Adams Central will play the lone game at SAHS March 3 at 7 p.m. Top-ranked Bishop Luers (16-3) and No. 3 Bluffton (17-2) will meet in the first semifinal game March 6 at 6 p.m. with South Adams' contest to follow.

The championship games will be Saturday, March 7, at 7:30 p.m. with the winners advancing to the Marion and Tipton regionals respectively.

Jay County, which has won four sectional titles in the last six years, does not play any of its sectional rivals during the regular season. North Side is 3-0 against sectional opponents this year, followed by Marion (1-0), Homestead (1-2), Huntington North (1-2) and South Side (0-2).

South Adams, which has not won a sectional title since 1993, has split its games against sectional opponents thus far this season, having defeated Woodlan 73-60 and lost to Bluffton 58-53 in overtime.

The Starfires visit Adams Central tonight.

Bluffton is 4-0 against the other teams in Sectional 38, followed by Bishop Luers (1-0), Adams Central (1-2) and Woodlan (0-4).[[In-content Ad]]