IHSAA draw sets up Bowman vs. Noll wait for title game

All hoop anxiety came to an end on Sunday afternoon as the IHSAA release its draw for the Indiana boys basketball sectional pairings.

In the two biggest sectionals in the area -- Class 4A West Side and Class 2A Wheeler -- the ping-pong balls bounced in different directions.

At Gary, the best two teams on paper -- Lake Central and Munster -- will play in the opener.

At Wheeler, the one sectional with three state finalists in the last two years, the best teams on paper -- Bishop Noll and Bowman Academy -- won't have an opportunity to play until Saturday night's championship.

Some might call this a crowd control draw in 2A.

"This gives us an opportunity to play more games, and we've got some guys we're still trying to get healthy, so we'll take this," Noll coach Drew Trost said. "I'm excited we're playing on Tuesday night. We haven't played (at Wheeler) this year so it gives us one more game in their gym."

Noll made it to the 2A state final last year where the Warriors lost to Park Tudor 43-42. Bowman Academy is playing in its first 2A sectional. The Eagles were the 2010 Class A state champions and host Wheeler won the 2010 2A state crown.

In last year's Region Roundball Rumble, Noll beat Bowman 59-58 in a chippy, competitive game.

In this year's sectional, the Warriors open against River Forest with a win to play Whiting. Bowman drew the bye and will play the Lake Station vs. Wheeler winner.

Five of the six teams in this sectional have an above .500 record. Noll is ranked No. 2 in the state and Bowman is No. 4.

"The game everyone is anticipating will have to wait," Bowman coach Marvin Rea said. "I like getting the bye. It will give us a chance to scout. Then, we have to do what we do well and improve on some other things.

"This is what I love about this tournament. Everyone's 0-0. It's up for grabs."

Phone calls to Munster coach Mike Hackett were not returned, while Lake Central coach Dave Milausnic said that playing the Mustangs will be tough. L.C. beat the 'Stangs 53-49 on Dec. 20.

"People are realizing now there is no easy draw in our sectional," Milausnic said.

With ultra-dangerous E.C. Central on tap to play the L.C.-Munster winner, there are a lot of good teams on the bottom side of the bracket who are happy.

"All the big dogs are on the top," said Highland coach Eddie Fierek, whose team will play Lowell. "There's some good teams on our side, but one of us has a chance to get to Saturday night. And on a Saturday night anything can happen."

That's what Andrean coach Carson Cunningham hopes the same.

His 59ers are coming off a tough 10-point loss at Munster on Friday. But Andrean is a heavy favorite at the Class 3A Rensselaer Sectional.

"The weather's getting better it's the time of the year where you have to be ready to rock and roll," Cunningham said. "We got much better after our loss to Lebanon, and we'll hopefully get better after this loss at Munster.

"If we do I believe we'll be able to enjoy this tournament."

There are 401 schools in this year's tournament. Sectional play locally will begin on Feb. 28 with championship games on March 3.

There are 5,788 players statewide who will compete in 397 games in 27 days.

Gary 21st Century, the newest team in the field, will play Washington Township in the opener of the Class A Morgan Township Sectional.