The IHSAA announced sectional pairings Sunday for the 105th annual boys basketball state tournament. Sectional play gets underway March 3 at 64 sites around the state, with regionals scheduled for March 14, semistates slated for March 21 and the four state championship games to be played on March 28 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Among the seven teams in the Times-Union coverage area, six of them will have to win three games to claim any hardware. Class 4A In Sectional 4 at North Side Gym in Elkhart, the Warsaw Tigers (17-4) will open tournament play in Tuesday's first game against Concord (5-15). The Tigers beat Concord 39-37 on Jan. 23 in Warsaw. Goshen (12-8) and Elkhart Central (3-15) will meet in Tuesday's other game. Friday's semifinal games will pit Elkhart Memorial (12-8) against either Warsaw or Concord, while Northridge (11-9) will play either Goshen or Elkhart Central. Concord is the defending sectional champion. Class 3A Three local teams will play in Sectional 21 at West Noble, with Whitko (6-15) and Wawasee (9-10) opening play on Tuesday. The winner will play Tippecanoe Valley (13-8) in Friday's first semifinal game. Wednesday's games at West Noble will feature Fairfield (14-8) and Lakeland (2-19), followed by the host Chargers (6-13) and defending champion NorthWood (18-2). Class 2A Manchester (14-7) continues its turnaround under fourth-year coach Eric Thompson and will North Miami (3-17) in the opener of Sectional 37 at Oak Hill. The Squires are looking for their first sectional title since 1995. Northfield (8-13) and Oak Hill (14-5) will square off Wednesday, as will Cass (10-10) and Wabash (5-15). Friday's first semifinal game will feature Southwood (12-8) against Manchester or North Miami, followed by Wednesday's winners. Class 1A In search of their seventh sectional title in eight years, the Triton Trojans (13-7) will host Sectional 51 and play LaCrosse (5-14) in Tuesday's first game. The Trojans, state champs in 2008, won six straight sectional titles before Culver hoisted the trophy last year. Tuesday's other game in Bourbon will pit Argos (9-11) against 2007 state champion Oregon-Davis (6-13). Friday's semifinals include Culver (6-15) against either Triton or LaCrosse, and South Central (11-8) against the Argos/Oregon-Davis winner. In 1A Sectional 52 at Hamilton High School, Lakeland Christian Academy (0-20) will play the host Marines (4-16) in Tuesday's first game. Elkhart Christian (11-8) and Bethany Christian (4-14) square off in Tuesday's other game. On Friday, defending champion Blackhawk Christian (16-6) plays either LCA or Hamilton, followed by Lakewood Park Christian (6-14) against either ECA or Bethany.
