NORTH MANCHESTER – Answering questions about this week’s Class 2A sectional, first-year Manchester High School coach Jake Everett tells a story of watching the ESPN-made film “Survive And Advance.” The film is about the late Jim Valvano and the 1983 North Carolina State men’s basketball team that won the national championship. N.C. State’s magical run and its win over the Houston Cougars is still considered one of the greatest upsets in college basketball history. Much like the Wolf Pack in the national tournament that year, Everett knows his team is a major underdog going into the 40th annual girls state tournament. The Lady Squires take an 8-14 record into postseason play, and while they do get to play the sectional on their home floor, they drew Three Rivers Conference and Wabash County rival Northfield. Manchester and Northfield have met twice this season, with Northfield posting a 38-19 win on Dec. 6 and a 47-23 win on Dec. 29. Those losses are in the rearview mirror, and Everett said he’s reminding his squad that every team in the state has a clean slate this week. Every team, undefeated or winless, gets a chance at a state championship. “It’s Indiana basketball, it’s always wide open,” said Everett, who helped lead Triton to the Class 1A boys state championship as a senior in 2008. “We’re very fortunate to play in a state where every team makes the tournament. You don’t have to win your conference or win a certain number of games. That’s what’s special about it. Really, I don’t make much of the draw. You have to be ready to play, no matter who you play.” Wabash and Oak Hill, the two teams in the sectional with the most wins, square off Tuesday at 7 p.m. Action resumes Wednesday, with Manchester and Northfield playing at 6 p.m., followed by Southwood and North Miami. On Friday, Lewis Cass plays Tuesday’s winner in a 6 p.m. semifinal, followed by the winners of Wednesday’s games. The championship game is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Saturday. The Sectional 37 winner will advance to the Lapel Regional to meet the winner of the Shenandoah Sectional. “We’ve played them twice already,” Everett said of drawing Northfield. “Both teams are familiar with each other. I’m glad we’re playing someone we know. We’ll be ready for them.” Sophomore Cierra Carter leads the Lady Squires in both points (8.3) and rebounds (7.6) per game. Sophomore Drew Thompson averages seven points per game. Manchester has just two seniors on its roster, and only one of them – Celina Carter – has seen significant playing time. Of the 12 players on the Lady Squires’ varsity roster, nine of them are freshmen or sophomores. “I don’t think we have a girl on the team that played the last time we won even a sectional game,” said Everett. Manchester last won a tournament game in 2013, when the Lady Squires advanced to the sectional final with coach Mark Underwood. Manchester hasn’t won a sectional championship since 2007. A year ago, in the only season Brooke Airgood served as coach, the Lady Squires won just one game. With Everett on the sideline for his first varsity coaching job, Manchester has posted more wins, and the program appears headed in the right direction. “I’m glad the girls stuck with it,” said Everett. “They’ve worked hard and gotten better. We have the potential to win any game we play. Right now, it’s just a confidence thing. If we get down early, we struggle. But the girls have worked hard and I know they’re going to give it all they’ve got in the sectional.”
