NORTH MANCHESTER – Talk to Manchester High School boys basketball coach Eric Thompson, and his positive, upbeat attitude quickly reveals itself. It’s with that attitude that he’s approaching this week’s Class 2A Sectional 37, which his Squires will host. The seven-team field features No. 4 Oak Hill (19-3), No. 12 Southwood (18-4), Cass (15-7), Manchester (13-9), Northfield (12-10), Wabash (6-16) and Rochester (4-18). Thompson’s squad has seen its share of injuries this season, but the Squires are excited about drawing the bye, as well as playing the sectional on their home floor. “Our team has been injury-plagued all season, but the guys have worked extremely hard to continue to improve,” said Thompson, who is trying to guide the Squires to their first sectional title since 1995. “We’ve had some great practices leading up to sectional week. There’s no pressure on us. We’re definitely one of the underdogs in Sectional 37. “The draw made it possible that we only have to put two back-to-back games together to win. Our guys are capable of getting that done. It sure is going to be fun trying. Competing is fun. That’s why we play the game.” The Squires enter sectional play on a three game-losing streak and have lost four of their last five games. Still, the upbeat Thompson and his squad relish the opportunity the state tournament provides – that everyone gets a chance, regardless of regular-season records. “Oak Hill and Lewis Cass are the top two teams in the field, from talking to referees and peers,” said Thompson, whose team advanced to the sectional final last year and fell to Oak Hill in double overtime. “I think Southwood has the capability to beat either one of those teams. The rest of us just need to get hot like one of those Wild Card teams in Major League Baseball that winds up winning the World Series.” Action at Manchester High School gets underway Tuesday at 7 p.m. when county and conference foes Wabash and Southwood square off. At 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Cass and Northfield will play, followed by Rochester and Oak Hill. In Friday’s first semifinal game, Manchester will play the winner of Tuesday’s game, followed by Wednesday’s winners. The championship game is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Saturday, with the winner advancing to Lapel Regional to play the winner from the Fountain Central Sectional. “Sectional 37 is loaded with teams like Oak Hill, Southwood and Lewis Cass,” said Thompson. “Plus, the rest of the field is highly competitive. It will be a great tournament for everyone involved.” Oak Hill has a 4-0 record this season against opponents from Sectional 37, including an 11-point win over the Squires. Southwood is 6-2 against the rest of the field, while Manchester is 5-2 against the rest of the field. The Squires have twice defeated both Wabash and Northfield this season, as well as posting a win over Rochester. Manchester has lost this season to Oak Hill and Southwood. Still, Thompson remains positive, and also likes the advantage of playing the sectional on his team’s home floor. “With the stout competition, playing at home will definitely be a plus,” said Thompson. Senior Chase Fierstos leads the Squires in scoring with 22 points per game, while sophomore Koehl Fluke averages 12 and junior David McAtee and senior Braydon Sewell chip in with eight and six points per game, respectively. Senior Keelan Norwood averages five points and nearly five rebounds per game. Manchester lost four of its first seven games this season, but then went on a run where the Squires won nine out of 10. In their last five games, the Squires’ lone win was a 58-56 victory at Peru on Feb. 12.
