NORTH MANCHESTER – Though they are one of just two teams in Class 2A Sectional 37 with a winning record, and they wouldn’t face the other until Saturday’s championship game, the Manchester Squires aren’t overlooking anyone.
The Squires, 12-10 overall and 6-3 in the Three Rivers Conference, open sectional play at Oak Hill High School with a 6 p.m. game Tuesday against TRC rival Rochester.
Manchester beat the Zebras 35-34 on Jan. 18 in North Manchester.
Coach Mark Underwood likes his team’s draw, but knows each game is to be taken seriously.
“I like playing the first game on Tuesday instead of having the late game or having to wait around until Friday to play,” said Underwood.
“We will have to be at our best to get a win. Rochester has quality players and they are well-coached.”
Wabash and North Miami square off in Tuesday’s second game.
In Friday’s first semifinal game, Lewis Cass will play either Manchester or Rochester, and the host Eagles will play either Wabash or North Miami in the second semifinal.
The championship game is scheduled for Saturday, with the winner advancing to the Lapel Regional to play the champion from the Elwood Sectional.
“Wabash is the favorite, but all the teams in our sectional are dangerous. It would be a huge mistake to be looking ahead,” said Underwood, who led the Lady Squires to back-to-back sectional titles in 2006-07.
“We will have to play hard, smart and do it as a team. Catching a break or two along the way wouldn’t hurt, either.”
Manchester is 3-1 against Sectional 37 teams, posting wins over Oak Hill, North Miami and Rochester, and losing 67-51 to Wabash on Jan. 11 in North Manchester.
Wabash, 18-4 overall, is 5-0 against the rest of the field, with wins over each of the other five teams.
Wabash beat the other five Sectional 37 teams by margins of 10, 15, 16, 41 and 43.
The Squires were the sectional runner-up in 2017 and 2015, but haven’t won a sectional championship since Moe Smedley coached them to a 23-1 record in the 1994-95 season.
Manchester’s current season has been one of ups and downs in terms of wins and losses.
The Squires won their first two games, but then lost their next two.
After a win over Southwood, Manchester lost three in a row, but then won six of its next seven games.
Over the course of their last seven games, the Squires are 3-4.
Manchester beat Eastern (Greentown) 58-54 in Friday’s regular season finale. That game snapped a three-game losing streak.
In the win over Eastern, sophomore Weston Hamby led the way with 16 points, while senior Kam Lester and junior Thane Creager scored 12 points each.
That trio of players has been among the Squires’ leaders most of the season.
Hamby averages about 15 points, three rebounds and three assists per game, while senior Brayden Casper averages 10 points and nearly seven boards, Creager eight points and Lester about seven points and four rebounds.
Oak Hill won the sectional title last year and eventually the 2A state title.
