Boys' hoops sectionals begin Tuesday

While no county schools are in action until later in the week, boys' basketball sectional action is set to begin Tuesday at sites around the state.

Locally, the Class 2A Sectional 44 at South Putnam will begin at 7 p.m. Tuesday with Cascade (3-17) taking on Covenant Christian (8-12).

The winner of the opener will play Monrovia (3-18) in the 6 p.m. Friday sectional semifinal.

Putnam County teams highlight the Wednesday action at South Putnam.

In what is likely to be the marquee matchup of the week, sectional co-favorites Cloverdale (19-1) and Speedway (13-6) will meet in a first-round game at 6 p.m. on Wednesday.

The Clovers and Sparkplugs did not meet in the regular season and have not met since Speedway left the West Central Conference in 2010.

The Clovers enter the tournament winners of 12 straight, having not lost since falling 66-59 to Tri-West on Dec. 21. The Sparkplugs are also hot, having rallied from a 5-6 start with eight straight wins.

In the late game on Wednesday, host South Putnam (4-15) takes on county rival North Putnam (10-10) at approximately 7 p.m.

The teams have met twice previously this season, with the Cougars defeating the Eagles 65-48 on Dec. 7 in the Putnam County Classic and again 45-42 on Feb. 7.

The Eagles have lost their last two games, but have played some of their best basketball since the beginning of February. The Cougars have lost three of four, but are 4-4 in the last month.

The winner of Cloverdale-Speedway will take on the South Putnam-North Putnam winner at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, March 7.

In Class 3A Sectional 27, Greencastle (8-10) will travel to Beech Grove to take on Indian Creek (10-10) in a semifinal at 6 p.m. on Friday, March 7.

The two schools have not met in boys' basketball at any point in the last 20 seasons.

The Tiger Cubs have lost five their last six games, while the Braves have won five of six.

The winners will play for the Beech Grove Sectional title at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 8 against either Danville (17-4), Tri-West (12-7) or Beech Grove (10-9).