Who do you think will be crowned sectional champs?

Its hard to believe that we have turned another page on the calendar and it is now March. This time of the year could possibly be one of the best months for sports -- spring training starts for baseball, the NBA playoff picture starts tightening up and of course it would not be the same without March Madness.

The girls basketball season is over for all the area teams and now it's the boys turn for their post-season push.

Although I am not a fan of class basketball -- which I will leave that for another blog in the near future I am sure -- both the area sectionals could prove for some very exciting basketball to be played over the next few days.

At the Class A White River Valley Sectional it seems that any one of five teams could advance to the next round. Yes, I said five teams and not just three or four. Although Union (Dugger) does not sport a gaudy record by any means, they can still make some noise -- expecting that leading scorer B.J. Howard will be back in the line-up for the Bulldogs.

Reading comments that were once allowed on sports stories on this website and talking with some people in the Jasonville community, some people questioned the coaching ability of veteran coach Steve Brett of Shakamak. Their 11-10 record heading into the post-season did not measure up to the high expectations heading into the season from the defending sectional champions, but it appears Brett has his talented squad buying into what he has to offer towards the end of the season. The Lakers will be riding a three-game winning streak into their match-up against North Central Tuesday night. The once heavily favored team to successfully defend their sectional crown, seems to have some much needed momentum heading into the post-season.

The two teams split their two prior meetings during the season, with the Lakers getting the best of the Thunderbirds in the opening round of the Greene County Invitational before the T-Birds returned the favor in their Tri-River Conference match-up. My prediction -- the Lakers will continue their recently found success and earn a berth into the semifinals on Friday night against host White River Valley.

One of the other favorites heading into the sectional would be Clay City which are winners of nine of their last 11 heading into tournament play. The Eels open up play against Holy Cross in the first game on Tuesday night. I may be going out on a limb on this prediction, but I would have to say the Eels will advance to the semifinals in the most lopsided game of the tournament.

With those two predictions down, we move on to the Bulldogs against the Eels. With a healthy Howard in the line-up I will say the Bulldogs will put up a mighty fight, but in the end the Eels will come away with a hard fought victory setting up a championship match-up against the Lakers. Yes, I said Lakers, as I once again predict coach Brett's squad will continue to keep the momentum on their side as they record their second win on the season against the host Wolverines. Although coach Gene Hall's squad won the last meeting between the two teams, I feel like experience (both on the court and on the sidelines) will prevail.

No knock on coach Hall or his Wolverines, cause at times WRV looked like they could steam-roll through the sectional, but I will take a team with a sectional title experience under their belt and with confidence over a group still trying to find their identity.

This once again set up a game for the Lakers against a team that has got the best of them in their most recent meeting. So continuing the revenge theme, I will predict that the Lakers will claim their second straight sectional crown and third in the last four years.

Now on to the Class 2A Eastern Greene Sectional. According to Bloomfield head coach Ron McBride, two-time defending sectional champion South Knox enters the contest head and shoulders above the five-team filled. I find it a little ironic that the Cardinals and Spartans will square off against one another in the semifinal Friday night. The two teams do not face each other in the regular season, but the Spartans did knock off the Cardinals last season in the sectional. Last year it was the fans of the Spartans that had a short trip to cheer on their team, as the site was in Knox County at North Knox. With this year's site being in Greene County -- at Eastern Greene High school -- I predict the Cardinals will prevail in an offensive struggle. The shorter distance for Bloomfield is not the only reason I feel McBride's squad will move into the championship. The rigorous schedule the Cardinals play year in and year out I feel will better prepare them for a strong post-season run pull off the minor upset.

Backing up a game, host Eastern Greene will play North Knox in the opening round game on Tuesday night. The Thunderbirds enter the post-season riding a five-game losing streak and defeated the Warriors earlier in the season. Continuing the avenge theme of the Class A sectional, I will say that the Warriors will pull off a mild upset against the host team and will advance to the semifinals against Linton-Stockton Friday night, who drew the bye.

Just like the Wolverines, coach Andy Igel's bunch just a couple weeks ago appeared as if they could be the team to challenge the Spartans, but a recent losing skid coupled with the pressure of playing in front of their home crowd for the first time in post-season play, I like the Warriors chances of knocking off the T-Birds.

In the semifinal against the Miners, I also like the Warriors to advance on to the championship against the Cardinals.

Saturday night midnight will come a little bit early for the Warriors as their Cinderella story will come to an end as Bloomfield will capture their first Class 2A sectional championship.

By no means do I consider myself an expert at picking games, especially at the high school level, but just thought I would share some of my hunches with all of you.

Feel free to leave you predictions, just try and be respectable with your comments towards other coaches and players.

Good luck to all the area teams in their quest for a sectional championship. I am sure there will be plenty of excitement to be played out at both local sectional sites.

Travis David is a Sports Writer for the Greene County Daily World and can be reached at 812-847-4487 ext. 20 or tdavid@gcdailyworld.com