By Justin Sokeland
WBIW.com
BEDFORD – Bedford North Lawrence will begin the chase for a 13th consecutive Class 4A sectional championship – the longest current streak in the state – when the Stars battle New Albany in the opening round of Sectional 15 at Floyd Central.
The No.12 Stars (16-4) will face the Bulldogs (3-18) on Wednesday, Jan. 31 at 6 p.m. That winner will collide with either Floyd Central (13-9) or Silver Creek (16-4) in the semifinal on Feb. 2.
In the opposite bracket, No.6 Jennings County (19-3) will clash with Seymour (9-11) in the opening game on Tuesday, Jan. 30. That victor will advance to face Jeffersonville (11-9) in the first semifinal. The championship game is set for Feb. 3.
BNL, the defending 4A state champion, is also seeking its 33rd overall sectional crown (Rushville leads the state with 34), and its sectional run is closing the gap on Rushville’s 18 in a row (1980-97). But the Stars, even with all that history in the previous 48 IHSAA state tournaments, will not be labeled the favorite. Jennings, the Hoosier Hills Conference champion and a winner over BNL during the regular-season meeting, has earned that status.
“I think we’ve not been the favorite a couple of times in the past and found a way to get it done,” BNL coach Jeff Allen said. “That’s our focus with my girls. I think the pressure goes with that label when you’re expected to win. Jennings is expected to win, so there’s pressure that comes with that.”
BNL will have to go the long route once again, but what else is new? The Stars last drew a bye into a semifinal in 2008. So the Stars have won 36 consecutive sectional games on their way to those 12 titles.
“I didn’t want the bye,” Allen said. “I like playing early, I think it helps to keep busy rather than practicing all week and waiting for a bye game. I’m happy that we’re on the opposite bracket from Jennings County. It’s a little more spread out, but we still have to play well, no matter what the draw is.”
BNL already owns a dominating 86-30 win at New Albany on Dec. 2. In a possible semifinal, BNL also posted home victories over the Highlanders (60-54 on Jan. 13) and Dragons (31-28 on Dec. 14). That doesn’t mean the path to the final will be easy.
“We handled New Albany pretty easily, but you never overlook anybody,” Allen said. “That’s who we will focus on. There are so many teams capable of winning it. If you have a bad night, you’re going to go home. We just hope we play well and continue to win.”
In the other first-round rematches, Jennings clubbed the Owls 66-36 on Dec. 5 at Jennings, and Floyd edged Silver Creek 50-45 on Dec. 7 at Silver Creek.
The sectional champion will face the winner from the Mooresville sectional in the one-game regional on Feb. 10, and BNL will be a host for a regional.
