By Quintin Harlan, Herald Bulletin Sports Writer
ANDERSON — The 35th annual IHSAA girls basketball state tournament is scheduled to begin this evening with 397 teams tipping off around the state.
The winter storm forecast for today could alter the schedule, no contingency plan had been announced Monday evening.
Three area schools are host schools this week. Pendleton Heights hosts the Class 4A Sectional No. 8. In Class 2A, Lapel hosts Sectional 41 and Shenandoah hosts Sectional 42.
At Pendleton Heights, the Arabians (16-5) are scheduled to take on Muncie Central (7-12) in the second game tonight. The action gets under way with Highland (8-12) against Greenfield-Central (15-5).
On Wednesday, Anderson (1-20) will play the Richmond Red Devils (5-15) in the first game. Connersville (13-7) will take on New Castle (14-6) in the final first-round game of the day.
“To me, this sectional is more amazing than last year,” said Arabians coach Shari Doud. “I think five of the eight teams have a chance to get through this sectional.”
Pendleton Heights is the defending sectional champions. The Arabians advanced all the way to the Final Four before they were put out by eventual Class 4A state champion South Bend Washington.
“Last year is almost forgotten at this point,” said Doud. “This is a totally different team that plays a different style. We feel like we’re playing our best ball right now.”
In the Bearcats, the Arabians face an opponent that beat them early in the regular season. Muncie Central beat Pendleton Heights 76-38 at the Walnut Street Fieldhouse on Nov. 14. It was the second game of the season.
“We’ve been totally focused on Muncie Central and what we have to do against Ashley Fouch and Jamie Drummer,” said Doud. “We haven’t pulled the revenge card, yet, and we’re not looking past them. Sometimes the hardest step to take is the first one and we have to focus on one game at a time.”
Rematches also await the Scots and Indians in their sectional contests.
