The Lady Pirates of Charlestown are looking to grab their third straight sectional title and their fourth crown in five years.
    The Lady Pirates are ranked 10^th in the State (at press time) with a 15-3 overall record. Charlestown stands at 4-2 in the Mid Southern Conference.
    The Lady Pirates’ three losses came at the hands of the Lady Panthers of Corydon Central, the Scottsburg Warriorettes and the Lady Eagles of Austin.
    Charlestown will be battling Austin, Brownstown Central, Eastern, Clarksville and the host Providence Lady Pioneers in Sectional 47 play.
    Sectional play begins on Tuesday, February 6 with semi-final action being played on Friday, February 9. The Sectional champion will be determined on Saturday, February 10.
    According to Charlestown head coach Tony Hall, Austin, Brownstown and Providence are the three favorite to win the Sectional.
    "Austin, Brownstown and Providence are the favorites. Providence is favored because they are playing at home," Hall stated.
    When asked who he will look to for leadership, Hall stated, his five seniors.
    "I’m looking for Lindsey (Davis), Jennifer (Carlisle), LaTonya (Lloyd), Sheila (Meredith) and Whitney (Zollman) to lead the team into Sectional play," Hall stated.
    In order for the Lady Pirates to bring home their third straight Sectional trophy, they must hit free throws and guard the best players of the opposing team.
    "In order for us to be successful, we have to hit our free throws and we have to be able to guard the other team’s best players," Hall added.
    Hall would like to have the bye in the Sectional draw which was held on Monday. (Editor’s Note: The deadline for this story was Thursday, January 25.)
    " I would prefer to have the bye. We would have to play on Friday and Saturday, instead of having to play three tough games on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday," Hall said.
    Hall, who is in his 10^th season as head coach of the Lady Pirates, was asked how he would prepare the Lady Pirates for Sectional play, "The girls have always picked up their game this time of year. This is our time of the season. We always get a little pepper in our step," Hall said.
    He concluded by discussing the work ethic of his team.
    "The girls are great to work with. This has been a great group of girls to be around," Hall concluded.
    The Lady Pirates’ probable starters will be seniors LaTonya Lloyd, Lindsey Davis and Jennifer Carlisle, junior Katie Jackson and freshman Amanda Miller.
    Lloyd leads the state in field goal percentage and is in the top 15 in the rebounds category with 10 per game. She also leads the Lady Pirates with 17.7 ppg and 2.1 blocks per contest.
    Carlisle averages 11.5 ppg and 2.3 steals per contest.
    Jackson chips in 11 points per game and five boards a contest while Miller adds 4.1 ppg and 4 assists per game.
    Davis averages 3 points per contest and leads the team with 5.3 assists per game.
    Shelia Meredith adds 7.7 points per game and 4.6 rebounds per contest.
    Rounding out the Sectional roster will be: Whitney Zollman, Alicia Zollman, Morgan Allen, Kaysi Jenkins, Laci Williams and Cara Rhoten.
    Hall will be joined on the sidelines by assistant coaches Rick Myers and Randy Allen
    Team managers are Chris Myers, Katie Johns and Ceccila Jennings.

    A new season of high school girls basketball is upon us. When looking at any local schedule one may wonder how a new season is here but any fan of Hoosier Hysteria knows what time it is.
    It’s Sectional time.
    Heading into Sectionals every team has the same goal, to keep winning. There is no tomorrow. One loss and the team is done until next season. All records are even at 0-0.
    The Lady Lions of Restoration Christian will look to their three seniors for leadership when they head into Sectional 60 play at New Washington.
    "We’ll definitely look to Elana (Eickholtz) and Courtney Masingo and Te’Ara Davey," head coach Bill Paro stated when asked who he would look to for leadership. "All three of them are starters and captains. They are doing real well. This team is so young overall. We trying to get other girls involved and make clicks as a team."
    Paro, who is in his eighth season back as head coach after three seasons with the guys team and two seasons prior with the girls, believes the favorite of Sectional 60 is South Central.
    "I think South Central partially because Brittany and her Dad, Randall. He’s a good coach and their team plays together," Paro stated. "Their team plays together. They are the team to beat."
    According to Paro, the Lady Lions have a couple of things they need to do in order to be successful in Sectional play.
    "We can’t turn the ball over. We must minimize turnovers. We need other girls, other than Elana to step up," Paro said. "The secret to ours is to cut down turnovers and get other girls involved."
    When asked what would be the toughest draw for the Lady Lions Paro stated, "South Central or New Washington. New Washington is on their floor and South Central is a four-time champion."
    Paro added, "We’re playing til the final buzzer. South Central is a class act."
    Of course every team and coach has a preference come tourney time. Paro’s preference would be Christian Academy of Indiana.
    "I would like us to draw Christian Academy. The second game of the season we played a close game. Tim, the coach over there, is good people. I really liked the way we matched up with them," Paro stated.
    The Lady Lions will prepare for the Sectional by working on some different aspects of their game plan. Paro is going to try to mix some things up.
    "We are trying to throw some different offenses in there. We have eight games left (at time of interview), we win all eight, we still have a losing season," Paro said. "We’ll use different things, a few new things and we’ll mix up different things. We’ll have a different look for people when they play us a second time."
    Paro concluded, "My girls try, they try so hard. They are young. They never quit, in their minds, they are giving experience for the other girls. My girls are very good. They are a good group of girls that are very close."
    The Lady Lions will converge on New Washington looking to bring the first-ever Sectional crown home to Restoration Christian. The teams standing in their way will be: New Washington, Henryville, Lanesville, South Central, Borden and Christian Academy of Indiana.
    Restoration Christian is now 3-14 with five game remaining (at press time). The Lady Lions have enjoyed wins over Medora, Portland Christian (Kentucky) and Cannelton. Games still scheduled include Borden, Perry Central, Lanesville, Crothersville and Henryville.
    Eickholtz is leading the State in rebounds with 15.8 per game and blocks at 10.5 per contest. She will be joined by freshman Courtney Haag, junior Sa’rah Willham, seniors Te’Ara Davey and Courtney Masingo as probable starters when the team suits up for Sectional play.
    Rounding out the Sectional team will be: juniors Morgan Simmons and Trisha Recalde; sophomores Victoria Wilson and Morgan Nieter and freshmen Brooke Duncan, Kenika Quarles and Amanda Bauerla.
    Team managers are Aaron Bishop and Aaron Snyder.
    Opening round of Sectional 60 will be held on Tuesday night, February 6. Play will resume on February 7 with the semi-final round being held on Friday night, February 9. The Sectional championship game will be held on Saturday night, February 10.

    He’s back. New Washington Head Coach Terry White is back and ready to lead the Lady Mustangs into Sectional 60 action. White is in his first season back after a five year hiatus.
    The Lady Mustangs enjoyed much success in White’s previous seasons including a State Runner-up title. He is joined on the sidelines by a member of that Runner Up team, Kirsti Holloway and Phil Johnson, Roger Curtis, Scott Abbott and Alan Strickland.
    The Lady Mustangs will be hosting the Sectional with Restoration Christian, Borden, Christian Academy of Indiana, Lanesville, South Central and Henryville, all looking to spoil White’s return.
    The Lady Mustangs are 11-8 (at press time) overall and sit at 2-1 in the Southern Athletic Conference. New Washington has two games remaining with Crothersville and Lanesville.
    "When looking for a favorite, although when you get to tournament time, everybody is the favorite," White stated. "Based solely on record, it would be South Central and ranking and they are the defending Sectional champion. They are ranked eighth."
    White believes his team must play their strengths in order to be successful during the Sectional to be played Tuesday, February 6, Wednesday, February 7, Friday, February 9 and Saturday, February 10.
    "We definitely need to play to our strengths and attempt to hinder the strengths of the other team in some fashion," White explained. "We have to do that on a consistent basis. We have been somewhat inconsistent all season."
    White is still looking for consistency in leadership also.
    "Obviously I think we are still trying to find ourselves. There are different aspects of leadership in a game, there are the captains in the beginning that give some leadership. Then in the game there is a form of leadership that comes from them playing to their potential," White said. "We’re lacking identity as far as leadership is concerned."
    He continued, "It is hard for the girls. I think they are just now beginning to understand what we are looking for. They are trying so hard to figure it out."
    The Sectional draw was held on Monday, January 29. While many will be watching intently to see who their favorite team will be paired with, Coach White has a different philosophy about the draw.
    "You take, when it comes to tournament time, a look at what would be difficult and what would not. If you get what you want then it is great, but if not then you are already behind," White stated. "We will play the hand that is dealt to us. We’ll let other people decide if it is a good draw or a bad one. That is not for us to determine."
    When asked what his preference in the draw would be, White said he really did not have a preference.
    "When you look at your preference, in my mind, it’s wasted mind energy. What you prefer may happen or not happen. You must just do it to the best of your ability. I would much rather use the preparation for the actual draw than perhaps for the pre-draw," White added.
    The Lady Mustangs are relatively new to this coaching staff of White and his crew. When the teams converge on New Washington High School come tourney time, they all have a couple things in common, all want to bring the Sectional trophy home and they all have the same record, 0-0.
    "The actual game preparation will depend on the draw. Regardless of the opponent each tourney game is a new slate. Every team is equal. Records are thrown out. The IHSAA tournament is not seeded, it’s not like you have a number one seed or you’re a number two seed," White explained. "You just go against whoever is pulled out. It’s like a new life for each team and there are team’s that think they need a new life come tourney time."
    White added, "It’s just game by game. Every team starts off with opportunity. It’s what they do with the opportunities that determines if they are successful at the end. During a tourney game, each team is given the same opportunity. Being in the tournament, you start at 0-0, even on the scoreboard."
    The Lady Mustangs’ Sectional roster has not been completely determined. The Sectional team will be drawn from their roster of: Seniors- Ivy Ivers and Ashley Nugent; juniors- Jillian Charlet, Alyssa Burch, Kaelin Tuell and Nicole Walker; sophomores- Emma Burgin, Callie Burgin, Jenna Sexton, Jennifer Schindler and ShyAnne Lemmons and freshmen- Katie Rager, Kaela Moore, Brooke Leezer, Bethany Leezer, Kayla Shackelford, Sarah Martin, Desiree Beard, Kayla Nugent and Kiera Charlet.
    White is looking forward to the atmosphere that can only be found in gymnasiums throughout Southern Indiana during tournament time.
    "I look forward to the tournament. Tourney time is such an exciting time for Indiana basketball. Hopefully our young ladies will enjoy the atmosphere and opportunity associated with the atmosphere surrounding tourney time," White concluded.

    The Silver Creek Lady Dragons are being led into Sectional 30 play by first year head coach Ryan Apple. Silver Creek stands at 2-14 overall (at press time) and 1-7 in the Mid Southern Conference.
   The Lady Dragons will be facing off with Corydon Central, Salem, Madison, North Harrison and the host Warriorettes of Scottsburg.
   When asked who he felt was the favorite to win the Sectional, Apple stated, "who knows."
   "It’s wide open this year. Who knows who will win. Everybody has been beating everybody," Apple said.
   Turnovers have been an obstacle for the Lady Dragons this season.
   "In order for us to be successful in Sectional play, we have to cut down on our turnovers. In game that we have had 15 or less, we have been very successful," Apple stated.
   Apple stated he would like to play Tuesday night, the opening night of Sectional play.
   "I like to play out of the gate. All the teams are about the same. North Harrison is the only team that scares me with the speed of their guards," Apple explained.
   The Lady Dragons’ Sectional roster will boast two seniors including Rachel Everage and Caasi Robertson; juniors Amber McFarland, Becky Kelly, Keisha Corbett, Tiffany Haddon and Donna Ferree; sophomores Jessica Hagedorn and Tori Johnston and freshman Paige Metcalf.