The Greenwood boys basketball team has quietly won 27 of its last 35 games dating back to the waning stages of last season.
That’s not to say life has been an uncontested drive to the basket.
Coach Joe Bradburn’s current squad has overcome injuries to key players, uncertainties associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and off-the-court personal issues. And yet the 16-5 Woodmen are considered among the favorites starting this evening at the Class 4A Whiteland Sectional.
Last season, Greenwood closed the regular season winning eight of 11 games before capturing its first sectional title in 18 years. The rest of the tournament was wiped out by the initial stages of the pandemic, leaving players and coaches wondering what might have been accomplished.
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Click here to purchase photos from this gallery“It was very disappointing. Kind of heartbreaking, almost,” senior guard Charlie Brooks said. “We have to bring the focus level up at sectional, but we’re definitely ready. We believe 100% we can do it again.”
In early January, junior point guard Brock Kincaid attempted to rebound the basketball in a game against Shelbyville when he caught an inadvertent elbow between the eyes. Diagnosed with a concussion, Kincaid sat out five games. He returned last week to lead the Woodmen past Indian Creek and New Palestine, scoring 12 and 14 points, respectively, in those two games.
In Kincaid’s absence, other Woodmen players stepped up in order to help the team maintain momentum.
“This year we’ve had some personal issues that disrupt you and then Brock’s injury,” said Bradburn, whose Woodmen open sectional play against Franklin. “That was obviously a smack in the face, but it was helpful for guys like Ty (Moore), Carter (Campbell) and Rasheed (Elemikan). They took over a lot more of the ball-handling responsibilities.
“Ty has emerged as a defensive stopper and with his energy. And I think the unsung hero, in a way, is (junior forward) Noah Apgar because of the energy he provides. He does a lot of things you don’t get stats for that are huge for our team.”
Brooks has also been a catalyst with Kincaid out, scoring 14 and 17 points, respectively, in recent road victories against Greenfield-Central and Mt. Vernon. It was Brooks’ game-winning 3-pointer from the deep right wing that provided the final 51-50 tally against the Marauders.
Greenwood teams have played in the annual state tournament since the 1919-20 season and have only won sectional titles in consecutive years twice — most recently in 1965 and 1966. Bradburn’s club has the opportunity to be the third, but has its work cut out with the Whiteland Sectional being one of the most balanced in 4A.
Finally at full strength, the Woodmen are ready for the challenge ahead.
“It’s always the next man up,” Kincaid said. “Charlie stepped up, Carter stepped up and Rasheed has been pretty dominant all year. We know what they can do, and they had some pretty good games, too. Noah gives us some grit and plays with a chip on his shoulder. He’s the glue guy on our team.”
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Class 4A Whiteland Sectional
Today
Greenwood vs. Franklin, 6 p.m.
Franklin Central vs. Center Grove, 8 p.m.
Friday
Whiteland vs. Greenwood/Franklin winner, 6 p.m.
Shelbyville vs. Franklin Central/Center Grove winner, 8 p.m.
Saturday
Championship, 7:30 p.m.
Class 3A Beech Grove Sectional
Today
Beech Grove vs. Indianapolis Washington, 6 p.m.
Herron vs. Indian Creek, 8 p.m.
Friday
Ritter vs. Beech Grove/Washington winner, 6 p.m.
Speedway vs. Herron/Indian Creek winner, 8 p.m.
Saturday
Championship, 7:30 p.m.
Class A Indianapolis Lutheran Sectional
Today
Greenwood Christian vs. Tindley, 7 p.m.
Wednesday
Victory College Prep vs. Providence Cristo Rey, 6 p.m.
Christel House Academy vs. Indianapolis Lutheran, 8 p.m.
Friday
Central Christian vs. GCA/Tindley winner, 6 p.m.
Wednesday’s winners, 8 p.m.
Saturday
Championship, 7:30 p.m.
Class A West Washington Sectional
Today
West Washington vs. Shawe Memorial, 6 p.m.
Crothersville vs. Trinity Lutheran, 8 p.m.
Friday
Medora vs. West Washington/Shawe winner, 6 p.m.
Edinburgh vs. Crothersville/Trinity Lutheran winner, 8 p.m.
Saturday
Championship, 7:30 p.m.
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Class 4A Franklin Sectional
Players to watch: Center Grove — Charlie Bemis, Landin Hacker, Tayven Jackson, Ethan Jones; Franklin — Damon Dickey, Carson Hunter, John Shepard; Franklin Central — Bryan Marshall, Sam Mettert, Benny Ogayonne; Greenwood — Charlie Brooks, Carter Campbell, Rasheed Elemikan, Brock Kincaid; Shelbyville — Matthew Bunton, Mitch Yeend; Whiteland — Kyson Jones, Max Sullivan, Austin Willoughby, Logan Willoughby
Sagarin ratings: Center Grove 91.21 (10th in Class 4A, 13th in Indiana), Franklin Central 82.66 (35th/44th), Greenwood 81.28 (39th/50th), Whiteland 76.82 (51st/83rd), Shelbyville 68.20 (77th/147th), Franklin 65.37 (84th/183rd)
Outlook: So many ways this could play out. Center Grove is the favorite, but it faces the toughest road with an opening-round game against the Flashes, who the Trojans beat 73-64 in the season opener. The reigning champion Woodmen are always a tough out due to their style of play, and their lineup is back at full strength. The Warriors are dangerous and have home court and a bye. Conventional wisdom still tilts toward a Greenwood-Center Grove final, but any of the aforementioned four teams are capable of running the table this week.
Class 3A Beech Grove Sectional
Players to watch: Beech Grove — Jeremiah Alexander, Cam Brown, Jadyn Curry, Gavin Mitchell; Cardinal Ritter — Aidan Cannon, Mikail Miller, Jordan Turner; Herron — Cam Bethel, Ty Brown, Tendo Mubuuke, Matt Ray; Indian Creek — Mason Britt, Javan Crouch, Christian Wiseman; Speedway — Carson Harrison, Nate Matelic, Drew Valentine, Reis Walker
Sagarin ratings: Beech Grove 80.74 (ninth in Class 3A/55th in Indiana), Washington 67.44 (39th/155th), Ritter 66.00 (46th/173rd), Indian Creek 64.79 (51st/190th), Speedway 61.15 (65th/227th), Herron 60.68 (68th/235th)
Outlook: This is an incredibly closely matched field with the exception of the host Hornets, who come in as the overwhelming favorite (61.75% chance at the title, per John Harrell). For the Braves, that means that the season could either end tonight against Herron or extend long enough to give them a chance to play giant killer on Saturday. Indian Creek has limped to the finish line, losing nine of its last 12, and will need to find a way to regroup without senior Ethan Williams, who was lost to a knee injury.
Class A Indianapolis Lutheran Sectional
Players to watch: Central Christian — Elijah Mattingly, Tanner Royer, Christian Woods; Greenwood Christian — Styles McCorkle, Blake Shewmaker, Evan Stinnett; Indianapolis Lutheran — Montasi Clay, Joseph Faubion, Mitchell Lee, Kameron Patterson; Tindley — Billy Brown, Aaron Humphrey Jr., Jayden Pinkston; Victory College Prep — Trevon Taylor, Terrion Washington
Sagarin ratings: Tindley 75.75 (fifth in Class A, 91st in Indiana), Indianapolis Lutheran 70.64 (seventh/127th), GCA 67.59 (10th/154th), Central Christian 54.60 (36th/281), Victory College Prep 36.41 (76th/371st) Providence Cristo Rey 34.07 (80th/378th), Christel House 29.46 (87th/392nd)
Outlook: The Cougars ran the table last year in this bracket, but the sledding figures to be a little tougher this time around — especially with an opening-round game against the No. 8 Tigers tonight and a potential title-game clash with the host Saints, ranked fifth. GCA has faced an up-and-down season and hasn’t played a game at all since Feb. 13; can it regain the mojo it had during a six-game winning streak a month ago?
Class A Edinburgh Sectional
Players to watch: Crothersville — Cable Spall; Edinburgh — Caleb Dewey, Travis Jones, Isaac Roberts; Medora — Shepard Earl; Trinity Lutheran — Tyler Goecker, Hudson Norton; West Washington — Holden Bowsman, Parker Green
Sagarin ratings: Edinburgh 64.98 (14th in Class A, 187th in Indiana), West Washington 54.99 (34th/277th), Trinity Lutheran 54.55 (37th/282nd), Crothersville 32.09 (83rd/386th), Shawe Memorial 16.63 (95th/405th), Medora 11.68 (97th/407th)
Outlook: The Lancers, who tied a school record for regular-season victories by going 18-5, come in as a heavy favorite in a field where the combined record of the other five teams is 27-78. Edinburgh will likely have to beat the next two best teams (Trinity and West Washington) to get out, but it already owns a 28-point win over the Senators this season. Expect the Lancers to win their second sectional championship in Keith Witty’s four years at the helm.
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