Have game, will travel.
Several local teams were left planning fairly long road trips after the IHSAA revealed its sectional brackets on Sunday night, including both of the county’s Class 5A teams.
Whiteland, the 5A state runner-up a year ago, opens this postseason at Terre Haute North on Oct. 27. Rival Franklin, situated in the other half of that sectional bracket, will be at Terre Haute South that night. The two winners would square off in a Nov. 3 championship game, which would be played in Johnson County as long as one of the two local squads advances.
In Class 4A, Greenwood drew an Oct. 20 first-round game at Connersville. Should they survive, the Woodmen would host a semifinal game against either Edgewood or Jennings County.
Edinburgh got a first-round bye but will also be on the road for its first sectional game, an Oct. 27 semifinal at either North Decatur or South Decatur. The Lancers lost games against both during the regular season.
Not every area team will be boarding a bus come tournament time, though.
In Class 6A, Center Grove will begin its quest for a fourth consecutive state championship with a home semifinal against Franklin Central. The Trojans would play at either Jeffersonville or Columbus North in the sectional final on Nov. 3.
Indian Creek will host Greensburg in its Class 3A opener on Oct. 20 and could potentially get a second home game the following week if South Dearborn beats Franklin County.
In Class 4A, Roncalli will host Shortridge on Oct. 20, with a semifinal-round game at either Indianapolis Washington or Mooresville the following week.
Regional games will be played Nov. 10, with semistates on Nov. 17 and the state finals at Lucas Oil Stadium on Nov. 24 and 25.
