The Jac-Cen-Del Eagles are hoping to extend their postseason success this Saturday in Martinsville during the 1A Regional 15 boys basketball tournament.
The 10th ranked Eagles enter the Sweet 16 with a 20-5 record overall and as undefeated champions of the Ohio River Valley Conference. Jac captured its 14th sectional title overall at Southwestern Shelbyville and first since 2015.
Second-year coach Clint Bohman’s boys are currently riding a 10-game winning streak which dates back to February 9th. Their only loss since February 1st was a four-point defeat at 3A-No. 10 Greensburg.
The Osgood guys are averaging 66 points a game while giving up 55-1/2. Their opponents win percentage is .477. Jac-Cen-Del’s current Sagarin computer rating is 70.6 which is 12th best in Class 1A.
Jac has won four regional titles with its last claimed in 2009 at Martinsville. That same season, JCD won both the semi-state at Seymour and the program’s only state championship up in the Circle City.
The Eagles will face the 8th ranked Cardinals of Bloomfield. The Redbirds are 20-6 overall and finished as co-6-1-champions of the Southwestern Conference along with North Daviess and Linton Stockton. Bloomfield took home its 35th sectional championship at White River Valley and fifth since 2016. They had last won in 2020.
Third-year Cardinal coach JB Neill (who’s also in his 12th year overall) saw his club win 10 of their first 11 games. The guys from Greene County have a modest three game winning streak, all sectional wins, but they lost to two very tough opponents to close out the regular season: 1A-No. 4 Barr-Reeve and 4A Bloomington South.
Bloomfield is averaging 55 points a game while surrendering 40-1/2. That’s the 10th best scoring defense in the state and 24th best for overall margin of victory. Their opponents win percentage is .565. The Cardinals current Sagarin computer rating is 78.2 which is fourth best in Class 1A.
Bloomfield has won seven regional titles with their last earned in 2019 at Martinsville. The Cardinals have also won two semi-states but never a state championship.
That’s a look at Jac-Cen-Del and Bloomfield who will face off in the second semifinal of the Martinsville Regional this Saturday at 12 noon. WRBI’s coverage will begin at a special early start time of 11:25 am. Listen on Country 103.9, online at WRBI Radio dot com, and on your smart phone with the free TuneIn app.
Thanks to John Harrell and Jeff Sagarin for information used in this regional preview.