28 Lafayette Area Teams in 2026 IHSAA Girls Sectionals; McCutcheon-Jeff Rematch

A regional gauntlet arrives for Greater Lafayette as 28 area teams learned their fates in the 2026 IHSAA girls basketball sectional draw held Jan. 25. The highlight on the bracket is the McCutcheon-Lafayette Jeff rematch in the 4A sectional semifinals, a collision between the two top teams that will influence seeding and momentum for the postseason.

McCutcheon enters the sectional with an 18-5 record and comes in off a recent win over Lafayette Jeff. Lafayette Jeff and McCutcheon sit atop the 4A bracket and will meet in the semifinals, making their third matchup of the season a crucial game for both teams. That contest will carry weight beyond a single trophy; the winner will control the narrative for the northern 4A landscape and likely draw heavier crowds and regional attention heading into regionals.

Small-school storylines are compelling across the draw. Rossville brings a 20-1 ledger and will be the favorite in its sectional, while Rensselaer Central stands at 17-3 and is powered by junior Courtney Mathew and Kamri Rowland. Those two players give Rensselaer a go-to scoring threat and playmaking engine that can swing close games, and their presence raises Rensselaer Central’s ceiling in a bracket ripe for upsets.

North Vermillion’s Central Catholic pursues its 19th consecutive sectional title, but Fountain Central, sporting an 18-2 record, looms as a realistic challenger. Fountain Central’s win total and consistency this season position it as the team most likely to break the long streak. Faith Christian, at 12-7, will be chasing its first-ever sectional crown, a storyline that has local attention as a program milestone despite Central Catholic returning contributors who have struggled to score consistently at times this season.

The sectional pairings span classifications and locations across the Lafayette coverage area, with games scheduled for Feb. 3-7. Official game times and sites will be announced later. Coaches and athletic departments will be mapping travel plans and ticket strategies as community interest spikes; strong postseason runs translate into gate revenue, booster activity, and recruiting visibility for under-the-radar programs.

On the court, watch for McCutcheon’s ability to sustain the game plan that beat Lafayette Jeff previously, and for Lafayette Jeff’s adjustments in attack and defensive matchups. For small schools, Rossville’s depth and Rensselaer’s Mathew-Rowland tandem represent two different templates for success: depth versus star-driven scoring.

This draw sets up a sectional week with heavy stakes for players, programs, and local fans. Expect packed gyms, strategic chess matches from coaches, and meaningful postseason exposure as teams chase sectional glory and the next step in Indiana girls basketball.