IHSAA Releases 2026 Boys Basketball Sectional Pairings for Northeast Indiana

The IHSAA has released the 2026 boys basketball sectional pairings, and northeast Indiana will host a slate of sectionals that begin Tuesday, March 3 and run through Saturday, March 7. WSBT’s regional report lists ten northeast-hosted sectionals across Classes 4A, 3A, 2A and 1A, and IndyStar noted the overall draw was unveiled via the IHSAAtv webcast the night before the pairings appeared in local roundups.

WSBT’s regional breakdown, reported by Bennett Wise, identifies the northeast hosts by class and sectional number: Class 4A Sectional 3 at Mishawaka and Sectional 4 at Elkhart (North Side Gym); Class 3A Sectional 19 at New Prairie and Sectional 20 at Columbia City; Class 2A Sectional 34 at LaVille, Sectional 35 at Westview and Sectional 38 at Manchester; Class 1A Sectional 49 at Kouts, Sectional 51 at Culver Community and Sectional 52 at Bethany Christian.

WANE published a region-specific compilation on February 22 that included all sectional brackets hosted in northeast Indiana and callouts for a number of anticipated early-round matchups. That compilation is the most concentrated northeast listing available in local coverage and complements WSBT’s host listings for the region.

Statewide examples from WFIE and WEHT illustrate how sectionals are structured and how byes factor into brackets elsewhere in the state. WFIE highlighted Class 4A Sectional 16 where North draws Castle and Reitz faces Harrison, with WFIE noting those sectional semifinal games will be Friday, March 6. Both WFIE and WEHT detailed Class 3A Sectional 32 at Boonville, Bosse vs Evansville Central and Mt. Vernon at Boonville, with Evansville Memorial and Heritage Hills holding byes, and Class 3A Sectional 31 at Washington where Washington meets Vincennes Lincoln and Jasper meets Gibson Southern, with Princeton and Southridge on byes. WFIE and WEHT also supplied Class 2A Sectional 48 at Buechler Arena in Ferdinand, Pike Central vs Forest Park, North Posey vs Perry Central, Tell City vs Mater Dei, with South Spencer holding a bye, and Class 1A Sectional 64 pairing Wood Memorial vs Evansville Christian and Evansville Day vs Cannelton, with Tecumseh receiving a bye.

The official draw timing and the postseason timeline were underscored by Indianapolis Star coverage: "Buckle up, it is sectional draw time," the paper wrote, noting the draw was unveiled on the IHSAAtv webcast Sunday evening and reminding fans that the four state finals games are scheduled for March 28 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. WFIE’s coverage captured the mood statewide: "It’s almost time for March Madness, high school style," the station wrote after the draw was released.

For full bracket cards and game-by-game listings, check the IHSAA release and the local compilations published by WSBT and WANE; WSBT’s article (by Bennett Wise) contains the northeast host map and WANE’s Feb. 22 compilation assembles the visual brackets and the early-round callouts for the region. Sectional opening rounds tip Tuesday, March 3, and sectional champions will be decided Saturday, March 7 on the road to the March 28 state finals at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.