Girls Basketball Sectional Preview

Favorable draw, familiar opponent for North girls

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North Montgomery’s first round opponent for the upcoming IHSAA Class 2A Sectional No. 37 at Rensselaer Central is a familiar one.

The Chargers will open the state tournament against Delphi in the second game at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. The Chargers fell to the Oracles 49-45 back in late December.

“It was a game that we could have won,” North Montgomery coach Ryan Nuppnau said. “They have a good player that just took over the game. It was a tough start, Monday during break, and kind of an odd game. We were out of our routine. Biggest thing is we will just need to put the ball in the hoop.”

It was a close game that the Chargers struggled to score in during the first half. And Delphi, who enters the sectional with a 7-14 record, has a 1-7 record since they beat North Montgomery.

The Chargers were 14-8 heading into their regular season finale against Sagamore Conference foe Western Boone on Friday night. The Stars, who are also 7-14, await the North Montgomery/Delphi winner in the sectional semifinal on Friday.

North Montgomery is led by senior Piper Ramey, who is averaging 16.2 points per game, and joined the 1,000-point career club. Macee Norman adds nine points a game for a Charger team that is averaging 42 points per game against a defensive average of 38.

“We are very excited,” Nuppnau said. “I thought we have started play better and better in some of the aspects that we’ve struggled at in the past. I’m happy with how well we are playing toward the end of the season, and it’s always our toughest part schedule wise.”

Delphi is averaging over 40 points per contest, but giving up 47. Jenna Roth leads the Oracles with 15 points per game.

On paper, the two best teams sit on the other side of the bracket. Rensselaer Central (20-2) will play Seeger (10-12) in the first quarterfinal game on Tuesday, with Benton Central (17-7) awaiting the winner on Friday.

Benton Central won the Class 3A Sectional at Twin Lakes last season that featured the Bison, Chargers, and Bombers. Rensselaer Central is currently ranked No. 2 in 2A, but have not won a sectional since 2013.

The Chargers last won a sectional title in 2007, and last played for a sectional title in


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