Hauser’s celebrates the Edinburgh Tournament title on Dec. 28, 2023.
The Republic file photo
All three Bartholomew County basketball teams came up empty this year in their quest to bringing a sectional title back home.
However, there’s going to be major changes in the sectional and class realignments for next year. The Class 4A teams could be playing in five-team sectionals, while Class A will be having seven to eight teams in each sectional next year. Columbus North and Columbus East will remain in 4A, and Hauser will drop from 2A to 1A.
How will they fare next year? Here’s a very early look at the three teams heading into next year:
Hauser
The Jets were within a single possession of capturing its first sectional crown since 2017. While it left them heartbroken, it was still a successful season. They won the Mid-Hoosier Conference outright, their first since 2018, and were winners of the Edinburgh Tournament.
Hauser finished the season 18-7, which is its most wins since the 2007-08 season. The Jets took a major step forward in coach Trent Moorhead’s second-year with the team and added seven more wins from the previous year.
The great news is that with no seniors on the roster this year, everyone is returning. Hauser will be the heavy favorite to repeat as MHC champions. Depending on the strength of schedule and how the new alignments turn out, the Jets should be a 16-to-20 win team and considered a favorite to win the sectional and end the eight-year title drought. With the move to 1A next year, they should be a top-10 team in the state and poised and hungry to make a deep run in the postseason after Saturday’s bitter result in the sectional final.
Columbus East
Not many people expected the Olympians to be as successful as they were in the first-year of the Perry Nash Era, as the team more than tripled their win total from the previous season.
East finished 7-17, matching the seven wins from the 2021-22 season. However, the Olympians still have a long way to go to compete for a Hoosier Hills Conference title after going winless in conference play at 0-6.
East had the 52nd-toughest schedule, according to the Jeff Sagarin Rating. The team only loses one starter in Jack Fischvogt. Depending on the strength of schedule next year, the Olympians could get to double digits in wins, which they haven’t had since the 2018-19 season. With Shelbyville’s move to 3A and potentailly being a five-team sectional next year, East’s chances at winning the sectional won’t be easy, even if it will be more wide open.
Columbus East’s Alex Duncan, left, and Columbus North’s Caleb Ferguson go after a loose ball during a sectional basketball game Feb. 27 at East Central High School.
The Republic file photo
Columbus North
There were many up and downs for the Bull Dogs this year, especially after losing a heavily-loaded senior class that won a sectional title the year before.
North ended the season on a six-game losing skid to finish 6-16 and went winless in Conference Indiana. This is the Bull Dogs’ worst season record-wise since the 2006-07 season where they finished 5-16. This was also theit first losing season since 2015-16, which was the first year of coach Paul Ferguson’s nine-year tenure.
North didn’t have the toughest schedule in the area, ranking 92nd according to Sagarin. The good news for the Bull Dogs is, they won’t lose players to graduation with no seniors on the roster. Even if the schedule remains the same and the roster is mostly intact, there could be a slight uptick in wins. However, the road to winning the sectional next year won’t be any easier, even if it is more wide open and has one less team playing.
