What to know for each IHSAA boys basketball regional in Southwestern Indiana

EVANSVILLE — How many Southwestern Indiana teams will advance in the state tournament? We'll find out on Saturday.

The boys basketball tournament continues with the regional round and only six area programs remain. Odds are favorable for multiple Southwestern Indiana teams to advance to the semistate as one victory is required following the format change in 2023.

Here is a look at each regional matchup involving Evansville-area teams. All times are CST.

More: Why Harrison boys basketball's Class 4A sectional title was 'a long time coming'

Class 4A: No. 17 Harrison (20-4) vs Jeffersonville (18-7)

Where: Huntingburg, 3 p.m.

Players to Watch: Michael Cooper, Jeffersonville (16.3 ppg, 4.6 rpg); PJ Douglas, Jeffersonville (14.1 ppg, 5.9 rpg); Malachi McNair, Harrison (18.2 ppg, 10.7 rpg); Shane Sims, Harrison (15.3 ppg, 5.5 apg, 4.0 rpg); Tre Singleton, Jeffersonville (14.0 ppg, 6.8 rpg); Jay Summitt, Harrison (10.5 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 4.6 apg).

Last regional title: Harrison 2003, Jeffersonville 2013.

Outlook: The Warriors earned 'redemption' after winning the sectional title. The motto also applies to the next round with a rematch against. The Red Devils defeated Harrison by three in the Bosse Winter Classic, a game defined by turnovers and tough defense. Jeffersonville presents a stiff challenge with three double-digit scorers and athleticism at every spot. The rematch has the potential to be decided in the final minute.

Harrison coach Nathan Fleenor: "They're a better team now than they were then and I think we're a better team. They'll play about nine or 10 guys and press the whole time. It's going to be important to be us and do what we do in order to take that next step. That's important as anything for our confidence. We know we can make that next step if we play well."

Cass 3A: No. 15 Bosse (14-10) vs No. 17 Southridge (19-6)

Where: Huntingburg, noon

Players to Watch: Camden Haywood, Southridge; Taray Howell, Bosse; AP Mitchell, Bosse; Brock Thacker, Southridge; Elijah Wagner, Bosse; Tate Whitehead, Southridge.

Last regional title: Bosse 2018, Southridge 2021.

Outlook: The turnaround from December is impressive. This is arguably what many still anticipated from the Bulldogs with their talent. Howell had a sectional championship performance comparable to other recent individual postseason efforts within the program. If Bosse continues to improve – not a stretch considering the current rotation has played half the season together – more victories in March are possible.

Bosse coach Shane Burkhart: "I don't know if they ever wavered when it came from confidence. It was a matter of figuring out how to do it the right way. When you are reliant on an individual and his ability to create and get everybody else involved, when that individual was hurt, it puts a lot of pressure on everybody us. Tate Whitehead can score in bunches. We can't let (Southridge) out-hustle us. We have to guard team-wise and make winning plays."

It should be zero surprise Ryan Haywood has another championship team after previous success with multiple programs. The Raiders were a slight surprise though to advance from a tough sectional. They punctuated last week three good efforts including the final against Princeton – Whitehead and Thacker had 18 points apiece. What Southridge brings will be defense and toughness. Both are required against Bosse.

Southridge coach Ryan Haywood: "It's been a tremendous first season. I couldn't have asked for a better group of young men to start things off. They're hard workers. They're winners. It's been a fun ride so far. Bosse is very good. Super athletic, have a terrific guard in Howell and a very good big man in Mitchell."

Class 2A: Forest Park (17-9) vs Switzerland County (15-10)

Where: Seymour, noon

Players to Watch: Jace Berg, Forest Park; Cam Craig, Switzerland County (25.0 ppg, 9.9 rpg); Reid Howard, Forest Park; Kadyn Riley, Switzerland County (10.2 ppg, 3.0 rpg); Jacob Williams, Switzerland County (7.7 ppg); Reece Wolf, Forest Park.

Last regional title: Forest Park 2018, Switzerland County none.

Outlook: What a difference a year can make. After being a surprise winner in 2023, the Rangers experienced a smoother season in year two under Drew Messmer. It resulted in a third straight sectional title. Why could they keep advancing? Solid guards (1,000-point career scorer Reid Howard) and experience (third trip to the regional). Switzerland County has its own high-scoring upperclassman and won its first sectional in 11 years. Forest Park might have a slight edge this weekend.

Forest Park coach Drew Messmer: "We have been able to establish the culture that we want. These kids understand how hard they have to work and what we want them to do to be a Ranger. (The sectional) came down to being fundamental and a lot of different small areas. Boxing out one-on-one was huge. We also had the maturity to execute a game plan at a high-level. We must defend (Craig) at a high-level on the interior and in transition shooting the basketball."

Class 1A: No. 1 Barr-Reeve (23-2) vs No. 4 Christian Academy (22-4)

Where: Loogootee, noon

Players to Watch: Josh Chancey, Christian Academy (8.3 ppg, 5.0 rpg); David Cook, Christian Academy (15.0 ppg, 5.4 rpg); Braydon Knepp, Barr-Reeve (11.4 ppg, 3.1 apg); Donnie Miller, Barr-Reeve (11.5 ppg, 3.8 rpg); Joshua Renfro, Christian Academy (21.6 ppg, 3.8 rpg); Seth Wagler, Barr-Reeve (11.4 ppg, 4.0 rpg).

Last regional title: Barr-Reeve 2021, Christian Academy 1999.

Outlook: Good luck finding a team in 1A with a tougher road than the Vikings. The sectional saw wins over No. 7 Loogootee and No. 3 Orleans, the latter a five-overtime clash that belongs alongside any game played at Jack Butcher Arena. Next up is another top-four opponent. Barr-Reeve, now an upperclassmen-led group after traversing last season with only 12 wins, believes the road thus far has prepared itself.

Barr-Reeve coach Josh Thompson: "The Orleans game was the craziest game I've ever been a part of. I'm glad that we had to go through the tough sectional that we did and played some of the better teams on our schedule this year because we will call on those games to prepare us for Saturday. (The Warriors) have two really good perimeter players in Renfro and Cook, and the Chancey kid who is their post player has just gotten better and better."

Class 1A: No. 2 Evansville Christian (23-2) vs Trinity Lutheran (14-11)

Where: Loogootee, 3 p.m.

Players to Watch: Luke Davis, ECS (7.5 ppg, 9.2 rpg); Josiah Dunham, ECS (23.1 ppg, 4.9 apg, 4.7 rpg); Kowan Gross, Trinity Lutheran (10.3 ppg, 5.5 rpg); Hudson Lang, Trinity Lutheran (15.1 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 3.2 apg); Andrew Lynn, ECS (9.8 ppg, 3.1 rpg); Reed Mellencamp, Trinity Lutheran (11.4 ppg, 4.6 rpg).

Last regional title: Neither program has previously won a regional.

Outlook: The Eagles entered new territory with their 62-47 win over Wood Memorial, the first sectional championship in program history. Not unexpected though for a team eyeing a deep postseason run. Every subsequent stage gets tougher starting against Trinity Lutheran, a balanced group looking to play quick and aggressive. ECS is still a heavy favorite, provided the Eagles play to the level reached all season.

ECS coach David Kruse: "We talked for over a year of getting to that mountain top and overcoming it. To see those kids' hard work rewarded was a great feeling. It wasn't as easy as the score looks. This team stayed composed and together. We need to play with the same pace we've been playing all year. (The sectional) proved to them we're still able to score in the 80s by being patient on offense."

Follow Courier & Press sports reporter Kyle Sokeland on X (formerly Twitter) @kylesokeland.

This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: What to know IHSAA boys basketball regional Southwestern Indiana