It is the start of the 2021 IHSAA boys’ basketball state tournament tonight, and there are a bunch of great games on tap. Indiana Basketball Source details the best eleven games of the night. Each of the games will be available via stream for $10. The links to the games are included in the game breakdowns.

Chesterton vs. Valpo (Stream)

The familiar rivals meet again. Valparaiso dominated the meeting about two weeks ago by shutting down Chesterton’s leading scorer Travis Grayson and pressuring the Trojans into a bunch of turnovers. The Vikings are a balanced group with Mason Jones, Cooper Jones, Colten Jones, and Breece Walls leading the way. The Trojans are normally a good shooting team, but they were blanked from the outside in the previous game against Valpo.

Two years ago, Chesterton won its first sectional since Matt Nover led the 1987 team to the title. Last year, the Vikings pulled an upset over Chesterton in the final to get the sectional back. What will happen this year?

Lafayette Jeff vs. Marion (Stream)

Two of the highest-scoring teams in the state with dynamic seniors leading the way, Jeff and Marion should be an entertaining game. Brooks Barnhizer is capable of a triple-double each time he steps on the court. His scoring has gone to a new level as graduation hit the Bronchos hard last season. When Jeff is playing well, it is getting contributions from Ashton Beaver. When he missed time this season, the Bronchos struggled. Marion is led by Jalen Blackmon. The Grand Canyon signee scored 52 points in his last outing and 48 in the other game last week against Hamilton Southeastern. If Marion is going to win, Blackmon will need to be on his game once again.

Westfield vs. Zionsville (Free stream)

The Shamrocks and Eagles are similar teams with stellar guards leading the way. Westfield has junior guard Braden Smith and Cam Haffner. Smith is averaging 21.2 points and 6.2 assists per game on great three-point shooting. Zionsville is a bit younger with sophomores Logan Imes and Nick Richart as the main scorers. Imes is scoring 13.5 points per game for a low-scoring Zionsville team, and Richart adds 11 each game. Westfield won the December meeting 47-38. It could be another grinding game tonight.

Pike vs. Perry Meridian (Stream)

Entering the tournament, Pike is on a three-game losing steak and has lost six of eight games. The Red Devils are a talented group that could turn it around at a moment's notice. Junior Ryan Conwell had a breakout season with 17 points per game. JJ Louden and Eddie Jones provide size and athleticism on the wings, and Devon Woods is a playmaking point guard. Perry Meridian is led by Butler signee Jayden Taylor. The big guard is scoring 25.4 points per game. In a vacuum, that is impressive. It stands out even more when the Falcons only score 49.5 as a team. Taylor carries Perry Meridian each game on the offensive end. Will Pike be able to slow him down?

Bloomington North vs. Columbus North (Stream)

In a strange year, Columbus North enters the tournament on a near-month-long Covid break. The college season has shown teams coming off a break perform quite worse than expected. There is hope for Columbus North. IU-South Bend did not play a game from November 29 till February 23 and still won the CCAC Tournament. Blake Barker is looking to end his prep career on a high note before heading to West Point. He is averaging 18.5 points per game. Cooper Horn and Reese Harmon also average double figures for Columbus. Bloomington North is a talented team that has been a top 10-15 team in Indiana Basketball Source’s 4A ranking most of the season. Veteran guard Isaac Vencel and Nick Klaiber love to slash to the basket, and Aaron Steinfeldt cleans up everything in the paint. Sophomore JQ Roberts is a big wing that makes plays above the rim and will spot-up from three-point range. The biggest thing is seeing Columbus North’s rust after the long break.

Castle vs. Evansville North (Stream)

Castle is playing its best basketball of the year as winners of six of the last seven. The only loss was the regular-season finale against Jeffersonville, and the Red Devils beat the Knights in overtime. Isaiah Swope, a Southern Indiana commitment, has been a consistent scorer all season for Castle. He is a solid outside shooter and can slash to the basket as well. During the hot steak, senior Bob Nunge has emerged as a second option. Nunge has always been a good spot-up shooter, but he has had a bigger role the last month of the season. North features senior guard Chandler Moore. The Huskies’ leading scorer is a big guard that is smooth off the dribble. He does a good job of finishing with touch around the basket and is dangerous if left open from three. This should be a fun match-up.

Hamilton Heights vs. Yorktown (Stream)

These two have not met since the 2015 sectional, according to John Harrell’s website, but this one should be a barnburner. Hamilton Heights is led by high-scoring guard Gus Etchison. The Western Michigan signee recently passed 2,000 points for his career. His efficiency has improved greatly over the last two seasons. When he is on his game, Hamilton Heights is tough to beat. Yorktown is led by sophomore AJ Dunn with 15 points per game. He is a versatile player that scores inside and outside, rebounds, and will set-up his teammates. Freshman Kieran Tewari averages 12 points per game, so Yorktown has a strong, young core.

Madison-Grant vs. Blackford (Stream)

This is one of the de facto title games on Tuesday night. Madison-Grant beat Blackford, 71-67, in late January. Blackford is led by Luke Brown. The senior guard is pushing towards 3,000 career points. He enters the postseason with 2,820. If he wants to get to that mark, Blackford needs to keep winning. Jack and Maxwell Wors have not played since January 30 for Blackford. The word on the street is they are no longer with the team. That could give Argylls the edge in this one. Madison-Grant is led by senior guards Kaden Howell and Grant Brown. Both average about 15 points per game.

Winchester vs. Wapahani (Stream)

Ball State signee Payton Sparks leads Winchester into the postseason. The senior center has dominated the glass throughout his high school career. Wayde Sickels and Brooks Burelison flank Sparks on the outside. It is a youth movement for Wapahani. The Raiders are led by freshman Isaac Andrews and sophomore Aidan Franks. Both are averaging over 16 points per game. Will Caleb Henderson slow down Sparks inside?

Heritage Christian vs. University (Stream)

Sophomore Myles Colvin had a great year for Heritage Christian. He is a power guard that finishes above the rim in transition and makes outside shots in the half-court. It is going to be a tall task for University to slow the six-foot-three sophomore. For years, University has been winning through balance, and this year is no different. Camden Brown scores just under 17 points per game, and Larry Pierce adds 15 a game. Then, Matthew Jones adds an outside shooting threat, and Mitchell Martin scores inside. These teams did not meet this season.

Tindley vs. Greenwood Christian (Stream)

Tindley had a great year against a tough schedule. Omar Dillard scheduled a bunch of talented teams to get his squad ready for a postseason run. Now, the Tigers are thrown into the fire against a Greenwood Christian team that is used to winning. Junior forward Aaron Humphrey has been the backbone of the Tindley team. He is a versatile forward that scores well off the dribble and rebounds at a high rate. Jayden Pinkston provides tremendous athleticism from the wing for Tindley. Billy Browns and Arlondo Hall can get hot in any game as well. Greenwood Christian will be without Isaiah Davis. The junior power forward went down with an injury and is out the rest of the season. That means senior Styles McCorkle will have to carry even more of the scoring load. For the season, he averaged 21.2 points per game. He is best around the basket, but Tindley should be able to make that tough on him.