All photos by Magdalene Conrad and Elliot Swincher.

Click on the photographs in the gallery below. More photographs and coverage of Saturday’s state title win will be posted throughout the week. Keep checking back.

by Austin Bainbridge

With Saturday’s state championship game drawing ever closer, I was able to interview head boys’ basketball coach Sherron Wilkerson. He detailed the pressure the players are under and how his experience gives him a unique insight into the biggest game of the year.

How would a win on Saturday affect this team’s legacy?

“They would be in the conversation for being one of the best teams to come through the program. I currently think that our ‘93 team was the greatest to come through here, but if these guys get it done, they’ll be in the conversation for one of the greatest teams to ever play for this program.”

Does being a player on the 1993 state championship team affect how you coach and view this game?

“Yes. I think it’s one thing to describe an event, but it’s one thing to feel that event with emotions. Those emotions are what bring it alive, so to actually be in the moment and to feel it is a unique feeling, so I think it’s something you have to go through to understand. Along with that, the experience of being a player is invaluable.”

How has the team’s style of play changed since the first game of the season?

“I would say that we are more patient. Our maturity has allowed us to understand what ball movement equals, and if you can understand what ball movement equals, you become more patient, and then you can take advantage of defensive breakdowns.”

Are you treating this game like it’s any other game in the season?

“Nah, this is something all on its own, and this is completely different. That’s because there will be no other game throughout the season where there will be this much pressure. So for the folks that say, ‘Ah, this is just another game,’ I just don’t think that is the case.”

Do you think the players are feeling that pressure to perform in a big game like this?

“I do think our players are feeling the pressure to perform, and I think that’s a good thing. Pressure busts pipes. So if you’re not in the situation to have the skills to deal with pressure. then you can’t compete.”

Does Fishers do anything in particular that sets them apart from other programs?

“There are two things they do really well that others don’t. Number one, they pressure you 84 feet in both directions. They pressure you 84 feet offensively, and they pressure you 84 feet defensively, and that’s very rare at this level. And the other thing I think they do really well at is they share the basketball really well. They have four players averaging double figures, and they have two averaging 8 or more.”

You have been saying all year you have two goals, to get players scholarships and to win a state championship. Now that those are both in reach, how do you feel?

“Blessed, truly blessed. That’s our goal every year as we start the season. We have two goals — those goals are getting guys to play at the next level to get a free education, and the next thing we set out to accomplish is to win a state championship. And I think if you can do both of those in one year, that is divine intervention at its finest.”

What do you expect from the players in this game?

“This is something these guys have been preparing for their whole lives. I expect the beginning of the game to be a little sloppy because they’re going to be so excited, and then once the emotion wears off, I think that we’ll settle down and we’ll be able to compete.”

What do the players need to do to win this game 

“The first thing they need to do is they can’t get intimidated by the moment. I think that’s the most important. And when you asked me about if it’s any other game, no, it’s not any other game. The atmosphere, the fact that it’s on TV, the fact that this is the first game we’re going to have media timeouts — just all the variables that play into the equation of making it different. They can’t get distracted by it.”

JHS will play defending state champions the Fishers Tigers this Saturday at 8:15 p.m. for the 4A state championship at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. More information here on the Jeff High Athletics website.

Win over Evansville Harrison sets up Red Devil return to semi-state this weekend; JHS plays Mt. Vernon at noon in New Castle in Game 2

All photos by Magdalene Conrad.

Click on photographs in the gallery.

Update: March 8 at 9 p.m.: JHS defeats New Albany 62-47 to win the 2025 sectional championship. Check back for more sectional coverage next week.

Update: March 7 at 9:20 p.m.: It will be a Red Devil-Bulldog rematch for the sectional championship tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. in Seymour as Jeff will face New Albany.

Update: March 7 at 8:30 p.m.: JHS defeats Bedford North Lawrence 68-38 to advance to sectional championship; will face New Albany-Floyd Central winner tomorrow at 7:30 p.m.

by Austin Bainbridge

During the busy playoff season I was able to sit down for an interview with head boys’ basketball coach Sherron Wilkerson.

During the conversation we talked about his confidence after Tuesday’s 82-49 win against the Scottsburg Warriors in the first round of sectional and what the team needs to do in order to maintain playoff success tonight against Bedford North Lawrence (9-12).

Do you think the blowout win against Scottsburg will affect your confidence throughout the rest of the playoffs?

“Yes I do. I don’t think it was necessarily the score that gave us confidence; the way that we played gave us confidence. We hit the goals we set out to accomplish.”

Do any players have their own personal goals?

“We set goals for them of one steal, one layup, one offensive rebound, and a putback.”

Does beating Bedford North Lawrence earlier in the season give you confidence going into the game on Friday, knowing that you have beaten them before?

“No, I think that it has to be just the opposite. Here’s why. Typically, when you beat a team in the regular season there is a tendency to go in overly confident. You have a tendency to overlook them. We are going to get Bedford’s best shot because last time we played them they thought they found some things that they could do better against us. So we have to go in with our most intensity yet so we can beat them.”

Has the team’s winning streak affected the way the players have played, such as playing more confidently?

“I think it makes them more confident in the things we are trying to do. I think it helps them to buy into our system more.”

With you not knowing who your opponent will be because the playoff games are so close together, how do you gameplan?

“Typically, what we do is in our practice plan (is) we’ll incorporate the main tendencies of the potential opponents we could play. So no matter who we play we are at least familiar with the two or three things they do the best.”

Do you treat every playoff game the same, no matter the opponent, whether it’s Scottsburg or the best team in the state?

“We treat it the same. We treat every team like they’re the best in the state. Virginia was a one seed and got upset by a sixteenth seed (in the NCAA tournament), so anything can happen. We see every team as dangerous and we try to play our best no matter what.”

If you win Friday you might have the chance to play New Albany. Do you see that as an opportunity to knock them out of the playoffs since they are a big rival.

“We don’t look at it as that. We look at it as an opportunity to hang another banner, no matter who the opponent is.”

What is the most important thing the team has to do to win these next few games?

“I think they have to stay locked in mentally. I think that is the hardest part, because you’ve been through an entire season. Coach has been pushing you. Coach has been constantly giving you messages that you have to carry out. Coach has been yelling and screaming at you to pay attention to details. It gets repetitive. This is the hardest part of the season, but also the most fun.”

Did anything stick out to you in the win against Scottsburg?

“The players’ mature approach. I think you could have a talented team, you could have a really good team, but if the team isn’t focused on what they need to accomplish, then they are in a really bad spot.” 

What do you want to see from the team against Bedford North Lawrence tonight?

“We definitely have to guard the basketball. We have to make sure our shot selection is really good.”

JHS (18-5) plays Bedford North Lawrence (9-12) in the next round of sectional tonight at 6 p.m. in Seymour, followed by the New Albany-Floyd Central game. The winners will face off for the sectional championship tomorrow night.

Check back for sectional updates throughout the weekend.

Red Devils defeat Scottsburg 82-49 Tuesday in sectional play

For photo coverage of Tuesday’s JHS win over Scottsburg, click on the photos in the gallery below.

All photographs by Magdalene Conrad.

JHS defeated the Brownstown Central Braves 61-43 last night, ending their 18-game winning streak and improving their record to 15-5.

The Red Devils face off with Evansville Reitz (14-3) tonight at 8 p.m. in Johnson Arena.

Click on the photographs in the gallery below for coverage of last night’s game, and check out thehyphennews.com next week for coverage of tonight’s game against Reitz.

All photos by Madison Pritchard.