1. Mt. Vernon

: The Marauders have a talented senior class and high expectations for this season. Fourth-year coach Steve Lynch will count on 6-5 P.J. Hubert (14.3 ppg), 6-6 Daniel Turner (13 ppg, 11 rebounds), 6-7 DeArmond Davis and 6-5 Jake Stafford as team leaders. Quinn Williams, a 5-6 junior point guard, is a transfer from Fishers who could play a key role. The potential is there for Mt. Vernon to be one of the state’s top teams. Mt. Vernon hasn’t won a sectional game since 2002.

2. Danville

: After a tough loss to North Montgomery in last year’s sectional semifinals, the Warriors go into the season with state championship aspirations. Travis Carroll (22.1 ppg, 13.2 rebounds), a 6-10 Purdue recruit, is the centerpiece, but there is talent around him. Tyler Hall, a 6-2 junior guard, averaged 11.2 points and 5.4 rebounds last season. Jordan Weidner (10.4 ppg, 4.7 rebounds) transfers from Franklin Central and should make a seamless transition. Michael Humphrey (10.1 ppg, 3.7 rebounds) returns at point guard. This is a year for quality teams in Class 3A, but Danville is right at the top of the list.

3. Howe

: The Hornets have a chance to be one of the best teams in 3A this season. Jordan Manuel, a 6-8 senior and University of Detroit signee, averaged 19 points and 7 rebounds in a junior season that was shortened by a hand injury. Also returning are 6-1 senior Andre Hampton (18 ppg), a dangerous outside shooting threat, and 5-8 junior point guard P.J. Boutte (13.1 ppg). Kenny Enoch (12 ppg), a 6-2 junior, also had a strong summer. Giovantae Hazelett, a 6-7 forward, is a transfer from Warren Central who adds athleticism. Getting out of the sectional will be difficult.

4. Brebeuf Jesuit

: The Braves accomplished a lot last season, advancing to the Marion County Tournament semifinals and the Sectional 26 championship, where they saw a late lead slip away in a 33-30 loss to Roncalli. The graduation of 6-9 Michael Barton and 6-3 Jack Dillon could hurt Brebeuf on the boards, where it dominated last season. The backcourt is strong, led by leading scorer Evan Kroot (10.1 ppg) and Austin Bruen (4.8 ppg, 4 assists). Brad Altum (8.6 ppg), a 6-3 senior, also returns. Trent Hoffman (6.7 ppg), a 6-3 senior, and Alex Kugar, a 6-4 senior, also will play key roles.

5. Roncalli

: Michael Mislan (7.0 ppg, 6.8 rebounds) is a 6-7 senior and the leading returning scorer and rebounder. This is his third year as a starter. Kendell Miller (6.0 ppg, 4.6 rebounds) is a 6-3 senior and Roncalli’s best defender. Also returning are 6-2 junior Collin Lynch (4.1 ppg), 6-4 senior Patrick Heckman (2.4 ppg), 5-11 senior Curtis Reeser (1.9 ppg) and 6-1 senior Scott Hatfield (1.3 ppg). Key newcomers are a pair of 6-5 sophomores, Ryan Weber and David Heckman. Coach Michael Wantz has enough talent to make a run at a second consecutive sectional title.

6. Hamilton Heights

: Indiana University recruit Austin Etherington gets a lot of attention, and rightly so. The 6-6 junior averaged 15.7 points and 6.7 rebounds last year but was limited by a knee injury that caused him to miss the early part of the season. The Huskies advanced to the sectional final last season. Etherington is joined by junior Seth Small (7.2 ppg), a 5-10 guard, and 6-2 forward Tyler Sauerteig (3.7 ppg) as experienced players. Juniors Ben Bowen and Andrew Knapp are also expected to play. Tyler Anderson, a 6-4 sophomore, is expected to help inside.

7. Bishop Chatard

: Coach Travis Daugherty comes from Tipton, where he led the Trojans to back-to-back sectional titles. With the football team again making a late run into the playoffs, it could take awhile for this group to mesh. Taylor Wayer (12.8 ppg), a 6-foot senior, is the top returning player. Calvin White (5.9 ppg, 6.2 rebounds) is a 6-5 senior who will anchor the middle. Juniors Jake Miller and Kenny LaRose also will be key contributors. Chatard plays in arguably the state’s toughest 3A sectional, so there will be no easy route there.

8. Shelbyville

: First-year coach Tom Beach expects his team to be quick and fun to watch. Larry Brown (10.4 ppg, 2.4 rebounds), a 6-0 senior, is the leading returning scorer and rebounder. Zach Baird, a 6-4 junior, averaged 5.2 points as a sophomore. Other key players include 6-0 junior Patrick Ellis (3.2 ppg), 5-10 junior John Krise (3.1 ppg) and 6-1 sophomore Dylan Alvis (1.5 ppg). The Golden Bears haven’t had a winning season since going 23-1 in 2006, but this could be the year.

9. New Palestine

: The Dragons were surprise winners of last year’s sectional after struggling through a seven-game losing streak in February. Four starters are back from that team: 6-1 senior Pat Feeney (8.9 ppg, 2.5 rebounds), 6-0 senior Dave Anderson (7.8 ppg, 3.7 rebounds), 6-2 senior Nate Penley (5.7 ppg) and 5-11 senior Trevor Baker (4.8 ppg). Taylor Raimey is a 6-2 sophomore who gained experience last season. This could be a difficult team to play come tournament time.

10. Beech Grove

: Coach Matt English begins his second season with a senior-dominated team led by 5-10 guard Cody Atherton (12.0 ppg, 4.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists). Senior guards Cletus Jones (7.0 ppg, 4.0 rebounds) and Jordan King (4.0 ppg, 3.0 rebounds) and 6-3 forward Chris Parker (4.0 ppg, 6.0 rebounds) also have varsity experience. Anthony Metzler, a 6-3 senior, Jarad Holmes, a 6-4 senior, and Bobby Hall, a 5-10 senior, also will play key roles. Rebounding and defense will be the key to the Hornets’ success.

11. Lebanon

: Fifth-year coach Tom Johnson has a standout sophomore in 5-9 guard Trey Hendrix (14.1 ppg, 4.9 assists). Hendrix is joined by returnees Jacob Molter (6.2 ppg, 3.1 rebounds), a 6-1 senior, and 6-4 senior Alex Prittie (5.1 ppg, 5.1 rebounds). Newcomers added to the mix are 6-3 junior Brock Smith, 6-0 sophomore Garrett Breedlove and 5-11 freshman Caleb Brannon. Lebanon should be improved over last season, when it lost to Western Boone in the sectional semifinals.

12. Northwest

: First-year coach Mosi Barnes has some work to do after the bulk of last year’s team graduated. Barnes has been impressed with the improvement of 6-2 senior Darryl Walker (5 ppg) in the offseason. Others with varsity experience are 6-5 senior Darrell Freeman (6 ppg) and 6-1 senior Caryle Jones (6.3 ppg). Lonnie McElwain, a 6-9 junior, and Tim Beaty, a 6-2 senior, should also contribute. Last year marked the first losing season since 2000 for the Space Pioneers.

13. Western Boone

: First-year coach Kyle Spray expects the Stars to rely on defense to keep games competitive into the fourth quarter. His top returning player is 6-0 junior Brandon Burtner, a guard who averaged 9.4 points last season. Wade Thomas, a 6-8 junior, averaged 4.5 points and 3.8 rebounds as a sophomore. Other seniors who will play key roles are 6-1 forward Matt Grissom (4.2 ppg, 4.4 rebounds), 5-11 guard Jay Purdy (3.4 ppg) and 5-10 forward Andrew Adams (3.2 ppg, 3.5 rebounds).