On Sunday, February 23, the Indiana High School Athletic Association announced the results of the boys basketball sectional drawing, which determines the bracket for each sectional tournament across the state. 

NC resides in Sectional 10, which will be played at Lawrence Central this year. This sectional is loaded with top-tier teams, including Arsenal Tech, Cathedral, Crispus Attucks, Lawrence Central, Lawrence North, North Central and Warren Central. 

The matchups for the single-elimination state tournament are determined completely randomly. This year, the Panthers got a favorable drawing, making them the only team in the sectional to be awarded a first round bye. 

The other six teams in Sectional 10 will play on Wednesday, March 4. The matchups are Lawrence Central versus Lawrence North, Cathedral versus Crispus Attucks and Warren Central versus Arsenal Tech. 

North Central will play the winner of the Warren Central/Arsenal Tech game on Friday, March 6 at 6:30 p.m. 

Both Lawrence schools are ranked within the top five in the state by the Coaches Poll. North Central is currently ranked no. 16 and Warren Central is ranked no. 13. 

The sectional championship will take place on Saturday, March 7. The sectional winner of that game will move on to the regional round of the Class 4A state tournament.