No one has ever confused Northeast Dubois for being best buddies with Springs Valley and Orleans. Lately, though, the talk between the Jeeps and their old Orange County foes has trended toward downright jolly.

The All-Big Eight Conference boys basketball team was selected Monday, and Jasper junior Nolan Ahrens was named to the 10-member squad.

Six local boys basketball players were named to the All-Pocket Athletic Conference team, which was released Monday.

For the last dozen years, unearthing sectional success proved to be an exasperating riddle for Jasper. And yet when the Wildcats found the long-awaited solution Saturday night, it all looked so easy.

Cameron Riecker isn’t superstitious, but even he admits 9-12 seems to be a lucky record for the Northeast Dubois boys basketball team.

Matt Sisley sat atop a table in the hallway outside the Heritage Hills locker room at Huntingburg Memorial Gym. His face became red, his eyes moist as the words made their way out, ever so slowly.

Now, it’s the rematch for sectional reign. Cats-Pats, all over again.

Toughness has never been a problem for the Forest Park boys basketball team in coach Jeff Litherland’s eyes.

But as Northeast Dubois claimed its expected spot in tonight’s sectional championship and the Jeeps chase their second straight sectional crown, the Jeeps realized there was a valuable lesson to be learned from Friday’s opener.

Tyler Ward had to admit, it was all just a blur. But for a moment, the Heritage Hills junior gained clarity.

It was a bit of soul-crushing irony at the end of the Southridge boys basketball team’s first-round Class 3A sectional matchup.

Jasper boys basketball coach John Goebel was fairly certain his players could follow a scouting report and win a game. What he wasn’t sure about is whether his guys could insulate themselves from all the talk.