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IHSAA boys basketball: Monroe Central tops Wapahani, 5 ECI teams advance to sectional finals

ALEXANDRIA, Ind. — Down 22-12 points at halftime, Monroe Central boys basketball's undefeated season appeared finished.

The Class 2A No. 1 Golden Bears hadn't been in that position all year. Head coach Justin Ullom pondered this possibility prior to his team's rematch with No. 7 Wapahani, wondering how to react should his group face such adversity.

To his surprise, he didn't need to say much. Senior leaders Jackson Ullom and Gavin Smithson-Burciaga had it handled.

"Sometimes as coaches you're embarrassed, and as a younger coach I probably would've took it out on them. This time I just told myself this week, 'We're good enough to overcome a large deficit.