Columbus East High School

Columbus East — Sectional 14 Fan & Parent Guide — 2025-26 IHSAA Girls Basketball Sectional (Hosted at The Orange Pit, Columbus East High School) ________________________________________ Quick facts • Dates: Tuesday, Feb 3 • Friday, Feb 6 • Saturday, Feb 7 (2026). • Teams: Columbus East, Columbus North, East Central, Franklin Community, Whiteland. • Site: The Orange Pit at Columbus East High School. • Doors open for spectators: ~1 hour before tip (listed in schedule). • Ticket price: $8 per fan (digital or cash). Team buses/official team personnel admitted free without a pass. ________________________________________ Tickets & entry Buy ahead (recommended) using the Event Link ticket links for each night: • Tue, Feb 3 ticket link: https://public.eventlink.com/tickets?t=171927 • Fri, Feb 6 ticket link: https://public.eventlink.com/tickets?t=171928 • Sat, Feb 7 ticket link: https://public.eventlink.com/tickets?t=171929 All-Session Pass: https://public.eventlink.com/tickets?t=171927 Digital or cash accepted at the gate. • Team buses / players / coaches / managers / trainers / bus drivers: Free entry without a pass — arrive on the team bus and come through the team entrance. ________________________________________ Game schedule & what to expect • Tuesday, Feb 3 — Game 1: Columbus East vs East Central — Tip: 7:00 pm (EST). Doors for fans ~6:00 pm. Warmups begin ~6:35 pm. • Friday, Feb 6th — Game 2: Columbus North vs Whiteland — Tip: 6:00 pm (EST). Doors ~5:00 pm. Warmups begin ~5:35 pm. Friday Feb. 6th - Game 3 warmups will begin immediately after Game 2 ends (horn will start warmups). • Saturday, Feb 7 — Sectional Championship — Tip: 7:00 pm (EST). Doors ~6:00 pm. Warmups begin ~6:35 pm. Championship trophy, game balls, and net-cutting ceremony after the final whistle. Note: The schedule in the event doc lists times in EST — please use those times when planning arrival. ________________________________________ Game-day timeline • 1 hour before tip — Doors open for spectators; buy/screenshot tickets. • ~25–30 minutes before tip — Warmups begin; head to seats. • ~5–10 minutes before tip — National Anthem, team introductions. • Tip-off — Enjoy the game! Expect trophy & ball presentations and net cutting immediately after the championship. ________________________________________ Parking, drop-off & entrances • Team drop-off: Main Athletic Entrance — Door #48 (south end). A CE representative will meet teams at the door and escort them to locker rooms. Buses park on the far south end of the lot. • Spectator entrance: All fans enter at Door #48. Handicap ramp access and a handicap-accessible door are available at the main entrance; an elevator is near the ticket booth. ________________________________________ Seating & crowd layout • Home team (second-listed team) wears white and sits on the East side of the gym. Student section sits directly across from the team bench; adults sit behind the student section. Visiting team layout mirrors that on the west. Signs will be posted. ________________________________________ Warmups, practice courts, & trainers • An auxiliary gym and basketballs will be available for teams/fans wanting to shoot prior to their allotted warmup. • Columbus East will provide a certified athletic trainer for all games. ________________________________________ Player bench / personnel • Bench occupancy: 16 eligible players + 2 coaches may sit on the players’ bench. Additional team personnel must sit directly behind the bench. ________________________________________ Announcements, introductions & procedures • National Anthem will be played before every game. • Introductions: Visiting team non-starters → starters → head coach, then home team non-starters → starters → head coach. ________________________________________ Awards & championship wrap • Runner-up presentation first (game ball). Then championship trophy and game ball presentation. Championship team will then cut down the net. Have someone ready to accept awards. ________________________________________ Concessions, hospitality & staff • Concessions will be available all three nights. • A hospitality room will be available for teams/officials/guests only. ________________________________________ Rules for fans — what’s not allowed Please respect the venue and other fans. The following are not permitted: • Balloons, banners/posters, shakers on sticks. • Cowbells and similar noise devices. • Live animal mascots. • “Line-up” lanes of fans on the playing floor. • Carry-in radios, tape decks, etc. ________________________________________ Contacts (event staff) • David Miller, Athletic Director — millerda@bcsc.k12.in.us • • Chris Cooper, Asst AD — cooperc@bcsc.k12.in.us • • Dennis Pierce, Sports Information Director — pierced@bcsc.k12.in.us • Good luck to all teams!