Coach Kirk Manns says his Seymour boys basketball team will need to come up with a better offensive showing against New Albany tonight in the Seymour Sectional than it did in the Hoosier Hills Conference game Dec. 27.

After Jeffersonville and Jennings County battle at 6 p.m. today, the Owls (10-12) will face the Bulldogs (10-14).

In Tuesday’s sectional games, Jennings County rallied to beat Bedford North Lawrence 72-71 in double overtime, and New Albany topped Floyd Central 60-49. Jennings County, Jeffersonville and BNL tied for the Hoosier Hills Conference title with records of 5-1.

In the regular-season game between the Owls and Bulldogs in the Lloyd E. Scott Gymnasium, the Bulldogs held a 22-18 lead at the half, a 30-26 lead after three quarters and won 49-41.

“In the fourth quarter, they were able to get up three or four points and started spreading us out, and we had a hard time with their penetration,” Manns said. “It’s a matter of being healthy and running a healthy offense and being able to get the looks that we need to get and be able to be efficient and finish those shots.

“The tempo is always important in any game,” he said. “New Albany is not a team that (scores a lot of points). It’s different than playing Jeffersonville or Jennings County, where they like a high-possession game. New Albany will play a controlled style.”

Seymour is averaging 48.7 points per game and giving up 48.9, while New Albany averages 53.2 and allows 55.2.

“You know what to expect when you play New Albany,” Manns said. “They are going to be organized, they’re going to play hard and they are going to do whatever they can to take advantage of your weaknesses.”

Manns said the Owls will need a good team effort on both ends of the floor.

On defense, he said, “It’s not an individual thing. It’s a team thing effort. Our guys have got to be focused on helping one another, caring about each other and making sure they take care of each other in that regard.”

The Owls defeated Shelbyville and Silver Creek in their final two games of the regular season last week and have won six of their last seven.

“We have some momentum,” Manns said. “We’re playing better on both ends of the floor. We’re getting better individual play from a lot of our guys. Jaylan Johnson, a sophomore, has played 22 basketball games. He has improved a lot.”

Johnson ranks second on the team in scoring at 10.7 points per game.

Manns said Charlie Longmeier had a slow start and has really shown improvement handling the ball and defending, Bret Perry continues to do a great job defending, Landon Fritsch has been consistent offensively leading the Owls in scoring at 12.7 per game and Eli Meyer has given the Owls more offense, scoring in double figures both games last week.

Longmeier topped the Owls in scoring in the earlier game against the Bulldogs with 11 points, and Johnson scored 10.

“Our bench play has gotten better. We’re getting good, quality minutes off the bench,” Manns said. “Our turnovers have been way down here the last four or five weeks. We’re doing a better job of taking care of the ball, and that’s because our purpose is better, our pace has been good and again, our tempo has been good.”

Manns said the Owls need to keep a close watch on Josten Carter, a 6-foot-4 senior who topped the Bulldogs in scoring in the December game with 13 points.

“Coming out and having a good start is key because like I said, it’s not going to be a high-volume game in terms of possessions,” he said. “You don’t want to play from behind, and you don’t want to have to try to push that rock up the hill the entire game.”