EAST CHICAGO | Security will be heightened for the East Chicago Central sectional basketball games tonight and Wednesday following a series of fights and a school lockdown Friday, school officials said.

Officials from the seven region schools set to participate in the sectional said Monday they are confident in East Chicago's security plans for the games and will attend as planned.

Blake Ress, Indiana High School Athletic Association commissioner, said he has told East Chicago school officials to do whatever is necessary to create a safe environment for the tournament.

Gus Flores, East Chicago school's security director, said additional East Chicago police officers will be on hand, and the district's security firm has been hired to work additional hours during the evening games. Security officers also will patrol the parking lots to ensure parking restrictions are followed.

"We have run sectional and regional tournaments in the past, and we've always provided adequate security," Flores said. "We've never had any problems with weapons, and we don't have metal detectors in any of our schools."

The heightened security follows Friday fights at East Chicago Central High School that led to a lockdown before students finally were dismissed for the day.

Athletic Director Billy Maldonado said there is plenty of security in place.

"Things can happen anywhere in the country and at any school," Maldonado said. "We've got the support of our Police Department, and our principal and vice principals have committed to being at the game."

Lake Central High School Principal Sandy Platt said East Chicago always has been a gracious host, and "we intend to take our kids and our fan buses along."

Lowell Principal Jim Koger said he talked to East Chicago officials Monday morning and believes the Friday lockdown was an isolated incident.

"We've been very comfortable the times that we have played there," he said.