Class 1A South Regional Preview Part 1

Now it’s time to take a look at the Class 1A Regionals in the South. Sectionals #57 through #60 feed into this Regional. Below is a look at the teams in each of those Sectionals, along with some general comments and analysis. We will continue previewing the upcoming season over the course of the next month, with our final preview articles posting on Halloween.   (SAG = Final 2017-2018 Sagarin Rating in Class 1A/Multiclass; SOS = Final 2017-2018 Strength of Schedule)   Sectional #57 Clay City (18-8) SAG 23/218; SOS 328 Bloomfield (14-11) SAG 24/219; SOS 227 North Central-Farmersburg (15-10) SAG 27/231; SOS 296 White River Valley (6-17) SAG 48/277; SOS 231 Shakamak (5-18) SAG 75/358; SOS 290 Eminence (3-19) SAG 90/395; SOS 375 [caption id="attachment_12282" align="alignright" width="208"] Malea Toon of Bloomfield[/caption] Sectional #57 could be pretty wide open this season, as there are at least three and maybe four teams who can contend for the title. Bloomfield has won the last three Sectional titles, and they look to potentially have the best player in the Sectional with regards to 2019 front-liner Malea Toon (18.9 ppg, 9.2 rpg). She’s a double-double threat every night, plus 2021 guard Kylee Shelton (12.0 ppg, 4.4 rpg) had a nice Freshman season, and the Cardinals only graduated one key contributor from last year. If 2019 post Kayla Pinnick and any of the other underclassmen can step up, look for Bloomfield to potentially be a Top-15 team in 1A. Clay City is a team who has typically been very competitive, but they haven’t won a Sectional since 2012. They will also have to play this season with a new coach, and without graduates Avalee Jeffers and Madelyn Ames, both double figure scorers. The Eels will need 2019 guard Aysiah Hernandez, and 2020 forwards Andrea Steward and Lauryn Myers to step up. At the same time, North Central is on the rise, having been led by a pair of 2021 guards a season ago. Averi Davidson (17.7 ppg, 3.8 apg, 3.6 spg) and Courtney Williams (15.3 ppg, 5.1 apg) should be a tough pair for opponents to handle the next three seasons. 2020 forwards Erika Shroyer and Brinley Stone should help up front. The Thunderbirds also have a slew of youngsters who could step up to round out the roster. White River Valley has had its ups and downs over the years, but they return a fairly veteran group this season. 2019 guards Addison Graves and Sydney Stahl, plus 2019 forward Kaylie Gayheart look to lead the way this season. Shakamak graduated just one girl in point guard Brittany Huddleston, but they return everyone else, including 2019 guard Moriah Messmer and 2019 forward Cloe Hinkle. Eminence will turn to 2019 guard Veda Riffel (7.2 ppg) and 2021 forward Emma Manion (5.3 ppg, 6.0 rpg) for scoring this season.   Sectional #58 University (18-8) SAG 16/196; SOS 358 Bethesda Christian (18-6) SAG 22/217; SOS 383 Indiana School for the Deaf (12-12) SAG 60/309; SOS 380 International (10-10) SAG 79/364; SOS 390 Metropolitan (7-15) SAG 92/399; SOS 392 [caption id="attachment_11860" align="alignleft" width="212"] Lindsey Syrek of University[/caption] University won their first Sectional since 2012 a season ago, and they look primed for an even deeper run this season, as they are as talented as anyone in Class 1A this season. They did graduate their second leading scorer in wing Natalie Nickless (13.4 ppg, 5.0 rpg), but they return one of the best interior players in Class 1A with 2020 forward Lindsey Syrek (18.5 ppg, 13.8 rpg, 4.0 bpg). 2019 guard Brooke Andrus (9.4 ppg, 4.9 apg) came in a year ago and added stability at guard, and 2019 front-liner Jhordan McGuire (5.2 ppg, 4.6 rpg) is healthy now, after only playing the final five games following a July 2017 knee injury. 2019 twins Lily (8.4 ppg, 2.8 spg) and Lucy Snyder (5.5 ppg, 4.2 rpg), plus 2019 guard Haley Tomlinson (4.8 ppg) add depth. But the Trailblazers also have two key newcomers in 2020 guard Maddi Sears (3.3 ppg) and 2019 forward Jenna Blakley (6.9 ppg, 4.4 rpg). Sears has played Varsity at Carmel H.S., while Blakley played for the Indianapolis Trailblazers homeschool team. If anyone is going to challenge University in Sectional #58, it’s likely going to be Bethesda Christian. Bethesda did graduate a high-scoring guard in McKenna Baker (19.8 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 5.5 apg, 4.0 spg), but they return their leading scorer in 2020 guard Maddi Fulks (21.0 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 4.6 apg, 5.2 spg). 2020 guard Rachel Shafer (9.8 ppg, 4.5 rpg) also returns and should see her production increase, and then it will be up to a number of other girls to fill the void left by Baker. They are a scrappy bunch though. The Indiana School for the Deaf also typically has a competitive bunch, and they return an experienced group this season. 2020 forward Hannah Puent (16.0 ppg, 9.4 rpg), 2020 post Anya Pothroski (13.3 ppg, 10.0 rpg, 5.2 bpg), and 2019 guard Courtney Skjeveland (12.4 ppg, 6.4 apg, 3.9 spg) were their top three scorers from a season ago, but they have depth in 2020 guard Kalena Bumbala (7.2 ppg, 2.8 spg) and 2021 forward Caitlyn Smith (5.6 ppg, 5.7 rpg). International graduated a number of seniors who played a majority of the minutes, so the Gryphons will be looking for one of several newcomers to step up. Metropolitan also graduated some key seniors, so the Pumas will be looking at a mostly fresh start as well.   Sectional #59 Tindley (25-4) SAG 2/33; SOS 289 Greenwood Christian (19-7) SAG 36/255; SOS 357 Indianapolis Lutheran (11-12) SAG 40/263; SOS 303 Providence Cristo Rey (10-14) SAG 85/383; SOS 400 Cristel House Academy (3-19) SAG 95/407; SOS 407 Central Christian (1-21) SAG 96/408; SOS 398 Indianapolis Lighthouse South (0-20) SAG 97/409; SOS 405 Tindley has won six consecutive Sectional titles, but this season should be interesting, considering they graduated two 2,000-point scorers in Skye Williams (19.4 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 5.4 spg) and Kendall Fisher (22.5 ppg, 3.8 apg, 4.9 spg), plus two 1,000-point scorers in Nola Wilson (14.0 ppg) and Trinaé Love (13.1 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 3.4 spg). The starting point this season will likely be 2021 guard Aniya Washington (5.9 ppg). But Greenwood Christian and Lutheran are chomping at the bit to make a run this season. [caption id="attachment_12283" align="alignright" width="218"] Rylee Morris of Lutheran[/caption] Greenwood Christian will have to do so minus leading scorer and rebounder Sarah Mangan (13.9 ppg, 10.4 rpg), plus Grace Peters (7.4 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 3.6 spg) and Grace Apgar (4.3 ppg). All three are gone via graduation. But there is definitely good experience returning. 2021 forward Isabella Reed (12.4 ppg, 8.2 rpg) had an impressive Freshman season, while 2020 guard Alexis Mead (10.8 ppg, 2.9 apg) also scored in double figures. Wings Abby Muck (6.3 ppg) and Katie Potter are two other 2021s who gained valuable Varsity experience last season. Lutheran must make up for the graduation losses of Erin Pasch (9.6 ppg, 5.2 rpg) and Darianne Snyder (9.5 ppg, 3.0 apg), but they do return a nice 2019 wing in leading scorer Rylee Morris (11.9 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 4.0 apg). Back to help Morris are 2019 Jaden Feller (6.3 ppg) and 2020 Chloe Andre (2.9 ppg, 2.3 rpg). Providence Cristo Rey returns a really nice 2021 post in Alexcia Thorpe (11.9 ppg). Cristel House will look to 2019 guard Tiffany Schultz for leadership. Central Christian is led by their own talented 2021 guard Asia Van Rhoon (10.5 ppg). And Lighthouse South will lean on a group of 2020s to help with their rebuild this season.   Sectional #60 Jac-Cen-Del (21-4) SAG 4/75; SOS 243 Morristown (16-8) SAG 19/204; SOS 284 Waldron (12-12) SAG 31/238; SOS 280 Southwestern-Shelbyville (10-11) SAG 39/262; SOS 310 Rising Sun (11-12) SAG 42/268; SOS 297 Hauser (6-17) SAG 47/275; SOS 213 Oldenburg Academy (6-15) SAG 53/291; SOS 261 [caption id="attachment_12284" align="alignleft" width="175"] Mariah Day of Jac-Cen-Del[/caption] Jac-Cen-Del has been the class of this Sectional for a few years now, but this time around a title might not come quite as easily. The heart and soul of the Eagles the last four years, point guard Lilly Simon (17.5 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 6.2 apg), has graduated. Also graduating was double-figure scorer and leading rebounder Morgen Carroll (11.6 ppg, 9.4 rpg). But, Jac-Cen-Del does return some talent and experience. 2019 wing Mariah Day (15.2 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 3.4 apg) is one of the best athletes in Class 1A. 2021 post Paige Ledford (7.7 ppg, 7.4 rpg) was highly productive as a Freshman. 2021s Dillan Hughes (4.0 ppg), Kadee Kuhn, and Anna Hubbard also logged significant minutes last year. If I had to choose, I would probably point to Morristown as the biggest competition for Jac-Cen-Del this season. Morristown did graduate Alayna Munson (9.5 ppg, 7.0 rpg), Grace Young (5.3 ppg), and Katheryn Parker (4.2 ppg), but the 2019 trio of wing Cambie Poole (11.8 ppg, 4.2 rpg), wing Brooklyn Langkabel (10.8 ppg, 4.3 rpg), and guard Raegan Butcher (8.2 ppg, 3.5 rpg) will definitely give opponents fits. 2019 guard Kenzie Logan (4.1 ppg) and 2021 forward Rylee Kleine (2.3 ppg) also played solid minutes a year ago. Waldron is another team who returns a great deal of experience, as they didn’t have a senior play a year ago. 2019 guard Morgan Wood and 2019 forward Victoria Shaw are both double-figure scorers. 2019 forwards Abby Adams and Hannah Sullivan also return to the lineup. 2021 guard Lauryn Thomas, plus 2020 forwards Lexie Vorhies and Paige Fewell saw action last season as well. Southwestern is a relatively young team this season, after graduating guards Annie Coy, Danielle Phillips, and Emmy Wendling. But a pair of 2021 guards, Lexi Wilkins (13.4 ppg) and Maggie Correll, were thrown into the fire last year and should lead the squad this season. Madison Van Gorden is a 2019 forward who should help them up front. Rising Sun only graduated one senior, but it was guard Lucy Carrigan (24.3 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 3.3 spg). I would look for 2019 post Danyka Groover (9.2 ppg, 7.6 rpg), 2021 forward Maddi Wilson (4.3 ppg), and 2020 wing Sydney Pitts (3.5 ppg, 4.6 rpg) to maximize their opportunities this season, as they should see more scoring chances. Hauser graduated three key seniors in Sarah Tedder, Grace Hasler, and Lauryn Starnes. But they also return an experienced 2019 class, with forward Taylor Henderson leading the way. Jada Asher and Mykenzie Ault are a pair of 2019 guards who should help around the perimeter. Oldenburg will rely heavily on talented do-everything 2019 forward Katie Kinker. 2019 point guard Hanna Hurm also brings valuable experience. They return nearly everyone, so they could approach double-figure wins.   Header photo of Courtney Williams of North Central (Farmersburg) grabbing a rebound; photo courtesy of tribstar.com. Photo of Malea Toon courtesy of heraldtimesonline.com. Photo of Lindsey Syrek courtesy of University GBB Twitter account. Photo of Rylee Morris courtesy of her own Twitter account. Photo of Mariah Day courtesy of photos.batesvilleheraldtribune.com.