Preseason Top-50 Countdown: Teams #31-#35

Continuing our coverage of the state’s best teams, regardless of class, we now move on to the teams we have ranked #31 through #35. With regards to our Top-50 teams, we took in to account several different factors, most notably, but not limited to, last season’s record, Sagarin rating, and strength of schedule, graduation losses, newcomers, improvement of existing roster members, and coaching changes. We will continue our Top-50 countdown on Friday, so look for teams #26-#30 on October 12th.   <ol start="31"> <li> [caption id="attachment_12685" align="alignright" width="223"] Jenessa Hasty of Oak Hill[/caption] 2A Oak Hill H.S. (Converse, IN)</li> </ol> Oak Hill has been scary good the last couple of seasons, making it to the State Finals in 2017 and falling to a hot Frankton team in the Regional Final a year ago. But, this might be Oak Hill’s best team yet. The Golden Eagles did graduate guards Kristen Dubois and Brooke Law, and forward Auja Smith, but they still return their four top statistical contributors. The thing about Oak Hill offensively, is they can come at you in different ways. 6-1 2020 post Taylor Westgate (13.0 ppg, 9.8 rpg) is a strong, physical, and fairly athletic “big”, plus she can play in the post or facing the basket to about 15-feet. 5-7 2019 guard Jenessa Hasty (11.4 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 2.1 apg, 3.5 spg) is as energetic, athletic, and feisty as they come. She is a leader for this team, and they feed off of her energy. 6-0 2019 forward Adrianna Trexler (7.4 ppg, 4.1 rpg) is a tremendous mismatch, because at 6-0 she can handle the ball some in transition and initiate offense, she’s a capable perimeter shooter, plus she’s effective in the mid-post. 5-7 2019 forward Kaela Robey (9.0 ppg, 5.6 rpg) is a little undersized for how she plays, but the combo forward is tough as nails, she plays with a motor, and she’s skilled at all levels. The combination of those four plus their system is more than enough to frustrate opponents this season. For depth, the Golden Eagles will first look to 6-0 2019 twins Andrea and Marissa Wilk, and 5-3 2019 point guard Brittany McCorkle. If they choose to expand their rotation further, they’ll have to turn to some less-experienced players, but there are some good young ones in their program as well.   <ol start="32"> <li> [caption id="attachment_15114" align="alignright" width="260"] Kiara Lewis of Lafayette Jefferson[/caption] 4A Thomas Jefferson H.S. (Lafayette, IN)</li> </ol> Lafayette Jeff is coming off an impressive 22-2 season, a season in which they had a 10-game winning streak and a 12-game winning streak, and they’ve now won 41 games the past two years after winning a grand total of 14 games the previous four seasons. Plus they return their two leading scorers. 5-10 2020 power forward Kiara Lewis (16.5 ppg, 10.3 rpg, 3.5 spg) was the leading scorer and rebounder last season. She’s strong, physical, and tough, and she plays much bigger than she is because of her great motor. 5-5 2020 point guard Kyrstin Green (10.2 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 5.5 apg, 2.6 spg) is a feisty little lead guard with very good speed / quickness, some length, and the ability to change the game at either end of the floor. Green will actually be flanked in the backcourt by 5-4 2019 combo guard Brandi Norton (8.5 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 36 made 3s) and 5-5 2019 combo guard Nykela Haskins (7.1 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 3.1 apg, 2.3 spg). They are also quick / fast little water bug type of guards who make a lot of plays with their speed. Lafayette Jeff will also welcome 5-3 2022 point guard Teresa Maggio to their rotation this season, and she’s a crafty little lead guard who can help Green with playmaking responsibilities. Up front, 5-11 2020 post Ayriana Tanner (3.6 ppg, 5.3 rpg) should couple nicely with Lewis, but she’ll need to play an expanded role this season. 5-5 2020 wing Ashlynn McTagertt (3.2 ppg, 3.9 rpg) and 5-4 2020 guard Tierra Harris were a part of the rotation a season ago as well. The biggest loss for the Broncos, really the only loss, was 6-2 post Destinee Cross (9.0 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 2.1 apg, 1.6 bpg), who graduated.   <ol start="33"> <li> [caption id="attachment_15115" align="alignright" width="221"] Makayla Roundtree of Elkhart Central[/caption] 4A Elkhart Central H.S. (Elkhart, IN)</li> </ol> Elkhart Central had a solid 17-9 season last year, not really flashy to most on the outside, but let me give you a little history lesson really quick. ECHS started the 2000s with a total of nine wins those first six seasons, including a winless 2002-2003 season and a 3-17 Sectional record during that span entering last year. After those first six years, they then never won more than eight games, nor did they have a winning season, until 2016-2017 when they were 12-11. So in reality, last season was a head turner for sure, as they upset Northridge in the Sectional and then nearly beat Penn in the Regional. Plus, they should continue to get better and better the next few years, as they have nice young talent, plus they will merge with Elkhart Memorial in 2021. The Blue Blazers did graduate guards Krisen Hunt (10.3 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 2.1 apg, 2.0 spg, 46 made 3s) and Maddy Miller (7.1 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 41 made 3s), so they will need to find some perimeter shooting. Raleyah Ross (3.6 ppg, 4.5 rpg) and Katey Gaff also graduated. But talented 5-8 2019 combo guard Trinitee Harris (13.2 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 4.1 apg, 2.5 spg) returns. She was their leading scorer last year, and she’s a tremendous athlete who presents mismatches for opponents. 6-1 2019 post Makayla Roundtree (7.0 ppg, 7.1 rpg) also returns to provide an imposing presence in the paint. 5-5 2019 guard Ay’Zyana Billings-Tiller (4.4 ppg, 3.0 rpg) and 5-5 2021 guard Kaitlyn Costner (4.0 ppg, 2.6 rpg) should help a lot in the backcourt this year. Costner had an outstanding Summer and is a very athletic prospect. From there, the Blue Blazers can go any number of directions, as seven other girls saw limited Varsity action at times last season. 5-4 2019 guard Jayda Miller (3.2 ppg, 2.8 rpg), 5-7 2021 forward Taryn Roberson (2.2 ppg, 2.7 rpg), and 5-8 2020 forward Julee Miller (2.0 ppg) are probably the most experienced of the bunch.   <ol start="34"> <li> [caption id="attachment_15118" align="alignright" width="200"] Sarah O'Day of Plainfield[/caption] 4A Plainfield H.S. (Plainfield, IN)</li> </ol> Every once in a while, you come across a team who significantly exceeds expectations, and I have a feeling this year’s Plainfield squad could be that team. They were a respectable 16-8 a season ago, and they do graduate leading scorer Indira Peters (10.1 ppg, 6.8 rpg) and vocal leader & playmaker Sam Olinger (8.9 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 4.1 apg, 2.6 spg). Kayla Benge and Laura Hill also graduated. But there’s just something about this team that I think could make them really good. 5-9 2019 forward Kaiah Haberkorn (7.3 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 2.2 spg) is their most productive returnee, and I anticipate her to again be very solid in the mid-post area. But after having good Summers, I expect 5-9 2020 guard Sarah O’Day (6.5 ppg, 2.0 rpg) and 5-7 2019 guard Aubrey Barker (5.0 ppg) to have big years. O’Day is a little thin, but she’s fluid, smooth, and highly skilled. Barker is an incredibly energetic athlete who flies around the floor at both ends making plays. 5-8 2021 wing Maycee Woods (6.0 ppg, 2.5 rpg) had a nice Freshman season and should step it up even more this year. Plainfield also has good young talent in their program, and any number of kids could step into key roles this season. 5-2 2020 point guard Allie Good, 5-7 2020 forward Abby Phillips, and 5-7 2020 wing Kyla Smith all have some limited Varsity experience. I would also expect to see 5-9 2022 forward Jozee Rhodes maybe carve out a role as well. I think what I like most about this group, is that they’re all mostly interchangeable and should make it difficult for opponents to prepare for. Just about anyone can get 15-20 points in a game, and they shoot the ball fairly well throughout the roster.   <ol start="35"> <li> [caption id="attachment_11547" align="alignright" width="232"] Sara Zabrecky of Lake Central[/caption] 4A Lake Central H.S. (Saint John, IN)</li> </ol> Everyone I talk to in Northwest Indiana refers to Lake Central by saying, “well, they’ll just be Lake Central this year.” The Indians had good tradition before the turn of the century, but they started the 2000s a little sluggish for their standards. However, since the 2013-2014 season they have won between 19 and 23 games each season. Each year they graduate key pieces, and each year they still manage to be one of the best teams in “The Region”. This year will be no different, as point guard Lauren Ladowski (11.6 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 4.0 apg, 2.7 spg), post Lauren Smolen (7.9 ppg, 6.4 rpg), wing Rachael Robards (7.5 ppg, 5.2 rpg), and guard Taiylour Kirkwood (7.0 ppg) all graduated. That’s four of their top five scorers, including their top three. Wing Cheyenne Mathas (2.9 ppg, 2.1 rpg) and post Albriana Gibbs (2.7 rpg) also graduated, plus 6-4 2019 post Justine Misch decided not to return after missing last season with an injury. 5-8 2020 guard Sara Zabrecky (7.1 ppg, 2.6 rpg) could have a big year, as she is the lone returning starter and a very good perimeter shooter. 5-9 2020 wing Taylor Jaksich (3.0 ppg), 6-0 2020 post Allie Mularski (2.3 ppg), and 5-3 2020 point guard Madison Dulski are the most likely candidates to see expanded roles this time around after seeing some rotational minutes last year. The Indians also welcome back 5-5 2019 guard Meghan Long. 5-5 2019 guard Stephanie Dijak, 5-8 2019 forward Bailey Fehrman, and 5-9 2020 post Aubrey Rowser have all seen a little Varsity action as well and should add depth. 5-5 2021 wing Tiana Morales and 5-6 2021 guard Jen Tomasic might also get an opportunity early this season.   Header photo of Elkhart Central celebrating their first Sectional title since 1981; photo courtesy of abc57.com. Photo of Jenessa Hasty courtesy of Oak Hill's Hudl account. Photo of Kiara Lewis courtesy of jconline.com. Photo of Makayla Roundtree courtesy of southbendtribune.com. Photo of Sarah O'Day courtesy of pictureitdigital.smugmug.com. Photo of Sara Zabrecky courtesy of nwitimes.com.