State Tourney Preview: Class 1A North

The IHSAA State Tournament begins this evening, weather pending, for many schools across the Hoosier state. With that in mind, I wanted to offer a brief preview of each Sectional in the North for Class 1A, which incorporates Sectionals #49 through #56. Below is a look at the teams in each of those Sectionals, along with some general comments and analysis. I will continue previewing the IHSAA State Tournament throughout the course of the day, with eight articles posting in total.   (SAG = Current 2018-2019 Multiclass Sagarin Rating; SOS = Current 2018-2019 Strength of Schedule)   Sectional #49 at Marquette Catholic Marquette Catholic (20-2) SAG 12; SOS 54 Morgan Township (13-8) SAG 161; SOS 238 Kouts (9-12) SAG 265; SOS 315 Westville (13-8) SAG 272; SOS 338 Washington Township (5-14) SAG 329; SOS 351 Gary 21st Century (1-16) SAG 387; SOS 343 This Sectional is very simple…as long as Marquette Catholic doesn’t get in its own way, they should make it through Sectional #49 with ease. If anyone here can provide resistance, it would likely be Morgan Township, if they themselves are able to make it to the Sectional Championship. Twins Emma and Sophia Nolan (2019) are the two standouts in this Sectional, but Sahara Bee (2020) of Morgan Township and Sarah Weston (2020) of Westville are a couple of other nice prospects to keep an eye on. Championship Game Prediction: Marquette Catholic over Morgan Township   Sectional #50 at North White North White (15-7) SAG 205; SOS 296 Pioneer (14-6) SAG 225; SOS 352 South Newton (14-6) SAG 306; SOS 364 Tri-County (4-14) SAG 336; SOS 356 Caston (6-15) SAG 343; SOS 347 West Central (4-17) SAG 354; SOS 334 Covenant Christian-DeMotte (8-15) SAG 362; SOS 377 Sectional #50 is more balanced than it has been in past years, and schools like Pioneer and South Newton have had much-improved seasons from a year ago. I still think the combination of North White’s talent, experience, and strength of schedule gives them an advantage, but this year will be much tougher for them to win the Sectional for a fifth consecutive year. North White’s Sara Rose (2019), Pioneer’s Tia Freshour (2019), and South Newton’s Jaimie Diedam (2019) are the top prospects in this Sectional. Championship Game Prediction: North White over Pioneer   Sectional #51 at Oregon-Davis Oregon-Davis (13-8) SAG 137; SOS 194 South Central-Union Mills (16-6) SAG 148; SOS 260 LaCrosse (11-10) SAG 237; SOS 292 Triton (6-16) SAG 261; SOS 151 Argos (9-12) SAG 266; SOS 301 Culver Community (10-12) SAG 321; SOS 349 South Bend Career Academy (2-15) SAG 393; SOS 371 Sectional #51 feels like it could very well come down to Oregon-Davis and South Central-Union Mills on Saturday night, and South Central knocked off Oregon-Davis 58-42 back in December. If anyone is to challenge those two, I would say it will be LaCrosse. Triton doesn’t have the talent they once had, but they’ve played a tough schedule and are battle tested. Katelyn Sauer (2020) is the leader for Oregon-Davis, while Amber Wolf (2020) of South Central and Katie Bell (2020) of LaCrosse are two other players to watch in this Sectional. Championship Game Prediction: Oregon-Davis over South Central-Union Mills in a revenge game   Sectional #52 at Fremont Fremont (13-8) SAG 197; SOS 218 Bethany Christian (12-9) SAG 230; SOS 310 Lakewood Park Christian (7-12) SAG 287; SOS 267 Blackhawk Christian (10-12) SAG 296; SOS 317 Elkhart Christian (10-9) SAG 328; SOS 374 Lakeland Christian (13-9) SAG 337; SOS 376 Hamilton Community (1-7) SAG 391; SOS 379 Fremont is in just its second season at the 1A level, and they look like they could be the favorite for the Sectional #52 crown. Bethany Christian and Blackhawk Christian have each improved from a season ago, and Lakewood Park Christian is always lurking. I still think Fremont and Bethany Christian will be the teams to beat here, but I wouldn’t be surprised if anyone won a game or even the title. Fremont’s Bella Dangerfield (2019), Bethany Christian’s Anya Kauffman (2019), and Lakewood Park’s Chloe Jolloff (2021) are the top players in this field. Championship Game Prediction: Fremont over Bethany Christian   Sectional #53 at North Vermillion North Vermillion (21-2) SAG 182; SOS 358 Attica (13-8) SAG 257; SOS 337 Parke Heritage (12-12) SAG 274; SOS 308 Riverton Parke (2-22) SAG 348; SOS 286 Faith Christian (1-19) SAG 388; SOS 378 North Vermillion has had a strong season, and the Falcons lean on the duo of McKenzie Crowder (2021) and Rylee Dowers (2020) to lead the way. But another duo, that of Naomi McDaniel (2019) and Karissa Pluimer (2019) for the Red Ramblers of Attica, will have something to say about Sectional #53. Parke Heritage makes its first appearance in the state tournament, as it represents the consolidation of Rockville Community High School and Turkey Run High School. They could play spoiler here as well. Championship Game Prediction: Attica over North Vermillion in an upset   Sectional #54 at Northfield Northfield (20-2) SAG 57; SOS 239 Tri-Central (10-12) SAG 283; SOS 320 Clinton Central (10-11) SAG 301; SOS 336 Southwood (4-18) SAG 318; SOS 233 Frontier (1-20) SAG 373; SOS 361 One year ago, Northfield came into Sectional #54 as a favorite, and they were upset by a tough and feisty Tri-Central squad. This season, with Northfield returning virtually everyone, they look to be a heavy favorite, and I think they’ll continue a strong season with a Sectional Championship. Leading the way for the Norse are 4-year starters Ariel Dale (2019) and Kelcie Thomson (2019). Kenadie Fernung (2021) and Carinne Henderson (2019) of Tri-Central, and Kaylea Whitcomb (2019) and Jessica Akard (2020) of Clinton Central are other players to keep an eye on in this Sectional. Championship Game Prediction: Northfield over Tri-Central   Sectional #55 at Southern Wells Daleville (11-9) SAG 269; SOS 362 Cowan (7-15) SAG 294; SOS 302 Southern Wells (6-16) SAG 314; SOS 264 Liberty Christian (8-12) SAG 331; SOS 372 Anderson Prep (7-14) SAG 361; SOS 382 Wes-Del (1-18) SAG 382; SOS 335 Sectional #55 possesses only one team with a winning record, but it is…balanced. Actually, Daleville has had a nice season, improving from just seven wins a year ago. Forward Heather Pautler (2021) is a talented young prospect for the Broncos. Cowan, led by Kaylee Kear (2021), and Southern Wells, led by Georgia Hanauer (2021), will have something to say about this Sectional. Championship Game Prediction: Daleville over Southern Wells   Sectional #56 at Randolph Southern Blue River Valley (16-6) SAG 190; SOS 328 Union City (14-8) SAG 193; SOS 275 Tri (10-11) SAG 263; SOS 293 Randolph Southern (6-15) SAG 290; SOS 231 Seton Catholic (4-18) SAG 375; SOS 341 Union-Modoc (0-19) SAG 395; SOS 339 Sectional #56 could very well be decided in the first game on opening night, as Union City and Blue River match up right out of the gate. Union City has experience on its side, having played in the State Finals two years ago, and they have a nice young duo leading the way in Skylie Lutz (2022) and Mariah Claywell (2022). Blue River, on the other hand, leans on three Seniors, most notably Lindsey Williams, as well as Freshman post Ally Madden. But don’t count out Tri and Averi Phelps (2021), as they were the Sectional Champs a season ago. Championship Game Prediction: Union City over Tri   Header photo of Marquette Catholic celebrating its 2018 State Championship; photo courtesy of nwitimes.com.