Season Update: The SAC

The featured image is of [player_tooltip player_id="177317" first="Destini" last="Craig"] of Fort Wayne Snider High School. Periodically throughout the season, I want to take the time to look in on several of the state’s conferences. I’ll take a peek at what teams are performing well, who the top prospects are, upcoming games, etc. Considered the "big school" conference in Northeast Indiana, the Summit Athletic Conference (also known as "the SAC") is also one of the oldest. Originally founded in 1934 as the Fort Wayne City Series, its name was changed to the Summit Athletic Conference in 1973 when Harding joined the group. It started with just four original members...Central Catholic, Fort Wayne Central, Fort Wayne North Side, and Fort Wayne South Side. A number of additional schools joined the SAC, including the now defunct Elmhurst and Harding High Schools, but at this time the conference consists of ten total schools, with Fort Wayne Carroll and Homestead being the latest additions in 2015. The other eight current members still include Fort Wayne North Side and Fort Wayne South Side, along with Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger, Fort Wayne Bishop Luers, Fort Wayne Concordia Lutheran, Fort Wayne Northrop, Fort Wayne Snider, and Fort Wayne Wayne. There is inconsistent information concerning girls’ basketball titles before 2000, but over the last 20 years, only five of the ten current members hold titles. Bishop Luers leads the way with six titles. Homestead follows with five, but this is also only their sixth year in the SAC. Concordia Lutheran possesses three, South Side and Snider have two each, as does Elmhurst which closed its doors in 2010. As for this season, five schools are currently above .500, while the other five schools are under .500 in terms of overall record. With Homestead having dominated the SAC over the last five seasons, Carroll stands at 2-0 in the conference, with a huge 62-58 double overtime win against Homestead back on December 4. South Side (3-0) and Concordia Lutheran (2-0) are also undefeated in conference play, but their matchups with each other, Carroll, and Homestead are yet to come. Quite a few of these schools play tough non-conference schedules, and you’ll usually find a couple/few of them ranked in Classes 4A or 3A throughout the year. They’ll be ready come tournament time, and most/all of these teams have college prospects on their rosters, a lot of which still fly under the radar in terms of recruiting.   <table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="width: 25%;">School</td> <td style="width: 25%;">Record</td> <td style="width: 25%;">Conference</td> <td style="width: 25%;">Schedule Strength</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width: 25%;">South Side</td> <td style="width: 25%;">5-0</td> <td style="width: 25%;">3-0</td> <td style="width: 25%;">23</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width: 25%;">Carroll</td> <td style="width: 25%;">7-2</td> <td style="width: 25%;">2-0</td> <td style="width: 25%;">41</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width: 25%;">Concordia Lutheran</td> <td style="width: 25%;">7-2</td> <td style="width: 25%;">2-0</td> <td style="width: 25%;">100</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width: 25%;">Homestead</td> <td style="width: 25%;">5-3</td> <td style="width: 25%;">2-1</td> <td style="width: 25%;">8</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width: 25%;">Bishop Luers</td> <td style="width: 25%;">3-4</td> <td style="width: 25%;">2-1</td> <td style="width: 25%;">40</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width: 25%;">Snider</td> <td style="width: 25%;">3-2</td> <td style="width: 25%;">1-1</td> <td style="width: 25%;">46</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width: 25%;">Bishop Dwenger</td> <td style="width: 25%;">4-6</td> <td style="width: 25%;">2-2</td> <td style="width: 25%;">93</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width: 25%;">Wayne</td> <td style="width: 25%;">3-6</td> <td style="width: 25%;">0-2</td> <td style="width: 25%;">127</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width: 25%;">North Side</td> <td style="width: 25%;">0-11</td> <td style="width: 25%;">0-3</td> <td style="width: 25%;">108</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width: 25%;">Northrop</td> <td style="width: 25%;">3-4</td> <td style="width: 25%;">0-4</td> <td style="width: 25%;">68</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> Schedule strength is figured out of 400 qualifying schools in the state, regardless of classification.   Fort Wayne South Side The Archers have gotten off to an undefeated, 5-0 start, with quality wins over Northridge and South Bend Washington, along with three conference wins against Bishop Luers, Snider, and North Side. With matchups against Heritage Christian (today), Fishers (1/2), Homestead (1/8), Carmel (1/9), Penn (1/16), and North Central (Indianapolis) (1/23) on the docket, South Side isn’t avoiding competition one bit. A tournament at Franklin Central on 12/30 that also includes Pike and Vincennes Lincoln could also prove challenging. The Archers lost floor general [player_tooltip player_id="64119" first="Jaci" last="Jones"] to graduation, but Junior point guard [player_tooltip player_id="65535" first="Olivia" last="Smith"] (14.5p, 4.0r, 5.0a) has her own talents and can fill that void adequately. Senior forward [player_tooltip player_id="35046" first="Lamyia" last="Woodson"] (18.0p, 12.5r, 2.5b) is also looking to take on a leadership role this year. She is signed with Youngstown State University. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id="130358" first="Jasney" last="Combs"] (8.0p, 2.5r), Cassidy Connelley (6.0p, 4.5r), and [player_tooltip player_id="184246" first="Cierra" last="Calloway"] (2.0p, 3.0r) provide additional backcourt support, while Freshman guard [player_tooltip player_id="201869" first="Anika" last="Davis"] (8.0p, 3.0r) is a talented youngster outside. Senior forward LaShay Peterson (2.5p, 5.0r) helps Woodson along the frontline. Fort Wayne Carroll The Carroll Chargers have shied away from no one. With the big win against Homestead, the Chargers also have a nice win against Northridge. Their two losses are to state powers Hamilton Southeastern, 51-47 in overtime, and Penn, 67-58. Unfortunately, they have entered a stretch of quarantine, and their next scheduled contest isn’t until December 29 in the Raider Holiday Classic at Northridge. Warsaw (ppd.), Norwell (1/5), and Carmel (1/16) also still await Carroll in the New Year. The roster has a nice mix of veteran leadership and youthful talent. Senior point guard [player_tooltip player_id="99373" first="Emily" last="Parrett"] (12.0p, 4.2r, 2.1a, 2.3s) is their leader, both by running the offense and acting as the emotional leader. Senior wing [player_tooltip player_id="130365" first="Delane" last="Sheets"] (6.8p) and Junior forward [player_tooltip player_id="128156" first="Jasmine" last="Anderson"] (2.7r) are additional experienced upperclassmen. A strong Sophomore class includes guard [player_tooltip player_id="96079" first="Taylor" last="Fordyce"] (9.6p, 4.1r, 2.9s), twin wings [player_tooltip player_id="59758" first="Saniya" last="Jackson"] (7.8p, 4.6r, 2.3a) and [player_tooltip player_id="59759" first="Nevaeh" last="Jackson"] (7.1p, 4.6r, 2.3a, 2.6s), as well as guard Kayla Gibbs (5.8p, 2.7r, 2.0s). Freshman guard [player_tooltip player_id="177314" first="Alexis" last="Castator"] (6.0p, 3.1r) is very talented and should get more comfortable as the year goes on. Fort Wayne Concordia Lutheran Concordia Lutheran has taken care of business early this season, knocking off conference foes Northrop and Wayne to start with a 2-0 record in the SAC. At 7-2 overall, they are proving to be a force in Class 3A, however their two losses are to Norwell and Garrett...teams they could see in the Sectional (Garrett) and Regional (Norwell), if they advance that far. Concordia Lutheran travels to Homestead (12/16) next week, and they still have to face South Side (1/15) in January. The Cadets are powered by their size, as 6-0 Sophomore forward [player_tooltip player_id="96089" first="Annaka" last="Nelson"] (18.0p, 6.9r, 2.2a, 3.4s) and 6-1 Senior post [player_tooltip player_id="130318" first="Chanteese" last="Craig"] (16.2p, 7.4r, 2.3s, 2.3b) are their most impactful players every night. Senior forward Grace Hedtke (11.8p, 4.1r, 2.1s) has really stepped up this year as well and is a third double-digit scorer for Concordia Lutheran. Junior guard LonDynn Betts (7.2p, 3.2r, 4.7a, 2.6s) acts as the Cadets floor general this season. Seniors Rhaya Kaschinske (4.2p, 3.1r, 3.4a, 2.4s) and Chastity Craig (2.2p, 3.6r) are also vital to the rotation this season. Homestead Whether they would attribute their 5-3 record to it or not, Homestead continues to graduate critical pieces year after year. In May of 2020, the Spartans saw talented forward [player_tooltip player_id="23026" first="Sydney" last="Graber"], as well as key backcourt member [player_tooltip player_id="23065" first="Rylie" last="Parker"] head off to college to play ball. Both of them are now playing Division-I basketball. Add to that Homestead’s schedule strength, and they have tough games nearly every night. The Spartans have already played Carmel, Northridge, Noblesville, Carroll, and South Bend Washington, and they have games remaining against Angola, Concordia Lutheran, North Central (Indianapolis), South Side, Lawrence North, and Warsaw, to name a few. The leader of the pack is talented 6-3 Junior [player_tooltip player_id="10766" first="Ayanna" last="Patterson"]. The incredibly athletic forward is starting to score the ball at a high level almost nightly. Senior point guard [player_tooltip player_id="158392" first="Grace" last="Sullivan"] is a feisty and dynamic lead guard who makes plays at both ends. Senior post [player_tooltip player_id="22675" first="Amber" last="Austin"] and Junior forward [player_tooltip player_id="128134" first="Maggie" last="Keinsley"] bring both talent and skill to the frontline, while Sophomore guard [player_tooltip player_id="127237" first="Molly" last="Stock"] is highly skilled in the backcourt. Fort Wayne Bishop Luers Bishop Luers is another one of those schools statewide who unfortunately had to suffer through an interruption in their schedule. They played their third game of the year on November 12, then had to wait until December 4 to resume their season. The Knights travel to Homestead next Friday (12/18), and they already have nine games scheduled for January, with more yet to be rescheduled, so it won’t be an easy stretch coming up for Bishop Luers. Freshman post Addie Shank (10.0p, 6.8r) has gotten out to a strong start for the Knights, while Senior forward [player_tooltip player_id="184239" first="Delaney" last="Bailey"] (9.8p, 5.6r, 2.8a) is a really nice compliment to her and can play inside or around the perimeter some. Senior guard Janaiya Bright (9.2p, 3.3r, 3.2a, 2.8s) is very athletic. Juniors Anna Parent (8.2p, 7.2r, 2.0a, 2.7s) and Hannah Sweeney (6.3p, 7.7r, 2.8s), as well as Senior Jayla Fikes (4.0p, 2.2r), give them more lineup options. Fort Wayne Snider The Snider Panthers are taking somewhat of a rebuilding approach playing a lot of youngsters, however they are talented enough to already be very competitive this season. They also have a new Head Coach in Akilah Sims, who had successful playing careers in high school and college. The Panthers started the season 3-0, but they’ve suffered consecutive losses to a tough South Side team in a nail-biter (65-61), and to a very good and experienced Warsaw team (53-45). I’d expect to see them continue to grow, as this young squad gains more and more Varsity experience. Freshman point guard [player_tooltip player_id="177351" first="Jordyn" last="Poole"] is a dynamic playmaker who is already flashing star-like qualities. Freshman forward [player_tooltip player_id="177317" first="Destini" last="Craig"] and Freshman guard [player_tooltip player_id="177321" first="Joh’nea" last="Donahue"] are two more young talents who are contributing immediately. Another key newcomer is Senior forward [player_tooltip player_id="10706" first="Destiny" last="Jackson"], who is a double-double waiting to happen each time out. She transferred in from Northrop this season. Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger Bishop Dwenger is usually a tough and feisty group who is typically competitive and pulls off an upset or two each year. After beginning this season 0-4, they have responded by winning four of their last six games, while evening their SAC record at 2-2. They do have a very tough second half of the season, with games against Concordia Lutheran, Fairfield, Carroll, South Bend Washington, Norwell, and South Side still on tap. If they can take care of the ball and make their easy shots, they can get to ten wins once again. Their backcourt is experienced, getting solid play from Junior guard Lexi Linder, Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id="184242" first="Kayliana" last="Hammel"], Senior guard Victoria Parent, plus Junior wing Morgan Farmer and Sophomore wing Maddie Schenkel. One key will be getting consistent play out of Senior post Maggie Cheever, which could be vital considering all of the quality frontline players in the Summit City. Fort Wayne Wayne Similarly to Fort Wayne Snider, the Wayne Generals are taking a youthful approach, though Wayne is doing so with exclusively Sophomores and Freshmen filling out its Varsity roster. The young Generals began their season with a nice win against Blackford, but they then fell six consecutive times, before rebounding with wins against Marion and Fremont earlier this week. Now due to postponements, they are in a holding pattern until they play South Side on December 22. Wayne’s lineup starts with a couple of impressive interior players, as Freshman Khalise Collins (10.6p, 6.6r) and Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id="127213" first="Shabrea" last="O’Quinn"] (9.5p, 5.0r) can be real matchup problems upfront. O’Quinn, however, has only seen action in four of their games thus far. The backcourt has a number of quick and athletic youngsters, led by Sophomore Emilia Diaz (9.0p, 2.2r, 2.6s), Sophomore Aniah Hill (8.6p, 3.1r, 2.8s), Freshman Sydney Gorman (7.7p, 2.4r, 2.2a), and Freshman Mariah Luna (5.1p, 3.9r, 2.9a). If the Generals continue to grow together, they could be a scary unit this time next season. Fort Wayne North Side North Side has struggled throughout the 2000s, posting no more than seven wins in any one season since 2003-2004. However, they too are going through a youth movement, and their kids play hard each time out. If they stay the course and continue to improve, they could see things change for the better in a year or two. The Legends are led by a trio of Freshmen in Alivia Jones (7.8p, 2.2r), Ja’Liyah Paige (5.5p, 6.7r), and Aniya Woodson (4.4p, 2.0r). Junior Zara Nokour (5.4p, 7.0r) has done a nice job on the boards so far, as has Junior Felicia Smith (4.9r). Sophomores Jayda Young (2.4p) and Tierani Hoskins (2.0p), plus Junior Tasia Chaney (3.0r), are also part of the regular rotation this year. Fort Wayne Northrop Northrop is always a fast and athletic team, and this year is no different. They are somewhat inexperienced, and the transfer of [player_tooltip player_id="10706" first="Destiny" last="Jackson"] to Snider is certainly a significant loss. They have somewhat traded wins and losses this year to begin 3-4, but they have the talent to win 10 to 12 games this year on the whole, though remaining matchups against Mishawaka Marian (today), South Side, Snider, and Homestead will prove to be tough. Senior forward [player_tooltip player_id="99367" first="TiAuna" last="White"] (17.3p, 7.3r, 2.0s) has been highly productive each year of her career, and she leads the Bruins once again this season. Senior guard Kayla Warfield (8.0p, 5.0r), Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id="128189" first="Amanda" last="Thatcher"] (8.0p, 5.5r, 2.3a), and Sophomore guard [player_tooltip player_id="203663" first="Alexa" last="Robinson"] (3.9p, 5.0r) are all athletic playmakers in the backcourt. Robinson transferred in from Concordia Lutheran this year. Junior Aniyah Moore (5.5p, 6.0r), Senior Jasmine Perry (5.3p, 2.3r), and Senior Sirennity Bragg (2.8p, 4.0r) are consistent contributors as well this season.