Down The Stretch: Class 3A

The featured image is of [player_tooltip player_id="128136" first="Alaina" last="Thorne"] of Washington High School. As the regular season ends later this evening, and the IHSAA Sectional draw has taken place, we begin to look forward to postseason play. The state tournament begins Tuesday, February 2, and teams are ready to get going. With that in mind, I wanted to highlight a handful of teams in Class 3A who stand out for three very different reasons as we head into tourney play.   STRONG & STEADY I will call this the "usual suspect" list, as these four teams have been strong all season, they are strong most seasons, and they continue to perform at a high level night-in, and night-out. Silver Creek was going to be considered a top contender in Class 3A after it posted a 21-4 record a season ago, plus they returned nearly their entire roster. Add in the transfer of 2021 post [player_tooltip player_id="88414" first="Marissa" last="Gasaway"], and the Dragons could be considered a slight favorite to make it to Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Gasaway adds an athletic interior presence they didn’t have last season, and the 6-0 power forward is a tremendous rebounder and capable defender. This year they sit at 17-3 headed into Sectional play, with their three losses coming against Class 4A powers North Central (Indianapolis), Westfield, and Bedford North Lawrence. They are battle tested and ready to roll. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id="130316" first="Alana" last="Striverson"] is a strong, athletic scorer who can find shots all over the floor. Junior sister [player_tooltip player_id="128116" first="Kynidi" last="Striverson"] is a dynamic playmaker at the point, plus she’s a high-level defender who can change the game at that end of the floor. Senior wing [player_tooltip player_id="62561" first="Jaclyn" last="Emly"] is a skilled, cerebral shooter who plays with a nice motor, while Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id="128122" first="Emme" last="Rooney"] provides them with yet another scoring option who brings a needed intensity and toughness to the lineup. The alma mater of Skylar Diggins-Smith, when you looked at South Bend Washington’s roster to begin the season, I’m not sure anyone would have argued their potential for success. Last year they were a solid 19-8, plus they returned a tremendous amount of youthful talent. This season they’ve improved against top competition, and they are sitting at 16-5 as we head into tournament play. They also haven’t been afraid to take on any comers. Their losses include Mishawaka Marian, Penn, Fort Wayne South Side, Carroll (Fort Wayne), and North Central (Indianapolis). They’ve also played, and beaten, Homestead, Knox, and Lawrence North. 6-2 forward [player_tooltip player_id="97241" first="Mila" last="Reynolds"] (19.7p, 10.0r, 2.4b) leads the Panthers into battle, but she gets major support from a pair of super Sophomores. Younger sister [player_tooltip player_id="59769" first="Amiyah" last="Reynolds"] (9.6p, 8.2r, 7.0a, 4.3s) is a smooth, playmaking point forward type who runs the offense, while guard [player_tooltip player_id="96086" first="RaShunda" last="Jones"] (18.2p, 4.4r, 3.5a, 4.5s) has stepped up her scoring in a big way this season. If that isn’t enough, 6-4 Senior post [player_tooltip player_id="130364" first="Francisca" last="Galicia"] (4.5p, 4.8r, 2.4b) continues to improve, and Junior forward Shamarah Allen (8.2p, 4.7r, 2.4s) has given them another athletic presence in the lineup after transferring in from South Bend St. Joseph. And if it isn’t this year, they return four of the above five next season, plus they could add a stellar 2025 class. The Tigers of Evansville Memorial have steadily been one of the quiet powers from Southwest Indiana year after year, and this year they made another statement on the big stage, winning the Hall of Fame tournament in impressive fashion, defeating Fishers and Mount Vernon (Fortville). After winning their first 13 games, Memorial suffered a four-game losing streak, but they had a couple of girls missing, plus they’ve played a lot of their January schedule without a full roster, as they try to avoid contact tracing/COVID and prepare for the state tournament. None of their four losses were by double-digits, and they finished with three wins this past week to move to 16-4 overall. Senior wing [player_tooltip player_id="99409" first="Ryleigh" last="Anslinger"] (15.6p, 2.7r, 2.1a, 3.1s) has been good all season, including a 33-point outburst against Mount Vernon in the Hall of Fame. Sophomore guard [player_tooltip player_id="127211" first="Emily" last="Mattingly"] (9.1p, 2.7r) adds a perimeter shooting threat, plus skill and understanding to the backcourt. Senior forwards [player_tooltip player_id="184230" first="Hope" last="Lensing"] (7.3p, 3.7r) and [player_tooltip player_id="130366" first="Peyton" last="Murphy"] (6.9p, 3.8r, 2.7a, 2.7s) are skillful and versatile along the frontline. The x-factor for the Tigers could be a trio of youngsters who provide nice depth on a balanced team. Sophomore forward [player_tooltip player_id="127217" first="Lydia" last="Bordfeld"] (4.7p, 3.6r), Freshman point guard [player_tooltip player_id="177335" first="Avery" last="Kelley"] (6.2p, 3.3r), and Freshman wing [player_tooltip player_id="177332" first="Sophia" last="Johnson"] (5.5p, 3.8r) are all now battle-tested and ready for tournament play. Another team that continues to grind on regardless of who’s on the roster are the Salem Lions. A year ago they were dealt the blow of playing the entire season minus their best player due to injury, yet they were 25-4 and made it to the State Finals. This season, following several significant 2020 graduation losses, they responded with an 18-2 record and wins over Jac-Cen-Del, Eastern (Pekin), Brownstown Central, North Harrison, Danville, and Jennings County. Their two losses were both by the slimmest of margins, 54-53 to Class 4A Martinsville, and 58-56 to Silver Creek. The Lions are another team who plays through a system and spreads the wealth in terms of using a number of players and allowing many to contribute. However, Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id="99380" first="Karly" last="Sweeney"] is their heart and soul. She has a tough-nosed, energetic, and emotional presence, plus she plays with an outstanding motor, she can score the ball at all three levels, and she is a willing defender. Junior wing [player_tooltip player_id="97264" first="Natalie" last="Noel"] might be the Lions’ most complete player. She has good length, fluid athleticism, and she is skilled with the ball. She can take on a point forward role or turn into a shooter/scorer, plus she rebounds it well from the perimeter. Junior forward [player_tooltip player_id="128176" first="Abigail" last="Ratts"] is a wiry strong, extremely bouncy and active frontline player. She has touch in the mid-post, she can go off the dribble and attack the basket, plus she plays much bigger than she is inside. Senior guard Callie Backherms, Senior post Olivia Weber, and Junior guard Macie Tomlinson add veteran experience and depth.   OVERACHIEVERS Following a 21-4 record and Regional appearance in 2019-2020, plus returning a majority of their production, I can definitely understand how it could be difficult to see the Washington Hatchets as an overachieving team. But consider this for a moment...they missed the last three weeks of November and the first week and a half of December due to COVID, then squeezed 11 games into 25 days with Christmas Break stuck in there, before missing two more weeks in the middle of January. They also added 14-3 Forest Park to the schedule, and they played Plainfield and 17-4 Roncalli in a holiday tournament, winning all three of those games. Additionally, they significantly flipped the results of their matchups with Vincennes Lincoln (from a 4-point loss to a 19-point win) and Loogootee (from a 4-point OT loss to a 23-point win). The Hatchets have won 11 games in a row and are not to be messed with come tournament time. Junior forward [player_tooltip player_id="128136" first="Alaina" last="Thorne"] (16.2p, 9.4r, 3.8a, 2.5s) continues to step up her game and improve her versatility. Junior forward [player_tooltip player_id="128150" first="Kencia" last="Levasseur"] (14.6p, 8.8r, 4.5a, 2.1s) is a playmaker who will get inside and rebound/defend. And Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id="182148" first="Jesse" last="Ledgerwood"] (10.2p, 3.6r, 2.6a) is a sharpshooter who is finally playing fully healthy. Senior wing Jade Browning (10.3p, 4.2r, 2.4a) has made the biggest jump statistically, after filling a smaller role as a Junior, while Sophomore sister Chloe Browning (3.2p, 2.1r) finds herself playing rotation minutes as well this year. The 15-1 Hamilton Heights Huskies are certainly making the most of their situation. First, following a 14-11 2019-2020 campaign, plus the loss of 2020 graduate and star guard [player_tooltip player_id="101429" first="Bayleigh" last="Runner"], I’m not sure even anyone in their own program would have forecasted them to have only lost a single game come Sectional time. Add in the fact they didn’t play a game until November 20, plus they then missed the last week of November and the first two and a half weeks of December, and played six games in an eight-day stretch over Christmas Break, and it’s a bit surprising their one loss wasn’t until last week. They have beaten Northwestern, Winchester, Westfield, and Tipton this year, with the lone defeat coming at the hands of Lafayette Central Catholic. Senior point guard [player_tooltip player_id="62552" first="Jillian" last="Osswald"] (14.9p, 3.4r, 3.9a, 2.6s) has done a really nice job of taking on ball-handling duties, as she has always played good defense for the Huskies. Junior post [player_tooltip player_id="34538" first="MyKayla" last="Moran"] (10.5p, 5.3r) continues improving, and she can be a physical matchup problem for most opponents. But a pair of Freshmen backcourt contributors have helped make up for the loss of the graduated Runner. Younger sister [player_tooltip player_id="177352" first="Camryn" last="Runner"] (16.6p, 5.2r, 2.0a, 2.0s) has had an outstanding rookie year, plus she is a talented shooter (39% from ’3’; 88% FTs). Freshman water-bug Ella Hickok (5.6p, 4.7r, 2.7a, 2.5s) can also knock down shots, but she’s known more for her ability to create havoc with her speed and quickness. Hamilton Heights hasn’t played since their loss on January 22, so if they can get back into a rhythm on Wednesday, look for them to potentially make a tournament run.   POTENTIAL SLEEPERS It’s somewhat of a shame to group the Knox girls’ basketball team in this category, as all they’ve done the last 3+ seasons is go 87-16, with no fewer than 20 wins, plus they’ve amassed three Sectional titles. Even this season, they are 20-4 with wins against quality programs like Pioneer, Oregon-Davis, North Judson-San Pierre, South Bend St. Joseph, Valparaiso, and they have an overtime loss to Class 4A power Penn. Yet they are still only ranked #15 in the latest ICGSA Class 3A poll, plus it seems like no one outside of Northern Indiana knows much about them. They have size, they can score it at all three levels, and they play really good team defense. 6-0 Senior front-liner [player_tooltip player_id="130363" first="Remi" last="Jordan"] (16.0p, 10.0r, 2.3a, 2.3s, 2.8b) is about as overlooked as any ’big’ in the state. She is skilled, versatile, and she plays with a nice motor. 6-0 Junior forward [player_tooltip player_id="97290" first="Megan" last="Bolen"] (8.5p, 6.4r, 3.9a, 3.1s) is starting to realize her potential, as she has length, athleticism, and playmaking ability. Junior forward Madison Moss (3.4p, 2.5r) and 6-0 Junior post Brianna Korcha add depth up front. Senior wings Felicity Olejniczak (11.4p, 5.4s) and Preston Minix (5.7p, 2.8r, 2.0a, 2.4s) are perimeter shooting threats who also disrupt at the defensive end. Sophomore guard [player_tooltip player_id="96088" first="Riley" last="Messer"] (6.8p, 3.5r, 2.4a, 2.1s) is a balanced and skillful combo guard who does a little of everything. As you can see, they have nice balance and can match up with most Class 3A teams. Another group I don’t think enough people are talking about at this time of the year are the Angola Hornets. They have won 18 or more games each of the last four seasons, so while this year’s 16-5 record is still strong, it might be cause for a lack of attention statewide. They did change coaches, and they began this year just 5-3 trying to adapt to some new concepts, but the Hornets then rattled off 11 consecutive wins and took the Northeast Corner Conference Tournament title for a second year in a row. Also, any team that has Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id="35020" first="Hanna" last="Knoll"] (19.3p, 4.0r, 2.2a, 4.0s) leading the way should be considered a threat. The versatile Division-I signee does a little of everything for her team, and at a high level. Junior wing [player_tooltip player_id="97276" first="Lauren" last="Leach"] (9.2p, 5.9r, 2.2a) continues to trend up with more experience, plus she’s a capable shooter and ball-handler. Senior wing Megan Nisun (4.3p, 4.7r) and Sophomore wing Jaelyn Fee (3.1p) have given good minutes, plus Freshmen guards [player_tooltip player_id="239353" first="Riley" last="Pepple"] (6.2p, 2.5r, 2.0s) and Kylie Caswell (2.2p) give them speed and quickness now, plus a bright outlook for the future of the program. While they’ll have to maneuver around Garrett and Fort Wayne Concordia Lutheran in the Sectional, the Hornets can be a dangerous team at any point throughout tournament play. A team just West of Indianapolis who I think could be a menace this coming week are the Tri-West Bruins. They always play one of the stronger schedules in Class 3A, they play with good pace, skill, and toughness, they shoot it well outside as a team, and they have a really nice, veteran lineup...the kind you want to enter battle with come tournament time. The Bruins began the year just 2-3, with losses to Westfield, Brownsburg, and West Lafayette Harrison, all by a total of 11 points. But they put together a nice run and finished with a 12-6 overall record, however, they haven’t played a game since a January 16 loss at Plainfield. They will need to find a rhythm, and quickly, but they are 3-0 so far this year against Sectional #25 opponents. Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id="61059" first="Kenna" last="Kirby"] (15.3p, 4.7r, 3.5a, 3.0s) can fill it up, and she’s capable of going for 30 points on any given night. Junior forward Adrie Thompson (9.3p, 4.1r) is a versatile player who can play around the perimeter or battle some inside. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id="245982" first="Grace" last="Sandlin"] (9.1p, 3.4r, 3.9a, 2.7s) can take on ball-handling duties, but she is also a nice perimeter shooter opponents must pay attention to. Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id="182150" first="Isabelle" last="Saylor"] (8.8p, 2.3r, 2.3a, 2.4s) is a fourth starter averaging nearly double-digits. Junior forward Becca Van Slyke (6.3p, 4.9r, 2.1s) and Senior forward Makenna Brauman (5.8p, 3.1r) give the Bruins some support inside, both defensively and on the boards. Despite their modest record, I’m not sure anyone wants to play Tri-West this coming week.