Down The Stretch: Class 3A
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The featured image is of Alaina Thorne Alaina Thorne 6'0" | PF Washington | 2022 State IN of Washington High School. As the regular season ends later this evening, and the IHSAA Sectional draw has taken place, we begin to…
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Continue ReadingThe featured image is of Alaina Thorne Alaina Thorne 6'0" | PF Washington | 2022 State IN 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 Marissa Gasaway Marissa Gasaway 6'0" | PF Silver Creek | 2021 State IN , 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 Alana Striverson Alana Striverson 5'9" | SG Silver Creek | 2021 State IN is a strong, athletic scorer who can find shots all over the floor. Junior sister Kynidi Striverson Kynidi Striverson 5'8" | PG Silver Creek | 2022 State IN 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 Jaclyn Emly Jaclyn Emly 5'10" | SF Silver Creek | 2021 State IN is a skilled, cerebral shooter who plays with a nice motor, while Junior guard Emme Rooney Emme Rooney 5'8" | SG Silver Creek | 2022 State IN 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 Mila Reynolds Mila Reynolds 6'2" | PF South Bend Washington | 2022 State #32 Nation IN (19.7p, 10.0r, 2.4b) leads the Panthers into battle, but she gets major support from a pair of super Sophomores. Younger sister Amiyah Reynolds Amiyah Reynolds 6'0" | PG South Bend Washington | 2023 State #35 Nation IN (9.6p, 8.2r, 7.0a, 4.3s) is a smooth, playmaking point forward type who runs the offense, while guard RaShunda Jones RaShunda Jones 5'7" | PG South Bend Washington | 2023 State IN (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 Francisca Galicia Francisca Galicia 6'5" | C South Bend Washington | 2021 State IN (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 Ryleigh Anslinger Ryleigh Anslinger 5'9" | SG Evansville Memorial | 2021 State IN (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 Emily Mattingly Emily Mattingly 5'10" | SF Evansville Memorial | 2023 State IN (9.1p, 2.7r) adds a perimeter shooting threat, plus skill and understanding to the backcourt. Senior forwards Hope Lensing Hope Lensing 5'11" | PF Evansville Memorial | 2021 State IN (7.3p, 3.7r) and Peyton Murphy Peyton Murphy 5'9" | SF Evansville Memorial | 2021 State IN (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 Lydia Bordfeld Lydia Bordfeld 5'11" | SF Evansville Memorial | 2023 IN (4.7p, 3.6r), Freshman point guard Avery Kelley Avery Kelley 5'6" | PG Evansville Memorial | 2024 State IN (6.2p, 3.3r), and Freshman wing Sophie Johnson Sophie Johnson 6'0" | PF Evansville Memorial | 2024 State IN (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 Karly Sweeney Karly Sweeney 5'7" | SG Salem | 2021 State IN 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 Natalie Noel Natalie Noel 5'10" | SF Salem | 2022 State IN 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 Abigail Ratts Abigail Ratts 5'11" | PF Salem | 2022 State IN 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 Alaina Thorne Alaina Thorne 6'0" | PF Washington | 2022 State IN (16.2p, 9.4r, 3.8a, 2.5s) continues to step up her game and improve her versatility. Junior forward Kencia Levasseur Kencia Levasseur 5'7" | SF Washington | 2022 State IN (14.6p, 8.8r, 4.5a, 2.1s) is a playmaker who will get inside and rebound/defend. And Junior guard Jesse Ledgerwood Jesse Ledgerwood 5'5" | PG Washington | 2022 State IN (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 Bayleigh Runner Bayleigh Runner 5'7" | PG Hamilton Heights | 2020 State IN , 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 Jillian Osswald Jillian Osswald 5'7" | PG Hamilton Heights | 2021 State IN (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 MyKayla Moran MyKayla Moran 6'2" | C Hamilton Heights | 2022 State IN (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 Camryn Runner Camryn Runner 5'9" | CG Hamilton Heights | 2024 State IN (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 Remi Jordan Remi Jordan 5'11" | PF Knox | 2021 State IN (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 Megan Bolen Megan Bolen 6'0" | PF Knox | 2022 State IN (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 Riley Messer Riley Messer 5'7" | SF Knox | 2023 IN (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 Hanna Knoll Hanna Knoll 5'8" | CG Angola | 2021 State IN (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 Lauren Leach Lauren Leach 5'10" | SF Angola | 2022 State IN (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 Riley Pepple Riley Pepple 5'6" | SG Fort Wayne Northrop | 2024 IN (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 Kenna Kirby Kenna Kirby 5'8" | SG Tri-West | 2022 State IN (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 Grace Sandlin Grace Sandlin 5'3" | CG Tri-West | 2021 State IN (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 Isabelle Saylor Isabelle Saylor 5'7" | SG Tri-West | 2022 State IN (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.