The Thanksgiving Third: Class 3A

The featured image is of [player_tooltip player_id="182148" first="Jesse" last="Ledgerwood"] (2022) of Washington High School. There are 13 weeks of regular season games scheduled during the IHSAA girls’ basketball season each year, and Thanksgiving weekend represents roughly the first third of the season by weeks. Most teams have played four, six, even eight or more games at this point, so it’s time to look back at the first third of the 2021-2022 season and look at which teams are hot, who’s trending up, and who’s playing unexpectedly, along with some additional notes from Class 3A.   The Usual Suspects South Bend Washington, Benton Central, and Garrett have been standouts in Class 3A over the last few years, and all three were expected to contend for postseason trophies this year. The starts each have gotten off to only magnify their potential to have huge seasons in 2021-2022. The South Bend Washington Panthers (7-1) did fall to a very competitive Indianapolis North Central squad yesterday, 62-56, but otherwise Washington has been somewhat dominant early this season. Leading the way are 6-2 Senior forward [player_tooltip player_id="97241" first="Mila" last="Reynolds"] (20.5p, 8.9r, 2.0s) and Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id="96086" first="RaShunda" last="Jones"] (17.1p, 4.6r, 4.4a, 5.1s). Reynolds, a University of Maryland signee, continues to dominate inside, while showing skill around the perimeter. Jones is an explosive athlete with the ability to make plays at both ends of the floor. Freshmen [player_tooltip player_id="295780" first="Ryiah" last="Wilson"] (11.1p, 2.4r, 4.3s) and [player_tooltip player_id="295770" first="Kira" last="Reynolds"] (7.5p, 8.1r, 2.9a, 5.5b) have made their imprint instantly and look to have bright futures. Wilson is an athletic guard, while Reynolds is a versatile, 6-3 forward/post. Look for 6-0 Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id="59769" first="Amiyah" last="Reynolds"] (6.3p, 4.7r, 5.0a, 3.0s) to make more of an impact as she gets back into the flow. She missed the first five games for the Panthers, but she has also verbally committed to attend the University of Maryland. Benton Central is off to a 7-0 start, including a tournament championship in the annual IU Health Hoops Classic in Lafayette, Indiana. They have some tough conference matchups in early December with Rensselaer Central, West Lafayette, and Twin Lakes, but the Bison will likely be solid favorites headed into each game. While they struggled with contact tracing and COVID protocols last season, they have been moving along steadily this year, and they are led by a trio of strong performers. Senior wing [player_tooltip player_id="182143" first="Kennedy" last="Tolen"] is the heart and soul of this group, as she plays with a tremendous motor and toughness, she does anything and everything for her team, and she just produces each time she takes the floor. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id="128135" first="Tressa" last="Senesac"] is the Energizer Bunny of the group, as she flies around the floor making plays offensively off the bounce, and defensively collecting steals and causing deflections. Sophomore post [player_tooltip player_id="176407" first="Sarah" last="Gick"] is a talented backline defender who does as good of a job as anyone statewide at protecting the paint/rim, plus she has become a scoring threat herself inside. Then there’s Garrett, and the Railroaders have been gearing up for this season specifically. They return a quartet of Seniors and a Junior who stand out. The Junior is leading scorer [player_tooltip player_id="127226" first="Bailey" last="Kelham"] (16.6p, 5.0r, 2.4s). She is a talented and skilled wing who just makes things happen. 6-1 Senior forward [player_tooltip player_id="157170" first="Morgan" last="Ostrowski"] (12.9p, 9.4r, 2.9b) gives them a scoring threat inside, while also protecting the rim. Senior guards [player_tooltip player_id="128162" first="Nataley" last="Armstrong"] (7.3p, 3.7r, 10.4a, 3.3s), [player_tooltip player_id="128159" first="Taylor" last="Gerke"] (9.7p, 2.9r), and [player_tooltip player_id="243589" first="Faith" last="Owen"] (7.0p, 3.0r) all give them a little something different. Armstrong is the facilitator and a fine on-ball defender. Gerke is an athletic scorer who can score it at all three levels, and Owen is a nice shooter with some feistiness defensively as well. The Railroaders are off to a 6-1 start, with their only loss to top 4A Noblesville, but they also knocked off nemesis Angola, 52-38, on Tuesday evening.   Surprise, Surprise? The Norwell Knights, Silver Creek Dragons, and Evansville Memorial Tigers were all very strong in 2020-2021, and while they are all quality programs, they each graduated a number of significant players in 2021. However, all three have figured out ways to compete early this season, and I suspect we see each of them contend for Sectional titles and more when February rolls around. When you retain your head coach for 25 years, which is the case for Norwell, you tend to have great consistency throughout your program, and the Lady Knights certainly have "system" kids who fit in and know how to play as soon as they get to high school. Despite the graduation losses of Maiah Shelton, Kaylee Fuelling, Lauren Bales, Grace Bradtmueller, and Hanna Smith, the Lady Knights have figured out a way to begin 7-1, with solid wins over Angola and Fort Wayne Luers, while their only loss is to a good Class 4A Warsaw team. Now, they lean on Senior guards [player_tooltip player_id="128169" first="Emily" last="Todd"] and Mackinzie Toliver, 6-1 Junior post [player_tooltip player_id="59783" first="Skyla" last="Tomasek"], and Sophomore guards [player_tooltip player_id="264113" first="Kennedy" last="Fuelling"] and [player_tooltip player_id="331809" first="Makenzie" last="Fuess"], giving them some veteran leadership, as well as solid youth moving forward. Todd has signed to play at Spring Arbor University next season, while Tomasek is drawing a variety of college interest. Silver Creek is fresh off of a 2021 Class 3A State Championship, but they graduated Marissa Gasaway, Alana Striverson, and Jaclyn Emly, all of which moved on to college basketball. Savannah Kirchgessner, Abby Grimm, and Jenna duPont also left via the diploma. Even despite those significant losses, the Dragons have managed a 7-0 start, with wins over Charlestown, Jeffersonville, Corydon Central, and North Harrison, among others. The Dragons also return Senior point guard [player_tooltip player_id="128116" first="Kynidi" last="Striverson"], who was electric during their state tournament run last year. She has signed with the University of Evansville, and the floor general has found great balance in being able to facilitate, shoot/score, and affect the game equally well at the defensive end of the floor. Surrounding her are Senior guards [player_tooltip player_id="128122" first="Emme" last="Rooney"] and [player_tooltip player_id="243587" first="Sydney" last="Sierota"]. Both can play on or off the ball, make shots outside, and they play with great energy. Rooney will attend DePauw University next year and play college hoops. Evansville Memorial graduated EIGHT members of the Class of 2021, including leading scorer Ryleigh Anslinger, versatile, hard-working forward Peyton Murphy, and inside-out post Hope Lensing. But the Tigers had young talent ready and waiting last year, and they are off to a 3-0 start to the year. Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id="127211" first="Emily" last="Mattingly"] (14.0p, 3.3r, 2.7a, 4.0s) was the lone non-Senior starter last season, and she has really seen her recruiting stock rise over the last nine months with her ability to score the ball consistently at all three levels. Sophomore point guard [player_tooltip player_id="177335" first="Avery" last="Kelley"] (14.7p, 3.7r, 2.7a, 4.3s) saw her share of action last year as well, and she can facilitate, knock down shots, and defend with grit. Sophomore wing [player_tooltip player_id="177332" first="Sophia" last="Johnson"] (13.3p, 6.0r, 2.0a) is a talented point forward type who is starting to impress this season, given a lot more opportunity minus those graduates. She has good size and playmaking ability. Freshman guard [player_tooltip player_id="295756" first="Myla" last="Browning"] (4.3p, 2.7r) is a talented youngster who will only get better this season as she adjusts to the size and speed of the Varsity game.   Keep An Eye On... If the collection of Charlestown, Washington, and Rushville are still around late this postseason, don’t be surprised one bit. Charlestown has great balance and developing youngsters who will cause problems for opponents all season long. The Pirates have an athletic Senior front-liner in [player_tooltip player_id="128152" first="DeMaria" last="King"]. She is strong, bouncy, and plays with good energy inside the arc. Sophomore forward [player_tooltip player_id="177316" first="Kennedy" last="Coleman"] has done a nice job of developing her perimeter skillset, and at 6-0, she can play down low, in the mid-post, or around the perimeter comfortably. Sophomore point guard [player_tooltip player_id="177348" first="Maddie" last="Nipper"] made her presence felt last year, taking care of the ball and running offense with efficiency. She can also make shots and plays with good energy. Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id="178233" first="Laney" last="Hawkins"] and Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id="127229" first="Tatum" last="McFarland"] make the Pirates that much stronger. Hawkins is a smooth, fluid athlete who can bury shot after shot or act as a facilitator, while McFarland transferred in from Jeffersonville and is a tough, strong, and athletic guard who does a little of everything as well. Sophomore forward Ashlyn Moore and Sophomore guard [player_tooltip player_id="177356" first="Lyric" last="Steele"] are two more talented young ladies who can provide nice depth for an already strong lineup. They have started the season 4-2, but their losses were to a good 4A team in Jennings County, and the aforementioned Silver Creek squad. Washington somewhat stumbled out of the gate, falling to North Knox, but they were short-handed and have responded with six consecutive wins. 2021 Junior All-Star [player_tooltip player_id="128136" first="Alaina" last="Thorne"] (15.1p, 9.1r, 2.7a, 2.3s) returns for her Senior season, and the 6-0 athlete plays with an outstanding motor. She can run and jump, she scores it well in the paint, around the basket, and she has put in significant work on her mid-post game. She and Senior forward [player_tooltip player_id="128150" first="Kencia" last="Levasseur"] (15.4p, 7.8r, 4.4a) each scored their 1000th career point this past week as well. Levasseur is a strong, physical, aggressive forward who does a lot of good off the bounce. She can find open teammates, plus she can battle inside like a power forward. She has committed to play at Roosevelt University next year. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id="182148" first="Jesse" last="Ledgerwood"] (15.1p, 4.1r, 2.7a, 2.0s) had a very productive Summer, and she is a strong perimeter shooter, a tough-nosed competitor, and a solid facilitator. 6-0 Freshman front-liner [player_tooltip player_id="324075" first="Olivia" last="Gilley"] (4.6p, 4.4r) is already making her mark on the program, and look for her to get better and better as the season wears on. Then there are the Rushville Lions, and you can never count them out. They are always hard-working, tough-nosed, and well-coached. Despite starting the year 4-3, two of their three losses came at the hands of strong 4A programs in Mount Vernon (Fortville) and Jennings County. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id="61080" first="Annika" last="Marlow"] (10.8p, 4.7r, 2.8a, 2.2s) is a traditional point guard who can initiate offense, control tempo, and knock down shots outside. She is a 4-year starter and always productive. Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id="59764" first="Briley" last="Munchel"] (10.3p, 3.0r, 3.5s) is a quick, fast, and athletic little guard who can play some point guard as well, but she’s a real threat as a scorer, and she’s incredibly feisty as an on-ball defender. Junior wing Belle Gossett (6.7p, 3.8r) and Sophomore guard Sophia Dora (6.0p, 2.5r, 2.0s) round out a skilled, but somewhat undersized, backcourt. Both play with good energy and contribute in a number of ways. Rushville’s struggle will be with teams of size, so if they can figure out a way to play "small ball" consistently, I expect for them to be Sectional contenders during that first week of February.