Merry Midpoint: Class 4A, Sectionals #1-#8

<span style="font-size: 8pt;"><em>The featured image is of [player_tooltip player_id="127237" first="Molly" last="Stock"] (2023) of Homestead High School.</em></span> With 13 weeks in the regular season during the IHSAA girls’ basketball season each year, the Christmas to New Years’ time period basically represents the midpoint of the season by weeks. Nearly every team has played double-digit games at this point, so I wanted to take an early look at who the better teams are in each Class 4A Sectional as they make the turn towards the second half of the season. Below I have highlighted Sectionals #1-#8. &nbsp; <strong><span style="font-size: 18pt;">Sectional #1 - East Chicago Central</span> - Likely Favorite:</strong> Lake Central <strong>- Upset Candidate:</strong> Highland <strong>- Comments:</strong> Lake Central is a heavy favorite in Sectional #1, behind the play of Sophomores <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="176406" first="Aniyah" last="Bishop"]</strong> (<em>15.6p, 4.5r, 2.3s</em>) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="201878" first="Riley" last="Milausnic"]</strong> (<em>9.2p, 2.9r</em>), plus dynamic Freshman playmaker <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="295781" first="Vanessa" last="Wimberly"]</strong> (<em>10.6p, 3.9r, 3.7a, 3.5s</em>). If anyone can challenge them, it’s likely going to be Highland. The Trojans play hard and physical, they consistently execute their offense, and Senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="267404" first="Chloe" last="Churilla"]</strong> (<em>15.9p, 9.1r</em>) is one of the best forwards in Northwest Indiana. Junior guard <strong>Payton Reid</strong> (<em>11.1p, 2.8r, 3.5s</em>) can also get hot outside. <strong><span style="font-size: 18pt;">Sectional #2 - Crown Point</span> - Likely Favorite:</strong> Crown Point <strong>- Upset Candidate:</strong> Valparaiso <strong>- Comments:</strong> Crown Point maintains their status as the top team in Sectional #2 behind Seniors <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="61030" first="Jessica" last="Carrothers"]</strong> (<em>19.3p, 4.3r, 4.4a, 3.5s</em>) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="128115" first="Lilly" last="Stoddard"]</strong> (<em>10.8p, 9.3r, 2.4b</em>). But Valparaiso is very experienced, 12-2 at this point, and already played a tough game with Crown Point, falling just 43-35. Seniors <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="128194" first="Bolanle" last="Ayangade"]</strong> (<em>10.2p, 5.7r, 2.8s</em>) and <strong>Emma Gerdt</strong> (<em>8.5p, 3.5r, 2.6s</em>), plus Sophomore <strong>Becca Gerdt</strong> (<em>9.8p, 3.2r, 2.8s</em>) have all stepped up this year. <strong><span style="font-size: 18pt;">Sectional #3 - Mishawaka</span> - Likely Favorite:</strong> Plymouth <strong>- Upset Candidates:</strong> Mishawaka/South Bend Adams <strong>- Comments:</strong> This is a tight Sectional at the top, with three teams who could win the title. I chose Plymouth because of their noticeable size and experience. Junior <strong>Taylor Delp</strong> (<em>17.2p, 10.8r, 2.3s</em>) has been outstanding, while Senior <strong>Clare Sheedy</strong> (<em>8.2p, 6.8r, 2.0s</em>) has also been strong inside. Mishawaka leans on a fairly balanced roster with few standouts, while South Bend Adams relies heavily on Senior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="303399" first="Marissa" last="Shelton"]</strong> (<em>22.3p, 5.1r, 2.0a, 2.7s</em>) for offense. <strong><span style="font-size: 18pt;">Sectional #4 - Penn</span> - Likely Favorite:</strong> Northridge <strong>- Upset Candidates:</strong> Penn, Warsaw <strong>- Comments:</strong> Sectional #4 will take several battles to determine the winner. But to date, Northridge is 4-0 against Sectional #4 opponents, including a recent win against Penn. Penn has defeated Warsaw. Northridge plays with a lot of balance, but Senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="128130" first="Julia" last="Mantyla"]</strong> (<em>11.9p, 4.8r</em>) and Junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="203654" first="Eva" last="Fisher"]</strong> (<em>14.2p, 3.7r, 3.2a, 2.5s</em>) stand out statistically. Penn is also terribly balanced, with Senior forwards <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="23787" first="Jada" last="Patton"]</strong> (<em>9.5p, 6.2r, 2.2a</em>) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="157178" first="Sydney" last="Little"]</strong> (<em>7.2p, 2.7r</em>) leading the way for the Kingsmen. As for Warsaw, the Tigers lean on a great deal of Senior experience from post <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="97256" first="Abby" last="Sanner"]</strong> (<em>14.1p, 8.9r</em>), wing <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="128147" first="Kacilyn" last="Krebs"]</strong> (<em>10.9p, 2.6r</em>), and guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="128132" first="Bailie" last="Stephens"]</strong> (<em>9.1p, 3.9r, 2.4a, 2.4s</em>). <strong><span style="font-size: 18pt;">Sectional #5 - Fort Wayne Snider</span> - Likely Favorite:</strong> Fort Wayne Snider <strong>- Upset Candidates:</strong> Carroll (Fort Wayne), Fort Wayne Northrop <strong>- Comments:</strong> After a 1-2 start to the season, the Snider Panthers have figured it out and rattled off nine wins in a row, with wins over North Central (Indianapolis), Fishers, and Carmel mixed in there. Sophomores <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="177317" first="Destini" last="Craig"]</strong> (<em>15.8p, 5.6r, 4.2s</em>) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="177351" first="Jordyn" last="Poole"]</strong> (<em>12.2p, 2.8r, 4.1a</em>), plus Senior California transfer <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="49275" first="Jyah" last="LoVett"]</strong> (<em>14.9p, 4.3r, 2.4a, 3.1s</em>) lead the Panthers. Carroll suffered major losses from last season’s roster, but Juniors <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="96079" first="Taylor" last="Fordyce"]</strong> (<em>13.3p, 5.9r, 2.7a, 2.1s</em>) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="241187" first="Kayla" last="Gibbs"]</strong> (<em>11.5p, 3.9r, 2.3a, 2.8s</em>) are back and playing well. Northrop counts on speed and athleticism to turn people over, and they are hitting their stride at the right time. <strong><span style="font-size: 18pt;">Sectional #6 - Fort Wayne Wayne</span> - Likely Favorite:</strong> Homestead <strong>- Upset Candidates:</strong> Columbia City/Huntington North <strong>- Comments:</strong> Homestead is doing what Homestead does; and having potential All-American <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="10766" first="Ayanna" last="Patterson"]</strong> (2022) doesn’t hurt one bit. Juniors <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="127237" first="Molly" last="Stock"]</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="59778" first="Alison" last="Stephens"]</strong> have also had strong seasons. Columbia City is 14-0 to date, with wins over Carroll (Fort Wayne), Snider, and Warsaw. Senior forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="61062" first="Rebekah" last="Marshall"]</strong>, Sophomore guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="177354" first="Kyndra" last="Sheets"]</strong>, and Freshman guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="295754" first="Addison" last="Baxter"]</strong> are a huge part of their success. Huntington North has put together a nice season so far (9-3), and they played Homestead to a close, 43-35 outcome earlier this year. Junior wing <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="203658" first="Taylor" last="Double"]</strong> is their go-to player. <strong><span style="font-size: 18pt;">Sectional #7 - Marion</span> - Likely Favorite:</strong> West Lafayette Harrison <strong>- Upset Candidates:</strong> Northwestern/McCutcheon <strong>- Comments:</strong> This is another close Sectional. Harrison is 10-4, plus they are 5-0 against Sectional #7 opponents so far. Junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="59747" first="Riley" last="Flinn"]</strong> (<em>14.1p, 7.2r, 3.6a, 4.0s</em>), Sophomore <strong>Riley Whitlock</strong> (<em>10.4p, 4.9r, 2.1s</em>), and Senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="97285" first="Haley" last="Thomas"]</strong> (<em>9.9p, 6.8r</em>) keep the Lady Raiders balanced. Northwestern will certainly give them a run for their money behind Junior wing <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="59762" first="McKenna" last="Layden"]</strong> (<em>22.5p, 5.8r, 3.8a, 4.2s</em>). Freshman <strong>Anna Bishir</strong> (<em>8.2p, 2.9r, 2.1s</em>) has given the Tigers a nice backcourt compliment as well. McCutcheon’s Senior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="97243" first="Teresa" last="Maggio"]</strong> (<em>20.3p, 3.0r, 3.7a, 5.7s</em>) just returned a couple of weeks ago, and she will certainly increase the Mavericks’ odds to compete. <strong><span style="font-size: 18pt;">Sectional #8 - Westfield</span> - Likely Favorite:</strong> Fishers <strong>- Upset Candidates:</strong> Everyone Else <strong>- Comments:</strong> Sectional #8 is ridiculously loaded. At this point, Fishers is 4-0 against Sectional #8 opponents including wins against Westfield, Zionsville, Noblesville, and Hamilton Southeastern. Junior twins <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="59775" first="Hailey" last="Smith"]</strong> (<em>12.1p, 8.0r, 2.6a, 2.3s</em>) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="59776" first="Olivia" last="Smith"]</strong> (<em>9.8p, 5.2r, 2.4a</em>) have been problems for opponents all season. Westfield is 3-1 against Sectional #8 opponents, getting strong play from Miss Basketball candidate <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="10744" first="Alyssa" last="Crockett"]</strong>. Noblesville looks to a trio of backcourt players in Junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="59773" first="Ashlynn" last="Shade"]</strong> (<em>19.5p, 8.7r, 4.3a, 4.1s</em>), Freshman <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="295776" first="Meredith" last="Tippner"]</strong> (<em>10.0p, 6.2r</em>), and Sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="177361" first="Reagan" last="Wilson"]</strong> (<em>9.5p, 3.4r, 5.0a, 2.3s</em>). Zionsville Junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="59757" first="Laila" last="Hull"]</strong> (<em>20.0p, 10.0r, 2.5a, 2.3s</em>), Hamilton Southeastern sisters <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="96087" first="Riley" last="Makalusky"]</strong> (<em>18.1p, 4.1r</em>) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="295764" first="Maya" last="Makalusky"]</strong> (<em>15.4p, 2.9r</em>), plus Carmel Junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="127238" first="Mackenzie" last="Thomas"]</strong> (<em>16.9p, 6.5r</em>) have been Sectional #8 standouts. Carmel has been without Senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="10743" first="Kate" last="Clarke"]</strong> much of the season.