The Stretch Run: Class 2A, Sectionals #41-#48

<span style="font-size: 8pt;"><em>The featured image is of [player_tooltip player_id="241193" first="Grace" last="Stapleton"] (2023) of Eastern Hancock High School.</em></span> We have crossed into the new year, and the IHSAA girls’ basketball season is winding down. With one week remaining before Sectional play begins, I wanted to take a late-season look at who the better teams are in each Class 2A Sectional field. A lot can be decided in terms of conference races over these final few regular season days, but once we get to the tournament, it’s a wide-open race. Still, though, here are our picks for who we anticipate having the most success once we hit February. Below I have highlighted Sectionals #41-#48. &nbsp; <strong><span style="font-size: 18pt;">Sectional #41 - Shenandoah</span> - Likely Favorite:</strong> Northeastern <strong>- Upset Candidate:</strong> Union County <strong>- Comments:</strong> Posting a 7-13 record to date, Northeastern isn’t what they were a year ago, but following a number of roster losses, they have managed to go 5-0 against Sectional #41 opponents thus far, and they still have a regular season matchup with Centerville remaining in which the Lady Knights will be heavily favored. The one thing Northeastern does possess is a matchup problem in 6-2 Sophomore post <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="177342" first="Addisen" last="Mastriano"]</strong> (<em>8.9p, 8.5r</em>). She has the strength to dominate the interior, plus the skill to play away from the basket. Freshman guard <strong>Ava Mikesell</strong> (<em>9.2p, 2.3r, 2.8s</em>) actually leads the Knights in scoring, and Senior forward <strong>Anna Drake</strong> (<em>5.9p, 3.8r</em>) adds experience to the lineup. No one else in Sectional #41 has a winning record either, but at 8-8, Union County has gone 3-1 against Sectional opponents, with their lone loss being at the hands of Northeastern before Thanksgiving. The Lady Patriots dealt with significant roster changes this year as well, but they have two Seniors and a Junior leading the way for them. Senior wing <strong>Lauren Alldredge</strong> (<em>7.4p, 3.1r</em>), Junior guard <strong>Brooke Fields</strong> (<em>6.5p, 2.0a</em>), and Senior front-liner <strong>Faith Richardson</strong> (<em>5.8p, 6.0r</em>) are the top producers for Union County, and they’ll need to step up if they want to escape Sectional #41 victorious. <strong><span style="font-size: 18pt;">Sectional #42 - Heritage Christian</span> - Likely Favorite:</strong> Triton Central <strong>- Upset Candidates:</strong> Eastern Hancock/Heritage Christian <strong>- Comments:</strong> At 17-4, Triton Central has been strong, as usual. They have won four Sectional titles in a row, and the last team to knock them off in that round was Eastern Hancock in 2017 when Triton Central entered the game 23-1...more on Eastern Hancock in a moment. Triton Central has won 20 or more games five consecutive years, and they are a strong favorite here again, but a new host of players have stepped up in 2021-2022. 6-0 Senior wing <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="128141" first="Olivia" last="Faust"]</strong> (<em>12.2p, 6.2r, 3.6a, 2.5s</em>) leads the Tigers in scoring, rebounding, and steals, after transferring in from Franklin Central over the Summer. Juniors <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="96081" first="Lizzie" last="Graham"]</strong> (<em>11.8p, 3.9r</em>) and <strong>Maddy Brown</strong> (<em>9.8p, 3.5r, 3.7a, 2.1s</em>) each saw action in the past, but they have transitioned into leadership roles this time around. 6-0 Sophomore post <strong>Brooklyn Bailey</strong> (<em>8.7p, 5.8r</em>) is also counted on much more heavily to patrol the paint. The Royals of Eastern Hancock have performed well all season, posting a 14-5 record to date. They have a couple of double-digit scorers, but they primarily do it with balance from a seven-player rotation that makes them difficult to match up with. Sophomore guard <strong>Sammie Bolding</strong> (<em>12.6p, 2.5r, 3.6s</em>) and Junior point guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="241193" first="Grace" last="Stapleton"]</strong> (<em>10.3p, 4.6r, 3.9a, 2.6s</em>) are the main catalysts for the Royals. Those two are also big threats to shoot it outside. Junior forward <strong>Emma Bolding</strong> (<em>8.3p, 4.6r</em>) and 6-1 Sophomore post <strong>Ruby White</strong> (<em>6.8p, 5.3r</em>) are the two main interior options for Eastern Hancock. They are just feisty enough as a unit to give the Tigers a run for their money. The wildcard in Sectional #42 is Heritage Christian, as they fall down to Class 2A after stints in Class 3A and even Class 4A over the last few years due to the success factor. This is a much different Eagles team than in past years, and a very new lineup from even a season ago. Senior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="377061" first="Audrey" last="Booher"]</strong> (<em>11.4p, 3.2r</em>) now leads them into action, alongside a trio of sisters who transferred in this year by way of New Palestine. Senior forward <strong>Grace Marshall</strong> (<em>9.0p, 4.9r</em>), Sophomore wing <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="177341" first="Koryn" last="Marshall"]</strong> (<em>7.5p, 4.3r</em>), and Freshman wing <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="324078" first="Joslyn" last="Marshall"]</strong> (<em>7.7p, 2.8r, 2.4s</em>) have offered a big boost to the lineup. Midseason transfer <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="324071" first="Casey" last="Frost"]</strong> (<em>8.0p, 3.3r</em>) of Carmel, a Freshman, adds to the interior play for the Lady Eagles. They won’t have any familiarity with their opponents, but they have played a tremendously tougher schedule to better prepare themselves. <strong><span style="font-size: 18pt;">Sectional #43 - Western Boone</span> - Likely Favorite:</strong> University <strong>- Upset Candidate:</strong> Cascade <strong>- Comments:</strong> Sectional #43 looks like it could be a two-horse race. University is currently 17-2, with their losses coming at the hands of two quality programs in Danville and Cathedral. The Trailblazers have defeated the likes of Lawrence Central and Benton Central (21-1) along the way, and they look to continue their postseason success. 6-1 Junior forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="59743" first="Kelsey" last="DuBois"]</strong> (<em>13.1p, 8.2r, 2.0s, 2.3b</em>) is a handful because she’s strong on the inside but skilled around the perimeter. Junior wing <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="59772" first="Payton" last="Seay"]</strong> (<em>15.5p, 6.7r, 3.1a, 2.5s</em>) and Senior wing <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="243579" first="Patty" last="Chikamba"]</strong> (<em>14.5p, 6.6r, 3.3a, 4.9s, 2.1b</em>) add to the offensive boost. Chikamba transferred in from Covenant Christian over the Summer. Junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="241194" first="Jordan" last="Patterson"]</strong> (<em>5.9p, 2.7r, 2.9a, 2.3s</em>), Freshman <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="331806" first="Taylor" last="Seay"]</strong> (<em>4.7p</em>), and Junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="59787" first="Kamryn" last="Washington"]</strong> (<em>3.2p, 2.6r, 2.3a</em>) make a versatile backcourt, while the addition of Muncie Burris transfer <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="243583" first="Emily" last="Adamowicz"]</strong> (<em>4.0p, 3.0r in 6 games</em>) should offer a boost. She is a Senior wing. Cascade has put together a nice season as well, owning a 16-4 record to date. They have nice experience and continuity throughout their lineup. 6-0 Junior wing <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="59786" first="Sydney" last="Warran"]</strong> (<em>11.9p, 6.2r, 4.2a, 2.8s</em>) does a little of everything for the Lady Cadets. Junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="127231" first="Abby" last="Parsons"]</strong> (<em>12.9p, 3.9r, 2.1a</em>) is another versatile forward who can contribute in a variety of ways. Senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="377059" first="Christina" last="Lamb"]</strong> (<em>11.1p, 5.2r, 2.8s</em>) is a third double-figure scoring threat. Sophomore wing <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="177315" first="Creedance" last="Chittenden"]</strong> (<em>6.7p, 3.6r, 2.5s</em>) and Junior wing <strong>Madison Short</strong> (<em>6.4p, 3.1r</em>) add two more versatile threats who help Cascade play almost position-less basketball at times. Park Tudor could cause problems for either team, and Senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="61057" first="Halle" last="Shelt"]</strong> (<em>20.3p, 4.2r, 4.3a, 3.1s</em>) has been heating up of late, but I think University and Cascade stand out amongst the Sectional #43 field. <strong><span style="font-size: 18pt;">Sectional #44 - Southmont</span> - Likely Favorite:</strong> Parke Heritage <strong>- Upset Candidate:</strong> North Putnam <strong>- Comments:</strong> Parke Heritage (16-5) is having a fine season, and they are winners of eight of their last nine games. They are also 6-0 against Sectional #44 competition, with at least one win over each opponent in the field, and none of those outcomes have been closer than 13 points. 6-0 Senior forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="157174" first="Grace" last="Ramsay"]</strong> (<em>13.2p, 6.3r, 3.0a</em>) is the mainstay in the lineup, having produced since her Freshman year. She is skillful and versatile, and she offers quite the mismatch at the Class 2A level. Freshman point guard <strong>Emma Simpson</strong> (<em>12.0p, 5.8r, 2.4a, 3.0s</em>) has given the backcourt quite the boost with her ability to create and score. 6-1 Senior post <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="182147" first="Hannah" last="O’Brien"]</strong> (<em>8.5p, 5.8r, 2.0s</em>) also has a great deal of experience, and she provides a formidable presence in the paint at both ends of the floor. North Putnam has been up and down this year, but at 13-8, they are the only other team in Sectional #44 with a winning record at the moment. The Cougars have played the Wolves the toughest, and they lean on a trio of Senior guards. <strong>Kyla Willis</strong> (<em>17.3p, 4.3r, 2.6a, 3.9s</em>) is a big-time scoring threat, plus she is a playmaker at both ends of the floor. <strong>Marin Davies</strong> (<em>8.5p, 3.1r</em>) and <strong>Annabelle Gross</strong> (<em>7.9p, 3.7r, 4.7s</em>) aid Willis with their experience, skill, and productivity, forming a tough backcourt to shut down. <strong><span style="font-size: 18pt;">Sectional #45 - Southwestern (Hanover)</span> - Likely Favorite:</strong> Switzerland County <strong>- Upset Candidates:</strong> North Decatur/South Ripley <strong>- Comments:</strong> Switzerland County is chugging along at 16-5 on the year, and they have beaten each Sectional #45 this season. Now, their wins over North Decatur (15-6) and South Ripley (13-8) were only five points apiece, so there is the possibility of an upset here. Senior guards <strong>Jessica Duvall</strong> and <strong>Maddelynn Duvall</strong> lead the way for the Pacers, while 6-1 Senior post <strong>Hannah Hayes</strong> is the main catalyst on the interior. Senior forward <strong>Nora Hankins</strong> also helps inside for this experienced group. North Decatur is a very young, but talented group with potential. They still might be a year away, especially with five Freshmen in their seven-player rotation. Junior forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="241190" first="Madelyn" last="Bohman"]</strong> (<em>11.0p, 6.1r, 2.3a, 3.0s</em>) does a little of everything for this group. Freshman wing <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="366794" first="Madi" last="Allen"]</strong> (<em>11.4p, 5.3r, 2.9a, 2.4s</em>) has been a really nice addition this year, and she also plays with great versatility. 6-0 Sophomore post <strong>Ella Kunz</strong> (<em>10.6p, 7.3r</em>) gives them size inside, as well as a third double-digit scoring threat. South Ripley leans towards the veteran side of things, so I think come this postseason they can cause Switzerland County the most problems. Senior wing <strong>Gracie Gunter</strong> (<em>10.7p, 4.9r, 2.8s</em>) is the top scoring threat for the Lady Raiders. Senior forward <strong>Rachel Meyer</strong> (<em>7.8p, 5.4r, 3.0a</em>) leads them in rebounding and assists. Juniors <strong>Emily Flood</strong> (<em>6.9p, 4.4r</em>) and <strong>Katelynn Samples</strong> (<em>6.0p, 4.9r</em>), plus Senior <strong>Sarah Meyer</strong> (<em>4.9p, 5.1r</em>), offer South Ripley a great deal of balance and depth. <strong><span style="font-size: 18pt;">Sectional #46 - Crawford County</span> - Likely Favorite:</strong> Eastern (Pekin) <strong>- Upset Candidate:</strong> Crawford County <strong>- Comments:</strong> Eastern (Pekin) has long been a tough "out" come state tournament time, and even though they sit at 11-11 at the moment, they are 3-0 against the top three contenders in their Sectional, plus they play 11 3A/4A teams, so they are postseason-ready. Junior front-liner <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="372344" first="Kyia" last="McKinley"]</strong> (<em>14.0p, 5.7r</em>) has had a strong season, and they look to go to her early and often every game. Junior wing <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="59777" first="Ava" last="Sowder"]</strong> (<em>9.7p, 4.6r, 2.5a</em>) is the next in a line of skillful wings who have come through the Musketeer program. Senior guard <strong>McKenna Jeter</strong> (<em>5.3p, 3.3r, 2.2a, 2.0s</em>) is a Varsity regular who helps to take care of the ball, and Senior guard <strong>Christina Knight</strong> (<em>5.4p</em>) brings over a lot of experience after transferring in from Borden. If anyone can possibly upset the Musketeers, it’s likely Crawford County or Austin. Since Crawford County played them much closer earlier this year, I’ll lean that way. 6-0 Senior post <strong>Sarah Stutzman</strong> and Senior forward <strong>Taylor Herbaugh</strong> represent the two biggest problems for most opponents. Again, I look for Eastern (Pekin) to have a strong advantage in Sectional #46. <strong><span style="font-size: 18pt;">Sectional #47 - North Knox</span> - Likely Favorite:</strong> North Knox <strong>- Upset Candidates:</strong> Mitchell/Paoli/South Knox/Eastern Greene <strong>- Comments:</strong> Sectional #47 is probably about as wide open as any in the South in Class 2A. North Knox is 4-0 versus Sectional competition, but they’ve had some close games, including overtime against Paoli, and they haven’t played against Mitchell or Eastern Greene. Senior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="128199" first="Graycie" last="Poe"]</strong> (<em>16.6p, 4.5r, 2.0a, 3.3s</em>) is the unquestioned leader, and she is a four-year Varsity starter. Freshman wing <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="295765" first="Alex" last="McKinley"]</strong> (<em>9.8p, 4.2r, 2.0s</em>) is a nice athlete and a capable multilevel scoring threat. Junior <strong>Reegan Hammelman</strong> (<em>6.8p, 4.3r, 3.1a, 2.0s</em>) is another veteran who consistently produces. Mitchell might have the best mix of talent and balance. Senior wing <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="243574" first="Jordyn" last="Sarver"]</strong> is a really nice athlete who can score the ball from everywhere. Junior forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="203651" first="Brooklyn" last="Peterson"]</strong> is a versatile inside-out forward who plays with physicality but also finesse. 6-2 Senior post <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="206422" first="Madeline" last="Robertson"]</strong> is a big presence inside, and she combines skill with physicality. Paoli showcases a pair of double-digit scorers in Junior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="203657" first="Jackie" last="Crews"]</strong> (<em>14.3p, 3.6r, 2.5a, 3.0s</em>) and Senior wing <strong>K</strong><strong>acey McBride</strong> (<em>10.2p, 5.7r, 2.9a, 2.4s</em>). South Knox looks to Senior guard <strong>Macie Couchenour</strong>, a multiyear double-figure scoring threat. Eastern Greene has Sophomore wing <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="177329" first="Keylee" last="Hudson"]</strong> (<em>13.7p, 6.6r, 3.5a, 2.9s</em>), plus they have three other players all averaging more than eight points per game in Freshman forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="366802" first="Kenli" last="Sullivan"]</strong> (<em>8.4p, 6.2r</em>), Sophomore guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="201880" first="Brynlee" last="Perkins"]</strong> (<em>8.4p, 2.3r</em>), and Junior forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="300079" first="Kenady" last="Hudson"]</strong> (<em>8.1p, 4.0r</em>). <strong><span style="font-size: 18pt;">Sectional #48 - Forest Park</span> - Likely Favorite:</strong> Forest Park <strong>- Upset Candidates:</strong> Evansville Mater Dei/South Spencer <strong>- Comments:</strong> Forest Park (18-3) has played extremely well all year, and they are 5-0 against Sectional #48 competition, including wins over Mater Dei and South Spencer, albeit by single digits each time. The Rangers start with 6-1 Junior forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="178237" first="Amber" last="Tretter"]</strong>. Her height, length, athleticism, and skill are rare at the Class 2A level, and she presents a number of mismatches for opponents. Junior wing <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="59728" first="Lydia" last="Betz"]</strong> has the size and strength to play a power position, but she’s also a capable ball-handler, playmaker, and shooter from outside. Senior guard <strong>Ali Welp</strong> adds another perimeter player with good height and versatility, making Forest Park a real problem for opponents. Mater Dei has long been an issue for the opposition come tournament time. Despite being 13-9, they play the equivalence of a Class 4A schedule, so you know they’ll be prepared. 6-1 Senior forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="97306" first="Kennedy" last="Wenger"]</strong> (<em>14.4p, 7.3r</em>) has a versatile and somewhat smooth inside-out game. Senior forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="303397" first="Kate" last="Breeden"]</strong> (<em>8.2p, 5.3r, 2.1s</em>) is another player who can get physical inside or step out and knock down a jump-shot. Senior guard <strong>Jamie Luigs</strong> (<em>7.4p, 3.2r, 2.8a</em>) has done a nice job of scoring the ball but also creating for others this year. South Spencer has also put together a fine year at 16-5, and Junior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="241197" first="Trinity" last="Britton"]</strong> (<em>16.4p, 6.2r, 4.0a, 2.9s</em>) has been their main culprit on the perimeter. She can score it from outside, but she’s also good at drawing contact and earning free throw trips. Sophomore guard <strong>Molly Schulte</strong> (<em>10.7p, 4.3r, 4.9a, 2.5s</em>) adds a second double-figure scorer, while Junior post <strong>Sofi Young</strong> (<em>8.8p, 5.5r</em>), Senior wing <strong>Katelyn Tindle</strong> (<em>7.9p, 4.0r</em>), and Sophomore wing <strong>Sally Shelton</strong> (<em>6.7p, 5.3r, 2.5a</em>) offer additional support.