Sectional Preview: Class 1A, Sectionals #57-#64

The featured image is of [player_tooltip player_id="303401" first="Bella" last="Larrison"] (2022) of Waldron High School. We have crossed into the new year, and the IHSAA girls’ basketball state tournament is getting ready to start tonight. With just hours remaining before Sectional play begins, here is a quick look at who the better teams are in each Class 1A 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 this week. Below I have highlighted Sectionals #57-#64. (Disclaimer: this article was written and prepared before games began on 2/1/22. It posted after games began.)   Sectional #57 - Clay City - Likely Favorite: North Central (Farmersburg) - Upset Candidates: Bloomfield/Eminence - Comments: On the surface, North Central looks like a heavy favorite. They are 17-6 on the season, plus they have beaten each Sectional #57 opponent. However, they had a couple of close calls against Shakamak (44-38) and Bloomfield (48-43), plus Eminence continues to get better each week. Also, the Thunderbirds are leaning on three Freshmen, so while the future is bright, tournament time can either see them excel or it can play tricks on them. Guard [player_tooltip player_id="366798" first="Jalyn" last="Davidson"] (14.7p, 3.5r, 4.2a, 2.5s), guard Shelby Seay (10.7p, 3.8r, 4.8a, 3.6s) and forward Samantha Secrest (7.4p, 5.8r) have had nice rookie seasons. Juniors Katie Jones (8.5p, 7.7r) and Paloma Keller (7.6p, 3.4r, 3.6a, 3.0s) round out a solid, but youthful, starting lineup. Bloomfield has seen their share of postseason success, participating in the Sectional Final the last six seasons. While they are just 10-11 on the year, they have won five in a row and seven of their last ten. They had a number of new faces step up this season, but they can always turn to Senior forward Gracie Lowry in a pinch. Eminence is another hot team right now, winners of seven of their last eight. They are another young team, looking to a host of Sophomores. Wing Danica Myers (12.5p, 5.8r, 3.1a, 3.1s) and forward Natalie Hubbard (11.5p, 6.6r, 2.4s) are double-digit scorers, while guard Bella Dittemore (9.1p, 3.4r, 2.4a, 2.7s) isn’t far off their pace. Freshman Sophia Saucerman (6.9p, 6.5r) has also stepped up early in her career. Sectional #58 - Indiana Deaf - Likely Favorite: Bethesda Christian - Upset Candidate: Indiana Deaf - Comments: In all honesty, Sectional #58 is Bethesda Christian vs. everyone else. While the Lady Patriots have only played one game against Sectional #58 opponents, they beat the Deaf Hoosiers 63-23 earlier this season, and Indiana Deaf rates out as the second-best team in the Sectional next to Bethesda Christian. The Patriots have Sophomore guard [player_tooltip player_id="177322" first="Kenzie" last="Fulks"] (23.5p, 5.0r, 4.9a, 3.1s) leading the way once again, but Junior Paige Vawter (10.1p, 5.2r, 3.2a) is another capable scorer and facilitator. If anyone has a shot, it probably is Indiana Deaf, behind double-figure scorers Seanna Baird (10.5p, 5.6r, 2.8a, 3.6s), a Junior, and Sophia Wascher (10.4p, 8.6r, 2.4s), a Sophomore. Sectional #59 - Indianapolis Lutheran - Likely Favorite: Greenwood Christian - Upset Candidate: Indianapolis Lutheran - Comments: This is another Sectional where one team (Greenwood Christian) stands out in a big way. The Lady Cougars are just 12-11, but they have played an immensely tougher schedule than any of their other Sectional #59 counterparts. Senior guard Dani Simon (14.8p, 4.6r, 2.1s) has stepped up and performed well this year, while Senior wing [player_tooltip player_id="377050" first="Ellie" last="Bigelow"] (11.5p, 6.3r, 2.1a, 3.1s) has four years of Varsity experience under her belt. Sophomore Sydney Waldron (8.1p, 5.5r) transferred in this year from Providence and helps inside and out, while Senior Dory O’Dell (7.0p, 7.5r) is strong on the glass for the Cougars. Probably the closest team to Greenwood Christian is Indianapolis Lutheran, and with them hosting, I guess you can give them the nod as an upset candidate. Sophomore forward Grace King (11.0p, 7.8r, 2.0s) has double-double potential each time out. Sectional #60 - Waldron - Likely Favorite: Waldron - Upset Candidate: Jac-Cen-Del - Comments: This is actually a pretty strong Sectional, with four teams holding onto winning records. But Waldron and Jac-Cen-Del stand out among the pack, and I think it will come down to one of them. Waldron is 20-1 on the season, plus they are 7-0 against Sectional #60 competition. Jac-Cen-Del is 17-6, and they are 5-1 against Sectional #60 opponents, with their lone loss being a narrow, 51-48 defeat, at the hands of Waldron. Waldron has been gearing up for this year, and they have a strong Senior class led by forward [player_tooltip player_id="303401" first="Bella" last="Larrison"], wing Nichole Garner, and guard Megan Bogemann. Seven total Seniors fill the Mohawks’ roster. Jac-Cen-Del is one of those year-in, year-out, Class 1A powers, typically because of great balance throughout their roster. This year is no different, though they do have four Seniors as their top scorers. Point guard [player_tooltip player_id="182142" first="Annabelle" last="Williams"] (10.7p, 5.8r, 4.7a, 2.6s) is the leader of the group. Forward Desiree Sparks (7.9p, 5.3r), wing Jalee Rider (7.7p, 2.6s), and guard Aundrea Cullen (7.5p) add more experience to the lineup. Sophomore guard Reagan Hughes (7.5p, 2.0r) has breakout potential as well, and she’ll likely star the next two years for the Eagles. Sectional #61 - New Washington - Likely Favorite: Lanesville - Upset Candidate: New Washington - Comments: Lanesville has been the dominant force in this Sectional over these last four seasons, posting an 84-16 record in that span, and they’re looking for their fourth consecutive Sectional title. While they graduated their leading scorer from a year ago, they probably have a better collection of talent now, and a strong Freshmen group has given them much better depth. Junior forward [player_tooltip player_id="59789" first="Linzie" last="Wernert"] (15.0p, 7.9r, 2.8a, 3.5s) is their do-everything forward who can fulfill a number of roles. She’s a tough-nosed, high-motor player, a solid all-around athlete, and skilled around the perimeter but also physical and assertive inside. Fellow Junior Morgan Sonner (8.7p, 5.1r), a 6-0 post, has really stepped up her game this year and given them an inside presence. Freshmen guards [player_tooltip player_id="295760" first="Hadley" last="Crosier"] (8.1p, 3.7r, 3.3a, 3.8s) and [player_tooltip player_id="324067" first="Hylton" last="Brumley"] (6.9p, 2.4r) have had the biggest impact out of the 2025 class, as both are athletic, skillful, and each are capable of scoring 20 points on a given night. There really isn’t much competition for them in Sectional #61, however New Washington has had a nice year at 13-9...just their second winning season since the 2013-2014 campaign. They play host to the Sectional, so that could spur the Mustangs along at least a little, though a mid-December meeting with Lanesville resulted in a 67-22 outcome. No one else from this field has come within 40 points of the Eagles this season. Sectional #62 - West Washington - Likely Favorite: Trinity Lutheran - Upset Candidate: West Washington - Comments: From the outside looking in, West Washington is 14-7, while Trinity Lutheran is 14-8. However, the Cougars of Trinity Lutheran have played a substantially more difficult schedule than the Senators, while also having larger win margins over the two common opponents they’ve faced from Sectional #62. The Cougars graduated an Indiana All-Star in 2021, however Junior wing [player_tooltip player_id="59779" first="Bailey" last="Tabeling"] (20.8p, 8.0r, 4.5a, 3.0s) does it all for them. She can act as a point forward and facilitate, but she’s such a fluid, natural shooter/scorer that the offense almost needs to run through her each possession. Sophomore wing [player_tooltip player_id="326481" first="Liza" last="Froedge"] (10.8p, 4.4r, 2.0a) is another long, fluid player with nice multilevel skill and the ability to knock down open shots. Senior guard Kailene Cockerham (7.8p, 2.9r, 2.3a) has a wealth of experience and has stepped up in big games in the past. Though a little undersized, Freshman front-liner Madison Keith (6.3p, 6.0r) has helped at least a little to replace the interior production from last season that left via the diploma. West Washington has a somewhat young team, with a host of Sophomores playing pivotal roles for them. However, Senior forward Madison Brown has been huge all year for the Senators, and if they are looking to upset Trinity Lutheran, everything will likely funnel through her. Sectional #63 - North Daviess - Likely Favorite: Vincennes Rivet - Upset Candidate: Barr-Reeve - Comments: Vincennes Rivet is used to 20-win seasons, but after missing the mark the last two years, at 17-6 they are well on their way with a nice postseason run. The Patriots are possibly the biggest, most intimidating team in Class 1A this year, as they have a host of girls at the 6-foot mark or taller. 6-0 Senior [player_tooltip player_id="128121" first="Meredith" last="Weiss"] is healthy and performing at a high level as a strong but skillful power forward. 6-1 Freshman Mary Herman has found quality minutes and flashes a great deal of potential. 6-3 Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id="369823" first="Anna" last="Herman"] is a nice, true post who can use her size and strength to control the paint. And 6-0 Junior Cadence Mills is a versatile forward who can play anywhere from the low-block to the mid-post, to occasionally around the perimeter. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id="303409" first="Maddisyn" last="Halter"] is the leader, though, despite the height, and she is an athletic scoring guard who can score in a hurry. Unfortunately, this is another Class 1A South Sectional with very little competition for the favorite, as Barr-Reeve (9-15) is the only other team even close to 10 wins at the moment. Next year could be a big year for them, though, as they return nearly all of their production, led by current Freshman [player_tooltip player_id="366796" first="Hannah" last="Bledsoe"] (10.7p, 8.1r), a 6-0 front-liner. Sectional #64 - Wood Memorial - Likely Favorite: Tecumseh - Upset Candidate: Northeast Dubois - Comments: The Senior class at Tecumseh has brought energy to the program, helping them to look for their fourth consecutive Sectional title this year. Senior forward [player_tooltip player_id="97268" first="Kaybree" last="Oxley"] (17.4p, 9.0r, 2.3a, 2.6s) is their do-everything kid, and she plays with a tremendous motor. She is tough-nosed, willing to be physical, but she’s also a very nice athlete who can play at all three levels. Sophomore front-liner [player_tooltip player_id="369833" first="Jenna" last="Donohoo"] (11.9p, 6.4r) has also been strong these last two seasons. She has a nonstop motor as well, and she combines athleticism with physicality, despite being a little undersized. Sophomore point guard Karsyn Flowers (9.7p, 3.2r, 4.9a, 3.4s) is the playmaker and floor general, while Senior forwards [player_tooltip player_id="128207" first="Morgan" last="Wilson"] (6.3p, 2.4r) and Ashtyn Green (4.3p) have helped Oxley and the Lady Braves to 66 wins (and counting) since they arrived on campus. Northeast Dubois is not ready to just hand them the title, though, as they are sitting at 16-5 on the year. While they haven’t played nearly the schedule of Tecumseh, they do have some talent of their own. Junior forward [player_tooltip player_id="300081" first="Rhylan" last="Kalb"] (19.2p, 6.6r) has played on another level this season, as she’s figured out how to consistently score the ball from all areas of the floor. Senior wing Hadley Fuhrman (12.7p, 6.0r, 2.8s) is another double-figure scorer for the Jeeps, and she is capable of a 25-point effort at any time. They will need additional help to upset Tecumseh, and they could get that chance if both teams advance to Saturday night.