An Early Look (Class 1A)

The featured image is of [player_tooltip player_id="178241" first="Bailey" last="Parham"] (2023) of Tri High School. The IHSAA recently released updated enrollment numbers and Sectional assignments for the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 girls’ basketball seasons. As we enter the middle of June and school teams are in full swing with open gyms, shootouts, and local league games, I wanted to have a little fun and spend some time on a way too early look at potentially the top five teams in each enrollment classification, as it relates to the 2022-2023 season. A lot of this is more dependent on returnees than newcomers, but here is a look at how I think Class 1A could stack up once the high school season rolls around in November.   1. Lanesville (26-2 in 2021-2022) Lanesville has a lot going for them. They’ve had a string of success, they were one of the elite Class 1A teams a season ago, and they did so with a number of younger players stepping into critical roles. This time around, nearly the entire roster will be experienced. 5-8 Senior forward [player_tooltip player_id="59789" first="Linzie" last="Wernert"] (13.7p, 7.4r, 3.0a, 3.4s) does damage inside and out, and her relentless motor is a great example for the younger players to follow. Classmate Morgan Sonner (8.4p, 5.5r, 2.1b), a 6-0 post, stepped up and helped man the middle for the Eagles. She gives them a sizeable post presence. Sophomore guards [player_tooltip player_id="295760" first="Hadley" last="Crosier"] (7.6p, 3.1r, 3.6a, 3.6s) and [player_tooltip player_id="324067" first="Hylton" last="Brumley"] (7.0p, 2.4r, 2.0s) saw a great deal of playing time in their rookie seasons, and both could be double-digit scorers this time around. Crosier is a long, fluid athlete who handles the ball a lot for Lanesville. Brumley is a strong, physical wing who can play a variety of roles, both offensively and defensively. Junior guard Ava Kerr (4.9p, 2.3s) will likely be the fifth starter for the Eagles, and she will find shots due to the attention defenses will show her teammates. 2. Vincennes Rivet (20-7) Rivet did suffer a couple of tough graduation losses in front-liner Meredith Weiss and guard Maddi Halter, but they still return a great deal of size and experience. However, they will have to play this season under the leadership of a new coach, as Rick Marshall has called it a career and retired. They averaged 21 wins per season in his five years at Rivet. The Patriots will likely continue to emphasize their size, as they turn to 6-0 Senior forward Cadence Mills, 6-3 Junior post [player_tooltip player_id="369823" first="Anna" last="Herman"], and 6-2 Sophomore forward/post [player_tooltip player_id="404106" first="Mary" last="Herman"]. You don’t see a lot of starting frontlines that tall in any class, let alone 1A. [player_tooltip player_id="369823" first="Anna" last="Herman"] is more of the back-to-the-basket post, while [player_tooltip player_id="404106" first="Mary" last="Herman"] and Cadence Mills play with some flexibility and can score it around the rim, in the mid-post, or screen and move the ball around the perimeter as well. The big question for the Patriots will be perimeter play, but the 2021-2022 season saw a number of younger guards and wings take the floor and gain experience. Look for Senior guard Kenadee Frey to be a focal point outside. 3. Caston (18-7) The Comets have been surging the last couple of seasons, and a lot of that has to do with 5-8 Junior wing [player_tooltip player_id="239357" first="Isabel" last="Scales"] (14.2p, 5.1r, 3.8a, 3.4s). She is a strong kid, a solid all-around athlete, and she can take on a variety of roles, whether she is a creator and facilitator, a shooter/scorer, or she defends the perimeter or paint. They will have to replace the production of graduated forward Maddi Smith (12.2p, 5.0r, 2.2s), however Junior guard Addison Zimpleman (7.5p, 2.7r) has shown flashes of being able to consistently score it in double-figures, plus Senior forward Bailey Harness (7.2p, 5.0r), Senior front-liner Laura Dammermann (2.3p, 2.3r), and Senior wing Kinzie Mollenkopf (2.8r) have all see the floor during crucial minutes in the past. It will be up to Scales, though, to again lead this group, especially early in the season while they find their footing. But don’t put it past her to average 20 points per game the next two years, helping the Comets continue to build their program into a top Class 1A squad. 4. Kouts (20-7) The Fillies put together a nice 2021-2022 season, capped off by a Sectional title, however they must now replace graduated forward Lyndsey Kobza (13.5p, 6.5r, 2.5a, 2.9s). The good news is, she was the only graduate, they return their leading scorer, and they return a front-liner who missed the entire season due to injury. 5-11 Senior wing [player_tooltip player_id="96074" first="Allison" last="Capouch"] (17.8p, 5.9r, 3.0a, 2.3s) is not only the best player on this roster, but she’s one of the better Class 1A players in the entire state. She is a high-level shooter with deep range, but as she’s grown and gained strength, she’s started to do more around the basket. 6-0 Senior post [player_tooltip player_id="372356" first="Lauren" last="Koedyker"] averaged 8.5 points and 8.5 rebounds per game as a Sophomore two seasons ago, but she missed the entire 2021-2022 season due to an injury she suffered in volleyball. She will be a big help to replace Kobza’s production. Seniors Emma Garavalia (7.2p, 4.4r, 2.1s), an athletic 5-8 wing, and Taylor Moyer (3.4p, 4.2r), a solid 5-7 guard, bring back added experience and solidify four of five starting spots in the lineup. A potential February matchup with Caston could be fun to watch. 5. Tri (18-6) The Tri Titans return nearly everyone from their rotation, with wing Ashtyn Harvey (5.1p, 2.6r, 2.6a) being the biggest graduation loss. Back in the fold, however, is 6-0 Senior post [player_tooltip player_id="178241" first="Bailey" last="Parham"] (17.6p, 12.1r, 2.4a, 3.3s, 3.1b). She has good size and strength and can dominate the paint, but she also has a nice mid-post face-up game, she plays extremely hard, and she is a nice help-side defender. From there, 6-0 Senior forward/post Abi Clarke (9.2p, 6.9r) brings back more experience, she adds some athleticism, and she helps bolster the frontline for the Titans. 5-6 Sophomore guard Kenley Cornelius (8.0p, 4.1r, 2.9a, 2.1s) flashed nice potential on a veteran team as a rookie, and she should be their primary ball-handler as the 2022-2023 season rolls around. I’d expect her to make the biggest jump statistically. 5-5 Senior guard Amber Rich (7.5p, 3.0r) and 5-6 Junior wing Rylee Boyd (6.0p, 3.5r) are really nice role players who can score it a little when necessary, but they play hard, defend, and rebound their positions fairly well. This team, however, will focus around the play of Parham in the pivot, and rightfully so.   OTHERS TO CONSIDER: Bethesda Christian (15-8), Blue River Valley (24-3), DeMotte Christian (18-5), Jac-Cen-Del (19-7), North Central (Farmersburg) (19-7), Northeast Dubois (17-6), Southwood (12-11), Trinity Lutheran (16-9), Triton (13-9), Washington Township (17-6)