Season Preview: Class 2A, Sectionals #45-48

The featured image is of [player_tooltip player_id='203657' first='Jackie' last='Crews'] (2024) of Paoli High School (with the ball).   Last Monday, October 17, marked the start of official practices, therefore the beginning of the 2022-2023 high school season is right around the corner. With that in mind, I wanted to continue my thorough, multi-article preview spread throughout the next couple of weeks, looking ahead at each Sectional, the top teams, and preseason all-state teams. I will wrap up Class 2A by addressing the second South Regional, which incorporates the winners of Sectional #45 through #48. Below is a look at the teams in each of those Sectionals, along with some general comments and analysis. (SAG = Final 2021-2022 Multiclass Sagarin Rating (395 teams); SOS = Final 2021-2022 Strength of Schedule)   Sectional #45 South Ripley (18-9), SAG 188, SOS 273 North Decatur (16-7), SAG 205, SOS 267 Switzerland County (18-7), SAG 219, SOS 338 Hauser (10-13), SAG 279, SOS 295 Milan (5-18), SAG 343, SOS 328   Sectional #45 has a couple of really nice teams at the top, but there is competition throughout. I'm going to lean towards North Decatur to begin the season, as they bring 100% of their production back and have a recent history of being tough to defeat. Senior wing [player_tooltip player_id='241190' first='Madelyn' last='Bohman'] is entering her fourth year as a starter and major contributor for the Lady Chargers. She is long, athletic, and can make plays at both ends of the floor. Last year's top newcomer, Sophomore wing [player_tooltip player_id='366794' first='Madi' last='Allen'] (10.1p, 4.8r, 3.0a, 2.1s), gave Bohman a nice perimeter running 'mate. Allen can handle the ball and play a point forward role, plus she can score it from all three levels. 5-11 Junior post Ella Kunz offers them a skillful, hard-working frontline option who can score and defend inside. From there, the Chargers played a lot of youngsters last year, so the experience they gained should help improve their depth this year. Most notable of the bunch are 5-5 guard Kacey Barker, 5-6 guard Kelsey Haley, 5-3 guard Clare Kinker, and 6-0 post Sydney Rohls, all Sophomores this season. South Ripley had a nice 2021-2022 season, but they say "goodbye" to three of their top four scorers & rebounders, and they graduated four Seniors in total. Most notable of the missing are Gracie Gunter (9.8p, 4.5r, 2.2a, 2.6s) and 6-0 Rachel Meyer (8.2p, 5.7r, 2.9a). 5-7 Senior wing Emily Flood (6.8p, 4.0r) brings back the most production of the returnees, while fellow Senior, 5-8 forward Katelynn Samples (5.5p, 4.3r), also has quality experience in the lineup. 5-7 Junior guard Lydia Cornett (2.0p) and 5-7 Senior forward Mya McNew (1.5p, 2.0r) will see their roles increase significantly, but depth beyond that could be a problem until a few newcomers experience major minutes early this year. The Lady Raiders will still be a tough team to knock off, but matching the 18 wins from a year ago will be difficult.   Like the Pacers of the NBA, the Pacers of Switzerland County are another team transitioning to a new, younger roster. The Lady Pacers graduated a quartet of impact players in Jessie Duvall (13.7p, 3.2r, 3.6a, 4.3s), Maddie Duvall, Norah Hankins, and 6-1 Hannah Hayes. This year's roster is deep with Juniors, and the Pacers likely won't play anyone taller than 5-7, but at least 5-6 Junior guard Halle Archer and 5-7 Junior forward Macy Collier have multiple years of experience. 5-7 Sophomore forward Brianna Stow saw action as a rookie last year and should help as well. The Hauser Jets were immediately affected a year ago by Center Grove transfer and Junior point guard [player_tooltip player_id='201881' first='Madelyn' last='Poe'] (16.6p, 5.1r, 3.8a). She was able to bring her big school experience to the small school stage, and it paid dividends for the Jets. I'd anticipate an even stronger second year in the program from her. Additionally, Hauser returns most of their production, and the returning cast is led by 5-7 Senior guard Kyliegh Parrott (9.5p, 3.5r), Senior forward Adriana Musillami (6.9p, 4.0r), 5-5 Sophomore guard Norah Berkenstock (4.8p, 2.1r), and 6-0 Junior post Kenzie Bostic (3.0p, 4.3r). Mighty Milan will be without 6-0 post Audrey Schmidt and guard Riley Clark this season, as both graduated in the Spring, but they return a strong 2024 class who should help improve their win total from a year ago. 5-10 Junior forward Rachel Holt, 6-0 Junior post Riley Schwipps, and 5-7 Junior guard Makalee Rivera are the standouts of the bunch, and they should lead the Lady Indians this time around.   Sectional #46 Eastern (Pekin) (15-12), SAG 113, SOS 102 Brownstown Central (16-12), SAG 116, SOS 97 Austin (10-12), SAG 176, SOS 149 Providence (6-15), SAG 313, SOS 271 Southwestern (Hanover) (5-19), SAG 330, SOS 321 Henryville (9-14), SAG 333, SOS 337 Clarksville (4-19), SAG 373, SOS 371   Sectional #46 always proves to have some tough teams at the top, and I will lean towards Eastern (Pekin) as a slight favorite this year, as they return a great deal of experience and nearly made our Class 2A preseason Top-10. Christina Knight (6.3p) and McKenna Jeter (5.4p, 3.5r, 2.1a, 2.2s) did graduate, but this year's Senior group goes six deep. Front-liner [player_tooltip player_id='372344' first='Kyia' last='McKinley'] (13.1p, 5.8r) and wing [player_tooltip player_id='59777' first='Ava' last='Sowder'] (9.5p, 4.4r, 2.6a) form a nice inside-out, 1-2 punch for the Musketeers. McKinley is a physical presence in the paint, while Sowder can create, distribute, or score it herself. Fellow Seniors who stand out include Madeline Lewellen (4.0p, 2.9r), Kaylee McKinley (3.7p, 2.4r), and Gracie Lewis (1.7p). They also have some nice youngsters waiting in the wings who could contribute sooner rather than later. Brownstown Central moves into this Class 2A Sectional from Class 3A. They, too, will lean on a pair of Seniors for leadership. 5-8 guard [player_tooltip player_id='178236' first='Madelyn' last='Hackman'] (15.5p, 2.7r, 71 made 3s) and 5-8 wing Kalee Borden (8.0p, 7.1r, 2.9a) stand out for the Lady Braves. Hackman is a talented shooter with the ability to make plays for herself or others. Borden is a versatile, do-everything type who can hit shots outside, facilitate, or rebound and battle inside. From there, Brownstown must replace the production of several graduates, most notably Emma Klinge, so the Senior duo will need to carry the torch until some of the youngsters feel more comfortable in the spotlight. The Austin Eagles managed ten wins a year ago on a fairly tough schedule, but they'll have to replace the graduation loss of five 2022s, most notably Mayci Furnish. 5-8 Senior forward Mallory Buckel and 5-9 Senior forward Jamie Caudill should shore up the frontcourt, but the backcourt will be the biggest question mark, as the Lady Eagles look to build depth behind some younger, less experienced players. 5-5 Freshman point guard Brynn Owens definitely looks to be someone who can help fill the void immediately. They should still approach ten wins again, but they've got their work cut out for them.   Watch out for Providence the next few years, as they will be on the climb back to the top. They played zero Seniors a season ago, plus they have a strong Freshman class. Of the returnees, Senior Lillie Weber (7.8p, 4.6r) led the Pioneers in both scoring and rebounding last year. Junior Grace Denis (6.6p), Sophomore Molly Richards (5.0p, 2.3r), Junior Anna Rodewig (3.7p, 2.3r), Senior Kate Weber (3.6p, 2.1a, 2.7s), Senior Erica Voelker (3.4p), Junior Kate Simmons (2.2p, 3.4r), and Senior Isabelle Frey (2.0p) made up Providence's rotation, and each had opportunities to find critical minutes last year. That experience will help them moving forward, as could twins Addison Smith, a 5-4 point guard, and [player_tooltip player_id='885219' first='Avery' last='Smith'], a 5-7 wing, 5-4 point guard Livy Theobold, and 5-6 guard Kaia Kailer. All four are potentially impactful Freshmen. Southwestern (Hanover) will be looking to improve upon their five wins from last year, but in order to do so, they'll need to replace the production of graduates Trinity McClain (10.7p, 3.7r) and Kylie Eccles (9.1p, 6.7r, 2.2a, 2.5s). 5-3 Junior guard Ashley Fulton (10.8p, 5.8r, 2.7a) is back, however, and she looks to be even more productive this season. 5-9 Senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='534673' first='Emma' last='Long'] (8.4p, 6.5r) returns to anchor the frontcourt, and she could go for a double-double most evenings. Four additional returnees averaged between 2.3 points and 3.7 points, so there is some experience and depth returning. A couple of Freshmen could be impactful as well. Henryville lost the services of graduate Kaitlyn D'Angelo, however they played a lot of younger girls last season as well. 5-6 Junior guards Alexis Marion and Hillary White are the most experienced returnees at this point in time for the Lady Hornets. Clarksville is another team looking to bolster its win total from a year ago. Senior guard Dahja Gaines (11.1p, 6.2r) is a really nice athlete who can score it at the rim or in the mid-range. 5-6 Junior wing Courtney Austin (4.3p, 4.8r), 5-7 Senior forward Carlye Nixe (3.3p, 2.8r), 5-8 Sophomore forward Mariah Smith (3.2p, 3.6r), and 5-6 Sophomore guard Julia Perissi (1.5p) all return with experience, and they could help create some consistency within the lineup this year.   Sectional #47 North Knox (21-7), SAG 112, SOS 195 Linton-Stockton (14-8), SAG 115, SOS 141 Sullivan (17-6), SAG 129, SOS 212 Mitchell (13-8), SAG 138, SOS 239 Paoli (15-9), SAG 145, SOS 224 South Knox (15-11), SAG 146, SOS 194 Eastern Greene (17-6), SAG 191, SOS 308 North Daviess (7-15), SAG 320, SOS 332   This Sectional has changed since last year, with five teams remaining, Loogootee leaving (to Class 1A), and Linton-Stockton (from Class 3A), Sullivan (from Class 3A), and North Daviess (from Class 1A) all coming aboard. I feel like it's a highly competitive group, and nearly anyone can walk away with a Sectional #47 crown this year. Linton-Stockton is probably sitting in the best position, if there are any favorites. Wing Jaylee Hayes did graduate, so that will be a tough loss to deal with, but so much returns this season. Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='326486' first='Bradie' last='Chambers'] (14.5p, 4.0r, 2.1a, 3.0s) is back to lead the Lady Miners. She gets backcourt help from 5-6 classmate Sydney Jerrells (9.8p, 3.0r, 2.2a, 3.5s). Both guards are interchangeable, as each can initiate/run offense and both can score the ball from all over. 5-6 Sophomore guard [player_tooltip player_id='495982' first='Addisyn' last='Mckee'] (7.5p) and 5-8 Senior wing Carsyn Chambers (1.5p) also provide perimeter experience and depth. Looking for bigger roles this season are 5-6 wing [player_tooltip player_id='495992' first='Alyvia' last='Mckee'], forward Clare Stanton, 6-0 front-liner Becca Robbins, and 6-1 front-liner Taryn Thuis...all four are just Sophomores. Despite the loss of Graycie Poe (16.0p, 4.0r, 2.9s) to graduation, North Knox will likely present the biggest challenge in Sectional #47. Sophomore guard [player_tooltip player_id='295765' first='Alex' last='McKinley'] (9.2p, 3.9r) leads the way now for the Lady Warriors, and I'd anticipate a significant jump in her production minus Poe. 5-5 Senior guard Reegan Hammelman (5.8p, 4.0r, 2.6a), 5-6 Junior wing Madison McCory (5.0p, 3.3r), 5-3 Sophomore point guard [player_tooltip player_id='362315' first='Brooklyn' last='Sturgeon'] (4.5p, 2.0r), and 5-7 Sophomore wing [player_tooltip player_id='473675' first='Brynna' last='Collins'] (2.2p, 3.1r) could very well round out the starting lineup for North Knox in 2022-2023. The Warriors aren't very tall, but they are feisty, tough-nosed, and fairly athletic as a unit. The Sullivan Golden Arrows are at a crossroads, as they graduated two of their best players of all-time in twins Gracie Shorter (16.5p, 3.7r, 3.1a, 2.6s) and Delainey Shorter (10.1p, 4.8r, 5.1a, 2.9s), but they return everyone else. Seniors Avery Wiltermood (7.4p, 2.3r), a 5-6 guard, and Klaire Williams (7.1p, 6.9r), a 5-11 post, look to be the likely candidates to step into the spotlight this season. 5-9 Sophomore post Jacie Wilson (5.4p, 4.4r) and 5-2 Junior guard Kimber Ladson (4.9p) are also fairly experienced and can help provide some stability to the lineup. The Golden Arrows will certainly miss their dynamic playmakers from the last four years, but if they work together, they can still post a winning season.   Mitchell returns a couple of really nice players, but they must make up for the graduation losses of Jordyn Sarver (12.7p, 5.5r, 3.1a, 2.1s), Taylor Duncan, Lilly Zeeks, and 6-2 post Madeline Robertson. The best place to start is with Senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='203651' first='Brooklyn' last='Peterson']. She is strong, tough-nosed, and plays with a tremendous motor. She can play around the block or in the mid-post effectively. 5-8 Senior wing Mylea Slone also has experience and is a nice athlete. From there, 5-5 Senior wing Malaya Tanglao probably has the next most experience, but remaining depth is limited. They will likely be seeking to establish a consistent rotation from the outset. The Paoli Rams lose twins Kacey McBride (9.6p, 5.3r, 2.6a, 2.3s) and Kinsey McBride (6.3p, 2.3r) to graduation, along with Gracie Walls (4.3p), however they return quite a bit as well. Back for a fourth year is Senior point guard [player_tooltip player_id='203657' first='Jackie' last='Crews'] (14.0p, 3.8r, 2.4a, 2.8s). She is a playmaker, whether she's on or off the ball, and she can make shots from all three levels. Crews is headed to the Indiana Institute of Technology in Fort Wayne next year to play. Senior post [player_tooltip player_id='460843' first='Ryleigh' last='Anderson'] (4.5p, 5.5r) is a strong and physical front-liner who can probably approach a double-double average as a Senior. She recently committed to Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College. 5-9 Junior forward [player_tooltip player_id='825889' first='Carley' last='Higgins'] (4.4p, 4.1r) and 5-8 Senior forward Amelia Hess (2.0p) are the next two most experienced players on the roster. South Knox will be entering their first season without graduated guard Macie Couchenour (17.2p, 4.1r, 2.6a, 2.7s) in a while. She provided so much energy and consistency at both ends of the floor for the Spartans. She took fellow grads Jordyn Derouin, Leah Ellermann, Sydney Riker, and 6-0 post Natalee Holscher with her, unfortunately. Now, the attention turns to 5-6 Sophomore guard Ella Bobe, who performed admirably in Year-1, and she looks to leave her mark on the program moving forward. There isn't a lot of experience throughout the remainder of the roster, so South Knox will be seeking a new identity this year. Eastern Greene is very intriguing entering this season, as they seem to have someone with experience at just about every position. Junior wing [player_tooltip player_id='177329' first='Keylee' last='Hudson'] (13.7p, 6.7r, 3.3a, 3.1s) leads the way for the Thunderbirds. She acts as a point forward at times, she can rebound and defend, plus she's a capable scorer from all three levels. Her older sister, Senior [player_tooltip player_id='300079' first='Kenady' last='Hudson'] (8.1p, 3.9r), helps battle on the interior along with Sophomore forward [player_tooltip player_id='366802' first='Kenli' last='Sullivan'] (8.4p, 6.2r). Sullivan was a nice surprise as a rookie, and she should only improve in Year-2. 5-9 Junior wing [player_tooltip player_id='201880' first='Brynlee' last='Perkins'] (8.3p, 2.4r) and 5-5 Senior guard Mia Uland (5.0p) should help the younger Hudson around the perimeter. Missed most will be graduate Indy Workman (4.2p, 3.4r, 2.8a, 3.0s). North Daviess was rather young a season ago, as they turned to several Freshmen to fill roles and add depth to the rotation. However, 5-7 Senior guard Hadley Parisien and 5-3 Senior point guard Madi Lengacher bring leadership to the group. With the experience those 2025s have already gained, look for the Lady Cougars to push for double-digit wins during the 2022-2023 season.   Sectional #48 Forest Park (26-3), SAG 69, SOS 144 South Spencer (16-7), SAG 154, SOS 283 Crawford County (10-13), SAG 217, SOS 221 North Posey (9-13), SAG 266, SOS 240 Perry Central (8-15), SAG 306, SOS 256 Tell City (3-18), SAG 341, SOS 215   With so many players returning for the Class 2A State Champions, Forest Park is a strong favorite to win Sectional #48 once again, and they are #3 in our Class 2A preseason poll (<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/2022/10/season-preview-top-10-class-2a-teams/" data-type="URL" data-id="https://prepgirlshoops.com/2022/10/season-preview-top-10-class-2a-teams/" target="_blank">you can see their team preview here</a>). If anyone is to challenge them, I would put my money on South Spencer this season. The return of Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='241197' first='Trinity' last='Britton'] (16.0p, 5.9r, 3.9a, 2.7s) and Junior point guard [player_tooltip player_id='455943' first='Molly' last='Schulte'] (11.3p, 4.4r, 4.9a, 2.3s) will be a problem for most of their opponents. Britton is a tough-nosed, high-motor, versatile guard who can fill it up. Schulte is your smooth playmaker type who can score it herself or find teammates. But that's not all for the Rebels. 5-11 Senior post Sofi Young (7.9p, 5.1r) and 5-5 Junior wing Sally Shelton (6.7p, 5.0r, 2.5a) can each also provide an offensive or defensive boost most games. If they can get their depth/rotation shored up, the Rebels could give Forest Park some trouble come Sectional time. Crawford County moves over from Sectional #46, and the Wolfpack is in need of players to step up, as mainstays Sarah Stutzman, a 6-0 front-liner, and Taylor Herbaugh have graduated. Three more 2022s left with them in the Spring, so Crawford County will now turn to 5-9 Senior forward Emily Kerce, 5-10 Senior forward Natalie Stroud, and 5-4 Sophomore point guard [player_tooltip player_id='1218694' first='Maddyson' last='Sturgeon'] to lead the way. If they can build some stability early this year, they can approach ten wins once again, but it won't be easy.   North Posey begins with a nice building block in 5-11 Sophomore forward Alyssa Heath (11.7p, 7.7r). She has a solid to strong frame, she's a nice all-around athlete, and she can play in the low-post or the mid-post effectively. Senior Lauren Kihn (4.9p) is the next most experienced player on the roster, so that, coupled with the graduation of four Seniors, and depth will be quite thin for the Lady Vikings. Perhaps 5-6 Junior guard Ashton Elpers (4.4p, 3.0r, 3.0a) or 5-7 Junior wing Ashleigh Blankenship (4.3p, 3.8r) can provide a bigger presence with more opportunity in front of them. Another interesting name is that of Freshman point guard [player_tooltip player_id='486525' first='Elle' last='Jo Johnson']. She was very good at our Freshman Showcase in the Fall, and she could lend immediate help to the backcourt. Perry Central can improve their win total, as they have a number of players returning, but they'll need to figure out a way to score a few more points per game. 6-0 Senior post Jadyn Smith (8.5p, 5.2r) is the top returnee for the Commodores. 5-7 Senior forward Maggie Cunningham (7.6p, 4.9r), 5-6 Senior wing [player_tooltip player_id='534674' first='Emily' last='Parker'] (4.4p, 3.9r, 2.2s), and 5-5 Junior guard Katie Lynch (4.4p, 2.0r) form a rather experienced quartet for Perry Central. With a little more proven depth over the first few games, they can approach ten wins this season. Tell City could see improvement as well, as the Lady Marksmen return quite a bit of production from the 2021-2022 season. 6-0 Senior forward Rylie Schroeder (8.9p, 4.7r) was their top scorer and rebounder a season ago. Fellow 5-6 Senior guard Jaylie Albin (3.9p, 2.6r, 2.1a) can help with leadership responsibilities. But hope is on the horizon, as 5-6 guard Emerson Hoesli (5.6p, 3.2r), 5-7 wing Bria Hayko (4.9p), 5-8 forward Kinzley Napier (1.7p, 3.3r), 6-0 forward Kyleigh Embry (1.2p, 2.0r), and 5-6 guard Presley Lloyd (1.1p) each saw quality minutes in 14 or more games a season ago. All five ladies are just Sophomores.

The featured image is of Jackie Crews Jackie Crews 5'7" | PG Paoli | 2023 State IN (2024) of Paoli High School (with the ball).