Preseason Preview: Class 4A, Sectionals #1-4

The featured image is of [player_tooltip player_id='419439' first='Lillian' last='Barnes'] (2026) of Valparaiso High School.   Tuesday evening, November 1, marked the official start of the season, as more than 90 teams around the state opened with their first game. With the Class 1A, 2A, and 3A previews already complete, I wanted to finish my thorough, multi-article preview of each Regional throughout the state, looking ahead at each Class 4A Sectional, the top teams, and then the preseason all-state teams. I will begin by taking a look at the first Class 4A North Regional, which incorporates the winners of Sectional #1 through #4. 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 #1 Lake Central (24-4), SAG 18, SOS 65 Merrillville (17-9), SAG 64, SOS 58 Gary West Side (12-9), SAG 172, SOS 242 Munster (6-12), SAG 196, SOS 126 Hammond Morton (5-14), SAG 324, SOS 262 Hammond Central (2-20), SAG 366, SOS 268 East Chicago Central (5-16), SAG 368, SOS 349   Sectional #1 has what seems to be levels to it. You have the top team(s), some paired in the middle, then a third tier as well. Lake Central will be the easy favorite to begin the year, as they return nearly everyone from a highly successful 2021-2022 campaign (<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/2022/11/preseason-preview-top-10-class-4a-teams/" data-type="URL" data-id="https://prepgirlshoops.com/2022/11/preseason-preview-top-10-class-4a-teams/" target="_blank">you can see their team preview here</a>). The Lady Pirates of Merrillville also had a nice season, and under a first-year coach, however four of their top five scorers are gone. Davina Smith (11.8p, 7.5r, 2.0a), SaMya Miller (9.8p 4.2r), and Teresa Leavy (4.8p, 2.0a) all graduated, while Junior point guard [player_tooltip player_id='331801' first='Kennedie' last='Burks'] (8.2p, 2.5r, 3.2a) transferred to Lake Central. 5-9 Sophomore wing [player_tooltip player_id='366805' first='Kylie' last='Wells'] (12.9p, 4.4r) returns, however, and she was their leading scorer a season ago. She is a strong forward who plays with versatility and is capable of scoring the ball at all three levels. 5-8 Senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='127224' first='Mya-Lee' last='Jackson'] (4.1p, 3.5r) is a tough-nosed, hard-working kid who can also play a lot in the mid-post or a little around the perimeter. I'd anticipate her stepping into more of a leadership role this year. 5-6 Senior wing Trinity Allen (1.8p, 3.1r in 11 games) is the only other Pirate returnee who has seen action in more than 10 games. Look for Sophomore guard [player_tooltip player_id='880535' first='Vivian' last='McSpadden'] and Sophomore front-liner [player_tooltip player_id='883169' first='Nyesha' last='Davis'] to get a look early this season, plus Freshman forward [player_tooltip player_id='486503' first='Melaney' last='Williams'] could be in line for some major minutes right out of the gate. Gary West Side will be retooling, following the graduation of two double-digit scorers. Trinity Barnes (23.5p, 4.6r, 3.3a, 5.5s) was electric for the Lady Cougars, while Sarah Burton (13.9p, 9.2r, 2.6a, 3.4s) was a worker for West Side. The top returnee looks to be 6-0 Senior front-liner [player_tooltip player_id='96075' first='Exsencia' last='Cloma'] (7.6p, 9.1r). She is extremely long, fluid, and very bouncy. She plays with a nice motor and could step into a bigger offensive role this season. 5-8 Senior forward Ariana Robinson (2.2p, 2.9r) and 5-1 Junior wing Madison Hopkins (5.1r) provide the Cougars with additional rebounding options. 5-6 Junior guard Cayla Evans (5.4p, 3.9r), 5-6 Senior wing Janyla Bailey (3.1p), and 5-0 Sophomore guard Kaylah Williams look to carve out much bigger roles around the perimeter for West Side.   The Munster Mustangs lost a great deal of interior presence, following the graduations of forwards Nikki Sullivan, Zoie Bailey, and Grace Clark. However, Senior post [player_tooltip player_id='460838' first='Akaoma' last='Odeluga'] does return, and she is a powerfully strong, physical presence around the block who provides defense and rebounding. 5-9 Senior forward Lillian Mason also returns, and she should step into a lot more minutes as a veteran. 5-3 Senior point guard [player_tooltip player_id='361731' first='Trinity' last='Hogge'] is also back, and she looks to run the show once again. She has good speed and quickness, plus she plays with a nice feistiness to her game. 5-11 Sophomore forward [player_tooltip player_id='553157' first='Nina' last='Garner'] saw a lot of minutes as a rookie, and she could be more impactful in Year-2, especially considering the growth she showed over the Summer. But the biggest piece to the puzzle could be the arrival of 5-9 Freshman wing Gracyn Gilliard. She is a very nice athlete who can play exclusively around the perimeter, but she also has enough strength to battle inside for rebounds and even defend when necessary. The rest of the lineup will likely fall into place as the season wears on, but 5-7 Sophomore wing [player_tooltip player_id='828060' first='Cecilia' last='Mason'] does have a little experience to add to the group. Hammond Morton will look to improve their win total from a year ago, and with leading scorer Vanessa Carrera, a 5-2 wing, eligible to return, it's a good start for the Lady Governors. 5-5 Senior guard Heaven Clopton, plus Sophomore point guards Angel Watson and Chanteze Holland, also return with Varsity experience from last season, making an approach to 10 wins possible in 2022-2023. Hammond Central, on the other hand, should be much-improved this year, and I could see them hitting double-digit wins as well. 5-10 Freshman wing Indiah Hutchinson will help the cause in a big way for the Wolves, as she is one of the more talented Freshmen in the state. She has nice length, quickness, athleticism, and skill around the perimeter. Helping Hutchinson most should be 5-8 Junior wing Aniyah Henry (9.4p, 11.0r, 2.7s), 5-6 Senior wing Amari Tucker (5.1p, 4.4r), and 5-8 Junior forward Kinya Riley (3.9p, 7.8r). East Chicago is another team hungry to improve upon a tough 2021-2022 season. 5-5 Senior guard Keaya Smith (5.3p, 2.2r) is the top returnee for the Cardinals, and she'll bring some veteran leadership to the backcourt. 5-8 Senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='155441' first='Janiyah' last='Watkins'] (13.6p, 5.0r in 2020-2021) is listed on the East Chicago online roster. She did not play last season but put together strong Freshman and Sophomore seasons for the Cardinals. She would be a huge boost to the lineup. 5-4 Junior guard Angel LaSalle (3.4p) also returns, while Freshman guard [player_tooltip player_id='881619' first='Lela' last='Edmonds'] looks to contribute from the season's outset.   Sectional #2 Crown Point (24-4), SAG 6, SOS 30 Valparaiso (19-5), SAG 57, SOS 132 Portage (12-11), SAG 94, SOS 87 Kankakee Valley (16-10), SAG 140, SOS 96 Chesterton (11-12), SAG 147, SOS 92 Lowell (13-11), SAG 192, SOS 216 Hobart (11-12), SAG 244, SOS 245   Sectional #2 will be very competitive from top to bottom. Five of the seven teams had winning records last season, while all seven teams won 11 or more games. The Crown Point Lady Bulldogs are going through a great deal of transition, as Indiana All-Stars Jessica Carrothers (20.7p, 4.5r, 3.6a, 3.6s) and Lilly Stoddard (11.5p, 9.0r, 2.4b) are off playing ball at Butler University and Purdue University, respectively. Additionally, Alyvia Santiago (5.3p, 2.3a), Nikki Gerodemos (5.1p, 4.2r), and Mariana Maldonado (1.3p) all graduated. Stepping into the forefront will likely be Junior forward [player_tooltip player_id='298252' first='Ava' last='Ziolkowski'] (5.3p, 2.3r) and Senior wing [player_tooltip player_id='372345' first='Brooke' last='Lindesmith'] (5.3p, 3.8r). Ziolkowski brings good size and skill to the lineup, especially being able to shoot it so well, while Lindesmith started last season and is a nice athlete and defender. 5-7 Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='372360' first='Emily' last='Phillips'] (2.1p) is a very good perimeter shooter who can help stretch the defense, 5-10 forward [player_tooltip player_id='372350' first='Abbi' last='Foster'] (1.7p) is a tough-nosed, high-motor kid with strength and the ability to change a game with hustle plays, while 5-8 Junior guard Cristyn Fraley will likely step into a big role as the primary ball-handler. She's another nice athlete with skill and the ability to make shots. They may have lost a lot, but they are also a deep program with players ready to step into new roles. Valparaiso is another team looking to turn the page from a trio of contributing graduates in Bolanle Ayangade (8.6p, 5.8r, 2.5s), Emma Gerdt (7.7p, 4.6r, 2.0a, 2.4s), and Amelia Benjamin (7.4p, 2.8r, 2.3a, 3.2s). At the same time, Junior forward [player_tooltip player_id='369832' first='Becca' last='Gerdt'] (10.8p, 4.4r, 2.4s) and Senior point guard [player_tooltip player_id='241188' first='Kristin' last='Bukata'] (8.3p, 3.1r, 2.8a, 3.0s) return with a great deal of experience. Gerdt has good size and length, she's a nice athlete, and she can play at all three levels. Bukata plays with a ton of energy and toughness, great vision, and she's just a playmaker. Seniors Norah Flynn (4.8p), a 5-6 forward, Campbell Maclagan (3.8p), a 5-7 guard, and [player_tooltip player_id='495994' first='Ashanti' last='Bradley'] (2.6p), a 5-2 wing, also return having played quality minutes in the past. But the biggest boost should come from Freshman wing [player_tooltip player_id='419439' first='Lillian' last='Barnes']. She is a strong, active, and athletic wing who has great vision and an overall understanding of the game. She will be impactful from the beginning of the season and only get better with time. The Portage Indians must overcome the graduation of a six-person 2022 class that included Genesis Borom (13.6p, 6.1r, 2.0a, 2.8s), Izzy Shields (7.0p, 4.3r), Kimia Green (5.1p, 3.7r), Gabby Shields (4.7p, 3.8r), Nakara Harrop-Haywood (3.9p, 3.6r, 2.5a), and Jaecy Nelson (2.1p). Returning to the fold is athletic Senior wing [player_tooltip player_id='203661' first='Anjelicia' last='Del Valle'] (11.3p, 2.8r, 2.0a, 2.5s). She could see a significant boost to her stat line with the previously mentioned ladies now missing from the lineup. However, Del Valle will get help from a pair of Juniors...5-0 point guard Ava Melendez (3.2p in 2020-2021) and 5-10 wing Alante Wright (9.7p, 2.7r). Melendez played a lot as a Freshman, but she was only able to play in the one Sectional game a season ago. She should give them a boost on the perimeter. Wright played at Portage as a Freshman, attended Bishop Noll last season, but she has returned to Portage as a Junior. She'll bring an athletic presence who can play at all three levels. 5-10 Junior forward Evelyn Garza saw limited minutes a year ago, but she's a candidate to solidify the interior, while 5-7 Freshman guard Peyton Wilson will get an immediate look in the backcourt and could be a key player for Portage for four years.   Kankakee Valley makes the move to Class 4A from Class 3A, and they bring a great deal of size and depth to the table. Missing are graduates Taylor Schoonveld (9.3p, 7.1r) and Marissa Howard (2.3p), but there are five Seniors, five Juniors, and a sizeable Sophomore all returning with Varsity experience. The Senior backcourt duo of point guard [player_tooltip player_id='372346' first='Kate' last='Thomas'] (12.4p, 3.1r, 3.9a, 3.0s) and shooter [player_tooltip player_id='96093' first='Lilly' last='Toppen'] (9.8p, 3.9r) give them stability on the perimeter. Thomas is a quick, athletic, feisty playmaker at both ends of the floor, while Toppen is a sniper from outside, but she has really added to her offensive game and is scoring it consistently from all levels now. 5-11 Senior forward Abby Grandchamp (5.7p, 5.2r, 2.1s) returns to the lineup after missing the second half of the season with an injury. 5-8 Senior wing Laynie Capellari (4.0p, 2.6r) adds another athlete on the wing for the Lady Kougars. 6-2 Junior post [player_tooltip player_id='201874' first='Genna' last='Hayes'] (2.8p, 5.4r, 2.9b), 6-1 Senior forward Faith Mauger (2.2r), and 6-3 Sophomore post [player_tooltip player_id='324068' first='Ava' last='Dase'] create quite an imposing frontcourt for Kankakee Valley. Chesterton saw seven ladies leave via the diploma, most notably Carley Balas (12.0p, 4.3r, 2.1s), Elizabeth Pokorney (6.0p, 3.2r), Emily Richardson (5.6p, 2.4r, 2.3s), and Emma Pape (3.8p, 3.2r). The Trojans do return a couple of nice pieces in 5-6 Senior guard Ingrid Hurst (7.4p, 4.2r, 2.5s) and 5-9 Sophomore wing Cori Schultz (1.9p). However, much of the rest of the roster will be comprised of newcomers or players with limited experience. 5-7 Freshman guard [player_tooltip player_id='486535' first='Kenedi' last='Bradley'] looks to be a candidate to step into a big role right away. She is athletic, skilled, and she plays with an outstanding motor. Fellow Freshman Tenley Davis also looks to earn playing time from the outset. From there, look for Junior guard Ciara Bonner and Senior wing Bridget Raffin to also earn more opportunity as veterans on the Chesterton roster. The Lowell Red Devils are yet another program who suffered significant graduation losses, with six ladies exiting at the end of the Spring semester. Most notable of the missing are Kaylee Chavez (11.2p, 2.5r, 3.1a), Kahlan Krucina (7.3p, 6.5r), Payton Gard (7.3p, 2.2r, 2.0s), and Alee Eaker (6.3p, 2.3r). For the Lady Red Devils, 5-6 Senior guard Reilly Boyer (4.4p, 2.9r in 10 games), 5-8 Junior wing Kirstin Summers (4.3p, 2.0r in 9 games), 5-10 Junior forward Maddie Mielczarek (3.6p, 3.4r in 14 games), and 5-11 Senior forward Olivia Perlick (2.4p, 3.2r) return with the most experience. Depth will be a concern once they get deeper into their schedule, but 6-2 Sophomore post [player_tooltip player_id='828063' first='Elysia' last='Laub'] is a Varsity newcomer who could eventually help solidify the paint. The Hobart Brickies might have the most talented player in Sectional #2 in Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='96078' first='Asia' last='Donald'] (23.5p, 10.0r, 2.0a, 2.5s). The athletic scorer was a 2022 Indiana Junior All-Star and recently committed to Indiana State University. She can fill it up from anywhere inside of halfcourt, and I'd expect a huge year out of her. Helping her in the backcourt is 5-3 Junior guard Jesse Neace (7.0p, 3.4r). She is a good perimeter shooter and can handle the ball for the Lady Brickies. 5-9 Senior front-liner Nikolina Latinovic (4.6p, 5.5r) returns up front, but Amarea Donald (4.4p, 3.7r) and Melanie Leonard (2.1p, 5.1r) were a couple of rebounding and defensive presences who graduated. 5-3 Junior Emma Ortiz (3.5p, 2.5r), 5-6 Junior Cailey Weber (1.3p, 3.9r), and 5-6 Sophomore Hallie Pendleton (1.2p) are the next most experienced players in the program. Building depth will be key for Hobart, especially if anyone ever figures out how to guard Donald.   Sectional #3 South Bend Washington (27-3), SAG 2, SOS 32 Plymouth (15-10), SAG 125, SOS 120 South Bend John Adams (10-10), SAG 174, SOS 196 Mishawaka (14-11), SAG 175, SOS 187 Michigan City (6-16), SAG 257, SOS 164 LaPorte (5-18), SAG 281, SOS 104 South Bend Riley (3-20), SAG 359, SOS 193   South Bend Washington has moved up to Class 4A due to their success over the past couple of seasons. While they are likely a heavy favorite in Sectional #3, they are also a strong favorite to make it to Indianapolis in February (<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/2022/11/preseason-preview-top-10-class-4a-teams/" data-type="URL" data-id="https://prepgirlshoops.com/2022/11/preseason-preview-top-10-class-4a-teams/" target="_blank">you can see their team preview here</a>). The Pilgrims of Plymouth High School saw three key players graduate, five in total. Notably missing are post Clare Sheedy (9.1p, 5.9r), guard Katherine Dragani (5.2p, 2.0r, 2.1a), and wing Sara Hunter (4.2p). The Lady Pilgrims do return two of the Sectional's better players, however, in Senior front-liner [player_tooltip player_id='372343' first='Taylor' last='Delp'] (15.1p, 9.6r) and Sophomore point guard [player_tooltip player_id='454676' first='Lena' last='Jones'] (3.9p, 2.5r, 3.2a, 2.2s). Delp is a nice, versatile forward who plays well in the mid-post, but she can also step outside or post inside. Jones saw plenty of opportunity as a rookie, and the playmaker looks to build upon her production this season. Sophomore forward Sophie Miller (2.5p), 5-7 Senior wing Ellie Jones (2.0p, 2.4r), and 5-8 Junior forward Rylee Mann each played in 19 or more games last year, but beyond that, experience is limited. Senior wing Claire McDonald and Sophomore guard Mady Sullivan are a pair of players who can also contribute to the effort this Winter. The John Adams Eagles must figure out a way to mask the loss of graduated high-scoring guard Marissa Shelton (23.2p, 5.4r, 2.2a, 2.4s) and top rebounder Valiyah Grundy. A fairly deep 2023 class can help with that. 5-8 Senior forward Mikayla Crumbley, 5-5 Senior guard Brooklynn Cooper, and 5-5 Senior guard Taylor Warbington have the most experience of that group. Key Junior returnees include 5-1 guard Lois Carr and 5-7 forward Meredith Anella, while 5-6 Sophomore point guard Zariyah Wiley saw quite a bit of action as a Freshman. That's a solid nucleus for the Lady Eagles to start with entering the 2022-2023 season. Mishawaka looks to better their win total from a year ago, and with a number of Seniors and Juniors back, that looks very promising. Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='406434' first='Asiah' last='Shaffer'] leads all returnees, as she is a skillful, athletic guard who can play either on or off the ball. She can create, hit shots, and defend. 5-7 Senior guard Jadyn Handley will likely play alongside Shaffer in the backcourt, and she can play either role as well. 5-10 Senior forward Katie Baumgartner has multiple years of experience, and she is a strong rebounder and interior scorer. 5-9 Junior forward Kasha Davidovic and 5-7 Senior forward Leah Dawson will flank Baumgartner up front, and both can play a little inside or out. The Cavemen have a number of other prospects to fill roles, but they don't have great experience throughout their roster.   Michigan City is a team looking to head North towards 10 wins this season. Unfortunately for the Wolves, however, is that talented athlete Jaden Smallwood, plus talented rebounders Ariana Lemons and Ashanti Sanders all graduated. Those are three key losses for Michigan City. At the same time, they do welcome back leading scorer [player_tooltip player_id='366799' first='Paulecia' last='Isom'], a 5-3 Sophomore guard, as well as Junior playmaker Ramirra Anderson, a 5-0 point guard. Those two are extremely feisty, quick, fast, and explosive. They are difficult to defend off the bounce. 5-5 Senior guard Te'Asia Mitchell and 5-4 Junior guard T'Mya Moore provide more quickness and athleticism around the perimeter, while 5-11 Senior post Amira Wair can help patrol the paint. Also watch for 5-6 Sophomore wing [player_tooltip player_id='496008' first='Divine' last='Woods'] to possibly make an impact on Varsity this time around. The LaPorte Slicers grew a little as the season went on in 2021-2022, but they are reeling from the losses of Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='455930' first='Miya' last='Simmons'] and Freshman point guard [player_tooltip player_id='486479' first='Addison' last='Penziol'], both of whom enrolled at nearby La Lumiere Preparatory this offseason. They likely would have been their top two guards, if not their top two players this year. A Senior class that includes 5-10 forward Sydney Hill, 5-6 guard Desiree Shelton, and 5-6 guard Abby Allen will try to lead this group towards improvement. Also look for 6-1 Junior post Oakley Bender to potentially provide an interior presence for the Lady Slicers. The Lady Wildcats of South Bend's James Whitcomb Riley High School are another group who look to improve upon a 2021-2022 campaign that saw them win just three games. If they are to do so, they will need 6-2 Senior post Kaytlin Smith to be even bigger inside. She has significant experience her teammates can lean on. Additionally, the Wildcats return 5-4 guard MaKayla Richardson, 5-10 wing Tiffany Schmok, and 5-9 forward Kayla Howell, all Seniors.   Sectional #4 Penn (19-7), SAG 17, SOS 29 Warsaw Community (16-7), SAG 28, SOS 37 Northridge (19-6), SAG 35, SOS 40 Elkhart (13-13), SAG 93, SOS 108 Goshen (8-15), SAG 200, SOS 118 Concord (8-15), SAG 232, SOS 142   Sectional #4 is always a fun watch, because it's incredibly competitive, from top to bottom, year to year. This season the field might have tightened a bit, as the schools at the top lost significant contributors due to graduation. The Penn Kingsmen, always a top-ranked team statewide, will be without the services of Jada Patton (11.3p, 6.4r, 2.3a), Aniya Taylor (5.3p, 4.2r), Sydney Little (5.0p, 2.7r), Gracie Bobo (4.8p), Payton Adkins (3.8p, 2.5r), and Gabi Hoover (2.4p, 2.5r). However, they are annually one of the deepest programs in the state, so they have plenty left in the tank to make a nice playoff run in February. Senior forwards [player_tooltip player_id='59744' first='Julia' last='Economou'] (8.2p, 4.1r) and Peyton Brooks are the Senior leaders of the group. Economou is all motor, and she can play inside or out. Brooks is a nice athlete who plays in the mid-post and around the block. Sophomore sharpshooter [player_tooltip player_id='295795' first='Jessa' last='Troy'] (6.9p) and Junior point guard [player_tooltip player_id='369824' first='Lauren' last='Walsh'] (5.8p, 2.3r, 2.7a, 2.0s) will likely slide into key backcourt roles. Troy made an immediate impact as a rookie, while Walsh was equally impactful after moving in from North Carolina. From there, they have some nice, younger players, just inexperienced in terms of Varsity play. 5-4 Junior Kate Noonan, 5-5 Junior [player_tooltip player_id='369828' first='Karleisha' last='Echols'], 5-5 Senior Reese Stauffacher, 5-7 Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='828069' first='Ava' last='Stebbins'], and 5-4 Freshman Macy Little all vie for playing time in the backcourt, although it's more likely Penn will go smaller at times and play as many as four guards at once. The Warsaw Tigers graduated five members of the 2022 class, but the top three were their three leading scorers and their top rebounder from a year ago. Most notably gone via the diploma are post Abby Sanner (14.3p, 8.5r), wing Kacilyn Krebs (10.7p, 2.5r), and point guard Bailie Stephens (9.0p, 3.9r, 2.7a, 2.2s). The Lady Tigers possess a great deal of young talent, and that should be the direction they turn this season. Sophomore forward [player_tooltip player_id='295782' first='Brooke' last='Winchester'] (3.6p, 2.5r) has star potential, and she earn her stripes last year while figuring out Varsity play. Classmate [player_tooltip player_id='324082' first='Abbey' last='Peterson'] (2.4p, 2.1r) is a really nice, athletic guard prospect who got her feet wet as a rookie as well. The current Freshman class could provide as many as three key contributors right away. Guard [player_tooltip player_id='403531' first='Brooke' last='Zartman'] is skillful, strong, and athletic, while 5-6 guard Alexis Neely and 5-8 wing Joslyn Bricker have their own talents to contribute to the cause. 5-9 Junior forward [player_tooltip player_id='825918' first='Ava' last='Egolf'] (4.0p, 3.2r) and 5-9 Senior forward Zoe Bergan (3.0p, 2.5r) look to provide upperclassmen experience to the youngsters. Northridge should once again be one of the favorites for the Sectional #4 crown, but they must do so without graduates Julia Mantyla (14.5p, 4.2r), Colleen Miller (6.4p, 2.2r, 4.0a, 2.2s), and Madyson Gorball (4.3p, 4.5r), plus 6-3 Junior post [player_tooltip player_id='177319' first='Kaylie' last='DeHaven'] (1.4p, 2.5r) is out with an injury. Returning to lead the Lady Raiders is Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='203654' first='Eva' last='Fisher'] (12.5p, 4.6r, 3.3a, 2.3s). She is athletic, dynamic, and she plays with an outstanding motor. She has committed to play at Marian University next season. Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='177318' first='Morgan' last='Cross'] (5.9p, 3.6r, 2.1a) and Junior forward [player_tooltip player_id='201872' first='Gaby' last='Gates'] (3.9p, 2.2r) have each already logged two years' worth of experience, and both are expected to step into critical roles this season. Sophomore point guard [player_tooltip player_id='331802' first='Rielyn' last='Goodwin'] (2.6p) flashed great potential as a rookie, and she should run the show for the Lady Raiders this season. She is quick/fast and dynamic with the ball. Concord transfer [player_tooltip player_id='203667' first='Savannah' last='Boerema'] (10.5p, 2.1r, 2.5a in 2020-2021) is now Varsity eligible and looks to make a big impact as a Senior, and look for 5-8 Junior guard Sabrina Miller, plus 5-6 Sophomore guards [player_tooltip player_id='324080' first='Ella' last='Mohamed'] and Sophie Brown to potentially see key minutes as well in 2022-2023.   Lady Lion fans should expect to see a sister-sister show over the next couple of seasons in Elkhart, as the Stouts and the Johnsons are on hand and should be big contributors. Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='369826' first='Samiyah' last='Stout'] (11.4p, 4.6r, 4.1a, 3.3s) is one of the state's best athletes who few people know about outside of Elkhart. She is a playmaker who uses her talent to overwhelm opponents. Junior wing [player_tooltip player_id='369836' first='Jaya' last='Johnson'] (9.4p, 3.6r) is another nice athlete who has the potential to break out this season. She has a strong frame, she shoots it consistently, and she can defend multiple positions. Joining them will be younger sisters [player_tooltip player_id='486489' first='Jordynn' last='Johnson'] and Shaniyah Stout, both Freshmen. The younger Johnson is a smaller guard who plays with quickness and athleticism, while the younger Stout is a strong 5-7 forward who plays with a really nice motor. Elkhart does play this season without graduates De'Mour Watson (11.9p, 8.4r, 2.7s) and Madison Axsom (10.7p, 4.6r, 2.6s). They were a big part of the 2021-2022 Lady Lions, but this season Elkhart will focus more on their perimeter game. 5-7 Sophomore forward [player_tooltip player_id='1044755' first='Shaniyah' last='Hughes'] (5.9p, 3.5r) and 5-7 Sophomore wing Danica Barnes (4.8p, 4.4r, 2.4s) are back with experience, and both could make a push for starting spots. Also look for Freshman front-liner Brynlee Jellison to see some minutes early this season and help solidify their play in the paint. The Goshen Redhawks will start with their interior play, as they boast 6-3 Junior [player_tooltip player_id='177328' first='Kyra' last='Hill'] (9.8p, 10.0r, 2.2a, 3.9b) and 6-1 Senior [player_tooltip player_id='241192' first='Tyra' last='Marcum'] (7.5p, 5.5r, 2.0b in two games). Hill has star potential, and she put together an impressive grassroots season. She is active, versatile, and skilled facing the basket to the 3-point line. Marcum was injured last season and missed all but the final two games. They will more than welcome a full season out of her in 2022-2023. Tori Eldridge (9.3p, 5.4r, 2.2a) and Brooklynn Collins (3.7p, 2.1r) were significant graduation losses in the Spring, so there are few returnees with experience in addition to Hill and Marcum. Senior Breyana Cline (8.1p, 3.1r) and Sophomore Kaelyn Marcum do add two more sizeable pieces to the frontcourt, but the Lady Redhawks will need to build backcourt depth early this season. 5-6 Junior guard Grace Kercher saw limited action in nine games a year ago, but Junior point guard Joelle Hochstetler and Freshman guard Ava Yordy look for brand new opportunities around the perimeter, as does Sophomore guard Dakota Powers. Concord must play without their top two players from 2021-2022, as Bailei Mayo (9.5p, 2.3a, 2.0s) graduated and Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='331766' first='Aliyah' last='Hershberger'] (13.7p, 2.2r, 2.3s) transferred to Mishawaka Marian. One good thing going for the Minutemen is that they return two imposing frontline players in 6-0 Junior forward [player_tooltip player_id='496009' first='Dominique' last='Stilley'] (2.9p, 2.7r) and 6-2 Senior post [player_tooltip player_id='331769' first='Kendal' last='Taylor'] (6.9p, 5.6r). Stilley is a long, athletic, versatile, and skilled forward who can play at all levels. Taylor is a powerfully strong and physical low-block threat who has a knack for making tough-angled shots. 5-10 Senior forward Ashlyn Fish (2.7p, 3.1r), 5-8 Senior wing Lauren Smith (2.2p, 2.5r), and 5-9 Sophomore wing Mileah McKain (2.3p, 2.2r) should see greatly expanded roles this season. I would also anticipate seeing a lot of 5-5 Freshman point guard Shelby Emerick, plus 5-7 Junior forward Kambrya Zilm and Sophomore guards Hayden Casey, Mareiona Mason (1.3p), and Halle Ganger should be in line for a lot of opportunity.

The featured image is of Lillian Barnes Lillian Barnes 5'11" | SF/PG Valparaiso | 2026 State IN (2026) of Valparaiso High School.