Preseason Preview: Class 4A, Sectionals #13-16

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"small"} --> <p class="has-small-font-size"><em>The featured image is of [player_tooltip player_id='177326' first='Rachel' last='Harshman'] (2024) of Mooresville High School.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>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 end all of this by taking a look at the final Class 4A South Regional, which incorporates the winners of Sectional #13 through #16. Below is a look at the teams in each of those Sectionals, along with some general comments and analysis.<br><small>(<em>SAG = Final 2021-2022 Multiclass Sagarin Rating (395 teams); SOS = Final 2021-2022 Strength of Schedule</em>)</small></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><font size="+2">Sectional #13</font></strong><br>Center Grove (13-10), SAG 25, SOS 17<br>Mooresville (19-9), SAG 27, SOS 27<br>Greenwood Community (14-11), SAG 104, SOS 94<br>Martinsville (7-15), SAG 151, SOS 23<br>Bloomington North (9-14), SAG 152, SOS 79<br>Bloomington South (5-19), SAG 153, SOS 33</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sectionals #13 and #14 seemed to trade some teams around during the most recent realignment, so this group as a whole is mostly new to each other. Center Grove is always strong, balanced, and disciplined, and this year is no different. They can hurt you in a number of ways, and they'll be a "sum of their parts" type of winner most nights. The Lady Trojans graduated no one, so they welcome back all of their production, with Senior guards <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='59729' first='Savanna' last='Bischoff']</strong> (<em>9.3p, 3.7r</em>) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='59756' first='Ella' last='Hobson']</strong> (<em>7.9p, 2.7r, 3.5a</em>) leading the way. Bischoff is a tough-nosed, hard-working wing guard who does a little of everything well, while Hobson can bury shots with range, but she has quickness and can create for others as well. A strong Junior class that includes <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='177311' first='Aubrie' last='Booker']</strong> (<em>6.6p, 3.3r, 2.9a</em>), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='201884' first='Rachel' last='Wirts']</strong> (<em>6.4p, 4.6r</em>), and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='264111' first='Audrey' last='Annee']</strong> (<em>6.2p</em>) also contributes. Booker is a versatile, do-everything type of athlete in the backcourt. At 6-2, Wirts is their size inside, and she's skillful, while Annee is another tough-nosed worker, but a very good perimeter shooter, too. Sophomore point guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='295755' first='Lilly' last='Bischoff']</strong> (<em>1.7p</em>) saw some action as a rookie, but I'd anticipate her being much more heavily involved this season, as should Senior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='300065' first='Ali' last='Wiesmann']</strong> (<em>2.0p in 7 games</em>), who transferred in from Perry Meridian a year ago. Mooresville had a magical run to the Semi-State a season ago, knocking off traditional powers Brownsburg, North Central, and Ben Davis along the way. They did suffer a trio of graduation losses from their backcourt, however, with <strong>Madelynn Denny</strong> (<em>12.9p, 3.3r, 2.3s</em>), <strong>Allison Graber</strong> (<em>7.4p, 4.3r, 4.5a, 3.1s</em>), and <strong>Abigail Young</strong> (<em>6.5p, 4.9r, 2.0a, 2.3s</em>) all picking up their diplomas in the Spring. Replacing that perimeter production will be a difficult task for the Pioneers, but they do boast an impressive frontline. Junior forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='177326' first='Rachel' last='Harshman']</strong> (<em>13.3p, 6.5r</em>) is back after leading Mooresville in both scoring and rebounding as a Sophomore. She is strong, physical, and tough inside, but she also has ball skill, touch, and ability around the arc. Fellow Junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='239348' first='Kalyn' last='Bunch']</strong> (<em>8.0p, 5.8r</em>) is another tough, physical, mid-post threat who can score it inside of 15-feet effectively. Sophomore post <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='453219' first='Randee' last='Garringer']</strong> (<em>1.0p</em>) is one more sizeable player who saw limited minutes last year, but she should be in the rotation this year. She has size, strength, and nice potential. 5-7 Junior guard <strong>Sydney Hardy</strong> (<em>2.2p, 2.0r</em>) and 5-8 Sophomore guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='295772' first='Ava' last='Shafer']</strong> (<em>2.1p, 2.1r</em>) are the two most experienced backcourt performers left on the roster, but both are ready to step up this season. Shafer could significantly increase her production in her second season. Also keep an eye on 5-6 Junior point guard <strong>Emma McGinley</strong> (<em>1.2p</em>). She will likely be thrust into a key role early, but she does have at least some Varsity experience.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Greenwood Community posted their first winning season last year since the 2015-2016 campaign, and with <strong>Quinn Kelly</strong> (<em>9.4p, 6.0r</em>) as the lone graduation loss, bettering that looks very possible. However, promising 6-1 Junior forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='201867' first='Brooklyn' last='Bell']</strong> (<em>6.4p, 4.1r, 2.1a</em>) has opted not to play this season, so that really affects the size of the Lady Woodmen. Still, though, a few key players do return, and that should have fans excited. 5-6 Senior guard <strong>Lily Howe</strong> (<em>9.2p, 2.6r</em>) tops the list of returnees. She can handle it a little and run offense, but she's also strong and athletic and can attack the basket for scores. 5-6 Senior guard <strong>Emilly Metzger</strong> (<em>4.3p</em>) and 5-8 Senior forward <strong>Ella Stivers</strong> (<em>3.8p, 2.3r</em>) should add more veteran leadership. Sophomores <strong>Keyara Johnson</strong> (<em>2.5p</em>), an athletic point guard, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='828091' first='Emma' last='Gardner']</strong>, a 6-0 post, look to play much bigger roles in Year-2 for Greenwood. The Martinsville Lady Artesians won just seven games last season, and unfortunately their top four players, and five Seniors in total, all graduated. Most notable of that group were <strong>Delaney Wolfe</strong> (<em>17.5p, 3.0r, 3.5a, 3.0s</em>) and <strong>Kearsten Willen</strong> (<em>7.0p, 3.4r</em>), so offense could be tough to come by in 2022-2023 for the Artesians. 5-6 Senior guards <strong>Holly Galyan</strong> (<em>2.6p</em>) and <strong>Marina Rautenkranz</strong> (<em>1.2p</em>) return any backcourt experience for Martinsville, while 5-8 Senior forward <strong>Maci Dorsett</strong> has seen minutes in the past as well up front. Beyond that, they will be looking at newcomers to fill some major voids, but one prospect to keep an eye on is 5-10 Freshman forward <strong>Mya Lewis</strong>. She could make some noise immediately. Bloomington North has been playing a number of younger players the last couple of seasons, and that could start to pay dividends this year. The Lady Cougars return their entire starting lineup, plus they welcome a nice addition to the roster. Junior forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='239356' first='Mia' last='Robbennolt']</strong> (<em>11.4p, 6.3r</em>) and Junior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='239355' first='Ava' last='Reitmeyer']</strong> (<em>7.5p, 3.2r</em>) each have two years of starting experience under their belts already. Robbennolt is a long, bouncy athlete who can play at all three levels, while Reitmeyer is a skillful guard who can knock down shots from outside. Senior forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='460842' first='Mallory' last='Barrow']</strong> (<em>9.4p, 3.0r</em>) is a capable perimeter shooter who can help inside as well, while Senior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='300073' first='Avery' last='Patterson']</strong> (<em>6.9p, 3.2r, 2.0a</em>) is another skillful backcourt member who can make shots or facilitate. Sophomore guard <strong>Ava Robbennolt</strong> (<em>5.9p, 2.5r</em>) saw her share of action as a rookie, and she looks to contribute more this time around. But Cougar fans must be excited about the addition of 5-11 Sophomore forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='366802' first='Kenli' last='Sullivan']</strong> (<em>8.4p, 6.2r</em>), who comes over from Eastern Greene High School. She'll give them an offensive boost immediately. Bloomington South has also played their share of younger players and newcomers each season, and this year will be no different. Gone from the mix are guards <strong>Kendall Harmon</strong> and <strong>Arissa North</strong>, both of whom graduated. Back to lead the Lady Panthers this time around is athletic Junior forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='201876' first='Abbie' last='Lucas']</strong>. She is as effective defensively, and on the boards, as she is offensively, and she could very well approach double-double averages as a Junior. She should get Senior perimeter help from 5-7 guard <strong>Mya Lawrence</strong>, 5-8 guard <strong>Carlie Pederson</strong>, and 5-9 wing <strong>Caitlin Helm</strong>. The Lady Panthers also welcome a strong Freshman class, and they could see immediate production out of 6-0 forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='404387' first='Violet' last='Hall']</strong>, 6-1 post <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='928896' first='Rebekah' last='Arnold']</strong>, plus guards <strong>Daniella Grimes</strong>, <strong>Julia Lashley</strong>, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='832694' first='Audrey' last='Craft']</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><font size="+2">Sectional #14</font></strong><br>Franklin Community (28-2), SAG 4, SOS 22<br>Columbus East (19-4), SAG 14, SOS 25<br>East Central (22-5), SAG 16, SOS 54<br>Columbus North (14-9), SAG 53, SOS 26<br>Shelbyville (11-12), SAG 157, SOS 129<br>Whiteland Community (6-17), SAG 183, SOS 75</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sectional #14 said "goodbye" to the Bloomington schools and Martinsville, but they welcome in Franklin Community, Shelbyville, and Whiteland Community. Franklin will likely once again be a top team in the state, after finishing as the Class 4A State Runners-Up back in February (<em><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></em>). Columbus East is coming off of a really nice stretch of seasons behind talented guard <strong>Koryn Greiwe</strong> (<em>16.7p, 3.0r, 3.3a, 3.5s</em>), however she has finally graduated, so the Olympians will need to find other sources of perimeter output. Joining Greiwe on stage in the Spring were fellow graduates <strong>Harley Gant</strong> (<em>7.6p, 6.0r, 2.0b</em>), <strong>Albany Speer</strong> (<em>7.0p, 2.8a</em>), <strong>Kaitlyn Carothers</strong> (<em>2.6p, 2.5r</em>), and <strong>Jordan Sims</strong>. At the same time, the Olympians do return 2022 Indiana Junior All-Star <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='127236' first='Saige' last='Stahl']</strong> (<em>17.9p, 9.5r, 4.5s</em>) to the lineup, so that's a nice building block. The Indiana State University commit brings energy and athleticism to the frontcourt, plus she has developed her face-up skill nicely. Senior post <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='178239' first='Leah' last='Bachmann']</strong> (<em>9.6p, 5.8r, 2.9s</em>) is a strong, physical presence inside, allowing Stahl the freedom to move around. 5-5 Senior guard <strong>Maeleigh Roberts</strong> (<em>2.1p</em>), 5-9 Junior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='326483' first='Jenna' last='Guse']</strong> (<em>1.8p</em>), and 5-8 Senior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='460839' first='Allison' last='Craig']</strong> (<em>1.8p</em>) should form the backcourt in 2022-2023, but each will need to step up their production big-time if East hopes to continue its run of success. East Central is another program strong in girls' basketball. The Lady Trojans will certainly miss the contributions of graduate <strong>Hope Fox</strong> (<em>14.3p, 6.3r, 3.5a, 2.8s</em>), a 2022 Indiana All-Star. She was a scorer, a facilitator, and a problematic defender. Four other members of the 2022 class graduated, most notably <strong>Ashley Nobbe</strong> (<em>2.6p</em>). The Trojans do boast a strong Senior class this time around, led by 2022 Indiana Junior All-Star <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='59784' first='Josie' last='Trabel']</strong> (<em>17.7p, 7.2r, 2.7a, 2.5s</em>). The 6-0 forward who is committed to Wofford University is a versatile, skillful, yet physical and hard-working inside-out forward. She will be joined by Senior wing <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='400595' first='Laney' last='Baker']</strong> (<em>9.8p, 3.1r, 2.4a, 2.1s</em>) in a leadership capacity this season. Baker is a nice, long, athletic guard who can make plays for herself or others. Fellow Seniors <strong>Caitlyn Dick</strong> (<em>4.5p</em>), a 5-4 guard, and <strong>Julia Tiemann</strong> (<em>3.8p, 3.9r, 4.0a</em>), a 5-8 guard, offer additional support in the backcourt. Also look for 5-9 Sophomore wing <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='506030' first='Emily' last='Klem']</strong> (<em>2.4p in 9 games</em>) to carve out a nice role as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Columbus North Bulldogs played a mixture of veterans and youngsters a season ago, which should pay off down the road for them. However, they did have to say "goodbye" to graduates <strong>Kylah Lawson</strong> (<em>11.2p, 7.3r, 2.3s</em>), <strong>Andrea Justis</strong> (<em>6.1p, 5.5r</em>), <strong>Lucy Norman</strong>, and <strong>Reagan Ables</strong>. Returning for the Lady Bulldogs is a strong 2023 class, led by guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='127215' first='Lauren' last='Barker']</strong> (<em>12.8p, 3.1r, 2.9s</em>). She is tough-nosed, skilled, and she plays with an outstanding motor, not to mention she's a very accurate perimeter shooter. 5-5 Senior guard <strong>Kayla Jones</strong> (<em>5.3p, 3.9r, 2.3s</em>) and 5-9 Senior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='300082' first='Emma' last='Long']</strong> (<em>4.4p, 2.1a</em>) add to that veteran experience. 5-10 Junior forward <strong>Kathryn Wilson</strong> (<em>2.5p, 3.2r</em>) could see her opportunity increase along the frontline, while 6-3 Sophomore post <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='506020' first='Kennedy' last='Horn']</strong> (<em>2.9p, 3.0r in 9 games</em>) should see her playing time and role increase as well. A newcomer bringing some excitement is 5-11 Freshman wing <strong>Miley McClellan</strong>. She possesses length, skill, and the ability to knock down the occasional outside jumper. Look for her to make an instant impact. Coming off of their best season since 2015-2016, Shelbyville looks to post a winning record and potentially compete for a Sectional title in 2022-2023. While the Golden Bears graduated <strong>Madison Phares</strong> (<em>8.3p, 6.6r</em>) and <strong>Madison Bassett</strong> (<em>4.1p, 4.0r</em>) along their frontline, they return everything else, including Senior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='127221' first='Kylee' last='Edwards']</strong> (<em>17.2p, 7.1r, 2.2a, 2.3s</em>). Despite being a top softball recruit, committed to Mississippi State University, Edwards is also a scholarship worthy basketball talent, and she is a huge reason for the Golden Bears' success these past few years. Also returning to the lineup is 5-8 Junior forward <strong>Ava Wilson</strong> (<em>7.7p, 3.9r</em>). Minus Phares and Bassett, Wilson has the potential to double her statistics from last season. 5-7 Senior guard <strong>Abigail Brenner</strong> (<em>4.3p, 2.9r</em>), 5-10 Junior forward <strong>Ella Johnson</strong> (<em>1.7p</em>), 5-3 Junior guard <strong>Ellie Simpson</strong> (<em>1.5p</em>), and 5-9 Senior forward <strong>Hailey Pogue</strong> should also be back to help provide depth and experience. Whiteland is looking to get above .500 for the first time since the 2018-2019 season, and with the graduation losses of <strong>Braylyn Clendenen</strong> (<em>11.6p, 4.0r</em>), <strong>Emily Reed</strong> (<em>7.6p, 2.4r</em>), <strong>Muskaan Ghuman</strong> (<em>7.6p, 8.5r</em>), <strong>Kylee Marlin</strong> (<em>5.0p, 2.3r, 2.8a</em>), and <strong>Gracie Taylor</strong> (<em>2.1p, 4.2r</em>), it will be that much tougher. Top returnees for the Lady Warriors include 5-8 Junior forward <strong>Gwen Higdon</strong> (<em>6.0p, 4.5r</em>), 5-5 Sophomore guard <strong>Addison Emberton</strong> (<em>3.2p</em>), and 5-5 Senior guard <strong>Emma Piercy</strong> (<em>2.3p</em>). Two new additions who can help immediately up front are 5-11 Freshman forward <strong>Sophia Dyer</strong> and 5-10 Freshman forward <strong>Carly Vondielingen</strong>. This season could be a little rough at times, but the future looks bright for the Lady Warriors.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><font size="+2">Sectional #15</font></strong><br>Bedford North Lawrence (24-3), SAG 9, SOS 21<br>Silver Creek (26-3), SAG 19, SOS 39<br>Jennings County (17-7), SAG 41, SOS 44<br>Jeffersonville (10-8), SAG 73, SOS 43<br>Seymour (11-11), SAG 107, SOS 47<br>Floyd Central (9-14), SAG 121, SOS 56<br>New Albany (5-19), SAG 180, SOS 52</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sectional #15 is always fun and competitive, and the addition of Silver Creek should only make things more interesting. The 2021 Class 3A State Champs and 2022 Class 3A State Runners-Up present another challenge for Bedford North Lawrence, but the Lady Stars are still the favorite here and one of the top teams in the entire state (<em><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></em>). Back to Silver Creek, and the Lady Dragons will be going through a bit of a youth movement, however they are still talented. They will have to figure out how to play without point guard <strong>Kynidi Mason-Striverson</strong> (<em>18.2p, 7.0r, 4.0a</em>) for the first time in a few years. Also leaving via the diploma were <strong>Emme Rooney</strong> (<em>11.8p, 4.1r, 2.2a</em>), <strong>Sydney Sierota</strong> (<em>8.6p, 3.6r, 3.8a</em>), <strong>Lacey Tingle</strong> (<em>7.4p, 4.1r, 2.0a</em>), and <strong>Merideth Wilkinson</strong> (<em>7.4p, 4.6r</em>). 5-6 Senior guard <strong>Hallie Foley</strong> (<em>1.9p</em>), 5-5 Junior guard <strong>Reese Decker</strong> (<em>1.7p</em>), and 5-7 Sophomore wing <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='366806' first='Lydia' last='Wright']</strong> (<em>1.3p</em>) return the most experience. 5-3 Sophomore guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='506022' first='Katy' last='Rooney']</strong> also looks to play a more significant role in her second year. Freshman point guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='422604' first='Emma' last='Schoen']</strong> and Freshman forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='486543' first='Brooklynn' last='Renn']</strong> are very intriguing talents who look to produce immediately for the Lady Dragons. Jennings County is one of the tougher teams to battle each night, as that outwork many of their opponents. The return of Junior front-liner <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='177362' first='Juliann' last='Woodard']</strong> (<em>16.0p, 12.0r, 3.1a, 2.8s, 2.0b</em>) certainly gives them a star to build around. She is aggressive, hard-working, and tough-nosed. However, Junior wing <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='201871' first='Alivia' last='Elmore']</strong> (<em>14.4p, 4.1r, 3.1a, 2.1s</em>) was injured at the end of last season and doesn't currently appear on their online roster. That would be a big loss if she isn't back, because she is a real energy-giver and a nice athlete. Additionally, <strong>Kali Thompson</strong> (<em>8.1p, 2.6a</em>) and <strong>Lily Ernstes</strong> (<em>7.7p, 4.1r, 2.1a</em>) graduated, leaving the Lady Panthers that much thinner on experience. 5-11 Senior post <strong>Megan Vogel</strong> (<em>5.5p, 4.8r</em>) and 6-0 Junior post <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='455936' first='Alexis' last='Carson']</strong> (<em>2.6p</em>) return to bolster the frontcourt, plus 5-7 Sophomore wing <strong>Madelyn McIntosh</strong> (<em>1.6p</em>) could see an expanded role in 2022-2023. Also keep an eye on Freshman guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='486508' first='Mollie' last='Ernstes']</strong>. She has skill, athletic talent, and a nice motor. She could play a lot immediately.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Jeffersonville Lady Red Devils have about as many girls playing grassroots basketball as any other school in the state, so it figures that will pay off sooner rather than later. They have really nice guard and wing play, so they can control tempo most games. Senior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='59768' first='Sophia' last='Reese']</strong>, Senior forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='59774' first='Cadence' last='Singleton']</strong>, and Junior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='177339' first='Elle' last='Marble']</strong> were the top performers from a season ago, so I'd expect them to again be key cogs in the lineup. Junior guard <strong>Lakyra Johnson</strong> brings athleticism to the backcourt, Senior point guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='510363' first='Brooklyn' last='Carter']</strong> adds another quick ball-handler who can run offense, and Senior forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='331785' first='Myah' last='Johnson']</strong> is a nice, long, fluid athlete who can play inside-out. Junior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='177323' first='LaQaya' last='Gold']</strong>, Senior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='300070' first='Maranda' last='Mason']</strong>, and Senior forward <strong>Averielle Baker</strong> all look to help with depth. The Seymour Owls have typically been solid, and they usually possess good size. This year should be no different, and with limited graduation losses, they should return a lot of their production. Leading the way this season is Junior forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='177357' first='Kendall' last='Sterling']</strong>. The versatile forward can play effectively in the mid-post or around the perimeter, and she can shoot/score or facilitate. 5-5 Senior guard <strong>Brooke Trinkle</strong> returns to the backcourt once again and brings skill plus experience. A pair of Junior front-liners, 6-1 <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='298257' first='Journee' last='Brown']</strong> and 6-0 <strong>Claire Marshall</strong>, help solidify the frontcourt by protecting the paint and giving them scoring options inside. The Lady Highlanders of Floyd Central have shown recent improvement, and despite the graduation losses of <strong>Keegan Kaiser</strong> and <strong>Kendall Brown</strong>, they should again be competitive, especially with their frontline returning. 6-1 Junior forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='298254' first='Megan' last='Czarnecki']</strong>, 6-0 Sophomore forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='324073' first='Nora' last='Gibson']</strong>, and 6-1 Senior post <strong>Callie Jo Celichowski</strong> form a wall of a trio up front. Czarnecki is a long, athletic, skillful kid who had a nice grassroots season, Gibson flashed great potential as a rookie, and Celichowski brings a veteran leadership and toughness to the frontcourt. The backcourt will be the biggest question, but 5-6 Sophomore guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='324079' first='Samara' last='Miller']</strong> and 5-11 Freshman wing <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='486500' first='Elise' last='Coleman']</strong> offer hope for a bright future. The Lady Bulldogs of New Albany have not won more than seven games since the 2017-2018 season, and this season could once again be a bit of a struggle, especially following the graduation losses of <strong>Maleea Roland</strong> and <strong>Taylor Treat</strong>. Roland was a talented scorer, while Treat was their primary ball-handler the last couple of seasons. 5-9 Senior forward <strong>Journey Howard</strong> is the most complete of the returnees, and she threatens to post double-doubles most times out. 5-7 Senior wing <strong>Alaina Walker</strong> plays bigger than she is and has a nose for the ball, while 5-6 Sophomore guard <strong>Sophia Corley</strong> saw action as a rookie, but she will need to take on a much larger role this time around. The Lady Bulldogs will need to develop depth and experience this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><font size="+2">Sectional #16</font></strong><br>Castle (19-5), SAG 30, SOS 71<br>Evansville North (19-4), SAG 44, SOS 88<br>Evansville F.J. Reitz (11-11), SAG 187, SOS 217<br>Jasper (4-19), SAG 226, SOS 51<br>Evansville Central (7-16), SAG 236, SOS 171<br>Evansville Harrison (3-17), SAG 336, SOS 152</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sectional #16 has belonged to the Lady Knights of Castle High School the last five years, winning four titles. They also seem to always just replace graduates with youngsters in waiting. This year will be no different, as <strong>Jordan Coon</strong> (<em>11.6p, 2.5r, 2.7s</em>), <strong>Natalie Niehaus</strong> (<em>8.5p, 5.6r, 2.9a, 2.3s</em>), <strong>Megan Kain</strong> (<em>7.6p, 3.6r</em>), <strong>Kyrisha Hay-Swope</strong> (<em>7.6p, 2.8r, 2.5a, 2.9s</em>), <strong>Keira Moore</strong> (<em>3.9p</em>), <strong>Shelby Turpen</strong>, and <strong>Soup McBride</strong> leave via Spring graduation. Junior wing <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='239354' first='Aleyna' last='Quinn']</strong> (<em>9.2p, 4.3r</em>), Senior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='127216' first='Devyn' last='Barton']</strong> (<em>6.8p, 3.2r, 2.0s</em>), Junior post <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='264112' first='Lola' last='Allen']</strong> (<em>3.6p, 3.0r</em>), and Sophomore guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='324084' first='Jordan' last='Scott']</strong> (<em>3.1p</em>) all return with significant experience. Quinn was injured last season, but returned late, Barton is a high-motor worker, Allen is a big, strong, physical post, and Scott is an explosive combo guard who can create or score. 5-6 Senior guard <strong>Mackenzie Holderfield</strong>, 5-7 Junior forward <strong>Emma Sanfilippo</strong>, along with a pair of Freshmen, look to contribute this year as well. The two Freshmen are athletic wing <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='486494' first='Jayden' last='Scott']</strong> and tough-nosed point guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='486483' first='Paiton' last='Mitchell']</strong>. Evansville North is coming off of an extremely strong season, but the Lady Huskies suffered significant graduation losses. Gone via the diploma are <strong>Jaidn Green</strong> (<em>11.8p, 4.5r, 4.7a</em>), <strong>Kaliah Neighbors</strong> (<em>9.1p, 5.3r, 2.6a</em>), <strong>Kaylee Martin</strong> (<em>7.8p, 2.7r</em>), <strong>Malaya Mattingly</strong> (<em>2.3p</em>), and <strong>Ally Black</strong>. What the Lady Huskies do possess still is good size and strong play up front. Senior forwards <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='328917' first='Amiyah' last='Buchanan']</strong> (<em>11.1p, 7.3r</em>) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='96092' first='Jalyn' last='Shelby']</strong> (<em>10.0p, 5.8r, 2.3a</em>) form a nice inside-out duo who complement each other well. Additionally, 5-11 Sophomore wing <strong>Libby Blythe</strong> (<em>3.3p</em>), 5-10 Sophomore forward <strong>Evie Sale</strong> (<em>1.9p</em>), and 5-11 Junior post <strong>Jill Vidoni</strong> (<em>1.4p</em>) all look to round out and solidify that position group. Perimeter play will be key for North Side, as they will need someone to replace Green's ability to handle pressure and take care of the basketball. 5-4 Junior guard <strong>Vanessa Nankwenya</strong> looks to fill that void as a Varsity newcomer. Francis Joseph Reitz High School saw major improvement, finishing at .500 for the first time since 2002-2003 when they were 14-9. The Lady Panthers did graduate five Seniors, most notably <strong>Alyssa Haynes</strong> (<em>12.5p, 4.2r, 4.2a, 3.8s</em>) and <strong>Carlee Effinger</strong> (<em>4.6p, 3.4r</em>). But Reitz returns a great deal of youthful talent and experience. 5-8 Junior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='264115' first='Norah' last='Miller']</strong> (<em>10.2p, 3.3r</em>) has flashed potential as a legitimate scoring threat. 5-4 Sophomore point guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='366797' first='Matea' last='Bradfield']</strong> (<em>9.6p, 3.3r, 2.8a, 2.3s</em>) is one of the most talented lesser-known players in the state. She is an athletic playmaker with a natural feel for the game. 6-5 Sophomore post <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='295791' first='Kaelyse' last='Mitchell']</strong> (<em>7.9p, 4.7r</em>) is a massive mismatch for all Panther opponents. Add to that 5-9 wing <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='486473' first='Bailey' last='Hape']</strong> and 5-11 forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='761169' first='Kendall' last='Kaiser']</strong>, both Freshmen, and the Panthers have a nice, young nucleus to build around.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Jasper Wildcats struggled to score at times a year ago, so the graduation of leading scorer <strong>Aspen Sermersheim</strong> (<em>8.6p, 2.8r</em>), plus a number of other Seniors, won't help their cause in 2022-2023. 5-10 Junior forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='826023' first='Emma' last='Schipp']</strong> (<em>6.5p, 4.4r</em>), 5-11 Senior wing <strong>Tori Brandt</strong> (<em>4.2p</em>), 5-7 Senior guard <strong>Jasmin Mehringer</strong> (<em>4.1p</em>), and 5-10 Sophomore post <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1122795' first='Carlee' last='Rogers']</strong> (<em>4.1p, 3.3r</em>) return with key Varsity experience. There are a number of Freshmen and other newcomers listed on their roster, so if they are to build depth, it will likely come from that group of players. Evansville Central looks to achieve 10 wins this year, and with just one graduate, <strong>Mya Johnson</strong> (<em>7.3p, 5.5r, 2.0b</em>), and a number of younger players back, the Lady Bears are another team improving. 5-9 Junior wing <strong>Mackenzie White</strong> (<em>9.0p, 5.9r</em>) will lead Central into action once again. She is a tough-nosed, high-motor, inside-out type of forward. A strong Sophomore group that includes 5-8 wing <strong>Delaney Steers</strong> (<em>5.7p, 2.9r</em>), 5-5 guard <strong>Mya Skelton</strong> (<em>6.2p, 3.2r</em>), and 5-4 guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='556017' first='Avery' last='Kelley']</strong> (<em>1.7p, 2.0r</em>), should help solidify the lineup moving forward. Also bringing excitement is 6-0 Freshman front-liner <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='492324' first='Madalyn' last='Shirley']</strong>. She is highly skilled, both on the low-block and in the mid-post, and she is a double-double waiting to happen each time out. The future is bright for the Lady Bears. Evansville's William Henry Harrison High School is another group looking to greatly improve their win total from a season ago. With the potential return of their entire roster, that looks very promising. 5-6 Junior guard <strong>Gabrielle Bushrod</strong> (<em>8.2p, 2.8r</em>), 5-6 Sophomore guard <strong>Anabella Thomas</strong> (<em>7.0p, 2.5r</em>), 5-6 Junior forward <strong>Jordan Mackey</strong> (<em>6.4p, 6.0r</em>), and 5-8 Junior forward <strong>Jannie Berry</strong> (<em>5.1p, 6.9r</em>) were the most productive last year. If they can continue to grow and develop their skill and understanding of the game, the Lady Warriors have an opportunity to approach 10 wins in a season sooner rather than later.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->