Season Preview: Class 3A, Sectionals #25-28

The featured image is of [player_tooltip player_id='178240' first='Audri' last='Spencer'] (2023) of Northview High School.   Tuesday evening, November 1, marked the official start of the season, as more than 90 teams around the state open with their first game. With that in mind, I wanted to continue my thorough, multi-article preview spread throughout the next week, looking ahead at each Sectional, the top teams, and preseason all-state teams. I will now turn towards Southern Indiana and focus on the first Class 3A South Regional, which incorporates the winners of Sectional #25 through #28. 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 #25 Tri-West (17-8), SAG 63, SOS 57 Cascade (18-5), SAG 78, SOS 235 Danville Community (18-7), SAG 90, SOS 158 Lebanon (11-13), SAG 162, SOS 154 Western Boone (10-13), SAG 283, SOS 302 Monrovia (8-16), SAG 295, SOS 317 Crawfordsville (8-16), SAG 304, SOS 310   It's sort of a changing of the guard in Lizton, Indiana, as the Tri-West Lady Bruins said "goodbye" this Spring to a 5-member 2022 class who averaged 17 wins per season and made it to the South Semi-State in 2020-2021. Kenna Kirby (16.0p, 5.3r, 3.0a, 2.4s), Isabelle Saylor (14.2p, 3.6r, 2.0a, 3.3s), Adrie Thompson (12.3p, 5.2r, 2.0a), Becca Van Slyke (4.4p, 5.4r, 2.3a, 2.6s), and Izzy Cotteleer (3.3p, 2.6r) were their top five scorers, rebounders, passers, and defenders, so there will be a lot of turnover in 2022-2023. 5-8 Junior wing Regan Canada (2.4p) and 5-9 Senior forward Ava Sullivan (2.3p, 2.3r) look like they should be able to step in and contribute right away, but the rest of the roster is just unproven at this point. It is a nice program, so players just need Varsity experience. Look for 5-5 Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='496069' first='Reagan' last='Shaw'], 5-6 guard [player_tooltip player_id='496043' first='Lauren' last='Bear'], and 5-8 wing [player_tooltip player_id='496082' first='Zoie' last='Bruner'] to get a shot early this season. Cascade moves up from Class 2A, they are balanced and talented, but they are seeking their first Sectional win since 2017-2018 and their first Sectional title since 2006-2007. Forward Christina Lamb (11.4p, 5.0r, 2.9s) and post Cora Lopossa (2.7p, 2.7r) did leave via the diploma, however this could be their year. Senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='59786' first='Sydney' last='Warran'] (11.8p, 6.4r, 4.6a, 2.4s) is tremendously versatile, as she can effectively play at all three levels and even handle the ball and initiate the offense for the Cadets. Senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='127231' first='Abby' last='Parsons'] (13.3p, 4.3r, 2.0a, 2.1s) is a powerfully strong and physical forward who can use her strength inside or her ball skill and touch outside. 5-8 Junior wing [player_tooltip player_id='177315' first='Creedance' last='Chittenden'] (6.4p, 3.3r, 2.1s), 5-9 Senior wing Madison Short (5.9p, 3.4r), and 5-8 Junior wing Liviair Campbell (5.0p, 2.0r) each brings a little something different, but they are somewhat interchangeable and allow flexibility within the lineup. 5-9 Junior forward Claire Austin (3.0p, 3.7r) offers rebounding as a frontcourt presence, and 5-9 Freshman forward Macey Pugh could be in line for some minutes early this season. The Danville Lady Warriors are always effortful and disciplined, and they will be competitive once again this season. Haley Godwin (7.4p, 5.2r, 2.4a, 3.0s) and Haley Ancelet (7.0p, 2.7r) played with a lot of energy, but both graduated last Spring. However, the Lady Warriors return do-everything Senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='59791' first='Isabelle' last='Wooten'] (13.8p, 9.4r, 3.3a, 2.2s) to the lineup. She can play at all three levels, she competes each possession, and she contributes in different ways, even when she isn't scoring. Junior forward [player_tooltip player_id='201882' first='Kooper' last='Stone'] (6.4p, 4.6r) is a nice, versatile, athletic presence up front, while Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='496005' first='Cameryn' last='Rector'] (8.2p, 2.0a, 2.1s) is a solid athlete with the ability to make shots outside, plus she'll defend, and she can handle the ball for them some. Sophomores Addison Davis (4.4p, 2.9r), a 5-9 forward, and [player_tooltip player_id='295784' first='Emma' last='Ancelet'] (3.8p, 2.0r), a 5-4 point guard, saw a lot of time as rookies, and both look for bigger roles in Year-2. The younger Ancelet is a dynamic ball-handler who could lead the offense moving forward, while they hope for a full season out of Davis, after she didn't see the court until early January.   Lebanon experienced a roller-coaster ride last season, with ups and downs throughout the schedule. Now, they must play without graduated guard Alexis Wines (16.6p, 5.1r, 2.6a, 3.9s). While there aren't any double-digit scorers returning, they could be better this year, as they have several girls with experience, and you won't know where they are going to get contributions from on a given night. The Lady Tigers will likely start with a strong Senior class that includes 5-7 wing Alexandria Barr (8.6p, 4.4r), 5-6 guard Maiya Newsom (7.8p, 4.8r, 3.2a, 2.2s in six games), 5-6 wing Kylie Ottinger (4.3p, 4.1r), and 5-7 forward Charli Albea (3.7p, 4.4r). Barr and Newsom will likely see an uptick in scoring, but they are hoping for a full season out of Newsom, after she missed all but the first six games last year. She is a nice, athletic guard prospect. Barr can play some inside and out and is another nice athlete. 5-9 forward Emily Sperry (5.2p, 4.8r) and 5-7 wing Ciarra Hiatt (1.8p, 2.4r) are a pair of solid Juniors, while 5-10 forward [player_tooltip player_id='923198' first='Riley' last='Vanaman'] (1.7p), plus guards [player_tooltip player_id='1123932' first='Claire' last='Boling'] and Marina Barr saw some time as rookies. Western Boone could flip their record and be above .500 for the first time since the 2018-2019 season. Three Seniors will lead them into action, and all are pretty balanced as scorers. They are 5-5 point guard Katheryn Rutherford (9.4p, 6.6r, 2.6a, 3.1s), 5-9 post Emmy Roys (9.4p, 10.9r), and 6-0 forward Carlie Pennington (9.0p, 5.5r). A fourth Senior, 5-6 wing Lili Jones (3.8p, 2.1r), has also seen her share of action in the past. Sam Wynkoop (3.5p, 2.9r) did graduate, but 5-10 Senior forward Saige Terwiske (1.3p, 3.3r) and 5-7 Junior forward Ki'erra Koch (1.6p, 3.4r) return along the frontline. Even though the Lady Stars move up from Class 2A, that amount of experience should help them compete immediately. Monrovia hasn't been in Class 3A all that long either, and they look primed to improve, as they return most of their production from last season. 5-9 Senior wing Ashley Lewis (10.6p, 5.1r, 2.0s) is a smooth scorer with a nice-looking jump-shot. Look for her to impact games more, as she's becoming a complete scorer. 5-5 Sophomore point guard Emery Newlin (10.4p, 3.1r, 3.2a, 4.0s) put together an outstanding rookie season, and she looks to elevate her play even more in Year-2. Juniors Mary Cox (4.6p, 4.0r), a 5-6 guard, and Joslyn Young (4.1p, 3.5r), a 5-8 forward, also return with a good understanding of Varsity basketball. If they can get some bench production and find that fifth starter, they could be in for a nice season. Seniors Flower Vare (2.1p, 2.2r) and Allie Swafford (1.4p, 4.4r), plus Juniors Avery Newlin (2.0p) and Grace Vaughn (1.2p, 2.3r), will be looked upon first. If Crawfordsville is to approach eight wins again this year, they must first overcome the graduation losses of Shea Williamson (11.8p, 7.5r, 3.6a, 2.7s), Olivia Reed (8.6p, 2.5r), Liddy McCarty (6.0p), Kearston Hutchens (5.8p, 3.0r), and Laine Schlicher. Only two of the returnees have much real experience, and they are 5-9 Junior post Taylor Abston (6.9p, 6.6r) and 5-3 Senior guard Elyse Widmer (3.1p). They will be searching for an identity early this season, hoping multiple newcomers are ready to step into major minutes for the Athenians.   Sectional #26 Indian Creek (22-5), SAG 91, SOS 225 Edgewood (19-5), SAG 118, SOS 247 Northview (21-5), SAG 136, SOS 254 Owen Valley (10-15), SAG 251, SOS 222 West Vigo (10-14), SAG 267, SOS 300 Brown County (3-20), SAG 275, SOS 134 South Vermillion (6-17), SAG 321, SOS 304   Sectional #26 says "goodbye" to Brownstown Central but makes room for an outstanding Indian Creek team. In order for anyone to knock off the Lady Braves, they'll have to deal with their combination of size, skill, and strong perimeter play (<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/2022/10/season-preview-top-10-class-3a-teams/" data-type="URL" data-id="https://prepgirlshoops.com/2022/10/season-preview-top-10-class-3a-teams/" target="_blank">you can see their team preview here</a>). Normally, Edgewood would be a strong contender, but they took a major hit with graduation, losing six of their top seven scorers. Most notably missing are guard Carly Sherfield (13.7p, 3.9r, 2.8s) and front-liner Trista Helms (9.1p, 7.2r, 2.0s). The most experienced of the returnees are Jaylen Robinson (3.4p) and Alayna Flynn (2.0p), both Seniors. A deep Junior class and a number of Freshmen could fill voids immediately this season for the Lady Mustangs, but there will likely be some growing pains early in the season as they adjust to Varsity competition. Northview has also put together a stretch of good play over the last few years, but the graduations of Macey Timberman (19.7p, 4.9r, 2.9a), Tara Pearce (8.9p, 3.2r), Sydney Maurer (3.2p, 2.4r), and Hanna Dawson (2.8p, 6.6r) give opponents hope. Back for the Lady Knights, however, is Senior wing [player_tooltip player_id='178240' first='Audri' last='Spencer'] (12.0p, 3.1r, 2.2a, 2.8s), and it's now her show to run. 5-11 Junior forward Brooklyn Eldridge (2.8p, 3.1r) and 5-11 Sophomore wing Brynlee Clarke (1.5p, 3.7r) saw significant action a season ago, but there isn't a lot of depth beyond that. Owen Valley could present the biggest challenge for Indian Creek in Sectional #26. They have some size and nice experience throughout their roster. In fact, the most notable graduation departures are Kyndall Drake (5.6p, 3.6r) and Elizabeth Johnson (2.3p, 3.8r), so while they'll be missed, there are a number of quality returnees who should be able to make up for their losses. The best of those back is Senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='178242' first='Reagan' last='Martin'] (18.5p, 8.4r, 4.1b). Not only is she a rebounding and defensive presence in the paint, but she can also step outside and knock down open jumpers consistently. 5-7 Senior guard Madison Kay (8.6p, 5.1r) will likely take on a lot more responsibility, whether that's scoring or running the offense. 5-4 Junior guard Taylor York (3.6p, 2.9r) and 5-2 Junior guard Lilyanna Smith (2.0p, 2.1r) have also seen quality minutes in the past, but now they will likely step into much bigger roles. Also look for a number of Freshmen and Sophomores to make an immediate impact, with 5-11 Freshman post Mady Amick able to offer them more size up front.   West Vigo comes off a 10-win season and will be looking to replicate that in 2022-2023. Unfortunately, they'll have to do so without the services of graduates Adelynn Harris, Maci Easten, and Ellie Easton. Returning, however, are 5-8 Senior guard Katelyn Fennell (12.7p, 5.4r, 3.2a) and 5-8 Senior forward Avery Lasecki. From there, 5-3 Junior guard Kenzye Knopp and 5-4 Sophomore guard Lily Ramirez have experience and can help in the backcourt. Up front will be the question, but 5-9 Freshman forward [player_tooltip player_id='486477' first='Hannah' last='Stepp'] should be able to lend a hand. She has height, length, talent, and skill. Additionally, as many as two more Freshmen and three more Sophomores could step into key roles this season for the Lady Vikings. They will likely be a little more guard dependent than past years, but there are some capable individuals available to help their cause. Brown County won just three games a year ago, but they return quite a bit of production. Back for their Senior seasons are 5-5 wing Katie Tipton, 5-10 forward Abigail Watson, and wing Savannah Oden. 5-2 Junior guard Madelyne Huff and 5-5 Junior guard Leslie Austin bring backcourt experience back to the Lady Eagles, so with those five players all in the mix, Brown County has the potential to seek ten wins this season. South Vermillion is another program looking to get back to double-digit wins this season, and with everyone eligible to return from last season's roster, that looks more and more possible this year. 5-3 guards Calee Coleman, a Senior, and Kenley Minor, a Junior, lead all backcourt returnees and possess the most experience on the roster. 5-8 Senior forward Jessica Berry and 5-6 Senior forward Haley Travioli will look to solidify an undersized but hard-working frontcourt. In addition to those four, there are several more ladies from each class who have seen Varsity time in the past, so the Lady Wildcats should play with a great deal of productive balance.   Sectional #27 Bishop Chatard (18-11), SAG 80, SOS 68 Heritage Christian (16-12), SAG 122, SOS 127 Guerin Catholic (14-11), SAG 126, SOS 107 Brebeuf Jesuit (9-12), SAG 222, SOS 213 Shortridge Magnet (6-15), SAG 367, SOS 343 Herron (5-15), SAG 371, SOS 369   Sectional #27 will likely be very competitive at the top, as the private schools should battle it out in the end. Through mid-January, Bishop Chatard was sitting at an even 10-10 record, then they just "got it". They ripped off eight consecutive victories, earning themselves a spot in the Class 3A South Semi-State, where they unfortunately fell to Silver Creek 64-54. Now, the Lady Trojans must say "goodbye" to a huge 2022 graduating class that included Izzy Davis (9.8p, 2.8r), Grace Adams (6.1p, 3.9r, 2.1a), Kate Caskey (7.1p, 3.5r), Carly deCastro (4.6p, 6.7r), Lilli Mohler, Anna McGinley, and Ella Grace Giedd. The 2022-2023 will likely look much different, but they will still be very competitive each time out. 5-9 Senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='410036' first='Caroline' last='Bell'] (9.3p, 5.8r, 2.1s) returns and brings with her a lot of energy, athleticism, and a quiet toughness. Fellow Seniors Anna Thompson, a 5-8 guard, and Grace Felts, a 5-9 forward, look to fill much bigger roles this year. The Junior class could see 5-8 wing Addison Duncan and 5-6 guard Quinn Johnson, plus a couple of others step up, while 6-0 Sophomore post Anna Caskey has a chance to be a contributor inside this season. I also would keep an eye on [player_tooltip player_id='486530' first='Alyx' last='Kendall'], a 6-0 Freshman forward, who could see a Varsity role sooner rather than later. Heritage Christian saw leading scorers Audrey Booher (10.7p, 3.0r, 2.0s) and Grace Marshall (8.9p, 5.3r) leave via the diploma, plus intriguing Sophomore guard [player_tooltip player_id='496026' first='Jaeda' last='Wilson'] (4.7p, 2.8r) has transferred to city rival Cathedral, however the Lady Eagles could be in for an even better season this year, as they still return a wealth of talent, and they welcome some talented youngsters. Sophomore wing [player_tooltip player_id='324078' first='Joslyn' last='Marshall'] (8.6p, 2.8r, 2.3s) and Sophomore forward [player_tooltip player_id='324071' first='Casey' last='Frost'] (7.8p, 3.3r in 15 games) stood out as rookies, especially down the stretch. Frost transferred in from Carmel midseason. Junior wing [player_tooltip player_id='177341' first='Koryn' last='Marshall'] (7.1p, 4.4r) plays with a great motor, physicality, and toughness. Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='496064' first='Mya' last='Davis'] (6.2p, 2.0a, 3.2s in 5 games) saw action late in the year after transferring in from Lawrence Central last Summer. She should be much more impactful this season. Senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='59750' first='Madison' last='Geary'] looks to make an immediate impact after playing at Carmel last season, while Freshmen Trinity Taylor, [player_tooltip player_id='486536' first='Jelyza' last='Lapsley'], and Hazel Ritz all look for an early opportunity.   Guerin Catholic enjoyed their best season in six years in 2021-2022, winning 14 games and competing for a Sectional title. They look to entertain that possibility once again, if they can mask the graduation losses of Kathryn Loso (14.8p, 7.9r) and Katie Koger (8.6p, 2.8r). Senior wing [player_tooltip player_id='516350' first='Natalie' last='Fernandez'] (5.5p, 3.4r, 2.8a) had a nice Summer and looks to take on a leadership role this season. Fellow Seniors Megan Cobb (2.5p, 3.0r), a 5-9 forward, and Caitlyn Sharpe, a 5-7 guard, should be able to help with that. From there, the Golden Eagles will likely look at some talented younger players to help elevate their team's play. 6-0 Junior forward Kori Dues has a lot of length, fluidity, and skill, plus she can be a threat inside or out. Sophomore wing [player_tooltip player_id='506019' first='Ava' last='Bills'] (2.4p, 2.8r) is another versatile wing who can perform a variety of roles for Guerin. Sophomore forward [player_tooltip player_id='506026' first='Reagan' last='Haines'] saw a little action as a rookie last year, but she's ready to take on a much bigger role as a versatile inside-out forward. The nine wins the Lady Braves of Brebeuf Jesuit experienced last year were their most since the 2006-2007 season. Even more exciting is the return of several productive players. Sophomore wing [player_tooltip player_id='453221' first='Savannah' last='Schafer'] (8.0p, 5.9r, 2.0a, 2.2s) will likely be a double-digit scorer and a potential double-double threat each time out this season. She is a nice athlete and impacts the game in a variety of ways. Senior post [player_tooltip player_id='460840' first='Maeve' last='Perry'] (7.0p, 8.1r) has improved each year, and she's primed for a big final stanza. She is committed to Denison University. 5-8 Senior wing Kaley Singleton (4.1p, 4.0r) and 6-1 Senior front-liner Sophia Payne can help on the boards and around the paint. Also look for a pair of Freshmen guards, [player_tooltip player_id='1131983' first='Robyn' last='Pate'] and [player_tooltip player_id='761173' first='Audra' last='Kendall'], to possibly see early action this November. The Shortridge Lady Blue Devils look to improve upon their six wins from a season ago, and they will likely rely heavily upon a multiyear starter in 5-11 Senior front-liner Shantrice Grant. Grant has been productive each of her years in a Shortridge uniform, and she'll look to cap off a nice career in 2022-2023. As for Herron, the Achaeans graduated London Love (15.0p, 6.5r), and 6-1 Senior Chelsea Abbott (4.2p, 6.5r, 2.9b) is no longer listed on their online roster. They'll need 5-4 Junior guard Camille Robbins (3.8p) to step up in a big way this season, along with a host of newcomers. Juniors Tricia Doty (1.9p), Jaycianna Clark (1.6p, 2.2r), and Jada Wright (1.4p, 2.2r) are the most likely candidates to help Robbins right away.   Sectional #28 Speedway (17-7), SAG 213, SOS 365 Cardinal Ritter (7-16), SAG 311, SOS 218 Beech Grove (4-18), SAG 354, SOS 299 George Washington (5-14), SAG 393, SOS 391 Christel House (3-12), SAG 394, SOS 392   Everyone in Sectional #28 is ecstatic Indian Creek moved to Sectional #26, but none more so than Speedway. The Sparkplugs graduated point guard Camiell Perry (11.8p, 5.7r, 5.3a, 4.7s), who was a dynamic athlete and creator, but they return nearly everything else. 5-11 Junior wing Alex DeLisle (11.1p, 5.5r) is a long, smooth, fluid wing who can make shots from all levels. She is flanked by classmates [player_tooltip player_id='825947' first='Daniella' last='Galvez'] (9.2p, 6.3r, 2.3s), a 5-10 forward, and Audrey Burrell (5.5p, 3.5r), a 5-11 post. Galvez is versatile and simply outworks her matchups each night. Sophomore Genesis Austin (3.2p, 3.9r), a 5-11 post, saw a great deal of Varsity time during her rookie season, while 5-5 guard Chloe Ellett (3.0p), 5-7 guard Reagan Hendry (1.7), and 5-9 forward Paige Powell (1.4) add to an already impressive Junior class. As you can see, the Sparkplugs have some depth, balance, and two more seasons with basically the same group intact. Additionally, keep an eye on 5-6 Freshman guard [player_tooltip player_id='492318' first='Macy' last='DeLisle'] and 5-11 Freshman post Hayli Clampitt. They both have nice upside and should contribute sooner rather than later. Normally, I would say Cardinal Ritter would present the biggest challenge to Speedway, but the Lady Raiders saw five of their seven main contributors (and seven of the ten girls who dressed any Varsity) graduate in the Spring. Most notable of the graduates are do-everything wing Kelsey Waggoner (19.4p, 7.7r, 2.1s) and guard Olivia Webb (9.6p, 3.3r, 2.4a). 5-6 Senior guard Daveigh Small (1.9p, 3.3r) and 5-11 Junior post Evelyn Buck (1.7p, 2.7r) are the only two remaining girls who played any significant minutes, while Sophomore wing Janiyah Tyler saw limited action in just five games. From there, anyone Ritter puts on the floor at this point is an unknown. They have a knack for always being competitive, so they very well could have a couple of newcomers or someone waiting in the wings who can contribute, but based on graduation losses, it could be a little while before they approach ten wins again.   Beech Grove is still trying to recapture its glory of five years ago, when the Lady Hornets won 18 games and nearly knocked off Tri-West in their old Sectional. With a couple of newcomers onboard, that just might be possible. The Hornets averaged just 26.8 points per game last season, but I suspect that will be significantly higher in 2022-2023. 5-10 Sophomore forward Mylee Boiling and 5-4 Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='418170' first='Chanya' last='Lambert'] (21.6p, 4.8r, 2.2a, 4.3s in 2020-2021) should make an immediate impact after not playing for the Lady Hornets Varsity a year ago. Two seasons ago, Lambert was a star and talented scoring threat for Central Christian but had to sit out last year due to transfer restrictions. 5-1 guard Bre Veal (4.1p, 3.0r, 2.3s), 5-2 guard Joslyn Johnson (3.0p, 2.1r), 5-8 wing [player_tooltip player_id='883199' first='Emma' last='Micks'] (1.6p), and 5-2 guard Holly Garrett (1.2p) each got their feet wet as Freshmen last season, and each looks to contribute in a greater capacity this year. The Continentals of Indianapolis' George Washington High School could continue to improve, especially with 5-9 Junior forward Malaysha Flanagan (16.8p, 7.9r, 5.7s) in the fold again. She will need help, however, and none of the other returnees averaged more than 2.5 points per game in 2021-2022. The best odds of helping her this year are 5-8 Sophomore forward Lyric Davis (2.5p, 5.4r), 5-10 Junior post Ta'laya Peterson (2.2p, 4.0r), 5-5 Sophomore guard Michelle Martin (2.1p), 5-7 Junior forward Madelyn Bruce (1.5p, 3.5r), and 5-7 Sophomore forward Ele'jah Smith (1.4p, 2.9r). Christel House also looks to improve their win total from last season, and with no Seniors on the roster a year ago, that looks very promising. The Lady Eagles turn to 5-6 Senior wing Keira Noe for leadership, as she's logged the most Varsity minutes of anyone on the roster, and she's been a double-digit scorer for them as well. 5-6 Senior forward Jazzlyn Clark also returns with experience, while there are as many as four Freshmen who could see action immediately in 2022-2023.

The featured image is of Audri Spencer Audri Spencer 5'6" | SG Northview | 2023 IN (2023) of Northview High School.