Conference Look-In: Duneland Athletic Conference

As we enter the holiday break of the 2022-2023 high school season, I wanted to continue taking the time to highlight some of the better conferences in the state. I'll take a quick look at the teams at the top, statistical leaders, players on the rise, a top Freshman, plus an under-the-radar recruit. In order to select which conferences get the first glance, I've taken the Sagarin ratings (as of 12/4/22) of each team in each conference and averaged them out to give each conference a "score", if you will. As for individual statistical leaders, I am working off of whatever has currently been provided on MaxPreps. If your team's stats on MaxPreps are incomplete, I apologize, but please ask your coach to put them there if you would like to be considered for stat-based portions in the future.   DAC Team Standings: Valparaiso (14-0 overall, 4-0 DAC) Lake Central (8-3, 4-0) Crown Point (9-6, 2-2) Chesterton (7-5, 2-2) Portage (7-6, 2-2) Michigan City (4-9, 1-3) Merrillville (2-10, 1-3) LaPorte (0-14, 0-4)   The DAC is almost split into three tiers this season. At the top you have Valparaiso and Lake Central. Valparaiso has a nice mixture of veteran players with skill and ability, mixed with a youthful insurgence of multiple long-term letter-winners. Lake Central has a deep crop of Sophomores and Juniors who already possess Varsity experience in big games, and they have proven themselves over the last year and a half to be a problem. Those two teams collide on January 20th, in what could be a game for the conference title. Crown Point is working through the losses of some significant 2022 graduates, but they have been highly competitive as well and are getting better by the week. Chesterton has a nice group of youngsters blending with some veterans, and they could be quite the handful in the years to come. Portage is leaning on several upperclassmen to play major roles, and they too have had their moments this season.   DAC Statistical Leaders:   <figure class="wp-block-table is-style-regular"><table><tbody><tr><td>Scoring Leaders:</td><td>Rebounding Leaders:</td><td>Assist Leaders:</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='298252' first='Ava' last='Ziolkowski'], 2024, CP: 18.7</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='59755' first='Alyssa' last='Hiller'], 2023, PHS: 7.7</td><td>Ava Melendez, 2024, PHS: 3.85</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='419439' first='Lillian' last='Barnes'], 2026, VHS: 16.4</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='372345' first='Brooke' last='Lindesmith'], 2023, CP: 7.6</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='241188' first='Kristin' last='Bukata'], 2023, VHS: 3.83</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='203661' first='Anjelicia' last='Del Valle'], 2024, PHS: 14.6</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='298252' first='Ava' last='Ziolkowski'], 2024, CP: 7.1</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='419439' first='Lillian' last='Barnes'], 2026, VHS: 3.75</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>   .   <figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td>Steals Leaders:</td><td>3-Pointers Made:</td><td>Free Throw %:</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='419439' first='Lillian' last='Barnes'], 2026, VHS: 6.8</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='298252' first='Ava' last='Ziolkowski'], 2024, CP: 36</td><td>Ava Melendez, 2024, PHS: 75%</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='241188' first='Kristin' last='Bukata'], 2023, VHS: 4.2</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='201878' first='Riley' last='Milausnic'], 2024, LC: 25</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='201878' first='Riley' last='Milausnic'], 2024, LC: 75%</td></tr><tr><td>Ingrid Hurst, 2023, CHS: 3.1</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='127224' first='Mya-Lee' last='Jackson'], 2023, MHS: 23</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='298252' first='Ava' last='Ziolkowski'], 2024, CP: 72%</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>   .   On The Rise: Amira Wair, 2023, 6-0 F/C, Michigan City H.S. - Amira is someone who I feel like can help a small college over the next four years. She has a strong, athletic frame, she has some length, she's a nice athlete in most directions, and she plays with a solid motor. She is probably still more of a rebounder/defender type than much of an offensive threat, but she can come out on the floor and defend wings, as well as battle taller, stronger posts in the paint. She has a nice toughness around the basket, and she can finish through contact. She has shown the ability to knock down the occasional short corner and mid-post jumper, and as that part of her game advances, I really think she could turn into a steal for a small college.   Under-The-Radar Recruit: [player_tooltip player_id='203661' first='Anjelicia' last='Del Valle'], 2023, 5-9 W, Portage H.S. - "Cita", as she's known by friends, is one of the most athletic prospects in the DAC. She has great length, a wiry-strong frame, and she can run and jump with just about anyone in this conference. She is a ball of energy, as she flies around the floor in every direction, offensively and defensively. She is best when she's able to get out in transition, find a gap, and attack downhill to get to the basket. Her perimeter shooting has improved over the years, and she keeps defenses honest outside. As a defender herself, she is extremely active and is probably more dangerous one pass away in "help" than actually on the ball, though she can defend multiple positions equally well.   Impressive Freshman: [player_tooltip player_id='419439' first='Lillian' last='Barnes'], 2026, 5-10 W, Valparaiso H.S. - I don't think it's to anyone's surprise that Lillian has had such a huge impact as just a Freshman. She has a true feel for the game, a veteran savvy, but it's incredible at how her recognition of situations is already next level. She's almost like a Grandmaster chess player. Yes, she is a solid athlete, and yes, she does possess a high skill level for her age, but it's her ability to be one step ahead of her opponents that makes her stand out. Next to that, I honestly think her ability to deliver passes on time/on target to teammates is most impressive. In her rookie season, Lillian is averaging 16.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 6.8 steals per game, while shooting 59% from the field.

As we enter the holiday break of the 2022-2023 high school season, I wanted to continue taking the time to highlight some of the better conferences in the state. I'll take a quick look at the teams at the top, statistical leaders, players on the rise, a top Freshman, plus an under-the-radar recruit. In order to select which conferences get the first glance, I've taken the Sagarin ratings (as of 12/4/22) of each team in each conference and averaged them out to give each conference a "score", if you will. As for individual statistical leaders, I am working off of whatever has currently been provided on MaxPreps. If your team's stats on MaxPreps are incomplete, I apologize, but please ask your coach to put them there if you would like to be considered for stat-based portions in the future.