Conference Look-In: Hoosier Conference

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"small"} --> <p class="has-small-font-size"><em>The featured image is of [player_tooltip player_id='127234' first='Ashlee' last='Schram'] (2023) of Tipton High School.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As we approach the midpoint of the 2022-2023 high school season, I wanted to take 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 (<em>as of 12/4/22</em>) 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.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><font size="+2">Hoosier Conference East Team Standings:</font></strong><br>Northwestern (8-2 overall, 2-0 Hoosier)<br>Western (7-3, 1-0)<br>Hamilton Heights (9-1, 0-0)<br>Lewis Cass (3-6, 0-1)<br>Tipton (4-4, 0-2)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><font size="+2">Hoosier Conference West Team Standings:</font></strong><br>Twin Lakes (12-0, 2-0)<br>Benton Central (7-2, 2-0)<br>Lafayette Central Catholic (7-2, 0-0)<br>West Lafayette (10-3, 0-2)<br>Rensselaer Central (7-5, 0-2)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Hoosier Conference consists of 10 teams and is split into two divisions. The uniqueness of this conference is that they play the teams in their division first, then at the end of the season they play a cross-division game against the school who placed the same in the opposite division (<em>East first vs. West first, etc.</em>). The East will likely be decided this year by Northwestern, Western, or Hamilton Heights. Northwestern and Heights were supposed to play earlier this week, but that game got postponed. The West is very strong this year, and a month ago I would have said any of the five schools could compete for the title. With Twin Lakes and Benton Central already at two wins, they clearly have a step up now, and those same two teams face off on Tuesday, December 13th. Central Catholic will also compete for first place in the West, given they are a strong program and haven't lost a game yet. There is still a lot of action to take place in the Hoosier Conference, but it's nearly mid-December and six of the 10 teams look like they have a shot to win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><font size="+2">Hoosier Conference Statistical Leaders:</font></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:table {"className":"is-style-regular"} --> <figure class="wp-block-table is-style-regular"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>Scoring Leaders:</strong></td><td><strong>Rebounding Leaders:</strong></td><td><strong>Assist Leaders:</strong></td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='59762' first='McKenna' last='Layden'], 2023, NW: 20.7</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='127234' first='Ashlee' last='Schram'], 2023, Tipton: 9.4</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='295786' first='Addison' last='Bowsman'], 2025, TL: 6.6</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='177346' first='Olivia' last='Nickerson'], 2024, TL: 20.5</td><td><strong>Annie Karlaftis</strong>, 2023, WL: 9.2</td><td><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='874125' first='Kinsey' last='Mennen']</strong>, 2024, LC: 5.0</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='177352' first='Camryn' last='Runner'], 2024, HH: 18.7</td><td><strong>Kora Pass</strong>, 2023, TL: 8.3</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='298256' first='Ella' last='Hickok'], 2024, HH: 4.4</td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><font color="#FFFFFF">.</font></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:table --> <figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>Steals Leaders:</strong></td><td><strong>3-Pointers Made:</strong></td><td><strong>Free Throw %:</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Chloe Hunt</strong>, 2024, Western: 3.8</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='177346' first='Olivia' last='Nickerson'], 2024, TL: 51</td><td><strong>Chloe Hunt</strong>, 2024, Western: 87%</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='59762' first='McKenna' last='Layden'], 2023, NW: 3.7</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='127228' first='Kennedy' last='Martin'], 2023, WL: 26</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='96094' first='Addison' last='Ward'], 2023, TL: 86%</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='177359' first='Adrianne' last='Tolen'], 2024, WL: 3.6</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='264121' first='Hallie' last='Wolfe'], 2024, Tipton: 26</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='177346' first='Olivia' last='Nickerson'], 2024, TL: 86%</td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><font color="#FFFFFF">.</font></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><font size="+1">On The Rise: </font></strong><font size="+1">Chloe Hunt, 2024, 5-7 G, Western H.S.</font><br>- Chloe saw action in the first five games a year ago, averaging 4.4 points and 3.0 rebounds, but then she unfortunately missed the remainder of the season. She's back, and she has been outstanding for the Lady Panthers in 2022-2023, averaging 13.8 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 3.8 steals per game. Chloe tops the team in scoring, assists, and steals, and she is second in rebounding. She has been solid from the field for 7-3 Western at 42%, and she's knocking down free throws at an 87% rate. The one odd stat is that she is 0-15 from 3-point range to start the year, but she's a solid shooter. Once that comes around, look for her scoring average to go up a little more.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><font size="+1">Under-The-Radar Recruit: </font></strong><font size="+1">[player_tooltip player_id='177359' first='Adrianne' last='Tolen'], 2024, 5-10 G/F, West Lafayette H.S.</font><br>- Adrianne is a do-everything type of wing prospect who a number of the elite small colleges in the Midwest would like. She has good size, strength, and she's a talented athlete who plays multiple sports well. As a Junior, Adrianne is averaging 16.7 points, a career-best 7.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 3.6 steals per game. She has also shot career-best percentages from the field (<em>51%</em>) and from beyond the arc (<em>39%</em>). Statistics aside, she is one of the more versatile defenders in the state, as she can take on all wings, bigger guards, smaller power players, and even some point guards. She currently sits at 887 points and 362 rebounds midway through her third season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><font size="+1">Impressive Freshman: </font></strong><font size="+1">Anna Hedrick, 2026, 5-5 G, Lewis Cass H.S.</font><br>- The Lewis Cass Lady Kings are working through a youth movement right now, so a number of younger players are finding opportunities early in their careers. Anna has taken great advantage of that, helping them match last season's record through nine games. The combo guard is averaging 6.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.2 steals per game as a rookie, and as she continues to learn discipline and adjust to the speed of the game, I'd expect those numbers to rise, along with her shooting percentages. However, she is affecting the game at both ends of the floor already, and she has shown growth throughout the season, as her turnovers have decreased each week.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->