Conference Look-In: Hoosier Heritage Conference

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"small"} --> <p class="has-small-font-size"><em>The featured image is of [player_tooltip player_id='96080' first='Isabella' last='Gizzi'] (2023) of New Palestine High School.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As we enter 2023, 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 (<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">HHC Team Standings:</font></strong><br>Mt. Vernon (Fortville) (12-6 overall, 3-0 HHC)<br>Pendleton Heights (9-8, 5-1)<br>Greenfield-Central (10-7, 3-1)<br>New Palestine (8-9, 3-2)<br>Yorktown (7-9, 2-2)<br>Shelbyville (12-6, 1-4)<br>Delta (6-10, 1-4)<br>New Castle (0-17, 0-4)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Every year, the Hoosier Heritage Conference has a couple of teams at the top who compete with many of Central Indiana's best programs. This season, Mt. Vernon probably gives this conference the best shot at a playoff run, as they have already taken care of Pendleton Heights, New Palestine, and Yorktown, the first two by double-digits, plus Sectional #9 hosts four of these eight HHC teams. The Lady Marauders still have a January 20th matchup with Greenfield-Central that could ultimately determine who hoists the HHC trophy this season. Pendleton handed Greenfield their lone loss in conference, so if Greenfield can pull off the upset against Mt. Vernon, there could be a three-way tie at the top. Also, impressive outside of the conference has been Shelbyville, who is now guaranteed their first winning season since the 2015-2016 campaign, and only their second winning season since 2006-2007.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><font size="+2">HHC 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='96080' first='Isabella' last='Gizzi'], 2023, NP: 24.3</td><td><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='832654' first='Jillian' last='Barr']</strong>, 2026, DHS: 8.6</td><td><strong>Elizabeth Bamidele</strong>, 2026, DHS: 2.8</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='127221' first='Kylee' last='Edwards'], 2023, SHS: 22.6</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='572821' first='Paizley' last='Cool'], 2024, DHS: 8.4</td><td><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='825990' first='Vivian' last='Miller']</strong>, 2024, NP: 2.6</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='295797' first='Kaycie' last='Warfel'], 2025, PH: 20.2</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='127221' first='Kylee' last='Edwards'], 2023, SHS: 8.4</td><td><strong>Hannah Carter</strong>, 2024, DHS: 2.4</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>[player_tooltip player_id='127221' first='Kylee' last='Edwards'], 2023, SHS: 4.1</td><td><strong>Aryana Hibbard</strong>, 2023, G-C: 34</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='96080' first='Isabella' last='Gizzi'], 2023, NP: 84%</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='295797' first='Kaycie' last='Warfel'], 2025, PH: 3.9</td><td><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='511387' first='Brooklyn' last='McConnell']</strong>, 2025, G-C: 32</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='127221' first='Kylee' last='Edwards'], 2023, SHS: 82%</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Amari Wright</strong>, 2023, YHS: 3.7</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='96080' first='Isabella' last='Gizzi'], 2023, NP: 30</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='572814' first='Ava' last='Wilson'], 2024, SHS: 79%</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">[player_tooltip player_id='572814' first='Ava' last='Wilson'], 2024, 5-8 F, Shelbyville H.S.</font><br>- Ava has really stepped up this year, helping the Golden Bears to this winning season. Averaging 18.5 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 3.7 steals per game through 15 games, those are significant improvements over her Sophomore numbers (<em>7.7p, 3.9r, 1.8a, 1.8s</em>). She is shooting it about the same from 3-point range, but her overall field goal shooting is up 10%, and her free throw shooting is up 9%. She is one of those hybrid forwards we see scattered throughout Indiana girls' basketball, who play well in the mid-post, but they also show the flexibility to step outside and knock down shots or do battle inside around the paint/low block.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><font size="+1">Under-The-Radar Recruit: </font></strong><font size="+1">Amari Wright, 2023, 5-2 G, Yorktown H.S.</font><br>- Yes, at 5-2 Amari is probably a little undersized. But she is very strong, she's a nice all-around athlete, and she is just a ballplayer. She can play some on or off the ball, she plays much bigger than she is, and she can create plays at both ends of the floor. She can get through the lane to score or find teammates, she can knock down shots outside, plus she is a willing, capable, and versatile defender. So far during her final campaign, Amari is averaging career bests in scoring (<em>14.7 ppg</em>), rebounding (<em>5.3 rpg</em>), assists (<em>2.0 apg</em>), steals (<em>3.7 spg</em>), turnovers (<em>1.4 tpg</em>), and made 3-pointers (<em>26 made</em>). She also posted the first double-double of her career.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><font size="+1">Impressive Freshman: </font></strong><font size="+1">[player_tooltip player_id='832654' first='Jillian' last='Barr'], 2026, 5-9 F, Delta H.S.</font><br>- Due to the lack of upperclassmen, a number of younger players have gotten the opportunity to "get their feet wet" as rookies for the Lady Eagles this year. Of the group, [player_tooltip player_id='832654' first='Jillian' last='Barr'] has really stood out. She is a versatile forward who can play around the basket, in the mid-post, and she can even step outside and knock down the occasional 3-pointer. She plays with a nice motor, has a nose for the ball, and she's a willing and versatile defender as well. Through 16 games, Jillian is averaging 13.3 points, 8.6 rebounds (<em>leads the HHC</em>), 3.2 steals, and 1.5 blocked shots per game. She and the other young Eaglets should be fun to watch over the coming years.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->