Conference Look-In: Mid-State Conference

The featured image is of [player_tooltip player_id='177326' first='Rachel' last='Harshman'] (2024) of Mooresville High School (in red).   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 (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.   Mid-State Team Standings: Mooresville (14-5 overall, 5-0 Mid-State) Whiteland Community (9-8, 4-0) Franklin Community (10-5, 3-1) Plainfield (6-11, 2-2) Decatur Central (11-5, 2-3) Greenwood Community (7-9, 2-3) Perry Meridian (1-13, 0-4) Martinsville (0-17, 0-5)   The Mid-State Conference is incredibly competitive at the top each year, regardless of which teams are on top. Franklin was the Class 4A State Runner-Up in 2022, while Mooresville made a Semi-State appearance, only to lose to Franklin by just three points in that game. Whiteland currently sits undefeated as well at 4-0, but they have yet to play either Mooresville or Franklin. Plainfield has had their share of success in the recent past, and Decatur Central fields a crop of young talent who will more than likely be competing for conference titles the next few years. Mooresville will win the conference if they can manage wins against Plainfield (1/20) and Whiteland (1/27), especially after knocking off Franklin yesterday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.   Mid-State 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='331774' first='Kamrah' last='Banks'], 2026, DC: 17.5</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='486537' first='Naja' last='Winston'], 2026, DC: 8.4</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='486537' first='Naja' last='Winston'], 2026, DC: 4.2</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='239347' first='Payton' last='Benge'], 2024, PHS: 14.9</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='239347' first='Payton' last='Benge'], 2024, PHS: 8.2</td><td>Ellison Stewart, 2025, PHS: 3.2</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='59765' first='Maya' last='Mundy'], 2023, PM: 14.5</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='453215' first='Soriah' last='Gouard'], 2025, DC: 7.8</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1122651' first='Sukhman' last='Bains'], 2025, WCHS: 3.2</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='486537' first='Naja' last='Winston'], 2026, DC: 4.3</td><td>Gwen Higdon, 2024, WCHS: 37</td><td>Addison Emberton, 2025, WCHS: 71.2%</td></tr><tr><td>Lily Howe, 2023, GCHS: 3.3</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='486496' first='Berkeley' last='Williams'], 2026, PHS: 36</td><td>Lily Howe, 2023, GCHS: 70.6%</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='59765' first='Maya' last='Mundy'], 2023, PM: 2.4</td><td>Emma Piercy, 2023, WCHS: 27</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='239347' first='Payton' last='Benge'], 2024, PHS: 67.6%</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>   .   On The Rise: Gwen Higdon, 2024, 5-8 F, Whiteland Community H.S. - Gwen has erupted this season, more than doubling her scoring from 6.0 points per game a year ago to 13.1 points per game now. Some of that has to do with her aggressiveness and confidence being a year older, but some of it can also be contributed to the fact that she is more skilled around the perimeter and shooting it extremely well. She is a fairly strong kid, a solid on-the-floor athlete, and she plays with a motor. She can operate in the mid-post or around the perimeter, and her 37-104 (36%) 3-point shooting is a huge uptick from last season when she was just 6-30 outside. I look forward to seeing her apply her new inside-out game during the grassroots season.   Under-The-Radar Recruit: [player_tooltip player_id='177326' first='Rachel' last='Harshman'], 2024, 6-0 F, Mooresville H.S. - Rachel is a big-time matchup problem for opposing teams/coaches, because she has a combination of skill, strength, and attitude. She has a strong frame and loves to seek physicality when she's in and around the paint. She can post smaller defenders and can score around the block with strength and touch both, but she also has nice face-up skill. She is great in the mid-post, where she can put in on the floor and get to the basket, finishing through contact. She also has change-of-direction ability handling the ball. Additionally, she can step outside and knock down the occasional 3-pointer, and she is shooting 46% out there this year in limited attempts (11-24).   Impressive Freshman: [player_tooltip player_id='331774' first='Kamrah' last='Banks'], 2026, 5-8 PG, Decatur Central H.S. - Kamrah's ability/potential was not exactly a secret entering high school, and thus far all she has done is back it up with her play. She is a strong, athletic, quick, and shifty point guard prospect with a tremendous handle and creativity. She is best off the bounce, and she can get by most defenders in a one-on-one situation. She can get to the basket and finish through contact, she has a solid mid-range pull-up, and she is working to make her perimeter jumper more consistent. The next step for her will be consistently defending elite ball-handlers. She does great against bigger guards, but she'll have to continue learning angles and working to keep water-bugs out of the paint.

The featured image is of Rachel Harshman Rachel Harshman 6'0" | PF Mooresville | 2024 State IN (2024) of Mooresville High School (in red).