State Tourney Preview: Sectionals #17-#20

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"small"} --> <p class="has-small-font-size"><em>The featured image is of [player_tooltip player_id='239359' first='Justyce' last='Williams'] (2024) of Jimtown High School.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The IHSAA Sectional draw took place Sunday evening, so all of the 390+ schools participating in this year's state tournament found out when they would be playing their first game, which will take place next week. Below is a look at each of the Sectionals that will feed into the Jimtown Regional the following weekend. This includes the Class 3A teams from Sectionals #17-#20. Please stay tuned, as this weekend we will have a quick synopsis of each of the remaining Sectionals across classes 3A, 2A, and 1A.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><font color="#FFFFFF">.</font></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><font size="+2">Sectional #17 at Griffith:</font></strong><br>Game-1: Boone Grove (6-13) vs. Griffith (4-17)<br>Game-2: Calumet (3-15) vs. Bishop Noll (9-13)<br>Game-3: Hanover Central (12-9) vs. River Forest (10-11)<br>Game-4: Highland (15-6) vs. Winner Game-1<br>Game-5: Winner Game-2 vs. Winner Game-3<br>Game-6: Winner Game-4 vs. Winner Game-5</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Overview:</strong> Sectional #17 has gone to Griffith the past couple of seasons, but the combination of the Panthers graduation significant 2022 talent, plus Highland falling back to Class 3A from Class 4A amidst a strong year, and there could be someone new at the top in a little over a week from now. Highland has been a tough matchup for most teams all season, as they are little, quick/fast, explosive, and they are a threat to shoot the ball from all five positions on the floor. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='460841' first='Payton' last='Reid'] (<em>10.8p, 4.8r</em>) has been the steady veteran of the bunch, while Junior <strong>Aaliyah Keil</strong> (<em>11.5p, 4.8r, 2.6s</em>) actually does a nice job of finding offense off of others. Freshman <strong>Jordan Steele</strong> (<em>11.2p, 3.9r</em>) has gotten better and better each week, and she could be the most dangerous next Friday. There are more playmakers beyond those three, Seniors as well, so the experience is there for them to make a nice run in the North in Class 3A. Hanover Central and Bishop Noll would be my next two picks to come out of Sectional #17. Hanover Central relies on under-the-radar Senior [player_tooltip player_id='574546' first='Hailey' last='Vanderhye'] (<em>11.1p, 7.1r, 2.6b</em>), and they have a nice Junior group, led by <strong>Gabi Comia</strong> and <strong>Skylar Ferry</strong>. Noll has a pair of very talented and versatile players in Junior [player_tooltip player_id='177310' first='Kennedy' last='Blakely'] (<em>14.5p, 6.8r, 2.8a, 3.5s</em>) and Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='295775' first='Icesis' last='Thomas'] (<em>13.2p, 6.3r, 2.9s</em>). Friday and Saturday should be fun nights in Sectional #17.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sectional #17 Players to Watch:</strong><br>Bishop Noll - [player_tooltip player_id='177310' first='Kennedy' last='Blakely'], 2024 - 14.5p, 6.8r, 2.8a, 3.5s<br>Bishop Noll - [player_tooltip player_id='295775' first='Icesis' last='Thomas'], 2025 - 13.2p, 6.3r, 2.9s<br>Bishop Noll - [player_tooltip player_id='59770' first='Mariah' last='Robinson'], 2023 - 8.3p, 2.5r, 2.0s<br>Boone Grove - [player_tooltip player_id='241195' first='Jaci' last='Menard'], 2023 - 12.8p, 5.9r, 2.4s<br>Boone Grove - <strong>Drew Jeffries</strong>, 2024 - 7.2p, 7.6r, 2.7s<br>Calumet - <strong>Bailey Patrick</strong>, 2023<br>Calumet - <strong>Ina Bengaly</strong>, 2025<br>Griffith - <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='882827' first='Briana' last='Esquivel']</strong>, 2025 - 6.7p, 5.6r, 2.1s<br>Griffith - <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1122841' first='Chloe' last='Smith']</strong>, 2023 - 5.6p, 3.2r, 2.5s<br>Hanover Central - [player_tooltip player_id='574546' first='Hailey' last='Vanderhye'], 2023 - 11.1p, 7.1r, 2.6b<br>Hanover Central - <strong>Gabi Comia</strong>, 2024 - 6.7p, 3.6r, 2.2a, 3.0s<br>Hanover Central - <strong>Skylar Ferry</strong>, 2024 - 6.6p, 2.4a, 2.2s<br>Highland - <strong>Aaliyah Keil</strong>, 2024 - 11.5p, 4.8r, 2.6s<br>Highland - <strong>Jordan Steele</strong>, 2026 - 11.2p, 3.9r<br>Highland - [player_tooltip player_id='460841' first='Payton' last='Reid'], 2023 - 10.8p, 4.8r<br>River Forest - <strong>Abigail Witt</strong>, 2023<br>River Forest - <strong>Madison Whitmore</strong>, 2023</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><font color="#FFFFFF">.</font></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><font size="+2">Sectional #18 at Bremen:</font></strong><br>Game-1: John Glenn (8-14) vs. Culver Academy (13-10)<br>Game-2: Bremen (7-14) vs. Rochester (11-11)<br>Game-3: Knox (5-19) vs. Winner Game-1<br>Game-4: Tippecanoe Valley (18-3) vs. Winner Game-2<br>Game-5: Winner Game-3 vs. Winner Game-4</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Overview:</strong> Sectional #18 takes on a much different look this season, with Culver Academy and Knox as the only two returning teams from 2021-2022. Tippecanoe Valley looks to be a significant favorite entering next week, but Rochester, Culver Academy, and Bremen hope to have enough firepower to knock off the Lady Vikings. Valley has a talented Senior guard in [player_tooltip player_id='203668' first='Kaydence' last='Mellott'] (<em>19.8p, 5.4r, 2.5s</em>), and she is surrounded by size, skill, and other talented role players, not to mention veteran experience. Rochester is another team with veteran experience. While they don't have much size, they have quick guards who can shoot it from the perimeter. The Zebras are happy to have Senior <strong>Emma Howdeshell</strong> (<em>8.6p, 4.0r, 2.6a, 2.2s</em>) back in the fold after missing most of last season. Culver Academy graduated a Division-I recruit, but they added a very strong Freshman class, led by [player_tooltip player_id='492316' first='Piper' last='Brumm'] (<em>9.0p, 3.2r</em>). Senior [player_tooltip player_id='410038' first='Dionna' last='Craig'] (<em>13.8p, 3.7r, 2.5s</em>) has been strong as well for the Lady Eagles. Bremen is a program who tends to post winning seasons year after year, and while they might not have accomplished that in 2022-2023, they are still a threat to upset anyone in this field because of the play of Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='570388' first='Kila' last='Foster'] (<em>14.2p, 2.6r, 2.1s</em>) and Senior [player_tooltip player_id='424861' first='Katie' last='Moyer'] (<em>9.1p, 9.2r, 3.0a</em>). There aren't many results that would surprise me coming out of Sectional #18.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sectional #18 Players to Watch:</strong><br>Bremen - [player_tooltip player_id='570388' first='Kila' last='Foster'], 2025 - 14.2p, 2.6r, 2.1s<br>Bremen - [player_tooltip player_id='424861' first='Katie' last='Moyer'], 2023 - 9.1p, 9.2r, 3.0a<br>Culver Academy - [player_tooltip player_id='410038' first='Dionna' last='Craig'], 2023 - 13.8p, 3.7r, 2.5s<br>Culver Academy - [player_tooltip player_id='492316' first='Piper' last='Brumm'], 2026 - 9.0p, 3.2r<br>Culver Academy - [player_tooltip player_id='486551' first='Valencia' last='Miller'], 2026 - 6.2p, 5.1r<br>John Glenn - [player_tooltip player_id='96083' first='Kennedy' last='Hayden'], 2023 - 10.6p, 3.5r, 2.0a, 2.3s<br>John Glenn - <strong>Lucy Hayden</strong>, 2026 - 5.9p, 5.5r<br>Knox - [player_tooltip player_id='572825' first='Morgan' last='Downs'], 2024 - 13.0p<br>Knox - [player_tooltip player_id='96088' first='Riley' last='Messer'], 2023 - 10.3p, 7.0r, 3.9a, 2.3s<br>Rochester - <strong>Emma Howdeshell</strong>, 2023 - 8.6p, 4.0r, 2.6a, 2.2s<br>Rochester - <strong>Rily Holloway</strong>, 2023 - 8.3p<br>Tippecanoe Valley - [player_tooltip player_id='203668' first='Kaydence' last='Mellott'], 2023 - 19.8p, 5.4r, 2.5s<br>Tippecanoe Valley - <strong>Lily Ault</strong>, 2023 - 7.8p<br>Tippecanoe Valley - [player_tooltip player_id='574564' first='Corinna' last='Stiles'], 2023 - 5.8p, 6.2r, 2.7a, 2.3s</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><font color="#FFFFFF">.</font></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><font size="+2">Sectional #19 at Mishawaka Marian:</font></strong><br>Game-1: Mishawaka Marian (19-5) vs. Jimtown (9-13)<br>Game-2: South Bend Clay (6-15) vs. South Bend St. Joseph (3-20)<br>Game-3: New Prairie (13-8) vs. Winner Game-1<br>Game-4: Winner Game-2 vs. Winner Game-3</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Overview:</strong> The best news for teams in Sectional #19 is that South Bend Washington is now a Class 4A school. Additionally, for Mishawaka Marian, they recently saw the return of injured Senior [player_tooltip player_id='127232' first='MaKaya' last='Porter'] (<em>14.0p, 7.5r, 3.0a</em>) from an April 2022 knee injury. That should give them a huge emotional boost, along with the continued strong play of Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='59748' first='Nevaeh' last='Foster'] (<em>25.7p, 6.4r, 3.7a, 3.4s</em>), [player_tooltip player_id='331766' first='Aliyah' last='Hershberger'] (<em>11.2p, 2.4r, 3.0a</em>), and [player_tooltip player_id='460826' first='Shayla' last='Alexander'] (<em>11.0p, 5.3r, 3.4a, 2.0s</em>). It will be tough for anyone in Sectional #19 to upset the Lady Knights. New Prairie likely has the best shot, as they have a strong Junior class and four double-digit scorers themselves. Juniors [player_tooltip player_id='326487' first='Jayden' last='Flagg'] (<em>12.2p, 3.0r, 3.7a, 3.5s</em>) and [player_tooltip player_id='331818' first='Morgan' last='White'] (<em>12.2p, 4.2r, 2.0a, 2.1s</em>), plus Senior [player_tooltip player_id='303460' first='Eva' last='Dodds'] (<em>10.6p, 3.4r, 2.8a</em>), all have significant big-game experience. Jimtown would need a huge game from Junior [player_tooltip player_id='239359' first='Justyce' last='Williams'] (<em>13.2p, 4.7r, 2.7a, 2.0s</em>) to pull an opening night upset of Marian, but Williams does have the talent to at least put up big numbers individually. It's going to be tough for teams in Sectional #19 to knock off Mishawaka Marian, as they look to be a state contender in the North in Class 3A.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sectional #19 Players to Watch:</strong><br>Jimtown - [player_tooltip player_id='239359' first='Justyce' last='Williams'], 2024 - 13.2p, 4.7r, 2.7a, 2.0s<br>Jimtown - <strong>Abbey Brown</strong>, 2024 - 7.3p, 5.2r<br>Jimtown - <strong>Natalie Butler</strong>, 2025 - 7.1p, 4.8r<br>Marian - [player_tooltip player_id='59748' first='Nevaeh' last='Foster'], 2023 - 25.7p, 6.4r, 3.7a, 3.4s<br>Marian - [player_tooltip player_id='127232' first='MaKaya' last='Porter'], 2023 - 14.0p, 7.5r, 3.0a (<em>in 2 games</em>)<br>Marian - [player_tooltip player_id='331766' first='Aliyah' last='Hershberger'], 2023 - 11.2p, 2.4r, 3.0a<br>Marian - [player_tooltip player_id='460826' first='Shayla' last='Alexander'], 2023 - 11.0p, 5.3r, 3.4a, 2.0s<br>New Prairie - [player_tooltip player_id='326487' first='Jayden' last='Flagg'], 2024 - 12.2p, 3.0r, 3.7a, 3.5s<br>New Prairie - [player_tooltip player_id='331818' first='Morgan' last='White'], 2024 - 12.2p, 4.2r, 2.0a, 2.1s<br>New Prairie - [player_tooltip player_id='303460' first='Eva' last='Dodds'], 2023 - 10.6p, 3.4r, 2.8a<br>New Prairie - <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='825922' first='Jolie' last='Johns']</strong>, 2024 - 10.5p, 6.3r, 2.1s<br>SB Clay - <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='828026' first='Maliya' last='Freeman']-Gates</strong>, 2025 - 10.5p, 9.1r, 2.0b<br>SB Clay - <strong>Tyrece Cunningham</strong>, 2025 - 8.0p, 9.2r, 2.8a, 2.4s<br>SB St. Joe - <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1122812' first='Kenadie' last='Schrock']</strong>, 2025 - 12.7p, 4.6r, 2.1a, 3.0s<br>SB St. Joe - <strong>Eliana Lang</strong>, 2024 - 7.1p, 2.4r, 2.5a, 2.8s</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><font color="#FFFFFF">.</font></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><font size="+2">Sectional #20 at Fairfield:</font></strong><br>Game-1: NorthWood (13-10) vs. Wawasee (11-11)<br>Game-2: West Noble (3-18) vs. Fairfield (21-2)<br>Game-3: Lakeland (12-9) vs. Winner Game-1<br>Game-4: Winner Game-2 vs. Winner Game-3</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Overview:</strong> Fairfield has beaten the other four teams in Sectional #20 by 26 points or more, so it looks to be theirs to lose. However, with three of those other four opponents carrying 11 or more wins, there could at least be some enjoyable games throughout the duration of next week. Fairfield is led by Senior [player_tooltip player_id='59749' first='Brea' last='Garber'], who is a nice, versatile, and skillful forward. [player_tooltip player_id='567137' first='Eva' last='Herbert'] has also shown star potential in flashes throughout the year for the Lady Falcons. NorthWood just won a Class 3A state title in 2020, however it's taken them this long to get back to their winning ways, following significant graduation losses from that season. With underclassmen like Freshman [player_tooltip player_id='567138' first='Aaniyah' last='Bonner'] (<em>11.9p, 3.1r, 2.0a, 2.9s</em>) and Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='570370' first='Claire' last='Payne'] (<em>9.2p, 11.2r</em>) leading the way, they could be a front-runner very soon in Sectional #20. Wawasee graduated a number of 2022 players, but Sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='923155' first='Mackenzie' last='Hackleman']</strong> (<em>10.1p, 3.5r, 2.5a, 3.5s</em>) has stepped up nicely for the Warriors. Lakeland has also had a nice stretch of six consecutive seasons with 10 or more wins, and Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='300080' first='Peyton' last='Hartsough'] (<em>16.8p, 4.2r, 4.9a, 2.9s</em>) has been a big part of four of those seasons. Again, I feel like Fairfield has a distinct advantage, but there are a couple of other nice teams and nice prospects who can erupt on any given night and give their programs a fighting chance.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sectional #20 Players to Watch:</strong><br>Fairfield - [player_tooltip player_id='59749' first='Brea' last='Garber'], 2023<br>Fairfield - <strong>Bailey Willard</strong>, 2023<br>Fairfield - <strong>Morgan Gawthrop</strong>, 2023<br>Fairfield - [player_tooltip player_id='567137' first='Eva' last='Herbert'], 2026<br>Lakeland - [player_tooltip player_id='300080' first='Peyton' last='Hartsough'], 2023 - 16.8p, 4.2r, 4.9a, 2.9s<br>Lakeland - [player_tooltip player_id='239352' first='Olivia' last='Oman'], 2024 - 10.6p, 3.3r<br>Lakeland - <strong>Alivia Rasler</strong>, 2023 - 8.4p, 4.9r, 4.9a, 2.2s<br>NorthWood - [player_tooltip player_id='567138' first='Aaniyah' last='Bonner'], 2026 - 11.9p, 3.1r, 2.0a, 2.9s<br>NorthWood - [player_tooltip player_id='570370' first='Claire' last='Payne'], 2025 - 9.2p, 11.2r<br>NorthWood - <strong>Joselyn Edwards</strong>, 2024 - 9.2p, 3.2r<br>Wawasee - <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='923155' first='Mackenzie' last='Hackleman']</strong>, 2025 - 10.1p, 3.5r, 2.5a, 3.5s<br>Wawasee - [player_tooltip player_id='525707' first='Olivia' last='Horn'], 2025 - 7.5p, 7.9r, 2.3s<br>West Noble - [player_tooltip player_id='372353' first='Mackensy' last='Mabie'], 2023 - 13.7p, 3.7r, 3.0s<br>West Noble - <strong>Alexia Mast</strong>, 2024 - 6.4p, 3.3r, 2.2a</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->