State Tourney Preview: Sectionals #17-#20
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The featured image is of Justyce Williams Justyce Williams 5'8" | CG Jimtown | 2024 State IN (2024) of Jimtown High School. The IHSAA Sectional draw took place Sunday evening, so all of the 390+ schools participating in this year’s…
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Continue ReadingThe featured image is of Justyce Williams Justyce Williams 5'8" | CG Jimtown | 2024 State IN (2024) of Jimtown High School.
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.
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Sectional #17 at Griffith:
Game-1: Boone Grove (6-13) vs. Griffith (4-17)
Game-2: Calumet (3-15) vs. Bishop Noll (9-13)
Game-3: Hanover Central (12-9) vs. River Forest (10-11)
Game-4: Highland (15-6) vs. Winner Game-1
Game-5: Winner Game-2 vs. Winner Game-3
Game-6: Winner Game-4 vs. Winner Game-5
Overview: 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 Payton Reid Payton Reid 5'5" | CG Highland | 2023 IN (10.8p, 4.8r) has been the steady veteran of the bunch, while Junior Aaliyah Keil (11.5p, 4.8r, 2.6s) actually does a nice job of finding offense off of others. Freshman Jordan Steele (11.2p, 3.9r) 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 Hailey Vanderhye Hailey Vanderhye 6'0" | PF Hanover Central | 2023 IN (11.1p, 7.1r, 2.6b), and they have a nice Junior group, led by Gabi Comia and Skylar Ferry. Noll has a pair of very talented and versatile players in Junior Kennedy Blakely Kennedy Blakely 5'8" | SF Hammond Central | 2024 State IN (14.5p, 6.8r, 2.8a, 3.5s) and Sophomore Icesis Thomas Icesis Thomas 5'10" | SF Kenwood | 2025 State IL (13.2p, 6.3r, 2.9s). Friday and Saturday should be fun nights in Sectional #17.
Sectional #17 Players to Watch:
Bishop Noll –
Kennedy Blakely
Kennedy
Blakely
5'8" | SF
Hammond Central | 2024
State
IN
, 2024 – 14.5p, 6.8r, 2.8a, 3.5s
Bishop Noll –
Icesis Thomas
Icesis
Thomas
5'10" | SF
Kenwood | 2025
State
IL
, 2025 – 13.2p, 6.3r, 2.9s
Bishop Noll –
Mariah Robinson
Mariah
Robinson
5'7" | SG
Hammond Bishop Noll | 2023
IN
, 2023 – 8.3p, 2.5r, 2.0s
Boone Grove –
Jaci Menard
Jaci
Menard
5'11" | PF
Boone Grove | 2023
IN
, 2023 – 12.8p, 5.9r, 2.4s
Boone Grove – Drew Jeffries, 2024 – 7.2p, 7.6r, 2.7s
Calumet – Bailey Patrick, 2023
Calumet – Ina Bengaly, 2025
Griffith –
Briana Esquivel
Briana
Esquivel
5'7" | SF
Griffith | 2025
IN
, 2025 – 6.7p, 5.6r, 2.1s
Griffith – Chloe Smith, 2023 – 5.6p, 3.2r, 2.5s
Hanover Central –
Hailey Vanderhye
Hailey
Vanderhye
6'0" | PF
Hanover Central | 2023
IN
, 2023 – 11.1p, 7.1r, 2.6b
Hanover Central – Gabi Comia, 2024 – 6.7p, 3.6r, 2.2a, 3.0s
Hanover Central – Skylar Ferry, 2024 – 6.6p, 2.4a, 2.2s
Highland – Aaliyah Keil, 2024 – 11.5p, 4.8r, 2.6s
Highland – Jordan Steele, 2026 – 11.2p, 3.9r
Highland –
Payton Reid
Payton
Reid
5'5" | CG
Highland | 2023
IN
, 2023 – 10.8p, 4.8r
River Forest – Abigail Witt, 2023
River Forest – Madison Whitmore, 2023
.
Sectional #18 at Bremen:
Game-1: John Glenn (8-14) vs. Culver Academy (13-10)
Game-2: Bremen (7-14) vs. Rochester (11-11)
Game-3: Knox (5-19) vs. Winner Game-1
Game-4: Tippecanoe Valley (18-3) vs. Winner Game-2
Game-5: Winner Game-3 vs. Winner Game-4
Overview: 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 Kaydence Mellott Kaydence Mellott 5'8" | SG Tippecanoe Valley | 2023 State IN (19.8p, 5.4r, 2.5s), 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 Emma Howdeshell (8.6p, 4.0r, 2.6a, 2.2s) 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 Piper Brumm Piper Brumm 5'7" | SG Culver Academy | 2026 IN (9.0p, 3.2r). Senior Dionna Craig Dionna Craig 5'7" | SG Culver Academy | 2023 IN (13.8p, 3.7r, 2.5s) 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 Kila Foster Kila Foster 5'6" | SG Bremen | 2025 State IN (14.2p, 2.6r, 2.1s) and Senior Katie Moyer Katie Moyer 5'11" | PF Bremen | 2023 IN (9.1p, 9.2r, 3.0a). There aren’t many results that would surprise me coming out of Sectional #18.
Sectional #18 Players to Watch:
Bremen –
Kila Foster
Kila
Foster
5'6" | SG
Bremen | 2025
State
IN
, 2025 – 14.2p, 2.6r, 2.1s
Bremen –
Katie Moyer
Katie
Moyer
5'11" | PF
Bremen | 2023
IN
, 2023 – 9.1p, 9.2r, 3.0a
Culver Academy –
Dionna Craig
Dionna
Craig
5'7" | SG
Culver Academy | 2023
IN
, 2023 – 13.8p, 3.7r, 2.5s
Culver Academy –
Piper Brumm
Piper
Brumm
5'7" | SG
Culver Academy | 2026
IN
, 2026 – 9.0p, 3.2r
Culver Academy –
Valencia Miller
Valencia
Miller
5'10" | SF
Culver Academy | 2026
State
IN
, 2026 – 6.2p, 5.1r
John Glenn –
Kennedy Hayden
Kennedy
Hayden
5'9" | SF
John Glenn | 2023
IN
, 2023 – 10.6p, 3.5r, 2.0a, 2.3s
John Glenn – Lucy Hayden, 2026 – 5.9p, 5.5r
Knox –
Morgan Downs
Morgan
Downs
5'7" | SF
Knox | 2024
IN
, 2024 – 13.0p
Knox –
Riley Messer
Riley
Messer
5'7" | SF
Knox | 2023
IN
, 2023 – 10.3p, 7.0r, 3.9a, 2.3s
Rochester – Emma Howdeshell, 2023 – 8.6p, 4.0r, 2.6a, 2.2s
Rochester – Rily Holloway, 2023 – 8.3p
Tippecanoe Valley –
Kaydence Mellott
Kaydence
Mellott
5'8" | SG
Tippecanoe Valley | 2023
State
IN
, 2023 – 19.8p, 5.4r, 2.5s
Tippecanoe Valley – Lily Ault, 2023 – 7.8p
Tippecanoe Valley –
Corinna Stiles
Corinna
Stiles
6'0" | PF
Tippecanoe Valley | 2023
IN
, 2023 – 5.8p, 6.2r, 2.7a, 2.3s
.
Sectional #19 at Mishawaka Marian:
Game-1: Mishawaka Marian (19-5) vs. Jimtown (9-13)
Game-2: South Bend Clay (6-15) vs. South Bend St. Joseph (3-20)
Game-3: New Prairie (13-8) vs. Winner Game-1
Game-4: Winner Game-2 vs. Winner Game-3
Overview: 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 MaKaya Porter MaKaya Porter 5'11" | PF Mishawaka Marian | 2023 State IN (14.0p, 7.5r, 3.0a) from an April 2022 knee injury. That should give them a huge emotional boost, along with the continued strong play of Seniors Nevaeh Foster Nevaeh Foster 5'8" | CG Mishawaka Marian | 2023 State #39 Nation IN (25.7p, 6.4r, 3.7a, 3.4s), Aliyah Hershberger Aliyah Hershberger 5'6" | CG Mishawaka Marian | 2023 IN (11.2p, 2.4r, 3.0a), and Shayla Alexander Shayla Alexander 5'10" | SF Mishawaka Marian | 2023 IN (11.0p, 5.3r, 3.4a, 2.0s). 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 Jayden Flagg Jayden Flagg 5'6" | PG New Prairie | 2024 State IN (12.2p, 3.0r, 3.7a, 3.5s) and Morgan White Morgan White 5'9" | SF New Prairie | 2024 State IN (12.2p, 4.2r, 2.0a, 2.1s), plus Senior Eva Dodds Eva Dodds 5'8" | SG New Prairie | 2023 IN (10.6p, 3.4r, 2.8a), all have significant big-game experience. Jimtown would need a huge game from Junior Justyce Williams Justyce Williams 5'8" | CG Jimtown | 2024 State IN (13.2p, 4.7r, 2.7a, 2.0s) 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.
Sectional #19 Players to Watch:
Jimtown –
Justyce Williams
Justyce
Williams
5'8" | CG
Jimtown | 2024
State
IN
, 2024 – 13.2p, 4.7r, 2.7a, 2.0s
Jimtown – Abbey Brown, 2024 – 7.3p, 5.2r
Jimtown – Natalie Butler, 2025 – 7.1p, 4.8r
Marian –
Nevaeh Foster
Nevaeh
Foster
5'8" | CG
Mishawaka Marian | 2023
State
#39
Nation
IN
, 2023 – 25.7p, 6.4r, 3.7a, 3.4s
Marian –
MaKaya Porter
MaKaya
Porter
5'11" | PF
Mishawaka Marian | 2023
State
IN
, 2023 – 14.0p, 7.5r, 3.0a (in 2 games)
Marian –
Aliyah Hershberger
Aliyah
Hershberger
5'6" | CG
Mishawaka Marian | 2023
IN
, 2023 – 11.2p, 2.4r, 3.0a
Marian –
Shayla Alexander
Shayla
Alexander
5'10" | SF
Mishawaka Marian | 2023
IN
, 2023 – 11.0p, 5.3r, 3.4a, 2.0s
New Prairie –
Jayden Flagg
Jayden
Flagg
5'6" | PG
New Prairie | 2024
State
IN
, 2024 – 12.2p, 3.0r, 3.7a, 3.5s
New Prairie –
Morgan White
Morgan
White
5'9" | SF
New Prairie | 2024
State
IN
, 2024 – 12.2p, 4.2r, 2.0a, 2.1s
New Prairie –
Eva Dodds
Eva
Dodds
5'8" | SG
New Prairie | 2023
IN
, 2023 – 10.6p, 3.4r, 2.8a
New Prairie –
Jolie Johns
Jolie
Johns
5'9" | SF
New Prairie | 2024
IN
, 2024 – 10.5p, 6.3r, 2.1s
SB Clay –
Maliya Freeman
Maliya
Freeman
6'0" | C
South Bend Clay | 2025
IN
-Gates, 2025 – 10.5p, 9.1r, 2.0b
SB Clay – Tyrece Cunningham, 2025 – 8.0p, 9.2r, 2.8a, 2.4s
SB St. Joe – Kenadie Schrock, 2025 – 12.7p, 4.6r, 2.1a, 3.0s
SB St. Joe – Eliana Lang, 2024 – 7.1p, 2.4r, 2.5a, 2.8s
.
Sectional #20 at Fairfield:
Game-1: NorthWood (13-10) vs. Wawasee (11-11)
Game-2: West Noble (3-18) vs. Fairfield (21-2)
Game-3: Lakeland (12-9) vs. Winner Game-1
Game-4: Winner Game-2 vs. Winner Game-3
Overview: 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 Brea Garber Brea Garber 6'0" | PF Fairfield | 2023 State IN , who is a nice, versatile, and skillful forward. Eva Herbert Eva Herbert 5'10" | SF Fairfield | 2026 State IN 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 Aaniyah Bonner Aaniyah Bonner 5'6" | PG Elkhart | 2026 IN (11.9p, 3.1r, 2.0a, 2.9s) and Sophomore Claire Payne Claire Payne 6'1" | C NorthWood | 2025 State IN (9.2p, 11.2r) leading the way, they could be a front-runner very soon in Sectional #20. Wawasee graduated a number of 2022 players, but Sophomore Mackenzie Hackleman (10.1p, 3.5r, 2.5a, 3.5s) 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 Peyton Hartsough Peyton Hartsough 5'6" | CG Lakeland | 2023 State IN (16.8p, 4.2r, 4.9a, 2.9s) 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.
Sectional #20 Players to Watch:
Fairfield –
Brea Garber
Brea
Garber
6'0" | PF
Fairfield | 2023
State
IN
, 2023
Fairfield – Bailey Willard, 2023
Fairfield – Morgan Gawthrop, 2023
Fairfield –
Eva Herbert
Eva
Herbert
5'10" | SF
Fairfield | 2026
State
IN
, 2026
Lakeland –
Peyton Hartsough
Peyton
Hartsough
5'6" | CG
Lakeland | 2023
State
IN
, 2023 – 16.8p, 4.2r, 4.9a, 2.9s
Lakeland –
Olivia Oman
Olivia
Oman
5'9" | SF
Lakeland | 2024
IN
, 2024 – 10.6p, 3.3r
Lakeland – Alivia Rasler, 2023 – 8.4p, 4.9r, 4.9a, 2.2s
NorthWood –
Aaniyah Bonner
Aaniyah
Bonner
5'6" | PG
Elkhart | 2026
IN
, 2026 – 11.9p, 3.1r, 2.0a, 2.9s
NorthWood –
Claire Payne
Claire
Payne
6'1" | C
NorthWood | 2025
State
IN
, 2025 – 9.2p, 11.2r
NorthWood – Joselyn Edwards, 2024 – 9.2p, 3.2r
Wawasee – Mackenzie Hackleman, 2025 – 10.1p, 3.5r, 2.5a, 3.5s
Wawasee –
Olivia Horn
Olivia
Horn
5'10" | PF
Wawasee | 2025
IN
, 2025 – 7.5p, 7.9r, 2.3s
West Noble –
Mackensy Mabie
Mackensy
Mabie
5'4" | CG
West Noble | 2023
IN
, 2023 – 13.7p, 3.7r, 3.0s
West Noble – Alexia Mast, 2024 – 6.4p, 3.3r, 2.2a