State Tourney Preview: Sectionals #21-#24
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The featured image is of Alivia Bolinger Alivia Bolinger 6'1" | PF Concordia Lutheran | 2026 State IN (2026) of Fort Wayne’s Concordia Lutheran High School. The IHSAA Sectional draw took place Sunday evening, so all of the 390+ schools…
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Continue ReadingThe featured image is of Alivia Bolinger Alivia Bolinger 6'1" | PF Concordia Lutheran | 2026 State IN (2026) of Fort Wayne’s Concordia Lutheran 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 Bellmont Regional the following weekend. This includes the Class 3A teams from Sectionals #21-#24. Please stay tuned, as this weekend we will have a quick synopsis of each of the remaining Sectionals across classes 3A, 2A, and 1A.
.
Sectional #21 at Concordia Lutheran:
Game-1: Heritage (5-15) vs. Bishop Dwenger (8-15)
Game-2: Leo (11-10) vs. Concordia Lutheran (8-13)
Game-3: Garrett (10-11) vs. Angola (11-10)
Game-4: Woodlan (19-4) vs. Winner Game-1
Game-5: Winner Game-2 vs. Winner Game-3
Game-6: Winner Game-4 vs. Winner Game-5
Overview: Woodlan has the best record, they are 5-0 against Sectional #21 competition, but they have also had a couple of close calls, and I feel like this Sectional has four to five teams who can make a run at the crown. Woodlan relies heavily on the forward play of Senior Avah Smith Avah Smith 5'9" | PF Woodlan | 2023 IN (15.2p, 9.2r, 2.4s) and Junior Taylor Kneubuhler Taylor Kneubuhler 6'0" | PF Woodlan | 2024 State IN (14.0p, 4.5r, 2.4a). Both are high-energy kids who make a ton of hustle plays. Smith operates more inside of a 15-foot bubble, while Kneubuhler is comfortable in the mid-post or around the perimeter. From there, they have balanced team play and put a lot or pressure on opponents that way. Concordia Lutheran might be under .500 record-wise, but they have played a Top-40 schedule and have competed against some of Northeast Indiana’s best teams. Senior Annaka Nelson Annaka Nelson 6'0" | PF Fort Wayne Concordia | 2023 State IN (11.8p, 8.0r) and Freshman Alivia Bolinger Alivia Bolinger 6'1" | PF Concordia Lutheran | 2026 State IN (12.0p, 5.0r) will try to help the Cadets to their first Sectional title since the 2017-2018 season. Angola, Garrett, and Leo strike me as teams who could cause some problems. Angola always has long athletes, and they tend to play with speed and use pressure defenses. Juniors Kylie Caswell Kylie Caswell 5'4" | PG Angola | 2024 IN and Macy Oberlin Macy Oberlin 6'0" | PF Angola | 2024 State IN headline the Lady Hornets this season. Garrett was a Semi-State team a year ago, but graduation hit them hard in June of 2022. Now it’s up to Bailey Kelham Bailey Kelham 5'10" | SF Garrett | 2023 State IN (18.9p, 9.7r, 2.5s) to be a standout most nights for the Railroaders to succeed, though she’s more than capable of a 40-point performance. Leo is working its way back to a winning record, something it hasn’t seen since the 2016-2017 season. A combination of veterans and talented youth have made that happen so far this season.
Sectional #21 Players to Watch:
Angola –
Kylie Caswell
Kylie
Caswell
5'4" | PG
Angola | 2024
IN
, 2024
Angola –
Macy Oberlin
Macy
Oberlin
6'0" | PF
Angola | 2024
State
IN
, 2024
Angola – Leah Snyder, 2024
Bishop Dwenger –
Giselle Eke
Giselle
Eke
6'3" | C
Bishop Dwenger | 2024
State
IN
, 2024
Bishop Dwenger – Anna Ponder, 2024
Concordia Lutheran –
Annaka Nelson
Annaka
Nelson
6'0" | PF
Fort Wayne Concordia | 2023
State
IN
, 2023 – 11.8p, 8.0r
Concordia Lutheran –
Alivia Bolinger
Alivia
Bolinger
6'1" | PF
Concordia Lutheran | 2026
State
IN
, 2026 – 12.0p, 5.0r
Concordia Lutheran – Lauren Goodman, 2025 – 7.1p, 4.0r, 2.6a
Garrett –
Bailey Kelham
Bailey
Kelham
5'10" | SF
Garrett | 2023
State
IN
, 2023 – 18.9p, 9.7r, 2.5s
Garrett – Maddy Schenkel, 2023 – 7.0p, 4.1r, 2.8a
Garrett –
Kelsey Bergman
Kelsey
Bergman
6'1" | C
Garrett | 2024
IN
, 2024 – 5.1p, 8.3r, 2.1b
Heritage – Claire Bickel, 2023 – 13.9p, 4.3r
Leo – Leah May, 2023 – 10.9p, 4.0r
Leo – Leah Shappell, 2026 – 7.3p, 5.7r
Woodlan –
Avah Smith
Avah
Smith
5'9" | PF
Woodlan | 2023
IN
, 2023 – 15.2p, 9.2r, 2.4s
Woodlan –
Taylor Kneubuhler
Taylor
Kneubuhler
6'0" | PF
Woodlan | 2024
State
IN
, 2024 – 14.0p, 4.5r, 2.4a
Woodlan – Addie Goheen, 2023 – 5.1p, 2.2r, 3.4a
.
Sectional #22 at Benton Central:
Game-1: Twin Lakes (22-0) vs. North Montgomery (3-19)
Game-2: Benton Central (16-8) vs. Western (15-8)
Game-3: Rensselaer Central (12-9) vs. Frankfort (2-19)
Game-4: West Lafayette (18-5) vs. Winner Game-1
Game-5: Winner Game-2 vs. Winner Game-3
Game-6: Winner Game-4 vs. Winner Game-5
Overview: Sectional #22 could be incredibly entertaining this season. Twin Lakes has overwhelmed most of their opponents each time out. Their 3-guard arsenal is always tough to stop. Junior Olivia Nickerson Olivia Nickerson 5'7" | SG Twin Lakes | 2024 State IN (18.6p, 4.4r, 2.5a, 2.1s) is their sharp-shooter, and she can erupt for big nights. Sophomore Addison Bowsman (17.0p, 5.7r, 7.0a) is as disciplined and heady of a young point guard as you’ll find. And Senior Addison Ward Addison Ward 5'6" | PG Twin Lakes | 2023 State IN (11.9p, 3.4r, 2.3a) hides in the shadows of those two and strikes when people disrespect her game. She can handle, create, and shoot it herself. West Lafayette has played Twin Lakes twice already, and the most recent meeting, December 6th, ended up being a narrow 62-60 outcome in favor of Twin Lakes. Needless to say, West Lafayette knows what it takes to beat Twin Lakes, now they just have to put it all together for 32 minutes next week. The Red Devils have a talented Junior in Adrianne Tolen Adrianne Tolen 5'10" | SF West Lafayette | 2024 State IN (16.4p, 7.9r, 2.5a, 4.3s). Another Junior, Sarah Werth Sarah Werth 5'9" | SF West Lafayette | 2024 IN (13.7p, 4.3r, 2.5a), missed last season with an injury, but she has been strong inside and out for them this year. Also keep an eye on Senior Kennedy Martin Kennedy Martin 5'8" | SG West Lafayette | 2023 IN (12.5p, 3.6r, 3.1a). She is a very good perimeter shooter with a quick release. Benton Central, Western, and Rensselaer Central also all pose problems for teams in this field. Benton Central is always a threat to make a deep tourney run, and this year they feature Junior post Sarah Gick Sarah Gick 6'1" | C Benton Central | 2024 State IN . Western has a pair of Junior guards in Chloe Hunt Chloe Hunt 5'7" | SG Western | 2024 IN (13.2p, 5.8r, 2.5a, 3.2s) and Mackenzie York Mackenzie York 5'7" | CG Western | 2024 IN (11.6p, 3.2r, 2.4a, 2.4s) who have stepped up immensely this season. Both are capable of scoring or running offense. And Rensselaer Central is somewhat young, led by Sophomore Taylor Van Meter Taylor Van Meter 5'11" | SF Rensselaer Central | 2025 State IN , but they are long, strong, and athletic. It would be dumb not to favor an undefeated Twin Lakes team, but they’ll have their work cut out for them on Friday and Saturday evenings next week.
Sectional #22 Players to Watch:
Benton Central –
Sarah Gick
Sarah
Gick
6'1" | C
Benton Central | 2024
State
IN
, 2024
Benton Central – Rachel Tolen, 2024
Benton Central –
Sienna Foster
Sienna
Foster
5'9" | SF
Benton Central | 2024
IN
, 2024
Frankfort – Madyson Cook, 2023 – 9.0p, 2.2r, 3.0s
North Montgomery –
Piper Ramey
Piper
Ramey
5'11" | PF
North Montgomery | 2025
IN
, 2025 – 11.7p, 9.4r, 2.3a, 2.1s
North Montgomery – Macee Norman, 2026 – 8.4p, 5.4r
Rensselaer Central –
Taylor Van Meter
Taylor
Van Meter
5'11" | SF
Rensselaer Central | 2025
State
IN
, 2025
Rensselaer Central –
Carly Drone
Carly
Drone
6'0" | PF
Rensselaer Central | 2025
IN
, 2025
Rensselaer Central –
Kamri Rowland
Kamri
Rowland
5'8" | SG
Rensselaer Central | 2026
State
IN
, 2026
Twin Lakes –
Olivia Nickerson
Olivia
Nickerson
5'7" | SG
Twin Lakes | 2024
State
IN
, 2024 – 18.6p, 4.4r, 2.5a, 2.1s
Twin Lakes – Addison Bowsman, 2025 – 17.0p, 5.7r, 7.0a
Twin Lakes –
Addison Ward
Addison
Ward
5'6" | PG
Twin Lakes | 2023
State
IN
, 2023 – 11.9p, 3.4r, 2.3a
Twin Lakes –
Hannah Hodgen
Hannah
Hodgen
5'10" | SF
Twin Lakes | 2023
IN
, 2023 – 6.0p, 6.6r, 2.6a
West Lafayette –
Adrianne Tolen
Adrianne
Tolen
5'10" | SF
West Lafayette | 2024
State
IN
, 2024 – 16.4p, 7.9r, 2.5a, 4.3s
West Lafayette –
Sarah Werth
Sarah
Werth
5'9" | SF
West Lafayette | 2024
IN
, 2024 – 13.7p, 4.3r, 2.5a
West Lafayette –
Kennedy Martin
Kennedy
Martin
5'8" | SG
West Lafayette | 2023
IN
, 2023 – 12.5p, 3.6r, 3.1a
West Lafayette –
Annie Karlaftis
Annie
Karlaftis
5'10" | PF
West Lafayette | 2023
IN
, 2023 – 6.9p, 7.7r
Western –
Chloe Hunt
Chloe
Hunt
5'7" | SG
Western | 2024
IN
, 2024 – 13.2p, 5.8r, 2.5a, 3.2s
Western –
Mackenzie York
Mackenzie
York
5'7" | CG
Western | 2024
IN
, 2024 – 11.6p, 3.2r, 2.4a, 2.4s
Western –
Caroline Long
Caroline
Long
5'11" | PF
Western | 2023
IN
, 2023 – 9.8p, 6.8r
Western –
Kayleigh Turner
Kayleigh
Turner
5'8" | SF
Western | 2024
IN
, 2024 – 9.2p, 2.8r, 2.0s
.
Sectional #23 at Norwell:
Game-1: Peru (9-12) vs. Maconaquah (4-17)
Game-2: Bellmont (16-4) vs. Oak Hill (8-14)
Game-3: Northwestern (14-4) vs. Mississinewa (6-16)
Game-4: Norwell (18-3) vs. Winner Game-1
Game-5: Winner Game-2 vs. Winner Game-3
Game-6: Winner Game-4 vs. Winner Game-5
Overview: If you live in Northeast Indiana, Sectional #23 could be the place to be next week, especially Friday and Saturday evenings. Norwell, Bellmont, and Northwestern are all Top-50 teams in the Sagarin Ratings, with Norwell coming in at #8 overall. They’ve had an outstanding season, led by Junior Kennedy Fuelling Kennedy Fuelling 5'7" | CG Norwell | 2024 State IN . She gets backcourt support from Junior Makenzie Fuess Makenzie Fuess 5'5" | PG Norwell | 2024 State IN and frontcourt support from Senior Skyla Tomasek Skyla Tomasek 6'2" | C Norwell | 2023 State IN . Last season, it was Bellmont knocking off Norwell and advancing to the Regional. Senior Sydney Keane Sydney Keane 5'7" | SG Bellmont | 2023 IN and Junior Hailey Cole Hailey Cole 5'11" | PF Bellmont | 2024 State IN are no stranger to the spotlight, and the pair gives them a chance against any of these opponents. Northwestern falls back to Class 3A following three years in Class 4A due to the success factor. Senior McKenna Layden McKenna Layden 6'2" | SF Northwestern | 2023 State IN (21.2p, 6.6r, 3.8a, 3.1s) is committed to Purdue University, and she could be the best “watch” in the Sectional, due to her ability at 6-2 to make plays for herself or others. I think Sectional #23 will come down to those three teams, and I have a feeling it’s Norwell’s year to contend to get all the way to Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Sectional #23 Players to Watch:
Bellmont –
Hailey Cole
Hailey
Cole
5'11" | PF
Bellmont | 2024
State
IN
, 2024
Bellmont –
Sydney Keane
Sydney
Keane
5'7" | SG
Bellmont | 2023
IN
, 2023
Bellmont – Lauren Bleke, 2025
Maconaquah – Miranda Stoll, 2024 – 17.3p, 7.1r
Maconaquah – Bailey Carson, 2024 – 6.7p, 4.1r, 2.7a
Mississinewa –
Jaci Crick
Jaci
Crick
5'7" | CG
Mississinewa | 2025
IN
, 2025 – 15.5p, 6.0r, 2.4s
Mississinewa – Abby Smith, 2023 – 10.0p, 2.0r
Northwestern –
McKenna Layden
McKenna
Layden
6'2" | SF
Northwestern | 2023
State
IN
, 2023 – 21.2p, 6.6r, 3.8a, 3.1s
Northwestern –
Anna Bishir
Anna
Bishir
5'7" | CG
Northwestern | 2025
IN
, 2025 – 9.8p, 2.6a
Northwestern –
Lexi Hale
Lexi
Hale
6'0" | PF
Northwestern | 2024
IN
, 2024 – 8.3p, 6.6r
Norwell –
Kennedy Fuelling
Kennedy
Fuelling
5'7" | CG
Norwell | 2024
State
IN
, 2024
Norwell –
Makenzie Fuess
Makenzie
Fuess
5'5" | PG
Norwell | 2024
State
IN
, 2024
Norwell –
Skyla Tomasek
Skyla
Tomasek
6'2" | C
Norwell | 2023
State
IN
, 2023
Oak Hill – Liz Godfrey, 2025 – 10.7p, 2.2r
Oak Hill – Taylor Holloway, 2024 – 7.1p, 3.1r, 2.4a, 2.2s
Peru – Brianna Bennett, 2023 – 12.0p, 3.7r, 5.0a, 2.8s
Peru – Emma Eldridge, 2023 – 8.8p, 5.7r, 2.8a, 2.9s
Peru –
Addison Robbins
Addison
Robbins
5'5" | CG
Peru | 2026
IN
, 2026 – 6.5p, 3.1r, 2.4a
.
Sectional #24 at Hamilton Heights:
Game-1: Centerville (5-12) vs. Jay County (21-1)
Game-2: Delta (6-14) vs. Frankton (16-6)
Game-3: New Castle (0-22) vs. Yorktown (9-11)
Game-4: Hamilton Heights (17-5) vs. Winner Game-1
Game-5: Winner Game-2 vs. Winner Game-3
Game-6: Winner Game-4 vs. Winner Game-5
Overview: Sectional #24 also has three teams at the top who can all win this thing. Hamilton Heights is the favorite, especially playing at home, and they have beaten both Jay County and Frankton, though by a combined total of four points, with an overtime period added in there as well. The Lady Huskies are guard dominant this season, and it starts with Junior Camryn Runner Camryn Runner 5'9" | CG Hamilton Heights | 2024 State IN (18.8p, 7.0r, 2.9s). She is a dynamic scorer, a very good shooter, but she can also act as a key ball-handler. Senior Kaylee Rhoton Kaylee Rhoton 5'4" | SG Hamilton Heights | 2023 IN and Junior Ella Hickok Ella Hickok 5'6" | PG Hamilton Heights | 2024 State IN add support from the perimeter, so while Rhoton can bury shots outside, Hickok is a water-bug quick/fast point guard who can cause havoc defensively. Jay County leans heavily on 2022 Indiana Junior All-Star Renna Schwieterman Renna Schwieterman 6'0" | SF Jay County | 2023 State IN (21.8p, 6.8r, 2.6a, 3.4s), but the Patriots always seem to have some nice complimentary pieces as well. This year, Senior Gaby Bilbrey (12.7p, 7.6r) has stepped up nicely. Frankton moved from Class 2A to Class 3A due to enrollment numbers, but the Eagles did finish as Class 2A Runners-Up in 2020 and 2022, so they have major postseason experience. Junior Emma Sperry Emma Sperry 6'0" | SF Frankton | 2024 State IN (13.0p, 7.4r, 2.1a, 2.3s) is a nice talent who doesn’t play grassroots ball, so she’s somewhat of an unknown on a statewide level, but she has both talent and skill at 6-0. Junior Amaya Collins Amaya Collins 5'6" | SG Frankton | 2024 IN (11.8p, 2.3r, 2.1a, 2.7s) is a very good shooter for the Eagles, but she has started to do more in a primary ball-handler role.
Sectional #24 Players to Watch:
Centerville – Gabby Duke, 2023
Delta –
Jillian Barr
Jillian
Barr
5'9" | SF
Delta | 2026
IN
, 2026 – 13.4p, 8.6r, 2.8s
Delta –
Paizley Cool
Paizley
Cool
6'1" | C
Delta | 2024
IN
, 2024 – 9.4p, 7.8r
Frankton –
Emma Sperry
Emma
Sperry
6'0" | SF
Frankton | 2024
State
IN
, 2024 – 13.0p, 7.4r, 2.1a, 2.3s
Frankton –
Amaya Collins
Amaya
Collins
5'6" | SG
Frankton | 2024
IN
, 2024 – 11.8p, 2.3r, 2.1a, 2.7s
Frankton – Haylee Niccum, 2023 – 9.4p, 5.5r
Frankton – Isabella Dean, 2023 – 8.0p, 3.2r, 2.5a, 2.4s
Hamilton Heights –
Camryn Runner
Camryn
Runner
5'9" | CG
Hamilton Heights | 2024
State
IN
, 2024 – 18.8p, 7.0r, 2.9s
Hamilton Heights –
Kaylee Rhoton
Kaylee
Rhoton
5'4" | SG
Hamilton Heights | 2023
IN
, 2023 – 8.3p
Hamilton Heights –
Ella Hickok
Ella
Hickok
5'6" | PG
Hamilton Heights | 2024
State
IN
, 2024 – 7.7p, 3.4r, 3.7a, 2.4s
Jay County –
Renna Schwieterman
Renna
Schwieterman
6'0" | SF
Jay County | 2023
State
IN
, 2023 – 21.8p, 6.8r, 2.6a, 3.4s
Jay County – Gabi Bilbrey, 2023 – 12.7p, 7.6r
Jay County – Molly Muhlenkamp, 2024 – 7.1p, 4.2r
Jay County – Sophia Saxman, 2024 – 6.8p, 5.7r, 2.5a, 2.5s
New Castle –
Emma Hart
Emma
Hart
5'2" | PG
New Castle | 2024
IN
, 2024 – 17.7p, 3.7r, 2.6s
Yorktown – Amari Wright, 2023 – 15.2p, 5.0r, 2.3a, 3.6s
Yorktown –
Lilly Sylvester
Lilly
Sylvester
5'9" | SF
Yorktown | 2026
IN
, 2026 – 7.6p, 6.8r