State Tourney Preview: Sectionals #5-#8
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The featured image is of Kyndra Sheets Kyndra Sheets 5'6" | PG Columbia City | 2024 State IN (2024) of Colombia City High School. The IHSAA Sectional draw took place Sunday evening, so all of the 390+ schools participating in…
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Continue ReadingThe featured image is of Kyndra Sheets Kyndra Sheets 5'6" | PG Columbia City | 2024 State IN (2024) of Colombia City 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 Marion Regional the following weekend. This includes the Class 4A teams from Sectionals #5-#8. Please stay tuned, as this week we will have a quick synopsis of each of the 64 Sectionals across all four classifications.
.
Sectional #5 at DeKalb:
Game-1: Fort Wayne North Side (6-14) vs. DeKalb (11-10)
Game-2: Carroll (Fort Wayne) (14-6) vs. Fort Wayne Northrop (18-3)
Game-3: Fort Wayne Snider (17-4) vs. Winner Game-1
Game-4: East Noble (5-16) vs. Winner Game-2
Game-5: Winner Game-3 vs. Winner Game-4
Overview: Sectional #5 has a rather strong field that includes Northrop, Snider, and Carroll. Northrop is a favorite here, posting a 5-0 record against all Sectional #5 opponents. They have beaten four of the five opponents by 29 or more points, with their 79-70 win against Snider being the closest. Senior twins Saniya Jackson Saniya Jackson 6'0" | SF Fort Wayne Northrop | 2023 State IN (15.1p, 7.0r, 2.5a, 3.1s) and Nevaeh Jackson Nevaeh Jackson 6'0" | SF Fort Wayne Northrop | 2023 State IN (15.6p, 5.5r, 2.8a, 2.8s) lead the Lady Bruins, as they have only suffered losses to last year’s State Champs, Noblesville, along with current #1 South Bend Washington, and Columbia City. Snider can use elite guard play out of Juniors Jordyn Poole Jordyn Poole 5'6" | PG Fort Wayne Snider | 2024 State IN (15.3p, 3.2r, 4.2a, 3.1s) and Joh’nea Donahue Joh’nea Donahue 5'8" | SG Fort Wayne Snider | 2024 State IN (12.4p, 4.6r, 4.2a, 5.7s), plus Junior wing Ciara Sims Ciara Sims 5'8" | SF Fort Wayne Snider | 2024 State IN (9.2p, 4.1r) has been playing well in the second half of the season. Carroll matches up with Northrop right from the get-go, and the Chargers have a pair of experienced Senior guards in Taylor Fordyce Taylor Fordyce 5'10" | SG Carroll (Fort Wayne) | 2023 State IN (15.6p, 5.0r, 3.0a, 2.6s) and Kayla Gibbs Kayla Gibbs 5'7" | SG Carroll (Fort Wayne) | 2023 State IN (14.8p, 5.1r, 2.3a, 2.5s) leading the way. If they can control tempo, minimize possessions, and take care of the ball, they have enough skill and talent to upset Northrop. Carroll also faces off against Snider later this week, which should prove to be a highly competitive game. One other note, about North Side, is that the Legends began the year 0-7. They are 6-7 since, with those six wins matching the 2017-2018 total. One more win could tie them for their most wins since the 2009-2010 season.
Sectional #5 Players to Watch:
Carroll (FW) –
Taylor Fordyce
Taylor
Fordyce
5'10" | SG
Carroll (Fort Wayne) | 2023
State
IN
, 2023 – 15.6p, 5.0r, 3.0a, 2.6s
Carroll (FW) –
Kayla Gibbs
Kayla
Gibbs
5'7" | SG
Carroll (Fort Wayne) | 2023
State
IN
, 2023 – 14.8p, 5.1r, 2.3a, 2.5s
Carroll (FW) –
Jersey Paul
Jersey
Paul
5'6" | CG
Carroll (Fort Wayne) | 2025
State
IN
, 2025 – 9.8p, 2.2r, 2.7a
Carroll (FW) –
Lillian George
Lillian
George
6'2" | C
Carroll (Fort Wayne) | 2026
State
IN
, 2026 – 8.5p, 5.2r
DeKalb –
Ashley Cox
Ashley
Cox
5'8" | CG
DeKalb | 2025
State
IN
, 2025
DeKalb – Delaney Cox, 2023
DeKalb – Lillie Cone, 2023
East Noble – Bree Walmsley, 2023 – 8.7p, 3.2r, 2.4a
East Noble – Payton Quake, 2024 – 7.5p, 5.6r
East Noble – Kya Mosley, 2023 – 7.3p, 3.7r
FW North Side – Kaleah Williams, 2025 – 13.7p, 3.5r, 5.5s
FW North Side – Ja’liyah Paige, 2024 – 8.9p, 10.1r, 3.2s
FW North Side –
Aniya Woodson
Aniya
Woodson
5'7" | SF
Fort Wayne North Side | 2024
IN
, 2024 – 6.1p, 4.0r, 3.8s
FW Northrop –
Saniya Jackson
Saniya
Jackson
6'0" | SF
Fort Wayne Northrop | 2023
State
IN
, 2023 – 15.1p, 7.0r, 2.5a, 3.1s
FW Northrop –
Nevaeh Jackson
Nevaeh
Jackson
6'0" | SF
Fort Wayne Northrop | 2023
State
IN
, 2023 – 15.6p, 5.5r, 2.8a, 2.8s
FW Northrop –
Brooklyn McLemore
Brooklyn
McLemore
6'2" | C
Fort Wayne Northrop | 2023
State
IN
, 2023 – 9.3p, 7.9r
FW Northrop –
Swynn Jackson
Swynn
Jackson
5'9" | SG
Fort Wayne Northrop | 2026
State
IN
, 2026 – 7.1p, 4.9r, 4.2a, 3.3s
FW Snider –
Jordyn Poole
Jordyn
Poole
5'6" | PG
Fort Wayne Snider | 2024
State
IN
, 2024 – 15.3p, 3.2r, 4.2a, 3.1s
FW Snider –
Joh’nea Donahue
Joh’nea
Donahue
5'8" | SG
Fort Wayne Snider | 2024
State
IN
, 2024 – 12.4p, 4.6r, 4.2a 5.7s
FW Snider –
Ciara Sims
Ciara
Sims
5'8" | SF
Fort Wayne Snider | 2024
State
IN
, 2024 – 9.2p, 4.1r
FW Snider –
Tia Phinezy
Tia
Phinezy
6'3" | C
Fort Wayne Snider | 2024
State
IN
, 2024 – 8.6p, 7.1r, 3.6b
.
Sectional #6 at Huntington North:
Game-1: Fort Wayne South Side (2-16) vs. New Haven (2-17)
Game-2: Columbia City (19-2) vs. Homestead (16-4)
Game-3: Huntington North (16-4) vs. Winner Game-1
Game-4: Fort Wayne Wayne (14-7) vs. Winner Game-2
Game-5: Winner Game-3 vs. Winner Game-4
Overview: With four teams with 13 or more wins already in Sectional #6, this is shaping up to be a really strong group. The wildcard is Columbia City, because they’ve only played one other Sectional #6 team, Huntington North. While they beat Huntington North in a nailbiter a little over a week ago, 41-39, they have drawn traditional power Homestead in their first-round game. Columbia City will use its strong backcourt play of Sophomore Addison Baxter Addison Baxter 5'9" | PG Columbia City | 2025 State IN (18.4p, 5.4r, 2.9a, 3.6s), Junior Kyndra Sheets Kyndra Sheets 5'6" | PG Columbia City | 2024 State IN (14.7p, 2.8a, 2.2s), and others to control tempo offensively and hound the ball defensively. Homestead is also rather experienced, and they’ll lean on Seniors Alison Stephens Alison Stephens 5'11" | SF Homestead | 2023 State IN , Molly Stock Molly Stock 5'7" | PG Homestead | 2023 State IN , and Sydney Fream Sydney Fream 5'10" | PF Homestead | 2023 IN , plus talented Freshman Myah Epps Myah Epps 5'10" | CG Homestead | 2026 State IN to play a balanced, versatile game. The Spartans are no strangers to the spotlight, and that could provide them an advantage. Though Huntington North fell to Columbia City recently, they have also built a strong season, and the Lady Vikings have a great opportunity to get to the finals behind Senior Taylor Double Taylor Double 5'10" | SF Huntington North | 2023 State IN . Wayne is another wildcard, as they have a variety of Junior and Senior guards who compete with quickness and athleticism, plus Senior post Shabrea O’Quinn Shabrea O’Quinn 6'1" | C Fort Wayne Wayne | 2023 State IN (9.1p, 6.1r) is a huge presence in the paint.
Sectional #6 Players to Watch:
Columbia City –
Addison Baxter
Addison
Baxter
5'9" | PG
Columbia City | 2025
State
IN
, 2025 – 18.4p, 5.4r, 2.9a, 3.6s
Columbia City –
Kyndra Sheets
Kyndra
Sheets
5'6" | PG
Columbia City | 2024
State
IN
, 2024 – 14.7p, 2.8a, 2.2s
Columbia City –
Molly Baker
Molly
Baker
5'10" | PF
Columbia City | 2024
State
IN
, 2024 – 13.0p, 4.6r
Columbia City –
Tessa Tonkel
Tessa
Tonkel
5'6" | CG
Columbia City | 2024
IN
, 2024
FW South Side –
Justice Billingsley
Justice
Billingsley
5'5" | CG
Fort Wayne South Side | 2023
IN
, 2023
FW Wayne –
Aniah Hill
Aniah
Hill
5'3" | CG
Fort Wayne Wayne | 2023
IN
, 2023 – 10.9p, 6.3r, 4.1a, 3.9s
FW Wayne –
Sydney Gorman
Sydney
Gorman
5'8" | SG
Fort Wayne Wayne | 2024
State
IN
, 2024 – 10.9p
FW Wayne –
Shabrea O’Quinn
Shabrea
O’Quinn
6'1" | C
Fort Wayne Wayne | 2023
State
IN
, 2023 – 9.1p, 6.1r
Homestead –
Alison Stephens
Alison
Stephens
5'11" | SF
Homestead | 2023
State
IN
, 2023
Homestead –
Molly Stock
Molly
Stock
5'7" | PG
Homestead | 2023
State
IN
, 2023
Homestead –
Sydney Fream
Sydney
Fream
5'10" | PF
Homestead | 2023
IN
, 2023
Homestead –
Myah Epps
Myah
Epps
5'10" | CG
Homestead | 2026
State
IN
, 2026
Huntington North –
Taylor Double
Taylor
Double
5'10" | SF
Huntington North | 2023
State
IN
, 2023
Huntington North –
Marissa Trout
Marissa
Trout
5'10" | SF
Huntington North | 2025
State
IN
, 2025
Huntington North –
Gracie Fields
Gracie
Fields
5'7" | SG
Huntington North | 2024
IN
, 2024
New Haven – Janiya Johnson, 2024
New Haven – Alanah Webb, 2026
.
Sectional #7 at Lafayette Jefferson:
Game-1: Kokomo (11-12) vs. McCutcheon (11-11)
Game-2: Logansport (12-9) vs. Marion (1-21)
Game-3: West Lafayette Harrison (14-8) vs. Winner Game-1
Game-4: Lafayette Jefferson (2-20) vs. Winner Game-2
Game-5: Winner Game-3 vs. Winner Game-4
Overview: Sectional #7 will likely be Harrison’s for the taking. They are 6-0 against the other five Sectional #7 teams, and while they battled Kokomo to a 42-35 result just two weeks ago, all of the other wins have been by 23 points or more. Harrison has very good size and strength, plus they have experience at the top, with a pair of Seniors and a Junior who each stand 5-11 to 6-2 and have major Varsity experience. Senior Riley Flinn Riley Flinn 5'11" | SF West Lafayette Harrison | 2023 State IN (13.3p, 8.3r, 6.9a, 5.1s) will look to cap a nice high school career with a Sectional #7 title. McCutcheon, Kokomo, and Logansport are in that next tier of teams who can cause problems for Harrison (and each other). McCutcheon has a nice mixture of Senior experience and youthful talent. Freshman Chloe Finney Chloe Finney 5'9" | SF McCutcheon | 2026 IN (7.2p, 3.0r) has been good for them as a rookie. Kokomo looks to Juniors and Sophomores to lead the way. Ma’Kaela Drake Ma’Kaela Drake 5'5" | SG Kokomo | 2025 IN (10.2p, 2.2r) and Kamaria White Kamaria White 5'2" | PG Kokomo | 2024 IN (6.3p, 4.2r, 3.9a, 2.4s) are explosive guards, while Aijia Elliott Aijia Elliott 6'0" | C Kokomo | 2024 State IN (14.4p, 8.6r) is a strong, physical post prospect. Logansport isn’t very tall, but they have skilled guards with great experience. Gabby Richie Gabby Richie 5'4" | PG Logansport | 2023 IN (18.1p, 5.0r, 3.1a, 2.8s) is their best player, and she can score it in bunches.
Sectional #7 Players to Watch:
Kokomo –
Aijia Elliott
Aijia
Elliott
6'0" | C
Kokomo | 2024
State
IN
, 2024 – 14.4p, 8.6r
Kokomo –
Ma’Kaela Drake
Ma’Kaela
Drake
5'5" | SG
Kokomo | 2025
IN
, 2025 – 10.2p, 2.2r
Kokomo –
Kamaria White
Kamaria
White
5'2" | PG
Kokomo | 2024
IN
, 2024 – 6.3p, 4.2r, 3.9a, 2.4s
Lafayette Jeff –
Shaylee Barrett
Shaylee
Barrett
IN
, 2026 – 9.1p, 5.0r
Lafayette Jeff – Trinity Fields, 2023 – 6.7p, 6.6r
Logansport –
Gabby Richie
Gabby
Richie
5'4" | PG
Logansport | 2023
IN
, 2023 – 18.1p, 5.0r, 3.1a, 2.8s
Logansport – Lydia Goad, 2024 – 10.8p, 2.9r, 2.4s
Logansport – Kendra Sutton, 2023 – 8.5p, 6.7r
Marion – Culeeya Jones, 2023
McCutcheon –
Chloe Finney
Chloe
Finney
5'9" | SF
McCutcheon | 2026
IN
, 2026 – 7.2p, 3.0r
McCutcheon –
Caitlyn Miller
Caitlyn
Miller
5'8" | SG
McCutcheon | 2023
IN
, 2023 – 6.5p, 5.2r, 3.7a, 2.1s
WL Harrison –
Riley Flinn
Riley
Flinn
5'11" | SF
West Lafayette Harrison | 2023
State
IN
, 2023 – 13.3p, 8.3r, 6.9a, 5.1s
WL Harrison –
Riley Whitlock
Riley
Whitlock
6'0" | PF
West Lafayette Harrison | 2024
State
IN
, 2024 – 12.0p, 4.5r, 2.5s
WL Harrison –
Campbell Moore
Campbell
Moore
6'2" | C
West Lafayette Harrison | 2023
State
IN
, 2023 – 8.5p, 7.5r, 2.2s, 4.0b
.
Sectional #8 at Noblesville:
Game-1: Carmel (4-17) vs. Fishers (19-2)
Game-2: Westfield (12-10) vs. Zionsville (18-2)
Game-3: Noblesville (21-3) vs. Winner Game-1
Game-4: Hamilton Southeastern (20-2) vs. Winner Game-2
Game-5: Winner Game-3 vs. Winner Game-4
Overview: Without a doubt, Sectional #8 is the strongest and deepest Sectional in the state, regardless of class. They will have as many eyes on them as anyone this postseason, and four of these teams fall in the Sagarin Ratings Top-7…impressive. Even Sagarin #30 Westfield and #62 Carmel have the firepower to beat anyone in this field. Noblesville is the defending State Champions, and they will come in confident with a recent win over Zionsville. The Millers bring back a great deal of experience from last year’s finals team, and Junior Reagan Wilson Reagan Wilson 5'7" | PG Noblesville | 2024 State IN (16.5p, 3.3r, 3.8a, 3.6s) and Sophomore Meredith Tippner Meredith Tippner 5'10" | SG Noblesville | 2025 State IN (17.5p, 9.0r, 3.0a, 2.5s) have been outstanding all season. Wilson, in fact, poured in a career-high 37 points in that win over Zionsville. Speaking of Zionsville, they boast Miss Basketball candidate Laila Hull Laila Hull 6'1" | PF Zionsville | 2023 State #49 Nation IN (23.2p, 8.1r, 2.2a, 2.7s), along with several other very skilled and talented Seniors and Juniors. That experience had them undefeated for much of the season, but recent losses to Noblesville and Hamilton Southeastern could help them recalibrate and prepare them for next week. Hamilton Southeastern is an incredibly experienced group, with a number of key Seniors back. Point guard Olivia Brown Olivia Brown 5'7" | PG Hamilton Southeastern | 2023 State IN (7.0p, 5.0r, 7.6a, 3.7s) probably doesn’t get enough credit for her efforts because she doesn’t post high scoring numbers, but she is the ideal facilitator and defender from the lead guard spot. Butler commit Riley Makalusky Riley Makalusky 6'2" | SF Hamilton Southeastern | 2023 State IN (19.3p, 3.9r) provides a major scoring punch from the wing for the Royals. Fishers is 18-2, so their credentials are second to none, but they play a little different than most Sectional #8 teams. They have an in-your-face defensive approach, try to speed you up, and make you uncomfortable. They possess a number of elite guards who can contribute in a variety of ways, led by Senior twins Hailey Smith Hailey Smith 5'10" | SG Fishers | 2023 State IN (11.4p, 7.0r, 2.8a, 2.0s) and Olivia Smith Olivia Smith 5'10" | SG Fishers | 2023 State IN (10.0p, 4.0r, 2.4a).
Sectional #8 Players to Watch:
Carmel –
Hannah Lach
Hannah
Lach
5'10" | SF
Carmel | 2023
State
IN
, 2023 – 8.2p, 4.9r
Carmel –
Mackenzie Woods
Mackenzie
Woods
5'8" | PG
Carmel | 2025
State
IN
, 2025 – 6.3p, 4.0r, 2.7a
Carmel –
Taryn Fisher
Taryn
Fisher
5'7" | PG
Carmel | 2025
State
IN
, 2025 – 5.1p, 3.6r
Fishers –
Hailey Smith
Hailey
Smith
5'10" | SG
Fishers | 2023
State
IN
, 2023 – 11.4p, 7.0r, 2.8a, 2.0s
Fishers –
Olivia Smith
Olivia
Smith
5'10" | SG
Fishers | 2023
State
IN
, 2023 – 10.0p, 4.0r, 2.4a
Fishers –
Talia Harris
Talia
Harris
5'8" | PG
Fishers | 2024
State
IN
, 2024 – 8.9p, 3.6r, 2.3s
Fishers –
Alycia Triplett
Alycia
Triplett
5'11" | PF
Fishers | 2023
State
IN
, 2023 – 7.8p, 5.1r
Fishers –
Joirdyn Smith
Joirdyn
Smith
5'4" | CG
Fishers | 2024
State
IN
, 2024 – 7.0p
Hamilton Southeastern –
Riley Makalusky
Riley
Makalusky
6'2" | SF
Hamilton Southeastern | 2023
State
IN
, 2023 – 19.3p, 3.9r
Hamilton Southeastern –
Maya Makalusky
Maya
Makalusky
6'3" | SF
Hamilton Southeastern | 2025
State
IN
, 2025 – 15.5p, 3.7r
Hamilton Southeastern –
Olivia Brown
Olivia
Brown
5'7" | PG
Hamilton Southeastern | 2023
State
IN
, 2023 – 7.0p, 5.0r, 7.6a, 3.7s
Hamilton Southeastern –
Kennedy Holman
Kennedy
Holman
5'8" | PG
Hamilton Southeastern | 2026
State
IN
, 2026 – 6.2p, 4.2r, 2.9a
Hamilton Southeastern –
Teegan Acres
Teegan
Acres
5'10" | SF
Hamilton Southeastern | 2023
State
IN
, 2023 – 5.3p, 5.9r, 2.3a
Noblesville –
Meredith Tippner
Meredith
Tippner
5'10" | SG
Noblesville | 2025
State
IN
, 2025 – 17.5p, 9.0r, 3.0a, 2.5s
Noblesville –
Reagan Wilson
Reagan
Wilson
5'7" | PG
Noblesville | 2024
State
IN
, 2024 – 16.5p, 3.3r, 3.8a, 3.6s
Noblesville –
Kaitlyn Shoemaker
Kaitlyn
Shoemaker
5'4" | PG
Noblesville | 2023
State
IN
, 2023 – 8.0p, 2.8r, 2.5a, 2.5s
Noblesville –
Ava Shoemaker
Ava
Shoemaker
5'9" | SF
Noblesville | 2024
State
IN
, 2024 – 7.8p, 3.1r
Noblesville –
Dani Mendez
Dani
Mendez
5'11" | PF
Noblesville | 2023
State
IN
, 2023 – 6.0p, 4.9r
Westfield –
Elizabeth Kelleher
Elizabeth
Kelleher
5'10" | PG
Westfield | 2024
State
IN
, 2024 – 11.0p, 5.0r, 3.2a
Westfield –
Lindsey Van Dyke
Lindsey
Van Dyke
5'9" | SG
Westfield | 2025
State
IN
, 2025 – 6.8p, 3.0r
Westfield –
Aubrey Crockett
Aubrey
Crockett
5'9" | CG
Westfield | 2025
State
IN
, 2025 – 6.4p, 5.2r, 2.4a
Zionsville –
Laila Hull
Laila
Hull
6'1" | PF
Zionsville | 2023
State
#49
Nation
IN
, 2023 – 23.2p, 8.1r, 2.2a, 2.7s
Zionsville –
Emma Haan
Emma
Haan
5'8" | SG
Zionsville | 2024
State
IN
, 2024 – 11.0p, 2.9r, 2.3a
Zionsville –
Allison Caldwell
Allison
Caldwell
5'11" | SG
Zionsville | 2024
State
IN
, 2024 – 9.7p, 3.1r, 3.1a
Zionsville –
Jordyn Coleman
Jordyn
Coleman
6'0" | C
Zionsville | 2023
State
IN
, 2023 – 6.5p, 5.5r
Zionsville –
Faith Leedy
Faith
Leedy
5'4" | PG
Zionsville | 2024
State
IN
, 2024 – 5.5p, 4.7r, 2.4a, 2.2s