State Tourney Preview: Sectionals #53-#56
In this article:
The featured image is of Maya Layton Maya Layton 5'8" | PG Faith Christian | 2026 State IN (2026) of Faith Christian High School. The IHSAA Sectional draw took place last Sunday evening, so all of the 390+ schools participating…
Access all of Prep Girls Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingThe featured image is of Maya Layton Maya Layton 5'8" | PG Faith Christian | 2026 State IN (2026) of Faith Christian High School.
The IHSAA Sectional draw took place last 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 in just a matter of days. Below is a look at each of the Sectionals that will feed into the Wes-Del Regional the following weekend. This includes the Class 1A teams from Sectionals #53-#56. Please stay tuned, as tomorrow we will conclude our quick synopses of each of the remaining Sectionals across class 1A.
.
Sectional #53 at Southern Wells:
Game-1: Southwood (16-5) vs. Canterbury (2-17)
Game-2: Lakeland Christian (14-6) vs. Southern Wells (7-14)
Game-3: Northfield (5-14) vs. Winner Game-1
Game-4: Winner Game-2 vs. Winner Game-3
Overview: Southwood is the likely front-runner, as the Lady Knights are 3-0 against Sectional #53 competition, plus they’ve put together a solid resume against a competitive schedule. Senior Ella Haupert Ella Haupert 5'6" | SG Southwood | 2023 IN (20.0p, 4.3r, 2.5s) is a 4-year Varsity contributor who can score the ball in bunches from every spot on the floor. She gets help from fellow Senior Aleia Sweet (11.4p, 6.8r, 2.9a, 3.0s), who is a really nice athlete that plays with good energy. Lakeland Christian has also posted a winning record, and they get strong play from the sister duo of Senior Mattie Stonebraker (17.1p, 5.9r, 2.4a, 3.1s) and Freshman Reese Stonebraker (12.3p, 6.7r, 3.1a, 3.1s). I also think Northfield could surprise Southwood on Friday night. They are Wabash County rivals, plus Northfield has a great deal of recent postseason success and experience. Junior Hannah Holmes Hannah Holmes 5'10" | PF Northfield | 2024 IN (16.1p, 14.3r) is a double-double machine around the basket.
Sectional #53 Players to Watch:
Canterbury – Isabelle Ellis, 2023
Lakeland – Mattie Stonebraker, 2023 – 17.1p, 5.9r, 2.4a, 3.1s
Lakeland – Reese Stonebraker, 2026 – 12.3p, 6.7r, 3.1a, 3.1s
Lakeland – Katie Reimink, 2025 – 7.0p, 3.9r, 2.1a
Northfield –
Hannah Holmes
Hannah
Holmes
5'10" | PF
Northfield | 2024
IN
, 2024 – 16.1p, 14.3r (5.8 off.)
Northfield – Elli Baker, 2025 – 12.3p, 3.2r
Northfield – Camryn Kuhn, 2025 – 11.5p, 2.4r
Southern Wells – Zoe Needler, 2023
Southern Wells – Avah Miner, 2023
Southwood –
Ella Haupert
Ella
Haupert
5'6" | SG
Southwood | 2023
IN
, 2023 – 20.0p, 4.3r, 2.5s
Southwood – Aleia Sweet, 2023 – 11.4p, 6.8r, 2.9a, 3.0s
Southwood – Alaina Winer, 2023 – 9.2p, 3.0r, 2.4a, 3.2s
.
Sectional #54 at Attica:
Game-1: Clinton Central (16-6) vs. Faith Christian (19-3)
Game-2: North Vermillion (9-14) vs. Fountain Central (10-12)
Game-3: Attica (6-14) vs. Winner Game-1
Game-4: Rossville (13-10) vs. Winner Game-2
Game-5: Winner Game-3 vs. Winner Game-4
Overview: The best game in Sectional #54 could be the opening game between Clinton Central and Faith Christian. Clinton Central boasts a formidable front-liner in Junior Sara Parkison Sara Parkison 5'10" | PF Clinton Central | 2024 State IN (15.8p, 7.3r). She is strong, physical, and she plays with an outstanding motor inside. Freshman Carly Davison Carly Davison 5'5" | PG Clinton Central | 2026 IN (11.4p, 5.9r, 6.4a, 3.6s) has been a nice addition as a rookie, and she has shown flashes of brilliance at times. Look for her to have a nice, 4-year career. Speaking of Freshmen, Faith Christian has two of the state’s best in Maya Layton Maya Layton 5'8" | PG Faith Christian | 2026 State IN (20.7p, 9.0r, 5.2a, 4.9s, 2.8b) and Trinity Wilburn Trinity Wilburn 5'5" | PG Faith Christian | 2026 State IN (20.9p, 6.6r, 3.6a, 6.4s). Both are dynamic guards with great athleticism. Layton is long, fluid, and somewhat smooth, while Wilburn is a compact, strong, quick, and explosive attacker. Those two alone are a tough matchup for any team, so as long as they get nice support throughout, they can knock off anyone in this field. Also keep an eye on Rossville. The Hornets have a nice Freshman prospect of their own in Ava Burkle (9.7p, 5.4r), but they also possess depth and experience. If they can defend and take care of the basketball, they could be a dark horse candidate in Sectional #54.
Sectional #54 Players to Watch:
Attica – Arlee Kerr, 2023
Attica – Audree Britt, 2023
Clinton Central –
Sara Parkison
Sara
Parkison
5'10" | PF
Clinton Central | 2024
State
IN
, 2024 – 15.8p, 7.3r
Clinton Central –
Carly Davison
Carly
Davison
5'5" | PG
Clinton Central | 2026
IN
, 2026 – 11.4p, 5.9r, 6.4a, 3.6s
Clinton Central – Erika Robbins, 2024 – 7.3p, 2.2r
Clinton Central – Samantha Adams, 2023 – 6.0p, 4.8r
Faith Christian –
Trinity Wilburn
Trinity
Wilburn
5'5" | PG
Faith Christian | 2026
State
IN
, 2026 – 20.9p, 6.6r, 3.6a, 6.4s
Faith Christian –
Maya Layton
Maya
Layton
5'8" | PG
Faith Christian | 2026
State
IN
, 2026 – 20.7p, 9.0r, 5.2a, 4.9s, 2.8b
Faith Christian – Hannah Bolton, 2026 – 7.5p, 6.6r, 2.2s
Fountain Central – Hannah Prickett, 2025
Fountain Central – Brailey Hoagland, 2025
North Vermillion –
Braxtyn Dunham
Braxtyn
Dunham
5'4" | SG
North Vermillion | 2024
IN
, 2024 – 8.3p, 3.0r, 2.0a, 2.3s
North Vermillion – Callie Naylor, 2023 – 8.3p, 3.0r, 3.1s
Rossville – Ava Burkle, 2026 – 9.7p, 5.4r
Rossville – Tori Skiles, 2023 – 9.0p
Rossville – Avery Gorbett, 2023 – 8.2p, 5.2r
.
Sectional #55 at Tri-Central:
Game-1: Daleville (3-18) vs. Tri-Central (9-13)
Game-2: Anderson Prep (11-11) vs. Cowan (9-13)
Game-3: Winner Game-1 vs. Winner Game-2
Overview: Sectional #55 is just a 4-team field this year, with Liberty Christian unfortunately unable to field a Sectional team. Tri-Central is my clear-cut favorite to win, as they have the most experience and have played the toughest schedule of the group by far. Seniors Megan Conner (7.9p, 3.6r, 2.2s) and Karley Leininger (6.5p, 3.9r, 2.3a, 2.5s) lead a very balanced attack. Anderson Prep is intriguing. They have a really nice post prospect in Sophomore Alivia Peoples Alivia Peoples 5'11" | C Anderson Prep | 2025 IN (12.3p, 9.6r, 2.9s, 2.3b), plus Arianna Flowers (8.1p, 4.9r, 2.6s) is a promising Freshman. Can their youthfulness match up with Tri-Central’s experience??? And even though Daleville is just 3-18, keep an eye on individual talent Addisyn Gorthrup (16.4p, 2.5r, 2.6s). She is a high-scoring Freshman contributor.
Sectional #55 Players to Watch:
APA –
Alivia Peoples
Alivia
Peoples
5'11" | C
Anderson Prep | 2025
IN
, 2025 – 12.3p, 9.6r, 2.9s, 2.3b
APA – Arianna Flowers, 2026 – 8.1p, 4.9r, 2.6s
APA – Kaylynn Orr, 2025 – 7.7p, 5.1r
Cowan – Josie Byrd, 2023
Daleville – Addisyn Gothrup, 2026 – 16.4p, 2.5r, 2.6s
Daleville – Trishell Johnson, 2025 – 9.5p, 7.3r, 3.7s, 2.7b
Tri-Central – Megan Conner, 2023 – 7.9p, 3.6r, 2.2s
Tri-Central – Karley Leininger, 2023 – 6.5p, 3.9r, 2.3a, 2.5s
.
Sectional #56 at Randolph Southern:
Game-1: Cambridge City Lincoln (5-15) vs. Randolph Southern (13-7)
Game-2: Tri (21-1) vs. Union City (9-14)
Game-3: Blue River Valley (15-8) vs. Winner Game-1
Game-4: Union (Modoc) (8-11) vs. Winner Game-2
Game-5: Winner Game-3 vs. Winner Game-4
Overview: Tri has been outstanding in Sectional #56, and at 21-1, I’d have to say anything less than a Sectional crown is likely a disappointment in their eyes. Senior front-liner Bailey Parham Bailey Parham 6'0" | C Tri | 2023 State IN (22.3p, 10.6r, 3.5a, 4.0s, 4.0b) is an absolute problem for Class 1A competition inside. She can score, rebound, and defend. Sophomore Kenley Cornelius Kenley Cornelius 5'9" | SG Tri | 2025 IN (10.1p, 4.4r, 2.5a, 3.9s) is an intriguing young wing whose best days are certainly ahead of her. While Tri is a solid favorite in my eyes, they’ll have to pay attention to Blue River Valley and Randolph Southern as well. Blue River graduated a rare Class 1A Indiana All-Star in 2022, but Senior Maci Chamberlin Maci Chamberlin 5'7" | SG Blue River Valley | 2023 State IN (22.7p, 2.2r, 2.9a, 3.5s) can flat fill it up from outside. She is also a good passer, a playmaker, and a high IQ basketball kid. Sophomore Charlee Gibson (10.8p, 3.9r, 2.1a, 2.4s) has stepped into a lot more responsibility this season and performed admirably. She provides a nice #2 role for Chamberlin. Randolph Southern is more of a “sum of their parts” sort of team that is well-coached. If they can control tempo and keep the ball out of Parham’s hands, they’d have a fighting chance against Tri. They must first get by Blue River on Friday night, though, which they did by a 48-44 margin two weeks ago. Senior guard Kaibre Stephan is someone to keep an eye on for Randolph Southern.
Sectional #56 Players to Watch:
Blue River –
Maci Chamberlin
Maci
Chamberlin
5'7" | SG
Blue River Valley | 2023
State
IN
, 2023 – 22.7p, 2.2r, 2.9a, 3.5s
Blue River – Charlee Gibson, 2025 – 10.8p, 3.9r, 2.1a, 2.4s
Blue River – Maciah Driskill, 2024 – 7.1p, 7.9r, 3.2a
Blue River – Rylee Hallatt, 2023 – 6.6p, 10.3r
Cambridge City – Elliott Jones, 2025 – 7.7p
Cambridge City – Alivia Anderson, 2024 – 6.5p, 4.8r, 2.6a
Randolph Southern – Kaibre Stephan, 2023
Randolph Southern –
Brianna Smith
Brianna
Smith
5'7" | CG
Randolph Southern | 2024
IN
, 2024
Randolph Southern – Courtney Clear, 2024
Tri –
Bailey Parham
Bailey
Parham
6'0" | C
Tri | 2023
State
IN
, 2023 – 22.3p, 10.6r, 3.5a, 4.0s, 4.0b
Tri –
Kenley Cornelius
Kenley
Cornelius
5'9" | SG
Tri | 2025
IN
, 2025 – 10.1p, 4.4r, 2.5a, 3.9s
Tri – Rylee Boyd, 2024 – 8.4p, 2.6r, 2.5a
Tri – Abi Clarke, 2023 – 7.8p, 5.3r
Tri – Amber Rich, 2023 – 7.5p
Union (Modoc) – Honour Ellis, 2023 – 13.7p, 9.3r, 2.9b
Union (Modoc) – Zoe Ogden, 2024 – 9.6p, 5.1r, 2.0a
Union (Modoc) – Glory Ellis, 2025 – 9.1p, 7.2r
Union City –
Oaklee Reichard
Oaklee
Reichard
5'5" | CG
Union City | 2025
IN
, 2025 – 16.1p, 6.1r, 2.4a, 2.3s
Union City – Camryn Fischer, 2024 – 6.3p, 7.2r