State Tourney Preview: Sectionals #61-#64
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The featured image is of Linzie Wernert Linzie Wernert 5'8" | PF Lanesville | 2023 State IN (2023) of Lanesville High School. The IHSAA Sectional draw took place last Sunday evening, so all of the 390+ schools participating in this…
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Continue ReadingThe featured image is of Linzie Wernert Linzie Wernert 5'8" | PF Lanesville | 2023 State IN (2023) of Lanesville 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 West Washington Regional the following weekend. This includes the Class 1A teams from Sectionals #61-#64. This concludes our previews of every Sectional in Class 4A, Class 3A, Class 2A, and Class 1A.
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Sectional #61 at Borden:
Game-1: West Washington (7-14) vs. South Central (Elizabeth) (2-20)
Game-2: Christian Academy of Indiana (9-13) vs. Rock Creek Academy (14-6)
Game-3: Borden (16-6) vs. Winner Game-1
Game-4: Lanesville (22-2) vs. Winner Game-2
Game-5: Winner Game-3 vs. Winner Game-4
Overview: Sectional #61 is Lanesville, then everyone else. The Lady Eagles are the highest ranked Class 1A team in the state, according to Sagarin Ratings, and it’s not close. They have played the equivalence of a Class 3A schedule, with their two losses coming at the hands of Class 3A powers Corydon Central (21-2) and Evansville Memorial (23-1). Lanesville has played all five Sectional #61 opponents, they are 5-0 against them, and the average score of those five games is 60-24. Senior Linzie Wernert Linzie Wernert 5'8" | PF Lanesville | 2023 State IN (13.6p, 7.1r, 2.1a, 2.9s) and Sophomore Hadley Crosier Hadley Crosier 5'9" | CG Lanesville | 2025 State IN (9.2p, 3.1r, 3.4a, 3.2s) headline the Lady Eagles’ roster, but they are much deeper and more talented than just those two. They might be the deepest Class 1A team in the state. If anyone can give them a run, it’s likely going to be Borden. The Lady Braves lost to Lanesville by just a 52-38 score, so a tweak here, and an adjustment there, and maybe than can give themselves a better chance to win. Senior Emily Cissell has big-time scoring capabilities from the perimeter, and this season she got help from a strong Freshmen class, led by Riley Rarick Riley Rarick 6'0" | CG Borden | 2026 State IN and Ava Wheeler Ava Wheeler 6'0" | PF Borden | 2026 State IN . Those two bring the size, skill, and athleticism that rivals some of the best Freshmen in the state, regardless of class. Also keep an eye on Rock Creek. While they haven’t played the strongest of schedules, they have won their most games in a season since 2004-2005. Freshman Kelis Dansby Kelis Dansby 5'7" | PG Rock Creek Academy | 2026 State IN (12.7p, 2.3r, 2.1a) and a young roster should be around and competitive for years to come.
Sectional #61 Players to Watch:
Borden – Emily Cissell, 2023
Borden –
Riley Rarick
Riley
Rarick
6'0" | CG
Borden | 2026
State
IN
, 2026
Borden –
Ava Wheeler
Ava
Wheeler
6'0" | PF
Borden | 2026
State
IN
, 2026
Christian Academy – Leah Stevens, 2025 – 14.0p, 3.8r
Christian Academy – Addison Jackson, 2026 – 6.0p, 6.0r
Lanesville –
Linzie Wernert
Linzie
Wernert
5'8" | PF
Lanesville | 2023
State
IN
, 2023 – 13.6p, 7.1r, 2.1a, 2.9s
Lanesville –
Hadley Crosier
Hadley
Crosier
5'9" | CG
Lanesville | 2025
State
IN
, 2025 – 9.2p, 3.1r, 3.4a, 3.2s
Lanesville –
Shelby Allen
Shelby
Allen
6'3" | C
Lanesville | 2025
IN
, 2025 – 7.3p, 5.7r
Lanesville – Morgan Sonner, 2023 – 7.3p, 5.2r
Lanesville – Ava Kerr, 2024 – 7.0p, 2.4r, 2.0a, 2.3s
Rock Creek –
Kelis Dansby
Kelis
Dansby
5'7" | PG
Rock Creek Academy | 2026
State
IN
, 2026 – 12.7p, 2.3r, 2.1a
Rock Creek – Aleeyah Brown, 2026 – 9.3p, 6.9r
Rock Creek – Rylan Byars, 2025 – 7.6p, 3.3r, 2.7a
South Central – Kendall Kiper, 2023
West Washington –
Meredith Deaton
Meredith
Deaton
5'8" | SF
West Washington | 2026
IN
, 2026 – 11.6p, 6.0r
West Washington – Lilly Thompson, 2025 – 10.4p, 4.1r, 2.5s
.
Sectional #62 at Rising Sun:
Game-1: Shawe Memorial (16-5) vs. Trinity Lutheran (18-6)
Game-2: Rising Sun (10-11) vs. Medora (4-14)
Game-3: Crothersville (0-16) vs. Winner Game-1
Game-4: New Washington (11-11) vs. Winner Game-2
Game-5: Winner Game-3 vs. Winner Game-4
Overview: Like Lanesville (above), Trinity Lutheran has been a strong force in girls’ basketball recently, and they are a heavy favorite to win Sectional #62. They are 3-0 against Sectional #62 opponents, but they have yet to play Shawe Memorial. Senior Bailey Tabeling Bailey Tabeling 5'10" | SG Trinity Lutheran | 2023 State IN (23.0p, 8.5r, 4.3a, 2.8s, 2.5b) is the do-everything star for the Lady Cougars, and the 5-10 guard is committed to Division-I Ohio University. Sophomore Madison Keith (11.7p, 9.2r, 2.1s) nearly averaged a double-double to support Tabeling from the frontcourt. Shawe Memorial has used strong defense and a balanced offense to get to 16 wins this season. That in itself might just be what it takes to knock off Trinity Lutheran. The two teams meet in the first game tonight. If anyone else has a fighting chance, it’s likely New Washington because of star Junior Kaidin James Kaidin James 5'8" | SF New Washington | 2024 IN , and her ability to affect a game in a variety of ways.
Sectional #62 Players to Watch:
Crothersville – Shania Hyland, 2023
Medora – Jenna Bowers, 2024
Medora – Aaralyn Hackney, 2024
New Washington –
Kaidin James
Kaidin
James
5'8" | SF
New Washington | 2024
IN
, 2024
New Washington – Sami Mattingly, 2024
New Washington – Macy Fields, 2023
Rising Sun – Baylee Morris, 2023 – 11.7p, 3.0r, 2.4s
Rising Sun – Alyssa Simpson, 2024 – 10.4p, 10.3r
Rising Sun – Jenna Peelman, 2024 – 7.5p, 6.8r
Shawe – Autumn Lathrem, 2023
Shawe – Calli Alderman, 2023
Trinity –
Bailey Tabeling
Bailey
Tabeling
5'10" | SG
Trinity Lutheran | 2023
State
IN
, 2023 – 23.0p, 8.5r, 4.3a, 2.8s, 2.5b
Trinity – Madison Keith, 2025 – 11.7p, 9.2, 2.1s
Trinity –
Liza Froedge
Liza
Froedge
5'10" | SF
Trinity Lutheran | 2024
IN
, 2024 – 9.8p, 3.8r
Trinity – Jordan Brewer, 2025 – 9.8p, 2.5r
.
Sectional #63 at Springs Valley:
Game-1: Vincennes Rivet (12-10) vs. Loogootee (3-20)
Game-2: Barr-Reeve (13-9) vs. Shoals (5-18)
Game-3: Washington Catholic (5-15) vs. Orleans (11-12)
Game-4: Springs Valley (15-7) vs. Winner Game-1
Game-5: Winner Game-2 vs. Winner Game-3
Game-6: Winner Game-4 vs. Winner Game-5
Overview: Sectional #63 is rather intriguing to me, as there are three teams standing out to me, but none of them that much more so than the others. Vincennes Rivet would have to be the favorite, if I had to pick one. They are very tall, strong inside, but they also have solid perimeter play. 6-3 Junior Anna Herman Anna Herman 6'3" | C Vincennes Rivet | 2024 IN and 6-2 Sophomore sister Mary Herman Mary Herman 6'3" | C Vincennes Rivet | 2025 State IN form a wall around the paint. They also have a couple of additional girls who stand 6-0 or taller. That kind of rim protection is intimidating; however, they only beat Barr-Reeve by six points in overtime on December 3rd. Barr-Reeve isn’t a high-scoring team, and they use ball-control and sound halfcourt defense to give themselves a chance each night. Sophomore Hannah Bledsoe Hannah Bledsoe 6'0" | PF Barr-Reeve | 2025 State IN (11.9p, 11.9r, 2.7b) is an intriguing youngster who can get 20 points and 15 rebounds at any time. Look for the Lady Vikings to keep every game close. I also think Springs Valley has a nice, youthful group. They might still be a year away from competing for the Sectional title, but Freshmen Maddie Carnes Maddie Carnes 5'10" | SF Springs Valley | 2026 State IN (14.1p, 6.8r) and Maci Eckerty Maci Eckerty 5'4" | PG Springs Valley | 2026 IN (7.4p, 3.0r, 2.4a, 2.1s) have gotten their careers started off on the right foot. They will cause people problems these next four postseasons.
Sectional #63 Players to Watch:
Barr-Reeve –
Hannah Bledsoe
Hannah
Bledsoe
6'0" | PF
Barr-Reeve | 2025
State
IN
, 2025 – 11.9p, 11.9r, 2.7b
Barr-Reeve – Colleen Trambaugh, 2023 – 5.7p, 3.8r, 3.0a
Loogootee –
Emily Hawkins
Emily
Hawkins
5'6" | SG
Loogootee | 2024
IN
, 2024
Orleans –
Callie Alston
Callie
Alston
5'10" | PF
Orleans | 2026
IN
, 2026 – 11.3p, 6.2r
Orleans – Mylie Knight, 2025 – 6.7p, 4.3r, 2.3a
Rivet –
Anna Herman
Anna
Herman
6'3" | C
Vincennes Rivet | 2024
IN
, 2024
Rivet – Kenadee Frey, 2023
Rivet –
Mary Herman
Mary
Herman
6'3" | C
Vincennes Rivet | 2025
State
IN
, 2025
Shoals – Gracie Shaw, 2023
Shoals – Taylor Turpin, 2024
Springs Valley –
Maddie Carnes
Maddie
Carnes
5'10" | SF
Springs Valley | 2026
State
IN
, 2026 – 14.1p, 6.8r
Springs Valley –
Maci Eckerty
Maci
Eckerty
5'4" | PG
Springs Valley | 2026
IN
, 2026 – 7.4p, 3.0r, 2.4a, 2.1s
Springs Valley – Brynne Buchanan, 2023 – 6.7p, 3.0r, 2.8a, 2.1s
Washington Catholic – Mya Cline, 2023
Washington Catholic – Brynna Hunter, 2023
.
Sectional #64 at Tecumseh:
Game-1: Evansville Christian (15-7) vs. Northeast Dubois (17-4)
Game-2: Cannelton (12-10) vs. Tecumseh (9-13)
Game-3: Wood Memorial (12-10) vs. Winner Game-1
Game-4: Winner Game-2 vs. Winner Game-3
Overview: Despite posting a 9-13 record this year, I am going to pick Tecumseh over the Sectional #64 field. They have played the toughest schedule, by far, they are the defending Class 1A State Champs, and they still have a pair of really nice, experienced starters from last year’s team in Senior point guard Karsyn Flowers Karsyn Flowers 5'5" | PG Tecumseh | 2023 IN and Junior front-liner Jenna Donohoo Jenna Donohoo 5'10" | PF Tecumseh | 2024 IN . This year won’t be a walk in the park, however, as Northeast Dubois offers stiff competition. Senior Rhylan Kalb Rhylan Kalb 5'10" | PF Northeast Dubois | 2023 IN (14.6p, 7.5r, 2.0a) is a productive force herself, and if she is in a rhythm, she can take over a game. Wood Memorial is another team who is always deep, balanced, and well-coached. They can use that balance and discipline to knock off anyone in this field this year. Also be sure to keep an eye on Senior Kendall Hale Kendall Hale 6'2" | C Cannelton | 2023 State IN (21.5p, 12.5r, 2.3a, 6.5b) of Cannelton and Freshman Peyton Geer (13.8p, 3.4a, 3.7s) of Evansville Christian. They are both capable of putting up big numbers at any point in time.
Sectional #64 Players to Watch:
Cannelton –
Kendall Hale
Kendall
Hale
6'2" | C
Cannelton | 2023
State
IN
, 2023 – 21.5p, 12.5r, 2.3a, 6.5b
Cannelton – Kylie Anastasiades, 2025 – 7.6p, 3.8r, 2.9a
Evansville Christian – Peyton Geer, 2026 – 13.8p, 3.4a, 3.7s
Evansville Christian – Tina Geer, 2024 – 11.7p, 3.3r, 2.0a, 2.8s
Evansville Christian – Bella Hall, 2026 – 10.1p, 8.1r
Northeast Dubois –
Rhylan Kalb
Rhylan
Kalb
5'10" | PF
Northeast Dubois | 2023
IN
, 2023 – 14.6p, 7.5r, 2.0a
Northeast Dubois – Reagan Knies, 2023 – 6.3p, 3.9r
Northeast Dubois – Emmersen Kalb, 2025 – 5.9p, 3.9r, 2.0a
Tecumseh –
Karsyn Flowers
Karsyn
Flowers
5'5" | PG
Tecumseh | 2023
IN
, 2023
Tecumseh –
Jenna Donohoo
Jenna
Donohoo
5'10" | PF
Tecumseh | 2024
IN
, 2024
Tecumseh – Pennelope Lemen, 2023
Wood Memorial – Megan Keeker, 2023
Wood Memorial – Kennedy Schoultz, 2023
Wood Memorial – Kamryn Blacklock, 2024