The Stretch Run: Class 3A

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"small"} --> <p class="has-small-font-size"><em>The featured image is of [player_tooltip player_id='239346' first='Lauren' last='Foster'] (2024) of Indian Creek High School (in white).</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With the Sectional draw this coming Sunday and about a week and a half remaining in the regular season, I wanted to take the time to look back on what has been in Class 3A so far this year, highlighting a handful of teams and prospects, and preparing for the postseason. This won't necessarily be as detailed as our Sectional previews, as the draw will help lay out those matchups and odds to win. However, I did think it was a great opportunity to take note of some of the happenings in Class 3A at this time.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><font color="#FFFFFF">.</font></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><font size="+2">Class 3A Top Teams:</font></strong><br>Class 3A is another class stuffed full of competitive teams with the potential to make deep state tournament runs. While the Sagarin Ratings suggest Norwell is mathematically the top team, Twin Lakes remains undefeated against a solid schedule. Their trio of guards is incredibly difficult to defend. Four teams from our preseason Top-10, Mishawaka Marian (17-5), Hamilton Heights (16-4), Gibson Southern (16-4), and Charlestown (14-6) all reside between #12 and #18 in the current Sagarin Ratings, so they are all having predictably fine seasons as well. Of the four schools currently in the Sagarin Top-10 who we didn't have in our Preseason Top-10, all four were in our "next 10" grouping, so their success isn't entirely unexpected. Jay County has stood out all year, with their only loss coming by one point in overtime to Hamilton Heights, while Fairfield is trying to repeat a strong 2021-2022 performance in which they finished 24-4 with a Regional title. West Lafayette is deep, balanced, and experienced, and Northwestern is one of those "been there, done that" programs who will always compete. With seven of the current Sagarin Top-10 hailing from the North, the later rounds of the state tournament could be outstanding.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:table --> <figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>PGH Indiana Preseason Top-10</strong></td><td><strong>Sagarin Ratings (<em>as of 1/16/23</em>)</strong></td></tr><tr><td>1. Twin Lakes</td><td>1. Norwell (16-3)</td></tr><tr><td>2. Corydon Central</td><td>2. Twin Lakes (20-0)</td></tr><tr><td>3. Mishawaka Marian</td><td>3. Jay County (18-1)</td></tr><tr><td>4. Norwell</td><td>4. Evansville Memorial (19-1)</td></tr><tr><td>5. Evansville Memorial</td><td>5. Bellmont (15-4)</td></tr><tr><td>6. Indian Creek</td><td>6. Fairfield (19-2)</td></tr><tr><td>7. Hamilton Heights</td><td>7. West Lafayette (15-5)</td></tr><tr><td>8. Bellmont</td><td>8. Corydon Central (19-2)</td></tr><tr><td>9. Gibson Southern</td><td>9. Indian Creek (19-1)</td></tr><tr><td>10. Charlestown</td><td>10. Northwestern (14-3)</td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><font color="#FFFFFF">.</font></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><font size="+2">Class 3A Statistical Leaders:</font></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:table {"className":"is-style-regular"} --> <figure class="wp-block-table is-style-regular"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>Scoring Leaders:</strong></td><td><strong>Rebounding Leaders:</strong></td><td><strong>Assist Leaders:</strong></td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='59748' first='Nevaeh' last='Foster'], 2023, MM: 25.0</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='572823' first='Jaycianna' last='Clark'], 2024, Herron: 14.1</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='295786' first='Addison' last='Bowsman'], 2025, TL: 6.9</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='96091' first='Renna' last='Schwieterman'], 2023, JC: 21.4</td><td><strong>Emmy Roys</strong>, 2023, Western Boone: 12.1</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='295784' first='Emma' last='Ancelet'], 2025, DCHS: 5.6</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='496064' first='Mya' last='Davis'], 2024, HC: 21.2</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='570370' first='Claire' last='Payne'], 2025, NW: 11.7</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='295774' first='Gabby' last='Spink'], 2025, GS: 5.5</td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><font color="#FFFFFF">.</font></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:table --> <figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>Steals Leaders:</strong></td><td><strong>3-Pointers Made:</strong></td><td><strong>Free Throw %:</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Jada Wright</strong>, 2024, Herron: 6.2</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='177346' first='Olivia' last='Nickerson'], 2024, TL: 87</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='239346' first='Lauren' last='Foster'], 2024, IC: 94.3%</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Emery Newlin</strong>, 2025, Monrovia: 5.6</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='178242' first='Reagan' last='Martin'], 2023, OV: 62</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='572794' first='Emma' last='Sperry'], 2024, FHS: 88.9%</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='496064' first='Mya' last='Davis'], 2024, HC: 4.4</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='203668' first='Kaydence' last='Mellott'], 2023, TV: 59</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='59791' first='Isabelle' last='Wooten'], 2023, DCHS: 86.7%</td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><font color="#FFFFFF">.</font></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><font size="+2">Class 3A Honor Roll:</font></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><font size="+1">On The Rise: </font></strong><font size="+1">[player_tooltip player_id='496064' first='Mya' last='Davis'], 2024, 5-7 G, Heritage Christian H.S.</font><br>- The growth Mya has shown in her game over the past 12-18 months has been tremendous. I first saw her during 2021 and thought she has some upside as a prospect, but this past Fall at a showcase event, she looked stronger and much more confident. Now, she has turned into a real weapon for Heritage Christian, averaging 21.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 4.4 steals per game, while also getting to the free throw line roughly five times per game. She has nice length, fluid athleticism, and some quickness, plus her handle and vision have really improved. She plays either guard spot equally well, and as she continues to develop her perimeter shot, could be a real threat at the next level as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><font size="+1">Under-The-Radar Recruit: </font></strong><font size="+1">[player_tooltip player_id='239346' first='Lauren' last='Foster'], 2024, 5-7 G, Indian Creek H.S.</font><br>- Lauren is an absolute ballplayer, and she's one of those kids who is just solid at everything. She plays with an outstanding motor, toughness, and physicality as a guard. She'll get on the floor, take charges, and she's an aggressive rebounder as well. Offensively, she's incredibly aggressive off the bounce, but her ability to make shots outside (<em>30-62, 48%</em>) force defenders to respect her out there and not sit back to play driving lanes. Additionally, she is great at drawing contact when she does get someone on her hip, and she's a 94.3% (<em>100-106</em>) free throw shooter. This season, Lauren is averaging 19.9 points, 4.6 assists, and 2.4 steals per game for a very good Indian Creek team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><font size="+1">Impressive Freshman: </font></strong><font size="+1">[player_tooltip player_id='832654' first='Jillian' last='Barr'], 2026, 5-9 F, Delta H.S.</font><br>- Delta is playing a number of younger players this season, and they have already won more games than in any of the three previous seasons. Jillian is a big part of that, though she doesn't have a lot of popularity yet on a statewide level. She has a wiry-strong frame, some length, and she's a really nice athlete in most directions. She is more of a '4' than a '3' right now skillfully, but over time she should transition into being a full-time wing prospect for the next level. She also defends with versatility, and she plays with a really nice motor for a Freshman. She leads Delta in most statistical categories, as she is averaging 13.2 points, 8.5 rebounds (<em>3.3 offensive</em>), and 3.1 steals per game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->