Regional Preview: Class 1A North

The featured image is of [player_tooltip player_id='178241' first='Bailey' last='Parham'] (2023) of Tri High School.   Following a pair of Sectional championship games Monday evening, the Regional fields are now set. This season, the IHSAA decided to make the Regional a one-game affair to win a title, with two Regional games at the same host site, similar to past Semi-States. Therefore, there will now be two Regional winners at each site. The Semi-States will be a four-team, three-game event next Saturday, where teams in each class must win twice to advance to the State Finals. As for the Regionals, below is a look at the two Regionals in Class 1A taking place in the Northern half of the state.   .   Caston Regional: Game-1: Tri-County (14-11) vs. Bethany Christian (21-3), 1:00 p.m. ET Game-2: Washington Township (19-6) vs. Argos (13-12), 4:00 p.m. ET   Game-1: Tri-County got a little help in their Sectional, as North White (8-18) upset Class 1A #3 Caston (20-3). Now, the Lady Cavaliers will play in Caston's gym instead of the Lady Comets, and they'll look to continue their streak against a very good Bethany Christian group. Tri-County is very balanced, and they look to a number of non-Seniors to lead the way. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='828013' first='Sara' last='Zarse'] is their well-rounded everything, and she'll need to come up big against the Lady Bruins. Junior Johnetta Whitmire and Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='923137' first='Hannah' last='Arvin'] will help Zarse control the boards, while Freshman Grace Luck will help Zarse with defensive pressure. Bethany Christian is led by Junior guards [player_tooltip player_id='338899' first='Zoe' last='Willems'] and [player_tooltip player_id='326492' first='Mariah' last='Stoltzfus']. Willems is a strong, tough-nosed, hard-working wing who can really score the basketball. She attacks the basket with aggression, she is active defensively, and she is a great rebounder from the perimeter. Stoltzfus is as gritty and feisty as they come on the ball. I specifically remember watching her battle Snider Junior [player_tooltip player_id='177351' first='Jordyn' last='Poole'] tooth & nail last July in a grassroots tournament, never giving an inch. They'll need that type of performance out of her, because despite their record, Tri-County is solid across the board. I think Bethany Christian wins this one, but it's a lot closer than their records might indicate. I always suggest an overtime game each year, and I haven't done that yet, so I'll say the Lady Bruins win an overtime thriller, 51-49, over the Lady Cavaliers.   Game-2: Washington Township won one of the toughest Class 1A Sectionals in the state, as five of the six teams had 14 or more wins. The Lady Senators aren't very tall, but they play extremely hard, quick as a unit, and they are dangerous shooting it from the perimeter at just about every position. They'll go on massive runs, but they also have to survive a drought here and there, though they tend to understand that and continue to fling it in order to prevail. Sophomore guards [player_tooltip player_id='331817' first='Clair' last='Klinger'] and [player_tooltip player_id='324077' first='Gracie' last='Little'] are the main catalysts for this group, and they are fun to watch. Klinger is a strong, compact guard with nice range and a good motor. Little is a little taller and longer, and more of a fluid/smooth creator who can also knock down shots from deep. Argos will also need to be aware of Addison Graf, who had a strong Senior season for the Senators. Speaking of Argos, the Lady Dragons won a rather balanced Sectional that could have gone any number of directions. They are always so balanced and competitive, they possess nice athletes, and they battle at both ends of the floor. Senior Emma Dunlap will be critical in what they do tomorrow. If Argos can use its defense to limit Washington Township to tough, contested shots, then rebound, they can control this game. But if Washington Township is able to find any rhythm and get into a groove, Argos could be in trouble. I think it will be balanced for about three quarters, but the Senators will have a nice three to four-minute stretch where they are able to extend the lead permanently. Give me Washington Township over Argos, 53-44.   Players to Watch: Argos - Emma Dunlap, 2023 Argos - [player_tooltip player_id='825863' first='Samantha' last='Redinger'], 2024 Argos - Isabella Stults, 2023 Bethany - [player_tooltip player_id='338899' first='Zoe' last='Willems'], 2024 - 17.1p, 8.0r, 2.6a, 3.6s Bethany - [player_tooltip player_id='326492' first='Mariah' last='Stoltzfus'], 2024 - 9.9p, 3.3r, 4.3a, 4.5s Bethany - Kiersten Todd, 2023 - 6.3p, 4.0r Bethany - Julia Moser, 2023 - 6.0p Tri-County - [player_tooltip player_id='828013' first='Sara' last='Zarse'], 2024 - 11.1p, 7.2r, 5.0a, 4.1s Tri-County - Johnetta Whitmire, 2024 - 9.2p, 5.6r Tri-County - [player_tooltip player_id='923137' first='Hannah' last='Arvin'] 2025 - 8.2p, 7.0r, 2.0a Tri-County - Grace Luck, 2026 - 7.5p, 3.2r, 2.4s Washington Twp. - [player_tooltip player_id='331817' first='Clair' last='Klinger'], 2025 - 15.4p, 5.4r, 4.6a, 3.2s Washington Twp. - [player_tooltip player_id='324077' first='Gracie' last='Little'], 2025 - 14.8p, 3.8r, 3.4a, 4.1s Washington Twp. - Addison Graf, 2023 - 14.8p, 4.7r, 2.6a, 2.7s Washington Twp. - Jaycee Jackson, 2025 - 4.4p, 2.0r   .   Wes-Del Regional: Game-1: Tri-Central (11-13) vs. Rossville (15-10), 1:00 p.m. ET Game-2: Tri (24-1) vs. Southwood (19-5), 4:00 p.m. ET   Game-1: This game might not look as exciting on paper, but Tri-Central and Rossville both play solid schedules, and they are typically always tournament-ready, despite their records. The Lady Trojans of Tri-Central tend to use balance, great energy, and changing defenses to cause havoc for opponents. They will rarely have anyone specific score 20 points, so you have to be sound defensively against all five players they put on the floor. Seniors Megan Conner and Karley Leininger do produce the most for the Trojans, but they have a deep Senior class with a great deal of experience. Rossville has done a nice job of mixing youth with a veteran presence, and after starting the year 0-5, they have figured it out together. Freshmen [player_tooltip player_id='928900' first='Ava' last='Burkle'] and Addi Gorbett have gotten better and better with more experience, while Seniors Tori Skiles and Avery Gorbett have offered them shoulders to lean on throughout the season. This is a tough one to predict, but I do like Tri-Central's Senior core. I think the Trojans escape what is essentially a pick'em game, 39-37.   Game-2: Tri hasn't necessarily played the toughest of schedules, but they do have a nice Senior group and a couple of quality underclassmen as well. Senior post [player_tooltip player_id='178241' first='Bailey' last='Parham'] is almost dominant at times, because of her strength, physicality, and great motor. She's also skilled and aware of her surroundings. Sophomore wing [player_tooltip player_id='570375' first='Kenley' last='Cornelius'] offers them a versatile backcourt prospect to the lineup, as does Junior Rylee Boyd. Seniors Abi Clarke and Amber Rich round out a tough starting lineup, and the Lady Titans are going to be difficult to beat throughout the tournament. Southwood is a group who could give the Titans a run for their money. The Lady Knights have a strong Senior trio, and they have geared up for this season, so to speak. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='372349' first='Ella' last='Haupert'] is a knockdown shooter outside, she's gritty/feisty, and she will get after it defensively. Fellow Seniors Aleia Sweet and Alaina Winer offer the Knights multiple years of Varsity experience, and they play with nice versatility as well. Southwood will probably have the best pure scorer on the floor tomorrow in Haupert, but Parham is a matchup nightmare for the Knights. This is going to come down to Tri having five key pieces producing against Southwood's trio of Seniors. I think Tri wins this one, but I think it's a close game throughout. I will take the Titans over the Knights, 49-41.   Players to Watch: Rossville - [player_tooltip player_id='928900' first='Ava' last='Burkle'], 2026 - 9.6p, 5.8r Rossville - Tori Skiles, 2023 - 9.2p Rossville - Avery Gorbett, 2023 - 8.0p, 5.1r Rossville - Addi Gorbett, 2026 - 6.7p, 5.9r Southwood - [player_tooltip player_id='372349' first='Ella' last='Haupert'], 2023 - 20.0p, 4.4r, 2.0a, 2.6s Southwood - Aleia Sweet, 2023 - 12.1p, 6.6r, 2.9a, 3.1s Southwood - Alaina Winer, 2023 - 9.0p, 3.0r, 2.4a, 3.3s Southwood - Emmerson Chellis, 2024 - 3.8p, 5.4r Tri - [player_tooltip player_id='178241' first='Bailey' last='Parham'], 2023 - 21.5p, 10.5r, 3.7a, 4.2s, 3.7b Tri - [player_tooltip player_id='570375' first='Kenley' last='Cornelius'], 2025 - 10.4p, 4.2r, 2.3a, 3.7s Tri - Rylee Boyd, 2024 - 8.4p, 2.6r, 2.4a Tri - Abi Clarke, 2023 - 8.0p, 5.2r Tri - Amber Rich, 2023 - 7.5p Tri-Central - Megan Conner, 2023 - 8.5p, 3.6r, 2.2s Tri-Central - Karley Leininger, 2023 - 6.9p, 4.0r, 2.5a, 2.6s Tri-Central - Abby Hoback, 2023 - 5.9p Tri-Central - Gracie Grimes, 2023 - 5.4p, 5.0r, 3.6a, 2.6s

The featured image is of Bailey Parham Bailey Parham 6'0" | C Tri | 2023 State IN (2023) of Tri High School.