Regional Preview: Class 1A South

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"small"} --> <p class="has-small-font-size"><em>The featured image is of [player_tooltip player_id='59789' first='Linzie' last='Wernert'] (2023) of Lanesville High School.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>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 Southern half of the state.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><font color="#FFFFFF">.</font></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><font size="+2">Southwestern (Shelbyville) Regional:</font></strong><br>Game-1: Jac-Cen-Del (15-11) vs. Bethesda Christian (12-13), 1:00 p.m. ET<br>Game-2: Eminence (17-6) vs. Bloomfield (13-14), 4:00 p.m. ET</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Game-1:</strong> Jac-Cen-Del is kind of the been-there-done-that team, having won 17 Sectional titles since 2002. They might not have the typical look of a JCD team, but they are tremendously well-coached, they always play hard, and they are one of the better defensive teams in Class 1A. Junior guard <strong>Reagan Hughes</strong> has the most experience, but fellow Junior [player_tooltip player_id='572809' first='Julia' last='Meyer'] had an impressive season and continues to improve each week. Both are double-digit scorers, as is Senior <strong>Olivia Neal</strong>, so they can hit you from a number of different angles. Bethesda Christian played the first 17 games without the services of star Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='177322' first='Kenzie' last='Fulks']. In the eight games since she's been back, they are just 4-4, but they've won three in a row and four of the last five. In addition, Fulks averaged under ten points per game in her first six games back, then exploded for 23 points and 31 points in their two Sectional games, hinting that she's much closer to herself than she was during the regular season...definitely scary for the Lady Eagles of JCD. I think this game comes down to Fulks and whether or not she can get loose. If she's able to affect 25 or more points (<em>scoring and/or distributing</em>), then the Lady Patriots have a great shot at this Regional. But if Jac-Cen-Del can limit her effectiveness with their team defense, they should control the tempo, and therefore the outcome. I will take the Lady Eagles, but just by a 43-39 margin.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Game-2:</strong> Eminence has posted their most wins since the 2006-2007 season, and they won their first Sectional title since 1999. Additionally, they seemed to have found a new star in Sophomore front-liner [player_tooltip player_id='570384' first='Sophia' last='Saucerman']. The long and fluid post is a double-double waiting to happen each game, plus she affects shots defensively with her length. Add to that the multiple years of experience provided by Juniors <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='825876' first='Natalie' last='Hubbard']</strong>, <strong>Danica Myers</strong>, and <strong>Bella Dittemore</strong>, and they are capable of continuing this run that they are on. Bloomfield is typically a strong program, they play a solid Class 1A schedule, and this year as the Sectional host, they upset the North Central (Farmersburg) Lady Thunderbirds in the Championship. The Lady Cardinals are more of a sum-of-their-parts type of team this season, though Seniors <strong>Delaney Richardson</strong> and <strong>Brianna Bucher</strong> make their imprint on the lineup nightly. This could end up being a real battle, and I'll take Eminence in a nail-biter, 38-37.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players to Watch:</strong><br>Bethesda - [player_tooltip player_id='177322' first='Kenzie' last='Fulks'], 2024 - 13.6p, 3.1r, 2.6a, 3.0s<br>Bethesda - <strong>Paige Vawter</strong>, 2023 - 10.1p, 5.4r, 3.0a<br>Bethesda - <strong>Sydney Goodin</strong>, 2024 - 9.0p, 5.4r, 2.0a<br>Bethesda - <strong>Jayla Ferguson</strong>, 2024 - 6.6p, 8.5r<br>Bloomfield - <strong>Delaney Richardson</strong>, 2023<br>Bloomfield - <strong>Brianna Bucher</strong>, 2023<br>Eminence - [player_tooltip player_id='570384' first='Sophia' last='Saucerman'], 2025 - 11.9p, 8.5r<br>Eminence - <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='825876' first='Natalie' last='Hubbard']</strong>, 2024 - 10.1p, 8.0r, 2.2a, 2.6s<br>Eminence - <strong>Danica Myers</strong>, 2024 - 9.6p, 4.6r, 3.6a, 2.4s<br>Eminence - <strong>Bella Dittemore</strong>, 2024 - 7.3p, 3.1r<br>Jac-Cen-Del - [player_tooltip player_id='572809' first='Julia' last='Meyer'], 2024 - 13.1p, 6.6r, 3.6a, 2.3s<br>Jac-Cen-Del - <strong>Reagan Hughes</strong>, 2024 - 12.7p, 3.0r, 2.5s<br>Jac-Cen-Del - <strong>Olivia Neal</strong>, 2023 - 10.9p, 5.8r<br>Jac-Cen-Del - <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1122667' first='Kelsey' last='Borgman']</strong>, 2025 - 7.1p, 3.0r, 2.4a</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><font color="#FFFFFF">.</font></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><font size="+2">West Washington Regional:</font></strong><br>Game-1: Springs Valley (17-7) vs. Trinity Lutheran (21-6), 4:00 p.m. ET<br>Game-2: Lanesville (24-2) vs. Wood Memorial (14-10), 7:00 p.m. ET</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Game-1:</strong> Springs Valley has had a fantastic season, they are led by a pair of talented Freshmen, but at times they are still Freshmen. That matters come tournament time. Freshman wing [player_tooltip player_id='567139' first='Maddie' last='Carnes'] and Freshman guard [player_tooltip player_id='481402' first='Maci' last='Eckerty'] have exceeded expectations this year, and both are primed to make big plays tomorrow. However, they will need to lean on their teammates, as Trinity Lutheran fields a very experienced group. The Lady Cougars have one of the best weapons in Class 1A in Senior [player_tooltip player_id='59779' first='Bailey' last='Tabeling']. She can create offense, bury shots with deep range, plus she'll defend and rebound. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='326481' first='Liza' last='Froedge'] is another perimeter weapon, as is Sophomore <strong>Jordan Brewer</strong>. Sophomore <strong>Madison Keith</strong> helps Trinity Lutheran from the inside and will likely get a double-double tomorrow. I think this will be a good game for about three quarters, with Trinity Lutheran winning, 58-45. However, I think it will also be a great opportunity to prepare Springs Valley for future seasons of success.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Game-2:</strong> In my final contest to preview before tomorrow's games tip off, Lanesville will take on Wood Memorial. Lanesville has been here each of the last four years, but they are just 1-4 in Regional games during that span. This is their best team and best chance to get to the Semi-State for the first time in program history. They have strength in numbers, size, skill, and tough-nosed kids. Senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='59789' first='Linzie' last='Wernert'] will run through walls to help them win, while Sophomore guard [player_tooltip player_id='295760' first='Hadley' last='Crosier'] is an athletic matchup problem around the perimeter. Junior <strong>Ava Kerr</strong> is a nice, skillful guard who can make shots, and Senior front-liner <strong>Morgan Sonner</strong> provides a nice presence in the paint. Wood Memorial had huge wins last week over Class 1A #5 Northeast Dubois (18-5) and 2022 Class 1A State Champion Tecumseh to get to this point. They play with great balance, they are well-coached, and they compete each possession at both ends of the floor. This appears as though Lanesville is the easy choice, and I will go with the Lady Eagles, but I think the Lady Trojans will compete for about 25 minutes before Lanesville begins to control the outcome. I'll take Lanesville over Wood Memorial, 49-40.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players to Watch:</strong><br>Lanesville - [player_tooltip player_id='59789' first='Linzie' last='Wernert'], 2023 - 13.7p, 7.4r, 2.2a, 2.8s<br>Lanesville - [player_tooltip player_id='295760' first='Hadley' last='Crosier'], 2025 - 9.6p, 3.2r, 3.4a, 3.7s<br>Lanesville - <strong>Ava Kerr</strong>, 2024 - 7.3p, 2.4r, 2.0a, 2.4s<br>Lanesville - <strong>Morgan Sonner</strong>, 2023 - 7.2p, 5.3r<br>Lanesville - <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='880516' first='Shelby' last='Allen']</strong>, 2025 - 7.0p, 5.7r<br>Springs Valley - [player_tooltip player_id='567139' first='Maddie' last='Carnes'], 2026 - 14.1p, 6.8r<br>Springs Valley - [player_tooltip player_id='481402' first='Maci' last='Eckerty'], 2026 - 7.4p, 3.0r, 2.4a, 2.1s<br>Springs Valley - <strong>Brynne Buchanan</strong>, 2023 - 6.7p, 3.0r, 2.8a, 2.1s<br>Springs Valley - <strong>Bella Nottger</strong>, 2024 - 5.4p, 5.1r<br>Trinity - [player_tooltip player_id='59779' first='Bailey' last='Tabeling'], 2023 - 22.6p, 8.1r, 4.6a, 2.8s, 2.4b<br>Trinity - <strong>Madison Keith</strong>, 2025 - 11.3p, 9.2, 2.1s<br>Trinity - [player_tooltip player_id='326481' first='Liza' last='Froedge'], 2024 - 10.0p, 3.8r<br>Trinity - <strong>Jordan Brewer</strong>, 2025 - 9.6p, 2.7r<br>Wood Memorial - <strong>Megan Keeker</strong>, 2023<br>Wood Memorial - <strong>Kennedy Schoultz</strong>, 2023<br>Wood Memorial - <strong>Kamryn Blacklock</strong>, 2024</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->