Regional Preview: Class 2A North

The featured image is of [player_tooltip player_id='203664' first='Olivia' last='Marks'] (2023) of South Central High School (Union Mills).   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 2A taking place in the Northern half of the state.   .   Winamac Regional: Game-1: Central Noble (24-2) vs. South Central (Union Mills) (23-3), 1:00 p.m. ET Game-2: Andrean (24-3) vs. North Miami (19-5), 4:00 p.m. ET   Game-1: These have been two Northern Indiana small school heavyweights for the last decade, but they surprisingly have not met during their time at the top. Central Noble has only lost twice...both times to Class 3A Fairfield (24-2)...otherwise they have it rolling. They are led by the Senior guard tandem of [player_tooltip player_id='203666' first='Madison' last='Vice'] and [player_tooltip player_id='264990' first='Meghan' last='Kiebel']. They both play with toughness, energy, skill, and versatility. They can control tempo and cause havoc for South Central's guards. At the same time, the Lady Cougars will need Freshman [player_tooltip player_id='832697' first='Grace' last='Swank'] to play strong inside, as the Lady Satellites' strength is their forward play. The Marks sisters, Senior [player_tooltip player_id='203664' first='Olivia' last='Marks'] and Junior [player_tooltip player_id='201877' first='Sadie' last='Marks'], plus Senior [player_tooltip player_id='59782' first='Lillian' last='Tolmen'], are all effortful, fairly athletic, skilled, and versatile wings/forwards. They do a really nice job of controlling the boards and defending inside of the arc. The Satellites are on a 12-game winning streak of their own right now. However, this game will likely come down to one team wanting to play around the perimeter, while the other wants to control the interior, and seeing which team plays the other's game first. I will always lean towards guard play in tournament games, so I'll go with the Cougars. I think Central Noble wins this one, 41-37.   Game-2: If there is an advantage here, it likely goes to Andrean, as they have played a tough schedule for a Class 2A school, and they prevailed most times out. They are extremely balanced, with good guard play, a nice wing, and a couple of players with size up front. Senior guards [player_tooltip player_id='127214' first='Tori' last='Allen'] and [player_tooltip player_id='300077' first='Lauren' last='Colon'] complement each other well in the backcourt, with Allen handling and shooting a lot, while colon is a nice defender and attacker/finisher. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='495986' first='Alivia' last='Delevic'] is tasked with knocking down open shots when left alone. Sophomore wing [player_tooltip player_id='295810' first='Lindsay' last='Arcella'] can also pour in points at a moment's notice, so watch for her to have a big impact as well. 6-0 Sophomore front-liner Maddie Walton continues to improve, and she does a nice job defensively and on the boards. North Miami has been without Senior [player_tooltip player_id='361363' first='Logan' last='Mouser'] much of the year, and she missed the Sectional as well. In her absence, Junior forward [player_tooltip player_id='572820' first='Kaiden' last='Hanley'] has really stepped up, as have Seniors Allison Bowman and Molly Freeman. The Lady Warriors will need a near-flawless game with as few turnovers as possible if they intend to upset the 59ers. I think Andrean is primed for a deep tournament run, so I will go with the 59ers, 49-40.   Players to Watch: Andrean - [player_tooltip player_id='127214' first='Tori' last='Allen'], 2023 - 16.8p, 4.3r, 3.5a Andrean - [player_tooltip player_id='300077' first='Lauren' last='Colon'], 2023 - 10.3p, 2.7r, 3.4a Andrean - Maddie Walton, 2025 - 9.0p, 6.6r Andrean - [player_tooltip player_id='295810' first='Lindsay' last='Arcella'], 2025 - 8.1p, 2.9r, 3.2a Andrean - [player_tooltip player_id='495986' first='Alivia' last='Delevic'], 2024 - 3.5p, 2.7r Central Noble - [player_tooltip player_id='203666' first='Madison' last='Vice'], 2023 - 18.3p, 6.0r, 5.0a, 3.7s Central Noble - [player_tooltip player_id='264990' first='Meghan' last='Kiebel'], 2023 - 12.8p, 4.0r, 2.2a Central Noble - [player_tooltip player_id='832697' first='Grace' last='Swank'], 2026 - 4.8p, 6.5r Central Noble - Makenna Malcolm, 2024 - 4.8p, 2.8r, 2.2a North Miami - [player_tooltip player_id='572820' first='Kaiden' last='Hanley'], 2024 - 16.2p, 6.5r, 2.0a, 4.5s North Miami - Allison Bowman, 2023 - 9.6p, 3.0r, 2.9a, 2.0s North Miami - Molly Freeman, 2023 - 6.8p, 2.9r North Miami - Laney Musall, 2026 - 6.2p, 2.0r South Central - [player_tooltip player_id='203664' first='Olivia' last='Marks'], 2023 - 15.0p, 6.0r South Central - [player_tooltip player_id='201877' first='Sadie' last='Marks'], 2024 - 8.9p, 5.5r, 2.6a South Central - [player_tooltip player_id='59782' first='Lillian' last='Tolmen'], 2023 - 8.9p, 4.1r, 3.0s South Central - Hope Welsh, 2024 - 8.5p, 3.2r, 2.0a South Central - Kate Welsh, 2023 - 6.9p, 2.8r, 3.1a, 2.0s   .   Lapel Regional: Game-1: Eastbrook (19-5) vs. Lapel (19-7), 4:00 p.m. ET Game-2: Lafayette Central Catholic (19-6) vs. Bishop Luers (11-13), 7:00 p.m. ET   Game-1: Eastbrook and Lapel aren't exactly close, but they also aren't a difficult trip along I-69, so it's a little surprising they haven't met in the 2000s. Eastbrook relies on a strong Junior class, discipline, and good perimeter shooting. Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='239351' first='Sophia' last='Morrison'] is the main catalyst, she is a knockdown shooter, but she also does a nice job of finding open teammates. Junior Olivia Howell has had a strong year, and she affects the game in a variety of ways. Additional Juniors [player_tooltip player_id='825904' first='Audri' last='Prater'] and Kortney Goff also give consistent effort and energy each time out. Lapel has a bit more talent and size, plus they have done a nice job of coming together this year. Freshman [player_tooltip player_id='486521' first='Laniah' last='Wills'] is a double-double machine, she's very athletic, long, and active at both ends of the floor. Junior wing [player_tooltip player_id='331773' first='Madelyn' last='Poynter'] is another long, fluid athlete who can score the ball around the perimeter or in the mid-post. Senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='460836' first='Deannaya' last='Haseman'] is another inside-out threat who plays with nice versatility. Eastbrook will need to handle Lapel's length and athleticism, take care of the ball, and make shots, all things which they're capable of doing. Lapel will try to speed Eastbrook up and turn them over, and it would be to their advantage to use their size and length. This is a tough pick for me. Eastbrook has won several big games together over the last three years, whereas Lapel is really in its first year as a group, seeing as four key players are new to the program within the last year and a half. Honestly, I feel like this is a pick'em game where you can't go wrong. I will take Eastbrook by a single basket, 44-42.   Game-2: In this private school battle, these two programs have seen a great deal of success in the 2000s, but they match up for the first time on Saturday. Central Catholic has played a tough schedule, they have beaten some good teams, and they have the recent pedigree of getting to the Class 1A State Finals last season. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='127241' first='Tori' last='Thompson'] is their leader. She can really shoot the ball, she handles it some as well, and she is a nice team-first player who always competes. Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='295785' first='Carley' last='Barrett'] is an attacking wing guard who uses solid athleticism to accomplish a lot. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='331814' first='Kendal' last='Rider'] is another experienced upperclassman who can make plays in a variety of ways. Luers has also played a strong schedule in the Summit Athletic Conference. They are led by strong and physical Junior [player_tooltip player_id='298259' first='Addie' last='Shank']. She plays with a great motor, but she has also developed her mid-post skill, and can face the basket as well as play on the block. Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='201869' first='Annika' last='Davis'] is a nice athlete, she can create for herself or others, and she can knock down shots with some range. They will need someone else to step up Saturday, though, if they want to upset Central Catholic. Freshman Miley Wareing has gotten stronger as the season has worn on. She could be an x-factor here. At the end of the day, I think this could be an uphill battle for Luers. Central Catholic is just too experienced in these games, they have seen more success in these situations, so I think they'll be able to handle the emotions and nerves a bit better. I think Central Catholic will win by a 55-40 final score.   Players to Watch: Bishop Luers - [player_tooltip player_id='298259' first='Addie' last='Shank'], 2024 - 13.4p, 9.3r Bishop Luers - [player_tooltip player_id='201869' first='Annika' last='Davis'], 2024 - 11.3p, 2.8r, 2.3a Bishop Luers - Miley Wareing, 2026 - 7.1p, 6.4r Bishop Luers - Maggie Parent, 2025 - 5.5p, 4.7r Bishop Luers - [player_tooltip player_id='506023' first='Reese' last='Rhodehamel'], 2025 - 5.3p, 3.4r Central Catholic - [player_tooltip player_id='127241' first='Tori' last='Thompson'], 2023 Central Catholic - [player_tooltip player_id='295785' first='Carley' last='Barrett'], 2025 Central Catholic - [player_tooltip player_id='331814' first='Kendal' last='Rider'], 2023 Central Catholic - Maddy Bruce, 2025 Eastbrook - [player_tooltip player_id='239351' first='Sophia' last='Morrison'], 2024 - 14.8p, 2.5r, 2.8a, 3.4s Eastbrook - Olivia Howell, 2024 - 11.8p, 5.9r, 2.5a Eastbrook - [player_tooltip player_id='825904' first='Audri' last='Prater'], 2024 - 7.5p, 3.5r Eastbrook - Kortney Goff, 2024 - 7.6p Lapel - [player_tooltip player_id='486521' first='Laniah' last='Wills'], 2026 - 15.8p, 12.6r Lapel - [player_tooltip player_id='331773' first='Madelyn' last='Poynter'], 2024 - 12.3p, 3.8r Lapel - [player_tooltip player_id='460836' first='Deannaya' last='Haseman'], 2023 - 9.4p, 2.5r, 2.7a Lapel - [player_tooltip player_id='496029' first='Jaylee' last='Hubble'], 2023 - 6.6p, 2.0r Lapel - Kerith Renihan, 2023 - 4.0p, 2.0r, 4.2a

The featured image is of Olivia Marks Olivia Marks 5'9" | PF South Central (Union Mills) | 2023 State IN (2023) of South Central High School (Union Mills).