Regional Preview: Class 3A North
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The featured image is of Aliyah Hershberger Aliyah Hershberger 5'6" | CG Mishawaka Marian | 2023 IN (2023) of Mishawaka’s Marian Catholic High School. Following a pair of Sectional championship games Monday evening, the Regional fields are now set. This…
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Continue ReadingThe featured image is of Aliyah Hershberger Aliyah Hershberger 5'6" | CG Mishawaka Marian | 2023 IN (2023) of Mishawaka’s Marian Catholic 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 3A taking place in the Northern half of the state.
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Jimtown Regional:
Game-1: Mishawaka Marian (22-5) vs. Tippecanoe Valley (21-3),1:00 p.m. ET
Game-2: Fairfield (24-2) vs. Highland (17-6), 4:00 p.m. ET
Game-1: Without South Bend Washington in their Sectional, Mishawaka Marian was able to coast through, for the most part. Jimtown did offer a bit of a challenge, but the Lady Knights won by 11 points Tuesday night (then by 26 and 40 points in the following games Friday and Saturday). Senior Nevaeh Foster Nevaeh Foster 5'8" | CG Mishawaka Marian | 2023 State #39 Nation IN has had an outstanding Senior season and a stellar career, amassing more than 2200 points, 500 rebounds, 300 assists, and 300 steals. This season, she has gotten help from Senior transfer Aliyah Hershberger Aliyah Hershberger 5'6" | CG Mishawaka Marian | 2023 IN and Senior wing Shayla Alexander Shayla Alexander 5'10" | SF Mishawaka Marian | 2023 IN . That trio should be able to control the ball offensively and pressure the ball defensively against Tippecanoe Valley. Valley, winners in 18 or their last 19 outings, also have a strong Senior presence. Kaydence Mellott Kaydence Mellott 5'8" | SG Tippecanoe Valley | 2023 State IN is their big-time shooter/scorer, but they also have a nice balance of skill and size throughout their roster. The Lady Vikings will mix up defenses and try to frustrate the Knights by keeping them guessing. The wildcard here is Marian Senior forward MaKaya Porter MaKaya Porter 5'11" | PF Mishawaka Marian | 2023 State IN . She returned late in the season from a knee injury and played in two games, but she sat out to rest it during the Sectional week games. She could be a huge presence inside against Tippecanoe Valley, if she plays. Regardless, I think Marian has a slight edge, as Foster helped them to a Regional her Freshman year, whereas the Vikings last Regional appearance was in 2017. I’ll say Mishawaka Marian in a close one, 48-46.
Game-2: Following a 6-16 2018-2019 campaign, Fairfield has used a strong 2023 class to compile a 77-25 record during their four-year careers. They look to keep that streak going this Saturday. Senior forward Brea Garber Brea Garber 6'0" | PF Fairfield | 2023 State IN has been the centerpiece to that success, but fellow Seniors Bailey Willard and Morgan Gawthrop have also played big roles in helping the Falcons to a number of those victories. Freshman wing Eva Herbert Eva Herbert 5'10" | SF Fairfield | 2026 State IN is another to keep an eye on, as she has star potential once she adds a little more strength. Highland moved down from Class 4A due to enrollment numbers, and they are a matchup problem for most teams. They are short, quick, fast, and athletic, plus they shoot the ball from the perimeter at every position. Senior Payton Reid Payton Reid 5'5" | CG Highland | 2023 IN and Freshman Jordan Steele are their two most potent perimeter threats, as they each have quick-trigger lefty strokes outside. Junior Aaliyah Keil is an athletic attacker with nice length, plus she plays with a great motor. This game comes down to the discipline and structure of Fairfield versus the speed and athleticism of Highland. With Fairfield’s experience from their Semi-State run a year ago, I think that gives the Falcons a significant in-the-moment advantage. Look for Fairfield to prevail, 51-37.
Players to Watch:
Fairfield –
Brea Garber
Brea
Garber
6'0" | PF
Fairfield | 2023
State
IN
, 2023
Fairfield – Bailey Willard, 2023
Fairfield – Morgan Gawthrop, 2023
Fairfield –
Eva Herbert
Eva
Herbert
5'10" | SF
Fairfield | 2026
State
IN
, 2026
Highland – Aaliyah Keil, 2024 – 11.5p, 4.2r, 2.6s
Highland – Jordan Steele, 2026 – 10.9p, 3.8r
Highland –
Payton Reid
Payton
Reid
5'5" | CG
Highland | 2023
IN
, 2023 – 10.4p, 4.5r
Highland – Cailey Belloso, 2023 – 4.9p, 5.3r
Marian –
Nevaeh Foster
Nevaeh
Foster
5'8" | CG
Mishawaka Marian | 2023
State
#39
Nation
IN
, 2023 – 25.6p, 6.4r, 3.6a, 3.3s
Marian –
MaKaya Porter
MaKaya
Porter
5'11" | PF
Mishawaka Marian | 2023
State
IN
, 2023 – 14.0p, 7.5r, 3.0a (in 2 games)
Marian –
Aliyah Hershberger
Aliyah
Hershberger
5'6" | CG
Mishawaka Marian | 2023
IN
, 2023 – 11.4p, 2.3r, 2.9a
Marian –
Shayla Alexander
Shayla
Alexander
5'10" | SF
Mishawaka Marian | 2023
IN
, 2023 – 11.0p, 5.4r, 3.4a, 2.0s
Marian – Christa Porter, 2025 – 4.3p, 8.2r
Tippecanoe Valley –
Kaydence Mellott
Kaydence
Mellott
5'8" | SG
Tippecanoe Valley | 2023
State
IN
, 2023 – 19.5p, 5.5r, 2.5s
Tippecanoe Valley – Lily Ault, 2023 – 7.6p
Tippecanoe Valley – Molly Moriarty, 2023 – 5.6p, 2.5r, 3.8a, 2.7s
Tippecanoe Valley – Macy Petersen, 2024 – 5.3p, 4.9r
Tippecanoe Valley –
Corinna Stiles
Corinna
Stiles
6'0" | PF
Tippecanoe Valley | 2023
IN
, 2023 – 5.1p, 5.7r, 2.5a, 2.2s
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Bellmont Regional:
Game-1: Hamilton Heights (19-5) vs. Norwell (21-3), 4:00 p.m. ET
Game-2: Twin Lakes (26-0) vs. Garrett (14-11), 7:00 p.m. ET
Game-1: These teams haven’t met in a little over three years, so most of the players involved aren’t terribly familiar with each other. With that said, these two programs have been two of the most successful in Class 3A over the last 15 years or so. Both teams are very structured with nice basketball players, and this could be one of those 32-minute dogfights. Hamilton Heights leans on standout Junior guard Camryn Runner Camryn Runner 5'9" | CG Hamilton Heights | 2024 State IN most games, however Senior Kaylee Rhoton Kaylee Rhoton 5'4" | SG Hamilton Heights | 2023 IN and Junior Ella Hickok Ella Hickok 5'6" | PG Hamilton Heights | 2024 State IN complete a strong backcourt for the Lady Huskies, and they go as their backcourt goes. Norwell has gotten an outstanding season from Junior Kennedy Fuelling Kennedy Fuelling 5'7" | CG Norwell | 2024 State IN . She is an excellent perimeter shooter, an athletic attacker, and an effortful defender. Junior Makenzie Fuess Makenzie Fuess 5'5" | PG Norwell | 2024 State IN is a tough-nosed point guard who brings a lot of energy, while 6-2 Senior Skyla Tomasek Skyla Tomasek 6'2" | C Norwell | 2023 State IN is a major defensive presence protecting the paint. Like I said before, this game will be a real battle, and it will be a well-earned victory for whoever can escape. I will lean on Norwell here a little, taking the Lady Knights by a 47-42 margin.
Game-2: When Garrett graduated a ton of production in June of 2022, I think a lot of people thought they’d struggle and have to climb the uphill battle most nights. In some cases, that was true, but Senior Bailey Kelham Bailey Kelham 5'10" | SF Garrett | 2023 State IN is a different kind of monster who can put the team on her back and will them to victories. Junior front-liner Kelsey Bergman Kelsey Bergman 6'1" | C Garrett | 2024 IN has also had shining moments and is starting to figure it out on the interior. The Lady Railroaders put together a strong Sectional run, winning three games against three solid programs by a total of 16 points. However, next up is Twin Lakes. 26-0 Twin Lakes. #1 in Class 3A Twin Lakes. The Lady Indians are as tough of a matchup in Class 3A as there is, because of their skillful and experienced guard play and ability to score it anywhere inside of 30-feet. Junior Olivia Nickerson Olivia Nickerson 5'7" | SG Twin Lakes | 2024 State IN is a sharp-shooter with in-the-gym range. You can’t allow her any space or any rhythm. Sophomore Addison Bowsman is a high-level point guard with a great feel for the game. She just understands when to pass and when to score it herself. And Senior Addison Ward Addison Ward 5'6" | PG Twin Lakes | 2023 State IN is a little under the radar because of the others, and she can very well have a 20-point night, bury shots outside, or find open teammates for scores. And, if you over-help to any of those three, Seniors Hannah Hodgen Hannah Hodgen 5'10" | SF Twin Lakes | 2023 IN and Kora Pass are there waiting for layup after layup. It has been a fun ride for Garrett, and I’m sure they’ll be well-prepared and play hard, but Twin Lakes wins this one, 57-36.
Players to Watch:
Garrett –
Bailey Kelham
Bailey
Kelham
5'10" | SF
Garrett | 2023
State
IN
, 2023 – 19.8p, 9.3r, 2.4s
Garrett – Maddy Schenkel, 2023 – 6.8p, 4.0r, 2.8a
Garrett –
Kelsey Bergman
Kelsey
Bergman
6'1" | C
Garrett | 2024
IN
, 2024 – 5.8p, 8.6r, 2.0b
Garrett – Aida Haynes, 2023 – 5.1p
Hamilton Heights –
Camryn Runner
Camryn
Runner
5'9" | CG
Hamilton Heights | 2024
State
IN
, 2024 – 18.9p, 7.1r, 2.7s
Hamilton Heights –
Ella Hickok
Ella
Hickok
5'6" | PG
Hamilton Heights | 2024
State
IN
, 2024 – 8.8p, 3.4r, 3.5a, 2.3s
Hamilton Heights –
Kaylee Rhoton
Kaylee
Rhoton
5'4" | SG
Hamilton Heights | 2023
IN
, 2023 – 7.6p
Hamilton Heights – Katie Brown, 2025 – 4.1p
Norwell –
Kennedy Fuelling
Kennedy
Fuelling
5'7" | CG
Norwell | 2024
State
IN
, 2024
Norwell –
Makenzie Fuess
Makenzie
Fuess
5'5" | PG
Norwell | 2024
State
IN
, 2024
Norwell –
Skyla Tomasek
Skyla
Tomasek
6'2" | C
Norwell | 2023
State
IN
, 2023
Twin Lakes –
Olivia Nickerson
Olivia
Nickerson
5'7" | SG
Twin Lakes | 2024
State
IN
, 2024 – 19.0p, 4.2r, 2.3a, 2.6s
Twin Lakes – Addison Bowsman, 2025 – 17.5p, 5.5r, 7.2a
Twin Lakes –
Addison Ward
Addison
Ward
5'6" | PG
Twin Lakes | 2023
State
IN
, 2023 – 11.1p, 3.3r, 2.2a
Twin Lakes –
Hannah Hodgen
Hannah
Hodgen
5'10" | SF
Twin Lakes | 2023
IN
, 2023 – 6.1p, 6.4r, 2.6a
Twin Lakes – Kora Pass, 2023 – 4.2p, 7.5r