2023-2024 Sneak Peek

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"small"} --> <p class="has-small-font-size"><em>The featured image is of [player_tooltip player_id='331801' first='Kennedie' last='Burks'] (2024) of Lake Central High School.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While we are just turning the calendar to May, I wanted to have a little fun and quickly look at five teams who could make some real noise during the 2023-2024 high school season. Now, this isn't a "Top-5" or anything, just five teams I think will stand out at the season's onset. I will have my way-too-early look at each classification in June, once the IHSAA has their vote and determines what classifications look like next year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><font size="+2">CENTER GROVE</font></strong><br>The Lady Trojans return four of their top five scorers, but they have also played with as much balance and depth as anyone over the past few seasons. Wing <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='264111' first='Audrey' last='Annee']</strong> (2024), guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='177311' first='Aubrie' last='Booker']</strong> (2024), and post <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='201884' first='Rachel' last='Wirts']</strong> (2024) will form a strong Senior class next season. Annee was the only double-figure scorer for Center Grove, and she's an accurate perimeter shooter, while Booker does a little of everything from the perimeter, and Wirts provides good skill at 6-3. Point guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='295755' first='Lilly' last='Bischoff']</strong> (2025) also returns experience and a nice feel for the game. They were 22-5 this season and battled Bedford North Lawrence in the Semi-State.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><font size="+2">COLUMBIA CITY</font></strong><br>The Lady Eagles fell just short, losing to Homestead by a single point in their first Sectional game. Even so, Columbia City returns as much backcourt talent as most teams in the state. Dynamic point guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='295754' first='Addison' last='Baxter']</strong> (2025), along with floor general <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='177354' first='Kyndra' last='Sheets']</strong> (2024), take turns on the ball, creating offense and finding open teammates. Sisters <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='455935' first='Tessa' last='Tonkel']</strong> (2024) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='486514' first='Anisa' last='Tonkel']</strong> (2026) bring a lot of energy to the backcourt and can both defend. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='496018' first='Faith' last='Frey']</strong> (2024) acts as a dangerous 3-point shooting threat. Senior-to-be <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='406435' first='Molly' last='Baker']</strong> (2024) is about the extent of their size, but she does a nice job defensively and on the boards.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><font size="+2">FORT WAYNE SNIDER</font></strong><br>The Lady Panthers finished this season with a 21-5 record and a one-point loss to Fishers in the Semi-State morning game. They return recent Purdue commit <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='177351' first='Jordyn' last='Poole']</strong> (2024), Bowling Green State commit <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='177321' first='Joh'nea' last='Donahue']</strong> (2024), wing <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='572796' first='Ciara' last='Sims']</strong> (2024), front-liner <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='298261' first='Tia' last='Phinezy']</strong> (2024), and wing <strong>Gabriella Barnes</strong> (2025) to their starting lineup, along with four more 2024s and a 2025 who saw significant minutes this past season. Poole and Donahue alone are enough for a team to be ultracompetitive, but having an additional scorer like Sims and a frontline presence like Phinezy will really help solidify the roster.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><font size="+2">LAKE CENTRAL</font></strong><br>Lake Central knocked out South Bend Washington, before falling to Fishers in the Semi-State championship game. And they did so without a Senior on their roster. A plethora of 2024s and 2025s make for a deep, talented, and skilled group. Explosive wing <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='176406' first='Aniyah' last='Bishop']</strong> (2024), dangerous perimeter shooter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='201878' first='Riley' last='Milausnic']</strong> (2024), athletic defender <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='406433' first='Nadia' last='Clayton']</strong> (2024), and feisty point guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='331801' first='Kennedie' last='Burks']</strong> (2024) make up a strong Senior-to-be group. High-motor forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='295811' first='Ayla' last='Krygier']</strong> (2025) and jet-quick point guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='295781' first='Vanessa' last='Wimberly']</strong> (2025) are their two Junior-to-be stars. Fellow 2025s <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='295773' first='Isabella' last='Soria']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='324076' first='Bryn' last='Leonard']</strong> also look to contribute next season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><font size="+2">SOUTH BEND WASHINGTON</font></strong><br>Despite the graduation loss of a couple of 2023 Indiana All-Stars headed to Purdue, the Lady Panthers should be back and strong once again due to a talented 2025 group. Forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='295770' first='Kira' last='Reynolds']</strong> (2025) can play inside or out at 6-4, and she flashes pro potential at times. Forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='295766' first='Monique' last='Mitchell']</strong> (2025) and guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='295780' first='Ryiah' last='Wilson']</strong> (2025) are two of the best athletes in the state's 2025 class, and both are genuine playmakers. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='335982' first='Zion' last='Belcher-Arill']</strong> (2025) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='324081' first='Ayanna' last='Nicholson']</strong> (2025) are two more Juniors-to-be who help provide size and rebounding along the frontline for Washington. They will be tall and long once again.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->