Season Preview: Class 1A, Sectionals 57-60

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"small"} --> <p class="has-small-font-size"><em>The featured image is of [player_tooltip player_id='496039' first='Kiley' last='Best'] (2025) of South Decatur High School.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Monday, October 30, is the first day Indiana high school teams are eligible to begin official games, therefore the beginning of the 2023-2024 high school season is right around the corner. This article serves as the third of 16 in total, previewing each Sectional in the state. I will continue by taking a look at the first Class 1A South Regional, which incorporates the winners of Sectional #57 through Sectional #60. Below is a look at the teams in each of those Sectionals, along with some general comments and analysis.<br><small>(<em>SAG = Final 2022-2023 Multiclass Sagarin Rating (395 teams); SOS = Final 2022-2023 Strength of Schedule</em>)</small></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><font color="#FFFFFF">.</font></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><font size="+2">Sectional #57</font></strong><br>North Central (Farmersburg) (19-6), SAG 203, SOS 339<br>Bloomfield (14-15), SAG 220, SOS 240<br>Shakamak (13-9), SAG 255, SOS 325<br>White River Valley (9-14), SAG 283, SOS 271<br>Clay City (7-18), SAG 310, SOS 308<br>Dugger Union (8-14), SAG 378, SOS 367<br>Bloomington Lighthouse (8-16), SAG 388, SOS 380</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Thunderbirds of North Central High School have been rolling of late, but the last three seasons have ended at the hands of Bloomfield. This year, however, could tell a different story, as North Central returns nearly all of their production, while the Cardinals graduated several Seniors, two of which were major stat producers. North Central relies on a strong 2025 class, so they have a couple of very strong years in front of them. 5-9 Junior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='366798' first='Jalyn' last='Davidson']</strong> (<em>17.1p, 3.3r, 5.0a, 2.6s</em>) is the main catalyst. She is long, fast and athletic, and she plays with a nice motor. 5-5 Junior wing <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1122822' first='Shelby' last='Seay']</strong> (<em>13.5p, 5.8r, 4.1a, 3.2s</em>) and 5-6 Junior forward <strong>Samantha Secrest</strong> (<em>11.4p, 5.7r, 2.4s</em>) give them two more double-figure scorers, plus all three players are dangerous shooting the basketball. 5-6 Senior forward <strong>Lilli Gaines</strong> (<em>5.6p, 6.0r, 2.1s</em>) will help on the boards and defensively, while 5-2 Senior guard <strong>Kimber Ladson</strong> (<em>3.6p, 2.2r</em>) joins the fold after transferring in from nearby Sullivan High School. The Thunderbirds will speed you up, as they don't have great size, plus they are always at the top of the list of teams attempting and making 3-pointes each season. Their maturity this season could finally pay off. Bloomfield entered the Sectional last season 10-14, then they rattled off four consecutive wins, earning them a Sectional and a Regional title. However, they are now without the services of <strong>Delaney Richardson</strong> (<em>12.2p, 9.9r</em>) and <strong>Brianna Bucher</strong> (<em>11.0p, 2.5r, 3.3a</em>), both graduates. This year, 5-11 Senior forward <strong>Jaeden Mietus</strong>, 5-5 Senior guard <strong>Jacenyia Godoy</strong>, and 5-8 Junior wing <strong>Adalyn Figg</strong> step into leadership roles as upperclassmen. A strong 2026 class saw some action as well, so 5-11 Sophomore forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='486498' first='Lani' last='Graves']</strong>, plus others, could become focal points moving forward. 5-8 Junior guard <strong>Haley Britton</strong> also transferred in from South Spencer and should be of service to the Cardinals. Shakamak would like to also throw their hat in the ring, as three Freshmen and two Sophomores were a part of their seven-player rotation in 2022-2023. 5-3 Junior guard <strong>Elayni Stone</strong> (<em>9.7p, 3.4r, 3.2a, 2.8s</em>) is the best of the bunch, and she is a feisty little guard who can make plays for herself or others. 5-0 Junior guard <strong>Chase Hammond</strong> (<em>8.8p, 2.8r, 58 3s at 38%</em>) is a talented perimeter shooter who teams must spy. 5-7 forward <strong>Aubrie Lambermont</strong> (<em>6.7p, 5.2r</em>), 5-3 wing <strong>Madelyn Kennett</strong> (<em>5.0p, 4.5r</em>), plus 5-3 guard <strong>Aubree Langford</strong> (<em>2.8p</em>) are the trio of Sophomores who made contributions last year, while Senior post <strong>Teresa Rodriguez</strong> (<em>2.6p, 3.9r</em>) can help some inside.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>White River Valley seems to graduate their top scorer year after year, and such is the case this time around, as forward <strong>Kylie Palmer</strong> (<em>16.9p, 8.7r</em>) is gone. The Wolverines now turn to 5-4 Senior guard <strong>Laney Davis</strong>, 5-7 Senior forward <strong>Kassidy Barker</strong>, and 5-7 Junior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1218704' first='Brynna' last='Walton']</strong>. There are also a number of underclassmen who are champing at the bit to find their roles, but 6-0 Junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1218564' first='Izzy' last='Avila']</strong> stands out as someone who could add size to the rotation. Last season was the most wins Clay City has put together since the 2017-2018 season, when they were 18-8. The Eels graduated four players last Spring, including leading scorer <strong>Shaylee Evans</strong> (<em>7.6p, 2.9r, 2.0s</em>), but they still return solid production and experience. 5-6 Senior guard <strong>Kailyn Kirkling</strong> (<em>7.2p, 2.8r</em>) and 5-9 Senior wing <strong>Lulu Koehler</strong> (<em>6.0p, 2.6r</em>) are a nice pair of players to start with. 5-9 Senior forward <strong>Megan Jackson</strong> (<em>3.8p, 2.9r</em>) also played rotation minutes a season ago. Six more ladies saw action in at least 10 games last year, so if any of them can step up, the Eels could once again see double digit wins in 2023-2024. Dugger Union returned to the IHSAA a year ago, and they went through ups and downs like anyone else. They fielded a rather young team, though <strong>Jackie Smith</strong> (<em>10.5p, 6.3r, 2.7a, 2.6s</em>) did depart via graduation. Younger sister <strong>Jordyn Smith</strong> (<em>11.6p, 5.5r, 3.5s</em>), a 5-2 Junior guard, now leads the Bulldogs into action as the lone returning double-figure scorer. 5-7 Senior wing <strong>Brae Simpson</strong> (<em>8.3p, 6.2r</em>) gives Dugger Union another experienced presence, while Sophomores <strong>Rylan Flanders</strong> (<em>3.8p, 5.5r</em>), a 6-0 post, and <strong>Sage Stahl</strong> (<em>1.8p, 6.7r</em>), a 5-11 forward, offer nice size for the small school Bulldogs. Bloomington Lighthouse builds their lineup around 5-10 Senior post <strong>Abagail Rousey</strong> (<em>17.8p, 11.5r</em>). She is a strong, dominant presence in the paint for the Lions. 5-5 Junior guard <strong>Zoey Crites</strong> (<em>6.8p, 6.8r, 2.0a, 2.0s</em>) played in the first four games last year, but unfortunately missed the remainder of the season. 5-8 Senior forward <strong>Victoria Mann</strong> (<em>5.5p, 9.3r</em>) adds more veteran experience to the lineup, as the rest of the roster a year ago consisted of five Freshmen-turned-Sophomores this season. If the youngsters can step up, the Lions can approach 10 wins this year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><font color="#FFFFFF">.</font></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><font size="+2">Sectional #58</font></strong><br>Bethesda Christian (12-14), SAG 236, SOS 324<br>Indiana Deaf (11-9), SAG 352, SOS 381<br>Indiana Math &amp; Science (16-11), SAG 358, SOS 383<br>Metropolitan - <em>have not fielded a team since 2019-2020</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last year, Bethesda Christian had to play the first two-thirds of the season without star guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='177322' first='Kenzie' last='Fulks']</strong> (<em>14.1p, 3.4r, 2.6a, 2.9s in 9 games</em>) due to injury, however, she returned in time to help them ramp up and win a Sectional #58 title. This year, the 5-7 Senior guard is back, healthy, and ready to put up numbers like she did as a Sophomore (<em>22.5p, 5.1r, 5.3a, 3.1s</em>). She is a dynamic, all-state caliber player, who can flat out take over games. The Patriots will miss her running 'mate, the graduated <strong>Paige Vawter</strong> (<em>10.5p, 5.3r, 2.9a</em>), however they return a number of other Seniors, while mixing in some Freshmen. Best of the returning Seniors are wing <strong>Sydney Goodin</strong> (<em>8.8p, 5.3r, 2.0a</em>) and 6-0 front-liner <strong>Jayla Ferguson</strong> (<em>6.4p, 8.4r</em>). Teams will obviously lock in on Fulks, so if Bethesda can find a consistent second and third contributor, it will certainly help their chances to make a deep playoff run. The Indiana School for the Deaf is always a wildcard, as they tend to play several non-IHSAA teams throughout their regular season. Last year, they actually played 16 IHSAA schools, a big number for them, and this year they currently have 12 on the slate. Unfortunately, guard <strong>Seanna Baird</strong> (<em>11.9p, 4.1r, 2.5a, 3.7s</em>) has graduated, following a nice career, plus promising Senior wing <strong>Gianna Wheeler</strong> (<em>8.7p, 4.2r, 2.1a, 2.6s</em>) has transferred to a school in Washington, D.C. Now everything falls on the shoulders of Senior twins <strong>Sophia Wascher</strong> (<em>13.0p, 9.9r, 2.1s</em>), a 5-6 wing, and <strong>Olivia Wascher</strong> (<em>5.9p, 4.7r, 3.0s</em>), a 5-7 wing. 5-5 Junior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1218688' first='Tiana' last='Starayev']</strong> (<em>5.5p, 3.0r, 2.5a, 2.9s</em>) will also be relied upon to play a much bigger role for the Orioles.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Indiana Math &amp; Science Academy put together their best season as a member of the IHSAA in 2022-2023, their first season with a winning record, and just their second season with more than seven wins. This season, they must play without their two best players, both graduates. Gone are <strong>Jalynn Webb</strong> (<em>12.4p, 3.6r, 2.1a, 6.2s</em>) and <strong>DaNaisha Austin</strong> (<em>10.3p, 4.9r, 2.2s</em>). Now someone from the group of 5-6 Senior guard <strong>Teleisha Norwood</strong> (<em>6.0p, 4.9r, 3.0a, 2.4s</em>), 5-10 Senior post <strong>Barbara Starks</strong> (<em>5.3p, 3.9r</em>), and 5-2 Junior forward <strong>Opeyemi Kolurejo</strong> (<em>3.4p, 4.7r</em>) must fill those voids in the lineup. The Pumas of Metropolitan last fielded a team during the 2019-2020 season, but they are putting together a schedule for this campaign, so hopefully that means they are ready to go this season. The more, the merrier, obviously. Unfortunately, this season, it doesn't appear as though either Traders Point Christian or the International School will be fielding girls' basketball teams.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><font color="#FFFFFF">.</font></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><font size="+2">Sectional #59</font></strong><br>Eminence (17-7), SAG 311, SOS 386<br>Tindley Accelerated (11-10), SAG 347, SOS 390<br>Indianapolis Lutheran (5-18), SAG 354, SOS 362<br>Greenwood Christian (6-19), SAG 359, SOS 359<br>Central Christian (6-12), SAG 387, SOS 394<br>Victory College Prep (1-7), SAG 393, SOS 395<br>Providence Cristo Rey - <em>did not field a team in 2022-2023</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>in 2022-2023, the Eminence Eels won their first Sectional title since the 1998-1999 season. They did so with 6-1 Junior front-liner <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='570384' first='Sophia' last='Saucerman']</strong> (<em>12.0p, 8.2r</em>) stepping to the forefront and leading them in both scoring and rebounding for the first time. What makes it scary for opponents this year is, former statistical leaders <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='825876' first='Natalie' last='Hubbard']</strong> (<em>10.2p, 7.9r, 2.3a, 2.7s</em>), a 5-10 Senior forward, and <strong>Danica Myers</strong> (<em>8.9p, 4.3r, 3.5a, 2.6s</em>), a 5-6 Senior wing, also return to the fold and give them a massive amount of experience. Rounding out their lineup are 5-3 Senior guard <strong>Bella Dittemore</strong> (<em>7.1p, 3.0r</em>) and 5-10 senior forward <strong>Morghan Taylor</strong> (<em>3.0p, 3.6r</em>). The Eels did graduate much of their bench production, so they will need a couple of newcomers to step into key roles if they want to repeat as champions. The Tindley Tigers were above .500 once again in 2022-2023, and while they were set to return nearly all of their production, but unfortunately three of their top five players transferred out, including leading scorer <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='826008' first='Alilyona' last='McKeller']</strong> (<em>12.9p, 7.4r, 2.9s</em>), a 5-6 Senior guard. 5-3 Sophomore guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1122688' first='Taylor' last='Cotham']</strong> (<em>9.2p, 4.8r, 3.8a, 3.1s</em>) and 5-5 Sophomore guard <strong>Ariaunna Hall</strong> (<em>8.7p, 3.5r, 2.1a</em>) now return as the most experienced players on the roster, but they are a nice foundation for the future. Junior guard <strong>Rachel Day</strong> transfers in from Sectional rival Victory College Prep and could give the Tigers a boost to their lineup. The Lutheran Saints had a mostly young team a season ago, and they look to improve upon a season in which they lost their final eight games. 5-1 Senior guard <strong>Caitlyn Brooks</strong> (<em>15.3p, 2.2r, 2.5a, 3.6s</em>) is their playmaker, while 5-7 Senior forward <strong>Grace King</strong> (<em>12.9p, 8.3r</em>) does her work inside. Those two are a great starting point, but depth falls off almost immediately. 5-10 Junior forward <strong>Caitlyn Rose</strong> (<em>5.6p, 6.1r</em>) has multiple years of Varsity experience already, but they'll need her to score it a little more if they want to contend with Eminence.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Greenwood Christian has graduated a number of talented and productive players over the last few years, and now they are trying to get back to the top of the Sectional #59 field. 5-8 Senior wing <strong>Sydney Waldron</strong> is a good place to start, plus she has classmate <strong>Ellie Sloan</strong>, another 5-8 wing, to help her with Senior leadership this season. The Cougars played several underclassmen, including Freshmen, last season, so the hope is the experience they gained and the growth they showed carries over to this year. Central Christian fell off a little last season, after posting a 10-win season in 2021-2022. Unfortunately for the Chargers, they also lost leading scorer <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='825939' first='Trinity' last='Foerster']</strong>, a 5-6 Senior wing, as she has transferred to Herron High School. Now, they must lean more heavily on 5-7 Junior forward <strong>Nevaeh Rodriguez</strong> and 5-5 Senior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1038858' first='Alyssa' last='Anderson']</strong>. 5-7 Senior forward <strong>Olivia Stringer</strong> could present another scoring option for the Chargers this year. Victory College Prep managed eight games in 2022-2023 before shutting down their season after their January 9th game. Sophomore <strong>Promise Edwards</strong> (<em>17.0p, 3.4r, 2.0s</em>) was their go-to player, but they also received nice contributions from <strong>Rachel Day</strong> (<em>8.4p, 2.0r</em>), though Day has since transferred to Tindley, as mentioned above. Hopefully they will have a full roster and be able to finish an entire season in 2023-2024. Providence Cristo Rey is another program who struggled to field a team last year, but they have already assembled much of a schedule for this season, and they are reportedly fielding a team once again.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><font color="#FFFFFF">.</font></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><font size="+2">Sectional #60</font></strong><br>Jac-Cen-Del (17-12), SAG 163, SOS 288<br>South Decatur (9-15), SAG 257, SOS 298<br>Morristown (13-11), SAG 260, SOS 338<br>Oldenburg (11-10), SAG 262, SOS 289<br>Southwestern (Shelby) (6-17), SAG 335, SOS 313<br>Waldron (5-18), SAG 338, SOS 252<br>Edinburgh (6-18), SAG 365, SOS 334</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sectional #60 tends to be pretty competitive at the top each year. Jac-Cen-Del has seen their share of success over the last two decades, and they should continue that as the favorite here in 2023-2024. While <strong>Olivia Neal</strong> (<em>10.2p, 5.8r</em>) did graduate, they return everyone else to the fold. 5-10 Senior wing <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='572809' first='Julia' last='Meyer']</strong> (<em>13.1p, 6.6r, 3.5a, 2.2s</em>) was quite the surprise last season, as she really stepped up. She has a fairly strong frame, she's skilled at all three levels, and she can make shots or facilitate. 5-8 Senior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='625088' first='Reagan' last='Hughes']</strong> (<em>12.4p, 2.9r, 2.4s, 56 3s at 34%</em>) is a talented shooter and quite the offensive weapon. 5-9 Junior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1122667' first='Kelsey' last='Borgman']</strong> (<em>7.2p, 2.8r, 2.3a</em>) is another key contributor, plus there are some good youngsters who could step up this season. Keep an eye on 6-0 Freshman post <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='751046' first='Brynlie' last='Simon']</strong> as well. Look for the Eagles to make another deep state tournament run this Winter. South Decatur dropped down from Class 2A last year, and while their record might not reflect it, they were/are one of the better teams in Sectional #60. Additionally, they return a great deal of production, beginning with 5-7 Junior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='496039' first='Kiley' last='Best']</strong> (<em>12.6p, 3.8r</em>) and 5-10 Junior post <strong>MaKayla Somers</strong> (<em>10.0p, 9.3r</em>). That inside-outside duo should be a great starting point for them to approach a dozen, or even 15 wins this time around. 5-8 Junior wing <strong>Paige McQueen</strong> (<em>5.8p, 4.0r</em>), 5-6 Senior forward <strong>Molly Eden</strong> (<em>5.2p, 7.5r</em>), and 5-4 Senior guard <strong>Brayley Sundal</strong> (<em>3.3p, 2.5r, 2.2a</em>) all have starting experience and could step up this year. Also keep an eye out for 5-10 Freshman front-liner <strong>Taylor Somers</strong>. Morristown is typically a strong and competitive program, and this year the Yellow Jackets should continue that trend, though they will have to do so without graduated point guard <strong>Reagan Kleine</strong> (<em>12.8p, 5.5r, 2.8a, 3.7s</em>). Just about everyone else is back, though, including standout 5-8 Junior wing <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='827997' first='Nevaeh' last='Sanders']</strong> (<em>19.8p, 3.2r, 3.2s</em>). 5-11 Junior post <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1122802' first='Danika' last='Rutledge']</strong> (<em>12.7p, 7.2r, 2.6s</em>) is another double-figure scorer who could average closer to a double-double this season. If the Yellow Jackets can find a third scoring component, they could be tough to beat each night out.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oldenburg posted its first winning record since the 2018-2019 season, and the Twisters return their top two players in 5-9 Senior forward <strong>Ellie Ryan</strong> and 5-8 Senior guard <strong>Katie Weber</strong>. Ryan is a near double-double machine inside, while Weber facilitates the offense. 5-6 guard <strong>Rachel Lamping</strong> is a third Senior who should add experience to an otherwise young roster. If those three can stay consistently productive, the Twisters could compete for a Sectional #60 title this season. Southwestern won just six games a year ago, plus they are facing the graduation of four key players, including leading scorer <strong>McKinley Correll</strong> (<em>10.0p, 6.7r, 3.0a, 3.0s</em>). One player back in the fold who should take the leadership reins is 5-9 Junior forward <strong>Tanna Tatlock</strong> (<em>7.9p, 7.0r</em>). It could be tough sledding for the Spartans this season, but Tatlock at least gives them a fighting chance each night. Waldron was outstanding in 2021-2022, going 24-2 and losing in the Semi-State. However, they graduated a tremendous amount of talent and production, plus they switched coaches. Now, they all look to prove themselves on a nightly basis. 5-5 Senior guard <strong>Alyssa Benson</strong> (<em>9.6p, 3.0s</em>) was the leading scorer for the Mohawks last year, but they did graduate versatile forward <strong>Josee Larrison</strong> (<em>7.5p, 6.6r, 2.6a</em>). Waldron will need for 5-11 Senior post <strong>Audrey Hogg</strong> (<em>5.5p, 5.0r, 2.0s</em>), 5-9 Junior forward <strong>Alivia Fischer</strong> (<em>4.2p, 3.9r</em>), and 5-6 Sophomore guard <strong>Emerson Lindsey</strong> (<em>3.5p</em>) to step up this season. Also look for 5-9 Freshman <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='751062' first='Grace' last='Fischer']</strong> to make an impact sooner rather than later for the Mohawks. Edinburgh is another team trying to get to 10 wins this season, but the graduation of front-liner <strong>Gracie Crawhorn</strong> (<em>11.6p, 7.5r, 2.3a, 2.1s</em>) will be tough on the Lancers. 5-6 Senior guard <strong>Kyah Streeval</strong> managed just a couple of games a year ago and likely would have been a double-digit scorer, but she then missed the remainder of the season. Her return definitely helps. 5-4 Sophomore sister <strong>Kenna Streeval</strong> (<em>7.4p, 2.8r, 2.2s</em>) got her feet wet as a rookie, and that should pay off this season. With them together in the backcourt, look for Edinburgh to be much more dynamic offensively. Sophomore forwards <strong>Lillie Goff</strong> (<em>2.3p, 2.4r</em>) and <strong>Bella Turner</strong> (<em>2.2p, 2.9r</em>), plus Sophomore guard <strong>Jada Sanders</strong> (<em>1.5p, 1.1r</em>), also saw valuable Varsity minutes as Freshmen, which should only help the Lancers' depth this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->