Season Preview: Class 1A, Sectionals 61-64
In this article:
The featured image is of Callie Alston Callie Alston 5'10" | PF Orleans | 2026 IN (2026) of Orleans High School. Monday, October 30, is the first day Indiana high school teams are eligible to begin official games, therefore the…
Access all of Prep Girls Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingThe featured image is of Callie Alston Callie Alston 5'10" | PF Orleans | 2026 IN (2026) of Orleans High School.
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 fourth of 16 in total, previewing each Sectional in the state. I will continue by taking a look at the second Class 1A South Regional, which incorporates the winners of Sectional #61 through Sectional #64. Below is a look at the teams in each of those Sectionals, along with some general comments and analysis.
(SAG = Final 2022-2023 Multiclass Sagarin Rating (395 teams); SOS = Final 2022-2023 Strength of Schedule)
.
Sectional #61
Lanesville (28-2), SAG 20, SOS 147
Borden (17-7), SAG 133, SOS 258
Rock Creek (15-7), SAG 254, SOS 340
West Washington (8-15), SAG 261, SOS 188
Christian Academy (9-14), SAG 318, SOS 322
South Central (Elizabeth) (2-21), SAG 340, SOS 275
The Lanesville Eagles broke through and finally won their first state championship in school history. This year, they should remain competitive, but they will need to replace major graduation losses in Linzie Wernert (13.6p, 7.8r, 2.6a, 2.8s) and 6-1 Morgan Sonner (7.9p, 5.3r). 5-9 Junior guard Hadley Crosier Hadley Crosier 5'9" | CG Lanesville | 2025 State IN (10.4p, 3.0r, 3.4a, 3.7s) does return, giving them a versatile athlete on the perimeter who can handle, score, and defend multiple positions. 5-4 Senior guard Ava Kerr (6.9p, 2.4r, 2.4s), 6-0 Junior forward Shelby Allen Shelby Allen 6'3" | C Lanesville | 2025 IN (6.8p, 5.3r), 5-8 Junior wing Hylton Brumley Hylton Brumley 5'8" | SF Lanesville | 2025 IN (3.9p, 2.2r, 2.0a), plus 5-9 Senior forward Elle Schneider (3.4p, 1.8r) all have big-game experience. If one or two of those ladies, or maybe a newcomer, can offer offensive support for Crosier, the Eagles can again make another strong playoff push. Borden is certainly an up-and-comer ready to challenge in Sectional #61 and in all of Class 1A, as they started four Freshmen for much of last season. The Braves will need to replace the graduated Emily Cissell (9.5p), plus four other Seniors, however there is a lot to look forward to. 6-0 Sophomore forward Ava Wheeler Ava Wheeler 6'0" | PF Borden | 2026 State IN (12.5p, 6.5r, 2.8a, 2.6s) gives them size, athleticism, plus inside-outside versatility. 6-0 Sophomore guard Riley Rarick Riley Rarick 6'0" | CG Borden | 2026 State IN (9.5p, 3.9r, 4.2a) can play all three perimeter positions and can act as a point guard or a wing scorer. 5-9 Sophomore forward Emma Hart Emma Hart 5'2" | PG New Castle | 2024 IN (7.2p, 5.3r) and 5-3 Sophomore guard A.J. Mallad A.J. Mallad 5'6" | CG Borden | 2026 IN (7.0p, 2.6r, 2.8a, 3.0s) round out the experienced “veterans” on the roster. The Braves will need to solidify their lineup, but they have a lot of talent in these four second-year players.
Rock Creek is another young, quickly rising team. The Lions return nearly all of their production, and they were led by a pair of Freshmen and a trio of Sophomores last season. 5-7 Sophomore guard Kelis Dansby Kelis Dansby 5'7" | PG Rock Creek Academy | 2026 State IN (12.7p, 2.3r, 2.1a) is a strong, athletic playmaker who has a flair for the dramatic and can make a lot of tough plays look simple. Classmate Aleeyah Brown (9.3p, 6.9r), a 5-9 forward, poses quite a presence in the paint. 5-6 Junior guard Rylan Byars (7.6p, 3.3r, 2.7a) is a productive veteran, while 5-0 Junior guard Ryleigh Newton Ryleigh Newton 5'2" | PG Rock Creek | 2025 IN (5.7p) is a quick little water-bug playmaker. 5-10 Senior post Jayli Smith (4.6p, 6.8r) can help defensively in the frontcourt, while New Albany transfer Ali Jones Ali Jones 5'8" | PF Jeffersonville | 2024 IN , a 5-11 Senior forward adds strength and size as well up front. West Washington went through some growing pains last year, but they also fielded a rather young team. 5-7 Sophomore wing Meredith Deaton Meredith Deaton 5'8" | SF West Washington | 2026 IN (11.5p, 5.8r) led them in both scoring and rebounding as a rookie, so the future is very bright for her. 5-6 Junior guard Lilly Thompson (10.6p, 4.1r, 2.5s) was another young, double-figure scorer for the Senators. 5-8 Sophomore wing Jayla Batt (6.7p, 4.1r) and 5-10 Junior forward Ava Woods Ava Woods 5'10" | PF West Washington | 2025 IN (5.2p, 2.8r) give the Senators a nice nucleus at both ends of the floor. Christian Academy nearly got to 10 wins in 2022-2023, which would have been huge for this New Albany based program. This seems repetitive in this Sectional, but the Warriors are another young program with a bright outlook. 5-5 Junior guard Leah Stevens (14.0p, 3.7r) leads the way once again. She gets help from fellow Junior Alexus Bryant (6.8p, 4.1r), a 5-7 wing, plus Sophomores Addison Jackson Addison Jackson 5'10" | PF Christian Academy Of Indiana | 2026 IN (6.1p, 5.9r), a 5-10 post, and Macy Jackson Macy Jackson 5'4" | SG Christian Academy Of Indiana | 2026 IN (5.0p, 4.2r, 3.0s), a 5-4 guard. Also keep an eye out for 5-7 Freshman guard Carly Stevens, who could make an immediate impact. Following a string of great success, South Central has won just 10 games over the past five seasons. They also must say “goodbye” to some key graduates from the 2023 class. 5-6 Junior guard Olivia Maley and 5-8 Junior forward Autumn Knear offer some experience and production to the lineup.
.
Sectional #62
Trinity Lutheran (22-7), SAG 93, SOS 263
Shawe Memorial (16-6), SAG 213, SOS 312
New Washington (11-12), SAG 235, SOS 234
Rising Sun (12-12), SAG 278, SOS 296
Crothersville (0-17), SAG 389, SOS 355
Medora (4-15), SAG 390, SOS 382
Usually when a Class 1A school gets hit with the graduation of a Division-I recruit, it goes through some withdrawal, but when the second consecutive one graduates, it’s sort of uncharted territory. Such is the case with Trinity Lutheran, but they survived the first graduation loss in Butler University’s Sydney Jaynes in 2021, and while they now say “goodbye” to 2023 graduate Bailey Tabeling (22.2p, 6.0r, 4.6a, 2.7s, 2.7b) to Ohio University after everything she has meant, the Cougars should remain competitive behind three skillful and experienced upperclassmen. The Cougars return everything but Tabeling, in fact, and they welcome a really nice Freshman to the fold. Look for 5-7 Junior forward Madison Keith (11.5p, 9.0r, 2.1s) to lead the way after a strong Sophomore year. Add to that a really nice offensive weapon and shooter in 5-10 senior wing Liza Froedge Liza Froedge 5'10" | SF Trinity Lutheran | 2024 IN (9.9p, 3.9r), plus 5-4 Junior guard Jordan Brewer (9.5p, 3.0r), and those are great building blocks to begin with. 5-2 Junior guard Laura Roeder (4.3p, 2.7r) has additional Varsity experience, plus they have to be excited about 5-4 Freshman point guard Marley Warren Marley Warren 5'5" | PG Trinity Lutheran | 2027 IN , who shined at our PGH Freshman Showcase this August. The Cougars should be just fine and contend for a Sectional #62 title once again. The Hilltoppers of Shawe Memorial surprised some people a season ago when they turned to a Freshman backcourt, and they should once again challenge Trinity Lutheran for the Sectional crown. 5-7 Sophomore guard Audrey Barron Audrey Barron 5'7" | SG Shawe Memorial | 2026 IN (16.5p, 5.8r, 2.0s, 31 3s) is a nice athlete on the wing and a very good perimeter shooter. 5-6 Sophomore guard Hunter Mote Hunter Mote 5'6" | PG Shawe Memorial | 2026 State IN is a talented point guard with some craftiness to her game, and she shined throughout the Spring & Summer grassroots season. But those two also get help from 5-11 Junior forward Ava Turner Ava Turner 6'0" | SF Shawe Memorial | 2025 State IN , who also put together a nice offseason, capped off by a strong performance at the PGH Top-250 Showcase in September. Those three players are more than enough for any opponent to handle, but this team is much deeper. 5-7 Junior guard Allison Knoebel was all-conference following her Freshman season, plus 5-11 Junior forward Berkeley Neuman and 5-5 Senior wing Yolett Perez possess a great deal of Varsity experience.
New Washington was new to Sectional #62 a year ago, and they fell in the semi-final to Rising Sun by a single point. The Mustangs are certainly encouraged by the return of 5-8 Senior wing Kaidin James Kaidin James 5'8" | SF New Washington | 2024 IN (19.5p, 6.8r, 4.3s), as she can definitely lead the way each night. But she will need help, and 5-5 Senior guard Sami Mattingly brings great experience to the lineup as well. 5-6 Junior guard Kristyn Greenwell offers support in the backcourt, while 6-0 Sophomore Kaylee Lawrence might be able to provide a little size for the Mustangs. The Shiners of Rising Sun must deal with the loss of Varsity mainstays Baylee Morris (12.0p, 2.9r, 2.6s) and Kieran Groover (5.5p, 3.3r, 2.3a), but there are still several nice players on hand for the 2023-2024 campaign. 5-10 Senior front-liner Alyssa Simpson (11.1p, 10.4r) is a walking double-double and controls the paint. 5-6 Senior forward Jenna Peelman (7.3p, 6.7r) plays much bigger than she is and battles at both ends of the floor, while 5-2 Senior guard Nora Powell (3.8p, 2.4r) offers some stability and experience around the perimeter. Crothersville unfortunately finished the 2022-2023 season winless, so there is nowhere to go but up for the Tigers at this point. 5-8 Senior forward Jocelina Clay and 5-1 Senior guard Ysabella Acosta-Stanley look to be the main returnees with at least some Varsity experience. As for Medora, they did not field a team for a couple of years, but they were finally back on the court last season. 5-6 Senior guard Jenna Bowers (8.8p, 4.3r) and 5-5 Senior guard Aaralyn Hackney (5.9p, 2.7r) were the most productive performers for the Hornets a season ago. They will look to continue the rebuild this season and attempt to double their win total, if possible, behind an otherwise young and developing roster.
.
Sectional #63
Barr-Reeve (15-10), SAG 181, SOS 248
Vincennes Rivet (13-11), SAG 192, SOS 159
Springs Valley (17-8), SAG 204, SOS 247
Orleans (12-13), SAG 230, SOS 246
Loogootee (3-21), SAG 284, SOS 185
Shoals (5-19), SAG 312, SOS 261
Washington Catholic (5-16), SAG 373, SOS 309
Sectional #63 is very intriguing, especially at the top, where there are three or four teams who can contend for the title this year. Vincennes Rivet is typically the “heavyweight”, and while they do still have a solid squad, with some size, there are other competitors to deal with now. Rivet graduated Kenadee Frey (7.1p, 4.0r, 4.5a, 2.3s), who was steady at the point, along with 6-0 forward Cadence Mills (2.1p, 3.0r), plus guard Nya Dame Nya Dame 5'3" | PG Princeton | 2026 IN (8.0p, 2.1s), who is just a Sophomore now, transferred back to Princeton where she grew up. Now it’s up to5-7 Junior guard Elexus Frey Elexus Frey 5'7" | SG Vincennes Rivet | 2025 IN (12.5p, 5.1r) to lead the Patriots into action. She does have some help inside from versatile 6-2 Junior front-liner Mary Herman Mary Herman 6'3" | C Vincennes Rivet | 2025 State IN (9.4p, 6.7r). Look for 6-0 Sophomore forward Claudia Herman to step into a much bigger role this season, but those three will need help from an otherwise young and inexperienced roster. It had been since the 2015-2016 season that Springs Valley had won a Sectional, but they were the 2022-2023 champions, knocking off both Rivet and Barr-Reeve along the way. The biggest reason was the play of two Freshmen. 5-10 Sophomore forward Maddie Carnes Maddie Carnes 5'10" | SF Springs Valley | 2026 State IN (14.8p, 7.1r) and 5-5 Sophomore guard Maci Eckerty Maci Eckerty 5'4" | PG Springs Valley | 2026 IN (7.4p, 2.2r, 2.4a, 2.1s) gave this lineup a jolt of energy and look to only bring more success to the Blackhawks over the next three seasons. They will have to adjust to the loss of graduates Brynne Buchanan (6.7p, 3.0r, 2.8a, 2.1s) and Macy Hall (5.4p, 4.7r), but 5-8 Senior forward Tori McCormick (3.2p, 2.1r) and 5-10 Senior front-liner Bella Nottger (5.4p, 5.1r) have experience and look to contribute even more during their final season. This team will be handful moving forward. Barr-Reeve returns one of the state’s best unknowns in 6-0 Junior forward Hannah Bledsoe Hannah Bledsoe 6'0" | PF Barr-Reeve | 2025 State IN (12.2p, 11.9r, 2.8b). She is long, fluidly athletic, and always very active. The Vikings did graduate their second and third leading scorers in Colleen Trambaugh (6.4p, 3.7r, 3.0a) and Beth Graber (5.4p, 2.1r), but they return just about everyone else. Senior Willow Thompson (5.3p, 2.7r, 2.4a), Junior Liv Emmons (4.4p), Senior Ava Carter (4.3p, 3.2r), and Senior Mariah Brunson (1.8p, 2.3r) were all in the rotation a season ago. Aside from Bledsoe, the Vikings are more of a sum-of-their-parts type of team, so they will cause problems. They lost by just two points to Springs Valley a year ago in Sectional #63.
Orleans is another young, rising team in Sectional #63, and they could upset a few people this season. 5-10 Sophomore forward Callie Alston Callie Alston 5'10" | PF Orleans | 2026 IN (11.1p, 6.1r) was very impactful as a rookie, leading the Bulldogs in both scoring and rebounding. 5-8 forward Mylie Knight (6.9p, 4.2r, 2.3a), 5-6 guard Adrian Abel (6.1p, 2.5r, 2.2a, 2.4s), and 5-5 guard Cambree Cline (6.0p, 2.4r) are a trio of Juniors who bring a lot of experience to the floor. If the Bulldogs can increase their offensive output by just a couple of points and lessen their defensive points against by just a couple of points, they could easily be in the realm of 15 to 17 wins this season. After a nice stretch of success, including a Class 1A state title in 2020, the Loogootee Lions have won just nine games over the past two seasons. They did graduate a couple of 5-9 forwards in Mallorie Sutton and Katelyn Mason, however 5-6 Senior guard Emily Hawkins Emily Hawkins 5'6" | SG Loogootee | 2024 IN returns as the team’s leader and top playmaker. 5-10 Junior post Madison Waggner and 5-5 Junior guard Brianna Eckerle also return to the lineup with significant experience. Beyond that, the Lions will need some younger players to mature quickly and help produce, if they are to approach 10 wins once again. That could (and should) happen with the addition of 6-2 Freshman forward Alaina Diamond Alaina Diamond 6'2" | PF Loogootee | 2027 State IN . Considered one of the best rookies in Indiana, Diamond can play on the block, in the mid-post, and a little around the perimeter. She will be a game-changer for the Lions. Shoals hasn’t won more than seven games since the 2009-2010 season, so they will be looking to get back to double-digit wins this year. Unfortunately for them, 6-0 post Gracie Shaw took a lot of production with her during Spring graduation. With that said, most of the rest of their productivity does return. The Jug Rox will look first to 5-3 Senior guard Taylor Turpin, 5-7 Senior forward Olivia Jordan, and 5-7 Junior forward Ava Perry to lead the way. 5-3 guards Mackensie Perry, a Senior, and Bella Newland, a Junior, also look to earn key roles this season. Washington Catholic improved both their offensive and defensive averages from 2021-2022 to 2022-2023, so the Cardinals are moving in the right direction. However, they say “goodbye” to their top scorer in Mya Cline, plus Brynna Hunter also graduated. Back to lead the Cardinals this year are 5-8 Senior forward Addie Tolbert and 5-7 Junior post Tara Vertus. They can take care of interior duties, while 5-4 Senior guard Grace Drew, plus a host of youngsters, should handle perimeter responsibilities.
.
Sectional #64
Northeast Dubois (18-5), SAG 129, SOS 233
Tecumseh (10-14), SAG 131, SOS 114
Wood Memorial (14-11), SAG 170, SOS 218
Evansville Christian (15-8), SAG 252, SOS 287
Cannelton (12-11), SAG 368, SOS 372
Tecumseh was all set to defend their Sectional #64 title, and Northeast Dubois was primed to make a nice tournament run, but it was Wood Memorial who knocked off both of them by a total of four points to advance to the Regional Round. Wood Memorial returns several players to the fold, but they have typically used depth and balance to wear down opponents. 5-9 Senior guard Josie Page and 5-9 Junior forward Katie Sevier have each been productive for the Trojans over the last couple of seasons. 5-6 Senior guard Jillian Page, 5-7 Senior guard Kam Blacklock, plus 5-7 Sophomore guard Bailey Schwomeyer gained a lot of experience a year ago, and each should be ready for a bigger role this season. Additionally, Wood Memorial has a nice Freshman class that could contribute early this season, despite the veteran returnees. The Trojans could again make a nice tournament run in 2023-2024. Northeast Dubois’ 18 wins were the program’s most since the 2012-2013 season, but unfortunately, they graduated five Seniors, including Rhylan Kalb (14.8p, 7.4r) and Reagan Knies (6.5p, 3.9r). Back to lead the Jeeps this year are 5-6 Junior guard Emmersen Kalb (6.0p, 4.0r, 2.0a, 2.0s), 5-8 Senior forward Kelli Merkel (4.8p, 3.0r), and 6-1 Junior post Lyllee Schnell (4.3p, 4.7r). The younger Kalb brings versatility and perimeter skill, while Schnell has improved and increased her strength in the last year.
Tecumseh is another team who must overcome significant graduation losses. Last year it was do-everything forward Kaybree Oxley, and this year they will play without point guard Karsyn Flowers. 5-9 Senior forward Jenna Donohoo Jenna Donohoo 5'10" | PF Tecumseh | 2024 IN does return, however, and she is highly productive anywhere inside of about 15-feet. Now, the Junior trio of 5-11 wing Katelyn Marx, 5-9 guard Ava Kissel, and 5-11 forward Alena Holder get their opportunity to earn major roles, as does 5-10 Senior forward Natalie Feather. The Lady Braves will still be a formidable “out” for opponents. Evansville Christian erupted for its most wins since being an IHSAA team. Now in its second year of tourney eligibility, the Eagles look to contend for a Sectional #64 title. Leading the charge is diminutive 5-1 Sophomore guard Peyton Geer (13.4p, 3.2a, 3.6s), who proved a year ago she can do a little of everything for this team. Older sister, 5-4 Senior guard Tina Geer (11.5p, 3.2r, 2.0a, 2.8s), is another versatile guard who can play on or off the ball. 5-7 Senior forward Addison Grubb (10.4p, 4.6r in 5 games), Sophomore post Bella Hall (9.9p, 8.0r), and 5-9 Junior post Adriana Marx (3.9p, 6.4r) do a nice job of controlling the paint and providing basket protection defensively. Cannelton posted its first winning record since the 2011-2012 season, but now they see 6-2 post Kendall Hale (21.0p, 12.2r, 2.3a, 6.4b) head off to college. The good news is they return their other five players, but the bad news is they don’t have Hale, and they only have six rostered players at this point. 5-5 Junior guard Kylie Anastasiades (7.4p, 3.7r, 2.9a) does give them a scoring option on the perimeter, but they will need some of the other ladies to step up in a big way if they want to approach 12 wins once again.