Season Preview: Class 3A, Sectionals 21-24

The featured image is of Macy Oberlin Macy Oberlin 6'0" | PF Angola | 2024 State IN (2024) of Angola High School.

As we continue week-3 of the 2023-2024 season, there have already been some noticeable performances by teams and players. This article serves as the tenth of 16 in total, previewing each Sectional in the state. I will continue by taking a look at the second Class 3A North Regional, which incorporates the winners of Sectional #21 through Sectional #24. 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)

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Sectional #21
Woodlan (20-5), SAG 113, SOS 208
Concordia Lutheran (10-14), SAG 116, SOS 57
Garrett (14-12), SAG 132, SOS 109
Angola (11-11), SAG 140, SOS 115
Leo (11-12), SAG 177, SOS 105
Bishop Dwenger (9-16), SAG 227, SOS 94
Heritage (6-17), SAG 239, SOS 126

Sectional #21 is pretty congested, and any given year four or five teams have a legitimate shot at taking home the crown. Woodlan is coming off one of the best seasons in program history, but while the 20 wins is impressive, the Warriors still haven’t won a Sectional since 1990. They would like to try to end that 30+ year draught in 2023-2024, but they graduated Avah Smith (15.5p, 9.0r, 2.5s), Addie Goheen (6.0p, 2.2r, 3.5a), plus five additional Class of 2023 products. There are two key returnees who have any experience at all, and they are 6-0 Senior forward Taylor Kneubuhler Taylor Kneubuhler 6'0" | PF Woodlan | 2024 IN (13.5p, 4.5r, 2.4a) and Junior sister Brooke Kneubuhler (6.4p, 2.0r), a 5-8 wing. They are both nice athletes who play with inside-out versatility. Beyond those two, no one else averaged a point a game or played in more than 19 games. One player who could be a breakout candidate and get a much bigger opportunity this year is 5-11 Sophomore front-liner Alyssa Anderson. The Warriors can remain competitive with that trio of interior players, as long as they can find some backcourt stability with some youngsters. Concordia Lutheran may have been below .500 last year, but they play one of the toughest schedules of any Class 3A team. They have some nice young talent mixed with a couple of veterans, so expect to see them make a run once they come together. 6-0 Sophomore forward Alivia Bolinger Alivia Bolinger 6'1" | PF Concordia Lutheran | 2026 IN (12.2p, 5.6r) has a great deal of potential, and as she continues to get stronger, watch out for her. 5-9 Junior forward Cella Kaiser (5.7p, 3.2r) should see an expanded role this year, as she is a hard-working, inside-out athlete. 5-6 Junior guard Lauren Goodman Lauren Goodman 5'6" | PG Concordia Lutheran | 2025 IN (7.0p, 4.2r, 2.5a) does a solid job of taking care of the ball and getting it where it needs to go. Forward Cailyn Bolinger (5.5p, 3.0r), guard Kaelyn Ortiz-Vaudt Kaelyn Ortiz-Vaudt 5'6" | CG Concordia Lutheran | 2024 IN (3.8p), and guard Sydney Reynolds (1.9p) are three more Seniors who bring experience and skill to the lineup. Also pay attention to 5-8 Freshman wing Sydney Blackwell. She could get an immediate opportunity right out of the gate. Garrett suffered some major graduation losses in 2022, but they returned their best player. Unfortunately, Bailey Kelham (19.8p, 9.2r, 2.4s, 2.0b) has now moved on and is playing at Huntington University. Both Maddy Schenkel (6.7p, 4.0r, 2.8a) and Aida Haynes (4.9p) have also graduated. But the railroaders still have some solid pieces to work with. 6-1 Senior post Kelsey Bergman Kelsey Bergman 6'1" | C Garrett | 2024 IN (5.6p, 8.4r, 2.0b) really stepped it up defensively last year for the Railroaders. 5-5 Senior guard Emma LaPato (1.6p, 4.0r) and 5-7 Senior wing Brooklyn Jacobs (1.5p, 2.2r) also saw rotation minutes. 6-0 Junior post Delaeni Hixson and 5-6 Sophomore guard Sarah DePew could be next in line for starting opportunities, plus don’t count out Freshmen like wing Rilyn Flotow or guard Charlotte Lemen.

The Angola Hornets were predominantly all Juniors and Sophomores a season ago, though they do have to play without graduates Jaelyn Fee and Tyrah Stillman. Both brought good energy to the lineup. 5-4 Senior guard Kylie Caswell Kylie Caswell 5'4" | PG Angola | 2024 IN is back one again to lead the Hornets from the point with her quickness and feistiness, while 6-0 Senior forward Macy Oberlin Macy Oberlin 6'0" | PF Angola | 2024 State IN should give them quality minutes inside and out. Angola has to be excited about getting a full season out of 5-11 Junior forward Alexis Stillman Alexis Stillman 5'11" | SF Angola | 2025 State IN , who missed the first half of last season due to injury. And 5-11 post Bailey Holman is another Junior who could definitely add to this lineup’s depth. Leo is coming off its first double-digit win season since 2017-2018, and now the Lions look to post their first winning season since 2016-2017, and they certainly have the potential to get there and compete for Sectional #21. Unfortunately, Leah May (10.6p, 3.9r) and Haylee Schott (6.9p, 5.7r) won’t be a part of it, as they graduated. However, the Lions do return a talented youngster in 6-0 Sophomore forward Leah Shappell Leah Shappell 6'0" | PF Leo | 2026 IN (7.0p, 5.8r). She is a fluid athlete who can play around the paint or knock down the 3-pointer consistently. Look for her to have double-double potential each night. 5-6 Senior forward Kayla Adams (4.0p, 6.6r) is another interior player who defends and controls the boards. Seniors Abby Bovie (3.5p, 2.0r), a 5-6 wing, Isabelle Collins (3.4p), a 5-4 guard, and Emily Cogdell (2.3p), a 5-6 wing, all return with multiple years of experience, while 5-4 Junior guard Malina Lape (1.7p) has the potential to be a key player as well. Also keep an eye on Freshman guard Mackenzie Collins Mackenzie Collins 5'7" | SG Leo | 2027 IN , who brings another backcourt presence. Bishop Dwenger gets on more year out of their matchup problem, and that is 6-3 Senior post Giselle Eke Giselle Eke 6'3" | C Bishop Dwenger | 2024 State IN (7.6p, 4.6r). With her size and strength, expect for her to nearly double both of those outputs in her final year. The Saints have to also be excited about the arrival of 5-11 Freshman forward Isabelle Eke Isabelle Eke 5'10" | SF Bishop Dwenger | 2027 IN . She is a talented athlete who can get from end to end quickly, plus she has skill at all three levels. From there, the Saints have a few options. 5-8 Junior forward Mary O’Brien is in her third year as a Varsity performer, while Seniors Sophia Sordelet, a 5-7 wing, and Kassidy Court, a 5-6 guard, add veteran experience to the roster. The Heritage Patriots could be in for another tough year, as five players graduated, including their top scorer and rebounder in Claire Bickel (14.5p, 4.5r). After scoring just 32.1 points per game a season ago, and losing Bickel, the Patriots will need to be creative in finding offense. A good Freshman class might not be ready to win a lot of games at the Varsity level, but they can definitely learn some lessons this time around to prepare for future seasons. 5-4 point guard Trinitee Brown, 5-9 forward Audra Bickel, 5-6 wing Olivia Lybarger, and 5-5 wing Kaydence Wallace headline the rookie crop. 5-3 Junior guard Danica Fuller (2.4p, 1.8r) is the top returning scorer and rebounder for Heritage.

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Sectional #22
Twin Lakes (28-1), SAG 13, SOS 33
West Lafayette (18-6), SAG 36, SOS 56
Benton Central (18-9), SAG 85, SOS 52
Western (15-9), SAG 92, SOS 90
Rensselaer Central (14-10), SAG 95, SOS 210
North Montgomery (3-21), SAG 339, SOS 283
Frankfort (2-21), SAG 357, SOS 212

A year ago, Twin Lakes made it to the Final Four in Class 3A. While they return their top two players, and two of the top players in Class 3A, a 28-1 record repeat might be a little tougher. Missing this season are Addi Ward (10.8p, 3.4r, 2.2a), Hannah Hodgen (5.7p, 6.3r, 2.9a), Kora Pass (4.0p, 7.1r), Evelyn Scharer (3.1p, 4.6r), and Emma Need (1.4p, 2.2r), all 2023 graduates. As you can probably tell, replacing that amount of rebounding and interior play will be quite difficult for the Lady Indians. However, if 5-7 Junior floor general Addison Bowsman Addison Bowsman 5'7" | PG Twin Lakes | 2025 State IN (17.4p, 5.7r, 6.9a, 41 made 3s at 41%) and 5-6 Senior sharpshooter Olivia Nickerson Olivia Nickerson 5'7" | SG Twin Lakes | 2024 State IN (18.4p, 4.1r, 2.2a, 2.5s, 117 made 3s at 40%) can take care of the basketball and continuing burying shots at a high rate, they have a chance to win on any night. Who will play alongside them is the big question. I would expect the first opportunities this season to go to Juniors Jasmine West, a 5-8 forward, Cydney Wert, a 5-9 post, and Chloe Lucas, a 5-8 wing. I’d also expect 5-5 Sophomore guard Taylor Oliver (1.1p) to be heavily in the mix as well. The Red Devils of West Lafayette have been gearing up for this season. They return a wealth of talent and skill, and they look to not only compete in Sectional #22, but potentially make a deep run in the tournament. While they play with a great deal of balance, their success starts with the play of 5-10 Senior wing Adrianne Tolen Adrianne Tolen 5'10" | SF West Lafayette | 2024 State IN (15.9p, 8.2r, 2.5a, 4.2s). She is a versatile athlete who can play on or off the ball, she can score it at all three levels, plus she is an elite wing defender. 5-9 Senior forward Sarah Werth Sarah Werth 5'9" | SF West Lafayette | 2024 IN (14.0p, 4.3r, 2.5a) is a high-motor kid who can battle in the mid-post or play around the perimeter. 5-8 wing Vivian Huston (5.4p, 2.7r, 2.0a) is a third Senior who gives tremendous effort, plus she can defend and play with versatility. 6-0 Junior front-liner Molly Andrew (3.5p, 3.8r in 2021-2022) returns to the lineup after missing last season, and she should give them a sizeable boost inside. 5-9 Sophomore guard Izzy Ascarelli (2.5p in 10 games) and 5-7 Junior wing Emma Wiete Emma Wiete 5'7" | SG West Lafayette | 2025 IN look to make a bigger imprint on this season as well. The Red Devils will be a handful for a lot of people, including their Sectional #22 opponents. Benton Central will always be a tough “out”, and this year is no different. Following a 9-loss season, the Bison will look to eclipse 20 wins once again, especially returning nearly all of their production. Benton Central is known to be tough defensively, and this year that starts with 6-1 Senior post Sarah Gick Sarah Gick 6'1" | C Benton Central | 2024 State IN (13.6p, 9.4r, 1.9b). She is as good of a back-end defender as there is in the state, and you just aren’t going to score inside of 12-feet easily against the Bison. 5-9 Senior wings Sienna Foster Sienna Foster 5'9" | SF Benton Central | 2024 IN and Rachel Tolen Rachel Tolen 5'9" | SF Benton Central | 2024 IN can both put it on the floor or knock down long jumpers, plus Foster has proven to be a solid defender. 5-6 Senior point guard Ellie Wetli is a tough-nosed point guard who can make plays, while 5-7 Junior guard Avery Hardeback has nice touch around the perimeter but can also get to the basket. With all five starters returning, beware of the Bison in 2023-2024.

Western High School is another team who returns a tremendous amount of production, though they did graduate front-liner Caroline Long (8.9p, 6.3r). Now, a veteran rotation that includes five Seniors, a couple of Juniors, and a couple of Sophomores should give the Panthers a great shot at a 20-win season and a chance to compete for the Sectional #22 crown. 5-7 Senior guard Chloe Hunt Chloe Hunt 5'7" | SG Western | 2024 IN (12.8p, 6.6r, 2.5a, 3.2s) is a nice multisport athlete who plays with energy and toughness. 5-7 Senior guard Mackenzie York Mackenzie York 5'7" | CG Western | 2024 IN (11.3p, 3.1r, 2.4a, 2.1s) is a multilevel scorer who can also slide over and take on point guard duties. 5-8 Senior forward Kayleigh Turner (9.9p, 2.8r) is a nice athlete who can play in the mid-post or around the perimeter. Fellow classmates McKenna Smith (6.6p, 3.8r, 2.2s), a 5-10 forward, and Lauren Bradley (5.0p, 2.7r), another 5-7 guard, give them great balance and experience. I would also look for 5-10 Sophomore post Ellyse Walden and 6-1 Junior post Rihana Bowman (1.7p) to be heavily considered to help on the interior. The Bombers of Rensselaer Central make five teams now who can legitimately compete for a Sectional #22 title. They also return a great deal of production, along with putting several talented individuals on the floor. 6-0 Junior forward Taylor Van Meter Taylor Van Meter 5'10" | SF Rensselaer Central | 2025 IN (11.5p, 6.7r, 2.3s) is a focal point for the Bombers. She continues to grow and get stronger, plus she’s a versatile athlete who can play inside or out. 5-8 Sophomore wing Kamri Rowland Kamri Rowland 5'8" | SG Rensselaer Central | 2026 IN (9.7p, 5.4r) is another versatile player who put together a nice Freshman season in Rensselaer. 5-9 Senior forward Sarah Kaufman is a tough-nosed, hard-working forward who does a little of everything, while 6-0 Junior forward Carly Drone Carly Drone 6'0" | PF Rensselaer Central | 2025 IN is a post who can stretch the defense with touch around the perimeter. 5-6 Senior guard Cadence Manns and 5-8 Sophomore wing Brodie Radtke offer more perimeter talent. 5-9 Freshman guard Courtney Mathew Courtney Mathew 5'10" | SG Rensselaer Central | 2027 IN should also get a look early this season, and she can fill it up at times. North Montgomery struggled mightily at times offensively last year, and they’ll need to increase their scoring quite a bit to increase their win total in 2023-2024. The good news is that 5-11 Junior forward Piper Ramey (11.0p, 8.6r, 2.4a) returns to the lineup. She is their star, and she can post a double-double most nights. 5-7 Sophomore wing Macee Norman (7.4p, 4.9r) was their second leading scorer and rebounder as a rookie, so combined with Ramey, there are some brighter days ahead. Also keep an eye out for Freshman forward Caelyn Carpenter. As the Chargin’ Chargers play a young roster, I’d expect to see her affect games more times than not. The Hot Dogs of Frankfort High School are still looking for that first winning season since 2008-2009, but I’m not sure this is the year. They are another team who struggled to get into the scoring column a year ago, and leading scorer Madyson Cook (8.3p, 2.5r, 3.1s) graduated. 5-7 Senior forward Vannessa Guardado (6.3p, 4.2r), 5-7 Senior forward Saira Flores (3.5p, 4.8r), and Junior guard Ella McAtee (1.8p, 2.0r) do return, however, and I’d expect all three of them in the lineup immediately.

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Sectional #23
Norwell (21-4), SAG 16, SOS 59
Northwestern (17-5), SAG 28, SOS 71
Bellmont (18-5), SAG 32, SOS 107
Peru (10-14), SAG 225, SOS 216
Oak Hill (8-15), SAG 233, SOS 175
Maconaquah (5-18), SAG 249, SOS 203
Mississinewa (6-17), SAG 251, SOS 103

A year ago, this was a 3-team race, but now it very well could be just a 2-team race. Norwell again looks like a Top-10 team in Class 3A, and they have a veteran backcourt to carry them deep into the tourney. 5-7 Senior guard Kennedy Fuelling Kennedy Fuelling 5'7" | CG Norwell | 2024 State IN (22.6p, 3.1r, 3.5s, 80 made 3s at 44%) is coming off a season in which her play earned her an Indiana Junior All-Star nod. She is an elite shooter with nice all-around athleticism. 5-5 Senior point guard Makenzie Fuess Makenzie Fuess 5'5" | PG Norwell | 2024 State IN (16.0p, 3.2r, 63 made 3s) is another capable shooter but more of a ball-handler, creator, and facilitator. 6-0 Senior post Dakota Hubble has come a long way in the last couple of years and brings length and athleticism to the floor. From there, the Knights have a number of “system” kids who play with great intelligence, skill, and effort. That list starts with 5-6 guard Annabelle Johnson, 5-7 guard Lilly Norris, and 5-11 forward Haley Green, all Seniors. They will be an incredibly tough “out”, per usual. Bellmont has become a very competitive program, winning 17 or more games over the past seven seasons. They will once again be a top team in the Sectional #23 field. Unfortunately, they’ll have to play without graduated guard Sydney Keane (12.1p, 3.7r, 3.4a, 3.1s), along with wing Rachel Bleke. Back in the fold, however, are a pair of veterans. 5-11 Senior forward Hailey Cole Hailey Cole 5'11" | PF Bellmont | 2024 IN (10.8p, 7.6r) is a worker, and she could post double-double averages in her final year. 5-8 Junior Emily Bleke (8.3p, 4.3r) is a strong and physical guard who could easily become a double-digit scoring threat this season. 5-10 Junior forward Kamryn Jarvis is another kid who could really step it up this year on the interior. Also keep an eye out for Freshmen Kate Kitson Kate Kitson 5'5" | CG Bellmont | 2027 IN , a guard, and Lanie French Lanie French 5'5" | SG Bellmont | 2027 IN , a wing, to eventually make their mark on this program. Northwestern is the team teetering between being a top dog in Sectional #23 once again and rebuilding. 6-2 Indiana All-Star wing McKenna Layden (21.6p, 6.3r, 4.0a, 3.0s) is now at Purdue University, plus Ashley Newell (5.0p, 2.6r, 3.5a) and Bailey Henry (2.3p, 4.0r) also graduated. There are still some nice ballplayers returning, but Layden will obviously be a big loss. Leadership responsibilities now fall to 5-7 Junior guard Anna Bishir Anna Bishir 5'7" | CG Northwestern | 2025 IN (10.2p, 2.5a). She can play either guard spot, plus she can score it at all three levels effectively. 6-0 Senior forward Lexi Hale (9.5p, 7.0r) and 5-11 Junior forward Berkley Wray (3.2p, 2.3r) are also back with experience along the frontline. If those three can form a strong nucleus, there is no reason the Tigers can’t again be a problem for opponents in Sectional #23.

The Peru Tigers haven’t had a winning season since 2019-2020, but last season they reached double-digit wins for the first time since then. They are now down five graduates, most notably Brianna Bennett (12.0p, 3.8r, 4.9a, 3.0s), Emma Eldridge (9.3p, 5.5r, 2.8a, 2.9s), and Cameryn Raber (6.2p)…three of their top four scorers. There is some optimism, though, as they do have three key players from their 2022-2023 rotation back in the fold. Leading the way this time out could be 5-6 Sophomore guard Addison Robbins Addison Robbins 5'5" | CG Peru | 2026 IN (6.4p, 3.1r, 2.1a). She is a heady and skilled guard with some touch outside. Seniors Brooklyn Garner (3.6p, 3.9r), a 5-7 forward, and Kaylene Kirk (3.1p, 3.5r), a 5-8 forward, return to add a presence on the boards and on the interior. Oak Hill was primed for an improvement this season, but now three of their top four scorers from a season ago are no longer on the roster. Melissa Kluevein (4.9p, 3.1r, 2.9a, 2.5s) graduated, while Senior Taylor Holloway (7.3p, 3.1r, 2.3a, 2.2s) and Junior Jennessa Shields (4.2p, 3.1r) are not playing anymore. That just leaves 5-8 Junior wing Liz Godfrey (10.1p, 2.1r) as the lone consistent scorer from past seasons. 5-5 Senior guard Alivia Shaw (4.0p, 3.0r, 2.0a, 2.2s), 5-11 Sophomore post Lydia Trexler (3.9p, 4.1r), 5-6 Junior guard Alexa Myers (3.4p, 3.1r), and 5-9 Senior forward Ruth Tripp (2.3p, 2.8r) have seen consistent rotation minutes, but one or two of them need to step into more productive roles. The Golden Eagles have a nice Freshman group as well, so expect to maybe see guards Landri Hardman and Erika Newhouse get a lot of opportunity early this season. Maconaquah looks to build on a tough 2022-2023 season, as they return a number of Seniors who have significant experience. Best of the bunch is 5-10 Senior forward Miranda Stoll Miranda Stoll 5'10" | SF Maconaquah | 2024 IN (17.3p, 7.3r). She is skilled around the perimeter but also physical on the interior. 5-5 guard Bailey Carson (7.2p, 4.2r, 2.8a), 5-6 guard Hallie Maiben (3.3p, 2.2r), 5-7 forward Sydney Barnes (2.9p, 3.3r), and 5-7 wing Shaelyn Powell (2.6p, 2.8r) are four additional Seniors who will need to figure out ways to be more productive. 5-9 forward Ireland Kile, 5-5 guard Delaney Betzner, and 5-7 forward Aubrey Kaiser are three Freshmen who can eventually step into key roles for the Lady Braves. Mississinewa graduated Abby Smith (9.8p, 2.0r), however they return everyone else from their rotation. Talented 5-7 Junior guard Jaci Crick (15.6p, 5.7r, 2.4s) is back for her third Varsity season. She does a little of everything to help the Lady Indians. 5-5 guard Dani Sullivan (5.9p, 2.2r) is the lone Senior in the lineup. 5-6 Sophomore guard Brooklynn Nash (3.5p, 2.4r) saw plenty of action a year ago, but now she’s primed for a much bigger role. Fellow 5-8 Sophomore wing Amiyaa Parr-Inman (2.6p, 2.5r) could also see an expanded role in her second year of Varsity action. Juniors Emma Wakeman (2.8p, 3.8r), a 5-10 forward, plus 5-0 guard Avery Wilson (2.4p), and 5-5 wing Carsyn Yeakle (1.7p, 2.8r), likely round out those who will be primary rotation candidates.

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Sectional #24
Jay County (23-2), SAG 29, SOS 189
Hamilton Heights (20-6), SAG 31, SOS 29
Frankton (18-7), SAG 88, SOS 221
Yorktown (11-12), SAG 97, SOS 95
Delta (6-16), SAG 285, SOS 108
New Castle (0-23), SAG 298, SOS 87
Centerville (6-14), SAG 341, SOS 329

If you remove Hamilton Heights from their schedule last year, Jay County was 23-0. The Huskies have also put the Patriots out of the state tournament three years in a row. This time around, Jay County must play without three of their top five scorers, including 6-0 Renna Schwieterman (21.2p, 6.5r, 2.5a, 3.3s), who is now at Purdue Fort Wayne. Gabi Bilbrey (13.3p, 7.6r) and Mabrey McIntire (5.3p) are the additional graduates from the 2023 class. Of the returnees, 5-11 Senior forward Molly Muhlenkamp Molly Muhlenkamp 5'11" | PF Jay County | 2024 IN (7.5p, 4.4r) has flashed a lot of potential and athleticism in the past, and she can make up for some of those losses. 5-7 guard Sophia Saxman (6.4p, 5.3r, 2.3a, 2.3s) and 5-9 wing Breanna Dirksen (4.3p, 3.1r, 2.2a), also Seniors, have plenty of big-game experience. Plus, there is still a Schwieterman in the program, and that is 5-7 Freshman guard Hallie Schwieterman Hallie Schwieterman 5'7" | CG Jay County | 2027 IN , who looks like a potential star for the Patriots. She has skill and athleticism, plus she’ll likely continue to grow throughout high school. Speaking of Hamilton Heights, they are a very guard-oriented team, and while they did graduate Kaylee Rhoton (7.5p), they return several Seniors and a couple of Juniors. 5-9 Senior guard Camryn Runner Camryn Runner 5'9" | CG Hamilton Heights | 2024 State IN (18.9p, 7.2r, 2.7s) is their go-to player, and she has shown a lot of talent and skill over the years. She is definitely the one to limit on the Huskies. Backcourt classmate Ella Hickok Ella Hickok 5'6" | PG Hamilton Heights | 2024 IN (9.0p, 3.5r, 3.5a, 2.2s), a 5-5 point guard, is a feisty player with a lot of shiftiness to her game. 5-5 Junior wing Katie Brown (4.1p) could step into Rhoton’s role as the third scoring option, while 5-5 Senior wing Hadleigh Cherry (1.1p, 2.2r, 2.1a) adds versatility and toughness to the lineup. Also look for Freshman wing Kamryn Rhoton to play sooner rather than later for the Huskies. This group is all about ball control, and they use their guard play to keep it away from bigger, stronger teams well. On cold shooting nights, they will need to figure out ways to rebound and limit their opponents inside. Frankton has been to two State Finals in the last four years, and they return their top two scorers from a year ago. However, they graduated four key players. Those lost include Haylee Niccum (9.6p, 5.4r), Isabella Dean (7.8p, 3.1r, 2.4a, 2.3s), Launa Hamaker (4.7p, 2.1r, 2.5a), and Addie Brobston (2.1p), plus they have a new coach at the helm. Again, there are two nice pieces to begin with, and they are 6-0 Senior wing Emma Sperry Emma Sperry 6'0" | SF Frankton | 2024 State IN (13.3p, 7.6r, 2.1a, 2.4s) and 5-6 Senior guard Amaya Collins Amaya Collins 5'6" | SG Frankton | 2024 IN (11.8p, 2.2r, 2.2a, 2.6s). Sperry is a long, fluid, smooth wing who can act as a point forward or a shooter/scorer. Collins is a knockdown shooter with some creative ability as well. Look for 5-8 Junior forward Sophia Hoagland to give them a presence in the paint.

Yorktown looks to get above .500 once again, and while they graduated three of their top four scorers, and four players overall, they did see a number of younger prospects get ample playing time a year ago. Missing are Amari Wright (15.0p, 4.7r, 2.2a, 3.3s), Camryn Isaacs (7.1p, 5.1r), Raya Tewari (5.9p, 5.0r, 2.1a), and Jenna Sylvester (2.4p, 4.8r). Those last three accounted for nearly half of their rebounding last year. 5-9 Sophomore forward Lilly Sylvester Lilly Sylvester 5'9" | SF Yorktown | 2026 IN (7.6p, 6.4r) had a strong Freshman year and looks to be more of a leader this time around. Fellow Sophomore Addy Barnes (4.4p, 2.4r), a 5-4 guard, plus 5-7 Junior wing Claire Hazen (3.8p, 3.3r) also compete for much bigger roles in 2023-2024. 6-0 Senior post Jayde Garrett (4.7p, 5.1r) can clog the lane defensively and alter opponents’ shots. Freshman post Alexis Fields is another player to take note of, as she could/should affect the Varsity roster almost immediately. Delta is still searching for its first winning season since 2011-2012. With everyone eligible to return, that would normally give them a chance. Unfortunately, though, 6-1 Senior post Paizley Cool Paizley Cool 6'1" | C Delta | 2024 IN (9.4p, 7.8r) is reportedly not playing this year due to injury. Also, Senior Hannah Carter (4.8p, 4.7r, 2.1a, 2.0s) is no longer listed on their roster either. Still, the Eagles have a nice, young nucleus led by 5-9 Sophomore forward Jillian Barr (13.0p, 9.3r, 2.7s, 2.0b). She is a versatile athlete who can play in the mid-post or around the perimeter. 5-5 Sophomore guard Griffyn Knight (6.1p, 3.5r, 2.0a, 2.4s) and Sophomore wing Elizabeth Bamidele (6.0p, 2.7r, 2.7a) also started a majority of the season as rookies last year, and that trio should have a bright future together. There are five more Sophomores and two Freshmen who round out their 2023-2024 lineup, so while young, they are definitely building something potent for down the road. Delta’s top Freshman to watch out for is guard Harper Timmerman. New Castle still plays a tough “4A” level schedule; however, they struggled through a rough year in 2022-2023. To make things tougher, four of their top six scorers from a year ago graduated, including Chloe Vaughn (6.4p), Jayci Reeves (6.2p, 5.6r), Ava Stearns (4.2p, 4.4r), and Areyanna McTier (1.5p, 2.5r). Trojan fans were grateful to get a full healthy season out of 5-2 point guard Emma Hart Emma Hart 5'9" | PF Borden | 2026 IN (17.4p, 3.9r, 2.3s), as she is a dynamic little playmaker who can fill it up. She is primed for a strong Senior season. 5-5 Senior wing Morley Blessinger (1.6p, 2.2r in 2021-2022) also looks to be back after missing last year. Those two give the Trojans a sense of a veteran presence. Sophomore guards Anna Tyner (3.0p) and Kaidyn Minyard (1.0p), plus Freshman guard Macie Morehouse and Freshman post Mallory Owens begin a youth movement in New Castle building towards the future. Centerville would like to get back to its winning ways of the early 2000s, but the move to Class 3A last year only complicates the odds of competing for a Sectional #24 title right now. The Bulldogs graduated four 2023s in total, including two of their top three stat producers in Gabby Duke and Malorie Woodruff. They now look to 5-5 Junior wing Olivia Hunter and 5-8 Junior forward Makenna Hartman for leadership. 5-4 Senior guard Anna Davis, 5-8 Senior post Graci Plyley, 5-10 Junior wing Taelynn Swartz, and 5-9 Junior post Lorna McKinney add to the veteran mix of players in the Bulldog lineup.