Season Preview: Class 3A, Sectionals 25-28

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"small"} --> <p class="has-small-font-size"><em>The featured image is of [player_tooltip player_id='177315' first='Creedance' last='Chittenden'] (2024) of Cascade High School.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As the beginning of the 2023-2024 season continues, there have already been some noticeable performances by teams and players. This article serves as the eleventh of 16 in total, previewing each Sectional in the state. I will continue by taking a look at the first Class 3A South Regional, which incorporates the winners of Sectional #25 through Sectional #28. 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 #25</font></strong><br>Cascade (22-3), SAG 59, SOS 191<br>Danville Community (21-5), SAG 70, SOS 156<br>Lebanon (11-13), SAG 179, SOS 195<br>Western Boone (16-7), SAG 202, SOS 292<br>Monrovia (15-8), SAG 232, SOS 330<br>Tri-West (7-17), SAG 242, SOS 97<br>Crawfordsville (7-16), SAG 333, SOS 307</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cascade had been gearing up for the 2022-2023 season, and they own their first Sectional title since 2007, and just the third one in program history. This season, however, the lineup will look a lot different, as they graduated three starters, including two of the better players to ever don a Cadet uniform. <strong>Abby Parsons</strong> (<em>14.7p, 5.4r, 2.0s</em>) was a 1200-point scorer, and <strong>Sydney Warran</strong> (<em>14.4p, 7.0r, 4.0a, 2.6s</em>) fell just 15 points shy of 1000 for her career. <strong>Madison Short</strong> (<em>6.2p, 3.2r</em>) also graduated and moved on to college basketball. They hand the reins over to 5-8 Senior wings <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='177315' first='Creedance' last='Chittenden']</strong> (<em>8.8p, 2.6r, 2.2a</em>) and <strong>Liviair Campbell</strong> (<em>6.8p, 3.9r, 2.1a</em>). I would also expect to see 5-8 Junior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1122841' first='Chloe' last='Smith']</strong> (<em>3.0p</em>), 5-9 Senior forward <strong>Claire Austin</strong> (<em>2.2p, 3.6r</em>), plus 5-9 Sophomore forward <strong>Macey Pugh</strong> (<em>2.4p</em>) play much bigger roles in 2023-2024. Danville won five Sectional titles between 2015 and 2020, so they aim to get back to the Regional round this season. They, too, will have to deal with the loss of three key players in <strong>Cameryn Rector</strong> (<em>12.7p, 2.0a</em>), <strong>Isabelle Wooten</strong> (<em>9.6p, 5.9r, 2.8a, 2.5s</em>), and <strong>Jocelyn Pearcy</strong> (<em>3.4p, 3.8r</em>). The Warriors, however, have proven the ability in past years to overcome graduation losses due to strong depth in the program. Stepping into leadership positions this year is a more than capable trio of 5-9 Junior forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='626931' first='Addison' last='Davis']</strong> (<em>10.5p, 5.8r, 2.4s</em>), 5-5 Junior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='295784' first='Emma' last='Ancelet']</strong> (<em>9.2p, 4.3r, 5.7a, 2.7s</em>), and 6-0 Senior forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='201882' first='Kooper' last='Stone']</strong> (<em>7.7p, 5.2r, 2.3a, 2.1s</em>). Davis is a tough-nosed, versatile worker, Ancelet is a shifty and quick veteran distributor, and Stone is a fluid forward with inside-out versatility. 5-9 Senior wing <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='326488' first='Alexis' last='Lynch']</strong> (<em>3.0p</em>) and 5-7 Senior wing <strong>Lucy Riggs</strong> (<em>2.6p, 2.0r</em>) could step into the lineup immediately. Also keep an eye out for 5-7 Sophomore guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='486529' first='Maddy' last='Wethington']</strong> to get a longer look early this year. After consecutive Sectional titles in 2021 and 2022, Tri-West saw a ton of production leave in the 2022 graduating class. While the Bruins had a 7-17 season last year, they were able to play a mostly young roster and gain a ton of experience. The only 2023 graduation loss, in fact, was <strong>Ava Sullivan</strong> (<em>6.2p, 7.0r</em>). Look for the Bruins to compete once again for a Sectional #25 crown. 5-8 Junior sharpshooter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='496043' first='Lauren' last='Bear']</strong> (<em>11.7p, 3.7r, 2.3s</em>) is back and ready to lead Tri-West once again. 5-9 Senior forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='455939' first='Atta' last='Garnett']</strong> (<em>14.5p, 4.5r in 2 games</em>) was limited to a pair of games after transferring in from Brownsburg last year. A full season out of her will absolutely help solidify the Bruin frontcourt. 5-8 Senior wing <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='572808' first='Regan' last='Canada']</strong> (<em>8.9p, 2.2r</em>) has nice touch outside but can also play in the mid-post. 5-4 Sophomore guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='884487' first='Aniyah' last='Anthony']</strong> (<em>6.1p, 2.5r</em>) showed flashes of standout play last year, and she could be primed to break out this season. 5-8 Junior forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='496082' first='Zoie' last='Bruner']</strong> (<em>5.0p, 4.2r</em>), 5-6 Senior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='496069' first='Reagan' last='Shaw']</strong> (<em>3.2p</em>), and 5-9 Senior forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='496059' first='McKinzie' last='Wilhoite']</strong> (<em>2.0p, 2.0r</em>) should help the rotational depth. Wilhoite is another Brownsburg transfer who was limited to two games a year ago.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lebanon is coming off their second consecutive 11-win season. They played a mixture of Seniors and youngsters a year ago, so they could honestly go either direction this time around. While <strong>Kylie Ottinger</strong> (<em>7.2p, 3.4r, 2.2a, 2.1s</em>), <strong>Alexandria Barr</strong> (<em>7.0p, 4.6r</em>), and <strong>Maiya Newsom</strong> (<em>6.8p, 3.8r, 2.8a, 3.0s</em>) were their top three scorers, none of them averaged double figures. <strong>Charli Albea</strong> (<em>2.9p, 3.6r</em>) is a fourth 2023 graduate. 5-10 Junior forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='923198' first='Riley' last='Vanaman']</strong> (<em>6.6p 3.9r</em>), 5-7 Junior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1123932' first='Claire' last='Boling']</strong> (<em>4.0p</em>), and 5-9 Senior forward <strong>Emily Sperry</strong> (<em>3.7p, 3.7r</em>) now seek starting roles. Also look for Juniors <strong>Marina Barr</strong> (<em>1.8p</em>), a 5-4 guard, and <strong>Leila Richards</strong> (<em>1.0p</em>), a 5-7 guard, plus 5-5 Senior forward <strong>Ciarra Hiatt</strong>, to potentially step into the rotation. After a 16-6 regular season, and their first winning record since 2018-2019, Western Boone fell in the first round of the Sectional to rival Lebanon. Now, they must play without the graduated <strong>Emmy Roys</strong> (<em>11.1p, 11.8r</em>), <strong>Katheryn Rutherford</strong> (<em>11.0p, 8.5r, 3.4a, 3.2s</em>), <strong>Carlie Pennington</strong> (<em>9.2p, 6.1r</em>), and <strong>Lili Jones</strong> (<em>4.8p</em>)...four of their top five scorers. Roys was a monster inside, while Rutherford was their floor general. Now, they potentially turn to 5-7 Freshman wing <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='834948' first='Ally' last='Lewis']</strong> to lead them. She can make shots outside or attack off the bounce. 5-7 Senior forward <strong>Ki'erra Koch</strong> (<em>4.4p, 3.3r</em>), 5-1 Sophomore guard <strong>Ila Stokes</strong> (<em>4.8p, 2.5r</em>), and 5-6 Junior guard <strong>Olivia Reagan</strong> (<em>1.9p, 2.1r</em>) each saw rotation minutes a year ago and should step into critical roles this time around. But, how quickly Lewis can adapt to the size and speed of the Varsity game could go a long way in determining their W/L record in 2023-2024. Monrovia posted a strong 15-win season in 2022-2023, and while wing <strong>Ashley Lewis</strong> (<em>15.0p, 5.0r, 2.2s</em>) graduated, they return quite a bit of production and welcome a trio of impactful Freshmen. 5-5 Junior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='692239' first='Emery' last='Newlin']</strong> (<em>12.3p, 3.3r, 4.5a, 4.9s</em>) enters her third season as the point guard of the Bulldogs, 5-9 Sophomore wing <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='773842' first='Ruby' last='Murrell']</strong> (<em>6.7p, 3.9r</em>) had a nice rookie campaign in which she can build upon, and 5-7 Senior wing <strong>Mary Cox</strong> (<em>6.5p, 4.9r, 3.4a, 2.0s</em>) brings a veteran presence and versatility to the lineup. Add to that mix 5-5 Freshman guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='751036' first='Allie' last='Tallent']</strong>, 5-2 Freshman guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='751061' first='Grace' last='Deaton']</strong>, and 5-7 Freshman forward <strong>Harper Rahn</strong>, and once they get their feet under them, the Bulldogs could be looking at a nice 4-year stretch. Despite a 7-win season, Crawfordsville only graduated two Seniors, and neither averaged more than six points or four rebounds. Returning is leading scorer and rebounder <strong>Taylor Abston</strong> (<em>12.1p, 9.0r, 2.3b</em>), a 5-10 Senior forward who does it all inside. There are five other players who lettered a year ago who look to stand out more this season. They include 5-8 Junior forward <strong>Riley Gardner</strong> (<em>4.7p, 5.9r</em>), 5-6 Senior wing <strong>Madi Hedrick</strong> (<em>3.8p, 3.8r</em>), 5-5 Senior guard <strong>Addie Hodges</strong> (<em>2.2p, 2.4r</em>), 5-0 Sophomore guard <strong>Molly Pierce</strong> (<em>2.0p</em>), and 5-5 Junior wing <strong>Celeste Moore</strong> (<em>1.5p, 2.1r</em>). If any of them can join Abston as double-digit scorers (<em>or near there</em>), the Athenians could reach 10 wins for the first time since 2014-2015.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><font color="#FFFFFF">.</font></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><font size="+2">Sectional #26</font></strong><br>Indian Creek (27-2), SAG 34, SOS 145<br>Northview (16-9), SAG 145, SOS 197<br>Brown County (13-10), SAG 176, SOS 213<br>Owen Valley (11-14), SAG 205, SOS 201<br>Edgewood (4-19), SAG 273, SOS 162<br>West Vigo (9-15), SAG 305, SOS 305<br>South Vermillion (0-24), SAG 380, SOS 332</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Indian Creek made it to the Class 3A Final Four in 2022-2023 but fell 48-42 to Corydon Central. While <strong>Abby Fleetwood</strong> (<em>6.1p, 6.1r, 4.7a, 3.6s</em>), <strong>Savannah Hall</strong> (<em>5.6p, 3.7r</em>), plus three other 2023s all graduated, the top two playmakers are back for the Lady Braves. 6-4 Senior forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='201885' first='Faith' last='Wiseman']</strong> (<em>16.1p, 9.4r, 2.5a, 2.6b</em>), an Indiana University signee, is a matchup problem who returns in an attempt to get Indian Creek to Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The Energizer Bunny, 5-7 Senior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='239346' first='Lauren' last='Foster']</strong> (<em>18.6p, 3.2r, 4.3a, 2.4s</em>), also returns and brings a ton of energy and toughness to the lineup. 5-7 Junior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='506021' first='Ayla' last='Lollar']</strong> (<em>7.2p, 2.0r, 2.1a, 2.4s</em>) also returns to the starting lineup, and she could be a third double-digit scorer this year. The Lady Braves can go any number of directions from there, including to their Freshman class and 5-11 forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='751055' first='Ellie' last='Oliver']</strong>, but also expect 5-11 Sophomore forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1131993' first='Alexa' last='Sichting']</strong> and 5-7 Junior forward <strong>Bre Gault</strong> to get an early look this year. As long as Foster and Wiseman are in the lineup, the Lady Braves will be favorites in nearly every game they play this season. Northview suffered a major graduation loss in <strong>Audri Spencer</strong> (<em>16.8p, 5.2r, 4.0a, 2.8s</em>), in addition to three others, but they could still post a big win total in 2023-2024. 5-11 Junior forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='570371' first='Brynlee' last='Clarke']</strong> (<em>12.8p, 4.5r</em>) is back after a strong Sophomore season following her move from Terre Haute. She can play around the paint or knock down open jumpers. 5-4 Sophomore guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='486472' first='Reagin' last='White']</strong> (<em>8.1p, 3.7r, 3.0a</em>) also returns to the point following a nice rookie year. She is quick, feisty, and can shoot it. Add to that talented 5-8 Freshman guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='834965' first='Carlee' last='Schrader']</strong>, and the Knights have a lot of potential moving forward. If Northview can find another threat or two to go with them, they could be a dangerous team by Christmas. 5-6 Sophomore guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='874344' first='Brenna' last='Stallcop']</strong> could be poised for a nice season as well. Brown County increased their win total from 3 to 13 wins last year, and they return their top three performers from a season ago. Back in the fold are 5-6 Senior guard <strong>Lexie Austin</strong>, 5-2 Senior guard <strong>Madelyne Huff</strong>, and 5-6 Sophomore guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1122858' first='Ava' last='Stogsdill']</strong>. Austin and Huff have logged multiple years of Varsity experience, while the younger Stogsdill shined at times as a rookie and could very well lead the Eagles in scoring the next three seasons. Seniors <strong>Cady Kemp</strong>, a forward, and <strong>Anna Stogsdill</strong>, a guard, are also available for the Lady Eagles. <strong>Savannah Oden</strong>, <strong>Katie Tipton</strong>, and <strong>Abigail Watson</strong> all depart Brown County following Spring graduation.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Owen Valley probably surprised a few people by finishing under .500 with such a veteran group last year. They now must face the graduation losses of three of their top four scorers, including <strong>Reagan Martin</strong> (<em>18.3p, 8.9r, 2.5b</em>), <strong>Madison Kay</strong> (<em>9.0p, 3.8r, 2.7a</em>), and <strong>Kearstin Ciresi</strong> (<em>5.8p, 5.0r</em>). At this point, 5-4 Senior guard <strong>Taylor York</strong> (<em>5.8p, 4.4r, 2.1s</em>) is the only returnee with significant statistical contributions in the past. With that said, 5-5 Junior guard <strong>Kalyn Greene</strong> (<em>1.7p, 2.0r</em>), plus Sophomores <strong>Cami King</strong>, a point guard, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='874345' first='Mallory' last='Owen']</strong>, a forward, look to see a lot more floor time than last year. Additionally, Senior forward <strong>Taylor Monroe</strong> is new to the Varsity roster, as is Freshman guard <strong>Hannah Bixler</strong>. Bixler is one to keep an eye on, as she could lead the Patriots in scoring right out of the gate. Edgewood struggled through a 4-win season a year ago, but they played a lot of younger girls, including having Freshmen as their top two scorers. Graduates <strong>Alayna Flynn</strong> (<em>6.2p, 2.0r, 2.4a</em>) and <strong>Jaylen Robinson</strong> (<em>3.7p</em>) will be missed, but there is a lot to look forward to for the Mustangs. Sophomore guard <strong>Madison Bland</strong> (<em>7.8p, 3.9r</em>) returns to the backcourt for the Mustangs, while 5-10 Sophomore forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='832680' first='Macey' last='Crider']</strong> (<em>7.7p, 5.7r</em>) can play inside or out. Unfortunately, Crider is out for the early portion of the season with an ankle injury. That means other youngsters need to step up in her absence. 5-2 Sophomore guard <strong>Allison Bland</strong> (<em>1.8p</em>) and Sophomore forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='874341' first='Ava' last='Laroche']</strong> look to enter the lineup this season. Seniors <strong>Emily Whaley</strong> (<em>2.9p, 2.0r</em>), a 5-7 guard, and <strong>Maris Holmes</strong> (<em>1.9p, 4.2r</em>), a 5-9 forward, should bring some semblance of a veteran presence to the team. Once the Mustangs get Crider back healthy, look for them to just continue to grow as a program these next three years. West Vigo looks to get back to double-digit wins again, but they must do so without graduated wing <strong>Katelyn Fennell</strong>, their leading scorer from last season. At the same time, the Vikings played a number of younger players who should only continue to grow and develop. Sophomores <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='773833' first='Delaney' last='Marrs']</strong>, a 5-6 wing, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='486477' first='Hannah' last='Stepp']</strong>, a 5-11 forward, showed nice flashes as Freshmen, and they, combined with 5-6 guard <strong>Jaycee Elkins</strong>, give them three options in the 2026 class who could stand out in the near future. 5-3 Senior guard <strong>Kenzye Knopp</strong> can add some Senior leadership, while 5-6 Freshman point guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='604051' first='Rese' last='Belleu']</strong> looks to make her mark on the program from the outset. South Vermillion suffered through a winless season, so this year, they'll be looking for any improvement. 5-9 Senior forward <strong>Dakota Fonner</strong> and 5-4 Senior guard <strong>Summer Pettit</strong> return with the most experience. Look for any number of players, including a pair of Freshmen, to help the Wildcat get their first win in two years.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><font color="#FFFFFF">.</font></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><font size="+2">Sectional #27</font></strong><br>Heritage Christian (17-8), SAG 104, SOS 84<br>Bishop Chatard (12-14), SAG 138, SOS 65<br>Brebeuf Jesuit (13-8), SAG 175, SOS 211<br>Guerin Catholic (8-15), SAG 206, SOS 119<br>Shortridge Magnet (10-13), SAG 337, SOS 360<br>Herron (7-14), SAG 375, SOS 377</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For the second consecutive year, Bishop Chatard entered the postseason with 10 or more losses and made a run to the Semi-State. Now, they must do so without <strong>Caroline Bell</strong> (<em>11.1p, 6.5r</em>) for the first time in a few years. Also gone are <strong>Anna Thompson</strong> (<em>9.5p, 3.5r, 2.3a</em>), <strong>Grace Felts</strong> (<em>4.2p, 2.1r</em>), and <strong>Anna Jennings</strong> (<em>1.4p</em>). 6-0 Junior post <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='692233' first='Anna' last='Caskey']</strong> (<em>9.6p, 9.1r</em>) does return and is a double-double presence inside the paint every game. 5-7 wing <strong>Quinn Johnson</strong> (<em>7.0p, 2.6r</em>) and 5-8 wing <strong>Addison Duncan</strong> (<em>5.0p, 4.0r, 2.0a</em>) return for their Senior seasons and looking for a fourth consecutive Sectional title. A trio of Sophomores got their feet wet as rookies last year, and they should be key components in year-2. 6-1 forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='486530' first='Alyx' last='Kendall']</strong> (<em>3.0p, 2.1r</em>) is a versatile inside-out presence. 5-11 wing <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='832685' first='Olivia' last='Berzai']</strong> (<em>3.7p, 3.0r</em>) has breakout potential and could be a double-digit scorer soon. 5-8 wing <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='486534' first='Betsy' last='Tragesser']</strong> (<em>2.0p, 2.8r</em>) is another hard worker who could come up with hustle plays every night. I would consider the Trojans a slight favorite in this field in 2023-2024 because of their depth and continuity within the coaching staff. Heritage Christian beat Bishop Chatard twice during the regular season in 2022-2023 but lost in double overtime in the Sectional finale. This season, they look to bounce back and claim the Sectional #27 crown as their own. They graduated three players, but only <strong>Maddie Geary</strong> (<em>4.1p, 4.6r</em>) started. At the same time, Senior wing <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='177341' first='Koryn' last='Marshall']</strong> (<em>13.3p, 4.8r</em>) has opted not to play this season. The Eagles do have a trio of players to turn to who can each lead this team on any given night. 5-7 Senior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='496064' first='Mya' last='Davis']</strong> (<em>19.2p, 3.8r, 4.6a, 4.3s</em>) is the standout, as she had a fantastic Junior season. She can shoot, score, or distribute. 5-9 Junior wing <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='324078' first='Joslyn' last='Marshall']</strong> (<em>10.4p, 2.9r, 2.0s</em>) is a strong and aggressive scorer who can attack or knock down jumpers. And 5-10 Junior forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='324071' first='Casey' last='Frost']</strong> (<em>7.5p, 4.7r</em>) could approach double-double averages in her third season on Varsity. Sophomore guard <strong>Natalie Curnutt</strong> (<em>2.3p, 2.4r</em>) also saw quality minutes a year ago and could see an expanded role this time. From there, the Eagles will have a new Coach, so any number of youngsters, including Freshmen, could see the floor. Brebeuf Jesuit could continue their climb and be a surprise Sectional winner this year. Post <strong>Maeve Perry</strong> (<em>6.7p, 7.9r</em>), along with two others, graduated. Still, the Lady Braves were rather young a year ago and return a great deal of their production. 5-5 Sophomore guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='761173' first='Audra' last='Kendall']</strong> (<em>9.8p, 3.3r, 2.1a</em>) was their leading scorer last time, and she looks to lead from the point once again. 5-4 Junior guard <strong>Ella Miller</strong> (<em>9.6p, 3.4r, 2.0s</em>), 5-6 Sophomore guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1131983' first='Robyn' last='Pate']</strong> (<em>8.1p, 2.4r</em>), and 5-9 Junior wing <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='453221' first='Savannah' last='Schafer']</strong> (<em>6.3p, 7.3r, 3.3a, 2.1s</em>) help form a nice, young starting group. Also look for 5-8 Freshman <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='751073' first='Jailen' last='Bowling']</strong> to see immediate minutes for the Braves. She is a long, athletic, and skilled scoring guard.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Guerin Catholic dipped a little last year, but they are loaded with young talent. They could still see some bumps in the road without graduates <strong>Natalie Fernandez</strong> (<em>8.2p, 3.0r, 2.0a</em>), <strong>Megan Cobb</strong> (<em>7.4p, 7.3r</em>), and <strong>Caitlyn Sharpe</strong> (<em>2.4p, 2.6r</em>). 5-8 Junior wing <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='506019' first='Ava' last='Bills']</strong> (<em>6.5p, 3.5r</em>) has been a nice, versatile athlete on the wing, but they will need her and one or two more lesser experienced players to step up in order to win double figure games once again. 5-1 Junior guard <strong>Annie Murphy</strong> (<em>4.3p</em>), 5-11 Senior forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='718305' first='Kori' last='Dues']</strong> (<em>3.9p</em>), and 5-10 Junior forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='506026' first='Reagan' last='Haines']</strong> (<em>3.1p, 2.8r</em>) all bring different skillsets and the potential to be that second scoring option. The Golden Eagles also have a strong Freshman crop, led by 6-3 post <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='751060' first='Gianna' last='Morelli']</strong>, guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='751093' first='Lillian' last='Behrle']</strong>, and forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='751056' first='Emery' last='Cardinal']</strong>. Morelli has great size and skill on the block; look for her to make an instant impact. The Shortridge Blue Devils won double-figure games for the first time since 2018-2019. However, they graduated one of their top stat producers of all time in <strong>Shantrice Grant</strong>. Now, they turn to a mostly young lineup, but they should get a trial by fire and learn on the fly. If they can adjust to the Varsity game, they could be competitive sooner rather than later. Sophomore wing <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='832688' first='KaMariona' last='Garrett']</strong> can make plays for herself or others. Sophomore guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='911611' first='Keara' last='Stewart']</strong> is another player with double-digit scoring potential, while Sophomore forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='910401' first='Zamya' last='Outlar']</strong> can control the boards inside. Also keep an eye on a strong Freshman class that includes forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='824300' first='Jocelyn' last='Eskew']</strong> and guard <strong>McKenzi Cooper</strong>. The Achaeans of Herron High School could be in for a good season. They return three Senior starters from last year's 7-win team, plus they have a nice Senior transfer onboard. 5-8 Senior forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='572823' first='Jaycianna' last='Clark']</strong> (<em>10.1p, 14.2r, 2.2s</em>) is a strong but athletic interior player who can dominate the boards. 5-6 Senior guards <strong>Maya Alexis</strong> (<em>9.0p, 7.4r, 3.4s</em>) and <strong>Jada Wright</strong> (<em>5.8p, 5.2r, 4.1a, 6.2s</em>) also have starting experience. 5-6 Senior wing <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='825939' first='Trinity' last='Foerster']</strong> transferred in from Central Christian and gives them an instant offensive weapon on the perimeter. She can shoot it or get to the basket.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><font color="#FFFFFF">.</font></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><font size="+2">Sectional #28</font></strong><br>Purdue Polytechnic (22-6), SAG 217, SOS 375<br>Speedway (11-11), SAG 243, SOS 297<br>Beech Grove (9-13), SAG 316, SOS 295<br>Cardinal Ritter (4-20), SAG 362, SOS 299<br>George Washington (9-14), SAG 376, SOS 391<br>Christel House (1-20), SAG 392, SOS 388</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Purdue Poly put together a dream season in 2022-2023, winning 22 games and a Sectional title as a first year IHSAA tourney eligible program. Now, they must figure out how to play without point guard <strong>Lailah Hadley</strong> (<em>10.8p, 3.8r, 5.1a, 3.7s</em>) and wing <strong>Ajacia Griffith</strong> (<em>11.2p, 5.0r</em>), both 2023 graduates. The Techies still have five players returning who played in 24 or more games a season ago. 5-6 Junior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1044749' first='Tayler' last='Denton']</strong> (<em>10.0p, 2.6r, 2.1a, 3.7s</em>) and 5-9 Senior wing <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='773766' first='Madison' last='Jobe']</strong> (<em>8.6p, 4.1r</em>) have big-time scoring potential. Both are talented perimeter shooters. 5-8 Junior forward <strong>Camille Starks</strong> (<em>4.7p, 4.2r</em>), 5-8 Sophomore wing <strong>Marinna Simmons</strong> (<em>3.5p, 2.1r</em>), and 5-1 Sophomore guard <strong>Coreah Lewis</strong> (<em>1.9p</em>) look for greater opportunities this season. Also keep an eye on Freshmen guards <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='751079' first='Ja'Nyiah' last='Rogers']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='751037' first='Amelia' last='Story']</strong>, who could play immediately. Speedway is coming off a season where they split their games right down the middle...11 wins and 11 losses. 2023-2024 could be a strong year for the Sparkplugs, as they return everyone from last year's team. 5-9 Senior forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='825947' first='Daniella' last='Galvez']</strong> (<em>12.5p, 6.5r</em>) and 6-0 Senior forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='572819' first='Alex' last='DeLisle']</strong> (<em>12.3p, 5.9r</em>) have been Varsity regulars throughout their careers. They are joined in the 2024 class by 5-8 guard <strong>Chloe Ellett</strong> (<em>3.1p, 2.6r</em>), 5-8 wing <strong>Reagan Hendry</strong> (<em>2.3p, 2.5r in 6 games</em>), and 5-11 forward <strong>Audrey Burrell</strong> (<em>2.0p, 2.5r</em>). 6-2 Junior post <strong>Genesis Austin</strong> (<em>5.3p, 5.2r</em>), 5-8 Junior wing <strong>Mylie Walton</strong> (<em>4.5p, 4.2r, 2.6s</em>), 6-1 Sophomore post <strong>Hayli Clampitt</strong> (<em>1.8p, 4.4r</em>), and 5-9 Sophomore guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='492318' first='Macy' last='DeLisle']</strong> (<em>1.6p in 10 games</em>) all look to battle it out for starting spots in the Sparkplug lineup. Beech Grove nearly won 10 games, despite only averaging 35.2 points per game. If they can figure out how to score more, they could not only top 10 wins, but they could also be on the winning side of .500. The Hornets did graduate <strong>Kylie Challis</strong> (<em>3.2p in 9 games</em>) and <strong>Iysis Simmons</strong> (<em>1.9p, 3.4r in 14 games</em>), but return most of the rest of their production. 5-10 Junior forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='923145' first='Mylee' last='Boling']</strong> (<em>15.4p, 11.4r, 3.0s</em>) was their everything last season, and she should continue averaging a double-double this season. Fellow Junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='883199' first='Emma' last='Micks']</strong> (<em>3.7p, 3.4r</em>), a 5-8 wing, has also been a regular in the rotation. 5-7 Freshman guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='834957' first='Harper' last='Moore']</strong> could be the answer to the scoring issue, as she looks like she could be a star for the Hornets the next four years. 5-5 guard <strong>Mariyah Marshall</strong> is another Freshman who could make an immediate impact this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cardinal Ritter is another team who looks to improve upon last season's 4-win total. 5-8 Senior wing <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='825954' first='Nia' last='Stubblefield']</strong> (<em>10.3p, 3.0r</em>) is a great place to start. She is long, athletic, and can make plays at all levels. Sophomore wing <strong>Macie Dill</strong> (<em>3.7p, 3.4r</em>) saw a great deal of action as a Freshman, and she looks to step it up in year-2. 5-11 Senior forward <strong>Evelyn Buck</strong> (<em>2.1p, 2.9r</em>), 5-10 Junior post <strong>Zita Eke</strong> (<em>1.6p, 3.1r</em>), and 5-7 Senior wing <strong>Maddie Roberts</strong> (<em>1.4p, 2.3r</em>) round out what could be a mostly veteran lineup ready to double their wins from 2022-2023. Indianapolis Washington looks to reach 10 wins for the first time since 2019-2020, and with their entire roster from last year eligible to return, that could be possible. 5-9 Senior forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='572803' first='Malaysha' last='Flanagan']</strong> (<em>18.8p, 9.1r, 4.4s</em>) is easily the most important piece to the puzzle, and as long as she takes the floor, they have a chance. 5-3 Senior guard <strong>Amalia Haga</strong> (<em>9.0p, 3.8r, 3.9s</em>) offers the Continentals a nice second scoring option. 5-7 Junior forward <strong>Ele'jah Smith</strong> (<em>3.9p, 8.0r</em>) and 5-10 Senior post <strong>Ta'laya Peterson</strong> (<em>2.4p, 4.8r</em>) also return with multiple years of experience. 10 wins doesn't seem that much of a stretch, as long as everyone returns healthy. Christel House won just a single game a year ago, so improvement in all areas of the game is the obvious goal. They must play without graduates <strong>Keira Noe</strong> and <strong>Jazzlyn Clark</strong>, but they return some experienced pieces as well. Sophomore guard <strong>Lilly Reaves</strong> is back as the leading returning scorer. She'll get help from 5-4 Junior wing <strong>Tamara Futrell</strong>. Other options for the Eagles include 5-7 Senior forward <strong>Jada Cooper</strong>, plus Sophomore wing <strong>Dayana Orellana</strong> and 5-9 Freshman forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='909687' first='Maleah' last='Jackson']</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->