Season Preview: Class 4A, Sectional #9
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The featured image is of Amyannah Tucker Amyannah Tucker 5'6" | CG Richmond | 2025 State IN (2025) of Richmond High School. As we wind down our Sectional preview articles, we will individualize the final few as one Sectional per…
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Continue ReadingThe featured image is of Amyannah Tucker Amyannah Tucker 5'6" | CG Richmond | 2025 State IN (2025) of Richmond High School.
As we wind down our Sectional preview articles, we will individualize the final few as one Sectional per article. This article focuses on Sectional #9 in Class 4A, which feeds into one of the Southern Regionals. Below is a look at the teams in Sectional #9, 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 #9
Pendleton Heights (15-10), SAG 42, SOS 31
Mt. Vernon (Fortville) (19-7), SAG 58, SOS 53
New Palestine (13-12), SAG 126, SOS 77
Greenfield-Central (14-10), SAG 171, SOS 101
Anderson (8-15), SAG 219, SOS 122
Richmond (6-16), SAG 263, SOS 193
Muncie Central (5-17), SAG 302, SOS 141
Mount Vernon won yet another Sectional title, and they will look to do it again in 2023-2024. While they did graduate a couple of players, most missed will be the always energetic Khloe Patterson (7.5p, 7.3r, 3.8a, 2.5s). The Marauders do return a nice piece in 6-3 Senior forward Ellery Minch Ellery Minch 6'3" | PF Mt. Vernon (Fortville) | 2024 State IN (16.4p, 5.3r). The Indiana Junior All-Star has good height and length, touch outside with range, plus some ball-handling ability. 5-9 Junior wing Kanyonrae Kenny Kanyonrae Kenny 5'9" | SG Mt. Vernon (Fortville) | 2025 State IN (8.1p, 3.9r, 2.0a, 2.4s) grew as a player throughout her Junior year and could be a problem moving forward. 5-10 forward Easton Wampler (6.8p, 2.6r, 2.2s) and 5-5 wing Kaitlyn Laffey (5.3p, 2.0r) add Senior experience to the lineup, while 5-6 Junior guard Reagan Britt (1.1p) also saw quality minutes last season. Mount Vernon won’t play much deeper than their starting rotation, but look for 5-4 Freshman point guard Gabby Thomas to potentially get an early look this season. The Arabians of Pendleton Heights should be a team to watch in 2023-2024. They do say “goodbye” to graduates Whitney Warfel (14.8p, 6.4r), Berkley Shelton (7.0p, 7.8r), Ava Phillips (2.0p, 2.0r), and Tra’Mya Herndon (1.1p), so they will need to figure out production responsibilities along the frontline. However, the Arabians welcome back a real talent in 5-9 Junior guard Kaycie Warfel Kaycie Warfel 5'9" | SG Pendleton Heights | 2025 State IN (20.2p, 4.5r, 2.4a, 4.0s), who is extremely fast, bouncy, and effortful. Additionally, 5-8 Sophomore wing Olivia Jones Olivia Jones 5'8" | SF Pendleton Heights | 2026 IN (4.5p, 3.0r, 2.3a) returns after a solid rookie campaign, and she should be even more impactful this time around. As for the interior, look for 6-2 Freshman post Adah Hupfer Adah Hupfer 6'3" | C Pendleton Heights | 2027 State IN to play a major role upfront. She has good size and strength for her age, great hands, solid footwork, and the ability to knock down a jump-shot. 5-3 Senior guard Skylar Baldwin (2.3p, 2.9r, 2.8s), 5-8 Junior wing Makayla Morrison (1.1p), 5-7 Junior guard Emma Roberts, 5-6 Sophomore guard Mamie Trout Mamie Trout 5'6" | SG Pendleton Heights | 2026 IN (1.0p), and 5-7 Freshman guard Aubree Warfel look to fill in the remaining roles and add depth to a team that should contend for the Sectional #9 crown. New Palestine only lost one player to graduation, but unfortunately that was one of their best players in program history in point guard Isabella Gizzi (23.7p, 5.8r, 2.0a, 2.6s). She will definitely be missed on the ball, but the fact that the next four scorers all return is a sign for optimism. Unfortunately, Junior Tylar Whitaker (2.3p, 2.3r) did not return. Back to lead the Lady Dragons this time are 5-5 Senior guard Vivian Miller Vivian Miller 5'5" | CG New Palestine | 2024 IN (9.5p, 2.3r, 2.6a) and 5-6 Senior wing Allie Blum Allie Blum 5'6" | SG New Palestine | 2024 IN (8.3p, 6.2r, 2.6s). 5-9 Sophomore post Sadey Hughbanks (4.1p, 4.1r) saw plenty of action as a Freshman, while 5-6 Junior guard Kylee Beranek (2.6p, 2.1r) and 5-6 Senior guard Ella Holman each made their way into 20 or more games a season ago.
Greenfield-Central is a fourth team in Sectional #9 who posted a winning record in 2022-2023. While Aryana Hibbard (9.8p, 3.3r, 2.0s), Kammi Anderson (3.3p, 2.6r), and Taylor Smith (1.5p) are all gone due to graduation, they welcome back a great deal of experience and welcome in a significant transfer. 5-9 Junior wing Chaney Brown Chaney Brown 5'9" | SF Greenfield-Central | 2025 State IN (14.3p, 6.0r, 2.3s) returns to the lineup as the top Cougar once again, and her versatility really helps the rest of her teammates. 5-4 Junior guard Brooklyn McConnell Brooklyn McConnell 5'4" | PG Greenfield-Central | 2025 IN (7.9p, 2.2r) is also back, and she provides a nice perimeter scoring threat. Juniors Jalyn Smith (2.3p, 2.5r), Addi Herrin, and Emma Nelson Emma Nelson 5'10" | PF Morristown | 2025 IN could also all find roles this time around. 5-6 Freshman guard Izzy Silcox has some ability and should see immediate playing time, but the biggest addition is 6-0 Junior forward Madison Sonsini Madison Sonsini 6'0" | SF Greenfield-Central | 2025 State IN (14.4p, 4.8r, 2.0a), a versatile inside-out player who transferred in from Sectional rival Richmond. Anderson tends to be a second half team, and they will look to post 10 wins this season and possibly a winning record. They did lose some nice role players in Makhile McWilliams (7.7p, 5.1r), Zoe Allen (7.0p, 2.4r, 3.2s), and Payton Sargent (4.0p, 2.7r) to graduation. Returning, however, is 5-7 Senior Jacelyn Starks Jacelyn Starks 5'7" | SG Anderson | 2024 State IN (14.4p, 2.9r, 2.0s), a very good perimeter shooter and versatile guard. 5-5 Junior guard Kennedy Brown (7.7p) is a really nice athlete who also returns to the backcourt. 5-8 Sophomore forward Jamyia Foster (2.5p, 2.0r) saw a little action as a Freshman, and 5-2 Senior guard Talaysha Simonds (1.4p) also competed in 17 games a year ago. Look for a solid 2027 class led by forwards Ariah Scott Ariah Scott 5'8" | SF Anderson | 2027 IN and Cambre’anna Austin to help contribute to the frontcourt. But the biggest addition should be the transfer of 5-6 Senior guard Gabby Douglass Gabby Douglass 5'6" | CG Anderson | 2024 State IN (13.5p, 5.0r, 2.3a, 3.5s), who enters from Muncie Central and adds a great deal of athletic talent. Richmond is another team who will look to win double figure games in 2023-2024. As mentioned above, they will have to do so without Junior Madison Sonsini Madison Sonsini 6'0" | SF Greenfield-Central | 2025 State IN , who is now at Greenfield-Central. Still, though, there are several nice pieces to consider. A strong 2025 class should lead the way once again for the Red Devils. 6-1 Junior forward Maren Bolser Maren Bolser 6'1" | PF Richmond | 2025 IN (7.3p, 3.7r) showed flashes last season and has the height to play inside and touch to shoot it outside. 5-6 Junior guard Kiarra Handley Kiarra Handley 5'6" | CG Richmond | 2025 IN (3.5p) is a playmaker who can score it, while 5-8 Junior forward Amari Jackson Amari Jackson 5'8" | PF Richmond | 2025 IN (3.1p, 2.9r) is an athletic rebounder and defender. Wing Cami Turpin (2.0p, 4.8r, 2.1s) is another Junior who saw action. Also keep an eye on 5-9 Sophomore wing Jade Marie Diamond Jade Marie Diamond 5'9" | SF Richmond | 2026 IN . Her action was limited a year ago, but she flashed nice potential throughout the Summer. The Red Devils should also be helped by a nice transfer addition, as 5-6 Junior guard Amyannah Tucker Amyannah Tucker 5'6" | CG Richmond | 2025 State IN comes to them from Ohio and could lead them in scoring this year. Also, 5-11 Freshman forward Sophie Reising could play sooner rather than later. As mentioned above, Muncie Central must deal with the loss of last year’s top playmaker in Gabby Douglass Gabby Douglass 5'6" | CG Anderson | 2024 State IN , now suiting up for Anderson. That will make it much more difficult to score this time around. Senior wing Katie White (5.2p, 3.3r) and Senior guard Taj Isom (4.8p, 4.2r) bring back the most experience, so they will absolutely need to step into more significant roles. Senior guard Alaija Douglass (1.9p) adds additional Senior depth. Sophomore guard Kadence Smith (4.4p in 11 games) saw a little time a year ago and can help, and of the Freshmen, wing Kayla Roberson looks like she could help the most early on this season.