Semi-State Preview: Class 3A
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The featured image is of Makenzie Fuess Makenzie Fuess 5'5" | PG Norwell | 2024 State IN (2024) of Norwell High School. Regional weekend has concluded, and now it’s on to the 2-game Semi-State round. This is the second consecutive…
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Continue ReadingThe featured image is of Makenzie Fuess Makenzie Fuess 5'5" | PG Norwell | 2024 State IN (2024) of Norwell High School.
Regional weekend has concluded, and now it’s on to the 2-game Semi-State round. This is the second consecutive year where there was a single Regional game for each team, with this coming weekend’s Semi-State requiring two wins in a day to make it to Gainbridge Fieldhouse for February 24th’s State Finals. While brief, below is a look at the two Class 3A Semi-State sites…one in the North and one in the South. All player statistics below have been pulled from each school’s MaxPreps page, so if your stats are not represented here, your team’s MaxPreps page has not been updated by your coach/school. All team rankings below are provided by the updated Sagarin Ratings.
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Remaining Class 3A Teams | Record | Class Rk. | State Rk. | Schedule Strength |
Norwell | 21-4 | 1 | 6 | 30 |
Hamilton Heights | 24-2 | 2 | 12 | 46 |
Gibson Southern | 23-4 | 3 | 19 | 50 |
Scottsburg | 22-4 | 8 | 32 | 53 |
Danville | 23-3 | 10 | 43 | 156 |
Bishop Chatard | 19-8 | 16 | 63 | 64 |
NorthWood | 20-6 | 24 | 105 | 159 |
Bremen | 15-11 | 41 | 145 | 171 |
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Huntington North Semi-State
Game #1: Hamilton Heights (24-2) vs. Norwell (21-4), 10:00 a.m. ET
Preview: As you can see above, Norwell and Hamilton Heights are the top two Class 3A teams in the state, per Sagarin Ratings. They have met three times since 2018, and last season Hamilton Heights won their Regional matchup, 44-40. The Huskies come in with a strong perimeter attack, including Senior guards Camryn Runner Camryn Runner 5'9" | CG Hamilton Heights | 2024 State IN (27.0p, 5.6r, 2.7a, 4.1s), Ella Hickok Ella Hickok 5'6" | PG Hamilton Heights | 2024 State IN (10.2p, 3.4r, 4.3a, 2.7s), and Hadleigh Cherry (5.6p, 3.3r, 3.0a, 2.0s). Runner is clearly the best of the bunch, as she can perform any backcourt role at a high level. She is also an Indiana All-Star candidate. Junior Katie Brown (8.8p, 2.0r, 1.0a, 2.3s) is a talented shooter as well, and between the four of them, they have made 185 3-pointers this season. They also use the dribble well and can get to the free throw line. Norwell is that steady, consistent, “machine-like” group, where the kids grow up as youngsters wanting to be Lady Knights. They have talent, skill, and a keen understanding of their system and expectations. At the top of the list are Senior guards Kennedy Fuelling Kennedy Fuelling 5'7" | CG Norwell | 2024 State IN and Makenzie Fuess Makenzie Fuess 5'5" | PG Norwell | 2024 State IN . Fuelling is a high-level shooter/scorer who can play either guard spot and make shots from anywhere. She was a 2023 Indiana Junior All-Star. Fuess is a tough-nosed, high-motor bulldog, who can distribute or score it well. 6-0 Senior Dekota Hubble Dekota Hubble 6'0" | C Norwell | 2024 IN is a long and bouncy athlete, while Sophomore wing Vanessa Rosswurm Vanessa Rosswurm 5'9" | SF Norwell | 2026 IN has stepped up nicely this season. Our Pick: Norwell, 48-46.
Game #2: Bremen (15-11) vs. NorthWood (20-6), 12:00 p.m. ET
Preview: Bremen and Northridge are fairly regular opponents, and NorthWood won a mid-December meeting, 63-55. Bremen has just one Senior on the roster in Mikaya Shively (7.4p, 5.8r, 1.7a, 2.8s), but they have a talented trio of guards in Junior Kila Foster Kila Foster 5'6" | SG Bremen | 2025 State IN (17.6p, 3.7r, 1.4a, 2.2s), plus Sophomores Eliana Grubbs Eliana Grubbs 5'7" | CG Bremen | 2026 IN (11.3, 6.2r, 3.2a, 1.8s) and Emma Kincaid (10.3p, 4.4r, 2.1a, 1.6s). They are all capable of playing any backcourt position, all play extremely hard, and they are each capable of having big games. From there, they aren’t very deep, so the Lions need to keep those four players on the floor as much as possible. NorthWood is back for the first time since their State Championship in 2020. While they only have one double-digit scorer, 6-1 Junior post Claire Payne Claire Payne 6'1" | C NorthWood | 2025 State IN (10.3p, 10.8r, 1.5s, 1.3b), the “Black Swish” can go as deep as 8 to 11 players, depending on matchups, and they have almost all Seniors and Juniors playing the biggest of roles. The best of the bunch joining Payne in the lineup are Senior Joselyn Edwards (9.5p, 3.0r, 1.0a, 1.0s), Junior Haylee Heflin (7.3p, 2.3r, 1.5a, 1.6s), and Junior Megan Yoder (5.5p, 2.0r, 2.1a, 1.6s). Our Pick: NorthWood, 53-47.
Game #3: Winner Game-1 vs. Winner Game-2, 8:30 p.m. ET
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Jasper Semi-State
Game #1: Bishop Chatard (19-8) vs. Danville (23-3), 10:00 a.m. ET
Preview: Chatard and Danville have only met twice in the last 20 years, but no matchup is recent enough these two rosters know each other. Chatard has used the combination of depth, balance, and experience to their advantage the last couple of seasons, winning a pair of Regionals. However, as they look to advance to the Class 3A State Finals, they must do so with a younger, albeit talented, group of players. 6-0 Junior post Anna Caskey Anna Caskey 6'0" | C Bishop Chatard | 2025 State IN (11.9p, 11.2r) is a high-level softball recruit, but she has been a monster in the paint for the Trojans as well. 5-11 Sophomore Olivia Berzai Olivia Berzai 5'11" | SF Bishop Chatard | 2026 IN (12.0p, 6.2r, 2.7a, 2.4s) has been a star at times and is quickly rising as a basketball recruit. Fellow Sophomores Alyx Kendall Alyx Kendall 6'1" | PF Bishop Chatard | 2026 IN (6.8p, 4.1r), and Betsy Tragesser Betsy Tragesser 5'8" | CG Bishop Chatard | 2026 IN (5.6p, 3.3r, 3.9a, 1.5s) are a nice inside-out duo, while Seniors Addison Duncan (6.8p, 1.9r, 1.6a, 1.9s) and Quinn Johnson (6.3p, 1.9r, 1.1a) offer depth and experience to the youngsters. Danville is having their best season since 2017-2018, and the Warriors look to win their first Semi-State in program history. They, too, pride themselves on their depth and having “system” kids, and that all starts with Juniors Emma Ancelet Emma Ancelet 5'6" | PG Danville Community | 2025 State IN (15.0p, 6.2r, 6.6a, 3.2s) and Addison Davis Addison Davis 5'9" | PF Danville Community | 2025 IN (13.2p, 7.0r, 1.9a, 2.5s). They get support from Sophomores Maddy Wethington (9.8p, 1.8r, 1.0a, 1.8s) and Ava Walls (4.5p, 3.8r), plus Seniors Lucy Riggs (5.2p, 1.8r, 1.8a, 2.2s) and Alexis Lynch Alexis Lynch 5'10" | SF Danville | 2024 IN (4.4p, 3.8r, 1.0a, 1.0s). Our Pick: Danville, 53-49.
Game #2: Scottsburg (22-4) vs. Gibson Southern (23-4), 12:00 p.m. ET
Preview: All of the Semi-State first round games in Class 3A should be competitive, but maybe none more so than this one. Scottsburg is a team who can spread you out with their perimeter shooter and strong guard play, but they also have a couple of girls who can go get a rebound and defend the interior. Gibson Southern leans heavily on a pair of talented perimeter players, but they have size and strength inside, and they can go as deep as 10 or 11 players, if necessary. Scottsburg looks first to Junior guard Ellie Richardson Ellie Richardson 5'8" | CG Scottsburg | 2025 State IN , who can play on or off the ball. Last weekend she scored 28 points in their Regional. Senior Carrie Hiler Carrie Hiler 5'7" | SG Scottsburg | 2024 State IN and Junior Lola Fouts Lola Fouts 5'5" | PG Scottsburg | 2025 IN are a pair of dangerous deep shooters who can get hot quickly. They can also handle the ball and run offense. 6-0 Junior Katrina Cooper Katrina Cooper 6'0" | PF Scottsburg | 2025 IN and Senior forward Taneisha Griffin are capable of defending multiple positions, but they each have a nose for the ball as well. For the Titans of Gibson Southern, it all starts with Junior Gabby Spink Gabby Spink 5'9" | CG Gibson Southern | 2025 State IN (19.3p, 4.8r, 6.0a, 2.2s) and Senior Chloey Graham Chloey Graham 5'9" | SG Gibson Southern | 2024 State IN (16.9p, 3.7r, 1.9a, 2.4s). Either is capable of huge scoring numbers, but both are also cerebral players who understand how to contribute in other ways. 6-1 Freshman Paige Schnaus Paige Schnaus 6'2" | C Gibson Southern | 2027 State IN (9.1p, 5.5r) can be a force in the paint at times, and she has exceeded expectations as a rookie. Junior Nola Ravellette Nola Ravellette 5'9" | SF Gibson Southern | 2025 IN (6.3p, 4.3r, 1.1a, 1.0s) and Senior Ally Malone (3.2p, 2.7r, 1.9a, 1.1s) are two additional veteran perimeter players who contribute when called upon. Our Pick: Gibson Southern, 52-49.
Game #3: Winner Game-1 vs. Winner Game-2, 8:00 p.m. ET