2024-25 Season Preview: Class 4A, Sectionals 7 & 8

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"small"} --> <p class="has-small-font-size"><em>The featured image is of [player_tooltip player_id='486538' first='Trinity' last='Wilburn'] (2026) of McCutcheon High School.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As we enter the second week of official IHSAA practices, I wanted to take the time to preview the season Sectional by Sectional. In the past, I have typically started in Class 1A and moved up, but this season I am starting with Class 4A instead. Additionally, during the Spring, the IHSAA moved to a traditional enrollment-based format, realigning all classes with hard enrollment cutoff lines per class instead of taking nearly 400 schools and simply dividing them into four equal classes. With that said, each class should be more competitive, but the bigger classes will have fewer teams than the smaller classes. This article serves as the 1st of many, previewing each Sectional in the state. In this specific article, I will take a look at Sectional #7 and Sectional #8. Below is a look at the teams in each of those Sectionals, along with some general comments and analysis.<br><small>(<em>SAG = Final 2023-2024 Multiclass Sagarin Rating (394 teams); SOS = Final 2023-2024 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 #7 at West Lafayette Harrison</font></strong><br>McCutcheon (21-5), SAG 57, SOS 82<br>West Lafayette Harrison (13-13), SAG 114, SOS 59<br>Kokomo (15-10), SAG 132, SOS 170<br>Lafayette Jefferson (4-20), SAG 294, SOS 123</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The McCutcheon Mavericks suddenly have a wealth of talent, all at the school at the same time. Last season they didn't start a Senior, and only <strong>Aubri Mullendore</strong> (<em>3.8p</em>) was lost to graduation. This year, they add three talented transfers to the group who already went 21-5, and they look to ascend to a Top 20 ranking in the state. 6-0 Sophomore wing <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='751095' first='Lillie' last='Graves']</strong> (<em>21.5p, 5.6r, 4.3a, 3.7s</em>) is arguably the most talented Sophomore in Indiana, and she proved that on a nightly basis in 2023-24. She is long, very athletic, and developing her skillset rapidly. 5-9 Junior wing <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='553262' first='Chloe' last='Finney']</strong> (<em>8.6p, 3.8r, 2.0s</em>) had a great Spring &amp; Summer, and she looks to be a double-digit scorer this year. She is strong, tough-nosed, and a very good shooter. 5-8 Junior forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='626869' first='Braelyn' last='Williams']</strong> (<em>6.8p, 3.0r</em>), 5-10 Junior forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='486526' first='Marley' last='Dale']</strong> (<em>4.7p, 4.5r</em>), and 5-11 Senior post <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1218710' first='Kalea' last='Washington']</strong> (<em>3.2p, 9.0r</em>) give them strength, a little size, and a lot of physicality up front. Williams and Dale have shown skill facing the basket, while Washington loves to play with contact inside. 5-7 Junior wing <strong>Aubrey Miller</strong> (<em>6.5p, 5.2r</em>) is another versatile perimeter player who can score it a little, handle it a little, and she makes a lot of hustle plays. 5-6 Senior guard <strong>Mallorie Beutel</strong> (<em>1.8p</em>) also looks to join the mix more often. Now there are also three new additions who each bring something a little different to the table. 5-10 Senior forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='570386' first='Rylea' last='Wetz']</strong> (<em>11.2p, 8.2r, 4.1s, 2.6b</em>) enters from Seeger High School and is a nice athlete with some strength, plus she can play effectively at all three levels. 5-5 Junior point guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='486538' first='Trinity' last='Wilburn']</strong> (<em>20.3p, 6.7r, 3.5a, 6.3s in 2022-23</em>) relocates from Faith Christian School, and she hasn't played since the 2022-23 season due to injury. But she is an explosive athlete in all directions, and she can change tempo quickly. 5-7 Sophomore guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='890800' first='Keara' last='Allen']</strong> (<em>7.5p, 3.2r, 2.7s</em>) joins the Mavericks from Benton Central High School. She is an extremely long, fluid, and smooth scoring threat from all areas of the floor. Look for McCutcheon to be the top team in the Lafayette area, and it should be fun to see how they might match up with teams in the Regional, if they are able to make it that far.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>West Lafayette Harrison played roughly 10 ladies every night, but four of them have since graduated, most notably forward <strong>Riley Whitlock</strong> (<em>16.8p, 8.6r, 3.5s</em>) and post <strong>Kiersten Guyer</strong> (<em>5.8p, 5.2r</em>). Now they turn to twins <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='692230' first='Ava' last='Ahnert']</strong> (<em>6.0p, 3.4r, 4.7a, 2.9s</em>) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='828096' first='Elsie' last='Ahnert']</strong> (<em>10.0p, 6.9r, 3.7s</em>) to lead the way in 2024-25. Ava is a 5-8 wing who takes on a lot of ball-handling responsibility. She'll be asked to score a little more this season. Elsie is a 5-9 forward who likes to operate in the mid-post and play with physicality. 5-6 Senior wing <strong>Ashley Dunk</strong> (<em>3.3p, 2.7r</em>), Junior guard <strong>Allison McColley</strong> (<em>2.0p, 2.0r</em>), 5-6 Senior guard <strong>Hannah Voll</strong> (<em>1.4p</em>), and 5-6 Senior wing <strong>Kaylie Conklin</strong> (<em>1.2p</em>) are the next most experienced Lady Raiders, and they'll need a couple of them to step into prime minutes moving forward. Harrison typically has good size, but that seems to be something they're lacking this year, so look for 5-11 Sophomore forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='932694' first='Aleah' last='Szymanski']</strong> to potentially get an opportunity after having a strong Spring &amp; Summer. The Kokomo Wildkats should be a fun watch, as they have several smaller, athletic guards flying around the floor. Gone, however, is 6-0 frontline graduate <strong>Aijia Elliott</strong> (<em>15.1p, 7.8r, 2.9b</em>), who provided them with a matchup problem most nights. 5-5 Senior guard <strong>Ma'Kaela Drake</strong> (<em>8.1p, 2.4r</em>) now steps to the forefront and should lead the Wildkats this season. She is strong, athletic, and can be an explosive scorer at times. 5-7 Senior guard <strong>Avi Pollard</strong> (<em>4.4p, 2.2r</em>), 5-3 Sophomore guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='751119' first='Satyra' last='Scott']</strong> (<em>4.2p, 2.2r</em>), 5-7 Senior forward <strong>Regan McClain</strong> (<em>3.8p, 4.3r</em>), 5-4 Junior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1005012' first='Amara' last='Stroman']</strong> (<em>3.7p</em>), and 5-8 Junior forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1256517' first='Eliana' last='Stewart']</strong> (<em>2.4p, 3.9r</em>) have each seen their share of opportunity in the past but are now needed to step into much bigger roles. Also keep an eye out for 5'3 Freshman guard <strong>Faith Merriweather</strong> and 5-7 Freshman guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='814715' first='Jhordyn' last='Brown']</strong> to see the floor earlier rather than later. That just leaves Lafayette Jefferson, and even though they were 4-20 last year, I can almost guarantee that won't be the case this season. The biggest reason is the addition of 5-8 Junior point guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='486509' first='Maya' last='Layton']</strong> (<em>24.8p, 5.3r, 3.2a, 4.5s</em>), who joins the Bronchos after two seasons at Faith Christian School. She is dynamic, explosive, and should provide an instant boost to the lineup, making everyone around her better. 5-6 Junior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='886667' first='Shaylee' last='Barrett']</strong> (<em>11.0p, 4.1r, 2.0s</em>) returns for Jeff, and she was their leading scorer a year ago. She is another athletic playmaker who should benefit from Layton taking pressure off of her. 5-7 Junior forward <strong>Da'Niyah Johnson</strong> (<em>6.9p, 6.4r</em>) and 5-6 Senior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1122682' first='Amani' last='Byrd']</strong> (<em>6.2p, 2.2r, 2.0a, 2.0s</em>) should also fit into the lineup nicely. Johnson is a strong, rugged, but athletic forward, while Byrd can be a blur in transition at times, plus she's a nice on-ball defender. Lastly, 5-11 Junior forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='496022' first='Haley' last='Blackburn']</strong> transferred in from West Lafayette Harrison. She played in eight games for the Raiders last year, but she could help bolster the Jeff frontline immediately. I wouldn't sell you on the Bronchos winning 20 games, but they will be much improved and more competitive during 2024-25.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span><font color="FFFFFF">.</font></span></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><font size="+2">Sectional #8 at Noblesville</font></strong><br>Hamilton Southeastern (21-4), SAG 7, SOS 8<br>Noblesville (18-9), SAG 9, SOS 1<br>Fishers (17-7), SAG 17, SOS 10<br>Zionsville (16-7), SAG 18, SOS 6<br>Westfield (13-10), SAG 38, SOS 4<br>Carmel (11-12), SAG 41, SOS 5</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sectional #8 is arguably the strongest Sectional top to bottom in the state, and just about anyone can win it from year to year. What's more impressive is each of their strengths of schedule. Hamilton Southeastern stands out as a top team here once again, because they have a great deal of talent at most positions. 6-3 Senior wing <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='295764' first='Maya' last='Makalusky']</strong> (<em>26.1p, 5.6r, 41% 3s</em>) is back for one more year, and she is a problem for opponents. She is an elite catch-and-shoot wing with a quick release, but she has started to attack the basket a lot more in the last year and work her way to the free throw line. The Indiana University commit will be on the short list for Miss Basketball candidates in the Spring. 5-8 Junior point guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='486487' first='Kennedy' last='Holman']</strong> (<em>11.7p, 5.3r, 7.3a, 2.3s</em>) and 6-0 Junior forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='486486' first='Kayla' last='Stidham']</strong> (<em>11.9p, 4.1r, 2.9a</em>) moved into starting spots last year almost seamlessly. Now, they create mismatches for opponents. Holman is so smooth, explosive, and skilled, she is incredibly tough to contain off the bounce. Stidham has nice size and is a high-level perimeter shooter who likes to find space in the long corners and on the wings. From there, the Royals can go in a number of different directions and match up with opposing teams. 5-11 Senior forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='828094' first='Addison' last='Van Hoesen']</strong> (<em>3.4p, 3.8r</em>) is one of the best "role" players. She understands how to screen, box out, and do a lot of the "little things" to keep her on the floor and involved. But she has nice all-around skill and can contribute more. 5-8 Senior forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='506028' first='Maine' last='Hooks']</strong> returns from injury this year and brings a lot of the same "hustle" tools, as does 5-10 Senior forward <strong>Kenley Johnson</strong> (<em>2.5p, 2.1r</em>). Helping Holman in the backcourt is a mixture of 5-6 Senior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='906592' first='Kayla' last='Brinley']</strong> (<em>3.8p</em>), and 5-5 Junior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='486488' first='Antonette' last='Green']</strong> (<em>2.1p, 2.0r, 2.1a</em>). The Royals will be a top team in the state and in Sectional #8. The Noblesville Millers can also be a handful at times; however, they played just seven ladies a majority of the minutes a year ago, and 2024 Indiana All-Star <strong>Reagan Wilson</strong> (<em>16.1p, 3.2r, 2.5a, 3.0s</em>) plus wing <strong>Ava Shoemaker</strong> (<em>11.8p, 4.3r, 2.3a, 2.3s</em>) have both graduated. The good news for the Millers is 5-10 Senior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='295776' first='Meredith' last='Tippner']</strong> (<em>16.3p, 9.8r, 3.4a, 3.3s</em>) and 6-3 Junior front-liner <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='486478' first='C.C.' last='Quigley']</strong> (<em>9.7p, 5.2r</em>) both return. Tippner is a high-motor, tough-nosed competitor who can execute at both ends of the floor. She has committed to Miami (FL) and was a 2024 Indiana Junior All-Star. Quigley has height &amp; length, plus she's a fluidly mobile "big" with face-up skill. She just continues to improve from year to year. Who will help those two is the question. Senior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1218677' first='Kate' last='Rollins']</strong> (<em>2.7p</em>), 5-9 Junior wing <strong>Ally Hutchinson</strong> (<em>1.4p</em>), and 5-5 Senior guard <strong>Brookelyn Grayson</strong> (<em>0.4p</em>) each played in more than 20 games a season ago. Look for 5-8 Senior forward <strong>Bri Gray</strong> and 5-5 Freshman point guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='999395' first='Maia' last='Blower']</strong> to potentially find a spot in the rotation early this season. The Millers have two standouts, but they will need others to step up, especially offensively.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After graduating some key starters in 2023, then losing another four graduates in 2024, the Fishers Tigers will take on somewhat of a new look this season. Departing last Spring were Indiana All-Star <strong>Talia Harris</strong> (<em>14.8p, 5.8r, 4.7a</em>), guard <strong>Joirdyn Smith</strong> (<em>7.9p, 2.1a</em>), wing <strong>Morgan Roberts</strong> (<em>6.2p, 2.7r</em>), and forward <strong>Kate Thomas</strong> (<em>3.6p, 5.0r</em>). All have headed to college basketball. The Tigers do return a pair with significant Varsity experience in 5-10 wing <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='295771' first='Allison' last='Scheu']</strong> (<em>11.8p, 4.8r, 2.3a</em>) and 6-0 forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='295761' first='Nevaeh' last='Dickman']</strong> (<em>10.6p, 6.0r</em>), both Seniors. Scheu is tough and physical, but skilled and athletic. She has committed to St. Francis in Fort Wayne. Dickman is a versatile inside-out big with the ability to play physical inside, stretch the floor outside, plus she's a nice athlete. She is headed to Division-I Buffalo next year. 6-2 Junior post <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='486553' first='Natalie' last='Thomas']</strong> (<em>2.3p</em>) saw a little action last year, and I felt like she had a strong Fall at showcase events. 5-10 Sophomore forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='751034' first='Alanna' last='Anthony']</strong> (<em>1.3p</em>) is a nice athlete with strength who also got into several games. Also keep an eye on 5-11 Junior forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='761189' first='Makayla' last='Triplett']</strong> and 5-5 Senior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='923151' first='Olivia' last='Brookshire']</strong>. Both look to step into much more critical roles this time around. Fishers also has a nice Freshman class, and expect 5-8 guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='990044' first='Riley' last='Schellhammer']</strong> to start from the outset. She is one of the top Freshmen in the state, plus she's a skilled shooter who can also handle and facilitate. 5-8 guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='992346' first='Ella' last='Burleson']</strong> and 5-11 forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='992140' first='Reagan' last='Reiff']</strong> are two more rookies who could see their numbers called early this season. The Zionsville Eagles graduated Indiana Miss Basketball <strong>Laila Hull</strong> in 2023, and now they must say goodbye to <strong>Emma Haan</strong> (<em>15.6p, 3.0r, 2.0a</em>), <strong>Allison Caldwell</strong> (<em>13.8p, 5.3r, 4.7a</em>), <strong>Brooke Karesh</strong> (<em>7.7p, 5.3r</em>), and <strong>Faith Leedy</strong> (<em>5.7p, 5.2r, 2.1a, 2.1s</em>)...four of their top six players from last season. Not only that, but their longtime head coach retired, so just about everything is new in Eagle land. 5-8 Sophomore guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='579969' first='McKenzie' last='Chapman']</strong> (<em>7.0p, 4.4r, 2.0a</em>) should now step into a leadership role and see her numbers rise significantly across the board. She has a tremendous motor and is a top 2027 in Indiana. 6-1 Senior post <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='692240' first='Caroline' last='Sampson']</strong> (<em>5.8p, 5.8r</em>) could be a double-double producer on the interior with her combination of hustle and skill. 5-8 Senior wing <strong>Macey Ring</strong> (<em>0.2p</em>) saw action in 22 games a year ago, so she's the next most experienced Eagle. Looking to have a much more significant role in 2024-25 are 6-0 Sophomore forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='890889' first='Emily' last='Zack']</strong> and 5-11 Sophomore forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='932696' first='Emma' last='Tinder']</strong>. Zack is an extremely long, wiry, fluidly athletic, and skilled face-up '4' who can play in the mid-post or around the perimeter. Tinder is a similar type of prospect, but she possesses a bit more perimeter skill. 5-7 Junior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='486501' first='Ellie' last='Frobig']</strong> transferred in from Carmel and could find immediate minutes in the backcourt, while 5-8 Sophomore guard <strong>Samantha Kulwicki</strong> has flashed nice potential in the past. The Eagles will be young, but they still have enough talent to post a 15-win season once again.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Westfield wasn't an explosive offense last year, and they leaned heavily on <strong>Elle Kelleher</strong> (<em>12.8p, 4.4r, 3.1a</em>), <strong>Reagan Lorenzen</strong> (<em>9.5p, 3.1r</em>), and <strong>Kiarra Loveless</strong> (<em>2.7p, 3.6r</em>). All three have now moved on thanks to graduation. The Shamrocks now turn to four Seniors and a pair of Juniors to lead them into action. 5-9 Senior wing <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='366803' first='Lindsey' last='Van Dyke']</strong> (<em>8.5p, 3.0r</em>) is a tough-nosed, physical, high-motor player. She likes to be in the middle of things and mix it up, making a ton of hustle plays. 5-9 Senior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='295759' first='Aubrey' last='Crockett']</strong> (<em>5.2p, 4.1r, 3.5a</em>) will likely take care of ball-handling duties. She had a nice Spring &amp; Summer, and she has already committed to Spring Arbor University. 6-2 Senior post <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='506024' first='Sam' last='Price']</strong> (<em>3.7p, 3.4r</em>) brings tremendous length and is an active front-liner with some touch, while 5-4 Senior point guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='496060' first='Meg' last='Hamilton']</strong> (<em>1.6p</em>) is a feisty little water-bug committed to DePauw. 5-8 Junior wing <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='486531' first='MaKayla' last='Hatcher']</strong> (<em>4.5p, 2.5r</em>) and 5-7 Junior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='928923' first='Lauren' last='Linville']</strong> look to be much more greatly involved. Hatcher is a strong, physical wing, while Linville had a really nice Spring &amp; Summer grassroots season and could be in line for a 6th Player role. 5-8 forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='486502' first='Olivia' last='Murray']</strong>, 6-0 forward <strong>Gracie Czubik</strong>, and 6-0 post <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='486493' first='Audra' last='Parker']</strong>, all Juniors, are trying to find their niche in the rotation. The Shamrocks will be disciplined and take care of the basketball, but whether or not their offense improves will likely go a long way into how successful they are in 2024-25. As for the Carmel Greyhounds, they have dealt with so many injuries over the past few years, that they are just looking for a healthy campaign. If they can keep everyone on the floor, they could also contend for a Sectional #8 crown, because they have quite a bit of talent and experience in their Senior class. 5-5 Senior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='295812' first='Isabelle' last='Shepherd']</strong> (<em>9.5p</em>) is a knockdown shooter who doesn't need much space to get her shot away. She has committed to Huntington University. 5-9 Senior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='324065' first='Mallory' last='Bourquein']</strong> (<em>9.3p, 2.9r, 3.1a</em>) saw action in just seven games, but she is a nice athlete who has always flashed potential. 5-8 Senior point guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='506016' first='Mackenzie' last='Woods']</strong> (<em>7.7p, 3.9r, 3.1a</em>) is a tough-nosed, strong, high-energy guard who can control tempo or score the ball herself. 6-3 Senior wing <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='295769' first='Lauren' last='Perry']</strong> (<em>7.3p, 2.8r</em>) is an extremely long, fluidly athletic shooter who can get hot outside. She is a Division II Lewis University commit. 5-7 Senior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='324070' first='Taryn' last='Fisher']</strong> (<em>5.3p, 3.2r</em>) is a hard-working, athletic guard who can defend. She is a St. Xavier commit. 5-10 Junior forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='761159' first='Sydney' last='Bonds']</strong> (<em>0.5p</em>) saw a little action a year ago, but she is one of the taller Greyhounds and could see the floor quite a bit more this season. 5-9 Sophomore wing <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='896317' first='Taylee' last='Fisher']</strong> and 5-9 Junior forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='486554' first='Jacobi' last='Warren']</strong> also look for an opportunity to affect the lineup this time around. Keep an eye on a strong Freshman backcourt group of 5-6 point guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='990047' first='Maddy' last='Wallace']</strong>, 5-7 guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='999412' first='Bella' last='Ramsey']</strong>, and 5-7 guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='917867' first='Catherine' last='Bassi']</strong> to potentially see a few minutes here and there.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->