2024-25 Season Preview: Class 4A, Sectionals 11 & 12

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"small"} --> <p class="has-small-font-size"><em>The featured image is of [player_tooltip player_id='567130' first='Gracyn' last='Gilliard'] (2026) of Center Grove High School (center).</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 6th of many, previewing each Sectional in the state. In this specific article, I will take a look at Sectional #11 and Sectional #12. 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 #11 at Plainfield</font></strong><br>Brownsburg (13-12), SAG 22, SOS 7<br>Plainfield (18-8), SAG 24, SOS 24<br>Pike (12-15), SAG 46, SOS 18<br>Ben Davis (6-18), SAG 50, SOS 9<br>Avon (8-15), SAG 67, SOS 12</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Despite being just above .500 last year, the Brownsburg Bulldogs are one of the toughest matchups in the state, they are arguably the tallest team in the state, and they will be one of the most experienced teams in the state. 6-6 Senior post <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='295789' first='Avery' last='Gordon']</strong> (<em>22.0p, 9.7r, 2.1b</em>) by herself is a matchup nightmare for opponents. The Purdue commit has size, good hands, solid footwork, plus she works hard at her craft. 5-11 Junior wing <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='486533' first='Elle' last='McCulloch']</strong> (<em>6.9p, 2.7r</em>) has begun drawing Division I interest, and she is a smooth, highly skilled shooter who can also handle it a little and manage an offense. 5-10 Senior forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='626933' first='Morgan' last='Montgomery']</strong> (<em>6.5p, 3.7r</em>) is a strong athlete who had a nice Spring &amp; Summer. She adds the versatility of being able to play inside or out. 5-9 Senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='626934' first='Delaney' last='Steers']</strong> (<em>4.3p, 2.7r, 2.0a</em>) is a Northern Illinois volleyball commit, but the long and athletic guard looked poised in June handling the ball and running offense for the Bulldogs. From there, Brownsburg can go a number of different directions. 6-0 Junior forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='928873' first='Sammy' last='Clark']</strong> had some nice flashes over the Summer, 5-9 Junior forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='486497' first='Kenzie' last='Touloukian']</strong> (<em>1.4p</em>) brings strength, toughness, and versatility, and 5-9 Junior wing <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1273479' first='Laniah' last='Walkine']</strong> (<em>2.3p</em>) brings good energy and athleticism. 5-9 Senior wing <strong>Claire Miller</strong> (<em>1.2p</em>), 5-11 Sophomore forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='751299' first='Brianna' last='Brown']</strong> (<em>0.4p</em>), 5-8 Senior forward <strong>Housie Diallo</strong>, and 5-6 Junior guard <strong>Aubrey Gallagher</strong> also look to impact the team in any way they can. The Bulldogs dig graduate shooter <strong>Emma Hendricks</strong> (<em>7.0p, 3.7r, 4.1a</em>), guard <strong>Macy Twomey</strong> (<em>6.3p, 4.2r</em>), and post <strong>Loria Snowden</strong> (<em>3.1p, 2.2r</em>), but as long as they handle pressure and can make it a half-court game each time out, they could be a 20-win team and contend for a deep playoff run. The Plainfield Quakers were a thorn in Brownsburg's side last season, beating the Bulldogs on three occasions. However, the graduation of 6-1 forward <strong>Payton Benge</strong> (<em>12.5p, 6.8r</em>) now means none of the returning Quakers are over 5-10 (<em>Benge is now playing at Spring Arbor</em>). At the same time, she was the only Senior, so everyone else is eligible to return, and Plainfield has a really nice collection of guards. 5-8 Sophomore guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='751064' first='Hannah' last='Menser']</strong> (<em>15.2p, 3.6r, 2.7a, 2.5s</em>) came into high school with some fanfare, and she backed it up with a strong rookie year. 5-6 Junior point guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='486496' first='Berkeley' last='Williams']</strong> (<em>14.8p, 4.2r, 2.2a, 2.0s</em>) is a fun watch. She plays extremely hard and with a ton of energy, plus she is highly skilled and understands the game. 5-8 Senior point guard <strong>Ellison Stewart</strong> (<em>4.7p, 3.6r, 4.1a, 3.2s</em>) is also a talented soccer player, but she is an athlete on the basketball court, and she brings a selfless, workmanlike mentality to the team. 5-5 Senior guard <strong>Morgan Barnes</strong> (<em>4.6p</em>), 5-9 Sophomore forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='751082' first='Kara' last='Olejnik']</strong> (<em>2.4p</em>), 5-10 Junior forward <strong>Caroline Pugh</strong> (<em>1.8p, 3.1r</em>), 5-4 Sophomore guard <strong>Bryleigh Todd</strong> (<em>1.2p</em>), and 5-7 Senior wing <strong>Kendal Homan</strong> (<em>0.6p</em>) each played in 18 or more games last year and look to make a bigger impact this time around. Also look for 5-7 Sophomore guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='992523' first='Abrielle' last='Dugan']</strong> to potentially play a bigger role at either guard spot. Plainfield will definitely be a tough "out", as they have great guard play and can control tempo against most opponents.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Pike Red Devils showed marked improvement last season, and with a wealth of young talent, they look to take another step this year and approach 20 wins. They will have to play without the services of post <strong>Alexis Warren</strong> (<em>8.0p, 5.7r</em>), wing <strong>Morgan Crowe</strong> (<em>4.4p, 3.6r, 2.1s</em>), wing <strong>Keke Cole</strong> (<em>2.9p</em>), and forward <strong>Amaree Rush</strong>, all 2024 graduates. The Red Devils do return their two top producers in 5-5 Sophomore guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='751118' first='Saniya' last='Smith']</strong> (<em>12.6p, 2.8r, 2.5a, 2.7s</em>) and 6-0 Junior forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='686306' first='Komari' last='Booker']</strong> (<em>10.6p, 9.8r, 2.1s</em>). Smith is a walking bucket who can fill it up all over the floor, using her speed &amp; quickness to create space. Booker is an athletic, no-nonsense rebounder/defender who has improved skillfully each year. 5-4 Sophomore point guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='751088' first='Korinne' last='Nickolson']</strong> (<em>6.0p, 3.2r, 3.0a, 2.3s</em>), 6-0 Junior post <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='928878' first='Marley' last='Jeffers']</strong> (<em>5.1p, 4.6r</em>), 5-4 Sophomore guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='751076' first='Jayla' last='Miller']</strong> (<em>4.8p</em>), 5-8 Sophomore guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='992538' first='Jazlyn' last='Miller']</strong> (<em>2.8p</em>), 5-8 Junior wing <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1038873' first='Deniyah' last='Warren']</strong> (<em>2.0p</em>), and 6-0 Sophomore forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='993869' first='Elyssa' last='Nichols']</strong> (<em>1.4p, 2.2r</em>) all look to once again be a part of a deep rotation filled with speed and athleticism. One additional player who should help immediately is 5-8 Junior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='486542' first='Alonna' last='Divine']</strong> (<em>8.8p, 3.5r, 2.0s</em>), a transfer from rival Ben Davis who instantly brings experience, playmaking, and scoring to the lineup. Speaking of the Ben Davis Giants, they don't only have to deal with the loss of Divine, but leading scorer <strong>Zoe Wheeler</strong> (<em>13.6p, 4.1r, 2.3s</em>), <strong>Scottlynn Johnson</strong> (<em>3.5p, 3.7r</em>), along with two others all graduated, plus 6-3 Junior post <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='624875' first='Laila' last='Brown']</strong> (<em>3.9p, 4.1r</em>) transferred across town to Warren Central. The good news is, plenty of young players saw the floor in 2023-2024, so they at least have some experience returning. 5-8 Junior wings <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='761186' first='Aleia' last='Sultzer']</strong> (<em>8.4p, 4.8r</em>) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='772792' first='Aubri' last='Ingram']</strong> (<em>4.3p, 2.7r</em>) started several games, and they look to take the leadership reins this season. They are both versatile and can play multiple positions/roles at either end of the floor. 5-9 Sophomore wing <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='751120' first='Shania' last='Curry']</strong> (<em>3.9p, 6.0r</em>) was also on the floor a lot, plus 5-4 Junior guard <strong>Ka'Dence Bland</strong> (<em>1.0p</em>) is experienced, athletic, and she had a really nice grassroots season. The Giants will always be competitive, but their depth this season will have to adjust to the Varsity game quickly. The Avon Orioles are not at all a tall team, but they do return nearly 100% of their production from last year. Leading the way is 5-3 Senior point guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='366801' first='Aniah' last='Smith']</strong> (<em>21.0p, 4.4r, 4.2a, 5.2s</em>), a 2024 Indiana Junior All-Star. She may be tiny, but she is explosive, crafty/creative, and she is a Division I talent. 5-3 Junior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='832666' first='Makaylee' last='Butts']</strong> (<em>8.9p, 3.2r</em>), 5-5 Senior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='496065' first='Mya' last='Thompson']</strong> (<em>8.2p</em>), 5-8 Junior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='884498' first='Kaylii' last='Williams']</strong> (<em>4.8p, 2.0r</em>), and 5-4 Senior track star <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='295814' first='Nevaeh' last='Wren']</strong> (<em>6.7p, 2.7r</em>) fill out a small but very talented backcourt. All can handle a little, but Thompson is a shooter/scorer, and Wren is an outstanding athlete who can lock up. Giving the Orioles "size" are 5-7 Senior forward <strong>Soryah Hart</strong> (<em>3.8p, 5.4r</em>), 5-9 Senior forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='496031' first='Joyce' last='Smiley']</strong> (<em>1.8p, 2.8r</em>), and 6-1 Sophomore post <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='934000' first='Erika' last='Larson']</strong> (<em>1.8p</em>). Hart is a rugged battler in the paint who plays bigger than she is, Smiley is an athlete who can play inside-out, and Larson is a nice prospect who is starting to flash great potential.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span><font color="FFFFFF">.</font></span></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><font size="+2">Sectional #12 at Franklin Central</font></strong><br>Center Grove (27-2), SAG 2, SOS 14<br>Franklin Central (15-9), SAG 31, SOS 15<br>Mooresville (20-5), SAG 32, SOS 49<br>Decatur Central (10-12), SAG 107, SOS 36<br>Perry Meridian (3-19), SAG 256, SOS 53<br>Southport (2-20), SAG 284, SOS 105</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Trojans of Center Grove put together an outstanding 2023-2024 campaign, missing the State Finals by about a quarter. They had Lawrence Central down in the second half of the Semi-State Finals, when 5-8 Senior point guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='295755' first='Lilly' last='Bischoff']</strong> (<em>11.1p, 4.9r, 5.7a</em>) went down with an ankle injury. The Bears fought back at that point, took control of the game, and claimed the Class 4A crown. Bischoff, a 2024 Indiana Junior All-Star is the steady, poised, tough-nosed leader of this Trojan squad. With three of their top five from a year ago moving onto college ball, she will be crucial to their success. Returning to the lineup with her is 5-8 Senior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='506025' first='Ava' last='Grant']</strong> (<em>11.6p, 3.0a, 48% 3s</em>), a knockdown 3-point shooter who can also handle it and distribute a little. 6-2 Senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='692242' first='Emerson' last='Vlcan']</strong> (<em>1.5p</em>), 5-5 Junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='486507' first='Hannah' last='Gin']</strong> (<em>0.9p</em>), and 5-7 Sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='834961' first='MacKenzie' last='Pierce']</strong> (<em>0.7p</em>) each saw action in 26 or more games, but none of the three played major minutes. Look for them to potentially step into starters roles this season. Vlcan could be a big addition, especially with the graduation of <strong>Rachel Wirts</strong> (<em>12.1p, 7.0r</em>), who is now playing at Villanova. Also gone are <strong>Audrey Annee</strong> (<em>13.2p</em>), now at Army, and <strong>Aubrie Booker</strong> (<em>8.2p, 4.2r, 4.5a</em>), now at IU-South Bend. Two additions who could affect the lineup immediately are 5'10 Junior wing <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='567130' first='Gracyn' last='Gilliard']</strong> (<em>25.9p, 8.0r, 2.7a, 5.9s</em>) and 5-10 Freshman forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='999436' first='Haley' last='Wagoner']</strong>. Gilliard starred at Munster the last two years and scored nearly 1000 points in that span. She already has several Division I offers, including from the Big East. Wagoner is a strong, skilled, versatile player who should have an immediate impact. The Trojans might not match their 27-2 record from last year, but they'll have the firepower to win 20 games again. An influx of talented 2027s helped the Franklin Central Flashes go from 8 wins to 15 wins a year ago, and this time they are looking at a 20-win season. The Flashes did graduate four players, but only <strong>Carys Wilson</strong> (<em>7.7p, 4.6r</em>) contributed major numbers for them. Everyone else is back. 5-11 Senior wing <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='295800' first='Lily' last='Graves']</strong> (<em>11.7p, 4.8r</em>) returns for her final season, and she brings a high IQ plus perimeter shooting. 5-7 classmate <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='331803' first='Emma' last='McVey']</strong> (<em>4.6p</em>) brings a ton of energy and does a little of everything, while 6-3 Junior post <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1256480' first='Aubrey' last='Irwin']</strong> (<em>1.0p</em>) has shown the potential to eventually be impactful. From there, everyone else is part of that talented Sophomore group. 6-2 Sophomore post <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='751115' first='Payton' last='DuVall']</strong> (<em>10.5p, 8.8r, 3.4b</em>) is a star-in-the-making. She has size, athleticism, developing skill, and a nice motor. 5-9 guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='692561' first='Ashlee' last='Baker']</strong> (<em>8.4p, 2.8r, 2.5a</em>) is a strong, skillful shooter who can also handle it a little. 5-6 point guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='756239' first='Riley' last='Huotari']</strong> (<em>4.8p, 3.0r, 4.0a</em>) is a feisty little lead guard who does a nice job of taking care of the basketball and communicating with teammates. She's also a capable shooter and a tough-nosed defender. From there, 6-0 forward <strong>Olivia Stowers</strong>, 5-9 guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1137311' first='Aniya' last='Doughty']</strong> (<em>2.0p</em>), and 5-8 wing <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='751048' first='Carly' last='Holmes']</strong> (<em>1.2p</em>) are three more 2027s working for a bigger opportunity on Varsity. Look for the Flashes to have an inside-out approach and be in the mix come Sectional time.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mooresville put together a nice 20-win season in 2023-2024, but now they must deal with the loss of front-liners <strong>Rachel Harshman</strong> (<em>16.6p, 9.5r</em>) and <strong>Kalyn Bunch</strong> (<em>8.0p, 5.3r</em>) who are now playing at St. Francis (IN) and Taylor, respectively. Additional graduates include <strong>Emma McGinley</strong> (<em>4.2p, 2.3r, 2.8a, 2.4s</em>) and <strong>Sydney Hardy</strong> (<em>3.4p, 3.4r, 2.0a</em>) from the backcourt, plus 5-4 Junior guard <strong>Lyla Jacobs</strong> (<em>5.2p</em>) is not returning, so there will be some voids to fill by the returnees and a few newcomers. Luckily, 5-8 Senior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='295772' first='Ava' last='Shafer']</strong> (<em>7.8p, 2.8r, 2.4a</em>) and 5-6 Senior point guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='692241' first='Addison' last='VanWanzeele']</strong> (<em>2.1p</em>) have experience, plus 6-1 Senior post <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='453219' first='Randee' last='Garringer']</strong> (<em>5.3p, 3.4r</em>) has played key minutes in the paint in previous seasons. Shafer is a high-energy athlete who makes plays all over, VanWanzeele is a skilled shooter and can handle the ball, and Garringer is a strong, physical, and bouncy front-liner who works extremely hard. Those three are a great start for any team to build around. 5-8 Junior forward <strong>Addi Ward</strong> (<em>0.5p</em>) has played limited minutes in the past, and 5-7 Sophomore point guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='751087' first='Kendal' last='Price']</strong> has shown a lot of potential during grassroots play. Also keep an eye out for 6-0 Freshman <strong>Halle Moore</strong> and 5-5 Freshman <strong>K.J. Burton</strong>, who could see the floor earlier rather than later this season. While there was a lot of roster turnover for the Pioneers, they should still be competitive and win 15 to 20 games again in 2024-2025. Decatur Central is another team dealing with roster changes, as their top three scorers from a year ago all transferred. 5-9 Senior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='453215' first='Soriah' last='Gouard']</strong> (<em>12.1p, 8.6r</em>), 5-7 Junior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='492315' first='Kenadi' last='Banks']</strong> (<em>11.3p, 2.2r, 2.5a</em>), and 5-8 Senior wing <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='570372' first='Kassie' last='McMasters']</strong> (<em>9.3p, 5.4r, 2.6a</em>) are all gone. Gouard and Banks headed to downtown Indy to Crispus Attucks, while McMasters went back to Southport where she spent her Freshman and Sophomore seasons. In addition, wing <strong>Heaven Thompson</strong> (<em>4.9p, 2.5r</em>) graduated. With all that said, now step up some younger players looking for their shot at starring, and a couple of them are more than capable. 5-10 Sophomore guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='992533' first='Havana' last='Thompson']</strong> (<em>8.7p, 2.7r, 2.4a</em>) is a skillful, athletic, tough-nosed, do-everything type of guard. She can score, distribute, and defend. 5-6 Junior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='832664' first='Aleeyah' last='McElrath']</strong> (<em>6.3p, 3.7r</em>) is an athletically explosive scorer who keeps the ball on a string and can create for herself or others. She's also a great on-ball defender. 5-8 Junior wing <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='624874' first='Mia' last='Barnes']</strong> (<em>3.4p</em>) is a solid/strong perimeter player who can attack the basket, while 6-0 Sophomore front-liner <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='890798' first='Skyla' last='Akers-Richards']</strong> (<em>1.7p, 2.3r</em>) has flashed a lot of potential and can flex between the post and mid-post with her athleticism and skill. 5-5 Senior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='524676' first='Nevaeh' last='Hearn']</strong> (<em>0.5p</em>) is another really nice athlete who will defend with effort. If the Hawks can find chemistry with this new group and consistently defend opponents, I think they could be a double-digit win team again, but offense will be the most difficult thing for them to find early in the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Perry Meridian is coming off of a tough 3-win season, and they graduated leading scorer <strong>Izzy Egan</strong> (<em>7.7p, 3.9r</em>), along with rebounder/defender <strong>Kaleigh Butts</strong> (<em>4.0p, 5.7r</em>). However, this is more of a case that the Falcons needed several younger players to fill critical minutes a year ago, and they do return some nice pieces who have now seen Varsity competition. 5-4 Junior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='885310' first='Aubrey' last='Hall']</strong> (<em>7.3p, 2.5r</em>) is the most experienced. She is tough-nosed, hard-working, and crafty. She gets help in the backcourt from 5-6 Senior guard <strong>Ally Raymer</strong> (<em>4.6p</em>), 5-5 Junior guard <strong>Aubriana Haugh</strong> (<em>4.2p, 2.7r</em>), and 5-4 Senior wing <strong>Emmi Cody</strong> (<em>0.5p</em>). 5-9 Senior forward/post <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1122885' first='Mariah' last='Thomas']</strong> (<em>6.2p, 5.8r</em>) was the team's leading rebounder a year ago and leads the frontcourt players. Joining her up front is 5-6 Senior forward <strong>Aliysa Baird</strong> (<em>0.8p, 2.0r</em>). Be on the lookout for 5-5 Sophomore guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1215693' first='Hailey' last='Mullins']</strong> (<em>1.3p</em>) and 5-6 Sophomore wing <strong>Addy Short</strong> (<em>0.7p</em>), who both got a small taste of Varsity clock in limited minutes, but who could both contribute a lot more this time around. If the Falcons can improve from their downfalls a year ago, they could double their win total, if not approach 10 wins this season. Across Perry Township is backyard rival Southport, and the Cardinals are coming off of a tough 2-win season themselves. The good news is, they return their top three scorers and add the aforementioned <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='570372' first='Kassie' last='McMasters']</strong> (<em>above</em>) from Decatur Central. Back in the fold are 5-9 Senior wing <strong>Nola Linson</strong> (<em>8.0p, 3.7r, 2.0s</em>), 5-11 Senior post <strong>Sophia Nguyen</strong> (<em>6.1p, 6.5r</em>), and 5-5 Sophomore guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='952587' first='Lorelei' last='Bennett']</strong> (<em>6.0p, 3.6r</em>). 5-9 Sophomore wing <strong>Teasia Bibbs</strong> (<em>3.9p, 2.1r</em>) saw a little action as a rookie last year as well. The Cardinals add a little more size with 6-1 Senior post <strong>Ryleigh Hamilton</strong> and 5-11 Junior forward <strong>Shakyra Maureedullah</strong>. Also look for Freshmen <strong>Adyson Rogers</strong>, a 5-10 forward, and <strong>Rachel Pfeifer</strong>, a 5-5 guard, to potentially get an early look this season. With the addition of McMasters, Southport will instantly be a better team offensively. If they can use some of their size to stifle opponents defensively, they too can double their win total and approach 10 wins in 2024-2025.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->