2024-25 Season Preview: Class 1A, Sectionals 63 & 64

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"small"} --> <p class="has-small-font-size"><em>The featured image is of [player_tooltip player_id='743640' first='Hailey' last='Conder'] (2027) of South Central High School (Elizabeth, Indiana).</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As we enter December, I wanted to take the time to finish previewing the season Sectional by Sectional. In the past, I have typically started in Class 1A and moved up, but this season I started 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 32nd and final previewing each Sectional in the state. In this specific article, I will take a look at Class 1A, Sectional #63 and Sectional #64. 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 #63 at Borden</font></strong><br>Borden (20-5), SAG 69, SOS 98<br>Rock Creek (12-12), SAG 167, SOS 186<br>West Washington (13-10), SAG 175, SOS 181<br>Henryville (14-9), SAG 198, SOS 251<br>New Washington (9-14), SAG 243, SOS 203<br>South Central (Elizabeth) (8-16), SAG 268, SOS 206<br>Christian Academy (11-12), SAG 278, SOS 287</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top Teams:</strong> Sectional #63 has three standout teams, beginning with one of the best in all of Class 1A, Borden. The Lady Braves return all of their production from a season ago, graduating no one in the Spring, and they possess skill &amp; talent as well. 6-0 Junior wing <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='486522' first='Ava' last='Wheeler']</strong> (<em>13.4p, 6.9r, 3.0a, 2.7s</em>) and 6-0 Junior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='486550' first='Riley' last='Rarick']</strong> (<em>12.6p, 4.6r, 3.2a</em>) have drawn Division-I interest throughout the last year or so because of their play in grassroots ball. Wheeler is a nice athlete in transition, she can play in the mid-post or around the perimeter, and she continues to develop her ball skill. Rarick is more of a primary ball-handler for them, but she can also knock down shots from outside consistently. 5-6 Junior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='486552' first='A.J.' last='Mallad']</strong> (<em>12.5p, 2.8r, 2.2a, 2.5s</em>) is another double-figure scorer for the Braves, and if you help off of her, she can hurt you. She is a strong, physical, tough-nosed, but skillful guard. 5-10 Junior forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='797505' first='Emma' last='Hart']</strong> (<em>8.7p, 8.5r, 2.2a</em>) adds defense, rebounding, and experience to the frontcourt, while 5-3 Senior guard <strong>Reagan Loy</strong> (<em>2.6p</em>) and 5-6 Sophomore wing <strong>Paityn Fisk</strong> (<em>1.1p</em>) offer them additional options around the perimeter. When they go even deeper, look for 5-6 Sophomore <strong>Anna Jablonski</strong> (<em>0.7p in 14 games</em>), Sophomore <strong>Shelbi Thornbury</strong> (<em>0.5p in 11 games</em>), or three other returnees with minimal experience to potentially get the nod. Also, 5-7 Freshman guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='973276' first='Saylor' last='Schleicher']</strong> is potentially the next standout for the Braves, so look for her to play a lot and potentially start as well this season. The Braves are not only a favorite in Sectional #63, but they could be a favorite to win the South in Class 1A. West Washington lost a handful of players from last season, but they still return six of their top producers, including leading scorer <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='886356' first='Meredith' last='Deaton']</strong> (<em>13.9p, 6.2r, 3.0a, 3.5s</em>), a 5-8 Junior wing. Deaton plays with a great deal of versatility, she can score it at all three levels, and she performs with a nice motor. She gets help from a combination of 5-10 Senior forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='727556' first='Ava' last='Woods']</strong> (<em>5.8p, 3.6r</em>), 5-3 Senior guard <strong>Emma Schmidt</strong> (<em>3.7p, 2.9r</em>), 5-2 Junior wing <strong>Alaina Schmidt</strong> (<em>1.2p</em>), 5-6 Junior wing <strong>Adelle Brown</strong> (<em>2.3p</em>), and 5-9 Junior forward <strong>Layla Manship</strong> (<em>1.0p, 2.3r</em>). Also keep an eye out for Sophomore wing <strong>Chloe Green</strong> to see her Varsity action of her career. The Senators could approach 15+ wins this season, and a player like Deaton can certainly help them take control of games. For the second year in a row, Henryville returns most of its Varsity rotation, so they hope to lean on that experience to be improved in 2024-2025. 5-8 Senior forward <strong>Mylee Marcum</strong> is a physical, hard-working front-liner who could average a double-double this season. Fellow Seniors <strong>Addison Foley</strong>, a 5-8 forward, <strong>Chloe Harter</strong>, a 5-7 forward, and <strong>Winnie Smith</strong>, a 5-3 guard, supply a great deal of support and experience to Marcum and the Hornets. 5-3 Junior guard <strong>Gracie Best</strong>, along with 5-8 Sophomore forward <strong>Ella Logsdon</strong>, give Henryville six players who have already seen significant Varsity action. If youngsters like 5-0 Sophomore guard <strong>Avery Hutchins</strong>, plus 5-1 guard <strong>Emma McAfee</strong> and 5-5 forward <strong>Madelyn Abel</strong>, both Freshmen, can add to the depth of the Hornets, they will be another team in search of 15 to 18 wins this year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players to Keep an Eye On:</strong> Christian Academy: 5-5 Senior guard <strong>Leah Stevens</strong> (<em>10.0p, 5.5r, 2.5s</em>), 5-7 Senior wing <strong>Alexus Bryant</strong> (<em>9.5p, 5.3r</em>), 5-10 Junior post <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='599714' first='Addison' last='Jackson']</strong> (<em>7.5p, 6.1r</em>), 5-6 Sophomore guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1137345' first='Carly' last='Stevens']</strong> (<em>8.4p, 4.7r, 2.7a, 2.5s</em>); New Washington: 5-4 Senior guard <strong>Olivia Bower</strong>; Rock Creek: 5-7 Junior guard <strong>Maddie Clark</strong>; South Central (Elizabeth): 5-5 Junior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='886428' first='Gracelynn' last='Bartoszek']</strong> (<em>15.0p, 6.0r</em>), 5-4 Sophomore guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='743640' first='Hailey' last='Conder']</strong> (<em>21.0p, 2.3r, 2.0a, 2.6s</em>)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span><font color="FFFFFF">.</font></span></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><font size="+2">Sectional #64 at Northeast Dubois</font></strong><br>Springs Valley (21-5), SAG 104, SOS 173<br>Wood Memorial (16-11), SAG 115, SOS 164<br>Tecumseh (14-11), SAG 130, SOS 114<br>Northeast Dubois (13-10), SAG 157, SOS 143<br>Evansville Christian (13-10), SAG 186, SOS 169<br>Cannelton (2-19), SAG 385, SOS 365</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top Teams:</strong> Sectional #64 could shape up to be one of the most underrated, most competitive field of teams in all of Class 1A. Five of these teams play tough schedules, they posted winning records last season, and they look to replicate that in 2024-2025. Springs Valley will be the most intriguing of the bunch. Their best player opted not to return after focusing on volleyball, but they have a combination of experienced returnees and a deep Freshmen group who collectively can keep them competitive within this group of teams. 5-5 Junior point guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='874336' first='Maci' last='Eckerty']</strong> (<em>11.5p, 3.1r, 4.0a, 2.9s</em>) now becomes the focal point for the Blackhawks, and this will be her third year in the lineup. She is skilled, crafty, and plays with an excellent motor, plus she can take care of the basketball and get it where it needs to go. 5-11 Junior post <strong>Jordyn Land</strong> and 5-4 Junior guard <strong>Kynleigh Dalton</strong> return to the core rotation for their second year in a row, while fellow Junior <strong>Josie Robinson</strong> and Sophomore wing <strong>Gracie Breedlove</strong> look to be much more involved this time around. As mentioned before, look for any of six Freshmen to make an impact early this season, and that group adds a combination of guard play and some size to the lineup. The Blackhawks have the right player on the ball to help lead them this year, so if the younger players can learn and grow throughout the season, I'd expect them to be a handful as a unit come February. Wood Memorial has had its share of Sectional success, winning 11 titles over the last 20 years. Now, they have a new coach filling the lead seat, but they should still be highly competitive, as they return several of their key contributors. 5-11 Senior forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='923192' first='Katie' last='Sevier']</strong> (<em>12.7p, 5.2r</em>) leads the way and is in her final year of Varsity action. She can play in the mid-post, take smaller defenders to the low-block, or step outside a little as well. 5-7 Junior wing <strong>Bailey Schoonover</strong> and 5-9 Sophomore forward <strong>Addy Phillips</strong> help Sevier with their ability to rebound and defend inside, plus both can play outside a little as well. On the perimeter, 5-6 Junior guard <strong>Macy Bigham</strong> and 5-5 Sophomore guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='751042' first='Berkleigh' last='Collins']</strong> have the most experience, and Bigham could take over ball-handling duties this Winter due to some graduation losses. Senior <strong>Ali Keeker</strong>, Juniors <strong>Audrey Schultz</strong> and <strong>Mylee Rhoden</strong>, Sophomore <strong>Kambria Lowe</strong>, plus as many as three Freshmen look to make major impacts for the Trojans this year. Wood Memorial is another team who will need to take their experienced returnees and blend them with a few newcomers to build depth to remain a Sectional contender in 2024-2025.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tecumseh is just a couple of years removed from a state title, and they return a couple of double-digit scorers from last year's 14-win team. 5-9 Senior forward <strong>Alena Holder</strong> (<em>11.0p</em>) and 5-10 Senior guard <strong>Katelyn Marx</strong> (<em>10.2p</em>) lead the way for the Lady Braves, but they also get experienced help from 5-9 Senior wing <strong>Ava Kissel</strong> (<em>4.2p</em>) and 5-5 Senior guard <strong>Bailey Riddle</strong> (<em>4.1p</em>). Those four should be able to build the foundation for this season on their past success, but they will still need help. 5-11 Sophomore forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='751068' first='Hazel' last='Melton']</strong> (<em>2.1p</em>) and 5-4 Sophomore point guard <strong>Avery Long</strong> (<em>0.9p</em>) got early looks last season as rookies, but expect for each of them to take on a much bigger role this year. A pair of Freshmen, wing <strong>Ryleigh Pitts</strong> and guard <strong>Allie Meece</strong>, could also see some quality minutes early this season, as they adjust to the speed of the Varsity game. Tecumseh should have enough offense to lean on most nights, so if they can get some defensive and rebounding support out of the people playing bigger roles, they should be able to match or surpass last year's win total and compete for Sectional #64. I feel like this is similar with every team in this group, but Northeast Dubois is another squad who returns quite a bit of production but must replace a couple of rotation pieces from last season. 5-6 Senior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1218635' first='Emmersen' last='Kalb']</strong> (<em>9.9p, 3.4r</em>) and 6-2 Senior post <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1044775' first='Lyllee' last='Schnell']</strong> (<em>9.0p, 9.9r, 2.1b</em>) are a great place to start for the Jeeps, as they give them an inside-out duo. Kalb is an athletic, aggressive attacker who plays with a good motor. Schnell has a long, fairly athletic frame, and she likes to play around the rim at both ends of the floor. 5-5 Junior guard <strong>Bella Cummins</strong> (<em>6.1p, 2.1r, 2.4s</em>), plus Senior front-liners <strong>Kenzie Cave</strong> (<em>3.2p, 3.6r</em>) and <strong>Ava Helming</strong> (<em>1.5p, 2.1r</em>), offer experienced support inside and out as well. Look for Cummins to handle the ball quite a bit, while Cave and Helming allow Schnell some freedoms and help with foul trouble as well. I don't know that Northeast Dubois will be very deep this year, but look for Sophomore guard <strong>Adalie Kalb</strong> (<em>0.9p in 15 games</em>), Sophomore post <strong>Bailey Werner</strong> (<em>0.8p in 6 games</em>), and Senior <strong>Cassidy Rieker</strong> (<em>played in 10 games</em>) to get the first nod when the Jeeps get into their bench this season. Evansville Christian is in just its third year as an IHSAA member school, and they won 28 games throughout their first two seasons, but this time they seek a Sectional crown. With six of their top seven players back from last year, that is looking like a very real possibility in 2024-2025. Wing <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1256469' first='Hannah' last='Higgs']</strong> (<em>8.4p, 2.5r, 2.3a, 2.6s</em>), forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1256458' first='Bella' last='Hall']</strong> (<em>8.1p, 7.0r, 2.2s</em>), and point guard <strong>Peyton Geer</strong> (<em>7.7p, 2.8a, 2.9s</em>), all Juniors, provide balance among their most talented trio. The three of them collectively take care of the ball, score, rebound, and defend at a high level. Forward <strong>Hallie Higgs</strong> (<em>4.5p, 4.7r</em>) and guard <strong>Sammi Holzmeyer</strong> (<em>3.3p</em>) are two more Juniors with quality experience as well, and 5-10 Senior post <strong>Adriana Marx</strong> (<em>4.6p, 6.6r</em>) adds another veteran presence and some Senior leadership. Look for Senior post <strong>Hannah Schmidt</strong> (<em>3.0p in 4 games</em>) and Junior wing <strong>Kylie Minnette</strong> (<em>0.3p in 9 games</em>) to be their "depth" once they get past the top six players. The Eagles should fly high again this year, but time will tell when it comes to whether or not they can secure their first Sectional title in program history.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Player to Keep an Eye On:</strong> Cannelton: 5-6 Senior guard <strong>Kylie Anastasiades</strong> (<em>8.1p, 5.0r, 2.3a</em>)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->