State Tourney Preview – Sectionals 13-16

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"small"} --> <p class="has-small-font-size"><em>The featured image is of [player_tooltip player_id='324079' first='Samara' last='Miller'] (2025) of Floyd Central High School.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With the new enrollment cutoff in regard to the IHSAA's 2024-2025 classification restructure, each of the four classes will look a bit different. Still, there should be a lot of familiar matchups in Class 4A. Below is a quick look at what to expect out of Sectionals #13 through #16 next week, along with a key player or two for each team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><font color="FFFFFF">.</font></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><font size="+2">SECTIONAL #13 - Martinsville</font></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>PGH Sectional Favorite:</strong> Bloomington South<br><strong>Top Challenger:</strong> Bloomington North</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Analysis:</strong> Honestly, Bloomington South stands alone from this group. They are an impressive 20-2 on the year, they have defeated all four opponents in Sectional #13, and none of those four teams have come within 26 points of the Panthers. They have nice height, length, and skill, led by a 2026 class who will likely only improve a year from now. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='624879' first='Julia' last='Lashley']</strong> is a fluidly athletic wing who handles the ball, creates offense, and defends with versatility. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='404387' first='Violet' last='Hall']</strong> has earned a reputation as a quick-footed defender who can guard out on the perimeter or protect the rim. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='832694' first='Audrey' last='Craft']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='928896' first='Rebekah' last='Arnold']</strong>, and others give them balance and depth. As for the remaining teams, keep an eye on <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='992357' first='Katharine' last='Lehr']</strong> <em>(Bloomington North)</em>, <strong>Zanariae White</strong> <em>(Terre Haute North)</em>, and <strong>Samarra Newburn</strong> <em>(Terre Haute South)</em>...they are all Freshmen leading their respective teams in scoring.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top Players:</strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='624879' first='Julia' last='Lashley']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='832694' first='Audrey' last='Craft']</strong>, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='404387' first='Violet' last='Hall']</strong>, Bloomington South; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='992357' first='Katharine' last='Lehr']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='570385' first='Ava' last='Robbennolt']</strong>, Bloomington North; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='773842' first='Ruby' last='Murrell']</strong> and <strong>Layla Mallery</strong>, Martinsville; <strong>Zanariae White</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='773831' first='Charlie' last='Walker']</strong>, Terre Haute North; <strong>Samarra Newburn</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='917006' first='Karizma' last='English-Malone']</strong>, Terre Haute South</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><font color="FFFFFF">.</font></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><font size="+2">SECTIONAL #14 - Columbus North</font></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>PGH Sectional Favorite:</strong> Columbus North<br><strong>Top Challengers:</strong> East Central, Franklin Community</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Analysis:</strong> Sectional #14 could be quite entertaining. Columbus North has beaten each of the other four teams by 14 or more points, but I feel like both East Central and Franklin have enough talent to compete on a given night, plus they have had consistent postseason success over the years. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='751086' first='Kaylie' last='Harmon']</strong> is a standout for the Bulldogs. She is an excellent shooter, but she also handles the ball for them and has great court awareness. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='828082' first='Hadassah' last='Hurt']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='756241' first='Avery' last='Johnson']</strong> are additional perimeter scorers on a team with a lot of quality guards and wings. East Central is still a little young, and Freshman <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='999426' first='Natalie' last='Stenger']</strong> is a good one who will be a handful in years to come. Franklin graduated a strong 2024 class, but now they focus on younger prospects starting to make their mark.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top Players:</strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='751086' first='Kaylie' last='Harmon']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='828082' first='Hadassah' last='Hurt']</strong>, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='756241' first='Avery' last='Johnson']</strong>, Columbus North; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='999426' first='Natalie' last='Stenger']</strong> and <strong>Audrina Dugan</strong>, East Central; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='751071' first='Izzy' last='Stillabower']</strong>, <strong>Addi Bright</strong>, and <strong>Aubrey Leugers</strong>, Franklin Community; <strong>Sophia Dyer</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='751045' first='Bryanna' last='Gillock']</strong>, Whiteland Community; <strong>Kenzie Cheek</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='884378' first='Brelyn' last='Pool']</strong>; Columbus East</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><font color="FFFFFF">.</font></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><font size="+2">SECTIONAL #15 - Seymour</font></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>PGH Sectional Favorite:</strong> Floyd Central<br><strong>Top Challengers:</strong> Jeffersonville, Seymour</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Analysis:</strong> Floyd Central comes in 20-4. The Highlanders were just 13-11 a year ago, and that was their first winning season since 2016-2017. They haven't won 20 games since the 2009-2010 group went 25-2, when they were Regional champions. This has been a dream season for them, and they utilize tremendous size and skill to their advantage. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='486500' first='Elise' last='Coleman']</strong> is a very good perimeter shooter, and at 6-feet tall, she is able to play outside because there are others bigger. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='324079' first='Samara' last='Miller']</strong> is the playmaker from the guard spot, while 6-2 <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='324073' first='Nora' last='Gibson']</strong> offers size inside, as well as some touch facing the basket. But they go much deeper than those three and are looking to make a run through the Class 4A South bracket. Jeffersonville gave them the toughest battle out of Sectional #15 opponents, as they are able to use several smaller guards and control tempo, plus they can spread them out a bit. But rebounding and defense will be key in the teams' first-round matchup.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top Players:</strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='486500' first='Elise' last='Coleman']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='324079' first='Samara' last='Miller']</strong>, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='324073' first='Nora' last='Gibson']</strong>, Floyd Central; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='567129' first='Kelis' last='Dansby']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='999427' first='MaKenna' last='Taylor']</strong>, Jeffersonville; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='638374' first='Sophie' last='Skidmore']</strong> and <strong>Kenzie Gagner</strong>, Seymour; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='644053' first='Miley' last='Sherrill']</strong> and <strong>Trinidy Bailey</strong>, Bedford North Lawrence; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='743639' first='Emily' last='Spainhour']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1122677' first='Rylan' last='Byars']</strong>, New Albany</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><font color="FFFFFF">.</font></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><font size="+2">SECTIONAL #16 - Evansville Reitz</font></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>PGH Sectional Favorite:</strong> Castle<br><strong>Top Challengers:</strong> Gibson Southern, Evansville Reitz</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Analysis:</strong> The Castle Knights have as much talent as anyone in Sectional #16, and despite a hiccup against Evansville North around Thanksgiving, they have handled the rest of the field fairly well. The trio of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='324084' first='Jordan' last='Scott']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='486483' first='Paiton' last='Mitchell']</strong>, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='430958' first='Izabell' last='Grantz']</strong> handle backcourt duties well and bring a combination of athleticism, skill, and basketball IQ to the floor. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='486494' first='Jayden' last='Scott']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='751080' first='Jordyn' last='Poelhuis']</strong> are scoring wings who can drive it or knock down open jumpers consistent. The Knights aren't huge, but they are well-rounded and can get offense from different people. Gibson Southern is fresh off a Class 3A State title. At 17-6, they are still to be reckoned with. They boast the inside-out combination of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='295774' first='Gabby' last='Spink']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='756247' first='Paige' last='Schnaus']</strong>. Reitz will play host and feed off of their crowd. They are able to turn to skillful wing <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='486473' first='Bailey' last='Hape']</strong> and 6-5 post <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='295791' first='Kaelyse' last='Mitchell']</strong> for production inside or out.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top Players:</strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='486494' first='Jayden' last='Scott']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='430958' first='Izabell' last='Grantz']</strong>, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='324084' first='Jordan' last='Scott']</strong>, Castle; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='295774' first='Gabby' last='Spink']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='756247' first='Paige' last='Schnaus']</strong>, Gibson Southern; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='486473' first='Bailey' last='Hape']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='295791' first='Kaelyse' last='Mitchell']</strong>, Evansville Reitz; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='570376' first='Libby' last='Blythe']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='834934' first='Azaria' last='Finn']</strong>, Evansville North; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1122876' first='Bella' last='Thomas']</strong> and <strong>Alivia Williams</strong>, Evansville Harrison</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->