State Tourney Preview – Sectionals 21-24

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"small"} --> <p class="has-small-font-size"><em>The featured image is of [player_tooltip player_id='404107' first='Ashley' last='Cox'] (2025) of DeKalb 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 3A. Below is a quick look at what to expect out of Sectionals #21 through #24 this coming 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 #21 - Concordia Lutheran</font></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>PGH Sectional Favorite:</strong> DeKalb<br><strong>Top Challengers:</strong> East Noble, Bishop Dwenger</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Analysis:</strong> DeKalb finished the season with a brutal stretch of opponents, but make no mistake about it, the Barons are out for their first Sectional title since the 2005-2006 season. St. Francis commit <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='404107' first='Ashley' last='Cox']</strong> is a smooth scorer who can create for others as well, while <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='890813' first='Abbie' last='Harris']</strong> is a tough-nosed guard who can play on or off the ball depending on Cox's role. East Noble has a lot of balance in their lineup, but they are somewhat young as a group. Could this be the year they turn the corner, or are they looking towards being the favorite next season? Bishop Dwenger has been solid this season, and they have a real talent in 6-1 Sophomore wing <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='743355' first='Isabelle' last='Eke']</strong> <em>(13.7p, 5.2r)</em>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top Players:</strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='404107' first='Ashley' last='Cox']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='890813' first='Abbie' last='Harris']</strong>, DeKalb; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='834926' first='Averi' last='Amstutz']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1006197' first='Rian' last='David']</strong>, East Noble; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='743355' first='Isabelle' last='Eke']</strong>, Bishop Dwenger; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='462366' first='Alivia' last='Bolinger']</strong>, Concordia Lutheran; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1122727' first='Bailey' last='Holman']</strong> and <strong>Lexi Stillman</strong>, Angola; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='624881' first='Leah' last='Shappell']</strong>, Leo; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1229791' first='Sarah' last='DePew']</strong>, Garrett</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><font color="FFFFFF">.</font></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><font size="+2">SECTIONAL #22 - Norwell</font></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>PGH Sectional Favorite:</strong> Norwell<br><strong>Top Challenger:</strong> Bellmont</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Analysis:</strong> Northern Wells County rep, Norwell, and neighboring Northern Adams County rep, Bellmont, reign supreme in Sectional #22. Bellmont won the regular season matchup, 47-44, in their gym. However, I think Norwell's run last year to the State Championship, plus their ability to host Sectional #22, gives them the advantage this time around. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='732354' first='Vanessa' last='Rosswurm']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1137282' first='Macie' last='Saalfrank']</strong> have been outstanding for the Lady Knights all year, and they are surrounded by several nice ball-handlers and shooters. Bellmont has a talented Senior guard in <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='828044' first='Emily' last='Bleke']</strong> who can make shots outside or attack the basket, but they have a nice, young nucleus as well that has gotten them to 20-2 on the year. This could be quite the battle, assuming they both make it to the Sectional #22 finale on Saturday night. In the meantime, 6-foot wing <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1144630' first='Nyomi' last='Hahn']</strong> of Marion is one of the more intriguing Freshman prospects in the state, so be sure to give her a look, if you get the chance.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top Players:</strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='732354' first='Vanessa' last='Rosswurm']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1137282' first='Macie' last='Saalfrank']</strong>, Norwell; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='828044' first='Emily' last='Bleke']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='751092' first='Lanie' last='French']</strong>, Bellmont; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1144630' first='Nyomi' last='Hahn']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1144657' first='Jaylee' last='Townsend']</strong>, Marion; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='828051' first='Jaci' last='Crick']</strong>, Mississinewa; <strong>Alanah Webb</strong>, New Haven; <strong>Danica Fuller</strong>, Heritage</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><font color="FFFFFF">.</font></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><font size="+2">SECTIONAL #23 - Twin Lakes</font></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>PGH Sectional Favorite:</strong> Maconaquah<br><strong>Top Challengers:</strong> Peru, Twin Lakes, Northwestern</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Analysis:</strong> Let's be clear...Sectional #23 is up for grabs. Everyone seems to bring a nice player or two to the table, no one is overly deep with talent, and they have all lost to someone else in the field. Maconaquah leans on <strong>Ireland Kile</strong> <em>(14.6p, 5.1r)</em>, while Peru turns to combo guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='761184' first='Addison' last='Robbins']</strong> <em>(14.4p, 6.3r, 4.5a, 2.1s)</em> for leadership. With the unfortunate injury to <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='295736' first='Addison' last='Bowsman']</strong> before the season, Twin Lakes is now much younger but talented, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='386496' first='Anna' last='Bishir']</strong> <em>(13.3p, 4.3r, 3.4a, 3.5s)</em> is in her fourth and final year of starting for the Northwestern Tigers. Flip a coin, because this collection of teams could play this Sectional to its conclusion five times and have five different outcomes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top Players:</strong> <strong>Ireland Kile</strong> and <strong>Delaney Betzner</strong>, Maconaquah; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='761184' first='Addison' last='Robbins']</strong>, Peru; <strong>Taylor Oliver</strong> and <strong>Addyson Hines</strong>, Twin Lakes; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='386496' first='Anna' last='Bishir']</strong> and <strong>Berkley Wray</strong>, Northwestern; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='828032' first='Molly' last='Andrew']</strong>, West Lafayette; <strong>Ellyse Walden</strong>, Western; <strong>Kellen Cripe</strong>, Logansport</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><font color="FFFFFF">.</font></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><font size="+2">SECTIONAL #24 - Connersville</font></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>PGH Sectional Favorite:</strong> Yorktown<br><strong>Top Challengers:</strong> Connersville, Delta</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Analysis:</strong> I feel like Yorktown is a strong favorite here, and they have a lot of talent and some depth throughout their lineup. But they have gone head to head with Delta twice and split the two games, both by narrow margins. Still, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='486126' first='Lilly' last='Sylvester']</strong> <em>(14.9p, 6.2r)</em>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='949526' first='Olivia' last='Conklin']</strong> <em>(11.2p, 2.6r, 2.4s)</em>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='834931' first='Alexis' last='Fields']</strong> <em>(11.1p, 7.1r)</em>, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1144641' first='Rylie' last='Johnson']</strong> <em>(7.2p, 4.0r, 2.3s)</em> are going to be a tough "out" for any opponent, especially if they are all on the same page and clicking. Delta does have a couple of talented players in <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='832654' first='Jillian' last='Barr']</strong> <em>(15.7p, 10.3r, 4.1s, 2.3b)</em> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1256487' first='Griffyn' last='Knight']</strong> <em>(16.6p, 4.9r, 2.2a, 4.4s)</em>, but Connersville might have the most well-rounded backcourt in talented track athlete <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='567128' first='Ahniyah' last='Bennett']</strong> <em>(11.0p, 4.5r, 2.3a)</em>, sharpshooter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1256502' first='Serenity' last='Pennington']</strong> <em>(11.4p, 4.2r, 2.9a, 2.9s)</em>, and multilevel scorer <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='882733' first='Addison' last='Jones']</strong> <em>(8.9p, 3.1r, 2.4a, 2.1s)</em>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top Players:</strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='486126' first='Lilly' last='Sylvester']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='949526' first='Olivia' last='Conklin']</strong>, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='834931' first='Alexis' last='Fields']</strong>, Yorktown; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1256502' first='Serenity' last='Pennington']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='567128' first='Ahniyah' last='Bennett']</strong>, Connersville; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1256487' first='Griffyn' last='Knight']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='832654' first='Jillian' last='Barr']</strong>, Delta; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='751047' first='Carlee' last='Lanzer']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1238562' first='Alana' last='Orr']</strong>, and <strong>Piper Arthur</strong>, New Castle; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='756250' first='Hallie' last='Schwieterman']</strong>, Jay County; <strong>Katie Brown</strong>, Hamilton Heights</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->