State Tourney Preview – Sectionals 33-36

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"small"} --> <p class="has-small-font-size"><em>The featured image is of [player_tooltip player_id='295727' first='Victoria' last='Velez'] (2025) of Whiting 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. Class 2A will see growth in the total number of teams, which means more teams in most Sectional fields and a little movement by teams already in Class 2A. Below is a quick look at what to expect out of Sectionals #33 through #36 this 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 #33 - Boone Grove</font></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>PGH Sectional Favorite:</strong> Andrean<br><strong>Top Challenger:</strong> Wheeler</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Analysis:</strong> Andrean is the dominant force in Sectional #33, and it was honestly tougher picking who was the top challenger from the remaining group than choosing the Sectional favorite. Andrean has size, skill, experience, and good coaching, plus they've competed against a tremendously tougher schedule than the field. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='626935' first='Maddie' last='Walton']</strong> <em>(12.9p, 5.3r)</em> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='295810' first='Lindsay' last='Arcella']</strong> <em>(12.1p, 4.0r, 2.8a, 2.2s)</em> are in their fourth years of Varsity action, and they are both legitimate college prospects. Arcella has actually already signed with IU-South Bend. From there, the 59ers rely on strong team defense and try to control tempo, making it mostly a half-court game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top Players:</strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='626935' first='Maddie' last='Walton']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='295810' first='Lindsay' last='Arcella']</strong>, Andrean; <strong>Kylie Simpson</strong> and <strong>Izabela Schumacher</strong>, Wheeler; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='295727' first='Victoria' last='Velez']</strong>, Whiting; <strong>Megan Balas</strong>, Hebron; <strong>Chayse Duerr</strong>, Boone Grove</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><font color="FFFFFF">.</font></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><font size="+2">SECTIONAL #34 - Knox</font></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>PGH Sectional Favorite:</strong> Bremen<br><strong>Top Challenger:</strong> LaVille</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Analysis:</strong> At 21-2, Bremen has assembled a fine season and looks to finish strong. The Lions have a strong backcourt with three double-digit scorers in <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='570388' first='Kila' last='Foster']</strong> <em>(18.7p, 3.5r, 2.5s)</em>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='434719' first='Eliana' last='Grubbs']</strong> <em>(13.6p, 6.0r, 3.8a, 2.7s)</em>, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1131960' first='Emma' last='Kincaid']</strong> <em>(12.5p, 6.2r, 3.4a, 2.4s)</em>. They make it difficult to defend them, because they can create and score inside or out, plus they can control tempo and speed you up as well. If anyone can cause them problems, I would say it might be LaVille, as a little over a week ago, they played Bremen to a 41-36 result...a loss for LaVille. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1218593' first='Brooke' last='Edison']</strong> <em>(14.8p, 8.3r, 2.4a 6.0s)</em> and <strong>Jasmine Foster</strong> <em>(8.6p, 5.9r)</em> are a pair of Seniors who the Lancers run most of their offense through.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top Players:</strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='570388' first='Kila' last='Foster']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='434719' first='Eliana' last='Grubbs']</strong>, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1131960' first='Emma' last='Kincaid']</strong>, Bremen; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1218593' first='Brooke' last='Edison']</strong> and <strong>Jasmine Foster</strong>, LaVille; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='486524' first='Kandace' last='Kroft']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='751117' first='Sadie' last='Popejoy']</strong>, and <strong>Marissa Iverson</strong>, Winamac Community; <strong>Portland Minix</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='875133' first='Serenity' last='Nava']</strong>, Knox; <strong>Lily Gaugler</strong>, Jimtown; <strong>Alana Wright</strong>, South Bend Career Academy</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><font color="FFFFFF">.</font></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><font size="+2">SECTIONAL #35 - Central Noble</font></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>PGH Sectional Favorite:</strong> Eastside<br><strong>Top Challengers:</strong> Central Noble, Westview</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Analysis:</strong> Eastside is a strong favorite in Sectional #35, as the Blazers are 23-1, while everyone else has 10 of more losses already. The Blazers have a nice mix of players, talent, and experience. Senior guards <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='923168' first='Sydnee' last='Kessler']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='773841' first='Paige' last='Traxler']</strong> take care of most of the backcourt duties, while Senior wing <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='923186' first='Lily' last='Kreischer']</strong> and Sophomore forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='751125' first='Taylor' last='Mack']</strong> can both play a little inside or outside and have nice all-around athleticism. Central Noble and Westview are the "usual suspects" here, but I'm not sure either one of them can play Eastside to within 15-20 points unless they specifically hold the ball and kill clock.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top Players:</strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='923168' first='Sydnee' last='Kessler']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='773841' first='Paige' last='Traxler']</strong>, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='923186' first='Lily' last='Kreischer']</strong>, Eastside; <strong>Abby Pliett</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='832697' first='Grace' last='Swank']</strong>, Central Noble; <strong>Karis Weinberg</strong> and <strong>Bre Cory</strong>, Westview; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1218651' first='Emily' last='McCrea']</strong>, Prairie Heights; <strong>Brooklyn Sinclair</strong>, Churubusco; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1256438' first='Dulce' last='Canedo']</strong>, Lakeland</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><font color="FFFFFF">.</font></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><font size="+2">SECTIONAL #36 - Bluffton</font></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>PGH Sectional Favorite:</strong> Bluffton<br><strong>Top Challengers:</strong> Whitko, Woodlan</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Analysis:</strong> Sectional #36 could shape up to be quite interesting. Bluffton is 21-2 and has been dominant at times this year. Whitko has only played one team in the Sectional, Bishop Luers, and narrowly defeated them by 3 in overtime. But the Wildcats are 17-4 and pack a punch offensively. Woodlan could be a dark horse, if everything goes right for them on a given night, but I'm leaning more towards Bluffton or Whitko at this point. The Tigers get steady contributions from <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1122868' first='Isabella' last='Stout']</strong> <em>(20.7p, 4.8r, 2.3a, 2.1s)</em>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1131919' first='Konley' last='Ault']</strong> <em>(15.3p, 4.3r, 3.7a, 3.0s)</em>, <strong>Maryn Schreiber</strong> <em>(10.1p, 8.3r</em>), and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1225041' first='Khloe' last='Dick']</strong> <em>(9.3p, 2.0r)</em>. They take care of the basketball, they can pressure defensively, and they can control most areas of the game. Whitko counters with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1221113' first='Reese' last='Stonebraker']</strong> <em>(14.7p, 6.0r, 3.1a, 2.9s)</em>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1122773' first='Adriyanna' last='Phillips']</strong> <em>(13.3p, 3.9r)</em>, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='890886' first='Jayma' last='Stonebraker']</strong> <em>(12.0p, 4.3r, 3.6a, 4.0s)</em>. Phillips is a sharpshooter, while the Stonebrakers are playmakers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top Players:</strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1122868' first='Isabella' last='Stout']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1131919' first='Konley' last='Ault']</strong> and <strong>Maryn Schreiber</strong>, Bluffton; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1221113' first='Reese' last='Stonebraker']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1122773' first='Adriyanna' last='Phillips']</strong>, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='890886' first='Jayma' last='Stonebraker']</strong>, Whitko; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1038858' first='Alyssa' last='Anderson']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='828030' first='Brooke' last='Kneubuhler']</strong>, Woodlan; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='506023' first='Reese' last='Rhodehamel']</strong>, Bishop Luers; <strong>Ava Stafford</strong> and <strong>Kate Fisher</strong>, Adams Central; <strong>Laney Trausch</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1262616' first='Ana' last='Lehman']</strong>, South Adams</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->