State Tourney Preview – Sectionals 57-60

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"small"} --> <p class="has-small-font-size"><em>The featured image is of [player_tooltip player_id='496039' first='Kiley' last='Best'] (2025) of Waldron 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 1A 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 1A. Below is a quick look at what to expect out of Sectionals #57 through #60 this week, along with a key player or two for each team. <em>(Disclaimer: this article was written last weekend and scheduled to post after Sectional games had begun. We wanted to stay true to our picks and not change a few here and there because results were already posted.)</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><font color="FFFFFF">.</font></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><font size="+2">SECTIONAL #57 - Anderson Prep</font></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>PGH Sectional Favorite:</strong> anyone<br><strong>Top Challengers:</strong> everyone</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Analysis:</strong> The best thing you can say about Sectional #57 is that the group of teams is incredibly close when it comes to roster talent, depth, etc. There isn't one team who is significantly above and beyond the others. Anderson Prep, Tindley, and Indiana Deaf each have a winning record, so maybe that is the lean? Anderson Prep has a pair of really nice interior players in <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='570379' first='Alivia' last='Peoples']</strong> and <strong>Kaylynn Orr</strong>, so that could definitely give them an advantage inside the arc. The Tindley Tigers tend to always have some solid guards, and this year <strong>Ariaunna Hall</strong> <em>(15.3p, 5.9r, 2.4a, 4.5s)</em> and <strong>Rachel Day</strong> <em>(9.9p, 4.0r, 2.4a, 3.7s)</em> are the perimeter pair, plus <strong>Alonah Savage</strong> <em>(9.1p, 9.9r)</em> gives them a presence in the paint. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1218688' first='Tiana' last='Starayev']</strong> <em>(18.7p, 6.0r, 5.3a, 6.3s)</em> and <strong>Jaiden Moses</strong> <em>(11.3p, 11.7r, 2.0s)</em> are a nice inside-out duo for the Indiana School for the Deaf. No matter how things shake out, though, Sectional #57 should at least be entertaining.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top Players:</strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='570379' first='Alivia' last='Peoples']</strong> and <strong>Kaylynn Orr</strong>, Anderson Prep; <strong>Ariaunna Hall</strong>, <strong>Rachel Day</strong>, and <strong>Alonah Savage</strong>, Tindley Accelerated; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1218688' first='Tiana' last='Starayev']</strong> and <strong>Jaiden Moses</strong>, Indiana School for the Deaf; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='990165' first='Serenity' last='Conyers']</strong> and <strong>Heaven Watson</strong>, Liberty Christian; <strong>Nadia Harris</strong>, Purdue Poly (Broad Ripple); <strong>Fatima Alshenawa</strong>, MTI School of Knowledge</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><font color="FFFFFF">.</font></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><font size="+2">SECTIONAL #58 - Eminence</font></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>PGH Sectional Favorite:</strong> Eminence<br><strong>Top Challenger:</strong> Greenwood Christian</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Analysis:</strong> Eminence is intriguing because they have something not a lot of Class 1A teams can brag about...in <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='570384' first='Sophia' last='Saucerman']</strong> <em>(19.4p)</em> they have a 6-1 front-liner who can run the floor, who has some bounce to her, who has tremendous length, and who can also play at 15-feet because of her skillset. Sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1109034' first='Khloee' last='Kirk']</strong> <em>(17.4p)</em> has been a nice outside complement to Saucerman, making the Eels a problem in Sectional #58. After a string of postseason success, things kind of subsided for Greenwood Christian. But they look like they are bouncing back behind a strong Freshman class, most notably <strong>Molly Hunter</strong> <em>(8.0p, 6.1r)</em> and <strong>Myra Finnity</strong> <em>(5.5p, 10.7r)</em>. Their record may not indicate it, but they have played some good teams close, and they have won four of their last eight games. Indianapolis Lutheran could be a dark horse here as well. The Saints are also a young team starting to figure it out.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top Players:</strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='570384' first='Sophia' last='Saucerman']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1109034' first='Khloee' last='Kirk']</strong>, Eminence; <strong>Molly Hunter</strong> and <strong>Myra Finnity</strong>, Greenwood Christian; <strong>Madison Rogers</strong> and <strong>Caitlyn Rose</strong>, Indianapolis Lutheran; <strong>Olivia Mattingly</strong> <em>(21.4p, 10.6r, 2.5a, 3.3s)</em> and <strong>Nevaeh Rodriguez</strong> <em>(8.9p, 5.8r, 3.5a)</em>, Central Christian; <strong>Lina Berry</strong> <em>(14.9p, 5.5r, 2.2s)</em> and <strong>Melanie Carrasquedo</strong> <em>(9.2p, 9.8r, 2.4a, 2.6s)</em>, Traders Point Christian; <strong>Ariane Powell</strong>, Victory College Prep</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><font color="FFFFFF">.</font></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><font size="+2">SECTIONAL #59 - Southwestern (Shelbyville)</font></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>PGH Sectional Favorite:</strong> Tri<br><strong>Top Challengers:</strong> Morristown, North Decatur</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Analysis:</strong> There are three pretty strong teams here in Tri, Morristown, and North Decatur. I wouldn't be shocked if any of the three won Sectional #59, though Tri comes in 16-7 and 4-0 against the field. They don't play very fast, but they have good size and play with physicality. Everything runs through <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1131939' first='Jillian' last='Chew']</strong> <em>(14.2p, 4.2r, 4.8a, 4.7s)</em> this season. She is a good shooter, she can create offense, plus she's aggressive and willingly rebounds/defends. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='570375' first='Kenley' last='Cornelius']</strong> <em>(11.6p, 5.0r, 2.7a, 2.8s)</em> complements her well with her ability to play any of three positions competently. From there, they have several sizeable post players who can battle inside the arc. Morristown has four solid players who, when they feed off of each other, can be really tough to beat. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='827997' first='Nevaeh' last='Sanders']</strong> <em>(18.9p, 3.7r, 3.4s)</em> is a long, wiry athlete who is always on attack. Standing 6-2, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1122802' first='Danika' last='Rutledge']</strong> <em>(9.7p, 7.3r, 2.0s)</em> is a long, active "big" who can play at the rim or face the basket and knock down shots. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='496015' first='Emma' last='Nelson']</strong> <em>(8.3p, 4.2r)</em> brings a nice motor, the willingness to be physical, plus she has touch outside and does a lot of the "little things" to help out. And <strong>Nevaeh Cox</strong> <em>(9.5p, 2.2r, 2.8s)</em> has stepped up and had a nice year as well. Then there is North Decatur. They might have the best player in the Sectional this year in <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='366794' first='Madi' last='Allen']</strong> <em>(20.7p, 7.4r, 2.5a, 2.4s)</em>, and she can single-handedly take over a game. She is athletic, plays extremely hard, and has a balanced skillset. <strong>Kelsey Haley</strong> <em>(7.8p, 3.9r, 2.8a)</em> does a nice job playing off of Allen.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top Players:</strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1131939' first='Jillian' last='Chew']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='570375' first='Kenley' last='Cornelius']</strong>, Tri; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='827997' first='Nevaeh' last='Sanders']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1122802' first='Danika' last='Rutledge']</strong>, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='496015' first='Emma' last='Nelson']</strong>, Morristown; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='366794' first='Madi' last='Allen']</strong> and <strong>Kelsey Haley</strong>, North Decatur; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1122850' first='Makayla' last='Somers']</strong>, South Decatur; <strong>Anna Roberson</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='756232' first='Lilly' last='Drew']</strong>, Knightstown; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='496039' first='Kiley' last='Best']</strong> and <strong>Emerson Lindsey</strong>, Waldron; <strong>Kenna Streeval</strong> and <strong>Kinzie Purvis</strong>, Edinburgh; <strong>Tanna Tatlock</strong>, Southwestern (Shelbyville)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><font color="FFFFFF">.</font></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><font size="+2">SECTIONAL #60 - Hauser</font></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>PGH Sectional Favorite:</strong> Shawe Memorial<br><strong>Top Challengers:</strong> Oldenburg Academy, Trinity Lutheran</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Analysis:</strong> This is another Sectional where I feel like I wouldn't be surprised if any of the above teams won Saturday night. Shawe Memorial is 16-5 and 7-0 against all Sectional #60 opponents. They've gotten strong play this year out of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='690125' first='Ava' last='Turner']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1122604' first='Allison' last='Knoebel']</strong>, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='832676' first='Audrey' last='Barron']</strong>, and they complement each other well with the ability to each do something a little difference for their team. Turner has size and can play inside-out, Knoebel can score or distribute, and Barron is a talented shooter. Oldenburg is interesting because they have lost to both Shawe and Trinity Lutheran, yet they have also put together an 18-4 regular season and beaten some good teams not in Sectional #60. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='761188' first='Rachel' last='Suttmann']</strong> is the most established Twister, and she can produce inside or step out and shoot it. <strong>Ali Nobbe</strong> is a longer, more mobile forward who can affect a game inside-out as well, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='899127' first='Gina' last='Grote']</strong> is a tough-nosed little guard who competes. Trinity Lutheran has a mixture of experience and youth, and they have some talented individuals, for sure. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='751103' first='Marley' last='Warren']</strong> <em>(15.2p)</em> leads the way and is a feisty, skillful point guard prospect. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='864487' first='Madison' last='Keith']</strong> <em>(8.9p)</em> is a versatile forward who can play outside or battle in the mid-post. And 6-2 <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1144623' first='Rachel' last='Bonde']</strong> <em>(8.6p)</em> is an intriguing Freshman who has a high ceiling as she continues to grow and learn how to play with her height/length.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top Players:</strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='690125' first='Ava' last='Turner']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1122604' first='Allison' last='Knoebel']</strong>, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='832676' first='Audrey' last='Barron']</strong>, Shawe Memorial; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='761188' first='Rachel' last='Suttmann']</strong>, <strong>Ali Nobbe</strong>, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='899127' first='Gina' last='Grote']</strong>, Oldenburg Academy; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='751103' first='Marley' last='Warren']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='864487' first='Madison' last='Keith']</strong>, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1144623' first='Rachel' last='Bonde']</strong>, Trinity Lutheran; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1122667' first='Kelsey' last='Borgman']</strong>, Jac-Cen-Del; <strong>Norah Berkenstock</strong>, Hauser; <strong>Jaylen Peelman</strong>, Rising Sun; <strong>Anna Herzog</strong>, Milan; <strong>Kendra Kelshaw</strong>, Crothersville</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->