State Tourney Preview – Sectionals 61-64

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"small"} --> <p class="has-small-font-size"><em>The featured image is of [player_tooltip player_id='567991' first='Callie' last='Alston'] (2026) of Orleans 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 #61 through #64 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 #61 - Clay City</font></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>PGH Sectional Favorite:</strong> North Central (Farmersburg)<br><strong>Top Challengers:</strong> White River Valley, Shakamak</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Analysis:</strong> North Central is a high-powered offense, they love the 3-point shot, but they will also get downhill and attack the basket in a hurry. They come in 20-3 and 6-1 against Sectional #61 foes, with their lone loss coming just after Christmas to Shakamak. Guards <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='366798' first='Jalyn' last='Davidson']</strong> <em>(21.1p, 4.5r, 5.0a, 3.5s)</em> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1122822' first='Shelby' last='Seay']</strong> <em>(16.9p, 6.2r, 4.7a, 4.5s)</em>, while 6-foot transfer <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='486477' first='Hannah' last='Stepp']</strong> <em>(9.8p, 3.3r, 2.3s)</em> brings height, length, and athleticism to the lineup. White River Valley has a nicely skilled team, they possess a little size, and they can cause problems for most teams here, but North Central did beat them by 33 earlier in the season. Shakamak has had a roller-coaster season, but on the right night, they've proven they too can be a tough "out".</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top Players:</strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='366798' first='Jalyn' last='Davidson']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1122822' first='Shelby' last='Seay']</strong>, North Central (Farmersburg); <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1218704' first='Brynna' last='Walton']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1218564' first='Izzy' last='Avila']</strong>, White River Valley; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='874332' first='Elayni' last='Stone']</strong> and <strong>Madelyn Kennett</strong>, Shakamak; <strong>Adalyn Figg</strong>, Bloomfield; <strong>Sarah Nichols</strong>, Cloverdale; <strong>Taylor Rheinhart</strong>, Clay City; <strong>Jordyn Smith</strong> and <strong>Sage Stahl</strong>, Dugger Union; <strong>Aleah Winders</strong> and <strong>Ellie Mae Winders</strong>, Bloomington Lighthouse Christian</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><font color="FFFFFF">.</font></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><font size="+2">SECTIONAL #62 - Barr-Reeve</font></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>PGH Sectional Favorite:</strong> Orleans<br><strong>Top Challengers:</strong> Barr-Reeve, Vincennes Rivet</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Analysis:</strong> Orleans enters the tournament 16-5 overall and 5-0 against the Sectional #62 field, including a 40-34 win against Barr-Reeve in early December. The Bulldogs are solid across the board, with long athlete <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='567991' first='Callie' last='Alston']</strong> <em>(13.6p, 5.1r, 2.4s)</em> leading the way for them. <strong>Mylie Knight</strong> <em>(8.5p, 5.6r, 2.7a, 2.4s)</em> and <strong>Chelsea Ralph</strong> <em>(8.4p, 4.2r)</em> offer her the most support on a team that plays with a lot of versatility. Barr-Reeve has talent as well, and 6-foot post <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='366796' first='Hannah' last='Bledsoe']</strong> <em>(13.3p, 10.8r, 3.0b)</em> is finally a Senior for the Vikings. She gets the most help from Junior <strong>Josie Knepp</strong> <em>(7.7p, 4.3r, 2.9a, 2.4s)</em>. Vincennes Rivet is an intriguing group, and they are definitely a team who can upset Orleans or Barr-Reeve on the right night. Senior wing <strong>Alexus Frey</strong> is strong, tough-nosed, and skilled around the perimeter, while 6-2 post <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='404106' first='Mary' last='Herman']</strong> provides a nice combination of size, skill, and some athelticism.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top Players:</strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='567991' first='Callie' last='Alston']</strong>, <strong>Mylie Knight</strong>, and <strong>Chelsea Ralph</strong>, Orleans; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='366796' first='Hannah' last='Bledsoe']</strong> and <strong>Josie Knepp</strong>, Barr-Reeve; <strong>Alexus Frey</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='404106' first='Mary' last='Herman']</strong>, Vincennes Rivet; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='723852' first='Delaney' last='Zorman']</strong> and <strong>Lanie Cornelius</strong>, North Daviess; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='622340' first='Alaina' last='Diamond']</strong> and <strong>Madison Waggner</strong>, Loogootee; <strong>Taylor Marshman</strong> and <strong>Ava Perry</strong>, Shoals; <strong>Tara Vertus</strong>, Washington Catholic</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><font color="FFFFFF">.</font></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><font size="+2">SECTIONAL #63 - Borden</font></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>PGH Sectional Favorite:</strong> Borden<br><strong>Top Challenger:</strong> Henryville</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Analysis:</strong> Not only is Borden a heavy favorite in Sectional #63, they are also a strong favorite to make a deep playoff run, potential to the State Finals. They are loaded with talent for a Class 1A team. The combination of Division-I prospects <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='486522' first='Ava' last='Wheeler']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='486550' first='Riley' last='Rarick']</strong> and their skill, height, length, and athleticism could fit most Class 4A lineups right now. Add to that the strong play of guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='486552' first='A.J.' last='Mallad']</strong>, forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='797505' first='Emma' last='Hart']</strong>, plus the arrival of skillful Freshman <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='973276' first='Saylor' last='Schleicher']</strong>, and the Lady Braves will be difficult to stop in this grouping. Because I needed to pick a challenger, I selected Henryville. The Hornets have had a very nice season, and they get solid play from Seniors <strong>Addison Foley</strong>, <strong>Mylee Marcum</strong>, and <strong>Chloe Harter</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top Players:</strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='486522' first='Ava' last='Wheeler']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='486550' first='Riley' last='Rarick']</strong>, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='486552' first='A.J.' last='Mallad']</strong>, Borden; <strong>Addison Foley</strong> and <strong>Mylee Marcum</strong>, Henryville; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='886428' first='Gracelynn' last='Bartoszek']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='743640' first='Hailey' last='Conder']</strong>, South Central (Elizabeth); <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='886356' first='Meredith' last='Deaton']</strong>, West Washington; <strong>Leah Stevens</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='599714' first='Addison' last='Jackson']</strong>, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1137345' first='Carly' last='Stevens']</strong>, Christian Academy; <strong>Kristyn Greenwell</strong> and <strong>Emily Bottorff</strong>, New Washington; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='891002' first='Aubrey' last='Messer']</strong> and <strong>Maddie Clark</strong>, Rock Creek</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><font color="FFFFFF">.</font></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><font size="+2">SECTIONAL #64 - Northeast Dubois</font></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>PGH Sectional Favorite:</strong> Northeast Dubois<br><strong>Top Challengers:</strong> Wood Memorial, Evansville Christian</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Analysis:</strong> And for the final Sectional of the year, there are no clear favorites. I like Northeast Dubois as the team I picked, however, because they have size in 6-2 <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1044775' first='Lyllee' last='Schnell']</strong> <em>(9.1p, 7.9)</em>, they have solid perimeter play in <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1218635' first='Emmersen' last='Kalb']</strong> <em>(17.0p, 3.0r)</em> and <strong>Bella Cummins</strong> <em>(8.9p, 3.0r, 2.3a, 3.7s)</em>, plus they are nicknamed the "Jeeps". Who doesn't enjoy a good nickname? They were 15-6 during the regular season, though, but they stumbled in narrow losses to Tecumseh and Evansville Christian, each time by three points. Wood Memorial is on this list of challengers because there is some recency bias of having made it to the Semi-State last season, but they are a solid team as well and tough to knock out this time of the year. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='923192' first='Katie' last='Sevier']</strong> and <strong>Bailey Schoonover</strong> are also tough matchups for most teams to contend with. Evansville Christian does it with skill, effort, and not a lot of size, but they play much bigger than they are. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1256469' first='Hannah' last='Higgs']</strong> <em>(12.1p, 3.3r, 2.8a, 3.5s)</em> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1256458' first='Bella' last='Hall']</strong> <em>(11.0p, 9.1r, 2.2s)</em> are the main catalysts for the Eagles.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top Players:</strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1218635' first='Emmersen' last='Kalb']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1044775' first='Lyllee' last='Schnell']</strong>, and <strong>Bella Cummins</strong>, Northeast Dubois; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='923192' first='Katie' last='Sevier']</strong> and <strong>Bailey Schoonover</strong>, Wood Memorial; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1256469' first='Hannah' last='Higgs']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1256458' first='Bella' last='Hall']</strong>, Evansville Christian; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='874336' first='Maci' last='Eckerty']</strong>, Springs Valley; <strong>Katelyn Marx</strong> and <strong>Alena Holder</strong>, Tecumseh; <strong>Kylie Anastasiades</strong>, Cannelton</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->