2025-26 Season Preview: Class 1A, Sectional 54

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"small"} --> <p class="has-small-font-size"><em>The featured image is a throwback from 2022 of [player_tooltip player_id='486527' first='Carly' last='Davison'] (2026) from Clinton Central High School.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I've always enjoyed offering preseason coverage of each of the 64 Sectionals in Indiana high school basketball, and last year I felt like I got a little behind and didn't finish with the previews until after Thanksgiving. With that said, as we come up on September, I wanted to get out in front of it this year and offer you a glimpse at what the 2025-26 season could hold with a preview of each of the state's 64 Sectionals once again. During the Spring of 2024, the IHSAA moved to a traditional enrollment-based format, realigning all classes with hard enrollment cutoff lines per class instead of taking nearly 400 schools and simply dividing them into four equal classes. With that said, each class has been more competitive, but the bigger classes have fewer teams than the smaller classes. This article serves as one of many previewing each Sectional in the state. In this specific article, I will take a look at Class 1A, Sectional #54. Below is a look at the teams in that Sectional, along with some general comments and analysis.<br><small>(<em>SAG = Final 2024-2025 Multiclass Sagarin Rating (398 teams); SOS = Final 2024-2025 Strength of Schedule</em>)</small></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><font color="#FFFFFF">.</font></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><font size="+2">Sectional #54 at Bethesda Christian</font></strong><br>Clinton Central (17-6), SAG 226, SOS 342<br>Carroll (Flora) (18-8), SAG 229, SOS 287<br>Clinton Prairie (12-11), SAG 244, SOS 279<br>Rossville (15-9), SAG 261, SOS 336<br>Frontier (2-20), SAG 332, SOS 301<br>Bethesda Christian (<em>1-8 playing a limited schedule in 2024-2025</em>)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Clinton Central Bulldogs have had a string of success the last few years, and a big part of that has been the play of 5-5 Senior point guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='486527' first='Carly' last='Davison']</strong> (<em>19.6p, 7.2r, 5.5a, 4.2s</em>). She is one of the best floor generals in the 2026 class, regardless of school size or classification. She is a dynamic ball-handler, a willing facilitator, plus last season she proved she can score it when necessary. Likely joining her in the lineup are three more members of a nice 2026 class. 5-7 Senior wing <strong>Emily Long</strong> (<em>6.8p, 5.0r, 2.1s in 13 games</em>) and 5-7 Senior forward <strong>Abby Harris</strong> (<em>6.7p, 2.4r, 1.0a</em>), plus Senior guard <strong>Hannah Jacobs</strong> (<em>1.5p, 1.8r, 1.0s</em>), all have experience having been part of the rotation last season. The Bulldogs next turn to a great deal of youth and inexperience, with several players moving up from the Junior Varsity team. If Long and Harris can utilize their hard work and athleticism to offer Davison consistent help night to night, then Clinton Central can once again be the team to beat in this field.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Challenging Clinton Central could once again be the Carroll (Flora) Cougars. The Cougars did graduate a pair of important players, but they also return quite a bit of production, along with some youth, as well. 5-11 Senior forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1131990' first='Jillian' last='Salts']</strong> (<em>14.1p, 7.4r, 1.6a, 1.5s, 2.0b</em>) was the focal point a year ago, and she will likely fill that role once again. She plays with athleticism, versatility, and she can score the ball from all three levels. Look for her to hunt double-doubles most evenings. Junior forward <strong>Eliza Rinehart</strong> (<em>6.6p, 6.0r, 2.4a, 2.3s</em>) will provide her with support on the inside, and she too can occasionally reach double-double potential. Sophomore guard <strong>Mady Isley</strong> (<em>6.0p, 3.5r, 1.2a, 1.8s</em>) saw a great deal of action as a Freshman, and she should take on a much bigger role as she gains more experience this year. 5-6 Senior guard <strong>Olivia Schroder</strong> (<em>2.7p, 2.5r, 2.2a, 1.8s</em>), plus Sophomores <strong>Bryleigh Springer</strong> (<em>1.5p</em>) and <strong>Tristan Harter</strong> (<em>1.4p</em>), offer additional support and experience. If this Sophomore class for the Cougars grows quickly this year, look for them to be one of the deeper teams in Sectional #54.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The other team I feel has a good shot among this grouping are the Hornets of Rossville High School. The Hornets return their top four scorers, plus they boast one of the best players in Sectional #54 in 5-11 Senior forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='928900' first='Ava' last='Burkle']</strong> (<em>15.8p, 10.2, 3.1a, 3.1s, 1.6b</em>). Burkle has greatly worked on her skillset, so now she can bury a 3-pointer or put it on the floor, get to the basket, and score around and through defenders at the rim. Forward <strong>Allie Elliott</strong> (<em>9.8p, 6.2r, 1.5s</em>), guard <strong>Caydence Robey</strong> (<em>5.0p, 3.0r, 1.6s</em>), and 5-8 wing <strong>Victoria Vanderwall</strong> (<em>4.9p, 3.3r, 1.1a, 2.9s</em>) are all Juniors who return to provide support to Burkle for a second consecutive year. Burkle and Elliott could make for a nice high-low tandem as well. Add to the mix Senior guard <strong>Autumn Pascal</strong> (<em>3.0p, 1.6r, 1.1s</em>), and the Hornets could be a real problem by the 2026 portion of their schedule this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Additional Players to Keep an Eye On:</strong> Bethesda Christian: 5-7 Junior wing <strong>Tori Hamilton</strong>; Clinton Prairie: Senior wing <strong>Taylor Morgan</strong> (<em>8.8p, 1.7r, 1.8s</em>) and 5-5 Sophomore forward <strong>Alexis Perez</strong> (<em>4.4p, 3.3r)</em>; Frontier: 5-2 Senior guard <strong>Kendall Bridwell</strong> (<em>6.5p, 4.6r, 1.9a, 2.8s</em>)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->