2025-26 Season Preview: Class 1A, Sectional 64

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"small"} --> <p class="has-small-font-size"><em>The featured image is of [player_tooltip player_id='481402' first='Maci' last='Eckerty'] (2026) from Springs Valley 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 October, 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 #64. 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 #64 at Tecumseh</font></strong><br>Northeast Dubois (20-7), SAG 126, SOS 159<br>Wood Memorial (14-9), SAG 130, SOS 145<br>Evansville Christian (14-8), SAG 156, SOS 144<br>Tecumseh (11-11), SAG 178, SOS 120<br>Springs Valley (12-10), SAG 197, SOS 228<br>Cannelton (7-15), SAG 371, SOS 379</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Following 20 wins and a Semi-State championship game appearance, Northeast Dubois suffered major graduation losses, so there is an opportunity for a few teams to step up and reclaim the Sectional #64 crown in 2025-2026. Wood Memorial probably has the best combination of recent success and a number of returnees who can definitely help them get back on top. This season, look for 5-7 Senior guard <strong>Bailey Schoonover</strong> (<em>12.6p, 5.0r, 1.4a, 1.9s</em>) to lead them out onto the floor each night. She can do a little of everything, from handle the ball, to score it at each level, to rebound and defend. She'll likely get backcourt help from 5-6 Senior guard <strong>Macy Bigham</strong> and 5-5 Junior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='751042' first='Berkleigh' last='Collins']</strong>, as each have significant experience for the Trojans. Adding to the mix of returnees is 5-9 Junior forward <strong>Addy Phillips</strong>, who will be counted on for rebounding and interior defense, while also being able to play out on the floor some as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While they have only been an IHSAA member school for the last three seasons, keep an eye on Evansville Christian, as they return a great deal of production. They've also posted winning records each of those three seasons, so something tells me this could be their year to break through. Leading the way for the Lady Eagles is the combination of 5-8 Senior wing <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1256469' first='Hannah' last='Higgs']</strong> (<em>12.3p, 3.2r, 2.7a, 3.6s</em>) and 5-9 forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1256458' first='Bella' last='Hall']</strong> (<em>10.5p, 9.0r, 1.3a, 2.3s</em>). Higgs is a versatile, do-everything type who plays with power and skill both around the perimeter. Hall is a bit undersized but plays much taller than she is, and she can put up a double-double most evenings. Two additional Seniors help round out their core and alleviate pressure from Higgs and Hall. They are 5-8 forward <strong>Hallie Higgs</strong> (<em>7.3p, 6.9r, 1.2s</em>) and 5-2 point guard <strong>Peyton Geer</strong> (<em>5.0p, 1.2r, 3.0a, 2.8s</em>). Hallie Higgs can help Hall on the interior, while Geer has transformed from being more of a scorer as a younger player, to being a distributor and defender in her later years. Those four are going to be a tough matchup for anyone in Sectional #64.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lastly, when the dust settles, don't count out Springs Valley too soon. 5-4 Senior point guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='481402' first='Maci' last='Eckerty']</strong> (<em>18.2p, 4.4r, 4.0a, 4.4s</em>) is in her fourth year of Varsity action, and she combines good skill with a nice understanding of their system. After becoming the focal point last year, she really stepped up her game offensively. 5-11 Senior post <strong>Jordan Land</strong> and 5-4 Senior guard <strong>Kynleigh Dalton</strong> have a great deal of experience and look to support Eckerty even more in 2025-2026, plus Senior <strong>Josie Robinson</strong> and Junior <strong>Gracie Breedlove</strong> saw quality minutes last year as well. After taking last season to "mesh" as a unit, look for Springs Valley to spend this year in pursuit of a Sectional #64 crown.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Additional Players to Keep an Eye On:</strong> Cannelton: 5-4 Senior guard <strong>Chloe Hale</strong> (<em>5.7p, 3.7r, 2.7a, 2.9s</em>) and 5-7 Junior forward <strong>Jaliyah Little</strong> (<em>3.8p, 4.4r, 2.6s</em>); Northeast Dubois: 5-5 Senior guard <strong>Bella Cummins</strong> (<em>9.9p, 3.3r, 2.1a, 3.3s</em>); Tecumseh: 5-6 Sophomore guard <strong>Roxy Heichelbech</strong> (<em>8.8p, 2.1r</em>) and 5-11 Junior forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='751068' first='Hazel' last='Melton']</strong> (<em>5.7p, 6.6r, 1.1a, 1.0s</em>)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->