2025-26 Season Preview: Class 2A, Sectional 33

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Now that Class 1A has been previewed and is posted online, it's time to turn our attention to Class 2A. With official IHSAA practices starting next week, I wanted to continue offering 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 64 previewing each Sectional in the state. In this specific article, I will take a look at Class 2A, Sectional #33. 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 #33 at Wheeler</font></strong><br>Andrean (15-12), SAG 142, SOS 143<br>Wheeler (9-16), SAG 288, SOS 351<br>Whiting (3-16), SAG 333, SOS 333<br>Boone Grove (2-18), SAG 376, SOS 326<br>Hebron (2-20), SAG 378, SOS 329<br>Gary Lighthouse CPA (0-1), SAG N/A, SOS N/A<br>Gary 21st Century (<em>no team in 2024-2025</em>)<br>Lake Station Edison (<em>no team in 2024-2025</em>)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Despite graduating their two tallest and most talented players, the Andrean 59ers could still be the team to beat in a weakened Sectional #33. 5-5 Senior guard <strong>Lailoni Staten</strong> (<em>3.9p, 4.3r, 2.1a, 1.2s</em>) and 5-7 Senior wing <strong>Aubrey Grasha</strong> (<em>2.0p, 2.6r, 1.5a</em>) are two veterans the 59ers can lean on for leadership and Varsity experience. A pair of 5-8 2028 forwards also saw quite a bit of action last season as rookies, so I'd expect them to step into much bigger roles this time around. Sophomore <strong>Delaney Myers</strong> (<em>2.8p, 4.5r, 1.1a, 1.3s</em>) is a high-motor kid who will rebound and defend, plus she has some offensive skill at all three levels. Sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1252166' first='Charlee' last='Murray']</strong> (<em>1.5p, 1.9r</em>) also saw action in 22 games, so she is well-versed in Varsity play and could step into a starting role. From there, opportunity is abundantly available, and Andrean is known to always reload, so look for them to remain a fierce competitor in Sectional #33.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Bearcats of Wheeler High School are going through a "youth movement", and they have virtually everyone capable of returning in 2025-2026. They should look at elevating their play and approaching a .500 record this season. 5-6 Sophomore guard <strong>Kylie Simpson</strong> (<em>9.6p, 4.4r, 3.3a, 2.8s</em>) had a standout rookie season for the Bearcats and does a lot of everything for them. She can shoot/score, distribute, and defend. Classmate <strong>Grace Renn</strong> (<em>7.8p, 2.2r, 1.2a</em>), a 5-9 wing, can contribute scoring from different areas of the floor as well. 5-8 forward <strong>Brooklynne Jolliff</strong> (<em>4.0p, 3.5r, 1.0b</em>) is a third member of the 2028 class who logged quality minutes a season ago. She provides some interior defense and rebounding. 5-10 Junior post <strong>Izabela Schumacher</strong> (<em>6.8p, 13.1r, 1.1a, 2.5s</em>) is a monster on the boards and might be their most important interior presence. 5-7 Senior wing <strong>Leilani Gaetz</strong> (<em>6.6p, 2.2r, 1.3a, 1.5s</em>) plays with some versatility and can help inside or out, while 5-6 Junior wing <strong>Ava Lukawski</strong> (<em>5.1p, 2.9r, 1.2a, 1.7s</em>) offers a little of everything as well. Expect the Bearcats to be improved and potentially challenge Andrean this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Additional Players to Keep an Eye On:</strong> Boone Grove: 5-5 Senior guard <strong>Chayse Duerr</strong> (<em>6.1p, 3.2r, 1.4a</em>) and 5-11 Senior forward <strong>Morgan Shurr</strong> (<em>4.1p, 2.6r</em>); Hebron: 5-7 Sophomore guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1250688' first='Megan' last='Balas']</strong> (<em>5.5p, 4.4r, 2.9s</em>) and 5-6 Junior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1226062' first='Alicia' last='Clark']</strong> (<em>4.9p, 2.8r, 1.0s</em>); Whiting: 5-1 Junior guard <strong>Alexis Garro</strong> (<em>9.2p</em>) and 5-7 Senior forward <strong>Liliana Lozano</strong> (<em>4.7p</em>)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->