2025-26 Season Preview: Class 3A, Sectional 18

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"small"} --> <p class="has-small-font-size"><em>The featured image is of [player_tooltip player_id='1229374' first='Brooke' last='Dawson'] (2027) from Lowell High School. (in the middle in white)</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Now that the previews for Classes 1A and 2A are complete, it's time to turn to Class 3A. These should come almost two to a day over the next week, because the season is a week underway, and 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 3A, Sectional #18. 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 #18 at Kankakee Valley</font></strong><br>Lowell (16-10), SAG 183, SOS 209<br>Hanover Central (15-9), SAG 204, SOS 274<br>Kankakee Valley (8-15), SAG 205, SOS 116<br>Illiana Christian (11-9), SAG 266, SOS 325<br>River Forest (12-12), SAG 305, SOS 353</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sectional #18 might not be one of the strongest in Class 3A, but it isn't weak either, and there is a lot of balance throughout. With a number of graduation losses affecting both Lowell and Hanover Central, it has now become a wide-open race. The Lowell Red Devils, last season's Sectional champs, will have to get creative and replicate the production lost by graduating their top two scorers, four of their top six players, and six members of the 2025 class in total. Now, 6-1 Junior front-liner <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='834936' first='Gatlin' last='Hanrath']</strong> (<em>6.2p, 5.3r, 1.6a</em>) steps to the forefront for the Lady Red Devils. She has length, athleticism, and plays with versatility. She's effective in the mid-post, but she might have to spend more time around the block this year as well. She can become their one mismatch most nights. 5-7 Junior point guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1229374' first='Brooke' last='Dawson']</strong> (<em>5.7p, 3.1r, 2.7a, 1.6s</em>) has also seen her share of opportunities the past two seasons, but now she'll be looked at to lead the operation from the backcourt. She is a nice player, skilled, tough-nosed, and somewhat feisty. Add to that 5-4 Senior guard <strong>Aubrey Fleming</strong> (<em>3.5p, 1.7r, 1.2a</em>), and that makes three rotation players from last season with good experience. Who will surround them will be the biggest questions, but Lowell typically has a large number of girls playing each season, so there should be plenty of options.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hanover Central also graduated four of their top six players, including their leading scorer, and they really only played six ladies, maybe seven, on most nights. There is at least some uncertainty heading into the 2025-2026 season. 6-0 Senior post <strong>Sienna Stilley</strong> (<em>10.4p, 5.2r, 1.1a, 2.0s</em>) does return, however, and she immediately gives them an interior presence. She has some touch in the mid-post, but she's best using her physicality around the paint. 5-6 Junior guard <strong>Simone Parker</strong> (<em>7.8p, 2.3r, 3.3a, 1.2s</em>) has starting experience as well and is their primary ball-handler. She'll likely be asked to score a little more this year, but she has the ability to create off the dribble. From there, when they did play seven last year, 5-7 Senior guard <strong>Nadia Paun</strong> (<em>1.2p</em>) typically got a look. With plenty of minutes to go around, look for her to fight for a starting spart. Beyond those three, experience is limited. While they haven't been Varsity regulars, 5-10 senior front-liner <strong>Brooklyn Oostman</strong> (<em>0.8p in 10 games</em>) and 5-8 Junior forward <strong>Kaydence Beach</strong> (<em>0.5p in 8 games</em>) could be immediate contributors because they have been in the program and proven consistency at lower levels. One thing is for sure...good or bad, the Wildcats always compete.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Over the past two seasons, the Kougars of Kankakee Valley have been going through sort of a youth movement, so there have been peaks and valleys alike. For example, last season they beat a very good Benton Central team and Illiana Christian by double figures, though they also fell twice to Lowell and once to Hanover Central, by a combined total of 8 points. This season, most of their top players should come from the 2027 and 2028 classes, so the future is very bright for KV. 5-7 Sophomore guard <strong>Jenna Walker</strong> (<em>9.1p, 5.4r, 1.0a, 1.1s</em>) led the Kougars in scoring last season, and she is a long, fluidly athletic scorer who can make shots at all three levels. 5-7 Junior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='756245' first='Mallorie' last='Rose']</strong> (<em>8.6p, 6.8r, 1.8a, 2.3s</em>) is a powerful, athletic wing who does a nice job of getting downhill and attacking the basket, plus she's a solid defender. 6-0 Junior post <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='875128' first='Olivia' last='Adams']</strong> (<em>6.8p, 9.8r</em>) has greatly improved over the years. She is an extremely physical and strong traditional post, but she does have a little touch at 15-feet as well. 5-5 Sophomore point guard <strong>Camry Krueger</strong> (<em>7.2p, 2.4r, 2.5a, 1.7s</em>) also saw a great deal of time last year, and she brings a gritty toughness to the court. She is a nice facilitator, a capable scorer, plus an aggressive on-ball defender. The Kougars aren't terribly deep with experience, so there might be an opportunity for 5-3 Freshman guard <strong>Maci Capps</strong> to see the court early as opposed to later this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Illiana Christian is the wildcard in Sectional #18. The Vikings graduated their top scorer, their top rebounder, plus two other 2025s in their top seven players. However, they could very well make a climb in this field this year due to two newcomers. First, returning to the Viking lineup are 5-7 Senior guard <strong>Sienna Eenigenburg</strong> (<em>7.8p, 2.5r, 2.7s</em>), Junior guard <strong>Keilah Mudde</strong> (<em>6.5p, 5.4r, 1.8a, 1.0s</em>), and 5-9 Senior forward <strong>Kennedy Voss</strong> (<em>5.4p, 5.3r, 1.3s</em>), so they do possess some quality experience already. If one or two of them can step into more prominent roles offensively, it could certainly help. But the excitement surrounds a pair of newcomers who should make an instant impact. First, Senior forward <strong>Ellyson Oeverman</strong> has moved in from Oregon and should not only start, but she could be their leading scorer and rebounder from the jump. Very little is known about Oeverman outside of Illiana, so there will be more to come on this one. From there, 5-11 Sophomore forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='992363' first='Lauren' last='Paliga']</strong> (<em>1.1p in 11 games</em>) has transferred in from nearby Lake Central High School. Paliga is a fluid athlete with some touch outside, plus she will battle inside defensively and on the boards. She saw a little Varsity action as a rookie at the Class 4A power, so she could be a game-changer at this level. A third newcomer who could see the court from the outset is Freshman point guard <strong>Brielle Colvin</strong>. She could eventually take over point guard duties.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Additional Players to Keep an Eye On:</strong> River Forest: 5-4 Senior guard <strong>Khaliya Randell</strong> (<em>6.8p, 2.6r, 1.1a, 2.4s</em>) and 5-5 Senior guard <strong>Rayna Cary</strong> (<em>5.6p, 4.0r, 1.5a, 1.7s</em>)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->