2025-26 Season Preview: Class 3A, Sectional 28

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"small"} --> <p class="has-small-font-size"><em>The featured image is of [player_tooltip player_id='1144618' first='Jayla' last='Ash'] (2028) from Shelbyville High School.</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 two weeks 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 #28. 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 #28 at Rushville</font></strong><br>Roncalli (18-9), SAG 32, SOS 34<br>New Palestine (12-12), SAG 87, SOS 65<br>Shelbyville (14-11), SAG 133, SOS 100<br>Indian Creek (15-8), SAG 149, SOS 186<br>Beech Grove (12-12), SAG 171, SOS 160<br>Rushville Consolidated (7-18), SAG 196, SOS 59<br>Greenwood Community (4-19), SAG 249, SOS 86</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Roncalli Royals have long been a competitor when it turns to postseason play, and this season, they should once again be vying for the Sectional #28 crown. They only graduated one of their top players, they return both of last season's double-digit scorers, and they have no less than nine girls returning with at least 14 Varsity games under their belts, plus they add a solid transfer as well. Despite all of that, this team will likely go how <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='716615' first='Elliot' last='Leffler']</strong> (<em>17.3p, 5.7r, 1.4a, 1.9s</em>) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='486513' first='Brennah' last='Cerny']</strong> (<em>10.0p, 2.6r, 2.9a, 3.0s</em>) go. Leffler, a 5-9 Junior, is a strong, physical, hard-working, tough-nosed, do-it-all wing guard. She can handle at times and initiate the offense, she's a nice North/South driver, she's a very good perimeter shooter with range, and she's an effortful defender who rebounds. Cerny, a 5-6 Senior, really stepped up last season and became one of the team's primary ball-handlers. She did a nice job of taking care of it, getting it where it needed to go, and defending. 6-2 Senior post <strong>Lydia Stahley</strong> (<em>6.4p, 4.7r</em>) has gotten better each year, and she offers them a tall and athletic presence in the paint. 5-2 point guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='421106' first='Catie' last='Rosko']</strong> (<em>5.3p, 3.1r, 2.8a, 1.9s</em>) and 5-7 wing <strong>Reagan Turk</strong> (<em>4.5p, 3.7r, 1.1a, 1.1s</em>) return Senior experience, toughness, and versatility. 6-1 Junior post <strong>Caroline Schoettle</strong> (<em>1.4p, 1.7r</em>) offers more size up front, and she could have a breakout year for the Royals, while 5-8 wing <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='984355' first='Lola' last='Morelli']</strong> (<em>1.8p, 1.6r</em>) and 5-5 guard <strong>Carly Feldman</strong> are a pair of Sophomores who should be in the mix from the outset of the season. Also keep an eye on 5-6 Junior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='891958' first='Ainsley' last='Brown']</strong> (<em>13.9p, 4.0r, 1.8a, 2.0s</em>), who transferred in from Scecina over the Summer. She is another hard-working, versatile scorer. The Royals obviously have depth and talent, but again, the key is making sure Leffler and Cerny have big years.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>New Palestine is in a similar position as Roncalli, where the Dragons return six of their eight-player rotation from a season ago, plus they too welcome a newcomer via transfer. 5-9 Senior forward <strong>Sadey Hughbanks</strong> (<em>9.8p, 4.2r, 1.0a, 1.1s</em>) is the leading returning scorer, and she's a nice, versatile, multisport athlete. Guard <strong>Gabrielle Brown</strong> (<em>6.4p, 3.0r, 2.8a, 1.5s</em>), 5-5 guard <strong>Kendra Moore</strong> (<em>5.6p, 1.8r</em>), and 5-8 wing <strong>Kenna Tweedy</strong> (<em>2.9p, 1.4r</em>) are a trio of Seniors who bring experience and leadership to the lineup each night. 5-8 point guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='916552' first='Haven' last='Flagle']</strong> (<em>4.9p, 4.0r, 1.5a, 1.5s</em>) and 5-9 wing <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='992221' first='Brooklyn' last='Crim']</strong> (<em>3.4p, 2.1r</em>) are a pair of Sophomores who saw a great deal of action as rookies, and both could move into leadership roles as Sophomores. Speaking of Sophomores, 5-4 point guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='883082' first='Sawyor' last='Murdick']</strong> (<em>6.4p, 2.5r, 2.0a, 1.2s</em>) lettered and played well for nearby Triton Central before transferring to the Lady Dragons over the Summer. New Palestine is always a scrappy team, and if they can overcome their lack of height, they could just as well battle for the Sectional #28 title.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>And that leaves the Shelbyville Golden Bears. The Golden Bears are on a streak of three consecutive seasons with at least 14 wins, following six losing seasons. Even better for them, they return their top four scorers and six of their eight-player rotation from a season ago, so things are good in Shelby County. 5-9 wing <strong>Maddy Jones</strong> (<em>10.1p, 4.6r, 1.0a, 1.3s</em>), guard <strong>Hannah Baker</strong> (<em>9.7p, 5.0r, 3.3a, 2.7s</em>), 5-4 guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1005170' first='Savannah' last='Collins']</strong> (<em>6.6p, 3.6r, 1.5a, 1.8s</em>), 5-10 forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='885587' first='Reese' last='Fortune']</strong> (<em>3.0p, 4.2r</em>), and 5-10 post <strong>Alivia Lee</strong> (<em>1.1p, 1.7r</em>) make up a very experienced and veteran core sure to help them compete in Sectional #28, as all are Senior returnees. However, an even brighter spot moving forward might just be the play of 5-10 Sophomore wing <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1144618' first='Jayla' last='Ash']</strong> (<em>9.0p, 4.2r, 1.2a, 1.5s</em>). She is a long, fluid athlete, she can score the ball at all three levels, and she is still growing and improving her game. Look for her to potentially step into the leading scorer role sooner rather than later. If the Golden Bears can remain cohesive, take care of the basketball, and make shots down the stretch in big games, they could really surprise some people this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Additional Players to Keep an Eye on:</strong> Beech Grove: 5-8 Junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='834957' first='Harper' last='Moore']</strong> (<em>12.5p, 5.5r, 3.2a, 2.9s in 2023-2024</em>) and 5-11 Junior forward <strong>Olivia Stowers</strong> (<em>0.6p in 10 games at Franklin Central</em>); Greenwood: 6-0 Sophomore post <strong>Maddison Judge</strong> (<em>6.8p, 6.1r</em>) and 5-5 Senior guard <strong>Eliana Anderson</strong> (<em>5.6p, 2.5r, 1.9a, 1.1s</em>); Indian Creek: 6-0 Senior forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1131993' first='Alexa' last='Sichting']</strong> (<em>11.7p, 9.4r, 2.0a, 2.3s, 2.9b</em>), 6-1 Junior forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='751055' first='Ellie' last='Oliver']</strong> (<em>7.2p, 4.0r, 1.0s</em>), and 5-7 Sophomore guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1225046' first='Reagan' last='Ferris']</strong> (<em>4.8p, 2.9r, 2.7a, 1.2s</em>); Rushville: 5-5 Senior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='884434' first='Carly' last='Senour']</strong> (<em>7.1p, 2.5r, 1.4a, 1.9s</em>) and 5-9 Senior forward <strong>Makenna Ripberger</strong> (<em>2.7p, 3.7r</em>)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->