2025-26 Season Preview: Class 4A, Sectional 10

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"small"} --> <p class="has-small-font-size"><em>The featured image is of [player_tooltip player_id='492322' first='Aniyah' last='McKenzie'] (2026) from Lawrence Central High School.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Now that the previews for Classes 1A, 2A, and 3A are complete, it's time to complete the previews for Class 4A. 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 4A, Sectional #10. 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 #10 at North Central (Indianapolis)</font></strong><br>Lawrence Central (22-2), SAG 1, SOS 2<br>Lawrence North (19-8), SAG 4, SOS 4<br>North Central (5-17), SAG 38, SOS 8<br>Warren Central (13-9), SAG 63, SOS 28<br>Arsenal Technical (4-15), SAG 370, SOS 250</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sectional #10 is very talented, somewhat like Sectional #8, where four of these five teams could win and advance in the state tournament. Like every other Sectional, however, I wanted to highlight the teams I think could stand out. Once again, that list is Lawrence Central and Lawrence North. Last season, the Bears of Lawrence Central performed admirably throughout the regular season, finishing with a 21-1 regular season record, with the lone loss coming on a last second tip-in by Hamilton Southeastern at the Hall of Fame tournament. Then, the Lady Bears graduated two Indiana All-Stars, in addition to two other Seniors, rendering their 2025-2026 season up in the air. Over the Summer, though, two of the best players from other Marion County schools transferred in, including one from rival Lawrence North, so Lawrence Central could once again be the team to beat in this field. 6-3 Senior forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='492321' first='Lola' last='Lampley']</strong> (<em>11.8p, 6.4r, 3.6a, 1.6s</em>) is now the clear standout of the group. She is a member of Team USA's basketball program, and I'm not sure many people have truly seen her full potential. She can be dominant. She can act as a point forward and create in transition, she has touch from around the perimeter, plus she can dominate inside with her size, strength, and athleticism. She can adapt to the tone of a game quickly and be useful in a variety of ways. 6-0 Senior forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='492322' first='Aniyah' last='McKenzie']</strong> (<em>8.8p, 6.5r, 1.7a, 2.7s</em>) is another key returnee to the starting core. She is a strong, athletic, and incredibly hard-working competitor. She's a battler on the boards and a strong defender, plus she's a really nice mid-range scorer. Coming over from Lawrence North is 5-10 Senior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='492317' first='Ke'Adriah' last='Butler']</strong> (<em>13.9p, 4.8r, 1.6a, 1.7s</em>). The athletic guard brings explosiveness and length, plus the ability to score from all three levels. Additionally, 5-8 Senior wing <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='772792' first='Aubri' last='Ingram']</strong> (<em>10.2p, 3.2r, 2.1a, 2.0s</em>) transferred in from Ben Davis. She is a point forward type who is almost too unselfish at times, but the lefty can get to the rim and finish with the best of them. Those four should be plenty on most nights, but don't forget about a strong Sophomore class who helped some last year as rookies. 5-10 Sophomore forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1001646' first='A'Myah' last='Sowell']</strong> (<em>2.8p, 2.9r in 17 games</em>) brings strength, physicality, and some athleticism to the frontline, plus she will be an asset defensively. 5-8 Sophomore guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='990043' first='LeAnah' last='Hyatt']</strong> (<em>2.2p, 1.5r</em>) can fill in just about anywhere around the perimeter. She is long, quick, fast, and explosive. She is working on becoming a multilevel scorer, plus she can defend. Also of intrigue could be 5-10 Freshman forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1263945' first='Kristina' last='Hollowell']</strong>. She is a long, wiry-strong, fluidly athletic mid-post presence who could find minutes early and often this season. The biggest thing for the Lady Bears will be replicating the poise and presence their 2025 graduates had outside the arc. If they can get consistency and poise from this new group, look at them to definitely be a team no one wants to play in February.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Who handed Lawrence Central their second loss of the 2024-2025 season? Well, that was the Lawrence North Wildcats in the Sectional Championship game. The Wildcats avenged a 24-point loss from three weeks prior to upset the Lady Bears. On top of it, the Wildcats decided to roll all the way to a State Championship as well. Then, they graduated a number of contributors and lost a couple other key pieces to transfer. The Wildcats are still talented, but now they will be somewhat young and just need experience. Top among the returnees are 5-10 Senior wing <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1038866' first='Kalea' last='Bentley']</strong> (<em>5.1p, 2.1r</em>) and 5-7 Sophomore guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='751044' first='Brooklyn' last='Roberts']</strong> (<em>4.3p, 1.7r</em>). Bentley really stepped up and became a perimeter shooting threat last season, while Roberts is more of a point guard by nature and gave the Wildcats solid minutes off the bench as a rookie. Now, both could be leaned on to start and lead. The Wildcats also have a pair of promising 6-2 Sophomores who could become more and more impactful with added experience. Forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='917414' first='Zo'e' last='Peyton']</strong> (<em>3.2p in 5 games</em>) and post <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='999404' first='Zion' last='Hunt']</strong> (<em>1.0p, 1.0r in 2 games</em>) each have long, strong, and athletic frames. They run the floor well, while Peyton does a nice job in the mid-post and Hunt works more on the block with her back to the basket. They are also quite the presence defensively. Add to that 5-4 Sophomore point guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='990168' first='Jaida' last='Wheat']</strong> (<em>2.3p in 10 games</em>), and the Wildcats have an exceptionally bright future with their abundance of young talent. 5-10 Freshman wing <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1263966' first='Jordyn' last='Suggs']</strong> adds to that wealth, as she has enough talent and skill to become the team's leading scorer as just a rookie. She has touch and range outside, plus she's strong and can absorb contact attacking the basket. 5-7 Freshman guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1263932' first='Heavynne' last='Beard']</strong> could also earn some time in the rotation, as could 5-5 Junior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='751076' first='Jayla' last='Miller']</strong> (<em>4.6p, 1.0r, 1.0s</em>), a transfer from Pike High School. Miller can add perimeter shooting. It's just a matter of time this group clicks, whether that be by February or sometime next season, but either way, they certainly have enough talent and skill to compete right now.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Additional Players to Keep an Eye on:</strong> Arsenal Technical: 6-1 Junior post <strong>Janiya Sanders</strong> (<em>1.3p, 4.0r, 2.1b in 16 games</em>), 5-7 Junior guard <strong>Maliyah Price</strong> (<em>0.7p in 15 games</em>), and 5-5 Sophomore guard <strong>Yazmin Fleming</strong>; North Central: 5-11 Senior forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='486537' first='Naja' last='Winston']</strong> (<em>6.6p, 5.8r, 2.1a, 2.1s at Lawrence North</em>), 5-10 Junior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='756243' first='Macy' last='Loy']</strong>, and 5-7 Junior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='751040' first='Arianna' last='Harrington']</strong>; Warren Central: 5-6 Senior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='567132' first='Denell' last='Jacobs']</strong> (<em>15.7p, 4.1r, 1.5a, 3.9s</em>), 5-7 Sophomore guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='990952' first='Denaijah' last='Jacobs']</strong> (<em>8.9p, 6.2r, 2.0a, 3.5s</em>), 5-7 Sophomore wing <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='992362' first='La'Starr' last='Williams']</strong> (<em>8.0p, 3.2r, 1.2s</em>), and 6-1 Sophomore post <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1225048' first='Meelena' last='Fowlkes']</strong> (<em>5 games played</em>)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->