2025-26 Season Preview: Class 4A, Sectional 11

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"small"} --> <p class="has-small-font-size"><em>The featured image is of [player_tooltip player_id='1263952' first='Savayah' last='Mitchell'] (2029) from Pike High School.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With the season nearing the halfway point, it's time to complete the state tournament 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 #11. 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 #11 at Ben Davis</font></strong><br>Pike (20-7), SAG 8, SOS 6<br>Brownsburg (19-5), SAG 10, SOS 10<br>Plainfield (17-6), SAG 12, SOS 21<br>Avon (11-13), SAG 36, SOS 9<br>Ben Davis (12-12), SAG 42, SOS 14</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Pike Red Devils looked primed for a great season a month ago, and they have only continued that throughout December. Last year, they surged into the Class 4A Final Four, falling to eventual State Champion Lawrence North by a single point, and they did so without playing a Senior major rotation minutes. In addition, they added two of the state's best Freshmen to the mix. The Red Devils can go toe to toe with just about any team in the state when it comes to overall talent, but more importantly, they have great balance throughout their roster as well, and they will play in the neighborhood of 10 or 11 girls each game, coming at you in waves. 5-8 Senior point guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='486542' first='Alonna' last='Divine']</strong> (<em>11.0p, 5.4r, 2.6a, 2.8s</em>), 5-6 Junior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='751118' first='Saniya' last='Smith']</strong> (<em>8.9p, 2.5r, 3.1a, 1.7s</em>), 5-4 Junior point guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='751088' first='Korinne' last='Nickolson']</strong> (<em>4.6p, 2.6r, 3.0a, 1.7s</em>), 5-8 Sophomore guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='999451' first='Chami' last='Williams']</strong> (<em>2.7p in 19 games</em>), and 5-7 Senior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1038873' first='Deniyah' last='Warren']</strong> (<em>1.6p, 1.3r, 1.2a, 1.3s</em>) each saw important backcourt minutes at times last season. Divine and Nickolson are steady playmakers looking to get others involved at all times, plus they are strong defenders. Smith is an explosive scorer who can fill it up from all three levels, while Williams is a talented athlete who does a little of everything well. Warren might be their best on-ball defender on the roster, and she can really hawk the opponent's best ball-handler. But Pike also has a wealth of size options. 6-0 Senior forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='686306' first='Komari' last='Booker']</strong> (<em>10.5p, 9.0r, 1.6a, 2.2s, 1.0b</em>) was an Indiana Junior All-Star and brings athleticism, toughness, and defense to the frontcourt. 6-0 Senior post <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='928878' first='Marley' last='Jeffers']</strong> (<em>10.8p, 11.6r, 1.1s, 1.2b</em>) is sort of the back-to-the-basket bully inside, but her mid-range game is improving as well. 6-0 Junior forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='909349' first='Elyssa' last='Nichols']</strong> (<em>1.8p, 2.8r in 17 games</em>) and 5-11 Senior post <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1357826' first='Morgan' last='Anderson']</strong> (<em>0.3p, 1.2r in 6 games</em>) played sparingly at times last year, but both look for key rotation minutes this time around. As for the Rookies, look for 5-8 guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1263952' first='Savayah' last='Mitchell']</strong> and 5-11 wing <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1263942' first='Malyiah' last='Evans']</strong> to make an instant impact for the Red Devils. Mitchell is as steady as they come, she has a high basketball IQ, a nice jump-shot, and a mature game for her age. Evans is all talent and potential. She is long, bouncy, and active, and she can score it in bunches. The hardest part for Pike this year will be to keep everyone "fed". There is a great deal of talent here, and they have a chance to put together a magical season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Unfortunately for Brownsburg, but fortunately for others, the 6-6 monster presence in the middle is gone. At the same time, the Bulldogs might become a tougher team to defend, now that you don't focus on one centerpiece. The Bulldogs have a mix of experience and youthful newcomers, so there will be some speedbumps throughout the year, but they can compete with just about anyone, and their future is bright. 5-11 Senior wing <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='486533' first='Elle' last='McCulloch']</strong> (<em>12.7p, 2.9r, 2.2a, 2.0s</em>) is the lone returning double-digit scorer for Brownsburg. She is smooth, balanced athletically, plus she's a capable perimeter shooter with some range. 5-9 Senior wing <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1273479' first='Laniah' last='Walkine']</strong> (<em>4.8p, 2.5r, 1.6a, 1.0s</em>) is a talented athlete still somewhat under the radar, she can create off the bounce, and she will rebound &amp; defend. 5-10 Junior forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='751299' first='Brianna' last='Brown']</strong> (<em>4.0p, 4.7r, 2.2a, 1.6s</em>) is another versatile forward who can play in the mid-post, rebound, and defend, but she has also significantly improved her perimeter game since she got to high school. 6-0 Senior forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='928873' first='Sammy' last='Clark']</strong> (<em>3.7p, 1.4r</em>), 5-11 Sophomore forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1171496' first='Gabbi' last='Harvey']</strong> (<em>2.9p, 2.4r</em>), and 5-9 Senior forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='486497' first='Kenzie' last='Touloukian']</strong> (<em>1.7p, 1.4 in 20 games</em>) give the Bulldogs a crop of hard workers with some talent and skill along their frontline. Clark can shoot it from outside as well. 5-7 Sophomore guard <strong>Kadence Paddock</strong> (<em>1.0p in 7 games</em>) and 6-4 Sophomore post <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='992138' first='Naomi' last='Oniyide']</strong> attempt to find rotation minutes as well. There is also big excitement in Brownsburg for 5-5 Freshman point guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1263941' first='Ava' last='Emberton']</strong>. She is that quick little presence the Bulldogs have been looking for over the last couple of years. She can create off the dribble, get into most gaps, plus she can make open shots. As she continues to adjust to the speed and size of the Varsity game, she'll be a good one moving forward. Like I said above, Brownsburg just needs some experience with this new group together, but they have nice pieces and can be a problem for many teams.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Plainfield is a team who can be a problem for others, because while they lack any size at all, they make up for it with tremendous guard play. 5-8 Junior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='751064' first='Hannah' last='Menser']</strong> (<em>17.0p, 3.6r, 3.3a, 2.9s, 1.8b</em>) is one of the steadiest, most skillful, high IQ guards in the state, regardless of class. She can make plays, make shots, and defend with discipline. 5-6 Senior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='486496' first='Berkeley' last='Williams']</strong> (<em>14.2p, 3.8r, 2.8a, 1.9s</em>) is an absolute sparkplug and brings a lot of energy for the Quakers. She can handle it and run point, bury shots consistently, plus she's a hard-working defender who rebounds well at her size. 5-8 Junior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='756233' first='Abrielle' last='Dugan']</strong> (<em>7.9p, 3.3r, 1.4a, 1.5s</em>) is kind of a hidden gem because of her aforementioned teammates, but she is still one of the top 2027s in the state. She is long, versatile, and fluidly athletic. 5-4 Junior guard <strong>Bryleigh Todd</strong> (<em>3.7p, 1.5r, 1.1s</em>) is another little, quick, feisty guard like Williams who brings the energy. From there, the Quakers look to get contributions from 5-11 Senior forward <strong>Caroline Pugh</strong> (<em>3.6p, 3.7r</em>), 5-6 Sophomore guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='913390' first='Emma' last='Righter']</strong> (<em>1.8p in 5 games</em>), plus 5-7 Freshman forward <strong>Mallory Harris</strong>. Additionally, look for 5-9 Junior forward <strong>Moriah Armstrong</strong> (<em>13.0p, 6.0r, 1.3a, 2.3s</em>) to possibly play a big role after transferring in from Covenant Christian this year. The Quakers utilize a feisty, scrappy defense, plus they can fill it up from outside quickly or spread you out and attack the basket. Either way, they will be a tough "out" come February.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Additional Players to Keep an Eye on:</strong> Avon: 5-4 Senior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='832666' first='Makaylee' last='Butts']</strong> (<em>8.1p, 2.3r, 1.3a, 1.2s</em>), 6-2 Junior post <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='934000' first='Erika' last='Larson']</strong> (<em>4.3p, 5.5r, 2.1b</em>), 5-6 Junior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='751031' first='Aaliyah' last='Carruthers']</strong> (<em>0.5p in 4 games</em>), 5-3 Freshman guard <strong>Saniyah Davenport</strong>, and 6-0 Freshman forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1293057' first='Angel' last='Omale']</strong>; Ben Davis: 5-10 Junior forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='751120' first='Shania' last='Curry']</strong> (<em>11.5p, 7.9r, 1.2a, 2.5s, 1.4b</em>), 5-8 Senior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='761186' first='Aleia' last='Sultzer']</strong> (<em>8.9p, 6.3r, 1.3s</em>), 5-7 Freshman wing <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1280381' first='Tatum' last='Skibinski']</strong>, 5-7 Freshman guard <strong>Daijah Royston</strong>, and 5-6 Freshman point guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1291636' first='Paige' last='Jones']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->