2025-26 Season Preview: Class 4A, Sectional 13

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"small"} --> <p class="has-small-font-size"><em>The featured image is of [player_tooltip player_id='404387' first='Violet' last='Hall'] (2026) from Bloomington High School South.</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 #13. 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 #13 at Terre Haute North Vigo</font></strong><br>Bloomington South (23-3), SAG 21, SOS 96<br>Bloomington North (19-6), SAG 112, SOS 103<br>Martinsville (8-16), SAG 186, SOS 142<br>Terre Haute North Vigo (8-18), SAG 211, SOS 109<br>Terre Haute South Vigo (2-23), SAG 251, SOS 194</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Bloomington South Panthers were the 2025 Sectional Champs, and considering they return a tremendous amount of production and depth, they look to repeat as champs once again. They have size, skill, and they work well together. 5-11 Senior wing <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='624879' first='Julia' last='Lashley']</strong> (<em>15.8p, 7.8r, 2.8a, 1.5s</em>) leads the Panthers into action. She is long, wiry-strong, and fluidly athletic. She does a nice job of handling the ball, getting them into their offenses/sets, and creating for teammates. At the same time, she has improved as a shooter/scorer as well. 6-1 Senior forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='404387' first='Violet' last='Hall']</strong> (<em>9.7p, 3.9r</em>, 1.3a, 1.0s, 1.5b) can be a matchup problem at times. She is extremely long and wiry, she's a fluid athlete with some bounce, and she is a versatile &amp; talented defender, whether she's on or off the ball. She has also improved her shooting consistency. 5-9 Senior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='832694' first='Audrey' last='Craft']</strong> (<em>8.5p, 3.3r, 1.4a, 1.8s</em>) adds more versatility around the perimeter, plus she is a very good outside shooter with length and fluidity. A newcomer who should make an immediate impact is 5-9 Junior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1118516' first='Tatum' last='DeVries']</strong> (<em>7.5p, 2.9r, 3.5a, 1.3s in West Virginia</em>). She follows her father (new Indiana University men's basketball head coach) from Morgantown, West Virginia, and she brings a good basketball feel/IQ, she has length and some quickness, and she is an excellent shooter who can get hot quickly. After those four, the Panthers can go any number of directions. 6-1 Senior post <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='928896' first='Rebekah' last='Arnold']</strong> and 6-0 Sophomore forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1144627' first='Quinnly' last='Fife']</strong> can add size and athleticism to the frontline. 5-8 Senior guard <strong>Alaina Maki</strong>, 5-8 Junior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='989366' first='Annika' last='Smith']</strong>, and 5-7 Sophomore guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1327398' first='Avery' last='Schwartzman']</strong> bring versatility, skill, and effort to the perimeter. Each can handle a little or knock down an open shot. While this Senior class has put together a strong four years for Bloomington South, the contributions of the non-Seniors will go a long way toward how far the Panthers can advance in the state tournament come February.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Crosstown rival Bloomington North is likely the top option in Sectional #13 to derail Bloomington South. The North Cougars have height, length, and good guard play, so it will come down to if they're ready yet. The Cougars success will likely come down to how much Sophomore guards <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='992357' first='Katharine' last='Lehr']</strong> (<em>9.9p, 5.6r, 3.8a, 2.3s</em>) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='992345' first='Elayna' last='Frank']</strong> (<em>7.1p, 2.2r, 1.2a</em>) learned as rookies last season. Both played extensively in starting roles, and both flashed the ability to score in the mid-teens as Sophomores. Lehr, a 5-7 point guard, is a really nice floor general who gets the ball where it needs to go. Frank, a 5-5 wing, is strong, she has good touch outside, but she is a solid North/South driver as well. The interior is anchored by 6-1 Junior forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='612077' first='Audrey' last='Burton']</strong> (<em>7.2p, 4.4r, 1.2a</em>) and 5-11 Junior forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='878873' first='Ashley' last='Stegemoller']</strong> (<em>5.0p, 4.8r</em>). Both have good height &amp; length, developing strength, but they are also versatile. Each can play facing the basket, with Burton capable of handling in transition and knocking down 3-pointers, while Stegemoller is really good in the mid-post. 5-7 Junior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='969802' first='Rilynn' last='Williams']</strong> (<em>6.9p, 2.3r, 2.0a</em>) will likely also be in the starting lineup all year. She is the only other returnee with significant big-game experience. Williams is extremely long, fast, and she can make plays off the dribble. Depth will be a problem, at least early in the season. 5-4 Junior guard <strong>C.J. Bell</strong> (<em>0.3p in 4 games</em>) looks to bring some ball-handling and a motor to the perimeter, while 5-11 Sophomore forward/post <strong>Jossilyn Draughn</strong> (<em>0.8p in 8 games</em>) adds a little more size up front and gives them a solid option if Burton or Stegemoller get into foul trouble. Like I said at the top of the paragraph, the Cougars have skill and talent, but age/experience and depth could be their shortcoming. If not this year for them, they very well could be Sectional favorites next season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Additional Players to Keep an Eye on:</strong> Martinsville: 5-9 Senior wing <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='773842' first='Ruby' last='Murrell']</strong> (<em>10.4p, 4.4r, 2.9a, 1.8s</em>), 5-10 Junior guard <strong>Addie Curless</strong> (<em>4.0p, 2.6r, 1.0a, 1.0s</em>), 5-3 Sophomore guard <strong>Braxtyn Conner</strong> (<em>3.6p in 5 games</em>), and 5-6 Freshman guard <strong>Sadie Thacker</strong>; Terre Haute North Vigo: 6-0 Senior post <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='773831' first='Charlie' last='Walker']</strong> (<em>5.8p, 7.8r, 1.1a, 1.0s, 1.4b</em>), 5-6 Senior guard <strong>Madison Strange</strong> (<em>5.0p, 3.3r, 1.6a, 1.0s</em>), 5-10 Senior forward <strong>Makenna Lawson</strong> (<em>2.2p, 2.3r</em>), and 5-11 Freshman wing <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1361101' first='Grayce' last='Renn']</strong>; Terre Haute South Vigo: 5-6 Sophomore wing <strong>Za'Nariae White</strong> (<em>13.7p, 5.5r, 2.0a, 1.5s at Terre Haute North Vigo</em>), Sophomore guard <strong>Samarra Newburn</strong> (<em>9.7p, 2.9r, 1.6a, 3.0s</em>), 5-6 Senior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='917006' first='Karizma' last='English-Malone']</strong> (<em>9.1p, 3.3r, 1.5a, 1.9s</em>), and Senior wing <strong>Avery Cassell</strong> (<em>5.3p, 2.7r, 1.9s</em>)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->