2025-26 Season Preview: Class 4A, Sectional 5

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"small"} --> <p class="has-small-font-size"><em>The featured image is of [player_tooltip player_id='486549' first='Ava' last='Myers'] (2026) from Fort Wayne's Carroll 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 continue the previews in Class 4A. We are now a quarter of the way through the Class 4A Sectionals, and since the season is just past Thanksgiving, I wanted to finish offering you a glimpse at what the 2025-26 season could hold with a preview of each of the state's remaining Class 4A Sectionals. 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 #5. 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 #5 at Carroll (Fort Wayne)</font></strong><br>Fort Wayne Northrop (16-8), SAG 43, SOS 46<br>Fort Wayne Snider (13-12), SAG 46, SOS 17<br>Fort Wayne Carroll (12-10), SAG 54, SOS 16<br>Fort Wayne North Side (4-18), SAG 265, SOS 101</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Just like last season, Sectional #5 is likely to come down to Snider and Northrop. Carroll lost their leading scoring to graduation, and their best all-around player has turned her focus to another sport. North Side is still a little short on talent compared to the other three schools, so that leaves the Panthers and Bruins duking it out. Snider did graduate some significant contributors in 2025, but they have a talented young nucleus and will be a tough "out" once they figure out how to play together at this level. 5-10 Sophomore wing <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='879936' first='Janaya' last='Cooper']</strong> (<em>14.7p, 7.1r, 2.0a, 2.4s, 1.4b</em>) is arguably the best 2028 in the state right now, and she utilizes her superb athleticism to complete plays other girls just can't. She has also put in a tremendous amount of time improving her skillset, and she has a scary future ahead of her. 5-3 guard <strong>Gracie Smith</strong> (<em>1.7p, 1.0r</em>) and 5-1 point guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='751112' first='Mylee' last='Hurse']</strong> (<em>1.6p, 1.0r, 2.0a</em>) are a pair of diminutive Juniors who play feistily. They really get after it defensively, they can pressure the ball all over the court, plus Smith can hit shots outside, while Hurse is a creator and distributor in the halfcourt. Also returning in the Sophomore class is 5-8 wing <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='992257' first='Mackenzie' last='Carter']</strong> (<em>1.9p, 1.6r</em>). She is a solid all-around athlete who can handle the ball a little, knock down an open rhythm jumper, plus she's a willing rebounder &amp; defender. A host of newcomers could really help the Panthers, especially along the frontline. 6-0 Junior wing <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='743355' first='Isabelle' last='Eke']</strong> (<em>13.6p, 5.1r, 1.4a, 1.6s</em>) transfers in from Bishop Dwenger, where she starred. She is a nice athlete and a multilevel scorer who could pair nicely with Cooper. 5-10 Sophomore forward <strong>Maddie White</strong> (<em>8.8p, 11.2r</em>) transfers in from Fort Wayne South Side, where she was a major presence defensively on the interior for the Archers. 6-0 Sophomore front-liner <strong>Jayda Sims</strong> strives to get a first look at Varsity action for the Panthers as well, while 6-1 Freshman post <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1263971' first='McKenzie' last='White']</strong> is a big, powerfully strong, physical presence who also has great hands, good post skill, plus some touch facing the basket. She has already drawn Division I interest/offers. Needless to say, Snider is set up for years to come. They will have their "youthful moments" early in the season, but as they grow together, this squad could be a handful by February.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Northrop could be a problem as well, as they possess as much experience as anyone in the state, fielding a roster of all Seniors and Juniors this season. 5-10 wing <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='492326' first='Khala' last='Williams-Thomas']</strong> (<em>18.3p, 5.2r, 3.3a, 3.5s</em>) and 5-10 guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='486518' first='Swynn' last='Jackson']</strong> (<em>14.9p, 5.7r, 5.0a, 3.8s, 3.3b</em>) are two of the most under-appreciated Seniors in the state. Williams-Thomas is an absolutely explosive athlete, and she is one of the best athletes in the state, regardless of class. She showed over the Summer that her skill has improved as well, so she can handle and create, score it at all three levels, plus she's a dawg defensively on the ball. Jackson is a smooth shooter with some range, but she's also a gliding athlete when attacking the basket, and she causes havoc defensively with her length. Jackson has signed with Indiana University-Indianapolis, while Williams-Thomas has a few Division I offers herself. 5-5 guard <strong>Brilee Day</strong> (<em>8.5p, 3.1r</em>), 5-7 wing <strong>Alivia Rice</strong> (<em>5.9p, 7.3r, 1.7a, 2.4s</em>), and 5-5 guard <strong>Marion Wyss</strong> (<em>4.7p, 1.8r, 1.6a</em>) are a trio of additional Seniors with major Varsity experience. Rice is another talented run &amp; jump athlete for the Bruins. Northrop rarely plays deep into their bench, so there's not really much reason to talk about a ton of newcomers, however, one does stand out. 5-6 wing <strong>Kamiah Morris</strong> (<em>3.4p, 2.3r, 1.7s</em>) could offer the Bruins another scorer who can also defend a little. Morris transferred in this year from Fort Wayne North Side, and she adds some athleticism and hustle to the rotation. Northrop will need to lean on its experience, but if they play well together, they should win more often than not in 2025-2026, challenging Snider for the Sectional #5 crown along the way.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Additional Players to Keep an Eye on:</strong> Carroll (Fort Wayne): 6-2 Senior post <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='486555' first='Lillian' last='George']</strong> (<em>10.2p, 5.9r</em>), 5-9 Senior wing <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='486549' first='Ava' last='Myers']</strong> (<em>6.3p, 2.5r, 1.0a, 1.1s</em>), and Senior guard <strong>Megan Lanning</strong>; Fort Wayne North Side: 6-1 Senior post <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='928917' first='Jayonna' last='Flotow']</strong> (<em>7.1p, 7.2r, 2.2s, 3.3b</em>), 5-8 Junior wing <strong>Kaydence Wallace</strong> (<em>2.8p, 1.4r in 14 games</em>), and 5-6 Freshman guard <strong>Tamiyah Belcher</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->