Indiana Sectional 9: Top Performers from the Tournament

I had the opportunity to attend the IHSAA Sectional 9 tournament hosted by Pendleton Heights. The field featured Pendleton Heights, Greenfield-Central, Muncie Central, Richmond, Mount Vernon, and Anderson.   Entering the tournament, Pendleton Heights (22-3) was the clear favorite, and they ultimately lived up to expectations with a 66–49 victory over Greenfield-Central (13-12) in the championship game. A huge shoutout goes to Greenfield-Central for reaching the sectional title game for the first time since the 2016–17 season, marking an important milestone for the program.    The return of [player_tooltip player_id='990044' first='Riley' last='Schellhammer'] to the lineup provided Greenfield-Central with a major boost and added excitement to the Sectional 9 tournament. I had the opportunity to watch her first game back, where she immediately made her presence felt, finishing with 18 points and 6 steals. She didn't miss a beat, showcasing her ability to knock down shots from the perimeter while also attacking the rim with confidence.   Riley is the type of player opposing defenses must locate at all times, as she is capable of erupting for 30 or more points on any given night. She followed up that performance by scoring 16 points the next evening, further proving her consistency and impact.   The Greenfield-Central community was energized by her return, welcoming a player who will be the best player in school history. Along with her younger sister, Britt Schellhammer next year, Riley is positioned to help elevate the girls basketball program at Greenfield-Central for years to come.     [player_tooltip player_id='992360' first='Kendra' last='Ash'] has provided the interior presence Mount Vernon has been searching for, and her growth throughout the season has been impossible to miss. She has taken a significant leap since the start of the year, becoming a reliable scoring option and a steady presence on the floor.   Ash is effective in the paint, using her size and touch to finish through contact, but her versatility is what truly elevates her game. She is comfortable handling the ball in space, can attack from the wing, and has shown the ability to step out and knock down perimeter shots. This multi-dimensional skill set makes her a difficult matchup and allows Mount Vernon to play through her in a variety of ways.   With Ash continuing to develop and teammate [player_tooltip player_id='840811' first='Zoey' last='Wood'] alongside her, Mount Vernon has a strong foundation moving forward, and Sectional 9 figures to remain highly competitive with this duo still in high school.     [player_tooltip player_id='750718' first='Adah' last='Hupfer'] helped lead Pendleton Heights to another sectional championship with a dominant performance on both ends of the floor. She controlled the glass throughout the night and was a constant presence in the paint.   Hupfer finished the championship game with 31 points and 12 rebounds, setting the tone physically and offensively. Her ability to score through contact while consistently rebounding at a high level continues to make her one of the most impactful players in her class.   She will now look to add a regional championship to her résumé as Pendleton Heights prepares to face Center Grove (25–0) next Saturday. With two high-level teams matching up, the game should provide an equal level of competition and be one to watch.     [player_tooltip player_id='840811' first='Zoey' last='Wood']s has been another key contributor for Mount Vernon and has delivered strong performances all season long. What consistently stands out is the level of energy she brings to the floor, regardless of the opponent. She plays with a high motor and is always ready to compete.   Woods does a solid job running the point guard position, showing poise as a ball handler while also creating scoring opportunities for herself. She is comfortable getting to her spots and knocking down shots, which adds balance to Mount Vernon's offense.   The duo of Woods and [player_tooltip player_id='992360' first='Kendra' last='Ash'] is particularly intriguing, as their complementary skill sets create matchup problems. With both players returning and another season of experience already under their belts, this pairing has the potential to be especially dangerous heading into next year.     [player_tooltip player_id='486495' first='Olivia' last='Jones'] has put together an impressive season, showing her versatility and basketball IQ in multiple roles. She has been effective when asked to run the point, displaying poise as a ball handler and making sound decisions to keep the offense organized.   When playing off the ball, Jones does a great job of getting to her spots on the floor, using her footwork and feel for the game to create quality scoring opportunities. She is comfortable knocking down perimeter shots and is also aggressive attacking the rim, where she can finish or draw contact. Her ability to impact the game in different ways has made her a reliable and valuable piece throughout the season.     This was my first opportunity to see Richmond play, as well as to watch their top player, [player_tooltip player_id='1690473' first='R'sirae' last='Nunn'], in action. Nunn did a strong job of using her body to attack the rim, consistently finishing through contact.   She also showed good decision-making on the floor, playing under control and making the right reads when defenses collapsed. Her physicality and composure stood out and allowed her to impact the game beyond just scoring.

I had the opportunity to attend the IHSAA Sectional 9 tournament hosted by Pendleton Heights. The field featured Pendleton Heights, Greenfield-Central, Muncie Central, Richmond, Mount Vernon, and Anderson.