Back to School Storylines: District-1

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"small"} --> <p class="has-small-font-size"><em>The featured image is of [player_tooltip player_id='999408' first='Hillary' last='Labis'] (2028) from Westville High School.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With the grassroots season coming to an end, and with kids returning to school, I wanted to take the time to highlight some things that I think will be storylines for the upcoming 2026-2027 high school season. The IHSAA dissects the state into three districts, so in this article I will focus on items, prospects, and teams from District-1 (<em>Northern third of the state</em>).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><font color="FFFFFF">.</font></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><font size="+2">Could Class 1A be the most entertaining in District-1 in 2026-2027?</font></strong><br>Class 1A could be absolutely loaded in the North this coming season. To begin with, you have the 2026 State Runners-Up in Fremont back with their best two players now Seniors in 5-5 guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='751063' first='Grace' last='Scharlach']</strong> (<em>20.6p, 3.8r, 2.4a</em>) and 5-9 wing <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='751110' first='Mya' last='Turner']</strong> (<em>16.1p, 7.7r</em>). Both have had fantastic grassroots seasons, and they will attempt to make it back to Gainbridge Fieldhouse. From there, you have Elkhart Christian, who fell one game short of the State Finals, losing to Fremont. ECA returns double-digit scorers in Junior guards <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1203491' first='Lily' last='Maxwell']</strong> (<em>11.4p, 3.1r, 2.6s</em>) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1225067' first='Kyla' last='Yordy']</strong> (<em>10.1p, 5.4a, 3.6s</em>), plus 5-8 Freshman forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1814082' first='Mia' last='Hibbard']</strong> (<em>10.0p, 6.1r, 2.0a</em>). They also add 5-6 Freshman point guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1231955' first='Bo' last='Maxwell']</strong> to the mix, who should provide even more playmaking in the backcourt. Then, if you slide over to the Northwest Sectional that last year included Westville, Kouts, and Marquette Catholic, whoever escapes that can make a deep run. Westville is led by do-everything guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='999408' first='Hillary' last='Labis']</strong> (<em>25.8p, 10.9r, 2.4s</em>), while Kouts looks to Sophomore wing <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1147726' first='Avery' last='Elijah']</strong> (<em>13.2p, 4.3r, 5.9s</em>). Marquette graduated quite a bit of production but returns Senior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='751101' first='Marissa' last='Pleasant']</strong> (<em>11.4p, 3.1r, 2.1s</em>), and they are always competitive. Last, but not least, could be a Hebron team led by dynamic Freshman playmaker <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1810648' first='Laila' last='Yancey']</strong>. Not only did the Hawks add Yancey, but they reportedly have a slew of transfers as well coming from Crown Point, Tri-Township, and other area schools.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><font size="+2">Does Bellmont have the best odds in the state to repeat as Champions?</font></strong><br>The quick answer is "yes", but why? Well, in Classes 2A and 1A, Eastern (Pekin) and Borden graduated nearly all of their production and didn't exactly replace it with comparable talent. Center Grove in Class 4A will still be very good, but the graduation of 2026 Miss Basketball <strong>Gracyn Gilliard</strong> will be felt. From there, Bellmont played just one Senior a year ago, and they return nearly all of their production. 2028 twins <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1225040' first='Ashley' last='Bleke']</strong> (<em>13.5p, 4.8r, 2.7a</em>) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1228337' first='Mary' last='Bleke']</strong> (<em>13.3p, 6.8r</em>) give the Lady Braves a combination of strength, size, and skill inside and out. Both have drawn Division I interest/offers this offseason. Additionally, Senior guards <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='751092' first='Lanie' last='French']</strong> (<em>8.9p, 2.1r</em>) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='751084' first='Kate' last='Kitson']</strong> (<em>4.3p, 2.6r, 2.5a</em>), plus Junior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1824371' first='Onalee' last='Krueckeberg']</strong> (<em>7.8p, 2.0r</em>), return skill, feistiness, and a great deal of experience to the backcourt. From there, 5-8 Junior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1231643' first='Kaitlyn' last='Barton']</strong> (<em>6.3p, 2.4r</em>) and 6-0 Junior front-liner <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1231233' first='Hadley' last='Caffee']</strong> (<em>2.8p, 3.1r</em>) are capable of starting as well, but for the Lady Braves they offer significant production in reserve roles.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><font size="+2">Could Northridge be the top Class 4A team in the North?</font></strong><br>Based on last year's end of season Sagarin ratings, there is a very good chance this could happen. The unknown will be what happens with Homestead. The Spartans graduated a lot, but Senior wing <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='751059' first='Eva' last='Scarbeary']</strong> has been lights out this Spring &amp; Summer, plus their 2028 class is loaded, even with 6-2 wing <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='888190' first='Suzy' last='Perego']</strong> unfortunately out injured. Juniors <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='902152' first='Delaney' last='Noll']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='990956' first='Agnes' last='Bell']</strong>, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='933384' first='Leah' last='Werth']</strong> all have talent, skill, and experience, while 6-1 Sophomore forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1263977' first='Malia' last='Williams']</strong> has been playing extremely well also. However, the Lady Raiders of Northridge have a lot going for them. First, they are a system program and often win games because their kids have been doing system things for years. Second, they return Indiana Junior All-Star <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='834963' first='Lily' last='Scholl']</strong> (<em>18.3p, 7.0r, 3.3a</em>) on the wing for one last run, and she was incredible down the stretch last season. Senior wing <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1228391' first='Allison' last='Ambers']</strong> (<em>12.5p, 5.3r, 2.5a</em>) and Senior forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1006209' first='Zoe' last='Yeater']</strong> (<em>9.9p, 4.9r</em>) are also back and extremely experienced. Northridge also welcomes two newcomers for the 2026-2027 in Senior wing <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='747044' first='Reagan' last='Huss']</strong> (<em>6.3p, 3.6r</em>) and Senior point guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='834926' first='Averi' last='Amstutz']</strong> (<em>13.7p, 5.9r, 3.9a</em>). Huss was actually a Lady Raider her Freshman and Sophomore years, but she transferred to Warsaw last year and has returned for her final season. Amstutz followed her father from East Noble, as he accepted a coaching position at Northridge. She was outstanding in May, June, and July. Other than Homestead, look for Penn, Fort Wayne Snider, Crown Point, and maybe Chesterton to be top opponents for Northridge in the North in Class 4A.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->