Class 1A Season Preview: Sectionals #61-#64

The beginning of the high school season is right around the corner, as we are just two weeks away from the first official games. With that in mind, I wanted to begin our thorough preview of the 2019-2020 season. I will wrap up Class 1A by taking a look at the second South Regional, which incorporates the winners of Sectionals #61 through #64. Below is a look at the teams in each of those Sectionals, along with some general comments and analysis. I will continue previewing the upcoming season over the next couple of weeks, with my final preview articles likely posting the first week of games.   (SAG = Final 2018-2019 Multiclass Sagarin Rating (403 teams); SOS = Final 2018-2019 Strength of Schedule)   Sectional #61 Lanesville (18-7) SAG 211; SOS 353 New Washington (12-12) SAG 229; SOS 288 South Central-Elizabeth (4-18) SAG 336; SOS 232 Borden (9-16) SAG 357; SOS 377 Rock Creek Academy (4-19) SAG 377; SOS 357 Christian Academy (2-18) SAG 379; SOS 345 Lanesville is building into a Class 2A power in Southern Indiana right now. Last season they were your Sectional Champions here, and they did so playing just one Senior and one Junior, neither of whom played much more than six minutes on average. A strong 2021 class and a solid 2022 class have them looking like the team to beat the next couple of seasons, at least. Junior forward Gracie Adams (16.1 ppg, 9.6 rpg, 3.1 apg, 4.4 spg) is their star right now, and she can handle and score on the wing or play physical inside. Classmates Danielle Haire (8.0 ppg, 4.4 rpg), Georgia Brumley (6.1 ppg, 3.4 apg, 2.2 spg), and Elizabeth Turner (6.0 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 2.8 apg, 2.0 spg) have also started a lot of games. Haire is a forward, while Brumley and Turner man the backcourt. Additionally, forward Kennedy Gordon (4.6 ppg, 3.3 rpg) and wing Austin Crosier (3.2 ppg, 2.1 rpg) saw a lot of opportunity last year as Freshmen. Look for forward Linzie Wernert, a Freshman this season, to possibly make an impact as well. The biggest threat to Lanesville’s success right now is likely New Washington. They have been hovering right around the .500 mark each of the last three seasons, but they have also been tough to beat. This year, however, they must do so without guard Hope Griffith and forward Madison Fields, both of whom were key starters a season ago. There is good news for the Mustangs, though, as wing Makynsie Barger does return. She has been their leading scorer and rebounder the last couple of seasons. Also returning to the lineup are Senior guard Taylor James and Senior point guard Mackenzie Krouse. They will need others to step up, and that could come in the form of Sophomore perimeter players Grace Ellison and Megan Snelling seeing more opportunity in year-2. South Central graduated three double-digit scorers in 2018, so last season they saw several players pick up much bigger roles. This year they only play without graduated forward Jenna Baelz (5.9 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 1.7 bpg), so they should increase their win total in 2019-2020. Junior guard Brooklyn Lewis (6.6 ppg, 2.2 rpg) stepped up to lead them in scoring, and Senior forward Marie Goodwin (6.3 ppg, 2.9 rpg) also increased her production. Borden graduated a couple of their key role players, but they return their top four scorers, including Sophomore guard Christina Knight (12.0 ppg, 3.2 rpg). Look for her to step it up even more this time around. Junior wing Grace Hall (5.4 ppg, 3.7 rpg), Junior point guard Kayde Faulkenburg (4.5 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 2.5 apg), and Senior forward Dayton Nale (4.2 ppg, 4.6 rpg) should also improve their numbers this season. Rock Creek must replace high-scoring graduate Abbey Guidry (23.6 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 2.0 apg, 2.5 spg). Junior wing Leah Thompson (7.8 ppg, 5.7 rpg) could step up to be their focal point this season. And Christian Academy is still trying to deal with the statistical loss of 2018 graduate Alli Stumler.   Sectional #62 West Washington (17-10) SAG 204; SOS 299 Trinity Lutheran (17-10) SAG 212; SOS 270 Edinburgh (8-16) SAG 248; SOS 279 Crothersville (12-12) SAG 276; SOS 352 Shawe Memorial (5-18) SAG 358; SOS 311 Medora (0-19) SAG 400; SOS 390 I won’t go as far as to say West Washington surprised some people by knocking off Trinity Lutheran for the Sectional title last year, but I do think their 24-point win was eye-opening. While forward Maddie Bowsman (10.5 ppg, 8.9 rpg) and guard Hattie Griffits (7.5 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 2.8 apg) did graduate, the Senators still return a lot of their core. Senior forward Kassidy Keltner (11.6 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 2.8 spg) and Junior guard Sara Stice (11.6 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 2.0 apg) actually co-led West Washington in scoring. Senior guard Rian Russell (9.8 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 4.3 apg, 2.4 spg) is another perimeter threat who can make shots outside. Junior guard Lexi Griffitts (3.6 ppg) and Junior forward Gracie Ables (2.5 rpg) will have their opportunity to plug into the starting lineup this season. If anyone from a solid Sophomore class can step up, they could again be the team to beat in Sectional #62. On paper, Trinity Lutheran looks about as impressive as anyone in Class 1A. They have good size, skill, and ability. Forward Savannah Harweger (13.4 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 2.7 apg) and guard Maddie Bell (3.0 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 2.4 apg) did graduate, but there is plenty here to make a deep tournament run. The player drawing the most preseason press is Junior front-liner Sydney Jaynes (14.2 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 3.2 apg, 3.9 bpg). At 6’2-6’3, she is very versatile, she at times even brings the ball up the floor for them, and she has picked up a number of Division-I offers over the last six months. Senior forward Hannah Sabotin (9.9 ppg, 10.6 rpg) made major strides last season and was a force at times on the interior. Sophomores Kailene Cockerham (4.8 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 2.1 apg) and Emma Schepman (2.1 ppg, 3.5 rpg) also saw solid playing time as Freshmen last season. A wildcard here could be newcomer Bailey Tabeling, an athletic Freshman guard who can really shoot it. Freshman forward Maddy Hackman could also find the floor early in her career. Edinburgh struggled down the stretch last season, winning just one of their last nine games, but they do return a great deal of production, with fourth-leading scorer Sidney Beier (9.1 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 2.0 apg) being the only graduate. Senior guard Destiney Ramey (17.2 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 2.3 apg, 2.3 spg) returns as the Lancers’ big offensive threat. Junior guard Annelise Lollar (9.4 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 2.0 apg, 2.1 spg), Senior guard Haven Link (9.3 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 3.1 apg), Sophomore guard Alyssa Funkhouser (4.0 ppg, 3.2 rpg), and Senior forward Kaylia Kelley (3.4 ppg, 2.9 rpg) all return to form the core of Edinburgh’s rotation. Crothersville could have its ups & downs this year, as Piper Hensley (14.5 ppg, 3.3 rpg), Maddie Riley (10.1 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 4.0 apg, 2.1 spg), and Nihna Burton (6.4 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 3.2 spg) all left via the diploma. The focus for them now turns to Senior guard Makayla Helt (6.7 ppg, 2.5 rpg) and Senior forward Makinzee Isley (6.6 ppg, 7.4 rpg). Junior guard Grace Wilson (4.0 ppg, 2.1 rpg) and Senior post Rebekah Cook (3.4 ppg, 6.5 rpg) should see their roles increases significantly as well. Shawe Memorial and Medora will continue to work to improve this season.   Sectional #63 Loogootee (21-4) SAG 120; SOS 252 Orleans (15-9) SAG 220; SOS 309 Barr-Reeve (7-14) SAG 226; SOS 204 North Daviess (6-19) SAG 338; SOS 254 Shoals (3-19) SAG 368; SOS 281 Washington Catholic (1-20) SAG 385; SOS 350 With Vincennes Rivet moving to Class 2A due to their tournament success, this Sectional now looks like it could favor Loogootee. The Lions had a strong season in 2018-2019, and while they must deal with the graduation loss of Tyanna Graber and Sydney Davis, both guards, they still have one of the better backcourts in Class 1A. Junior point guard Kalea Fleming took big strides this Spring & Summer, as she has become one of the better point guards in the state. Junior wing Brooklyn Jones is a really nice athlete who can play on or off the ball. She had a nice showing at our Top 250 Expo a couple of weeks ago. Junior forward Makenzie Vanhoy and Senior front-liner Chelsie Sutton provide experienced frontcourt depth in the lineup. Those four are all solid, so if the Lions can get anyone else to step up and add depth, they should be a top team in Class 1A all season. Orleans had a nice bounce-back season a year ago, and they only graduated two players, Audrey Elrod (6.1 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 2.1 apg) and Sydnee Moon (4.1 ppg, 2.7 rpg), from that squad. Returning to the lineup are their top two scorers in Junior wing Sheridan Robbins (14.4 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 2.0 apg) and Junior post Hailee Powell (8.8 ppg, 7.1 rpg). Senior wing Jacqulin Gerkin (4.7 ppg, 4.0 rpg), Junior post Lily Pridemore (4.0 ppg, 2.5 rpg), and Junior guard Payton Blanton (3.7 ppg, 2.5 rpg) were all a big part of the rotation last year. If the Bulldogs can get bigger contributions from Sophomore guards Lily Saliba (2.3 ppg in 15 games) or Brooklyn Underwood (2.2 ppg in 5 games), or if others step up, they could be the deepest team in Sectional #63. Barr-Reeve has struggled through a couple of down years, but they play a tough Class 1A schedule. This year they’ll have to deal with the graduation loss of post Rachel Wilson. They do have some younger players with good experience, so if Senior guard Moriah Bullock, Senior guard Melissa Wagler, and Junior guard Tracy Stoll can control tempo early in the season, they could cause some problems come tournament time. Sophomore guard Jennica Helms is someone who could step up this season for the Vikings. Other top players in Sectional #63 include Junior wing Hayley Beuhler of North Daviess, Senior forward Maggie Shaw of Shoals, and Junior guard Ally Cline (8.4 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 2.3 spg) of Washington Catholic.   Sectional #64 Tecumseh (19-6) SAG 147; SOS 238 Springs Valley (17-8) SAG 208; SOS 297 Wood Memorial (13-11) SAG 215; SOS 239 Northeast Dubois (5-18) SAG 307; SOS 207 Cannelton (6-18) SAG 374; SOS 385 Sectional #64 has typically been one of the most competitive Sectionals in the state, and last year Tecumseh came and took it from everyone else, winning an impressive 19 games behind the play of a Freshman. Now-Sophomore forward Kaybree Oxley (16.7 ppg, 9.0 rpg, 2.6 apg, 5.3 spg) is a solid athlete who can play inside or out effectively…she is a matchup nightmare for opposing coaches. Senior forward Chloe Holder (13.5 ppg, 7.1 rpg) returns as the second leading scorer and rebounder, solidifying the frontcourt. Junior guard Gracee Sullivan (6.3 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 2.3 apg) will likely assume more point guard duties this season, while Senior guard Layne Pemberton (3.5 ppg) also returns with some experience. The Lady Braves must overcome the loss of wing Dalina Meyer (9.0 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 3.4 apg, 2.5 spg) and forward Kaitlyn Helfert (7.5 ppg), who both graduated, but they do have some solid candidates for depth this year. Sophomore forwards Katelyn MacDonald (2.8 ppg, 2.9 rpg) and Morgan Wilson (2.6 ppg) played in a handful of games, and Wilson was great when I saw her this Fall in the Pocket City League. Also, Senior guard Ella Green (2.3 ppg) should carve out a much bigger role in the backcourt this season. Springs Valley also put together a nice season in 2018-2019, riding the coattails of now-Senior post Jewel McCormick (21.2 ppg, 8.6 rpg). She is back to dominate the paint once again, but she’ll need help from Junior post Shakira Harford. On the perimeter, Ellison Burton is an athletic and versatile Senior guard who should be able to help, but overcoming the graduation of forward Stevie McNew and point guard Leah Punturi could prove to be terribly difficult. 2017 Class 1A State Champion Wood Memorial is working to get back to glory, so I wouldn’t put it past them to compete for the Sectional this season. Guard Chloe Mowery and forward Adison Stone did graduate, but Junior post Peyton Shoultz has begun to prove herself as one of Southwest Indiana’s better small school bigs. Additionally, Junior guard Madison Frederick, Senior forward Sydney Lamar, and Senior forward Kylie Hicks all bring back experience and production. Northeast Dubois was the Sectional Champion in 2018, but last year they struggled through major graduation losses. This season, however, they return everyone and could turn into a spoiler come tournament time. Senior guard Madison Cave (13.4 ppg, 2.3 rpg) was the one player who stood out. Sophomore wing Hadley Fuhrman (8.1 ppg, 4.4 rpg) put together a nice rookie season, and she’ll look to expand upon that this year. Junior point guard Jazlyn Sander (4.2 ppg, 2.7 rpg) should have a much-improved season this time around as well. At a school with around 80 students, it has been a real struggle for Cannelton to get big turnout. On top of that, the Bulldogs graduated their top three scorers. The biggest loss will be that of post Caressa Sloss (16.9 ppg, 13.8 rpg, 2.8 spg, 2.4 bpg). However, if there is any hope of success, it comes by way of 6’1 Freshman post Kendall Hale, who could end up being more impactful than Sloss long-term.   Feature image is of Brooklyn Jones of Loogootee High School. Photo is courtesy of the Loogootee basketball team's Hudl account.