2025-26 Season Preview: Class 1A, Sectional 60

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I've always enjoyed offering preseason coverage of each of the 64 Sectionals in Indiana high school basketball, and last year I felt like I got a little behind and didn't finish with the previews until after Thanksgiving. With that said, as we come up on October, I wanted to get out in front of it this year and offer you a glimpse at what the 2025-26 season could hold with a preview of each of the state's 64 Sectionals once again. 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 many previewing each Sectional in the state. In this specific article, I will take a look at Class 1A, Sectional #60. 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 #60 at Jac-Cen-Del</font></strong><br>Oldenburg Academy (21-5), SAG 148, SOS 255<br>Trinity Lutheran (14-12), SAG 174, SOS 198<br>Shawe Memorial (9-13), SAG 262, SOS 263<br>Jac-Cen-Del (8-16), SAG 299, SOS 199<br>Rising Sun (5-18), SAG 320, SOS 308<br>Hauser (10-14), SAG 326, SOS 367<br>Milan (3-18), SAG 350, SOS 321<br>Crothersville (4-18), SAG 384, SOS 334</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Oldenburg Academy had a really nice year in 2024-2025, and they look to replicate that effort this year. With a trio of solid returnees up front, that could be very possible. Leading the charge for the Twisters is 6-0 Senior forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='761188' first='Rachel' last='Suttmann']</strong> (<em>10.8p, 6.9r, 2.1a, 2.1s, 1.8b</em>). She plays with size and strength, but she also has touch around the perimeter and the ability to put the ball on the floor. Joining Suttmann in the lineup are 5-9 Senior forward <strong>Norah Haverkos</strong> and 6-0 Junior forward <strong>Ali Nobbe</strong>. Obviously, they have size and the ability to play inside, so finding quality guard play will be critical. 5-5 Junior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='899127' first='Gina' last='Grote']</strong> tops the backcourt returnees and is a playmaker in all regards. She should get help from 5-7 Junior guard <strong>Claire Niese</strong> and Sophomore guard <strong>Aubrey Baker</strong>. Following a dominant run through Sectional #60 last season, the Twisters will look to advance beyond the Regional round in 2025-2026.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It seems like every year Trinity Lutheran graduates key pieces, and this year is no different. But each time they bounce back with others stepping up and figure out ways to win. This season, they do return their top two scorers in 5-6 Junior point guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='751103' first='Marley' last='Warren']</strong> (<em>15.0p, 5.0r, 2.6a, 2.2s</em>) and 6-2 Sophomore forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1144623' first='Rachel' last='Bonde']</strong> (<em>8.7p, 9.0r, 1.3a, 1.0b</em>). Warren is a tough-nosed, feisty little guard with great skill, a good understanding of the game, and the ability to make plays for herself and others. Bonde should only continue to improve her production as she gets older. She is extremely long &amp; wiry, fairly athletic, and versatile up front. Continuing to add strength year to year will help her with the physicality inside and the consistency of her face-up game. 6-1 Senior post <strong>Bailey Bonde</strong> (<em>5.0p, 4.7r</em>) can play on the block alongside her sister and form a nice inside-out duo, while 5-6 Junior wing <strong>Emerson Warren</strong> (<em>3.1p, 1.8r</em>) can help around the perimeter. 5-6 Junior guard <strong>Zoey Dulaney</strong> (<em>2.5p, 1.3r, 1.4a</em>) is another backcourt member who could help round out the starting rotation. If those last three mentioned can get used to increased roles and up their production, the Cougars could again contend for a Sectional #60 crown.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Then there is Shawe Memorial, and it seems like each season they struggle through a major injury. Let's hope that's not the case this year. If they can stay healthy, the perimeter duo of 5-8 Senior wing <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='832676' first='Audrey' last='Barron']</strong> and 5-6 Senior point guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='761180' first='Hunter' last='Mote']</strong> should be plenty for opponents to handle most nights. Barron has gotten stronger and more physical, she plays with a motor, but she is a pure shooter who needs very little time or space to get her shot away. She could be a 20+ point per game kid this year. She is just crafty and works hard for everything. Mote is a creator with speed, quickness, and the ability to see plays in advance. If she can return this year to even close to what she was before, she will be an absolute difference maker for the Hilltoppers. Depth could be Shawe's issue this season, but look for Senior forward <strong>Jamison Williams</strong> and Sophomore guard <strong>Arleen Perez</strong> to potentially fill roles in the rotation for this Hilltopper team in 2025-2026.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Additional Players to Keep an Eye On:</strong> Crothersville: 5-11 Junior forward <strong>Kendra Kelshaw</strong> (<em>5.8p, 5.1r</em>) and 5-3 Sophomore guard <strong>Rayleigh Lewis</strong> (<em>4.1p, 2.6r, 1.1a, 1.2s</em>); Hauser: 5-10 Junior forward <strong>June Berkenstock</strong> (<em>7.6p, 7.3r, 1.0s</em>) and 5-5 Junior guard <strong>Abby Manley</strong> (<em>5.5p, 2.4r, 2.0a</em>); Jac-Cen-Del: 5-4 Senior guard <strong>Brooklyn Simon</strong> (<em>8.0p, 3.3r, 1.4a, 1.3s</em>) and 5-3 Senior point guard <strong>Cheyenne Cullen</strong> (<em>7.0p, 3.0r, 2.7a, 1.2s</em>); Milan: Senior guard <strong>Tryniti Reed</strong> (<em>3.4p, 3.2r, 2.2a, 2.0s</em>) and 5-10 Sophomore post <strong>Caroline McMillan</strong> (<em>2.3p, 2.5r</em>); Rising Sun: Senior guard <strong>Jaylen Peelman</strong> (<em>11.0p, 4.5r, 1.8a, 1.5s</em>) and Senior wing <strong>Carrigan Friend</strong> (<em>9.6p, 4.1r, 1.1a, 1.3s</em>)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->