2025-26 Season Preview: Class 2A, Sectional 35

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Now that Class 1A has been previewed and is posted online, it's time to turn our attention to Class 2A. With official IHSAA practices starting next week, I wanted to continue offering 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 64 previewing each Sectional in the state. In this specific article, I will take a look at Class 2A, Sectional #35. 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 #35 at Lakeland</font></strong><br>Eastside (27-2), SAG 47, SOS 164<br>Central Noble (13-11), SAG 176, SOS 149<br>Westview (11-12), SAG 210, SOS 254<br>Churubusco (8-16), SAG 257, SOS 208<br>Prairie Heights (7-17), SAG 268, SOS 187<br>Lakeland (6-17), SAG 280, SOS 193</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Eastside Blazers put together a fantastic 2024-2025 campaign, finishing with 27 wins and making it to the Semi-State. At the same time, they had to say "goodbye" to several quality 2025 graduates, including three double-digit scorers. While there could be several new faces impacting the roster this season, the Blazers can still compete for a Sectional #35 title, if they lock in, take care of the basketball, and 5-10 Junior forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='751125' first='Taylor' last='Mack']</strong> consistently reaches the potential she has flashed over the past 12-15 months. She is athletic, versatile, and skilled at all three levels, so she could play inside and average a double-double, or she can act as a perimeter threat and create offense...whatever they need most. Senior forward <strong>Adelaide Elden</strong> and Junior forward <strong>Rylan Moughler</strong> offer the Blazers some size in the paint, while 5-3 Junior point guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='945359' first='Lucy' last='Kitchen']</strong> provides experience around the perimeter. I don't think there is any question Eastside will at least post a winning record, but to approach 20 wins again, they'll need several ladies to step into much bigger roles immediately.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Central Noble Cougars seem to be a regular winner come tournament time, and while they did graduate several key role players, they do return a couple of the better talents in Sectional #35. 5-7 Senior guard/wing <strong>Abby Pliett</strong> (<em>10.1p, 4.9r, 1.6a, 1.0s</em>) and 6-0 Senior forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='832697' first='Grace' last='Swank']</strong> (<em>9.5p, 9.4r, 1.1a, 2.7b</em>) offer the Cougars a nice inside-out duo plus a great deal of experience. Pliett is one of those "jack-of-all-trades" type of wings, while Swank is an elite multisport athlete who can be a handful inside. 5-9 Junior guard/wing <strong>Kaydintz Bales</strong> (<em>7.2p, 4.2r, 1.0a, 1.0s</em>) really stepped up as a Sophomore and showed her potential. She could become a double-digit scorer for Central Noble this season. After those three, the experience does taper a bit, however, 5-10 Sophomore wing <strong>Jaylee Slone</strong> (<em>1.6p, 1.6r</em>) saw action in 20 games, and 5-4 Sophomore guard <strong>Kaitlyn Tilley</strong> (<em>0.2p</em>) saw action in 22 games. They look to be the front-runners for early opportunity this season. The Cougars are always scrappy, so if they can surround their Seniors with solid defense and make hustle plays, they'll be a problem come Sectional time.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After winning consecutive Sectional titles from 2013 through 2016, the Westview Warriors are trying to stop a decade from going by without one. Four of their top five scorers from a season ago, and six of their top eight, are eligible to return, so the Warriors very well could step to the forefront in 2025-2026. 5-10 Senior forward <strong>Bre Cory</strong> (<em>8.0p, 4.8r, 1.0s</em>) steps into the spotlight this year and looks to lead the squad, having already logged a great deal of experience. 5-5 Senior guard <strong>Janissa Lehman</strong> (<em>7.5p, 6.5r, 2.4a, 1.6s</em>), 5-2 Junior point guard <strong>Olivia Bontrager</strong> (<em>5.7p, 1.8r, 3.4a, 2.3s</em>), and 5-7 Senior wing <strong>J.J. Whetstone</strong> (<em>5.7p, 2.9r, 1.2a</em>) have each seen their share of starts throughout their careers, so the program is in good hands. 6-1 Senior post <strong>Maddie Grossman</strong> (<em>1.4p, 1.8r</em>) and Sophomore sister <strong>Morgan Grossman</strong> (<em>0.7p</em>) have played sparingly in the past, but now they offer a significant presence in the paint and allow Cory to move around the floor. Again, the Warriors have as much depth as anyone in this field, but now they'll need to prove they can consistently produce each night.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Additional Players to Keep an Eye On:</strong> Churubusco: Senior guard <strong>Patty Wiggs</strong> (<em>7.5p, 5.3r, 2.0a, 2.6s</em>) and 5-7 Junior forward <strong>Aleasia Johnson</strong> (<em>2.2p, 2.3r</em>); Lakeland: 5-3 Senior point guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1256438' first='Dulce' last='Canedo']</strong> (<em>11.7p, 3.2r, 2.4a, 1.5a</em>) and 5-6 Junior wing <strong>Zoey Bowman</strong> (<em>9.5p, 7.7r, 2.5a, 2.3s</em>); Prairie Heights: 5-11 Sophomore forward/post <strong>Avery Certain</strong> (<em>6.5p, 5.8r, 1.1s</em>) and 5-6 Junior point guard <strong>Bailee Godsey</strong> (<em>5.3p, 2.8r, 2.4a, 1.5s</em>)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->