2025-26 Season Preview: Class 3A, Sectional 29

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"small"} --> <p class="has-small-font-size"><em>The featured image is of [player_tooltip player_id='743641' first='Kaylin' last='Kathmann'] (2027) from Batesville High School.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Now that the previews for Classes 1A and 2A are complete, it's time to finish up Class 3A. These should be completed by the end of the week, as the season is in its third week, and 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 3A, Sectional #29. 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 #29 at Franklin County</font></strong><br>Greensburg (27-1), SAG 11, SOS 55<br>Jennings County (15-8), SAG 61, SOS 33<br>Batesville (16-9), SAG 70, SOS 113<br>Lawrenceburg (12-9), SAG 106, SOS 115<br>Franklin County (11-12), SAG 150, SOS 134<br>South Dearborn (6-17), SAG 295, SOS 155</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Greensburg is the defending Class 3A State Runner-Up, and while they did lose three core players to graduation, including two NCAA Division I signees who each averaged 15.5 points per game, they still return a wealth of talent and will be a highly competitive team once again in 2025-2026. 5-11 Junior forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='751051' first='Claire' last='Larrison']</strong> (<em>16.5p, 7.7r, 3.4a, 2.1s</em>) was the team's leading scorer and rebounder a year ago, and she possesses great versatility. She has the skill and athleticism to play around the perimeter like a point forward or a shooting guard, but she also has the size, strength, and motor to effectively play in the mid-post. 5-10 Senior wing <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='479613' first='Alyson' last='Powers']</strong> (<em>9.9p, 3.4r, 3.7a 1.8s</em>) is a legit talent and scoring threat, and she is a nice playmaker off the dribble. She could have a bit of a breakout season statistically as a Senior. 5-8 Senior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='486506' first='Mary' last='Harmon']</strong> (<em>6.1p, 2.5r, 3.0a, 1.4s</em>) is another really nice player/prospect who could have a breakout year. She is tough-nosed, strong with the ball, and very cerebral on the court. 5-6 Senior wing <strong>Emma Kuntz</strong> (<em>1.5p, 1.9r</em>) is another Senior looking to make more of a mark in her final season for the Pirates. Greensburg also has some really nice younger prospects as well. 5-9 Sophomore guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='999393' first='Kahlen' last='Adams']</strong> (<em>1.4p</em>) and 6-2 Sophomore post <strong>Maisyn Meehan</strong> saw a little action as rookies last year, and both look to contribute quite a bit more this go-round. 5-8 Freshman guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1263936' first='Sophie' last='Buening']</strong> put together a nice June with the Varsity team, and she has the look of being a future star for the Pirates, while fellow Freshman <strong>Lulu Webb</strong>, a 5-11 forward, could also see the floor sooner rather than later. There will be speedbumps with players filling new and/or different roles, but watch out for the Pirates come February.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Despite graduating a 2024 Miss Basketball candidate, the 2024-2025 Jennings County Panthers managed a solid 15-8 season, and this year they return their top two players from that squad, including Indiana Junior All-Star <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='486508' first='Mollie' last='Ernstes']</strong> (<em>22.1p, 6.3r, 2.7a, 2.5s, 1.1b</em>), now a Senior. The 5-11 guard is long, smooth, and highly skilled. She can handle it and create offense, plus she is a very smooth shooter who can knock down contested jumpers with consistency. 5-10 Junior wing <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='751058' first='Etta' last='Young']</strong> (<em>10.7p, 6.7r, 2.7a, 1.5s</em>) looked strong throughout the June school ball period. She is a balanced athlete, and she can create a little or make shots at all three levels. Senior wing <strong>Riley Byford</strong> (<em>7.0p, 4.0r, 1.1a, 1.0s</em>) expanded her game as a Junior, and she could take another step as a Senior this year. 5-7 Senior guard <strong>Addiston Grunden</strong> (<em>0.9p, 1.2r</em>) and 5-5 Sophomore guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='992689' first='Aniston' last='Kent']</strong> (<em>0.7p in 15 games</em>) each possess limited experience, but both should be ready to step into much bigger roles in 2025-2026. If the undersized Panthers can find a little rebounding and interior defense, plus support Ernstes offensively, they should again be in contention for the Sectional #29 title.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last season, the Batesville Bulldogs were a mixture of a strong 2025 class and an up-and-coming 2027 class. Now, that Sophomore class has lost a few members as well, so the Bulldogs must surround what's remaining in 2027 with several newcomers. Fortunately, those newbies bring their own talent to the table. 5-8 Junior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='743641' first='Kaylin' last='Kathmann']</strong> (<em>6.4p, 1.5r, 2.7a, 1.6s</em>) and 5-4 Junior guard <strong>Nora Wiedeman</strong> (<em>2.9p, 1.8r, 1.4a, 1.1s</em>) are the most experienced of the returnees. Kathmann could become a go-to player. Over the Summer, she was great with the ball, making plays for her grassroots teammates, plus she showed the ability to be a high-level defender. 5-10 Sophomore wing <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='999402' first='Molly' last='Gesell']</strong> (<em>1.8p, 1.9r</em>) saw a little action as a rookie, but she has nice length, fluid athleticism, and skill at all three levels. Look for her to step up quite a bit. Other Sophomores who could see a tremendous uptick in action are 5-10 forward <strong>Maggie Jelinek</strong> (<em>0.3p in 4 games</em>), 5-9 forward <strong>Leah Meyer</strong>, 5-6 guard <strong>Jersey Trenkamp</strong>, plus 5-11 post <strong>Jersey Dirkhising</strong>. Jelinek has breakout potential. She is a nice inside-out forward who plays with athleticism and a great motor. Meyer could also start, as she is a physical interior player who likes to rebound and defend. While the Bulldogs are young, they don't possess a Senior, so I would expect several ladies to get a look early this season. That experience will build for the future, no doubt, but they could also hang around when Sectional play comes about in February.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Additional Players to Keep an Eye On:</strong> Franklin County: 5-11 Senior forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1038868' first='Ruby' last='Singer']</strong> (<em>14.7p, 9.1r</em>), 5-6 Senior guard <strong>Kendall Cox</strong> (<em>5.5p, 1.9r, 1.5a, 1.0s</em>), and 5-8 Freshman wing <strong>Kodie Cox</strong>; Lawrenceburg: 5-4 Senior point guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='624878' first='Aubree' last='LaBazzo']</strong> (<em>9.5p, 3.0r, 3.5a, 3.4s</em>), 6-0 Senior post <strong>Alahna Beinkemper</strong> (<em>6.0p, 7.5r</em>), and 5-6 Freshman wing <strong>Aubree White</strong>; South Dearborn: 5-9 Junior forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1351124' first='Claire' last='Elliott']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->