Midseason Review: Class 3A

As we approach the new calendar year, I wanted to take the time to highlight a few storylines that have begun to develop throughout the first half of the 2018-2019 high school season. Below are a handful of items in Class 3A that I thought stood out to me so far this season. Class 1A posted last night and Class 2A posted earlier today, while Class 4A will follow later this weekend.   CALLING ANYONE FROM INDIANA… [caption id="attachment_22228" align="alignright" width="217"] Madison Layden of Northwestern[/caption] It’s been nearly two calendar years since anyone from the state of Indiana has defeated the Northwestern Lady Tigers. In fact, their last loss to an Indiana team came in the Regional Final, February 11th, 2017, at the hands of now Class 4A South Bend Saint Joseph. Since then they are 42-3, with all of their losses coming at the hands of Kentucky and Ohio teams. Yesterday in the Hall of Fame Tournament, they disposed of perennial Class 4A powers Bedford North Lawrence (63-49) and Homestead (49-29). The Junior duo of Wing Madison Layden and Kendall Bostic is quite the handful for all challengers. Layden really had it going yesterday, burying deep balls with ease. They do still have Oak Hill and West Lafayette Harrison coming up, before their prime matchup with Class 4A #1 Indianapolis North Central at Banker’s Life Fieldhouse on January 19th. Can the Panthers be the team, or will the Tigers continue to enforce their will and repeat as Class 3A State Champs with an undefeated record versus Hoosier state opposition?   VETERAN LEADERSHIP In Class 3A, a veteran core returning for Mishawaka Marian has them off to their best start (16-1) this century, narrowly eclipsing the 15-3 start they began last season with. Senior Forwards Makayla Weaver and Anija Payne, along with Senior Point Guard Kiya Roby, have helped lead this group due to their years of Varsity experience. Add to that Junior Post Christina Himelick and Junior Guard Jaiden Rangel, and they are primed for a deep tournament run this season. Newcomers McKenzie Hudgen, a Sophomore Guard transfer from John Glenn, and Payton Rangel, a Freshman Guard, and they round out a quality rotation. Hudgen is their third leading scorer right now at 12.4 points per game, but she leads them in steals with 4.6 per game (to only 2.2 turnovers per game). The Knights’ only loss came at Class 4A Top-10 Penn, while they have already knocked off quality opponents in Plymouth, John Glenn, Lake Central, LaPorte, and others. They now face the toughest stretch of the season, with four of their final six games coming against South Bend Saint Joseph, NorthWood, Bremen, and Elkhart Central.   THE MORE THINGS CHANGE, THE MORE THEY STAY THE SAME Game after game, month after month, and year after year, the Fort Wayne Concordia Lutheran Cadets are always in contention for whatever championship they are chasing. Since the turn of the century, they have won 11 Sectional titles, they have won two State Championships, and nine times they have won 18 or more games in a season. With a handful of graduation losses who took a great deal of experience with them, plus a preseason injury to 6-1 Sophomore Post Chanteese Craig, this year looked like it might be much more challenging from the outset, but they have managed to pound out a 12-3 record to this point. Senior Point Guard Carissa Garcia has been fantastic, as she can contribute in a variety of ways. She’s a big-time shooting / scoring threat, she can facilitate as well, and she’s extremely tough at the defensive end of the floor. Senior Forward Nautica Rogers has stepped up in a big way as well, providing an athletic frontline option. Sophomores Meg Barkley, C.C Calloway, and Chastity Craig have also given them quality minutes. The three losses have come to traditional powers Homestead, Norwell, and Fort Wayne South Side. I’d expect to see Concordia contend for the Sectional title once again, and they should be right around that 18-win mark, if not surpass it.   GRACE US WITH YOUR PRESENCE [caption id="attachment_12007" align="alignright" width="200"] Grace Hunter of Bellmont[/caption] In the four seasons prior to Senior Wing Grace Hunter’s arrival at Bellmont High School, the Squaws won a grand total of 14 games, including an 0-21 season. Throughout her 3 ½ seasons on the roster, they have won 57 games, and look to exceed the 60-win plateau over her 4-year career. After missing out on the Junior All-Star Team a year ago, she has come back on a mission, and is in prime position to be considered for the Indiana All-Star Team this time around. But the Northern Illinois commit is getting more help this season than ever before. Bellmont (13-1 so far this season) is also getting solid play from Juniors Meghan Busick, Kenzie McMahon, and Emma Keane, plus nice contributions from Sophomore Morgan Shifferly. Their lone loss came in the second game of the year to a tough Fort Wayne Concordia Lutheran, and since then they have knocked off quality opponents like Jay County, Mississinewa, and Fort Wayne South Side. They do still have matchups with Columbia City, Norwell, and Angola left on the docket.   EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS After graduation a Senior class that included Kyra Whitaker (1611 points, 305 assists), Bailey Meyer (807 points), Ashlynn Meyer (400 points), Rhegan Day (604 points), and Kiersten Lynette (359 points), all four-year Varsity letter-winners, the Greensburg Pirates were definitely entering the year with a lot of uncertainty as to how this season might play itself out. Well, they are off to a 12-4 start, with three of their four losses coming at the hands of Class 4A schools. Along the way they themselves have knocked off quality programs like Jac-Cen-Del, Franklin Community, Seymour, and South Ripley. The key catalysts this season are Junior Forward Aliyah Evans, Junior Guard Micah Morrison, Sophomore Point Guard Taylor Cooney, Sophomore Guard Melina Wilkison, and Sophomore Post Anna West. Will they make it to the State Finals for a second consecutive year? That still might be a lofty expectation at this point, however they are definitely a group to consider as a candidate in Southern Indiana this year, not to mention they do have state tournament experience on their roster and have played in big moments.   Header photo of Carissa Garcia of Fort Wayne's Concordia Lutheran High School; photo courtesy of www.journalgazette.net. Photo of Madison Layden courtesy of the Indiana Flight Twitter account. Photo of Grace Hunter courtesy of www.news-sentinel.com.