State Tourney Preview: Sectionals #49-#52
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The featured image is of Allison Capouch Allison Capouch 5'11" | SF Kouts | 2023 State IN (2023) of Kouts High School. The IHSAA Sectional draw took place last Sunday evening, so all of the 390+ schools participating in this…
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Continue ReadingThe featured image is of Allison Capouch Allison Capouch 5'11" | SF Kouts | 2023 State IN (2023) of Kouts High School.
The IHSAA Sectional draw took place last Sunday evening, so all of the 390+ schools participating in this year’s state tournament found out when they would be playing their first game, which will take place in just a matter of days. Below is a look at each of the Sectionals that will feed into the Caston Regional the following weekend. This includes the Class 1A teams from Sectionals #49-#52. Please stay tuned, as today and tomorrow we will conclude our quick synopses of each of the remaining Sectionals across class 1A.
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Sectional #49 at Kouts:
Game-1: DeMotte Christian (18-5) vs. Washington Township (16-6)
Game-2: Tri-Township (16-6) vs. Hammond Academy of Science & Technolgy (4-11)
Game-3: Morgan Township (14-7) vs. Winner Game-1
Game-4: Kouts (16-7) vs. Winner Game-2
Game-5: Winner Game-3 vs. Winner Game-4
Overview: Sectional #49 will be one of the most fun Class 1A Sectionals to watch this week. Aside from Hammond S&T, everyone else has won 14 or more games, they play solid schedules for Class 1A teams, and they are grouped somewhat closely together in the Sagarin Ratings. Kouts has the best record against Sectional #49 competition at 5-1, but they lost January 10th to Tri-Township, 37-36. The Fillies start four Seniors and a Junior, and they rarely substitute, plus they have a real weapon in Senior Allison Capouch Allison Capouch 5'11" | SF Kouts | 2023 State IN (21.2p, 6.1r, 2.5a, 2.3s). She can fill it up with deep range, or she can attack the basket and finish/draw free throw attempts. Senior Lauryn Koedyker (7.0p, 6.1r) missed all of last season with a knee injury, but she gives them a nice interior presence this year. Senior Emma Garavalia (6.7p, 5.5r, 2.9s) is a really nice athlete who can help in a variety of ways. Tri-Township is an outside-shooting team that can get on hot streaks and win/lose games from the perimeter. Juniors Miranda Wozniak Miranda Wozniak 5'7" | CG Tri-Township | 2024 IN and Addie Gorski can each play both backcourt positions. DeMotte Christian versus Washington Township in the opener will be an outstanding start to the week. DMC won the first matchup in November, but they are just 1-2 against all Sectional #49 opponents. Still, though, they have tremendous height and length for a Class 1A school, and their zone variations can frustrate opponents, plus Senior Skylar Bos Skylar Bos 6'0" | SF DeMotte Christian | 2023 State IN (19.3p, 3.9r, 5.8a, 3.7s) can provide an offensive outburst at any time. Washington Township has a trio of capable scorers in Sophomores Clair Klinger Clair Klinger 5'5" | CG Washington Township | 2025 IN (15.4p, 5.6r, 4.8a, 3.3s) and Gracie Little Gracie Little 5'7" | CG Washington Township | 2025 State IN (15.4p, 3.7r, 3.5a, 4.0s), plus Senior Addison Graf (14.5p, 4.7r, 2.7a, 2.6s). Also keep an eye on Morgan Township. Junior Peyton Honchar Peyton Honchar 5'11" | PF Morgan Township | 2024 IN (13.8p, 7.1r) is a tough matchup for anyone because she has frontline strength and perimeter skill. Senior Victoria Detraz Victoria Detraz 6'0" | C Morgan Township | 2023 IN (10.1p, 10.9r) is a real defensive presence in the paint as well.
Sectional #49 Players to Watch:
DeMotte Christian –
Skylar Bos
Skylar
Bos
6'0" | SF
DeMotte Christian | 2023
State
IN
, 2023 – 19.3p, 3.9r, 5.8a, 3.7s
DeMotte Christian –
Sophie Bakker
Sophie
Bakker
5'11" | SF
DeMotte Christian | 2025
IN
, 2025 – 13.5p, 6.1r, 2.1a, 2.3s
DeMotte Christian – Claire Bakker, 2025 – 7.5p, 9.5r, 2.2a
DeMotte Christian – Gabbi Zeilenga, 2023 – 6.5p, 9.1r, 2.5a
Hammond S&T – Priscilla Otero, 2025 – 14.4p, 3.6a, 2.1s
Hammond S&T – Leah Thomas, 2025 – 13.4p
Kouts –
Allison Capouch
Allison
Capouch
5'11" | SF
Kouts | 2023
State
IN
, 2023 – 21.2p, 6.1r, 2.5a, 2.3s
Kouts – Lauryn Koedyker, 2023 – 7.0p, 6.1r
Kouts – Emma Garavalia, 2023 – 6.7p, 5.5r, 2.9s
Kouts – Taylor Moyer, 2023 – 4.7p, 5.0r, 2.4a
Morgan Twp. –
Peyton Honchar
Peyton
Honchar
5'11" | PF
Morgan Township | 2024
IN
, 2024 – 13.8p, 7.1r
Morgan Twp. –
Victoria Detraz
Victoria
Detraz
6'0" | C
Morgan Township | 2023
IN
, 2023 – 10.1p, 10.9r
Morgan Twp. – Josie Lemmons, 2025 – 8.9p, 2.5r, 2.4s
Tri-Twp. –
Miranda Wozniak
Miranda
Wozniak
5'7" | CG
Tri-Township | 2024
IN
, 2024
Tri-Twp. – Addie Gorski, 2024
Washington Twp. –
Clair Klinger
Clair
Klinger
5'5" | CG
Washington Township | 2025
IN
, 2025 – 15.4p, 5.6r, 4.8a, 3.3s
Washington Twp. –
Gracie Little
Gracie
Little
5'7" | CG
Washington Township | 2025
State
IN
, 2025 – 15.4p, 3.7r, 3.5a, 4.0s
Washington Twp. – Addison Graf, 2023 – 14.5p, 4.7r, 2.7a, 2.6s
.
Sectional #50 at Culver Community:
Game-1: Marquette Catholic (13-8) vs. Oregon-Davis (7-15)
Game-2: Argos (10-12) vs. Culver Community (10-12)
Game-3: South Bend Trinity (3-17) vs. Westville (10-10)
Game-4: Triton (14-8) vs. Winner Game-1
Game-5: Winner Game-2 vs. Winner Game-3
Game-6: Winner Game-4 vs. Winner Game-5
Overview: In a field of seven teams, there are four who stand out to me. Triton began the year 7-1, suffered through a 1-5 stretch where they were decimated by injuries/illnesses, then finished winning six of eight games. All but one of their losses were to Class 3A/2A competition as well. The combination of Senior guard Kinsey Atkins Kinsey Atkins 5'3" | PG Triton | 2023 IN (10.8p, 4.8r, 3.5s) and 6-1 Junior post Addyson Viers Addyson Viers 6'1" | C Triton | 2024 IN (14.3p, 10.6r, 2.3b) will be a tough matchup for most teams in Sectional #50. Marquette Catholic might actually be the most talented team in this Sectional, and their presence this season will only make this group of teams stronger. Freshman Laniah Davis Laniah Davis 5'8" | SG Marquette Catholic | 2026 State IN (18.7p, 5.4r, 2.9s) is very athletic and explosive, and she can put up 30+ points at any moment. Sophomore Natalie Robinson Natalie Robinson 6'0" | PF Marquette Catholic | 2025 State IN (6.5p, 6.5r) will be one of the most athletic forwards in this group as well. If the Blazers can value possessions a little more than usual, they can beat anyone in Sectional #50 by double-figures. Argos and Culver matched up in a Sectional Semifinal a year ago, with Argos advancing as far as the Regional final even. But graduation took a significant piece of their puzzle. They are still going to be tough to knock off, as they possess strong and steady guard play, headlined by multisport talent Emma Dunlap, a Senior. Culver was somewhat young a season ago, and this year it has shown with more consistency. If they can get by Argos in Round-1, they can get to the Sectional Championship game this year.
Sectional #50 Players to Watch:
Argos – Emma Dunlap, 2023
Argos –
Samantha Redinger
Samantha
Redinger
5'7" | SF
Argos | 2024
State
IN
, 2024
Argos – Isabella Stults, 2023
Culver – Grace Sieber, 2024
Culver – Kaylee Hamilton, 2023
Marquette –
Laniah Davis
Laniah
Davis
5'8" | SG
Marquette Catholic | 2026
State
IN
, 2026 – 18.7p, 5.4r, 2.9s
Marquette –
Natalie Robinson
Natalie
Robinson
6'0" | PF
Marquette Catholic | 2025
State
IN
, 2025 – 6.5p, 6.5r
Marquette –
Jiselle Chabes
Jiselle
Chabes
5'6" | CG
Marquette Catholic | 2025
IN
, 2025 – 5.9p, 3.0r, 3.4a, 2.2s
Oregon-Davis – Mackenna Chessor, 2023
Oregon-Davis – Elizabeth Johnson, 2023
SB Trinity – Teresa Pingel, 2023 – 9.2p, 9.5r, 2.2s, 2.5b
Triton –
Addyson Viers
Addyson
Viers
6'1" | C
Triton | 2024
IN
, 2024 – 14.3p, 10.6r, 2.3b
Triton –
Kinsey Atkins
Kinsey
Atkins
5'3" | PG
Triton | 2023
IN
, 2023 – 10.8p, 4.8r, 3.5s
Triton – Jocelynn Faulkner, 2024 – 7.3p, 4.6r, 3.1a
Westville –
Andrea Benefield
Andrea
Benefield
6'0" | PF
Westville | 2025
State
IN
, 2025
Westville – Loreli Mallon, 2024
.
Sectional #51 at Blackhawk Christian:
Game-1: Lakewood Park Christian (8-13) vs. Hamilton Community (2-11)
Game-2: Blackhawk Christian (13-10) vs. Bethany Christian (19-3)
Game-3: Elkhart Christian (6-13) vs. Winner Game-1
Game-4: Winner Game-2 vs. Winner Game-3
Overview: Sectional #51 comes down to two teams…Bethany Christian and Blackhawk Christian. I hate for it to be that blunt, but it just is this year. Bethany Christian is looking for their third Sectional title, and just their second since 1998. The backcourt duo of Junior guards Zoe Willems Zoe Willems 5'7" | SG Bethany Christian | 2024 State IN (16.9p, 8.2r, 2.6a, 3.8s) and Mariah Stoltzfus Mariah Stoltzfus 5'2" | PG Bethany Christian | 2024 State IN (9.9p, 3.2r, 4.0a, 4.5s) is tough to beat. Not only do you have to match their skill and ability, but they also play with a tremendous amount of toughness and energy. You will absolutely have to take this title from them. Blackhawk Christian, on the other hand, has won five Sectional titles since 2015, including three in a row. They have a lot of postseason experience, but they did suffer a big 2022 graduation loss. Junior front-liner Allie Boyer Allie Boyer 6'2" | C Blackhawk Christian | 2024 IN gives them a skilled, sizeable presence who will be tough for anyone else in this field to match up with. If she can stay out of foul trouble and they can get her the ball most possessions, they can control a game from the inside. Also keep an eye on Lakewood Park Christian Sophomore Ava McGrade Ava McGrade 5'7" | SG Lakewood Park Christian | 2025 IN (15.6p, 5.0r, 2.2s), who has had a great second season for the Lady Panthers.
Sectional #51 Players to Watch:
Bethany –
Zoe Willems
Zoe
Willems
5'7" | SG
Bethany Christian | 2024
State
IN
, 2024 – 16.9p, 8.2r, 2.6a, 3.8s
Bethany –
Mariah Stoltzfus
Mariah
Stoltzfus
5'2" | PG
Bethany Christian | 2024
State
IN
, 2024 – 9.9p, 3.2r, 4.0a, 4.5s
Bethany – Kiersten Todd, 2023 – 6.4p, 3.9r
Blackhawk –
Allie Boyer
Allie
Boyer
6'2" | C
Blackhawk Christian | 2024
IN
, 2024
Blackhawk – Emma Kline, 2024
Blackhawk – Aubrie Swain, 2023
Elkhart Christian – Ivy Clapsaddle, 2026
Elkhart Christian – Allison Russell, 2024
Hamilton – Krystyalyn Mullin, 2023
Lakewood Park –
Ava McGrade
Ava
McGrade
5'7" | SG
Lakewood Park Christian | 2025
IN
, 2025 – 15.6p, 5.0r, 2.2s
Lakewood Park –
Jade Carnahan
Jade
Carnahan
5'8" | SF
Lakewood Park Christian | 2024
IN
, 2024 – 12.3p, 10.7r, 2.8a, 2.2s
.
Sectional #52 at Tri-County:
Game-1: Frontier (5-17) vs. Tri-County (11-11)
Game-2: West Central (6-16) vs. North White (6-17)
Game-3: South Newton (1-18) vs. Winner Game-1
Game-4: Caston (20-2) vs. Winner Game-2
Game-5: Winner Game-3 vs. Winner Game-4
Overview: While there are two favorites in Sectional #51, Sectional #52 is up to Caston. If they play as they have all year, they should advance to the Regional. Now, there are some good teams here, and Tri-County & North White have played them to within 13 and 11 points, respectively. But Caston is just strong, deep, and solid all the way around, led by Juniors Isabel Scales Isabel Scales 5'8" | SF Caston | 2024 State IN (16.3p, 8.3r, 3.2a, 3.4s) and Addison Zimpleman Addison Zimpleman 5'7" | SG Caston | 2024 IN (11.5p, 4.3r, 2.2a, 2.4s). Tri-County is the host school, and they have a couple of nice Juniors of their own in Sara Zarse Sara Zarse 5'8" | SF Tri-County | 2025 IN (11.6p, 7.0r, 4.8a, 4.0s) and Johnetta Whitmire (9.0p, 5.5r). If they can control tempo and make shots late, they could upset Caston. I also wouldn’t rule out North White and their Seniors, Tessa Robertson (15.0p, 7.0r) and Abigale Spry (9.5p, 4.2r, 3.1a, 3.3s). They won this Sectional a season ago and advanced all the way to the Semi-State. They did graduate a couple of key 2022 players, but they also played nearly all of December 2022 shorthanded with Spry and a couple of others injured. Their record is a bit deceiving because of it, so don’t count them out just yet.
Sectional #52 Players to Watch:
Caston –
Isabel Scales
Isabel
Scales
5'8" | SF
Caston | 2024
State
IN
, 2024 – 16.3p, 8.3r, 3.2a, 3.4s
Caston –
Addison Zimpleman
Addison
Zimpleman
5'7" | SG
Caston | 2024
IN
, 2024 – 11.5p, 4.3r, 2.2a, 2.4s
Caston – Bailey Harness, 2023 – 9.0p, 6.5r
Frontier – Emma Sorensen, 2023
North White – Tessa Robertson, 2023 – 15.0p, 7.0r
North White – Abigale Spry, 2023 – 9.5p, 4.2r, 3.1a, 3.3s
North White – Autumn Reif, 2026 – 6.1p, 6.3r
South Newton – Addysen Standish, 2024 – 13.6p, 4.6r, 2.4s
Tri-County –
Sara Zarse
Sara
Zarse
5'8" | SF
Tri-County | 2025
IN
, 2024 – 11.6p, 7.0r, 4.8a, 4.0s
Tri-County – Johnetta Whitmire, 2024 – 9.0p, 5.5r
Tri-County – Hannah Arvin 2025 – 8.0p, 6.9r
West Central – Annika Smith, 2024 – 16.0p, 8.7r, 3.4s
West Central – Kailee Bishop, 2025 – 10.9p, 4.5r, 2.5a, 2.3s