IHSAA girls basketball Class A sectional preview: Schedule, players to watch, predictions

Posted by author February 2, 2025 Basketball

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IHSAA girls basketball sectionals begin Tuesday, Feb. 4.
Since class basketball switch in 1998, no Central Indiana team has won the Class A girls state title.

It is sectional season for Indiana high school girls basketball. Let’s take a closer look at the Class A field with storylines, the local matchups, players to watch and predictions.

Class A

∎ No. 1 team (IGSCA poll): Marquette Catholic (18-4). The championship window remains wide open for the defending state runner-up Blazers, who beat Westville, the biggest threat within their sectional, by 22 in December. Junior guard Laniah Davis is one of the top small-school talents, averaging nearly a double-double at 20 points and nine rebounds per game (plus three assists and four steals). She leads the team in each of those categories, but there’s ample experience and depth behind her with seniors Jiselle Chabes, Natalie Robinson, Brielle Jones and Livia Balling, junior Addison Penziol, and sophomore Marissa Pleasant, who played hero in last year’s semistate championship game.

∎ Lafayette Central Catholic (1-4) returns to Class A. The Knights have won three sectional titles in two different classes over the past three years. They’re battle-tested, having played a primarily 3A/4A schedule, and boast a deep, well-rounded lineup headlined by Carley Barrett and Grace Bordenet. The earliest LCC could encounter MQT is semistate.

∎ The team to beat: Borden (16-5 entering Saturday). The coaches and the Sagarin Ratings prefer Marquette Catholic and LCC for No. 1 in Class A. But the Braves have played a top-100 schedule (Corydon Central, Brownstown Central, Franklin Central, Floyd Central and Lanesville, among others) and have some unique weapons at their disposal. Their 6-0 standouts Ava Wheeler and Riley Rarick will grab your attention immediately, but there’s also juniors Emma Hart and AJ Mallad, who combined for 30 points in a 47-34 win at then-No. 1 Orleans earlier this month.

∎ Regional intrigue I. There are a number of talented teams and individuals in the Class A south beyond Borden. Orleans (16-5) put itself through the ringer down the stretch with games against White River Valley (16-5), Borden, Lanesville and 4A’s Bedford North Lawrence. The Bulldogs have a trio of players averaging between 9-14 points (Callie Alston, Mylie Knight and Chelsea Ralph). They’re positioned for a regional rematch vs. Borden, but will likely need to knock out Vincennes Rivet (12-10) in sectional first.

∎ Regional intrigue II. Northeast Dubois (15-6) has semistate potential, led by seniors Emmersen Kalb (17 ppg) and Lylee Schnell (9 ppg, 8 rpg). … Its road to semistate will run through North Central (Farmersburg) (20-13). I saw the regional champion Thunderbirds play Cascade in early January. Their top-two scorers, Jalyn Davidson (21 ppg, 5 apg, 3 spg) and Shelby Seay (17 ppg, 6 rpg, 5 apg, 4 spg) are the real deal. 6-0 junior Hannah Stepp (10 ppg) provides additional scoring punch and senior Samantha Secrest is relentless on the glass.

Here’s a breakdown of the sectionals featuring Central Indiana teams:

Sectional 54 at Clinton Prairie

Defending regional champion Bethesda Christian is not participating in this year’s state tournament.

Sectional 57 at Anderson Prep

The skinny: Tindley and Anderson Prep are rated highest in the Sagarin Ratings … and play in the first round. Liberty Christian, which awaits the winner, is led by freshman Serenity Conyers (23 ppg, 5 spg) and took APA to overtime on Jan. 9. Heaven Watson is the only non-freshman on their nine-player roster.

Team to beat: Anderson Prep (14-9). We’re relying on the computer projections at John Harrell for this one. Plus the Jets have played a slightly tougher schedule than Tindley. Should be a tight finish Tuesday.

Next best: Tindley (13-9). The Tigers started the season strong, reeling off a five-game win streak between November and December. They’re paced by junior Ariauanna Hall, who’s averaging 16 points, six rebounds, five steals and two assists. She’s supported by senior Rachel Day (4 spg), Alonah Savage (10 rpg) and Heaven Dickerson (6 rpg), all of whom are averaging 7-10 ppg.

Sleeper: Indiana Deaf (11-10). They got a favorable draw and enter the tournament with wins in four of their past five. Senior Tiana Starayev is putting up big numbers (18 ppg, 6 rpg, 5 apg, 6 spg), as is junior Jaiden Moses (11 ppg, 11 rpg). Senior Leokadia Saunders (5 rpg, 2 spg) is the only other non-underclassman in the lineup.

About Purdue Poly Broad Ripple (4-10): The Lynx do most of their scoring through freshman Nadia Harris. The guard/forward is averaging 13 points on 56% shooting. Maloree Green, Harris and Carla Retana Medina are all clocking 4-5 rpg.

Pick: Tindley over Indiana Deaf

Sectional 58 at Eminence

Team to beat: Eminence (18-4). The host Eels have nearly matched last season’s win total (19) despite graduating seven of nine players from last season (have a roster of eight). Senior Sophia Saucerman and sophomore transfer Khloee Kirk have driven that sustained success, averaging 20 and 18 points, respectively, with Saucerman shooting 53% from the field. The multi-sport standout has 1,200 career points and 500 rebounds. Kirk arrived by way of Mooresville during the offseason.

Next best: Greenwood Christian (5-17). Freshmen Molly Hunter (8 ppg, 6 rpg) and Myra Finnity (6 ppg, 11 rpg, 2 spg) lead the Cougars, who beat likely semifinal foe Lutheran, 43-37, on Jan. 11.

Sleeper: Lutheran (6-15). The Saints’ record may not jump off the page, but they have some quality playmakers, led by 6-1 center Caitlyn Rose. The team’s lone senior, the multi-sport athlete is averaging nine points and seven rebounds. Sophomore Madison Rogers, a key player off the bench last season, is the team’s leading scorer at 11 ppg, while freshman Amelia Hughes (who made waves over the summer) is dishing out over two assists and pulling in four rebounds per game. Freshman Shae Olson has also been a key contributor at over 6 ppg.

Local notes: Traders Point Christian (5-10 entering Saturday) is a senior-heavy outfit led by Lina Berry (15 ppg, 6 rpg, 2 spg), Melanie Carrasquedo (9 ppg, 10 rpg, 2 apg, 3 spg) and Hailey Roberts (7 ppg, 3 apg, 2 spg). … Eminence’s first-round foe, Central Christian (9-5), is powered by freshman Olivia Mattingly, who’s averaging around 22 points, 11 rebounds, two assists, three steals and a couple blocks. Senior Nevaeh Rodriguez is good for 10 ppg, 6 rpg and 4 apg.

Pick: Eminence over Lutheran

Sectional 59 at Southwestern (Shelbyville)

The skinny: There appear to be a trio of teams capable of advancing from this group: Morristown, Tri and North Decatur. Tri beat first-round opponent Morristown fairly handily in November. The winner of the rematch will likely face North Decatur in the semifinal.

Team to beat: Tri (16-7). The Titans lost by four to Bethany Christian in the 2023 semistate championship game, then dropped a four-point decision to Union City in last year’s sectional final. They’re the favorites here, but that’s a tough road through the first two rounds with Morristown and North Decatur. Jillian Chew is the team’s leading scorer at 14 ppg, 4 rpg, 5 apg and 5 spg. Kenley Cornelius is averaging 12 points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals, while Olivia Parham and Soraya Cridge are both contributing around 7 ppg nad 4 rpg.

Next best: Morristown (14-7). The Yellow Jackets won the Mid-Hoosier Conference outright for the first time in program history and are on a six-game win streak. They generate over 15 steals per game, with five players averaging at least 2-3 spg, led by leading scorer Nevaeh Sanders (18 ppg, 2 apg, 3 spg). Danika Rutledge is averaging 10 points and seven rebounds, while Nevaeh Cox and Emma Nelson are both pouring in 9 ppg. Sophomore Jayla Keithley is dishing out over four dimes per game. Avenging its loss to Tri will require more efficient shooting (held to 25%) and better containment of Chew, who went for 29 points on 10-of-15 shooting.

Local notes: ND opens against Edinburgh (10-12), which beat Southwestern (Shelbyville) and Waldron to secure its first double-digit win season since 2019-20 (17-6). Looking for their first postseason win since 2018, the Lancers’ Kenna Streeval is enjoying another well-rounded season, averaging 15 points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals. She’s received steady support from sophomore Kinzie Purvis (8 ppg, 6 rpg, 2 apg, 2 spg). … Waldron (7-15) beat first-round opponent Southwestern twice during the regular season. It has a pair of double-digit scorers in Kiley Best (12 ppg, 4 rpg, 3 apg) and Emerson Lindsey (10 ppg, 4 rpg, 5 apg, 2 spg). Alivia Fisher is the team’s leading rebounder at six boards per game. … Southwestern (Shelbyville) (3-20) senior Tanna Tatlock has been a bright spot this season, leading the team in scoring (15 ppg), rebounding (12 rpg), assists (2 apg) and steals (2 spg).

Pick: Tri over Knightstown.

Follow Brian Haenchen on Twitter at @Brian_Haenchen.