Class 1A North Regional Preview Part 1
The beginning of the high school season is creeping up on us, as we are now just four weeks away from the first official practices and six weeks away from games. With that in mind, we wanted to begin a…
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Continue ReadingThe beginning of the high school season is creeping up on us, as we are now just four weeks away from the first official practices and six weeks away from games. With that in mind, we wanted to begin a long and thorough preview of the 2018-2019 season. I will begin by taking a look at the first Class 1A North Regional, which incorporates the winners of Sectionals #49 through #52. Below is a look at the teams in each of those Sectionals, along with some general comments and analysis. We will continue previewing the upcoming season over the course of the next month, with our final preview articles posting on Halloween.
(SAG = Final 2017-2018 Sagarin Rating in Class 1A/Multiclass; SOS = Final 2017-2018 Strength of Schedule)
Sectional #49
Marquette Catholic (27-2) SAG 1/22; SOS 135
Morgan Township (20-6) SAG 10/160; SOS 309
Westville (11-10) SAG 43/269; SOS 346
Kouts (8-13) SAG 62/313; SOS 339
Washington Township (10-12) SAG 74/357; SOS 359
Gary 21st Century (4-16) SAG 88/393; SOS 382
Sectional #49 is home to the 2018 Class 1A State Champion Blazers of Marquette Catholic. As has been the case for this team the last couple of years, the only thing that could keep Marquette from repeating as State Champs, let alone Sectional champs, is themselves. They only graduated one starter, and they return the dynamic twin duo of Emma and Sophia Nolan. We’ll have more on Marquette later, when we preview the Top-50 teams in the state regardless of class.
Sahara Bee of Morgan TownshipIf there is a team that could cause any type of a hiccup for Marquette in this Sectional, it would probably be Morgan Township. Morgan won 20 games a year ago and has a streak of eight consecutive winning seasons going. They graduated a pair of starters, including leading scorer Talia Bee (14.1 ppg), but they return her 2020 sister Sahara Bee, who tallied 13.7 points and a team-leading 11.4 rebounds. She will likely be the focal point this season, but I’d anticipate 2021 point guard Emma O’Brien (9.3 ppg, 3.8 apg, 2.8 spg) will see an expanded role as well.
Other top players in this Sectional include 2020 forward Sarah Weston (12.7 ppg) and 2020 guard Nicole Albers (8.7 ppg) of Westville, 2020 post Morgan Kobza of Kouts, 2020 guard Olivia Klinger (10.2 ppg) of Washington Township, and 2019 forward Kayla Bates of Gary 21st Century.
Sectional #50
North White (20-5) SAG 12/173; SOS 321
Tri-County (10-12) SAG 56/299; SOS 340
South Newton (12-15) SAG 57/303; SOS 373
Pioneer (6-15) SAG 65/322; SOS 304
West Central (6-16) SAG 69/341; SOS 335
Caston (6-17) SAG 70/350; SOS 342
Covenant Christian-DeMotte (10-13) SAG 71/353; SOS 371
North White has dominated Sectional #50 recently, winning four consecutive Sectional titles. However, the Vikings suffered a major loss when do-everything guard Maci Heimlich (17.5 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 4.0 apg) was handed her diploma. North White does return 2019 guards Sara Rose (11.4 ppg, 3.8 apg) and Chandelle Valdizon, plus 2021 guard Olivia Allen, but there’s no question the rest of Sectional #50 will feel encouraged about their chances this season.
The rest of Sectional #50 is a real mixed bag, as a couple of the remaining six schools could contend. South Newton poses the biggest problem, as they return four 2019 starters. Jaimie Diedam (15.4 ppg) is the ringleader, but Hayley Warne (8.7 ppg, 3.8 apg), Malyah Embery (7.2 ppg, 6.1 rpg), and Shanelle Embery (6.7 ppg, 6.6 rpg) return a great deal of experience. Pioneer should be much-improved, as they return virtually everyone, including three 2019 starters. Those three are MiKenna Landis (9.6 ppg), Madelyn Parsley (8.2 ppg), and Tia Freshour (7.7 ppg). Caston should be improved as well, as they return six of their top seven players, including leading scorers Emily Holt (2020) and Ally Wiese (2019), plus a pair of 2021s who gained quality Varsity experience last season.
Tri-County did graduate three starters, including their top two scorers, but they return 2019 leadership in the form of Kinzi Brooks and Odyssey Whitcomb. West Central graduated their top three scorers, so it could be a tough rebuild for them, but 2019 Shyla Wenzel does return. And Covenant Christian won ten games in 2017-2018, but they must suffer through the loss of do-everything graduate Maria Nanninga (17.2 ppg). Look for 2020s Mya Herrema and Leanna Buiter to lead the way this season.
Sectional #51
Oregon-Davis (13-13) SAG 9/156; SOS 153
Triton (10-13) SAG 15/188; SOS 154
South Central-Union Mills (9-13) SAG 29/236; SOS 224
Argos (13-10) SAG 30/237; SOS 279
LaCrosse (14-10) SAG 35/254; SOS 318
Culver Community (4-18) SAG 72/354; SOS 286
Sectional #51 has a longstanding tradition of being one of the better Class 1A Sectionals in the North. This year it should again be very competitive, as four teams likely challenge for the crown. Oregon-Davis returned to this Sectional a year ago and won it, after spending two seasons in Class 2A due to the IHSAA’s success factor. While they typically don’t have a lot of depth, they do have talent and experience on their side. 2021 wing Mercedes Rhodes (14.6 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 3.2 spg) is their biggest source of optimism this season, following an impressive Freshman campaign. But she’s not the only reason for excitement, as she should be joined in the lineup by 2020 point guard Katelyn Sauer (14.4 ppg, 5.3 apg, 5.0 spg) and 2020 post Jayden Worthington (14.4 ppg, 8.3 rpg), as well as 2020 guards Sydney Williams and Reece Danford.
Argos benefitted the most by Oregon-Davis’ 2-year absence, winning the Sectional both years and advancing to the State Finals in 2016. They graduate three of their top six players, but they also have a new Head Coach. But the Dragons are always competitive, and this season should be no different, as 2020 guard Morgan Dunlap (11.3 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 3.9 apg, 2.9 spg) returns a great deal of talent and experience. 2020 forward Macy Morris (8.7 ppg) should be a nice interior option for Argos this season.
Amber Wolf of South CentralTriton graduated three of their top six players, including leading scorer Hannah Wanamacher (11.9 ppg). But they always play a brutal schedule for a Class 1A school, plus they’ve had a system in place for years. They’ll be tournament ready and likely look to 2020 Whytnie Miller (7.5 ppg) for leadership this season. South Central is always a formidable contender, and the Satellites have maybe the best prospect in this Sectional in 2020 forward Amber Wolf (12.9 ppg). South Central did graduate five players, including four of their top seven. But I’d expect 2020 forward Faith Biggs (7.2 ppg) to step up this season.
LaCrosse graduated three starters, including one of their best all-time players in Justene Charlesworth. Look for 2020 forwards Claire Garwood (9.6 ppg) and Katie Bell (7.8 ppg) to be their top players this season. And Culver Community has struggled since graduating a really good 2015 class. They do return nearly everyone, including a big 2020 class.
Sectional #52
Lakewood Park Christian (17-6) SAG 32/240; SOS 343
Fremont (11-13) SAG 37/256; SOS 250
Bethany Christian (12-11) SAG 46/274; SOS 326
Lakeland Christian (16-9) SAG 51/288; SOS 386
Elkhart Christian (10-10) SAG 76/359; SOS 379
Blackhawk Christian (2-21) SAG 77/360; SOS 299
Hamilton Community (0-23) SAG 91/398; SOS 285
Sectional #52 is basically split into two groups of teams. Lakewood Park Christian is the defending Sectional Champion, and I believe it was their first title ever. The unfortunate fact for the Panthers is that they graduated six of their seven core Varsity players, including their top two scorers, Hadyn Faur (12.3 ppg) and Gracyn Fetters (10.3 ppg). The good news is that they return their most talented player, and possibly the Sectional’s best prospect in 2021 point guard Chloe Jolloff (10.0 ppg, 5.2 apg).
Fremont’s move to Class 1A a year ago set them up for a chance at a Sectional title, and this season it looks all that more likely if they can get by Lakewood Park. 2020 forward Samantha Kuhn (11.6 ppg, 5.9 rpg) and 2019 wing Bella Dangerfield (8.8 ppg, 5.6 rpg) give the Eagles a good one-two punch. Bethany Christian also has to feel like they have a shot at the Sectional #52 title. They return a really nice player in 2019 guard Anya Kauffman, plus they have several underclassmen who gained experience a year ago.
Lakeland Christian is sort of the wildcard, as they graduated three of their five key contributors, including leading scorer Hope Fancil (15.1 ppg). But they won 16 games a year ago, and they return 2020 guard Tori Calizo (9.3 ppg, 5.4 rpg). Other top players in this Sectional include 2020 forward Abbey McKibbin and 2019 wing Precious Swen of Elkhart Christian, and 2020 guard Brea Steury and 2019 forward Tori Creager of Hamilton. Blackhawk Christian will primarily be younger and inexperienced.
Header photo of Claire Salyer of Marquette Catholic; photo courtesy of nwitimes.com. Photo of Sahara Bee courtesy of nwitimes.com. Photo of Sara Rose courtesy of newsbug.info. Photo of Amber Wolf courtesy of thenewsdispatch.com. Photo of Chloe Jolloff courtesy of kpcnews.com.