Class 3A Season Preview: Preseason Polls & Awards
Now that we’ve spent this past week previewing the 2019-2020 season for Class 3A in Indiana, I wanted to have a little fun. So, I took a look back at those articles, and I’ve attempted to predict what this season…
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Continue ReadingNow that we’ve spent this past week previewing the 2019-2020 season for Class 3A in Indiana, I wanted to have a little fun. So, I took a look back at those articles, and I’ve attempted to predict what this season might hold in Class 3A. Taking some ideas from college preview magazines of years past, I’ve assembled this article with a variety of things, like a preseason team poll, preseason awards, and preseason all-state teams.
PRESEASON POLL
The preseason poll is based solely on how I think teams will stack up this season in Class 3A. Past success isn’t meaningless, but year-in and year-out rosters change, and teams can slide up or down the scale in terms of competitiveness. When I looked at all the rosters of Class 3A teams, I came up with approximately 20 teams who I could legitimately see making a run to Bankers Life Fieldhouse if things work out their way. So, preparing a Top-10 was incredibly difficult.
The return of both Heritage Christian and South Bend St. Joseph will certainly have a ripple affect on the rest of Class 3A. Heritage Christian has one of the most athletic backcourts in the state, regardless of class. Benton Central, fresh off their State Finals appearance, seems like they’re ready to make another run at it, but this time through the North bracket instead of the South. Mishawaka Marian will be tough to beat this year up North as well, and Gibson Southern has about as deep of a team as any, with as many as 15 girls who could legitimately plug into their Varsity lineup. Don’t forget about Salem and what they’ve done recently done South, plus Danville, Vincennes Lincoln, and Greensburg have all had their share of postseason success in recent years. Class 3A this season could see the most movement in the polls and change favorites from week to week.
PGH Indiana Class 3A Preseason Top-10 (2018-2019 record):
1. Heritage Christian (18-7)
2. Benton Central (26-5)
3. Mishawaka Marian (22-4)
4. Gibson Southern (24-4)
5. Salem (24-4)
6. Norwell (19-4)
7. Danville (21-6)
8. Vincennes Lincoln (23-4)
9. Greensburg (20-5)
10. South Bend St. Joseph (16-8)
PRESEASON AWARDS
These preseason awards are an attempt at honoring girls who I think stand out in Class 3A. There are multiple candidates for each award, and every award is easily debatable, but I chose them based on who I thought filled the description the best. Each award is determined through different criteria, as some awards are based primarily on opinion, while others are decided with a heavy influence from statistical merit.
Class 3A Preseason Individual Awards:
Ella Collier – DanvilleMost Valuable Player: Maddie Lawrence, 2020, Winchester Community
Most Outstanding Player: Ariana Wiggins, 2021, Heritage Christian
Toughest Player: Hanna Knoll, 2021, Angola
Best Motor: MacKenzie McMahon, 2020, Bellmont
Best Shooter: Ella Collier, 2020, Danville Community
Best Scorer: Ella Collier, 2020, Danville Community
Best Passer: Darrian Carmean, 2020, Vincennes Lincoln
Best Rebounder: Alaina Omonodé, 2020, West Lafayette
Best Shot-Blocker: Haley Scott, 2021, Western
Best Defender: Sydney Watkins, 2020, Heritage Christian
Best Athlete: Ariana Wiggins, 2021, Heritage Christian
Most Versatile: Keegan Sullivan, 2020, South Bend St. Joseph
PRESEASON ALL-STATE TEAMS
Like the preseason awards, this was another attempt to honor girls who stand out in Class 3A. These teams were selected based on equal parts talent, skill, potential, statistical accomplishments, and team accomplishments. While we can debate who should be where, I do think it’s easy to understand why each of the girls listed below were at least selected to be honored.
Class 3A Preseason 1st Team All-State:
Maddie Lawrence – WinchesterElla Collier, 2020, 5-11 G, Danville Community
Maddie Lawrence, 2020, 6-0 F, Winchester Community
Keegan Sullivan, 2020, 5-11 W, South Bend St. Joseph
Taylor Westgate, 2020, 6-1 F/C, Oak Hill
Ariana Wiggins, 2021, 5-8 PG, Heritage Christian
Class 3A Preseason 2nd Team All-State:
Darrian Carmean, 2020, 5-8 PG, Vincennes Lincoln
Alaina Omonodé, 2020, 6-0 C, West Lafayette
Meredith Raley, 2020, 6-0 F, Gibson Southern
Audrey Strawsma, 2020, 5-10 F, Benton Central
Hanna Knoll, 2021, 5-8 G, Angola
Class 3A Preseason 3rd Team All-State:
Keegan Sullivan – SB St. JoeJuliana Kemper, 2020, 5-9 W, Lawrenceburg
Leah Miller, 2020, 5-6 PG, Salem
Sydney Watkins, 2020, 5-9 G, Heritage Christian
Zakia Rasheed, 2021, 5-8 G, Bishop Chatard
Mila Reynolds, 2022, 6-2 F, South Bend Washington
Class 3A Preseason 4th Team All-State:
Lydia Reimbold, 2020, 5-9 W, Fort Wayne Bishop Luers
Bayleigh Runner, 2020, 5-7 PG, Hamilton Heights
Rebekah Gordon, 2021, 6-0 F, Heritage Hills
McKenzie Hudgen, 2021, 5-7 G, Mishawaka Marian
Maycee Lange, 2021, 6-0 F, Vincennes Lincoln
Class 3A Preseason 5th Team All-State:
Ariana Wiggins – Heritage ChristianAddison Bayman, 2020, 5-6 G, Woodlan
Caily Bolser, 2020, 6-4 F/C, Mississinewa
Kyrstin Bond, 2020, 5-7 G, South Dearborn
Carley Culberson, 2021, 5-7 PG, Yorktown
Alaysha Brandenberger, 2022, 5-5 G, Boonville
Class 3A Preseason Honorable Mention:
Ali Barber, 2020, Washington
Breann Barger, 2020, Norwell
Rebecca Berry, 2020, South Vermillion
Kashlin Biffle, 2020, South Bend St. Joseph
Meghan Busick, 2020, Bellmont
Viktoria Campbell, 2020, Rushville Consolidated
Becca Chamberlin, 2020, Winchester Community
Kelsey Coffman, 2020, Benton Central
McKenzie Cooper, 2020, Eastern-Greentown
Jeanie Crabtree, 2020, Eastern-Greentown
Courtlynn Crowe, 2020, Peru
Nicole Cunningham, 2020, Guerin Catholic
Bree Dossen, 2020, Heritage
Aliyah Evans, 2020, Greensburg
Denaya Harris, 2020, Evansville Bosse
Mallory Hawkins, 2020, South Vermillion
Halle Hehman, 2020, Brownstown Central
Gabby Hicks, 2020, Cardinal Ritter
Christina Himelick, 2020, Mishawaka Marian
Lauren Kellerman, 2020, Crawfordsville
Libby Lapczynski, 2020, New Prairie
Neasia Lee, 2020, Beech Grove
Ally Lorntz, 2020, Angola
Jaylah Mays, 2020, Scottsburg
MacKenzie McMahon, 2020, Bellmont
Micha Morrison, 2020, Greensburg
Jalyn Nelson, 2020, Pike Central
Maddy Payne, 2020, NorthWood
Madison Payne, 2020, Monrovia
Molly Ream, 2020, Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger
Kate Rulli, 2020, NorthWood
Meghan Sandifer, 2020, Cardinal Ritter
Amanda Schreiber, 2020, Hanover Central
Ashley Schroer, 2020, Brownstown Central
Allison Stevens, 2020, Greencastle
Allison Stogsdill, 2020, Brown County
Hope Tomlinson, 2020, Salem
Eryn Turner, 2020, Indianapolis Shortridge
Karston Watson, 2020, Charlestown
Melina Wilkison, 2021, Greensburg
Ryleigh Anslinger, 2021, Evansville Memorial
Maddie Barnes, 2021, Speedway
Katherine Benter, 2021, Brownstown Central
Tyranny Brown, 2021, Heritage Christian
Chanteese Craig, 2021, Fort Wayne Concordia Lutheran
Jaclyn Emly, 2021, Silver Creek
Ariel Esquivel, 2021, Griffith
Kaylee Fuelling, 2021, Norwell
Prentciss Gates, 2021, Gary Lighthouse
Bridgette Gray, 2021, Central Noble
Bailey Hartsough, 2021, Lakeland
Brooke Jackson, 2021, Mount Vernon-Posey
Remi Jordan, 2021, Knox
Trenaé Mann, 2021, Indianapolis George Washington
Lillian Mast, 2021, West Noble
Moira McGinley, 2021, Bishop Chatard
Kamryn Miller, 2021, Gibson Southern
Jade Nutley, 2021, 6-0 F/C, Madison Consolidated
Jillian Osswald, 2021, Hamilton Heights
Maddie Patterson, 2021, Danville Community
Elizabeth Reece, 2021, Yorktown
Paige Robinson, 2021, Mount Vernon-Posey
Grace Sandlin, 2021, Tri-West
Maiah Shelton, 2021, Norwell
Hannah Sisk, 2021, Princeton Community
Libby Steinhart, 2021, Mount Vernon-Posey
Alana Striverson, 2021, Silver Creek
Karly Sweeney, 2021, Salem
Sydney Wagner, 2021, Tippecanoe Valley
Zoe Zellers, 2021, Scottsburg
Diana Burgher, 2022, North Harrison
Gracie Gilland, 2022, Delta
Kenna Kirby, 2022, Tri-West
Kencia Levasseur, 2022, Washington
Hadley Lytton, 2022, Heritage Hills
Lilly Maple, 2022, Maconaquah
Annika Marlow, 2022, Rushville Consolidated
Faith Owen, 2022, Garrett
Camiell Perry, 2022, Speedway
Iatia Poston, 2022, Gary Lighthouse
Emme Rooney, 2022, Silver Creek
Alison Saunders, 2022, North Harrison
Tressa Senasac, 2022, Benton Central
Delainey Shorter, 2022, Sullivan
Gracie Shorter, 2022, Sullivan
Kynidi Striverson, 2022, Silver Creek
Macy Timberman, 2022, Northview
Abby Fleetwood, 2023, Brown County
Nevaeh Foster, 2023, Mishawaka Marian
Emily Mattingly, 2023, Evansville Memorial
Amiyah Reynolds, 2023, South Bend Washington
Feature image is of Northwestern High School celebrating their 2019 Class 3A State Championship. Image is courtesy of the IHSAA Twitter account.