Merry Midpoint: Class 4A, Sectionals #1-#8
In this article:
The featured image is of Molly Stock Molly Stock 5'7" | PG Homestead | 2023 State IN (2023) of Homestead High School. With 13 weeks in the regular season during the IHSAA girls’ basketball season each year, the Christmas to…
Access all of Prep Girls Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingThe featured image is of Molly Stock Molly Stock 5'7" | PG Homestead | 2023 State IN (2023) of Homestead High School.
With 13 weeks in the regular season during the IHSAA girls’ basketball season each year, the Christmas to New Years’ time period basically represents the midpoint of the season by weeks. Nearly every team has played double-digit games at this point, so I wanted to take an early look at who the better teams are in each Class 4A Sectional as they make the turn towards the second half of the season. Below I have highlighted Sectionals #1-#8.
Sectional #1 – East Chicago Central
– Likely Favorite: Lake Central
– Upset Candidate: Highland
– Comments: Lake Central is a heavy favorite in Sectional #1, behind the play of Sophomores
Aniyah Bishop
Aniyah
Bishop
5'10" | SF
Lake Central | 2024
State
IN
(15.6p, 4.5r, 2.3s) and
Riley Milausnic
Riley
Milausnic
5'7" | CG
Lake Central | 2024
State
IN
(9.2p, 2.9r), plus dynamic Freshman playmaker
Vanessa Wimberly
Vanessa
Wimberly
5'5" | PG
Lake Central | 2025
State
IN
(10.6p, 3.9r, 3.7a, 3.5s). If anyone can challenge them, it’s likely going to be Highland. The Trojans play hard and physical, they consistently execute their offense, and Senior
Chloe Churilla
Chloe
Churilla
5'11" | PF
Highland | 2022
State
IN
(15.9p, 9.1r) is one of the best forwards in Northwest Indiana. Junior guard Payton Reid (11.1p, 2.8r, 3.5s) can also get hot outside.
Sectional #2 – Crown Point
– Likely Favorite: Crown Point
– Upset Candidate: Valparaiso
– Comments: Crown Point maintains their status as the top team in Sectional #2 behind Seniors
Jessica Carrothers
Jessica
Carrothers
5'7" | CG
Crown Point | 2022
State
IN
(19.3p, 4.3r, 4.4a, 3.5s) and
Lilly Stoddard
Lilly
Stoddard
6'4" | PF
Crown Point | 2022
State
#73
Nation
IN
(10.8p, 9.3r, 2.4b). But Valparaiso is very experienced, 12-2 at this point, and already played a tough game with Crown Point, falling just 43-35. Seniors
Bolanle Ayangade
Bolanle
Ayangade
5'10" | PF
Valparaiso | 2022
State
IN
(10.2p, 5.7r, 2.8s) and Emma Gerdt (8.5p, 3.5r, 2.6s), plus Sophomore Becca Gerdt (9.8p, 3.2r, 2.8s) have all stepped up this year.
Sectional #3 – Mishawaka
– Likely Favorite: Plymouth
– Upset Candidates: Mishawaka/South Bend Adams
– Comments: This is a tight Sectional at the top, with three teams who could win the title. I chose Plymouth because of their noticeable size and experience. Junior Taylor Delp (17.2p, 10.8r, 2.3s) has been outstanding, while Senior Clare Sheedy (8.2p, 6.8r, 2.0s) has also been strong inside. Mishawaka leans on a fairly balanced roster with few standouts, while South Bend Adams relies heavily on Senior guard
Marissa Shelton
Marissa
Shelton
5'8" | SG
South Bend Adams | 2022
State
IN
(22.3p, 5.1r, 2.0a, 2.7s) for offense.
Sectional #4 – Penn
– Likely Favorite: Northridge
– Upset Candidates: Penn, Warsaw
– Comments: Sectional #4 will take several battles to determine the winner. But to date, Northridge is 4-0 against Sectional #4 opponents, including a recent win against Penn. Penn has defeated Warsaw. Northridge plays with a lot of balance, but Senior
Julia Mantyla
Julia
Mantyla
5'11" | SF
Northridge | 2022
State
IN
(11.9p, 4.8r) and Junior
Eva Fisher
Eva
Fisher
5'8" | SG
Northridge | 2023
State
IN
(14.2p, 3.7r, 3.2a, 2.5s) stand out statistically. Penn is also terribly balanced, with Senior forwards
Jada Patton
Jada
Patton
5'11" | PF
Penn | 2022
State
IN
(9.5p, 6.2r, 2.2a) and
Sydney Little
Sydney
Little
5'8" | SF
Penn | 2022
State
IN
(7.2p, 2.7r) leading the way for the Kingsmen. As for Warsaw, the Tigers lean on a great deal of Senior experience from post
Abby Sanner
Abby
Sanner
6'2" | C
Warsaw | 2022
State
IN
(14.1p, 8.9r), wing
Kacilyn Krebs
Kacilyn
Krebs
5'9" | SF
Warsaw | 2022
State
IN
(10.9p, 2.6r), and guard
Bailie Stephens
Bailie
Stephens
5'6" | PG
Warsaw | 2022
State
IN
(9.1p, 3.9r, 2.4a, 2.4s).
Sectional #5 – Fort Wayne Snider
– Likely Favorite: Fort Wayne Snider
– Upset Candidates: Carroll (Fort Wayne), Fort Wayne Northrop
– Comments: After a 1-2 start to the season, the Snider Panthers have figured it out and rattled off nine wins in a row, with wins over North Central (Indianapolis), Fishers, and Carmel mixed in there. Sophomores
Destini Craig
Destini
Craig
5'9" | PF
Fort Wayne Northrop | 2024
State
IN
(15.8p, 5.6r, 4.2s) and
Jordyn Poole
Jordyn
Poole
5'6" | PG
Fort Wayne Snider | 2024
State
IN
(12.2p, 2.8r, 4.1a), plus Senior California transfer
Jyah LoVett
Jyah
LoVett
5'7" | CG
Fort Wayne Snider | 2022
State
IN
(14.9p, 4.3r, 2.4a, 3.1s) lead the Panthers. Carroll suffered major losses from last season’s roster, but Juniors
Taylor Fordyce
Taylor
Fordyce
5'10" | SG
Carroll (Fort Wayne) | 2023
State
IN
(13.3p, 5.9r, 2.7a, 2.1s) and
Kayla Gibbs
Kayla
Gibbs
5'7" | SG
Carroll (Fort Wayne) | 2023
State
IN
(11.5p, 3.9r, 2.3a, 2.8s) are back and playing well. Northrop counts on speed and athleticism to turn people over, and they are hitting their stride at the right time.
Sectional #6 – Fort Wayne Wayne
– Likely Favorite: Homestead
– Upset Candidates: Columbia City/Huntington North
– Comments: Homestead is doing what Homestead does; and having potential All-American
Ayanna Patterson
Ayanna
Patterson
6'3" | SF
Homestead | 2022
State
#5
Nation
IN
(2022) doesn’t hurt one bit. Juniors
Molly Stock
Molly
Stock
5'7" | PG
Homestead | 2023
State
IN
and
Alison Stephens
Alison
Stephens
5'11" | SF
Homestead | 2023
State
IN
have also had strong seasons. Columbia City is 14-0 to date, with wins over Carroll (Fort Wayne), Snider, and Warsaw. Senior forward
Rebekah Marshall
Rebekah
Marshall
5'10" | SF
Columbia City | 2022
State
IN
, Sophomore guard
Kyndra Sheets
Kyndra
Sheets
5'6" | PG
Columbia City | 2024
State
IN
, and Freshman guard
Addison Baxter
Addison
Baxter
5'9" | PG
Columbia City | 2025
State
IN
are a huge part of their success. Huntington North has put together a nice season so far (9-3), and they played Homestead to a close, 43-35 outcome earlier this year. Junior wing
Taylor Double
Taylor
Double
5'10" | SF
Huntington North | 2023
State
IN
is their go-to player.
Sectional #7 – Marion
– Likely Favorite: West Lafayette Harrison
– Upset Candidates: Northwestern/McCutcheon
– Comments: This is another close Sectional. Harrison is 10-4, plus they are 5-0 against Sectional #7 opponents so far. Junior
Riley Flinn
Riley
Flinn
5'11" | SF
West Lafayette Harrison | 2023
State
IN
(14.1p, 7.2r, 3.6a, 4.0s), Sophomore Riley Whitlock (10.4p, 4.9r, 2.1s), and Senior
Haley Thomas
Haley
Thomas
6'1" | C
West Lafayette Harrison | 2022
State
IN
(9.9p, 6.8r) keep the Lady Raiders balanced. Northwestern will certainly give them a run for their money behind Junior wing
McKenna Layden
McKenna
Layden
6'2" | SF
Northwestern | 2023
State
IN
(22.5p, 5.8r, 3.8a, 4.2s). Freshman Anna Bishir (8.2p, 2.9r, 2.1s) has given the Tigers a nice backcourt compliment as well. McCutcheon’s Senior guard
Teresa Maggio
Teresa
Maggio
5'5" | PG
McCutcheon | 2022
State
IN
(20.3p, 3.0r, 3.7a, 5.7s) just returned a couple of weeks ago, and she will certainly increase the Mavericks’ odds to compete.
Sectional #8 – Westfield
– Likely Favorite: Fishers
– Upset Candidates: Everyone Else
– Comments: Sectional #8 is ridiculously loaded. At this point, Fishers is 4-0 against Sectional #8 opponents including wins against Westfield, Zionsville, Noblesville, and Hamilton Southeastern. Junior twins
Hailey Smith
Hailey
Smith
5'10" | SG
Fishers | 2023
State
IN
(12.1p, 8.0r, 2.6a, 2.3s) and
Olivia Smith
Olivia
Smith
5'10" | SG
Fishers | 2023
State
IN
(9.8p, 5.2r, 2.4a) have been problems for opponents all season. Westfield is 3-1 against Sectional #8 opponents, getting strong play from Miss Basketball candidate
Alyssa Crockett
Alyssa
Crockett
6'3" | SF
Westfield | 2022
State
#62
Nation
IN
. Noblesville looks to a trio of backcourt players in Junior
Ashlynn Shade
Ashlynn
Shade
5'10" | SG
La Lumiere Prep | 2023
State
#33
Nation
IN
(19.5p, 8.7r, 4.3a, 4.1s), Freshman
Meredith Tippner
Meredith
Tippner
5'10" | SG
Noblesville | 2025
State
IN
(10.0p, 6.2r), and Sophomore
Reagan Wilson
Reagan
Wilson
5'7" | PG
Noblesville | 2024
State
IN
(9.5p, 3.4r, 5.0a, 2.3s). Zionsville Junior
Laila Hull
Laila
Hull
6'1" | PF
Zionsville | 2023
State
#49
Nation
IN
(20.0p, 10.0r, 2.5a, 2.3s), Hamilton Southeastern sisters
Riley Makalusky
Riley
Makalusky
6'2" | SF
Hamilton Southeastern | 2023
State
IN
(18.1p, 4.1r) and
Maya Makalusky
Maya
Makalusky
6'3" | SF
Hamilton Southeastern | 2025
State
IN
(15.4p, 2.9r), plus Carmel Junior
Mackenzie Thomas
Mackenzie
Thomas
6'1" | C
Carmel | 2023
IN
(16.9p, 6.5r) have been Sectional #8 standouts. Carmel has been without Senior
Kate Clarke
Kate
Clarke
6'1" | SF
Carmel | 2022
State
#56
Nation
IN
much of the season.