An Early Look (Class 2A)
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The featured image is of Lydia Betz Lydia Betz 5'10" | SF Forest Park | 2023 State IN (2023) of Forest Park High School. The IHSAA recently released updated enrollment numbers and Sectional assignments for the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 girls’…
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Continue ReadingThe featured image is of Lydia Betz Lydia Betz 5'10" | SF Forest Park | 2023 State IN (2023) of Forest Park High School.
The IHSAA recently released updated enrollment numbers and Sectional assignments for the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 girls’ basketball seasons. As we enter the middle of June and school teams are in full swing with open gyms, shootouts, and local league games, I wanted to have a little fun and spend some time on a way too early look at potentially the top five teams in each enrollment classification, as it relates to the 2022-2023 season. A lot of this is more dependent on returnees than newcomers, but here is a look at how I think Class 2A could stack up once the high school season rolls around in November.
1. Forest Park (26-3 in 2021-2022)
Forest Park had a dream season, raising the state championship trophy when they reached the end of the line. This year, they will serve as the “hunted”, with everyone aiming for them. However, they are about as well-equipped as anyone in Class 2A, returning four starters and six of their top seven scorers from a season ago. 6-1 Senior forward
Amber Tretter
Amber
Tretter
6'1" | PF
Forest Park | 2023
State
IN
(17.2p, 10.1r) led the Rangers in both scoring and rebounding last year, and this Spring she looked even stronger. She will be a huge presence for Forest Park once again, controlling the low-post and mid-post areas. 5-9 Senior forward Carley Begle (10.6p, 7.5r) really stepped up as a Junior, adding an additional interior presence. She helps Tretter dominate the boards most games. Another Senior, 5-10 wing
Lydia Betz
Lydia
Betz
5'10" | SF
Forest Park | 2023
State
IN
(8.6p, 2.6r, 3.5a) will likely step up even more this season as a third double-digit scoring option. She is a point forward type who can create, finish inside, or knock down open jumpers. 5-9 Senior guard Gabey Gray (4.1p, 3.8r) is yet another veteran in the lineup, making it hard for any/many opponents to match their overall experience. Replacing graduated guard Ali Welp (9.7p, 2.4r, 36% 3-point shooting) will be the priority early in the season, but the Rangers have several other Seniors and Juniors who have spent time growing up in the program. I won’t go as far as to say they are a heavy favorite to repeat, but they will be a favorite and return as much as anyone at the top of Class 2A.
2. Winchester (24-2)
Winchester finished the 2021-2022 season as the top ranked team in Class 2A based on the Sagarin algorithm. They had a strong regular season, losing only to Class 3A Madison in a Christmas holiday tournament. However, they saw their state tournament run fall a little short, losing in the Regional Final to a Frankton team that made it all the way to Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Winchester will be strong again this year, and it will be curious to see how they finish. They do return leading scorer
Caitlyn Campbell
Caitlyn
Campbell
5'11" | SF
Winchester Community | 2023
State
IN
(22.2p, 7.4r, 4.4a, 3.2s), a 5-11 Senior wing who has a do-everything game. She can act as a creator/facilitator and be a point forward, she has touch from the perimeter, she will score it off the bounce, plus she’s an effective defender with great length and smooth, fluid athleticism. The Golden Falcons also return 5-9 Senior wing
Morgan Lawrence
Morgan
Lawrence
5'8" | SF
Winchester | 2023
IN
(7.9p, 5.9r, 3.0a, 2.3s), who brings toughness, physicality, and a great motor to the lineup. She is also versatile, like Campbell, but she does a lot of her work in the mid-post. Also back is Senior front-liner Reagan Riggin, who provides them with some height in the paint. Replacing the production of graduated guard Gena Moore (9.6p, 3.0r, 2.1a) and graduated forward Haley Lanter (9.8p, 5.6r) will be tough, but Winchester seems to keep churning out players year after year.
3. University (23-5)
University has been a regular at the top of the Class 1A and 2A charts for the last several years, and they will again be strong in 2022-2023. Their potential for success begins with 5-6 Senior wing
Payton Seay
Payton
Seay
5'6" | SF
University | 2023
State
IN
(15.0p, 6.2r, 2.6a, 2.1s) and 6-2 Senior post
Kelsey DuBois
Kelsey
DuBois
6'2" | PF
University | 2023
State
IN
(12.8p, 7.7r, 2.0s, 2.5b). Both have been constants in the lineup throughout their careers, and they fight to finish with a state title run. Seay is a strong, physical, aggressive player who can score it at all three levels. DuBois is a skillful “big” who can score it inside around the block, facing the basket in the mid-post, and she can knock down open jumpers outside. She’s also a skilled passer. From there, 5-5 Senior guard
Jordan Patterson
Jordan
Patterson
5'5" | CG
University | 2023
IN
(5.5p, 2.5r, 2.6a, 2.0s) brings a balanced and experienced game to the backcourt. She is a nice athlete with a good motor. 5-7 Senior point guard
Kamryn Washington
Kamryn
Washington
5'7" | PG
University | 2023
IN
(2.9p, 2.7r, 2.0a) also has some experience, and she is one who could see an increase in both playing time and production this season. Also look for 5-7 wing
Taylor Seay
Taylor
Seay
5'8" | SF
University | 2025
IN
(4.2p), a Sophomore wing, to see a jump as well in opportunity and output. She has shown great potential this Spring, and she continues to improve her skillset as well. The Trailblazers are always dangerous, they’re aggressive, and they should top 20 wins once again.
4. Lafayette Central Catholic (24-5)
After a brief return to Class 1A and a State Runner-Up finish this past season, the Knights move back to Class 2A once again. They play a tremendously tough schedule for a small school, they compete with just about anyone they face, and they always play hard/fast. The big question this season will be replacing graduated guards Karsyn Cherry (10.7p, 7.7r, 5.1a) and Caitlin Dineen (8.9p, 2.9r). They were both four-year contributors, talented athletes, and skillful perimeter players. Cherry is playing Division-I soccer at the University of Louisville. With that said, their top two leading scorers are back. 5-7 Senior guard
Tori Thompson
Tori
Thompson
5'7" | CG
Lafayette Central Catholic | 2023
State
IN
(14.6p, 3.1r, 35% 3-point shooting) will likely step into a major leadership role this season, and she could take over for Cherry as the primary ball-handler this season. She is a nice athlete with a balanced skillset. 5-9 Sophomore wing
Carley Barrett
Carley
Barrett
5'9" | SG
Lafayette Central Catholic | 2025
State
IN
(12.6p, 4.7r, 2.6a) was huge in her rookie season, drawing extra attention from several opposing defenses throughout the year. She can shoot it outside, but she’s very effective making plays off the bounce. 5-7 Senior guard
Kendal Rider
Kendal
Rider
5'7" | SG
Lafayette Central Catholic | 2023
IN
(5.3p, 3.0r) could see an increase in scoring and overall production, as she is the next most experienced player in the lineup. Look for 5-5 Sophomore guard Grace Bordenet (2.7p) to take on a much bigger role as well this season.
5. Andrean (21-7)
Similar to Central Catholic, the Andrean 59ers play a fairly strong schedule for a Class 2A school, and they regularly compete for Sectional titles and tournament runs. This year, the 59ers return their top three scorers from a season ago. 5-9 guard
Tori Allen
Tori
Allen
5'9" | CG
Andrean | 2023
State
IN
(15.9p, 3.6r, 3.7a) leads the way as the only double-digit scorer. She is their primary ball-handler, she’s a smooth, fluid athlete, and she is a talented perimeter shooter with deep range. 5-7 Senior guard
Lauren Colon
Lauren
Colon
5'7" | CG
Andrean | 2023
State
IN
(9.7p, 3.2r, 2.5a) is another quick, skillful guard who can play the point position, but she is also a dangerous perimeter shooter, and she has a solid mid-range pull-up game. 5-9 Sophomore wing
Lindsay Arcella
Lindsay
Arcella
5'9" | SF
Andrean | 2025
State
IN
(7.5p, 5.4r) saw plenty of action as a Freshman, and she could make a huge jump statistically in year-two. She is a wiry-strong athlete, she has touch with deep range, and she has shown nice ability this Spring to score off the bounce. Those three are their primary scoring options, as they don’t play deep into their bench. However, 6-0 front-liner Maddie Walton (2.6p, 3.7r) showed nice potential as a rookie, and she could see a major increase in role/minutes as a Sophomore this year. 5-11 Senior forward Emily Ziegelhofer (3.0r) also flashed nice moments and saw quality playing time last year. She could fill another frontline spot. The graduation of 5-7 forward Lauryn Swain (6.0p, 4.8r) will be felt, as she was a nice back-end defender.
OTHERS TO CONSIDER: Blackford (17-6), Carroll (Flora) (18-8), Eastbrook (19-3), Eastern (Pekin) (15-12), Eastern Hancock (17-7), Lapel (17-8), North Miami (15-9 in Class 1A), Pioneer (21-5), South Central (Union Mills) (26-1), Tipton (21-5), Triton Central (19-5)