IHSAA girls basketball preview: What to know about Central Indiana Class A teams

Here's a sectional-by-sectional look at the Central Indiana girls high school basketball teams in Class A.

2022-23 state championship game: Lanesville 60, Bethany Christian 41

Teams are listed in alphabetical order. Asterisk denotes defending sectional champion. 

Sectional 58

Bethesda Christian (12-14)* — The best news of the season for the Patriots: Kenzie Fulks is at full strength after missing most of last season with an ACL injury. The IU South Bend commit averaged poured in 127 points over nine games upon returning, and boasts a career scoring average of 22.6 ppg (1,242 total). She's also been good for 5 rpg, 5 apg and 4 spg over her three varsity seasons. She'll help power the offense alongside fellow seniors Sydney Goodin (9 ppg, 5 rpg) and Jayla Ferguson (7 ppg, 9 rpg), both of whom helped shoulder the workload with 2023 grad Paige Vawter in Fulks' absence.

Indiana Math & Science Academy (16-11) — The Knights graduated their two leading scorers, but are set to return Teleisha Norwood, a 5-6 senior guard who averaged six points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals over 27 games. Fellow senior Barbara Starks, a 5-10 center, ranked fourth on the team in scoring at 5.3 ppg.

Indiana Deaf (11-9) — The Deaf Hoosiers won a national championship prior to sectionals last season, and are set to return three of their five leading scorers, led by seniors Sophia Wascher (Gallaudet commit) and Olivia Wascher. Indiana Deaf, which also returns Tiana Starayev, averaged 15 steals and 30 rebounds per game as a team last season. Notable newcomers for the Orioles include: forwards Abigail Wooten, Oriana Lowe, Michelle Eicher and Jaiden Moses, and Guna Stewart.

Metropolitan (N/A) — The Pumas, under the direction of first-year coach Andrew Moore, have an eight-game schedule listed on John Harrell's website. Their most recent season is listed as 2019-20.

International (N/A)

Traders Point Christian (4-11) — TPC is slated to return seven of its eight varsity players, including sophomore Lydia Hough, who was the team's top scorer at 9.4 ppg and 3.9 spg, senior Emmy Frye (7 ppg, 4.8 rpg) and junior Melanie Carrasquedo (6.2 ppg, 6.8 rpg). Senior Keiry Carrasquedo averaged 5.7 ppg, 5.3 rpg and 2.8 spg.

Sectional 59

Central Christian (6-12)

Eminence (17-7)* — Second-year coach Greg Burton graduated a trio of seniors from last season's sectional championship team (first since 1999), but returns his four leading scorers. That group includes seniors Natalie Hubbard, who averaged over 10 points, eight rebounds and three steals to earn all-conference honors at forward, guard Danica Myers (9 ppg, 4 rpg, 4 apg), who's on pace for 1,000 career points and Bella Dittemore (7 ppg, 3 rpg, 1 spg), plus junior forward Sophia Saucerman, who earned all-conference plaudits after logging 12 points and eight rebounds per game. Leadership and experience will be a massive strength with six seniors, but the five returning starters will be leaned upon heavily as Eminence is expected to have only eight on its varsity roster.

Greenwood Christian (6-19) — The Cougars won four of their final six games en route to their sixth consecutive sectional championship game appearance. They're coached by Tiffany Smith-Clements who is in her second season at the helm.

Lutheran (5-18) — The Saints will be young with 4-5 freshmen expected to see varsity minutes early in the season (keep an eye on guards Raylee Thompson and Maddux Tindall), but they are deeper than last year and have four seniors eager for the opportunity to secure the program's first 10-win season since 2017-18. Lutheran will lean on seniors Caitlyn Brooks and Grace King for production. Brooks, a point guard, averaged 15 ppg; King, a forward, was good for 12 points and nine rebounds per game.

Providence Cristo Rey (0-20) — The Wolves are coached by Andrew Dishman, who is entering his sixth season at the helm.

Tindley (11-10) — The freshman-heavy Tigers won back-to-back games before falling to GCA in the sectional opener. Senior Alilyona Mckeller, the team's leading scorer (12.9 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 2.9 spg), will lead what looks to be a sophomore-driven squad with Taylor Cotham (9.2 ppg, 3.8 apg, 3.1 spg) and Ariauanna Hall (8.7 ppg, 2.1 apg, 1.7 spg) among those who made significant contributions during their first season.

Victory College Prep (1-7) — Sophomore Promise Edwards and junior Rachel Day accounted for basically all the Bulldogs' scoring last season according to MaxPreps.

Sectional 60

Edinburgh (6-18) — Edinburgh doesn't return a ton of experience from last season, but it does bring back two of its leading scorers in senior Kyah Streeval (12 ppg, 4 apg) and sophomore Kenna Streeval (7 ppg). Forwards Shyleigh Gobel and Lillie Goff, and guard Bella Turner are also back; Kenzie Purvis is likely to see varsity minutes as a freshman. The Lancers play Shelbyville in mid-November, then jump right into the Johnson County tournament against Center Grove.

Jac-Cen-Del (17-12)*

Morristown (13-11) — Raegan Kleine has graduated, but the Yellow Jackets should still have a nice solid lineup with Danika Rutledge (12.7 ppg, 50% FG, 7.2 rpg, 2.6 spg) and fellow junior Nevaeh Sanders, who averaged nearly 20 points and three steals over the six games she appeared in.

Oldenburg Academy (11-10)

South Decatur (9-15)

Southwestern-Shelbyville (6-17) — A player to watch: Junior Tanna Tatlock, who averaged nine points, seven rebounds, two assists and two steals last season. She's joined by returning seniors Riley Engel and Haley Casey, with sophomores Claire Utley and Emma Isgrigg expected to contribute, as well. Southwestern returns six players from last year's rotation.

Waldron (5-18) — Despite graduating their second-leading scorer (Josee Larrison) and top 3-point shooter (Cendall Sheaffer), Ilea Shipp is expecting a much-improved Waldron squad in year two at the helm. The Mohawks return leading scorer Alyssa Benson, plus senior center Audrey Hogg (6 ppg, 5 rpg, 2 spg) and sophomore Emerson Lindsey, who will play a large role in their rotation after leading the team in field goal percentage last season. Freshman guard/forward Grace Fischer is expected to start contributing right away.

Follow Brian Haenchen on Twitter at @Brian_Haenchen.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana high school girls basketball Class A season preview 2023-24