IHSAA girls basketball preview: What to know about Central Indiana Class 2A teams

Here's a sectional-by-sectional look at the Central Indiana girls high school basketball teams in Class 2A.

2022-23 state championship game: Forest Park 38, Lapel 37

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

Sectional 40

Alexandria Monroe (17-6)

Lapel (22-8)* — The Bulldogs are coming off their first state championship game appearance in program history, and with senior Grace College commit Madelyn Poynter (12 ppg) and sophomore wing Laniah Wills (16 ppg, 12 rpg) both returning, they're poised for a similarly successful encore. Poynter and Wills will be joined by senior returners AnnaLee Stow and Rosemary Likens, with a number of other young players (and senior Trine commit Jocelyn Love) ready to step up and help fill in for the three lost to graduation. The No. 1 item on Lapel's to-do list: Replace its starting point guard.

Monroe Central (12-10)

Muncie Burris (0-16)

Wapahani (19-5)

Wes-Del (4-19)

Winchester (19-7)

Sectional 42

Eastern Hancock (23-4)* — The Royals won their third sectional title and first-ever regional championship last season. They're aiming even higher in 2023-24. And for good reason. They should have a nice inside-out combo with senior forward Ruby White (9 ppg, 6 rpg, 2 bpg) and freshman point guard McKenzie Koch, who's already drawing Division I interest, and return senior guard Sammie Bolding, who averaged over 12 ppg. Guard Mackenzie O'Neal (7 ppg, 5 rpg) rounds out the key returners, though seniors Sydney Springman and Brooklyn Willis will also be contributors. Eastern Hancock plays sectional foe Triton Central on Nov. 11, travels to Lapel on Dec. 12 and will play in the Lawrence North tournament on Dec. 30.

Scecina (12-12) — The Crusaders graduated 10 seniors, but are pulling from a JV team that posted a winning record last season plus a freshman class that includes many members of their City championship Cadet A team. Senior forward Mayana Navarra is expected to step into a bigger role after averaging about two points, two rebounds and 10 minutes per game last season. A couple youngsters to watch: Sophomore point guard Reggi'nae Potts and freshman guard/forward Ainsley Brown.

Irvington Prep (1-11) — The Ravens topped Christel House, 37-18, for their lone win last season. They are coached by Nate Johnson, who is in his seventh year at the school.

Riverside (2-16) — The Argonauts, who beat Purdue Poly and Victory College Prep last season, are slated to open the 2023-24 campaign vs. Greenwood Christian on Nov. 1.

Triton Central (18-5) — The Tigers graduated a couple key pieces in Lizzie Graham and Hallie Schweitzer, but they'll be loaded for bear in 2023-24. Maryrose Felling is one reason for excitement. The 5-8 guard averaged 13 points, five rebounds and two assists per game as a freshman, and will likely lead the offense with senior center Brooklyn Bailey, who was good for 10 ppg, 8 rpg and 2 apg. Triton Central also returns three other seniors in Kenedy Brown (the team's top defender), Hailey Harris and Lucy Spall, plus a junior wing in Madison Collins.

Sectional 43

Covenant Christian (7-16) — The Warriors have a big hole to fill at the top of their lineup following the graduation of Ella Crane, who averaged 12.7 points and 10.2 rebounds over 15 games. Those scoring responsibilities figure to fall (at least in part) to junior point guard Avery Reichart, who was good for eight points, two assists and two steals over 23 games.

Park Tudor (15-7) — The graduation of leading scorers Gretchen Farley and Desha Van Veldhuizen will likely be complicated by the absence of senior Dominae Butler, a Western Michigan soccer commit. She was the team's second-leading scorer last year, but missed her senior soccer season due to injury.

Sheridan (13-9) — Watch out for Kenzie Garner, folks. The 6-0 junior averaged around 19 points, 10 rebounds, three assists, four steals and a block per game, with a solid .430 FG%. She'll be bolstered by the return of Cecilia Timme, who missed her sophomore season due to an ACL injury, plus Shelby Eaton and Nova Cross. Newcomers Sadie Timme and Brielle Garner are expected to play key roles this season, as well.

University (20-5)* — Butler alum Lisa Pryor inherits an extremely young team for her first season, with the Trailblazers having graduated about 74% of their scoring from last year's sectional championship team. But they have a couple upperclassmen to build around in senior Keira Bright (6 ppg, 2 apg) and junior Taylor Seay (8 ppg, 3 rpg), and a collection of underclassmen ready to compete for minutes, a group which includes sophomores Mackenzie Feeney and Hannah Grubbs, both of whom are strong on the glass.

Follow Brian Haenchen on Twitter at @Brian_Haenchen.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana high school girls basketball Class 2A season preview 2023-24