Insider: 10 takeaways from 2024 IHSAA girls basketball sectional draw

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The brackets have been drawn!

Here are nine takeaways involving Central Indiana teams, plus some quick hits on the regional draw. For a statewide perspective, check out the latest episode of The Scorers Table!

History repeats itself in Sectional 8

The path through the sectional of death is nearly identical to what it was last year with Zionsville (16-5) awaiting the winner of Hamilton Southeastern (18-3) vs. Westfield (12-9) and Nobesville (13-8) awaiting the winner of Carmel (9-11) vs. Fishers (15-5). The only difference from last year is the byes were flipped (Noblesville was on the top half of the bracket) and HSE received the other bye instead of Zionsville.

Can't mess it up if you basically copy-and-paste from the year before, I suppose.

It's going to be a really fun few nights at HSE.

The Pendleton Heights bracket is ripe for chaos

They really leaned into the potential for parity in Sectional 9.

It's been a decade since Anderson (8-13) last won a sectional and though it lost to Mt. Vernon (8-13) during the regular season, that first-round game certainly looks to be up-for-grabs.

On the other side, Pendleton Heights (14-7) shouldn't have much trouble with Muncie Burris, but it lost to New Palestine (11-9) on Jan. 12. New Pal's first-round foe, Greenfield-Central (15-6), hasn't won a sectional game since 2019, but beat the Dragons in overtime in early December.

The battle for Lawrence Township

Lawrence Central (22-1) has not won a sectional game since 2001 and has not won a sectional title since 1987. The Bears shouldn't have much trouble clearing Crispus Attucks in Wednesday's opener, but advancing to the sectional championship game will require clearing rival Lawrence North (16-4) in the semifinals, a fitting conclusion to this chapter of their rivalry.

The other first-round game — North Central (6-15) vs. Warren Central (11-9) — feels like a total coin flip. There are things to like about both teams: NC hung with Lawrence Central and has some experienced players to guide the newcomers; Warren Central has a pair of high-scoring standouts in Denyha and Denell Jacobs. They play Friday night.

Brownsburg vs. Avon obligation met

Not to brag, but I totally called the first-round matchup between Avon (8-12) and Brownsburg (11-11).

There's some juice to the 2024 girls basketball installment, scheduled for Tuesday at Avon. The Orioles snapped a 27-game losing streak vs. Brownsburg back in December (first win in the series since Jan. 3, 2008), but the Bulldogs exacted their revenge with a lopsided win at the county tournament three weeks later.

Avon has not won a sectional since 1993.

The winner here advances to face Plainfield, with Terre Haute North (7-16) and South (2-21) on the other side of the bracket. Would it have been preferred to have Brownsburg-Avon as a semifinal, with the winner to face Plainfield (14-7) on Saturday? Yes. But we'll take what we can get.

Favorable draws for Hamilton Heights and in the Cascade sectional

The Huskies (19-2) hope to send Camryn Runner, Ella Hickok and the Class of 2024 off with a fourth consecutive sectional championship. And doing so will not require beating Jay County (19-2) early in the tournament — a nice change of pace from the past couple years. Hamilton Heights also avoided Yorktown (13-8), which took the defending regional champions to overtime in last year's sectional final.

Another positive outcome from Sunday: Hendricks County rivals Danville (18-3) and Tri-West (11-9) were set on a Saturday night collision course in Sectional 25. Danville came up short last year vs. Cascade, but enters this year's tournament (mostly) healthy. The Warriors beat the Bruins twice during the regular season, though Tri-West is seemingly on the upswing following last year's 7-17 finish.

The road through Bishop Chatard

Brebeuf Jesuit (15-6) is enjoying a tremendous season. Its 15 wins are its most since 2006-07 and it has a pair of young standouts in sophomore Robyn Pate (awaiting an update on her status after she was injured Friday vs. Guerin Catholic) and freshman Jailen Bowling. Its reward? A Tuesday night showdown with host Bishop Chatard (14-7). That's a really tough draw for a team that's looking to win its first sectional game since 2007, but the Braves close out the regular season vs. Chatard on Friday and only lost by a point in last year's sectional opener.

The bingo balls blow it, again, in Sectional 42 (Scecina)

Eastern Hancock and Triton Central have been the odds-on favorite in their sectional the past couple years (at least). But have they been situated on opposite sides of the bracket? Of course not. And it won't happen this year, either, with the Royals and Tigers slated to play in Friday's first semifinal, marking the fifth consecutive season they've shared the same half of the bracket.

I suppose that's better than playing on opening night as was the case last season, but man, this specific chapter of the rivalry deserved better. This is the last run for the Royals' Sammie Bolding, Ruby White and Brooklyn Willis (among others) — a historic senior class — while Brooklyn Bailey is having a tremendous senior season for the Tigers.

We're also guaranteed a glimpse at the next chapter of this rivalry with EH freshman Kenzie Koch vs. TC sophomore Maryrose Felling. Would that be better saved for a Saturday night? Yes. Absolutely. But we're trying to keep the vibes positive.

Lapel's road back to Gainbridge begins in the incinerator

We're the four best teams in the Lapel sectional, of course they're going to stick us all in the same side of the bracket.

Get it? Like the TikTok trend?

Anyways, yeah, we'll be forced to watch the four best teams in Lapel's sectional pick each other off between Wednesday and Friday with Wapahani-Monroe Central followed by Lapel vs. Alexandria Monroe.

The host Bulldogs (18-4) are the favorites, having beaten Alexandria Monroe (17-4) twice and Monroe Central (14-6), with the season finale vs. Wapahani (16-5) scheduled for Tuesday. But seeing as none of those 14-plus win teams managed to draw Winchester (9-12), Muncie Burris (1-13) or Wes-Del (1-3) is disappointing.

A name to know from Alexandria: Jacklynn Hosier. The junior is averaging around 26 points, four assists and six steals. Knocking out Laniah Wills and Maddy Poynter on opening night will be a sizable challenge, but Hosier is something special.

Park Tudor sectional organized as if it were seeded

There is a clear pecking order in Sectional 43: Sheridan (15-4), University (9-10), Covenant Christian (6-15) and Park Tudor (8-8). That's the order they would have been seeded in and, coincidentally, that's the way they're organized in the bracket with Sheridan vs. Park Tudor and University vs. Covenant Christian.

A Sheridan-University final seems fairly likely here (University beat Covenant Chrisitan, 60-27, on Jan. 6). But Covenant Christian can grind a team down (see: City semifinals vs. Cathedral), so don't be surprised if the rematch is a closer affair.

Sheridan will be a heavy favorite in the final with Kenzie Garner (20 ppg) and Cecilia Timme (9 ppg).

Regional lookahead

Some quick hits from the regional brackets…

• We should see South Bend Washington vs. Lake Central in a rematch of last year's semistate semifinal.

• If McCutcheon wins its sectional, freshman phenom Lillie Graves will make her regional debut against either a stacked Columbia City outfit or perennial powerhouse Homestead, which is led by sophomore Mya Epps.

• Barring an upset, Fort Wayne Snider will face the winner of Sectional 8 for a third consecutive state tournament. It lost to eventual state champion Noblesville in the 2022 regional championship and runner-up Fishers in last year's semistate semifinal.

• Franklin was a big winner as it won't have to worry about Center Grove (or Mooresville) or Jennings County (or Bedford North Lawrence) in regionals.

• Indian Creek likely awaits whoever emerges from the Bishop Chatard sectional. If it is the Trojans, that'll be a heck of a game — and a third straight postseason meeting.

Follow Brian Haenchen on Twitter at @Brian_Haenchen.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana girls basketball: 10 takeaways from IHSAA sectional draw