Top contenders, players to watch in each Southwestern Indiana girls basketball sectional
Welcome to the best month of the high school girls basketball season.
The Indiana High School Athletic Association state tournament tips off this week starting with the sectional round. Will any teams from Southwestern Indiana make it to Indianapolis on Feb. 24? You have to win this Saturday first.
Who from the Evansville area has the best chances to win? Players to keep an eye on this week? Here is a breakdown of each local sectional with the favorites to win each field based on the teams' body of work and the blind draw.
More: How a SW Indiana girls basketball team is rallying around coach's breast cancer battle
Class 4A at Harrison
Favorites: Central (18-5), Castle (12-8)
The top teams in this field when playing at their peak. Central gets the edge if you favor the side with the best individual player. Castle gets the nod if you prefer depth and shooting (see: 16 made 3-pointers in regular season against the Bears). We might find out Friday night.
Contenders: Reitz (14-5), Jasper (17-7), North (13-10)
This field is potentially the deepest in the area. Jasper has flown under the radar but posted its most regular season wins in the 21st century. North, a talented but inexperienced roster, might get needed momentum with a first-round victory. Reitz has the best odds of this group with a bye opposite the favorites.
Players to Watch: Libby Blythe, North (13.0 ppg, 4.1 rpg); Bailey Hape, Reitz (13.8 ppg, 4.7 rpg); Brooke Kleiser, Jasper; Jordan Mackey, Harrison; Norah Miller, Reitz (16.6 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 5.1 spg); Aleyna Quinn, Castle; Carlee Rogers, Jasper; Jordan Scott, Castle; Maddy Shirley, Central (19.0 ppg, 8.2 rpg); Brooke Silva, North (10.1 ppg, 4.1 rpg); Mya Skelton, Central (9.7 ppg, 4.6 rpg); Bella Thomas, Harrison.
Class 3A at Southridge
Favorites: No. 10 Washington (19-4), Princeton (19-4)
The Hatchets have the pieces to make a multiple-weekend run in this tournament. It's even more difficult to beat them if perimeter shots are falling. The biggest threat is defending champion Princeton with an experienced lineup and strong pressure defense. A potential must-see matchup on Friday.
Contenders: Heritage Hills (17-5), Southridge (12-10)
The Patriots have good odds to make the championship provided they defeat Vincennes Lincoln first. Their only losses have come to teams with a combined 89 wins. The Raiders get the first shot at Washington but can't be counted out with two All-PAC players and a methodical style.
Players to Watch: Kenna Garland, Washington (9.9 ppg); Ari Gerkin, Vincennes Lincoln (14.1 ppg); Hadley Leibering, Heritage Hills (10.4 ppg, 6.6 rpg); Maddux Marshall, Southridge; Alyssa McCutchan, Pike Central (8.2 ppg); Avah Montgomery, Southridge; Katie Reed, Washington (13.6 ppg, 6.4 rpg); Macy Sexton, Vincennes Lincoln (9.7 ppg); Lexi Smith, Princeton (11.0 ppg); Carlie Still, Heritage Hills (11.3 ppg, 3.9 rpg); Azaryon Wesley, Princeton (10.0 ppg, 5.1 rpg).
More: Courier & Press high school girls basketball power rankings entering the postseason
Class 3A at Gibson Southern
Favorites: No. 8 Memorial (20-3), No. 3 Gibson Southern (19-4)
The top teams in this field and possibly in 3A for Southern Indiana. The Tigers won the regular season meeting, but this time it's in Fort Branch. Both have athletic guards who can shoot. Both have a 6-foot freshman inside who could be the difference. Another year where this game likely decides the sectional.
Contenders: Mater Dei (9-13), Boonville (3-19)
The Wildcats are by all metrics the third-best team here but get Gibson Southern on Tuesday. The Pioneers are also the favorites to advance to the championship from the top half of the bracket.
Players to Watch: Rylee Canaan, Memorial (10.7 ppg, 5.3 rpg); Brylee Delano, Mater Dei; Chloey Graham, Gibson Southern (17.2 ppg, 3.7 rpg); Sophie Johnson, Memorial (13.0 ppg, 4.8 rpg); Avery Kelley, Memorial (14.7 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 3.8 apg); Emily Parker, Boonville; Arlissa Sharber, Mount Vernon (8.7 ppg, 7.7 rpg); Gabby Spink, Gibson Southern (20.0 ppg, 5.9 apg, 5.1 rpg); Chelsea Turner, Mater Dei; Ali Ward, Boonville.
Class 2A at North Knox
Favorites: No. 1 North Knox (23-1), No. 2 South Knox (22-1)
The semifinals could be quite the scene should North Knox and South Knox win their openers. A shame it's not in the championship — thanks, blind draw. These are two of the best teams in 2A and the winner has a potential road to Indianapolis. Ella Bobe recently became the all-time leading scorer for the Spartans.
Contenders: Sullivan (18-6), Linton-Stockton (16-6), Eastern Greene (13-10)
This sectional is deeper than some realize with three other teams with winning records. The Golden Arrows were the WIC runner-ups but get the toughest draw starting with North Knox. Linton, led by senior guard Bradie Chambers, will be the favorite to come out of the top half. Eastern Greene also received a tough draw against South Knox but has the program's all-time leading scorer in Keylee Hudson.
Players to Watch: Ella Bobe, South Knox (18.8 ppg); Bradie Chambers, Linton-Stockton; Lexis Drake, Sullivan; Carley Higgins, Paoli (16.6 ppg, 7.5 rpg); Kendall Hill, South Knox (11.7 ppg); Jericho Hopper, Paoli (12.3 ppg, 5.2 rpg); Keylee Hudson, Eastern Greene (17.3 ppg, 5.3 rpg); Sydney Jerrells, Linton-Stockton; Alex McKinley, North Knox (12.7 ppg, 3.4 rpg); Brynlee Perkins, North Daviess; Lexi Primus, North Knox (13.2 ppg, 3.9 rpg); Jacie Wilson, Sullivan.
Class 2A at South Spencer
Favorites: Crawford County (17-6)
The co-PLAC champions come into the week as slight favorites. The Wolfpack owns wins against every sectional opponent aside from Forest Park.
Contenders: South Spencer (11-11), Tell City (11-11), North Posey (9-14)
Keep an eye on the Rebels after a solid finish to the regular season. Molly Schulte is playing terrific basketball as of late too. Tell City had its best regular season since 2019 and would await in the semifinal. North Posey must beat Crawford first but is a possible sleeper.
Players to Watch: Jenna Berg, Forest Park; Reese Ford, Tell City (14.7 ppg, 4.4 rpg); Alexis Harris, South Spencer (10.5 ppg, 3.2 apg); Alyssa Heath, North Posey (10.4 ppg, 6.5 rpg); Carly Schnell, Forest Park; Molly Schulte, South Spencer (16.5 ppg, 6.0 apg, 4.3 rpg); Emery Stroud, Crawford County; Maddyson Sturgeon, Crawford County; Jazalyn Ward, North Posey (8.3 ppg, 5.2 rpg).
Class 1A at Barr-Reeve
Favorites: No. 6 Springs Valley (20-4), No. 7 Orleans (19-3)
The Orange County rivals could meet in the championship. Springs Valley, the co-PLAC champion, won the regular season meeting 42-38 on Dec. 5.
Contenders: Vincennes Rivet (12-11), Barr-Reeve (10-12), Loogootee (8-14)
Rivet's has been on the cusp of a big win this season with its only loss in this sectional field in overtime at Springs Valley. Barr-Reeve and Loogootee renew their rivalry in round one with the winner getting their shot at No. 6 Blackhawks on Friday.
Players to Watch: Callie Alston, Orleans (13.3 ppg, 5.0 rpg); Hannah Bledsoe, Barr-Reeve (10.3 ppg, 8.5 rpg); Maddie Carnes, Springs Valley; Alaina Diamond, Loogootee; Maci Eckerty, Springs Valley; Lexi Frey, Vincennes Rivet (14.9 ppg); Emily Hawkins, Loogootee; Mary Herman, Vincennes Rivet (11.7 ppg); Chelsea Ralph, Orleans (10.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg); Willow Thompson, Barr-Reeve (6.2 ppg, 3.1 rpg).
More: Maura Muensterman was a star at Mater Dei. She's now returned to the program as a coach.
Class 1A at Wood Memorial
Favorites: No. 12 Wood Memorial (12-10), Tecumseh (14-10)
The blind draw gave us a rematch of last year's final in the opening round. Tecumseh and Wood Memorial could possibly be the top teams in the field as well. The Braves defeated the Trojans, 46-43, on Nov. 14.
Contenders: Northeast Dubois (13-9), Evansville Christian (12-9)
This semifinal is another rematch from last year. ECS beat Northeast Dubois in double overtime though in December. The winner on Friday will pose a threat to Tecumseh or Wood Memorial with the margin between teams in this field slim.
Players to Watch: Kylie Anastasiades, Cannelton (8.3 ppg, 5.2 rpg); Jenna Donohoo, Tecumseh (14.1 ppg); Bella Hall, Evansville Christian; Hannah Higgs, Evansville Christian; Alena Holder, Tecumseh (11.0 ppg); Emmersen Kalb, Northeast Dubois; Katelyn Marx, Tecumseh (10.2 ppg); Josie Page, Wood Memorial; Lyllee Schnell, Northeast Dubois; Katie Sevier, Wood Memorial.
Follow Courier & Press sports reporter Kyle Sokeland on X (formerly Twitter) @kylesokeland.
This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: IHSAA girls basketball Evansville sectional 2024 preview
