IHSAA girls basketball Class A sectional preview: Schedule, players to watch, predictions

It is sectional season for Indiana high school girls basketball. Let’s take a closer look at the Class A field with storylines, the local matchups, players to watch and predictions:

Sectional draw takeaways:10 things that stood out to our Insider

Sectional previews:4A |3A | 2A

Girls sectionals:Pairings, schedule for 2022-23 tournament

Class A

Team to beat: Lanesville (22-2). Though ranked second to Tri (21-1) in the coaches poll, the Eagles are rated No. 1 in Class A (24th overall) in RPI and have played one of the toughest schedules among teams in their class with two games against defending champion Tecumseh, plus 4A Evansville Memorial, 4A Floyd Central and 3A Scottsburg. Senior Linzie Wernert leads the team in points (13.6) and rebounds (7), while sophomore Hadley Crosier is tops in assists (3.5) and steals (3.3). Another sophomore to know: Shelby Allen, who's pulling in six boards and pouring in 7.5 points per game. 

Next best: Tri (21-1). The Titans were undefeated entering Thursday's regular-season finale vs. Eastern Hancock (L, 57-47) with a notable win over 4A Greenfield-Central.  Tri, which is led by senior forward Bailey Parham (22.3 ppg, 10.6 rpg, 3.5 apg, 4 spg, 4 bpg), is one of three teams with 10-plus wins in its sectional, but beat both teams during the regular season. 

A star to watch: Trinity Lutheran senior Bailey Tabeling, an Ohio commit, is averaging 23 points through 23 games, and cleared 2,000 career points earlier this month. Tabeling is also averaging nearly nine points, three blocks and three steals for the Cougars, who open against Shawe Memorial on Tuesday. 

Welcome back Bulldogs: Dugger's Union High School was wiped out by consolidation in 2013. But the Bulldogs (8-13) are back and in the IHSAA state tournament for the first time since their reopening. They'll play the winner of North Central (Farmsburg) and Shakamak on Friday. Evansville Christian is also making its postseason debut in Class A. 

Sectional 58 at Bethesda Christian

The skinny: This sectional provides arguably the most intrigue of the the host Patriots having recently returned their best player, Indiana Math & Science coming off the best regular season in program history, and Indiana Deaf having won a national championship earlier this month in California. 

Team to beat: Bethesda Christian (10-13). The Patriots hold wins over Traders Point Christian and Indiana Deaf, and have tested themselves against schedule consisting of mostly 3A and 2A teams, including University (twice), Brebeuf and Cascade. Paige Vawter and Sydney Goodin both averaged around 10 points, in the absence of 5-6 junior Kenzie Fulks (knee), who averaged 23 points and five assists over 23 games last season. She "eased" into the season with games against Brebeuf, University, Sheridan, TPC and Cascade. 

Next best: Indiana Math & Science (14-10). Giving the slightest of edges to IMSA here based on the bracket. The Knights beat TPC by 23 on Jan. 27, and have won six of seven entering sectionals. They are led by senior standouts Jalynn Webb (12 ppg, 6.1 spg) and DaNaisha Austin (11 ppg, 5 rpg), with junior Teleisha Norwood dishing out over three assists per game. [Shouts to Traders Point Christian freshman Lydia Hough, who leads the team with 10 points and four steals per game.]

Sleeper: Indiana Deaf (11-8). The Orioles have not beaten Bethesda Christian since Nov. 2018 (0-7). BUT their 37-26 loss on Nov. 15 was the closest finish since the 2020 sectional (lost by 13). Indiana Deaf generates around 16 steals and 31 rebounds per game, with junior Sophia Washcer and senior Seanna Baird averaging around 13-14 ppg. Junior Gianna Wheeler is pouring in close to 10 ppg, though she does not have stats since Jan. 14.

Prediction: Bethesda Christian over IMSA. Fulks has had a few games to shake off the rust. After helping Bethesda shake off Indiana Deaf on Friday, she returns to form in the final with a dazzling performance. 

Sectional 59 at Eminence

The skinny: Eminence has not won a sectional game since 2011. It has not brought home a sectional title since 1999. Is this the year one or both of those streaks end? It very well could be. The Eels boast the best record of the group and beat first-round foe Lutheran by 20 on Jan. 14. Unrelated: "The Eel Tank" might greatest name for a sectional venue in the history of forever. 

Team to beat: Eminence (15-6). The Eels' lineup is headlined by a trio of players – sophomore Sophia Saucerman, and juniors Natalie Hubbard and Danica Myers – who pour in 10-12 ppg, with Saucerman and Hubbard also averaging 8-9 rebounds and Myers dishing out around four assists. That solid foundation is bolstered junior Bella Dittimore, who's been good for around 8 ppg. Eminence has beaten Lutheran head-to-head as part of a schedule that also included Bethesda Christian, Purdue Poly Englewood, Monrovia and IMSA. 

Next best: Lutheran (5-17). Do not allow the Saints' record deceive you. They're a battle-tested bunch, having played against Triton Central, North Central, Cascade and Speedway. They have just one senior in their lineup, and are led by juniors Grace King (13 ppg, 9 rpg) and Caitlyn Brooks (16 ppg, 4 spg). 

Sleeper: Tindley (11-9). Fun fact: Four of the Tigers' five minutes leaders are freshman, including Taylor Cotham, a 5-9 guard who's been good for 10 points, five rebounds, four assists and three steals per game. Junior Alilyona McKeller leads the team in scoring at 13 ppg. Tindley did not play Greenwood Christian during the season, but it did beat semifinalist Central Christian, 56-18, in November and lost to Eminence by nine in December. 

Prediction: Eminence over Tindley. Long live The Eel Tank!

Sectional 60 at Southwestern (Shelbyville)

The skinny: Jac-Cen-Del has reached at least the sectional final in each of the past 19 seasons with 15 sectional titles, four regional crowns and a Class A state championship in 2016. The Eagles are once again the sectional favorites this season with a 12-win resume that includes a 5-0 record vs. sectional competition.

Team to beat: Jac-Cen-Del (12-11). It never hurts to have experience this time of year and JCD's lineup is led by a pair of juniors – Reagan Hughes (13 ppg, 3 spg) and Julia Meyer (13 ppg, 7 rpg, 3 apg, 3 spg) – and a senior (Olivia Neal (11 ppg, 6 rpg). Sophomore Kelsey Borgman (7.4 ppg) provides some scoring depth for the Tigers, who have won six of seven coming in. 

Local notes: Defending sectional champion Waldron (5-17) will face JCD in a rematch of last year's final, which required overtime. Waldron is paced by junior Alyssa Benson and senior Josee Larrison, who were averaging a combined 18 ppg through 18 games. Larrison's also good for around seven rpg. ... Host Southwestern (6-15) has won three straight following a four-game losing streak that included sectional foes Waldron, Morristown and JCD. ... A player to watch from Edinburgh (6-17): Gracie Crawhorn. The senior three-sport athlete was averaging nearly a double-double through her first 14 games with 13 points and eight rebounds per. 

Prediction: Jac-Cen-Del over Morristown (12-10). Another 20-point outing by sophomore Nevaeh Sanders propels the Yellow Jackets past Oldenburg Academy in the semifinals, but they fall short against JCD in a thrilling final. 

Follow Brian Haenchen on Twitter at @Brian_Haenchen.