THE TEAM TO BEAT
ADAMS CENTRAL (13-10)
The Flying Jets have one of the toughest roads if they want to defend their title but still have to be leaned on as the favorites. Technically they are one of just three teams with above .500 records, but this is a balanced field in many parts. A big positive is having championship game experience as the Flying Jets have been to the finals of a bracket five times in the past three seasons with three straight ACAC Tournament final appearances and back to back Sectional final game; they are 2-3 in those contests. But you can’t replace experience and the Flying Jets have plenty of that, which is what leads their expectations.
McKenna Dietsch continue to be a pace setter and in this setting, you can expect her to have the ball in her hands more often than not. Dietsch (12.3 points per game) is shooting the ball well inside the arc at 54 percent and it will be interesting to see if the Adams Central leading scorer amps up her aggression more to attack the basket. Sage Hammond has had a breakout senior campaign with 10.7 points and 8.7 rebounds per game.
THE CONTENDER
BLUFFTON (12-10)
The Tigers are looking to return to their fourth straight Sectional title while hoping to capture a third title in that time. This year, they will have to do it off their home court and under a first year head coach. What keeps them highly in the argument is Emme Boots. The senior has never not made the Sectional final game as a four year starter who is doing what you want of someone who has started for four years: she is playing her best basketball. She has scored in single figures just twice all season and has scored 20 or more points on six occasions. Boots has the experience, the drive and scoring chops to be a difference.
The challenge for Bluffton is to see who steps into the secondary role consistently. Zoe Barger is very capable of having big games and getting opposing bigs in foul trouble. But if she isn’t on, Bluffton will need Natalie Lehrman or Monroe Heller to step in and make a big difference. Consistency is a key for this entire team, who has put together a solid season but have not won back-to-back games since they opened the season with five straight victories.
THE OTHERS
EASTSIDE (11-10)
The home team is a dangerous one. Not just because that is always fair to say in Sectional play, but because Eastside is considerably dangerous when they are clicking. Like most other teams in this Sectional, it is consistency that has alluded them, but wins over the likes of Bellmont, Blackhawk Christian and Woodlan show how powerful they can be. This is another team that may rely on their wings, but have the full capability of going inside when needed with Ally King’s physicality being important and Grace Kreischer still developing as a long option inside. The Kesslers (Sullivan and Skye) are arguably the two best shooters in this Sectional. Don’t be shocked to see Eastside rise to the top and challenge for their first Sectional title since 2016.
SOUTH ADAMS (9-12)
The Starfires seem to see a new player come in and make waves every season at this point, which is helpful when they do it at a young age so you are just stacking talent. They’ve put together steady season but are 1-3 against Sectional opponents and those games haven’t been close. South Adams has lacked, say it with me, consistency with a mix of solid wins and bad losses. This is a very young team and this experience will go a long way in developing them. They have a really solid scorer in each class with Kristen Wynn (junior), Peyton Pries (sophomore) and Macy Pries (freshman) with just rostered senior. They have upset potential, but this very much a program on the build.
CHURUBUSCO (5-17)
The Eagles are trying to find ways to put the ball in the basket more consistently, averaging just 36 points per game. While senior Mariah Hosted has been honing a bevy of things most games, there just isn’t a load of experience with this group in being relied on heavily. The senior class has done well but their shooting percentages are down. Churubusco is going to find a groove again at some point under coach David Goodwell, but this Sectional probably won’t be it. A benefit is they have the chance to get a postseason win for the first time since 2014-15. Their first round meeting with two-win Whitko is actually very intriguing with the young pieces and fiery coaches each team has.
WHITKO (2-19)
Save for junior Kylie Fugett, this is a team full of underclassmen who are learning that varsity ball is full of taking bumps. It is a tough lesson to learn, but all accounts say that coach Justin Jordan’s team is full of tough young ladies. This won’t be their year, but Whitko is another of those area teams that you can just see building up in a quicker manner and not lingering low for long. Freshman Kloe Krieg is one to watch in the future and in a first round matchup with Churubusco.
CANTERBURY (0-14)
Another tough year for a Cavalier program as they sit winless heading into a first round meeting with Sectional favorite Adams Central. The Cavaliers are searching for their first Sectional game win since 2017-18.
BREAKOUT PLAYER ALERT
SAGE HAMMOND, ADAMS CENTRAL
As previously mentioned, Hammond has had a great final season stepping in as the primary interior force for Adams Central. She can be a double double machine and traditionally in the postseason, it is teams with a better inside presence that thrive. That for sure is Hammonds’ forte.
MACY PRIES, SOUTH ADAMS
The SAC has been so star freshman heavy this year, that other conference’s freshmen don’t get the attention they deserve and that include Pries. Just like her sister did last year, this Pries has kind of taken over games and made the Starfires dangerous with scorers. She kicked off her career with five straight double digit games and have never wavered much since.
SCHEDULE
For a complete schedule of all area Sectionals, click here.
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