THE TEAM TO BEAT
Carroll (21-2)
The Chargers are perfect on the season against teams in northeast Indiana – with their two losses coming to Hamilton Southeastern and Penn.
In addition, Coach Mark Redding’s team is a perfect 7-0 against sectional foes, including a pair of wins over both Snider and East Noble.
Senior Emily Parrett is the team’s leading scorer, but the roster is dominated by underclassmen who have blossomed under Redding. Carroll’s ability to go deep into its bench allows it to make wholesale substitutions without losing much in the way of effectiveness on the floor and keeps the team fresh over four quarters.
The Chargers have won four straight sectional titles and are the clear favorite here for No. 5.
THE CONTENDER
Snider (12-7)
Yes, the Panthers have lost to Carroll twice this season, but the second defeat came just days ago in a game that Snider led by 18 points in the first half.
In the end, it was the Chargers getting the four-point victory, but the game showed just how far that Snider has come under Coach Akilah Sims over the course of the season.
Four of Snider’s top five scorers are freshmen, showing both promise for the future but unfamiliarity for a fair amount of the stars entering their first postseason.
THE OTHERS
Northrop (8-11)
A solid month of January gave way to a rough February for the Bruins, who enter the sectional having lost three straight and four of their last six.
Tiauna White will be a problem against any team in this field – having averaged over 15 points and seven rebounds per game.
Northrop was able to knock off DeKalb, its first-round foe, by a single point towards the beginning of the season.
East Noble (9-14)
Likely to be the foe for Carroll in the semifinal, the Knights are led by a trio of seniors in Avan Beiswanger, Carly Turner and Karly Kirkpatrick.
Unfortunately, East Noble has already lost to the Chargers twice this season – once by 44 points and a second time by 29 points.
DeKalb (3-19)
If there is an upset to be had in this sectional, it could the Barons putting a scare into Northrop in the opening round. The Bruins edged DeKalb by just one in the regular season in a low-scoring affair.
DeKalb does not have the personnel to compete for a sectional title, but it could be a surprising team in Friday’s semifinals.
North Side (1-20)
The Legends have won one postseason game this century. Considering North lost to East Noble, its opening foe in the sectional, by 41 points in mid-December, we don’t see it adding to that win total this year.
BREAKOUT PLAYER ALERT
Saniya Jackson, Carroll
The sophomore dropped a career-high 26 points on Snider last Friday, including a perfect 7-of-7 from the free throw line. She is streaky, but when she is on she can be tough to contain. The Chargers do not need superb individual efforts to win because they are so deep, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see Jackson go off a game or two.
Johnea Donahue, Snider
Three straight games of 20-plus points is how the freshman ended the regular season. That streak included a 21-point effort against Carroll last Friday.
Despite being a rookie in the postseason, Donahue is fearless on the boards and quick-handed enough to get some steals and work the ball in transition.
If Snider and Carroll collide for a third time this season, could Donahue help the Panthers finish what they couldn’t in the regular-season finale?
SCHEDULE
For a complete schedule of all area Sectionals, click here.
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