While we will get into the conference breakdowns on the girls side coming up, we start by looking at a handful of the outlier schools in the Outside the Huddle coverage area that are not in one of the four main conferences.
What can you expect out of these area schools?
WARSAW
Expect more on Warsaw coming up soon, but they are well worth mentioning more than once. Warsaw returns its top five scorers from a season ago in Brooke Winchester, Abbey Peterson, Joslyn Bricker, Brooke Zartman and Alexis Neely.
Bricker led the way with 12.6 points per game despite coming off the bench for the first half of the season and established herself as one of the best players in Northeast Indiana, regardless of class. Winchester recently committed to Ball State and to have two legit Division 1 players at the front of your lineup is huge.
Norwell, Snider, Carroll, Columbia City and Homestead all on the agenda this season and it means some really great clashes for the Tigers.
BLACKHAWK CHRISTIAN
The Braves return a core of eight players from last season’s 13-11 squad and many who. have been playing and contributing on the varsity level for multiple total seasons.
6-foot-3 Allie Boyer is a high end post player that comes off a good volleyball season and will look to follow up from her 13.5 points per game last season that included good wins over the likes of Bishop Dwenger and Adams Central. Ema Kline too returns for another varsity season after averaging nine points per game for the Braves. Blackhawk Christian also brings back a pair of five point per game guards in Kenzie Kinnison and Malea Steele.
Look for more out of the other four returns, who all contributed on the varsity level last season. Avery Elsworth will bolster the back court while the interior depth will be assisted by Cali Hirshleman and Addie Koehlinger. The Braves will also bring back guard Maya Barrand.
“We are very experienced with most of our team returning from last season. We will need to stay focused on the day to day and trust the process. This group has a lot of potential and are really hungry to get better and work hard,” head coach Steph Gongaware said. “You can see it in their eyes that they just want to learn and get better each time they step on the court. We are ready and excited to use the talents and abilities God has given us to glorify Him this season.”
LAKEWOOD PARK
Lakewood Park took another step in the right direction to being an area contender in Class 1A yet again last season, going 10-14 and falling just short of the .500 mark by not having more than two straight wins during the season.
Yet, they got to see the breakout of Ava McGrade and that has been a big push for the program. The junior averaged 16 points per game and her big scoring outputs put her and the Panthers squarely on the map as an opponent to not overlook. Combo Jade Carnahan (12.6 ppg/10.4 rpg) is right there with McGrade at the top of a team that returns seven varsity players and could add substantial depth. Grace Kamleiter (4 ppg) returns alongside McGrade in the back court, as does Campbell Warner while Lilia West and Riah Johnson (3.5 rpg) can both contribute at guard and forward positions; forward Sullivan Nolot is also back.
Lakewood could see players add to their depth throughout the season. Grace Merkel, Hannah Jacquay and Danica Kessel all join up, while Claire Moughler and Luci Young are up from the junior varsity. Freshman Gracelynn Martin could also see some minutes. Merkel returns to the team after averaging five points per game two years ago as a sophomore.
“If we want to be successful this season we need the 100% buy-in we have seen from the end of last season and this summer. We have been competitive and bought in, if that continues we could have a successful year,” third year head coach Jared Estep said. “We must get after it defensively and buy into being tough as a team in every way possible. If we take care of the ball, defend, and buy in, we will be solid. I really like this group and how they have helped build our culture for the last few years.”
WHITKO
Whitko posted their best season last year (9-14) since the 2016-2017 season and some may say they could ruffle some feathers in the Three Rivers Conference this winter.
Kloe Krieg leads the returning group after averaging 10.3 points and 2.3 steals per game last season. As a multi year varsity starter, Krieg has been the cornerstone for Whitko’s rebuild over her career and a lot is expected of her during her senior season. Krieg will play inside and out with Gwen Howard (4 ppg, 6.6 reg) returning on the interior as well. Whitko also brings back guards Braisha Harrison (9.9 ppg) and Adriyanna Phillips (8.5 ppg).
The Wildcats will turn to three other guards new to the varsity rotation to add to the lineup with junior Isabel Braconi, sophomore Reese Stonebraker and freshman Jayma Stonebraker.
“I believe we will be more competitive than we have been in the last couple of seasons,” head coach Justin Jordan said. “We return four starters and the girls have really bought into what I’ve been emphasizing the last couple of years.”
MANCHESTER
The Squires are led by the return of seven players who saw varsity action last year, including guard Brookelynn Buzzard from last season’s 6-17 team. Buzzard led Manchester with 16 points per game last season as a sophomore. Hadley West and Peyton Ream will join her again in the back court.
Up front, Manchester will lean heavily on forward Gracie Lauer, who was second in scoring last season at 7.5 points per game while also pulling down a team best 7.2 rebounds per contest. 6-foot-2 Kim Schroll will also addd presence in the interior after a 4.3 point and 4 rebound per game effort last season. Molly Schannep also returns for Manchester.
Manchester is looking for their first winning season since 2018-2019. Three freshmen – Emma Walker, Ava Sautter and Allie Egolf – will also see some varsity time.
“This season we have a lot of experienced players coming back. Defensively, this team has the potential to create chaos, but will need to work hard and communicate,” head coach Allison Kauffman said. “Getting the ball inside to the paint will be key to our offensive success.”
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