The Northeast 8 Conference is always interesting at the top, if nothing else. While defending champion Columbia City is looked at with a lot of interest, there are plenty of teams chasing them who could contend.
In the eight seasons of the conference’s existence, five different schools have won at least a share of the NE8 title. Those shares, they happened three times in the last eight seasons so don’t think that one team will just run away ever inn the NE8.
THE FRONT RUNNER
COLUMBIA CITY
Last year’s success isn’t the only time that the Eagles have been a factor in the conference. In fact, they have won at least a share of three of the last four conference titles.
Addison Baxter leads a heavy returning guard presence, after putting up 18.5 points and 4.7 assists per game last season. She will be joined in the backcourt by leader Kyndra Sheets, who had 3.5 assists and 14 points per game. The Eagles have significant depth with Faith Frey (5.7 ppg), Tessa Tonkel (7.3 ppg/2.7 apg), Anisa Tonkel (2.5 ppg) and Molly Baker (12.5 ppg/6 rpg).
Columbia City will use two players up from the junior varsity in Sydney Moore and Torah Holler, while Laney Ziliak and Alivia Kidd are also up after splitting time last season.
“In order for Columbia City to be successful, we need to stay healthy and just play one game at a time; not get too far ahead of ourselves,” said coach Amy Shearer. “The ultimate goal is to peak at the end of the season when the state tournament begins.”
THE CONTENDERS
NORWELL
Norwell has had the most overall success in conference play since the NE8 started, winning or sharing a conference title five times in eight seasons. In their quest to win another one, they start off strong in returning Indiana Junior All-Star Kennedy Fuelling, who has asserted himself as one of the best players in program history after averaging 21.8 points and 3.5 steals per game. Fuelling though is just one of nine players with varsity experience returning. Fellow guards Makenzie Fuess (15.9 ppg), Vanessa Rosswurm (6 ppg/5.2 rpg), Annabele Johnson (4.6 ppg/2.2 spg), Lilly Norris (3.3 ppg), Ryland Graft (3.8 ppg) and Ali Riley are all back as well.
The post will be bolstered by the return of Dekota Hubble (5 ppg/5.3 rpg), who had a breakout year last season. She will be joined inside by the return of Haley Green and her 3.8 points and 4.9 rebounds per game. While Norwell is incredibly deep with returners, Addison Norris, Jada Dale, Ashley Waldman and Mekynzi Beck could all compete for minutes up form the JV level.
This group is incredibly special to me and to our community. These young ladies are committed leaders who have put in the work for each other. We return everyone and add from an undefeated JV, so we’re very excited and have set some really high goals. One of the ways we can achieve success is to embrace the strength of our schedule and compete as hard as we can,” said Norwell coach Eric Thornton.
“We add great competition with Northrop, Northridge, Lawrence North, and the Noblesville Tourney (Noblesville, Snider, and Valparaiso) to an already strong non-conference schedule. The NE8 is always tough as well. We’ve got to take advantage of those opportunities by going through those battles and becoming a much tougher-minded team. In close games in the tourney, we hope to have learned what it takes to come out on top. If we can go through those really hard experiences with the end in mind, this team can reach all of their goals.”
BELLMONT
Don’t forget about the Braves, who have finished third in the NE8 in three of the last four seasons. They hang around the top of the conference – which they last won in 2018-19 – because of a toughness that has been instilled in the program. And this season isn’t likely to be any different as they sit near the top of the heap again with a real chance to be at the very top. Andy Heim has spent 13 years running the program and has a real chance to make an impact again.
The impact comes in the fact the Braves return eight players from last season. Hailey Cole is expected to lead the charge for Bellmont after averaging 10.8 points and 7.6 rebounds and shooting 52.8 percent from the field last year. Emily Bleke averaged 8.3 points per game and is the second leading returning scorer. Also returning in the front court with Cole are Tessa Spiegel (5.9 ppg), Taylor Louis, Kam Jarvis and Gwen Laurent; meanwhile Bleke will get backcourt assistance from Arabelle Laurent and Macey Spiegel.
Kate Kitson, Lanie French and Ella Franze all could see varsity minutes as well.
“Our success will depend on our guard play. We need to be able to handle the pressure and be composed enough to be able to enter it into the post because that will be our strength,” Heim said. “I also think we need to shoot a better percentage from three this year. We are a really good shooting team but we need to show that in games.”
THE OTHERS (ALPHABETICALLY)
DEKALB
Ashley Cox is consistently one of the area’s more underrated players but if she can continue to affect winning at DeKalb, that underrated position won’t last much longer. Cox averaged 10.9 points, 4.7 rebounds and 3.2 steals per game last season and will lead the charge fo DeKalb. Natalie Fordyce returns to join Cox in the backcourt, as does Baylee Doster.
There is excitement at DeKalb about the incoming freshman class, three of whom may see some varsity action early and often this season. Guards Abbie Harris and Reese Schmidt and forward Grace Pfister will be part of the big Class of 2027. The Barons will also see some older players up from the junior varsity level in seniors Sienna Abbott, Sam Slavin and junior Bree Fordyce.
“We lost sox seniors and 67% of scoring from last year’s team. For us to be successful this year weneed to get up to varsity speed as quickly as possible. We have senior leadership who have been in the program for four years and have been successful at the JV level,” said DeKalb coach Noah Stuckey. They don’t have the experience at the varsity level and once they get up to speed, they will be able to have a great season.”
EAST NOBLE
East Noble will be in rare air as a NE8 team not only with a new coach but without a veteran coach as most of the coaches in the conference have a lot of experience. Now, Britain Issacs will take over the helm after spending time on the boys side at East Noble.
While East Noble graduated some of the players at the top of their lineup, they return second leading scorer Payton Quake after she scored 8.2 points and pulled down six rebounds per game. Classmate Bailea Bortner also returns after averaging 5.9 points and returning high 1.2 steals per contest. The Knights used several freshmen last year who will help again this season as sophomores with Kate Davis and Addison Deming.
HUNTINGTON NORTH
Despite the graduation of Taylor Double, don’t expect Huntington North to drop out of the top of the conference. They have built a steady program under Matt Hinds as he heads into his fifth season at the helm of Vikings. The Vikings return multiple players of substance from last season including a pair who had some really big moments that helped drive Huntington North’s overall success as they went 19-5 overall. Those two, Gracie Fields and Marissa Trout, are among the best players in the entire conference and Northeast Indiana. Each averaged 10 points, four rebounds and two steals per game last season.
Haiden Bailey really started to emerge throughout the season and should be comfortable with a more enhanced role after averaging six points and three assists last season. Elle McDonald will also return with varsity experience. 5-foot-10 Grace Michel is up from the junior varsity to add help in the post. The JV will also send up guard Abby Grube.
“In order for us to be successful this season we will need to stay healthy, understand who we are as a collective group, and work as hard as we possibly can to reach our full potential,” said Hinds.
LEO
The Lions were just below .500 last season at 11-12 and will bring back seven players to try and keep that positive momentum going forward with a big senior class. Kayla Adams (4 ppg/6.6 rpg) may be an undersized center but she has found ways to make major impacts. Abby Bovie will be joining Adams in the front court. three seniors will take turns supplying minutes in the backcourt. Maddy Beck, Emily Cogdell and Isabel Collins are all back and that is going to be a major help.
Sophomore Leah Shappell (7 ppg/5.8 rpg) brings a lot of diversity in her game. Though 6-foot tall, Shappell is far from just a post player as she can help Leo in bascially any way she is called upon to help in. Junior Malina Lape is back as well for Leo. Junior center Grace Busch is up from the junior varsity to add depth on the interior.
“These girls have worked really hard and had a great summer! To be successful, they will need to continue to get better at their new roles and work together on defense,” said Leo coach Carrie Shappell. They have a lot of different strengths and, if they continue to work hard and to grow together, this year should be a fun one!”
NEW HAVEN
As New Haven looks to gain traction again this season, off a three win campaign, it is a positive that they did only have one senior graduate. The Bulldogs will return leading scorer Janiya Johnson after she put up 13 points, 4.7 points and 2.7 steals per game last season.
A’lanah Webb (10 ppg) had a really strong freshman season and could build off that herself this season. Her classmate Monty Stewart-King could also be one to watch as she has the size to be a difference maker around the rim.
NE8 PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH
1. Columbia City
2. Norwell
3. Bellmont
4. Huntington North
5. DeKalb
6. Leo
7. East Noble
8. New Haven
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