Homestead Takes Down Columbia City in Route of a 6-Peat; A Tremendous Challenge to Bring Home 1st Regional Since 2017
When regional girls basketball games are played across the state of Indiana, the SAC will be well represented down in Marion. At 1pm, (22-4) Homestead, fresh off of their 6th straight sectional title, will face off against a talented (21-4) McCutcheon squad that beat rival Harrison to get to this matchup.
Homestead has battled through many challenges all season long despite the successful regular season. Homestead started the sectional title game down 10-0 in the 1st quarter. Coach Rod Parker said this team is fortunate to have that much confidence with each other to be comeback from a variety of different situations.
Parker said a slow start in front of a rowdy crowd was one of those challenges that this team needed to overcome. It was on that first timeout that ultimately changed the entire course of the game.
“The goal was to simply calm my team (down) and remind them that we had plenty of time to execute our gameplan and get back into the game,” said Parker on the slow start. “I challenged them with four-minute goals that I felt were attainable so that we could remain competitive and get back in the game. As we reached a few of those goals, we gained confidence and the momentum started to slowly shift our way.”
Parker also factored the comeback into keeping the home crowd from having too big of an impact throughout the game. As a matter of fact, Senior Emma Reust has been able to play in the sectional tournament after missing all but a couple games due to a knee injury suffered last summer.
Despite the injury, Reust’s presence has been plentiful and significant, especially as she was able to play meaningful games at the right time. Parker said last Saturday was the first game all season to being able to play with mental confidence and trust with her knee. Reust’s fiery competitive nature brings a jolt of energy to a talented and young team that always expects to compete for championships.
Gabby Helsom had a great sectional scoring double figures in all 3 games. But it was Myah Epps who played her best against Columbia City, especially in the 2nd half, where she had 22 points. Nevertheless, every player on this team has a role they are asked to thrive with and each one has an equal opportunity to build on the success of Homestead Girls’ Basketball. To Parker, each kid means so much to him.
“I expect a lot of my players every day and this team, like the ones in years past, has worked hard to be the best versions of themselves on and off the court,” said Parker. “They bring energy and a passion for the game of basketball and each other every time they step on the court. We have several young talented players who all bring a unique skill set to this team and they were able to showcase their talents last week.”
That team effort will need to be strong once again when they take on McCutcheon who is led by Lillian Graves, who is one of the 10 best freshmen in the country. Graves had 18 points and 8 assists in the sectional title game against Harrison. Parker calls McCutcheon a “very talented and well-coached team” and his team will need to find a way to slow down the freshman guard. Execution to their gameplan and fundamental basketball will dictate whether Sparty can bring home their first regional title since they won state in 2017.
2. Snider One Step Closer to a Return to Semistate
Just a season ago, Snider was 2 ways away from a trip to the state finals. A heartbreaking 67-66 loss to Fishers ended that team’s season. Now nearly a full year later, Snider is once again back to Marion to take on Noblesville in the 4pm regional title game.
(22-4) Snider for the most part dominated this sectional. But had it not been for the late game heroics of Tia Phinezy and Johnea Donahue in the Northrop sectional game, the Panthers are probably not playing basketball right now. But that’s the key is survive and advance.
They’ll take on a familiar opponent from their regular season in (16-8) Noblesville. The Lady Millers rallied from a 1st half deficit in route of a 49-45 win over Hoosier Crossroads Conference rival Hamilton Southeastern. Just 2 years ago, Noblesville won the 4A state championship. The Lady Millers are led by Senior guard Reagan Wilson who had 18 points against HSE, and they have a forward in sophomore C.C. Quigley who averages a double-double on the season.
We mentioned Donahue and Phinezy earlier, but it’s going to take a collective team effort and trust to have a chance at another run back to Semistate. Purdue commit Jordyn Poole will need to be (well) Jordyn Poole in that game and get other kids involved offensively especially with Ciara Sims.
Both games at Marion are expected to be tight games on paper.
3. Norwell Hoping to Make a Return to Semistate
(20-4) Norwell, as expected, is back in the same position from a year ago, other than the fact they’re now going to Caston and their opponent is Benton Central. Coming off a season where they had the toughest schedule ever assembled at Norwell and winning their 4th NE8 title in 5 years, the Lady Knights sit one win from their first regional title in 3 years, when the 7 seniors were only freshmen.
Coach Eric Thornton said he and the team are grateful to still be playing despite their success in sectionals. Thornton cites the challenge of winning sectionals, and winning it as the favorites is even more difficult.
“We had to beat a good Bellmont team twice within a few weeks, and it’s always different the second time around,” said Thornton. “Our girls were ready and got off to a great start. They really wanted this and didn’t take it for granted.”
Thornton said that schedule has been “incredibly enjoyable”, with the girls making no excuses and an immense confidence that they can win every time they step on the court. It’s that maturity throughout the season and embracing this season that has seen substantial growth.
However, a regional title is not going to be easy for Norwell once again. Not only does Norwell have to make the hour and 21 minute drive west to Caston, they will be facing a basketball rich program out of the West Lafayette area in (25-3) Benton Central. Playing in the same conference as Hamilton Heights (Hoosier Conference), the Lady Bison are a historically strong program that has seen postseason success and two trips to the state finals under David Baxter.
The Bison will rely on three players in 6’1 center Sarah Gick, senior guard Sienna Foster, and senior Rachel Tolen. Sienna’s father, Todd, is famous for being a popular starting guard for Purdue. Gick is coming off a double-double of 18 points and 13 rebounds in the sectional title win over West Lafayette.
Thornton said Benton Central is a very athletic and skilled team that plays through Gick and a balanced scoring attack from their guards. It’s a huge challenge that will need Norwell to limit Gick’s touches and defend the three well.
As great as it is to win a sectional, Norwell is looking to win their first regional in 3 years. And with the 7 seniors playing in their last state tournament, they are hopeful to still be playing basketball in their eventual quest of a potential state run.
“We talked with our team about how special it is to win a sectional,” said Thornton. “We’d love to experience a regional championship with our loyal fans and student section. Our approach this week will be the same as it has been through all the battles we’ve been through this season. Our kids have prepared well…we can’t wait for Saturday.”
4. Woodlan to Play in 1st Regional Since 1990
After spending 34 years without a girls basketball sectional title, Woodburn, IN, is experiencing a regional bound girls basketball team when they make the trip down to Lapel on Saturday for a 1pm tipoff.
(18-8) Woodlan saw a combination of players finding success in sectionals. Obviously, 1000-point scorer Taylor Kneubuhler and junior Brooke Kneubuhler are a huge part of their offense and defensive identity. But it’s been the other players that are why Woodlan is still playing this week.
Following Chloe Gaff’s 14 point performance against Garrett, it was Sophomore Alyssa Anderson and her double-double stat line of 23 points and 17 rebounds that propelled Woodlan past Concordia in the title game.
Coach Dave Randall said this has been a blast for him and the entire community to be apart of this special moment for the community. When asked about the moment his team won sectionals, he noticed how “ecstatic” the girls were and how the community of friends and family was excited for this moment.
It’s been a season or learning and adjustment with the team having to deal with injuries and a lot of girls playing significant varsity minutes for the first time. Woodlan found their footing and playing their best basketball at the very best time of the season. Randall said this was factored by a group of girls who embraced with the understanding of playing team defense and rebounding that has helped alleviate with some of their offensive struggles.
Defense is going to be a huge key against the top ranked tens in all of 3A in (23-2) Hamilton Heights out of Arcadia, IN in Hamilton County. The Lady Huskies beat Jay County twice, but they needed a 28-point performance from Evansville commit Camryn Runner to keep the Huskies’ season alive. Hamilton Heights is the defending regional champions seeking just their third ever regional title and the first regional repeat.
Woodlan, on the other hand, has never won a girls basketball regional. Randall said his team will have their hands full against a very good Huskies program.
“Anyone who has beaten Jay County once this year is impressive and they have done it twice,” said Randall. “They are very impressive on film. Camryn Runner is as good as the other all-state level player we have played against this year Kennedy Fuelling. It is almost impossible to keep her away from the rim and she is also a very good shooter.
“Ella Hickock is also very good. Their pressure defense will be challenging. We will have to play hard and communicate to keep track of everyone.”
Excitement has been high in Woodburn, and no matter how Saturday’s game goes, they will not forget this moment.
“After we won (sectionals) and were cutting down nets, I looked at my phone and I had 40 text messages,” said Randall. “The excitement has been fun to experience. I am happy for the girls and their families because they absolutely deserve it.”
5. Bishop Luers and Lafayette Central Catholic Meet for the 2nd Straight Year
Last season, Luers and Central Catholic played for a regional title at Lapel with Central Catholic winning that game 59-50. This season, these same two teams will meet on Saturday for a 4pm tip-off at Wes-Del.
Bishop Luers (16-6) is coming off their first sectional title repeat in over a decade as Addie Shank’s 18 points led the Knights to a 59-46 win over a much improved 19-win Whitko squad.
The combination of the Huntington commit Shank and sophomore Miley Wareing along with the recent play of Annika Davis will present a good challenge for the battle-tested Central Catholic Knights out of the Hoosier Conference.
(15-11) Lafayette Central Catholic started the season 2-5. However, they enter regionals having won 13 of their last 19 games which includes statement wins over Twin Lakes and West Lafayette. Led by the sensational abilities from junior Carley Bartlett, Central Catholic poses a huge challenge for Luers. Their size and athleticism will match with Luers.
Last season, Bishop Luers had to learn how to play in that regional game against a quality opponent, and that loss fueled motivation to be a better team this season. Now we will see how much Bishop Luers has learned from last season as they try to win their first regional title since 2013
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