With girls basketball postseason coming around quickly, Bounce is here to quick preview and discuss the area Sectionals, continuing in Class 1A.
SECTIONAL 52 AT FREMONT
Projected winner: Fremont
Who really is Fremont? We will know more about that if they get the win in this Sectional and can go on to the Regional round. But right now, the Eagles have the best offense in the Sectional and are one of just two teams with winning records in the contest. Fremont is also giving up just 34.8 points per game, so right now in this Sectional, their ability to stop scoring is just as important as their ability to put the ball in the basket.
The Eagles are the heavy favorite in this Sectional, with only Blackhawk Christian really in the landscape otherwise.
Player You Can’t Miss: Grace Scharlach, Fremont
Scharlach, a junior, has established herself as one of Northeast Indiana’s best and most consistent high end scorers this season. She is, without much of a doubt, the top draw in this Sectional bracket. Scharlach has help behind her, so even on an off night, Fremont is doing just fine.
But at the end of the day, this event starts with Scharlach’s ability to create, be crafty and even battle on the offensive glass. There is another year of Scharlach to be played out, but her junior year has almost been a masterpiece so it is worth watching her try to claim a Sectional title.
Don’t be surprised if: Blackhawk Christian shows the future
The Braves are still a fairly young group and with the likes of Desi Pope and Jae Pickett, Blackhawk Christian has a build for the future, especially with their sophomore class once Fremont’s key current juniors are gone. Blackhawk has the chance to really make a solid splash this week. First, they get somewhat rival Lakewood Park and then a win puts them in a bit of a showcase game opportunity in round two.
This could be a really good week for Pickett, who has had a great season where she has showcased her ability to control games around the basket. If she is the future in Blackhawk’s Class 1A world, this is a time where you can expect her and some underclassmen to show off a bit for the Braves.
SCHEDULE
Tuesday
Lakeland Christian vs. Fremont, 7 p.m.
Wednesday
Lakewood Park Christian vs. Blackhawk Christian, 6 p.m.
Bethany Christian vs. Canterbury, 7:30 p.m.
Friday
Hamilton vs. Lakeland Christian/Fremont winner, 6 p.m.
Lakewood Park Christian/Blackhawk Christian winner vs. Bethany Christian/Canterbury winner, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday
Championship, 7:30 p.m.
SECTIONAL 55 AT SOUTHERN WELLS
Projected winner: Northfield
Led by sophomore Teagan Baer, Northfield has not had a very flawed season. They sit as the top team in record going into the Sectional but their best run in this season, an 8-game win streak, has been over since the beginning of January so the focus here is how consistent can they be when they need to string together wins this week to capture a title. Outside of that 8 games, the Norse have not won more than two games in a row all season.
Baer scores 13.9 points per game as one of the best offensive output players for Northfield. Junior Emma Wilson is shooting 61 percent from the field for Northfield. Laney Haupert has hit a team high 34 three pointers, but Brynn Double has hit 20 from deep at a 40 percent success rate.
Player You Can’t Miss: Kaylee Davis, Southern Wells
The future of Southern Wells girls basketball runs through Davis, a sophomore, who has shown significant jumps in her talent from a season ago. Davis leads the Raiders on so many fronts including scoring (13.2 ppg), rebounding (5.7), assists (4.9) and steals (4.6) while hitting the most two pointers, three pointers and free throws for her team.
Davis has scored in single digits just three times this season with a best of 23 points opposite Muncie Burris. She has four games where she has tallied 8 steals including three times in a four game stretch earlier in the season. If you didn’t have an indication yet how much of a do everything player that Davis is, against Eastbrook she posted a stat line of 17 points, 8 rebounds, 10 assists and 10 steals.
Don’t be surprised if: Southwood rides a balanced front to a title
Southwood’s top 6 all average 4.7 points per game or higher with five of them above seven points per contest. There is a lot of balance on the frontline for Southwood and as potentially the number two team in this Sectional, having that kind of consistent balance is massive. Freshman Sophia Cline leads the way with 10.6 and 6 rebounds per game, but there are also no seniors on this roster.
Balance isn’t just in their scoring. Four players average 4.5 rebounds or more, five have over an assist per game and four have two or more steals, led by 3.1 steals per game from junior Hali Pershing.
SCHEDULE
Tuesday
Tri-Central vs. Northfield, 6 p.m.
North Miami vs. Daleville, 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday
Southwood vs. Wes-Del, 6 p.m.
Cowan vs. Southern Wells, 7:30 p.m.
Friday
Tri-Central/Northfield winner vs. North Miami/Daleville winner, 6 p.m.
Southwood/Wes-Del winner vs. Cowan/Southern Wells winner, 7:30 p.m.
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