With girls basketball postseason coming around quickly, Bounce is here to quick preview and discuss the area Sectionals, continuing in Class 2A.
SECTIONAL 35 AT LAKELAND
Projected winner: Eastside
The Blazers have won another conference title and although they shared it, it was a pretty dominant season except for a bad stretch of about a week. The Blazers are the heavy favorites after a 20 win season that saw them beat everyone else in this Sectional.
The key for coach Mike Lortie is the continued diversification of his lineup. While Taylor Mack started to separate herself as the leader in the stat book for this team, Eastside launched themselves through the early part of this season not just on her hands but with big games with the likes of Lucy Kitchen and Adelaide Elden playing massive roles. Eastside is deep and this week is a time we will likely see that.
Player You Can’t Miss: Dulce Canedo, Lakeland
In the last two seasons, few players in the area have seen the growth that Canedo has into one of the best players in the NECC. In her final Sectional, Canedo does have the ability to move the needle, especially with the host Lakers gaining a first round bye on the opposite side of the bracket from Sectional favorite Eastside. Canedo averages 13.5 points and three steals per game heading into the postseason.
Don’t be surprised if: You aren’t surprised
One of the beauties of the postseason is upsets. Thats what we all love March Madness right? Don’t expect any sort of big stuff in this Sectional. This is a dreaded Sectional with every team from the same conference, which seems odd to put together anyway. But when you add in that one of the teams is a mostly dominant conference co-champ and the other co-champs aren’t here, it shouldn’t be a stretch.
Eastside beat the other five teams in this Sectional by an average of 30.2 points per game, a margin that would be bigger if it was not for a recent 44-41 win over Central Noble. Three of the teams in this Sectional didn’t score more than 20 points against the Blazers. So don’t be surprised if this goes exactly as projected.
SCHEDULE
Tuesday
Prairie Heights vs. Westview, 6 p.m.
Central Noble vs. Churubusco, 7:30 p.m.
Friday
Eastside vs. Prairie Heights/Westview winner, 6 p.m.
Lakeland vs. Central Noble/Churubusco winner, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday
Championship, 7:30 p.m.
SECTIONAL 36 AT WOODLAN
Projected winner: Whitko
The Wildcats are looking to defend their Sectional crown after a masterful year that led them to the TRC title and a 21-1 record. Keep that in mind: Whitko has lost just one time this season and it does not get talked about enough. After a three point loss to Columbia City in the second game of the season, the Wildcats have won 20 games in a row. They do get a pretty new look though as Bishop Luers is the only opponent in Sectionals that Whitko has seen this year, a 61-30 win for Whitko.
The sisters Stonebraker have continued to set things on fire for Whitko, putting up 25.6 combined points or over one-third of their teams scoring. Reese Stonebraker, who leads the team in scoring, is the only senior on the roster, while Jayma Stonebraker tops Whitko in assists (4.4) and steals (4.3). The ongoing emergence of junior Ally Brown has made a big impact as well as she 10 ppg and a team best 6 rpg.
The opening game against Woodlan is one of intrigue. From Alyssa Anderson to Layla Hodson, the Warriors have been able to present varied challenges and to see them match up with Woodlan is at least an intriguing start.
Player You Can’t Miss: Harvest Green, Bishop Luers
As Bishop Luers rebuilds their program, they have found a cornerstone in arguably the best freshman in the area. Green has built up big game after big game, no matter what the final score has said for Luers. There will be plenty of more time and years to see her play, but you certainly don’t want to miss Green in her first postseason.
She leads the Knights in four statistical categories at 16.7 points, 7 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.7 steals per contest.
Don’t be surprised if: Bluffton makes a high scoring run
The Tigers average 64.2 points per game, which actually seems like a ton of points when you look at the ACAC. While the Tigers didn’t get their regular season crown, a postseason one could be very much in their grasp if other teams can’t slow the scoring. The problem with that being that Bluffton is far from a one trick pony in the point column.
Konley Ault has surged to 21 points per game, followed by 15.8 from Khloe Dick and 11.3 from Karlee Strunk. Among their top 5 scorers, including those three, Sophie Eisenhut and Kamryn Ault, they have had 38 games individually scoring in the teens, 20 games in the 20s, a pair in the 30s and Konley Ault’s record setting 40 point outing against Southwood. Dick has scored 20 or more points in 5 of her last 6 games heading into the postseason.
SCHEDULE
Tuesday
Bishop Luers vs. South Adams, 6 p.m.
Whitko vs. Woodlan, 7:30 p.m.
Friday
Adams Central vs. Bishop Luers/South Adams winner, 6 p.m.
Bluffton vs. Whitko/Woodlan winner, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday
Championship, 7:30 p.m.
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