IHSAA girls basketball Class 2A sectional preview: Schedule, players to watch, predictions

It is sectional season for Indiana high school girls basketball. Let’s take a closer look at the Class 2A field with storylines, the local matchups, players to watch and predictions.

Class 2A

∎ No. 1 team (IGSCA poll): Whitko (20-1). The Wildcats secured the first sectional and regional titles in program history in 2025, and they’re built for similar success in 2026. Reese and Jayma Stonebraker do a bit of everything for the Cats, and have a very talented and deep supporting cast led by juniors Ally Brown and former South Bend Washington standout Kyra Lowe. Whitko’s record includes two wins over 4A FW Northrop.

∎ Team to beat: South Knox (17-3). The Spartans are still an absolute juggernaut. Kendal Hill — a potential 2027 Miss Basketball candidate — is averaging a double-double (19 points, 10 rebounds) and six assists, four steals and a block per game .She’s part of a very strong junior core with Ellie Burke, Grace Detweiler and Kalissa Lavely, and there’s also senior Madison Parrish, who’s clocking a cool eight points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals per game.

South Knox is a favorite to repeat as state champions, but standing in its way…

∎ North Knox (15-5). The Warriors’ five losses have come against: South Knox, Floyd Central, Evansville Central, Silver Creek and Brownsburg. Lexi Primus is one of the best small-school talents in the state, and has a strong supporting cast with fellow seniors Jade Richter and Baylee McClure. Freshman Caroline Yenne has established herself as a solid contributor, as well.

∎ Rensselaer Central (18-3) looks to run it back. Assuming things go chalk, that Bombers-Lapel regional championship will be quite intriguing. The Bombers have an excellent 1-2 punch with senior Kamri Rowland and junior Courtney Mathew, and been further bolstered by the development of Brodie Radtke, who has upped her scoring rate to 11 points per game.

∎ Watch out for Mater Dei (16-4). The Wildcats boast wins over South Knox, Roncalli and Evansville Central. Those are some high-quality victories, but they’ve also lost to first-round opponent Forest Park and will likely have to contend with South Spencer in the semifinals. The Rebels added midseason transfer Rylee Canaan in December.

Sectional 37 at Benton Central

Team to beat: Rensselaer Central (18-3). The Bombers returned nearly all their key contributors from last season’s state runner-up team, including leading scorer Kamri Rowland and junior standout Courtney Mathew, both of whom have maintained their well-rounded stat lines. Senior Brodie Radtke’s emergence as a consistent scorer has been critical, as well, adding a third player averaging in double figures for an RC team that’s shooting 40% and averages more than 57 ppg.

Next best: Benton Central (16-5). The Bison lost to Rensselaer head-to-head back in December, but they also hung with 4A McCutcheon in the IU Health Hoops Classic championship game. The Mavericks won the rematch, 73-37, in January. Benton Central is looking to win its fourth sectional since 2020.

About Western Boone (8-13): Junior Ally Lewis (14 ppg, 8 rpg, 3 spg) leads a senior-driven Stars outfit, which pulls down more than 35 rebounds per game, with three players — Lewis, Emmerson Gott and Isabell Grady — averaging seven-plus. Of note: Gott has doubled her scoring average from last season, pouring in eight points per game.

Pick: Rensselaer Central over Benton Central. The Bombers are experienced and battle-tested.

Sectional 39 at Lapel

Team to beat: Lapel (18-4). Senior Butler commit Laniah Wills has been playing at another level this season and I expect her to elevate her game even further once the calendar flips to February. That said, considering their postseason path, the Bulldogs will need contributions from the players beyond Wills — Serenity Conyers, Sophie Goodwin, Layla Dawson, Addie Bodenhorn and Jane Armington — in order to return to Gainbridge. Sectional week should provide ample opportunity for them to find their stride ahead of a potential regional vs. Rensselaer Central.

About Sheridan (8-11): It’s been a rebuilding year for the regional champion Blackhawks , but they’ve received steady contributions from juniors Brielle Garner and Sadie Timme, who are averaging 11 and eight points, respectively, with Timme also contributing seven rebounds, four assists and three steals per game. Senior Makenzy Terry is the only other upperclassman who plays regular minutes; otherwise it’s all freshmen for Sheridan.

Pick: Lapel over Frankton.

Sectional 42 at Park Tudor

The skinny: This bracket is maybe a little trickier than it appears at first glance.

Team to beat: Monrovia (18-5). The Bulldogs have perhaps the best player in the sectional in Zoie Walls. The 6-foot sophomore forward has been good for 21 points, eight rebounds, three assists and four steals per game thus far, and is shooting a robust 48% from the field. Junior Grace Deaton has been a dependable secondary scoring option, pouring in more than 9 ppg on 37% shooting. Monrovia awaits the winner of Park Tudor-Riverside.

Next best: Park Tudor (11-10). The Panthers dropped an 11-point decision to Monrovia at the beginning of the season, but have played well down the stretch, besting Greenwood Christian and losing to Brebeuf by two in the penultimate week. Aaliyah Wilson, Leyla Smiley and Sydney Squires have been key contributors for PT.

Sleeper Covenant Christian (9-12). The Warriors avoided both Monrovia and Park Tudor, but they open with a third meeting against Cardinal Ritter, then have to face a University team they trailed at halftime earlier this season. Senior Abbey Jankowski and sophomore Emi Flatt are CC’s primary catalysts offensively, while junior Emma Crane leads the way in rebounds, assists and steals. For what it’s worth, Covenant Christian led Monrovia at halftime of an eventual four-point loss back in November.

About University (8-11): The Blazers have played the toughest schedule of the group and, as noted above, hung tough with potential semifinal opponent Covenant Christian in January. 5-10 forward Mackenzie Feeney leads the team in assists (4 apg), steals (3 spg) and blocks (3 bpg), and ranks second in rebounds (6 rpg). The senior trio of Gabby Culp, Leah Norvell and Sydney Culp do most of the heavy lifting offensively, with all three averaging 11-12 ppg.

Local notes: Cardinal Ritter (6-14) is led by senior Macie Dill and sophomore Lilly Butler, who are both averaging around nine points per game, with Dill adding 2 apg and 3 spg, and Butler contributing 5 rpg. The Raiders are deeper than in years past, which has allowed them to pressure teams more aggressively. … Riverside(2-13) opened 2026 with its second win of the season, beating Irvington Prep on Jan. 6. The Argonauts open vs. Park Tudor and are looking to win their second postseason game in program history (2020).

Pick: Monrovia over University

Sectional 43 at Heritage Christian

The skinny: Aside from giving Heritage Christian the bye, this is how I would have situated the bracket, with the Eagles opposite Triton Central and Eastern Hancock.

Team to beat: Heritage Christian (13-8). I know the computers say otherwise (RE: the team to beat), but there’s a lot to like about the defending regional champion Eagles, who boast a very talented backcourt with sophomores Riley Johnson and Elyse Snively — both of whom are scoring 15-16 ppg — and junior Kihanna Mellanson. All three are shooting 37% or better from the field and above 30% from 3. To that trio, HC adds 5-11 senior Trinity Taylor, an all-around athlete who’s pulling in 11 rpg.

Next best I: Triton Central (18-3). HC is the team to beat, but the Tigers scare me the most out of this group. They really took off down the stretch, scoring quality wins over 3A New Palestine in overtime and Class A sectional contender Oldenburg Academy over a 10-day stretch. UIndy signee Maryrose Felling has been expectedly excellent her senior year, pouring in 25 points and six rebounds, and she’s paired perfectly with junior Quinn King, who’s been good for 13 points, eight assists and four steals. Triton Central, which shoots 45% as a team (34% from 3), lost to Heritage Christian by four and Eastern Hancock by one at the beginning of the season.

Next best II: Eastern Hancock (13-7). The Royals will go as far as senior Ball State commit Kenzie Koch can take them. And considering the level she’s been playing at, she can at least get them through the sectional. The 5-9 guard averages 26 points, eight rebounds, five assists, five steals and a block, and boasts a 47% mark from the field. She’s been the primary driving force for this group, but don’t discount the importance of Bella Sotelo, who’s upped her scoring average to 12 ppg, while maintaining a steady defensive presence.

Eastern Hancock Royals guard Kenzie Koch (1) and Eastern Hancock Royals guard Bella Sotelo (2) talk in the locker room Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025, at halftime of a game between the Lapel Bulldogs and the Eastern Hancock Royals at Lapel High School. The Bulldogs defeated the Royals, 65-62.

Local notes: Scecina (5-12) is led by Mia Miller, who averages a double-double per game (11 points, 10 rebounds). The Crusaders lost to Monrovia in their penultimate regular-season game. … Christel House (6-10) started the season 2-1 after not winning a game last season. … KIPP Legacy (8-7) is in its second year of postseason eligibility. The Pride lost their first four games of the season, but then won five straight and six of their next seven. … Irvington Prep (1-14) scored its first win of the year on Jan. 12 with a 37-7 triumph over Traders Point Christian.

Pick: Triton Central over Heritage Christian. I think we’re about to witness a very special week from Felling. She outduels Koch on Friday to snap the Tigers’ seven-game losing streak in the series, then spurs an upset of Heritage Christian — on its home floor, no less — to advance TC for the first time since 2021.

Follow Brian Haenchen on Twitter at @Brian_Haenchen. Get IndyStar’s high school coverage sent directly to your inbox with the High School Sports newsletter.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana high school girls basketball: Class 2A sectional preview 2026