Girls basketball sectional previews: Class 2A, Sectionals 39 & 42

By CRAIG ADKINS

For The Reporter

This season marks a special one for girls’ basketball in the state of Indiana. The 2025 state basketball tournament is the 50th annual and looks to be yet another February for the history books.

Girls’ basketball was introduced as an IHSAA sanctioned sport in Indiana and began competitive play in the 1975-76 school year. The Warsaw Tigers (22-0) won the first state championship in 1976 over the Bloomfield Cardinals (20-1), 57-52.

The Sheridan Blackhawks made their first semi-state appearance last season, falling in OT to Eastern Hancock. 

Class 2A Sectional 39 at Larry Hobbs Gymnasium, Sheridan:

Taylor (5-18) vs. Lapel (15-8)

The Titans had a rough start, sandwiching two wins between 13 losses in their first 15 games. Taylor salvaged three wins in its final eight before sectional. Struggling to find an identity, the Titans were 0-4 against the sectional and 1-11 facing 2A teams. Head coach Tiffany Boruff is in her first season. 

Lapel has had quite the success in the last two seasons under head coach Zach Newby, who is 120-55 in his seventh year overall. Last year, the Bulldogs lost in the semi-state to Fort Wayne Bishop Luers and in 2023 were 2A state runner-up to Forest Park. This is the first meeting between Taylor and Lapel. Junior all-state candidate Laniah Wills averages 25.3 points and 13.5 rebounds to lead Lapel.

Frankton (11-12) at No. 11 Sheridan (21-1)

The Eagles had an up and down season and were able to turn it around later in the season. Frankton is 6-3 leading up to sectional. Going 4-1 against sectional 39 and 7-5 versus 2A, the Eagles also have seven sectional, five regional and two semi-state crowns. They were 2020 and 2022 2A runner-up. Head coach Jeff Bates is 28-20 in his second season. 

The Blackhawks have soared above competition all season. One lone loss to Brebeuf Jesuit on Nov. 19 motivated Sheridan to the tune of a current 19-game winning streak. They have key wins over Lebanon, Tri-West, Eastern Hancock, University, Lapel and Clinton Central. Sheridan is 3-0 against Sectional 39 and 11-0 against 2A teams.

Head coach Jaidlin Bradshaw is 98-52 in her seventh year. Sheridan has sectional titles in 2015 and 2024, winning the regional last year before losing in the semi-state to Eastern Hancock in OT.

Ferris state commit and all-state candidate Kenzie Garner averages 20.9 points, 9.5 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 3.4 steals to lead the Blackhawks. Cecilia Timme scores 11.1, grabs 4.9 boards and dishes out 4.0 assists, along with Brielle Garner at 7.3 per game.

First Bye: Elwood (12-10) vs. Winner of Taylor/Lapel

Elwood began 6-0 before losing three straight. Another four-game win streak put them at 10-3, but have gone 2-7 down the stretch. The Panthers are 2-2 against Sectional 39 and 6-6 against 2A squads. Head coach Courtney Lickliter is 17-51 in her third year.

Second Bye: Tipton (2-20) vs. Winner of Frankton/Sheridan

The Blue Devils spread out their two wins, one in its season opener against Eastern (Greentown) and on Dec. 4 at home with Taylor. Between the two wins was a six-game skid and now they have struggled to find answers in the current 14-game slide. Lela Crawford-Gillmann is 18-53 in her third season.

Class 2A Sectional 42 at Branch McCracken Memorial Gymnasium, Monrovia:

Monrovia (16-7) vs. Park Tudor (11-9)

The host Bulldogs went 7-6 in their first 13, but improved considerably. Monrovia has rattled off seven wins in a row and nine in their last 10. They are 2-2 against Sectional 42 and 7-2 in meetings with other 2A teams. Daryl Gibbs is 29-17 in his second year and 85-97 in eight seasons overall.

Park Tudor got off to a 4-1 start, but their season has been up and down since, but have won three of five. Head coach Mike Smiley is 36-26 in his third year and 42-41 in four years, with a previous stop at Indianapolis Manual. PT has three sectional and one regional championship. The Panthers are 1-1 against Sectional 42 and 2-2 in games versus 2A teams.  

Cardinal Ritter (8-12) vs. Covenant Christian (15-7)

Ritter has lost five of six to end the regular season. Mid-season, they won six of seven. The Raiders have six sectional titles, their latest in 2020. Head coach Jennifer DesJean is 15-28 in her 2nd year, 19-42 in three seasons.

The Warriors head into sectionals just 3-3 in their last six. CC has 10 sectional, two regional and a semi-state crown. That resulted in a 2016 1A runner-up finish to Lafayette Central Catholic. Head coach Dan Nietz is 45-70 in his fifth season at Covenant Christian. This will be the first time these two meet in the tournament, but Covenant leads overall 19-8.

First Bye: Indianapolis Riverside (6-10) vs. Winner of Monrovia/Park Tudor

The Argonauts won two of their first four, including a 70-0 win over Indianapolis Metropolitan. They also won three of four from late December to mid January. Delbert Tardy is 9-23 in his second season. Riverside’s lone game against a sectional foe was a loss to Ritter (57-19). This is just the fifth season for Riverside. 

Second Bye: University (8-13) vs. Winner of Cardinal Ritter/Covenant Christian

The Trailblazers started off 3-3 playing some tough opponents. Mid-season, University won three of four, beating Western, Heritage Christian and Guerin Catholic. They are 1-1 against Sectional 42 and 3-4 overall against 2A. 

Head coach Lisa Pryor is 18-26 in her second year. In the program’s now 20th season, University has nine sectionals, five regionals and one semi-state title. The Trailblazers were the 2008 1A runner-up to Fort Wayne Canterbury.

Taylor Seay leads with 15.3 points and 4.3 rebounds per outing. Gabby Culp is solid with 8.2 points and 8.2 boards, while Anyah Turley (7.8), Sydney Culp (7.5) and Leah Norvell (7.2) are also key contributors.