At some point, the girls basketball sectional games will be played, including those Class 4A Sectional 8 at Westfield.
And when they are played, they will be great games. The host Shamrocks are going first, taking on Fishers in the opening semi-final, still scheduled for 6 p.m. tonight. The second semi-final features defending sectional champion Noblesville playing Carmel.
FISHERS-WESTFIELD
This will be the second time this season that Westfield hosts the Tigers. The two teams got together on Nov. 18 in a Hoosier Crossroads Conference game. It was a close contest, won by Fishers 46-43.
Since then, both teams have played their way to splendid records. The Tigers are 19-4 and on a six-game win streak, including a 43-33 opening-round sectional victory over Hamilton Southeastern on Tuesday. The Shamrocks got the bye, and are 18-4 for the season.
“They’re senior-led and they have a lot of experience,” Fishers coach Lauren Votaw said of Westfield. “They’re going to play hard for their seniors, they’re going to play hard for their coach. They’re going to be well-coached, they’re going to be disciplined, and so we’re going to have to come ready to play.”
Shamrocks coach Ginny Smith called the Tigers a well-rounded team that has the capability of playing a lot of players.
“Their depth is part of what makes them different,” said Smith. “Against a team like this we have to minimize offensive opportunities each possession. Keeping them off the glass and minimizing any unforced turnovers on our end will be key to having success.”
“The first game we missed several layups and had too many wasted possessions, we will need to execute and capitalize on opportunities,” said Smith.
Alyssa Crockett, the Michigan-bound senior, is leading the Westfield scoring with 18.5 points and 8.5 rebounds per game. Another senior, Olivia Robey is scoring 9.0 points per game. The Smith twins, juniors Hailey and Olivia, are the Tigers’ leading scorers. Hailey Smith is averaging 9.9 points per game, with Olivia Smith contributing 9.3 points. Sophomore Joirdyn Smith us scoring 8.7 points per game. As for rebounding, Hailey Smith collects 6.5 rebounds and Olivia Smith 5.1 rebounds per game.
NOBLESVILLE-CARMEL
The Millers-Greyhounds semi-final game is a rematch of last year’s sectional championship, a barn-burner that Noblesville won 68-62. Ashlynn Shade scored 36 points for the Millers, with Kate Clarke pouring in 31 points for Carmel.
Clarke, now a senior who is headed to Michigan, missed significant time this season with an injury, but is back and ready to go. She did not play when Noblesville played the Greyhounds in the regular season on Nov. 23, a game the Millers won 69-53.
“She’s obviously one of the best players in the state,” said Noblesville coach Donna Buckley. “She’s one of the top two or three kids in that senior class. We are going to have to account for her. She’s another kid with that quick release. Last year she absolutely lit us up. We were very fortunate to win that game against them last year.”
With Clarke out, other Carmel players have stepped up. Junior Mackenzie Thomas has emerged as a scorer, leading the team with 12.1 points and 5.6 rebounds per game. Senior Emily Roper contributes 10.5 points and leads the rebounds with 7.1 per contest. The ‘Hounds, who got the bye to the semi-finals, are 15-7 and won a share of the Metropolitan Conference championship.
“I think it’s been a long season with constant adversity for our girls,” said Carmel coach Erin Trimpe. “We’ve been dealing with injuries – of course to Kate Clarke – and other lingering issues. As the season has gone on, we’ve found more cohesiveness and comfort with the girls on the court. With the schedule we play, there isn’t much room for mistakes and so the growth we’ve shown has put us in a really good position here at the end of the season.”
“Not having her at the beginning of the year, honestly, in some ways probably helped them because some kids really had to score and do things, and they found ways to win,” said Buckley. “Coach Trimpe does such a great job. Thomas and just all those kids do such a great job of scoring. They’ll be scary with Clarke in the mix.”
Noblesville has some good players as well. Shade, a junior who recently committed to Connecticut, averages 20.3 points and 8.9 rebounds per game. Freshman Meredith Tippner adds 10.2 rebounds and 6.4 rebounds per contest.
“We learned a lot through the first matchup – especially about our weaknesses through handling pressure,” said Trimpe. “We hopefully will handle their defense and pressure with more poise and patience to find better opportunities to score.”
Noblesville is 19-4 and beat Zionsville 62-46 in the first round of the sectional.
HEIGHTS-DELTA
After an overtime win in the first round of Class 3A Sectional 24, Hamilton Heights travels back to Yorktown to play Delta in the semi-finals.
The Huskies beat a very tough Jay County team 36-33 in overtime Tuesday to reach the semis. Heights will take on an Eagles team that is 3-18. The Huskies played Delta on Dec. 16, winning 57-19.
The Eagles’ leading scorer is junior Abby Rouse, who is averaging 10.4 points per game.
Sophomore Camryn Runner is scoring 16.9 points per contest for Heights, followed by seniors Mia Shields with 11.0 points and MyKayla Moran with 9.2 points. Moran is leading the rebounds with 5.5 per game, followed by Runner with 5.3.
The Huskies play Delta in the first game at Yorktown, scheduled for 6 p.m. tonight. New Castle and Yorktown will play the second game.
GUERIN CATHOLIC-LEBANON
Class 3A Sectional 27 host Guerin Catholic will take on Lebanon at the Eagles’ Nest, after winning a Tuesday first-round game 50-10 over Shortridge.
The Golden Eagles beat the Tigers 48-27 on Jan. 15. Lebanon is 11-12 for the season, with senior Alexis Wines scoring 16.8 points per game.
Senior Kathryn Loso has been dominant for the Golden Eagles, who enter the contest 13-10. Loso is averaging 15.3 points and 8.1 rebounds per game, while another senior, Katie Koger, averages 8.6 points per contest.
Guerin Catholic and Lebanon are scheduled to play at 7:30 p.m. tonight, following a 6 p.m. game between Bishop Chatard and Brebeuf Jesuit.