The girls basketball season ended last month for the nine area teams, producing only one sectional champion in Trinity Lutheran. Here’s a look at the seasons of those nine schools and their outlooks going into next year:
Columbus East
Final Record: 16-8
Highest Point: Columbus East made a statement on Jan. 16 in upsetting one of the top teams in Class 3A Greensburg 53-43 after getting ran out of the gym by Bedford North Lawrence two days prior. The win against the Pirates kickstarted a five-game winning streak that included knocking off its crosstown rival Columbus North in overtime in the sectional semifinals.
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Lowest Point: East never gained any momentum after defeating Class A state champion Loogootee on Dec. 7 to improve to 7-2 on the season. The Olympians went on a four-game losing streak following the victory to close out 2019.
Outlook: East made plenty of noise this season with its talented freshman class led by starters Gabby Dean and Saige Stahl. The Olympians, however will lose two starters in seniors Whitley Rankin and Katie Dougherty, but return their top player in sophomore Koryn Greiwe. With eight of their top 10 players consisting of sophomores and freshmen, East could become one of the early favorites to win the sectional in the next couple years.
Columbus North
Final Record: 16-9
Highest Point: After starting the year 2-5, Columbus North got a much-needed win with a 64-34 win over Conference Indiana foe Terre Haute North on Dec. 7. That jumpstarted a five-game winning streak that included wins against sectional finalists East Central and Columbus East on Dec. 12 and 19, respectively.
Lowest Point: North had its last true test with a home matchup against Bloomington South on Jan. 11 with conference stakes on the line, but fell late in the game 48-45, taking away a lot of momentum heading into sectional.
Outlook: North loses four seniors, but still returns its top player in junior Alexa McKinley. Starters in sophomore Kylah Lawson and junior Madison White also return, along with freshmen Lauren Barker and Emma Long and juniors Kanon Matsuno and Emily Herndon. There’s no question that the Bull Dogs will still be a very solid team and be in the mix to challenge for the sectional title next season.
Hauser
Final Record: 7-17
Highest Point: Hauser began the season on a good note with wins against South Ripley and Milan on Nov. 9 and 14, respectively, to start 3-1.
Lowest Point: After beating Indianapolis Lutheran on a last-second shot on Jan. 3, the jets finished the season dropping 11 of their last 12 games with their only win coming against South Dearborn 50-37 on Jan. 24. Hauser fell to Oldenburg Academy 62-50 in the sectional.
Outlook: Hauser improved on its season win total from five a year ago under new head coach Chad Evans. The Jets will lose three seniors, but their top player Kyliegh Parrott is only a freshman. They have a talented middle school class that will make them a formidable opponent. Expect the win totals to steadily improve in the next few years.
Columbus Christian
Final Record: 23-7
Highest Point: Columbus Christian got a 54-23 win over Cannelton on Jan. 11 that started a six-game winning streak.
Lowest Point: The Crusaders didn’t get off on the right foot to start teseason the season in a 51-36 setback to Hauser on Nov. 5.
Outlook: Columbus Christian is a young team despite losing seniors Kaitlyn Conrad and Ellie Ridder. The Crusaders return two of their top players in freshman Kayla Jones and junior Madison Henderson. A repeat season next season is not out of the question.
JENNINGS COUNTY
Final Record: 10-15
Highest Point: Jennings County won on a last second shot to edge Brown County in a 61-59 thriller on Jan. 21.
Lowest Point: The Panthers started 2020 on a three-game losing streak with losses to Greensburg, Columbus North and Whiteland.
Outlook: Jennings loses only one senior, but returns its top players in junior Addyson Kent and sophomore Lily Ernstes. With most of the rotational core players returning, the Panthers should be at least a .500 team next season.
BROWN COUNTY
Final Record: 16-7
Highest Point: Brown County picked up a huge 50-43 victory in overtime against Edgewood on Jan 10.
Lowest Point: The Eagles suffered a 54-47 setback to Trinity Lutheran on Jan. 17 that started a three-game losing streak.
Outlook: Brown County had its best season under coach Matt Roberts and the most wins for the Eagles since the 2004-05 season. However, they lose leading scorer Allison Stogsdill to graduation. If they can find a way to fill her shoes and replace the rest of the seniors, they’ll still be solid to at least be .500 next year.
EDINBURGH
Final Record: 17-6
Highest Point: Edinburgh picked up a huge road victory over sectional foe West Washington on Jan. 11 to end the regular season on a seven-game winning streak before falling to Trinity Lutheran in the sectional.
Lowest Point: The Lancers got its first early test to see where they stood among the ranks of Class A, but didn’t deliver with back-to-back losses to Trinity Lutheran and Greenwood Christian Academy on Dec. 5 and 12, respectively.
Outlook: Edinburgh’s 17 wins was the most in school history. Senior Destiney Ramey played a big role in that becoming the school’s all-time leading scorer with 1,354 points. Ramey, along with senior Haven Link, will be two big losses for the Lancers heading into next year.
SOUTH DECATUR
Final Record: 5-19
Highest Point: South Decatur picked up a big win against Indianapolis Scecina 59-35 on Dec. 19. It helped the Cougars go 3-3 over the next month.
Lowest Point: South Decatur ended the season on a six-game losing streak that included a season-ending 60-35 loss to North Decatur in the sectional.
Outlook: South Decatur hasn’t won more than six games since the 2013-14 season, but that could change next year, led by junior Lana Bell and sophomore Loryn Pate. Outside of that, the Cougars have nowhere to go but up.
TRINITY LUTHERAN
Final Record: 24-4
Highest Point: Trinity Lutheran posted a 59-47 win over one of the top teams in Class A in Greenwood Christian Academy on Jan. 7.
Lowest Point: The Cougars fell to Madison 55-36 in the final game of the regular season on Jan. 30.
Outlook: Trinity easily had one of its best campaigns in the tenure of coach Mike Lang that included a sectional title before eventually falling to Class A state champion Loogootee in the regional. With the Cougars returning its top two players in junior Sydney Jaynes and freshman Bailey Tabeling, they’ll still be one of the top teams in Class A next year.
