Columbus North’s Kaylie Harmon, left, signals a play while guarded by Roncalli’s Brennah Cerny during a basketball game at Columbus North High School in Columbus, Ind., Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024.
The Republic file photos
Patience is the key for Bartholomew County girls basketball fans as it will be another year until a sectional comes back home.
All three county schools came up empty in their quests for titles this year. Columbus East was the most recent sectional winner in 2018, North’s last title was in 2017 and Hauser’s last title was 2005.
Could the drought end next year? Here is a very early look at the three teams heading into next year:
Columbus North
The Bull Dogs are in the best position of the three teams at this point to challenge for a title next year. Sectional champion Franklin loses its entire starting five to graduation, leaving the door open for a likely new champion.
North had its first losing season since 2004-05 by finishing the season 11-13. The narrative has still been the same for the Bull Dogs — they are beating teams they should be beating. In 12 of the 13 losses this season, North lost to a team higher than them in the Jeff Sagarin Rating. The only exception was Columbus East, who were five points lower.
If the schedule remains mostly the same next year, and with several top players returning including Kaylie Harmon, Miley McClellan and Avery Johnson, along with Hadassah Hurt, who missed the final two-thirds of the season with an ACL injury, the Bull Dogs are in position to potentially add more wins next year. With the sectional being wide open next year, could North be in position to win it? They can if they answer this question next year: “Can they get that statement win to finally get them over the hump and out of mediocrity?”
Columbus East
The Olympians had many ups and downs during the season, picking up some great wins, while also losing big in several games.
Columbus East’s Kenzi Cheek drives to the basket against Silver Creek at Columbus East High School in Columbus, Ind., Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024
The Republic file photos
East finished the year 5-18 in Kaitlyn Phillips’s first year at the helm in large part by adding three seniors to the lineup in volleyball player Caroline Frost, softball player Savanna Sullivan and Hauser transfer Madelyn Poe to the already existing core of seniors Jenna Guse, Messiah Trapp and Victoria Cuhadar. The bad news is the Olympians will only have one returning player with significant varsity experience in sophomore Kenzi Cheek.
East played a very tough schedule this year, and if the schedule remains mostly the same next year, don’t expect an uptick in wins with a very young core. While the chances of winning a sectional are slim next year, the Olympians will look to take another step forward.
Hauser
The Jets had the most trouble staying healthy for much of the year and had their fair share of growing pains during the season.
Hauser’s Norah Berkenstock drives against Columbus Christian’s Emma Rice during a game at Hauser High School in Hope on Nov. 28, 2023.
The Republic file photos
Hauser finished 6-18 with a young core of players. The Jets will lose three seniors heading into next year, but return a nice young core led by Norah Berkenstock and Abby Manley that has shown promise toward the end of the season.
Hauser proved it can compete with several teams during various stages of the ballgames. While the road will be tough to win a sectional crown next year, the question heading into next year is, “Can they compete and be consistent for the entire 32 minutes?” If they can solve that question, and if the schedule remains identical next year, more wins could come their way.
