Prep Hoops Indiana High School Preview – Class 1A (South)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Indiana High School Basketball season is just around the corner and we at Prep Hoops Indiana will be pumping out a ton of previews right up until the opening tip. We have individually spotlighted 100+ schools across the state, gave out watch lists for each class, and will have several other previews in the coming days. This week, while Brandon Ramsey will be will be handling the big picture previews, I will be breaking down each class in both the north and south regions by highlighting the best Sectional, top players in the area, state title contenders, and other quick hitters you need to know within the class. For this one, we will breaking down the Class 1A (South).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Best Sectional: Sectional 59</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Teams: </strong>Central Christian Academy, Eminence, Greenwood Christian Academy, Indianapolis Lutheran, Providence Cristo Rey, Tindley, Victory College Prep</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Reason: </strong>Quite simply, you have three very talented teams all battling for one spot in the Regional round. Indianapolis Lutheran is the defending Class 1A state champions and return their two best players from that team. Greenwood Christian gave Lutheran all they wanted in the Sectional Championship game last season and return a very talented backcourt of [player_tooltip player_id='1386511' first='Max' last='Booher'], [player_tooltip player_id='1529293' first='Evan' last='McIntire'], and [player_tooltip player_id='1578449' first='Noah' last='Reed']. Finally, Tindley is a team that is always battle-tested come tournament time. They will feature one of the best freshman in the state of Indiana in [player_tooltip player_id='2266897' first='Kenneth' last='Lampley']. Whoever cuts down the Sectional 59 nets will certainly have earned it and will an immediate state title contender.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">State Contenders</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bethesda Christian - The Patriots won 21 games last season and cut down the nets in Sectional 58. Now, they return their top two scorers including senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1761698' first='Sam' last='Mlagan'] who averaged 16.9 points per game last year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Evansville Christian - On paper, Evansville Christian probably had the best Class 1A resume last season. However, they got upset by Northeast Dubois in the Sectional championship game. Returning Indiana Junior All-Star [player_tooltip player_id='1158176' first='Josiah' last='Dunham'] including five of seven total rotation players will make them a favorite once again.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Greenwood Christian - It is all about surviving Sectional 59. Greenwood Christian almost did it last season. They have the firepower in the backcourt to potentially do it this season. Lutheran is the defending champs, but if the Cougars can pull off the small upset they will have a path to the state finals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Indianapolis Lutheran - The defending Class 1A state champions return [player_tooltip player_id='1539996' first='Lonte' last='Ward Jr.'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2053660' first='Cayden' last='Loescher']. That is really all you need to know. Lutheran will be the preseason #1 ranked team in Class 1A.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Orleans - Loogootee and Barr-Reeve have been the talk of Sectional 63 in recent years, but the Bulldogs have quietly hung around knocking on the door under long time head coach Tom Bradley. Now, led by seniors [player_tooltip player_id='1158190' first='Ian' last='Hall'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1386673' first='Xavier' last='Alston'] they will enter this season as the favorites.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Top Players</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1386511' first='Max' last='Booher'] (Greenwood Christian 2024)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1158176' first='Josiah' last='Dunham'] (Evansville Christian 2024)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1297013' first='Deion' last='Edwards'] (Springs Valley H.S. 2025)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1158190' first='Ian' last='Hall'] (Orleans H.S. 2024)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2266897' first='Kenneth' last='Lampley'] (Tindley H.S. 2027)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2053660' first='Cayden' last='Loescher'] (Indianapolis Lutheran 2025)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1297031' first='Henri' last='Maye'] (Tindley H.S. 2025)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1761698' first='Sam' last='Mlagan'] (Bethesda Christian 2024)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1560962' first='Blake' last='Neill'] (Bloomfield H.S. 2026)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1297066' first='Joshua' last='Renfro'] (Christian Academy 2025)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1158195' first='Jacob' last='Scruggs'] (South Decatur H.S. 2024)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1539996' first='Lonte' last='Ward Jr.'] (Indianapolis Lutheran 2025)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Quick Hitters:</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Indianapolis Lutheran was the Class 1A (North) representative at Gainbridge Fieldhouse last season as the Saints took home the title in dominant fashion over Southwood 97-66</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Seven teams from the Class 1A (South) were ranked in the Top 10 of the Final Class 1A AP Poll last season.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list -->