As the 50th annual girls’ basketball state tournament gets underway, here is a look at some of the major headlines surrounding Tuesday and Wednesday’s opening round matchups.

Girls’ basketball has made significant strides over the past 50 years, from the rise of elite prospects to the emergence and widespread respect for professional women’s basketball and the growing mainstream popularity of women’s sports. There has never been a better time for women’s sports than now. Here’s a look at my “Mega Storylines” heading into the first two nights of sectional play.

Is 4A Sectional 8 the New “Sectional of Doom”?

Last night, I did a preview show with Mason Asher to break down all 64 girls’ basketball sectionals. You can find this on the ANEC Sports YouTube Channel. The one sectional we struggled the most to forecast was the Noblesville Sectional. And who could blame us?

This sectional boasts the second-highest winning percentage of all 64 sectionals and the second-most wins, trailing only 2A Sectional 49 (Bowman Academy Sectional). The Noblesville Sectional will feature the famous Mudsock rivalry between Fishers and Hamilton Southeastern (HSE). It also showcases one of the biggest basketball stars in the state, Maya Makalusky of HSE. On the other side of the bracket lies Carmel and Noblesville, with Noblesville facing the challenge of getting past a resilient Greyhounds squad.

However, the ultimate storyline is this: Hamilton Southeastern has struggled to win sectionals, particularly against Noblesville. Over the last five years, the Royals are 3-5 in sectional play, including losses to Fishers and Noblesville. Meanwhile, the Millers have won sectionals in three of the last four years, including a 2022 state championship and a trip to Semistate just last season.

If there’s ever a year for the Royals to rewrite the narrative, this is it. But it won’t be easy.

Warsaw Seeks Its First Sectional Title in a Decade

It’s a special time to be a Warsaw basketball fan. Fifty years ago, this Warsaw program won the first-ever girls’ basketball state championship. Now, 50 years later, the Lady Tigers are having one of the most successful seasons in program history. This team is an offensive powerhouse, shooting 52% from the floor and 42% from deep. The trio of Brooke Zartman (Miami-OH commit), Brooke Winchester (Ball State signee), and Joslyn Bricker provide three high-level scorers capable of leading Warsaw on a deep playoff run.

Yet, despite their success and fourth straight NLC championship, the focus remains on one question: Can the Tigers win in the playoffs? We’ll find out this week. Their potential first challenge could emerge from a matchup between Elkhart and Concord.

Columbia City Eyes Its First Sectional Title Since 2000

It’s been 25 years since Connie Myers set the program’s career scoring mark and since Columbia City last won a girls’ basketball sectional. More significantly, it’s been 25 years since the Lady Eagles played for a 3A state championship against Indianapolis Cathedral.

Now, Columbia City is in a position to make history again. Addison Baxter has already broken Connie Myers’ scoring record, entering sectional play with 1,717 points and counting. Competing in 3A Sectional 20, hosted by NECC member Fairfield, the Eagles face a tough road ahead.

Their first test is against NorthWood, led by Appalachian State volleyball signee Claire Payne. The Panthers’ frontcourt size could challenge the Eagles, but Columbia City has proven resilient. A likely Saturday matchup against Fairfield for the sectional title looms as a significant hurdle.

The Eagles no longer have to contend with perennial powerhouse Homestead, still considered a contender in 4A. But until Columbia City silences its critics, the memories of 2000 will remain.

Fremont vs. Lakewood Park: One of the Biggest Games in the State

While it may not get widespread attention, the Fremont-Lakewood Park matchup in 1A Sectional 52 (hosted by Bethany Christian) could be the best game in northern Indiana.

Fremont’s Grace Scharlach, a sophomore phenom, leads the NECC in scoring with 15.4 points per game and is on pace to set a single-season program record for free-throw percentage (87%). Addy Parr, who recently surpassed 1,000 career points, averages 11.8 points per game, while the athletic May Turner contributes 11.5 points per game. These three were part of a sectional championship team last season in 2A Sectional 35. Now in 1A, Fremont is a dark horse candidate to make its first-ever trip to Semistate.

Standing in their way is Lakewood Park and Ava McGrade. McGrade, a Trine University commit, averages 23.1 points per game on 47% shooting, including 39% from three. She leads the team in nearly every statistical category and is the program’s career scoring leader with 1,573 points and counting. McGrade has scored 20 or more points in 16 of her 22 games this season.

For Fremont to secure a sectional title (barring a Blackhawk Christian upset), they must contain McGrade and prevent any other Panther from stepping up offensively.