Winchester’s Maddie Lawrence. Photo by Ryan Tincher.
WINCHESTER, Ind. – The Winchester girls basketball team returns to the Class 2A regional round for the second straight year as the Golden Falcons are set to face a familiar foe.
The fourth-ranked Golden Falcons (23-2) face off with Covenant Christian (16-9) in the opener of the Speedway Regional at 10 a.m.
In the second contest, No. 8 Triton Central (20-4) and South Putnam (19-5) meet at noon. The championship contest is slated for 8 p.m.
“Covenant Christian has really good guard play,” Winchester Head Coach Holly Gutierrez said. “They have several girls that can really shoot the three ball well.”
Covenant Christian won 49-43 in last year’s regional affair between the two squads.
“The girls are excited and much more prepared than last year,” Gutierrez said. “We bring experience this year.”
Winchester defeated Lincoln to win their second straight sectional last weekend, while the Warriors beat Park Tudor 58-40 to earn their fourth consecutive ticket to the regional.
Maddie Lawrence leads the Golden Falcons in scoring (19.0), rebounds (8.4), assists (7.1) and steals (4.3). She had 15 points, six rebounds, five assists and three steals in the win over Lincoln.
Hannah Graft and Becca Chamberlin both finished with 12 points last Saturday.
Covenant Christian’s top scorers are Bailey Everett (18.0) and Mikayla Cleary (16.5).
Cleary and Sania Borom (9.9 PPG) led the Warriors with 16 points each in the sectional championship contest.
Game Two
Triton Central vs. South Putnam
Triton Central defeated Shenandoah 32-13 last weekend in its own sectional.
Maya Chandler (15.2) and Tenleigh Phelps (14.8) are the leading scorers for the Tigers. Phelps led the way with 11 points against Shenandoah. Isabella Cooper and Grace Crist both had eight.
The Eagles have five straight wins, including a 64-55 victory over the host at the Cascade Sectional last Saturday.
South Putnam had four players reach double figures in the victory over Cascade with Lexi Vanihel leading the way with 19 points.
Lillie Stein tossed in 15 points, while Miranda Beighler finished with 13. Caitlyn Capps added 12 points.
Regional Titles
Winchester (2) – 2010, 2011
Covenant Christian (2) – 2016, 2017
Triton Central (2) – 1999, 2012
South Putnam (0) – Never won regional