September 17, 2025
It’s mid September and the Top 50 countdown has begun with just over 2 months left until the season begins. Technically, we’re less than 50 week days away now until the first games of the season start on November 24th. This Top 50 is the best teams I feel, regardless of class. Last year we correctly named the top 2 teams (Jeffersonville and Fishers) with the Red Devils taking our #1 spot. That proved to be correct last March when Jeff cut down the nets v. the Tigers @ Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indy. Most everyone thought Jeff and Fishers were #1 + #2 but not many outside of southern Indiana gave the Red Devils the nod. Last year we named South Ripley as our #50 team despite hearing some pushback on the small 2A school. The Raiders only posted one of their best years in school history going 23-2 + reaching the #1 spot in 2A for a short time last year. We’re going to start similar with #50 this year. There’s some small 2A schools looking to make some noise in their class and a 1A state title contender. Time to start the countdown.
50. Linton Miners– We’re starting the countdown off with a perineal 2A south power, the Miners of Linton. In fact Linton has not had a sub .500 season since 2010- 2011. The Miners went 21- 7 last year with a OT loss @ the semi state and return alot of fire power. The top returning scorer is 6’4 senior Paul Oliver who committed to Indiana State for football. 6’3 senior wing Conner Daily is also back in the starting lineup. Senior classmates Jackson Miller and Cooper Smith return for Coach Britton. A strong sophomore class that Linton fans should expect more productive numbers from this year are 6’3 Reuben Goodman, Jake Rose, and Kingston Crane. That sophomore class should ensure the Miners of continued success in the near future. Sullivan should provide a tough opponent in Sectional 47 but Linton could also surprise some higher rated teams in a strong 2A south.
Key Games;
December 5 v. Terre Haute South
January 16 @ Bloomfield
February 13 @ Sullivan
49. Southwestern (Hanover) Rebels– The 2nd team in our top 50 should be the class of the ORVC this year. The Rebels have had a real run of talent the past 10 years but haven’t gotten past regional weekend, yet. This year could be that year for the Rebs with a trio of good seniors. 6’4 guard Brady Cook is a 4-year varsity player (12.1 ppg) and was a participant in the Top 100 back in June. He’s long and can defend multiple positions. 5’10 guard Braxton Lewis was actually Southwestern’s leading returning scorer @ 14 ppg. Lewis is one of southern Indiana’s best long range shooters and when he gets hot he can drop 20+ any given game. Possibly one of southern Indiana’s most underrated players is 6’2 guard Caleb Goode rounds out the Rebel trio. Goode put in 10.8 ppg last year but some of the games I saw him he was SW leading scorer. He’s aggressive going down hill and has real good range from the outside. Rounding out the lineup are sophomores Andrew Nussbaum and Luke Morrow, as well as senior Jeter Chatham who look to take a bigger role as varsity players. Freshman guard Quinton Lewis is someone to watch out for sooner rather than later and could crack into the starting lineup eventually this year.
Key Games;
December 6 @ Columbus East
January 23 v. Lawrenceburg
February 14 v Floyd Central
February 24 @ Charlestown
48. Forest Park Rangers– Coming in at #48 is our second 2A team and semi state participate last year. The Rangers have won 4 consecutive sectional titles and has a group that is used to winning. This year could be #5 in a row thanks to one of the state’s biggest stock risers, 6’9 junior Kamdon Partenheimer. He held his own in last year’s regional v. a favored South Ripley Raiders team and all state player, Cole Henry. If Partenheimer continues his progression he could be looking at a spot on the 2026 junior All Star team. Kamdon is on his way to becoming one of the best bigs in all of southern Indiana. The Rangers are also returning 3 senior guards in Grant Fleck, Jared Burger, and Jaxon Lueken (who’s an Indiana University baseball- commit). Lueken shot 43% from three last year and is a 4 year starter. Fleck is a true point guard and Berger is a 3 pt. specialist. 6’0 Jr. Dee Finch will see an increased role this season. Watch out for sophomores Reid Fleck (6’4) and Braydyn VanWinkle (6’5). Like last year, the Rangers will have another roadblock with Mater Dei in their own sectional but this group of Rangers hasn’t lost yet; and they don’t want to start now.
Key Games;
January 2 v. Providence @ Southridge Tournament
January 31 @ Paoli
February 5 @ Evansville Mater Dei
February 20 @ Princeton
47. Bloomfield Cardinals– Our first 1A squad comes in here @ #47. The Cards come in with arguably the top player in all of 1A statewide. Senior Blake Neill is back for his final season as a Cardinal. He’s coming off an off season where he made the Junior All Star team and put up good #’s for Grand Park Premier in AAU ball. Neill actually had the top ranked 3 pt. shooting % in all of the Pro16 League this spring/ summer. On top of all that last season Neill became Bloomfield’s all time leading scorer last season passing up Shane Miller (’94). Returning junior guard Tyler Patterson is back to give the Cards a strong 1-2 punch. 6’3 senior Ashton Pace had some big games last season and is another good offensive threat. The Cardinals also have some size in 6’6 senior Owen Medina. Senior Hunter Abner and junior Cameron Branstetter. There’s some competition @ the 1A level and getting through the south with teams such as Hauser, Liberty Christian, Barr Reeve, and Indy Lutheran won’t be easy. It should be a fun basketball season in Green County for the Cardinals.
Key Games;
January 16 v. Linton
February 10 @ Bloomington South
February 27 @ Barr Reeve
46. Oak Hill Golden Eagles– Here’s yet another 2A team that is ready to compete for a state title in a loaded class this year. We may be a year early on this group that features some really good underclassmen but from what I saw over the summer @ the Charlie Hughes they’re ready to give teams problems now. The Golden Eagles return leading scorer, junior guard Jayce Tonagel who put up almost 20 ppg last year as a soph. As a matter of fact, Oak Hill returns their top 3 leading scorers from last season in senior RJ Shugart (16 ppg) and Jr. Landon Cruzan. What separates this team from being good and a real competitor in 2A North are two newcomers to the team. Oak Hill got a shot in the arm when Jr. Jayden Younce transferred over from Eastbrook. Younce averaged 12 ppg as a soph. last year for the Panthers. The other new addition comes in the form of one of the state’s best freshman, Will Tonagel. The younger Tonagel brother will be counted on to help lead the team and when I saw them this summer, he hit the winning shot in an OT game v. Park Tudor while putting up 30 pts. Look for the Golden Eagles to be well inside the 2A Top 10.
Key Games;
January 10 v. Zionsville
February 7 v. Homestead
February 27 @ Delta
Leave a Reply