Indiana
Insider: Here are 10 must-see Central Indiana girls basketball sectional matchups
IHSAA girls basketball: Previewing the 2024 Sectional 9 tournament
Brian Haenchen, Courtney Delks, Josh Sabol and Danny Riego preview the Sectional 9 girls basketball tourney. Full episode at YouTube.com/@IndyStarHank
The sectional round of the girls high school basketball state tournament begins Tuesday and there are a lot of good games around the area (and the state, for that matter).
Here are my picks for the 10-best matchups in Central Indiana.
The Scorers Table will be hosting LIVE recap shows this week. Stay tuned for details.
SECTIONAL PREVIEWS: 4A | 3A | 2A | A
Insider: 10 takeaways from sectional draw
10. Decatur Central vs. Ben Davis, 7:30 p.m. Wed., at Pike
On paper, Decatur Central should have the advantage over Ben Davis. It has double the wins (as of Thursday) and a solid young core with Kenadi Passley-Banks, Soriah Gouard, Havana Thompson and Kassie McMasters. But it would be unwise to write off the Giants with legendary coach Stan Benge patrolling the sidelines. Plus, they’re trending up with a win over Pike and competitive losses to Lawrence North and Westfield.
9. East Central vs. Whiteland, 6 p.m. Tues., at Whiteland
Whiteland finished above .500 for the first time since 2018-19 last season. Now it’s looking to win its first state tournament game since 2017. Standing in its way: East Central, which was hit hard by graduation last year, but was involved with a few narrow finishes down the stretch. Don’t expect a ton of points from this one, but it should be a close one.
8. Lutheran vs. Eminence, 7 p.m. Tues., at Eminence (aka The Eel Tank)
These are the top-two teams in Sectional 59 and their Jan. 13 meeting was decided by five points (Lutheran won). The Saints have more than doubled last season’s win total (5) and boast a nice 1-2 punch with Grace King and Caitlyn Brooks; Eminence has one of the area’s top small-school talents in Sophia Saucerman. Both teams are experienced, so there shouldn’t be much of a feeling-out process here.
7. Brownsburg vs. Avon, 7 p.m. Tues., at Avon
Avon snapped a 27-game losing streak vs. Brownsburg in December, beating the Bulldogs for the first time since Jan. 3, 2008. Can they recreate that magic to extend their season? It’s a rivalry game in sectionals — expect the unexpected. If that’s not enough, Avon has an electrifying scorer in junior guard Aniah Smith and Brownsburg boasts a 6-6 center in Purdue commit Avery Gordon.
More: Avon’s Aniah Smith ‘makes the hard things look so easy.’ And she’s just getting started.
6. Lapel vs. Alexandria, 7:30 p.m. Wed., at Lapel
This is the third meeting between these fiery combatants in 2023-24. The big question: Can Lapel hold Jacklynn Hosier in check? The junior guard went for 27 points in their first meeting, but was limited to 15 points on 4-of-14 shooting with five turnovers at the Madison County tournament earlier this month. Then again, it may not matter if Lapel’s Laniah Wills and Madelyn Poynter are on their game.
5. North Central vs. Warren Central, 7 p.m. Tues., at Cathedral
Another quick turnaround from Friday. Warren Central, which beat NC, brings some serious firepower with senior Denyha Jacobs and sophomore Denell Jacobs. North Central rebounded from an 0-7 start with a run to the Marion County tournament finals, and has picked it up down the stretch. It rallied from an 18-point deficit to upset Zionsville, hung with Lawrence Central, then rallied to beat Pendleton Heights.
Her sister’s career casts a big shadow. Now, Talia Harris forming own path with Fishers.
4. Brebeuf Jesuit vs. Bishop Chatard, 6 p.m. Tues., at Bishop Chatard
The Braves get first crack at dethroning the defending regional champion Trojans, who beat Guerin Catholic by two in OT, Brebeuf by a point and Heritage Christian by four in double overtime to win their third consecutive sectional crown last season. A few young up-and-comers will be on display here, too, with Chatard sophomore Olivia Berzai and Brebeuf freshman Jailen Bowling. The Braves beat the Trojans by 14 on Friday.
3. Greenfield-Central vs. New Palestine, 6 p.m. Wed., at Pendleton Heights
Using the regular season as a barometer here. Greenfield-Central had three players score in double figures and shot 43% as a team, but still needed overtime to beat New Pal thanks to a 19-point (four 3-pointers), eight-rebound and six-assist performance by senior Allie Blum. Winner here likely advances to face the host Arabians.
2. Triton Central vs. Eastern Hancock, 6 p.m. Fri., at Scecina
The two best teams in the bracket, both ranked inside the top 15. Eastern Hancock, one of the favorites to win it all in 2A, beat Triton Central by nine back in early November, but the past two postseason meetings between these two teams have been much closer (triple overtime in 2022).
1. Sectional 8 semifinals
Hedging a bit here, but the matchups are set: Zionsville vs. Hamilton Southeastern/Westfield and Noblesville vs. Fishers/Carmel. Any combination of those matchups will be fascinating. HSE had to rally from a 10-point deficit to beat Zionsville last Friday; Westfield took the Eagles to overtime in early December. Noblesville lost to Carmel, while the Millers-Tigers matchup has decided the eventual 4A north champion in both of the past two seasons. A side plot: With reclassification on the horizon, this could be the final year of the vaunted Class 4A Sectional 8 tournament as we know it.
Follow Brian Haenchen on Twitter at @Brian_Haenchen.
CLOVERDALE, Ind. (WKRC) – Authorities in Indiana found a semi trailer loaded up with hundreds of pounds of suspected cocaine.
According to a statement issued by the Indiana State Police (ISP), 27-year-old Harmandeep Singh of Bakersfield, California was taken into custody after nearly 400 pounds of suspected cocaine were reportedly found in the trailer of a commercial truck.
Per the statement, an ISP trooper seized the suspected cocaine during a traffic stop on Interstate 70 in Putnam County, authorities said.
The stop occurred Tuesday morning near the 37-mile marker, just east of Cloverdale, after a commercial motor vehicle was observed exceeding the posted speed limit.
Police said Singh displayed several indicators of possible criminal activity during the encounter. After obtaining consent to search the vehicle, troopers discovered multiple duffel bags and cardboard boxes in the trailer containing approximately 392 pounds (178 kilograms) of suspected cocaine.
Authorities estimated the street value of the drugs at about $9 million.
Singh was taken into custody and taken to the Putnam County Jail, where he is being held on a $30,000 cash bond.
He faces the following preliminary charges, per the post:
- Possession of a narcotic drug
Formal charges will be determined by the Putnam County prosecutor.
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Indiana State Police said drug interdiction remains a priority, with troopers focusing on major highways to disrupt the flow of illegal narcotics into the state.
For many Hoosiers living in rural Indiana, accessing health care can mean driving 30 minutes or even an hour to see a doctor or reach the nearest hospital. As workforce shortages and financial pressures challenge rural hospitals across the country, ensuring access to care close to home has become one of the most important health-care issues facing our state.
About one in four Indiana residents live in a rural community, yet access to health-care services in many of these communities continues to shrink. Across the nation, rural hospitals and clinics report extremely thin operating margins and often say workforce shortages and rising costs make it difficult to sustain services such as primary care, maternity care and behavioral health.
When rural communities struggle to maintain health-care access, the impact doesn’t stay confined to small towns. It ripples across the entire health-care system, contributing to increases in chronic conditions, reduced preventative care for children, and worsening outcomes for the sickest patients.
Communities such as Greater Lafayette serve as a regional hub for care, with hospitals like IU Health Arnett caring for patients from surrounding counties across north-central and west-central Indiana. That role is something we are proud to fulfill. But when rural residents must travel long distances for care that should be available closer to home, it places increasing pressure on emergency departments, specialty clinics and inpatient services at larger regional hospitals.
In many cases, what might have been a routine appointment, preventive screening or early diagnosis in a local clinic becomes far more serious by the time a patient reaches a larger hospital. A missed screening can escalate into a medical emergency.
That reality makes strengthening rural health care more important than ever — not just for rural communities, but for the health of the entire state.
One of the most important steps we can take is investing in the next generation of health-care professionals who will care for these communities.
At IU Health, we are working directly with local schools and community partners to help build that workforce pipeline. Across the region, IU Health has partnered with the Greater Lafayette Career Academy and area school districts to introduce students to health-care careers earlier and provide hands-on learning opportunities that bring those careers to life.
Through these programs, students explore health-care pathways and earn certifications such as certified nursing assistant, medical assistant or emergency medical technician while still in high school. Many participate in job shadowing opportunities, clinical experiences and mentorship programs, giving them valuable exposure to the field before they graduate. In fact, since the first cohort in 2023, IU Health has extended job offers to more than 70 students.
The goal is simple but powerful: help students see that meaningful careers in health care exist in their own communities and create pathways that allow them to stay and serve those communities.
For rural health care, this approach is critical. Students who train and develop personal mentorship connections locally are far more likely to remain in the region after completing their education. By helping young people build skills and connections early, we can create a sustainable workforce that strengthens health-care access in both rural communities and regional centers, including Greater Lafayette.
Since launching the $200 million Community Impact Investment Fund in 2018, IU Health has invested more than $40 million in community grants supporting workforce development, education and school-based programs that build Indiana’s health-care talent pipeline. This includes funding for the Indiana Latino Institute, which placed Latino students in health-care internships, supported career pathways, and provided medical interpreter training and college coaching to communities across the state.
Our goal is to make Indiana one of the healthiest states in the nation, and this is one way we work toward that in partnership with our communities.
But workforce development is only part of the solution.
Strengthening rural health care will also require continued collaboration between health-care providers, educators, community leaders and policymakers. Expanding telehealth access, supporting rural hospitals and investing in primary care and behavioral health services are all critical steps toward ensuring patients can receive care close to home.
Greater Lafayette will always play an important role as a regional health-care center, providing specialized care and advanced services for patients across a broad region. But the long-term health of Indiana’s health-care system depends on maintaining strong local access points for care in rural communities.
When rural clinics and hospitals can provide preventive care, manage chronic conditions and connect patients with the services they need early, the entire system works better.
Patients receive care sooner, communities stay healthier and larger hospitals can focus on the complex cases they are designed to treat.
Healthy rural communities do not just benefit the towns where they are. They strengthen Indiana’s entire health-care system by ensuring that every Hoosier — no matter where they live — has access to the care and resources they need to live healthier lives.
When rural health care succeeds, all of Indiana benefits.
Gary Henriott is a lifelong resident of Lafayette and the retired CEO and Chairman of Henriott Group. He is the chair of the IU Health West Region board of directors and the Wabash Heartland Innovation Network, and president of Lafayette’s Board of Public Works and Safety.
INDIANAPOLIS (WKRC) — An Indianapolis mother is now facing criminal charges after her 2-month-old baby died in an apparent improper co-sleeping environment, according to investigators.
According to a probable cause affidavit obtained by FOX 59/CBS 4, police were called to an area hospital on Sept. 19, 2024, following the death of 27-year-old Brooklyn Davis’ son. The boy had been found unresponsive in his family’s home early that morning, and Davis attempted CPR before he was rushed to the hospital.
The affidavit says the boy had been sleeping on Davis’ bed with his 6-year-old brother. Davis later showed investigators a video showing the baby sleeping chest down on the 6-year-old’s chest.
An autopsy concluded the baby’s cause of death was “sudden explained death of an infant” with an intrinsic factor, which included being “placed to sleep in a queen-sized mattress being shared with a 6-year-old sibling, along with numerous blankets and other miscellaneous items; discovered unresponsive in a prone position with his face turned to the side and partially covered with a blanket.”
A report from the Department of Child Services (DCS) indicated the boy had no known health issues and that Davis ran an FSSA-licensed day care and has “extensive training on child care and safe sleeping environments.”
Davis had been known to DCS prior to the baby’s death. The boy had been born marijuana-positive and, on July 2, 2024, Davis had reportedly signed a “Safe Sleep Safety Plan,” acknowledging she understood that the safest places for her baby to sleep were in a crib, pack-and-play or bassinet and warned that co-sleeping places the baby at risk of suffocation and sleeping areas should be kept free of blankets, pillows and other items. The plan also included a provision that Davis not use marijuana while caring for her children, but she told investigators during an interview that, the morning of her baby’s death, she had gone downstairs to smoke marijuana and left the children alone upstairs.
Davis’ two other children were removed from the home, and interviews with them revealed that co-sleeping with the infant happened often.
Investigators say they attempted to contact Davis several times after talking to her children.
“She called me on February 18, 2025, and said she didn’t do anything wrong, her baby died of SIDS,” the detective wrote in the affidavit. “Brooklyn never came in for an additional interview.”
Court records indicate the case was filed in March 2026. Davis was booked into jail on April 1 on three counts of neglect of a dependent. An initial hearing was held on April 7, and a bail review hearing is planned for Monday.
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