Macy Detty remembers losing a sectional match to Columbus North when she was a Center Grove freshman back in 2017.
More than the game itself, it’s the aftermath that sticks with her.
“I remember the seniors, that bus ride,” Detty said. “And we do a big sectional thing that Saturday, and it was just a terrible environment, because we lost in sectionals and then four hours later we all had a sleepover. I remember that, so I want to avoid that at all costs.”
Now a senior herself, Detty hopes to lead the Trojans to a third straight Class 3A sectional title this week at Whiteland. If that’s going to happen, though, it’s going to require avenging a season-opening 4-0 loss against that same Bull Dogs team back on Aug. 17.
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Columbus North junior Jenna Lang, who has torched opposing defenses to the tune of 36 goals already this season, accounted for all four of the scores in that match.
“You always have to account for her,” Center Grove coach Mike Bishop said of Lang. “It’s like in football — you’d better know where that player is at all times, because at any moment they can burn you for whatever points they want. And that’s how she is; she’s a stud.
“You’ve got to know where she’s at, because if she gets the ball at her feet, you never know what she can do. She can hit it left foot, right foot from 30 yards out and put them in the corners.”
While acknowledging the danger that Lang poses, the Trojans note that they were far from the best version of themselves that evening, and that they’ll be sharper this time around.
The fact that Center Grove had won three consecutive meetings in the series, including victories of 4-1 and 3-1 last season, might have led the team to head into that August match feeling a little too comfortable.
“It was our first game of the season,” senior Paige Waskom said. “We really didn’t have too much team chemistry, and so we got caught slacking that game and it showed with the final score. But we’ve developed, we’ve built our team chemistry together and we’re ready.”
“I think we’re super different,” junior Peyton Murphy agreed. “With our team chemistry, like Paige said, we just have grown more connected on the field. And tactically, I think we’ve gotten better and learned to play different formations and do different things.”
As the Trojans have evolved, they’ve managed to develop some more confidence. Instead of going into a funk when they allow a goal, as may have been the case in early-season losses to the Bull Dogs and No. 9 Bloomington South, they’re now able to bounce back both mentally and physically.
In late September matches against Plainfield and Brownsburg, Center Grove gave up first-half goals and came back to put home the game-winners in the second half.
“Our first few games of the season, we kind of shut down when we were scored against first,” Waskom said. “Now … we’re able to come back and understand that there’s 80 minutes to play, and until the whistle blows the game’s not over.”
That persistence could prove to be a valuable asset should Center Grove run into Columbus North again in Saturday’s sectional final as many expect. If Lang gets loose for an early score this time, the Trojans believe they’re built to withstand it.
“Now we know exactly what we’re up against,” Murphy said.
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Class 3A Center Grove Sectional
Players to watch: Center Grove — Macy Detty, Makensie Kramer, Peyton Murphy, Paige Waskom; Columbus East — Alana Dwenger, Abby Miller; Columbus North — Lauren Barker, Jenna Lang, Alexa McKinley, Lauryn Whitley; Franklin — Stephanie Brady, Mollie Hill, Addie Marshall; Greenwood — Olivia Brawley, Tori Graber, Emily Metzger; Whiteland — Emma Gill, Alaina LaPorte, Sarah Turcotte
What to expect: Though Franklin and Columbus East in particular have enough weapons to make the early rounds interesting for the favorites, the consensus expectation is that Center Grove and Columbus North will be playing for the title on Saturday. The Trojans have taken the last two sectional meetings, but the Bull Dogs answered with a 4-0 triumph in August. Should they meet again, don’t expect the final score to be that lopsided — this has been a heated back-and-forth rivalry the last four years, and the next installment could be a classic.
Class A Speedway Sectional
Players to watch: Covenant Christian — Katerina Anderson, Sydney Longoria, Lizzy Midla; Greenwood Christian — Ellie Bigelow, Izzy Cameron, Savvanah Frye, Adeline Jolley; Scecina — Madelynn Martin, Olivia Smith; Speedway — Audrey Burrell, Jordan Davis, Sydney Rendes
What to expect: The Cougars endured an early five-match losing streak — one that included handing Covenant its lone victory of the season, 3-0 — as well as a midseason coaching change. They’ve now won four of their last eight and have built some momentum going into a rematch with the Warriors. Should GCA get that win, it would be an underdog in the final against either No. 10 Scecina or No. 16 Speedway, but the goalkeeping of Bigelow, who has ranked among the state leaders in saves all year, could help keep it close.
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Class 3A Whiteland Sectional
At Break-O-Day Elementary
Today
Greenwood vs. Whiteland, 5 p.m.
Center Grove vs. Franklin, 7 p.m.
Thursday
Today’s winners, 5 p.m.
Columbus North vs. Columbus East, 7 p.m.
Saturday
Championship, 2 p.m.
Class A Speedway Sectional
Thursday
Scecina vs. Speedway, 5 p.m.
Covenant Christian vs. Greenwood Christian, 7 p.m.
Saturday
Championship, 2 p.m.
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