For the first time in a dozen years, Bishop Luers (19-6) returns to a familiar place in their rich history: an appearance in the IHSAA State Finals. This season is a reminder and appreciation to the high standards of Bishop Luers High School. Amassing 21 combined state championships and six for girls’ basketball, their expectations always center around competing for a state championship.
The 2023-24 school year has been one of the most successful in the history of Luers athletics. Their football team already hoisted a state trophy back in November. Now, the girls’ basketball team will look to carry on that excellence. There have been 4 instances where Luers has claimed 2 or more state titles in a single school year (1999-2000, 2001-02, 2007-08, and 2010-11).
This season marks 25 years since Gary Andrews and his 1998-99 Lady Knights won their first ever state title as a program going 27-1 in the process. The road to this season’s state finals for Luers came with high hopes and challenges along the way. Coming off a promising finish to what was an 11-14 campaign a season ago, Coach Mark Pixley and his Lady Knights had their own good share of motivation for this season.
Experience was a huge factor into the potential this team had bringing back major players such as 1,000-point scorer and Huntington commit Addie Shank at power forward and senior point guard Annika Davis. The emergence of sophomore center Miley Wareing gave Luers two legitimate bigs around the rim to dominate and forcing defenses to put more focus at protecting the rim. This has opened up more opportunities for Luers’ guards to make plays, even if they are not always knocking down their threes.
Kyndal Tyree, Maggie Parent, Reese Rhodehamel, and Karianne Gillman are among players who have made the most of their opportunities and doing so at the most important time of the season. Pixley has continuously mentioned the increased amount of depth playing a huge role into the success of Bishop Luers. Of course, they took some lumps in the regular season because of how talented the SAC usually is and a tough non-conference.
However, they have had memorable performances that foreshadowed what this team was about to do in the 2A state tournament. It started out with wins over last year’s semistate finalist Central Noble and NECC Tournament champions Eastside. They battled through the loss at Huntington North and a tough first half at Lakewood Park to come away with the win over the host Lady Panthers.
They bounced back from a 16-point loss at Hamilton Heights to defeat a very good Bellmont team. But the one game that truly woke up the eyes of many came on a Monday night before the Christmas weekend where Luers, led by Rhodehamel’s 22-point outburst to stun Columbia City 65-55 in OT. Since that game, Luers has won 11 of their last 13 games and 9 in a row.
Their state tournament has been filled with many heroes that whenever one team had a answer for one of their key players, another Luers player emerged with a strong game. Their sectional title run is more impressive when you factor in the competition they had to face with Doug Curtis’ Bluffton Tigers and Justin Jordan’s high-scoring Whitko Wildcats, who shared the TRC. Then came the revenge game against Lafayette Central Catholic in regionals, where Luers avenged last year’s loss to them in regionals.
It was fitting that the team with the 2nd most state championships in the history of IHSAA girls’ basketball played their semistate games at the historic Berry Bowl where Luers beat last year’s state finalist Lapel and a scrappy Andrean team.
Much like with Norwell, Bishop Luers is one win away from championship glory. This game could have something extra special for the team. A win this Saturday would tie Heritage Christian’s 7 state titles for the most all-time in the state of Indiana. Standing in their way however is Brownstown Central.
Known famously for their excellent volleyball teams, the Lady Braves of Brownstown Central (21-8) have a pretty good track record in girls’ basketball. In fact, these two met in the 2011 2A State Finals, where Luers won 59-46 at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum. They will not have to travel nearly as far this time around.
Brownstown Central came into this postseason well under the radar and played their best basketball of the season. They avenged a 10-point loss to Austin in the regular season to win their 5th straight sectional title. They went into 2OT to win their regional against South Spencer and knocked off 3rd ranked Eastern Hancock to return to the state finals.
Much like Luers, their success has come through their hard work and depth. 5 Lady Braves average at least 6 points per game, and this team averages nearly 29 rebounds per game. This matchup could be the most interesting one of the 4 state finals matchups to be played at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, the home of the Indiana Pacers and Indiana Fever.
Brownstown Central has won 1 state championship in their school’s history, which came in the 2019 3A volleyball state finals against a highly successful Bellmont program. Bishop Luers is poised to make history by tying the state record with 7.
The winner of this game either way will showcase a reflection of overcoming a tough conference and playing their best basketball in the playoffs. For Luers, they hope to become the first SAC school since 2017 Homestead to win a girls’ basketball state championship. The SAC has seen 11 girls’ basketball teams hoisting a state championship.
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