As we wrap up girls basketball season here at Outside the Huddle, we take a look back at some more notes from Saturday’s games in the IHSAA State Finals.
No matter the various outcomes, congrats to Fremont, Bellmont and Norwell for advancing to the state finals. Having three teams from Northeast Indiana to represent the area is a cool and rare thing, especially for the Northeast 8 Conference for sending a quarter of its teams to the state title games.
Here are a couple of notes from each of the state finals games featuring area teams.
CLASS 1A
Fremont fell 51-31 on Saturday to Borden to open up the state finals in the Class 1A game. It was Fremont’s first ever appearance in the finals, while Borden repeated as Class 1A state champions. Prior to last season’s run to their first state title, Borden had never made it out of the Regional round in the history of their program.
Fremont’s Hailey Heller was the fourth leading scorer throughout the season and finished with five points in the title game loss. She is the only senior in Fremont’s starting lineup that will not return next season. The Eagles played just six players (other than the closing minute of the game) on Saturday and will return four of them next season. Heller and Willow Towers both graduate and Alaska Gochenour is the the third and final senior from this group.
Borden’s 35.7 percent from the field in the first quarter was their worst shooting quarter of the game. It was better than three of Fremont’s quarter shooting. The Eagles only surpassed Borden’s worst quarter with their fourth quarter, shooting 38.5 percent, also making their only three pointer of the game. Fremont went 1-of-9 from deep in the fourth quarter however.
The Eagles never led by more than one and only played 58 seconds of the game, all in the first quarter, with a lead. Borden showed their experience with their ability to dictate tempo and lead throughout the game. If you take out the middle two quarters of the game, Fremont only trailed Borden by three in the first/fourth, taking an 11-11 fourth quarter tie to finish the game. Borden hit 5-of-6 free throws in the final quarter, compared to Fremont’s 6-of-8 shooting for the entire game from the line.
Fremont finished 28-3 on the season, completing the year with the second most wins of any team in the state – regardless of class – just behind Center Grove (29-0). Fremont’s three losses on the year were the second least of any state finals teams, behind Center Grove, with only five total teams in the state having less losses on the year.
Borden held Fremont to their fewest points scored this season (previously 45 points in a Jan. 17 loss to Eastside) and joined Marquette Catholic in holding an opponent to an IHSAA 1A state final fewest 31 points (2018 vs. Vincennes Rivet).
Riley Rarick of Borden tied a IHSAA Class 1A record with eight assists.
CLASS 3A
Bellmont went from winless during coach Andy Heim‘s second season in 2013-2014 to a state title in 2025-2026. That turnaround saw Heim build the program from the spark that then future D1 player Grace Hunter brought to the program. Heim has been clear over the years how big Hunter’s play was as a catalyst for young players in Decatur to want to be part of a high level program again. Hunter was the spark for the fire, but Heim found ways to continue to build up his program from the youth on up during this run to a state title.
Bellmont’s win gives the Class 3A state title to the Northeast 8 Conference for the second straight season. It is super rare occurrence for a two different teams from the same conference to win the same state title back-to-back as Bellmont and Norwell (2025) have now done in Class 3A. That said, the Southern Conference has also done this recently with Lanesville and Borden winning the Class 1A state title back-to-back in 2024 and 2025 (and now Borden again in 2026).
Bellmont’s fourth quarter shooting (6-9, 66.7%) was the single best shooting quarter in the Class 3A finals and the only team shooting quarter above 50 percent. Bellmont also shot a game co-low 25 percent during a quarter, only going 3-of-12 during the second quarter. Roncalli’s 25 percent quarter came in the fourth, themselves going 3-of-12 against Bellmont’s best quarter.
The free throw line was important in every quarter of the 3A game. With the exception of Roncalli’s third quarter (1-1) and Bellmont’s second quarter (0-0), each team attempted at least four free throws in each quarter.
Bellmont’s Ashley Bleke and Marianne Bleke shot a combined 7-of-21 from the field in the game, just under half of Bellmont’s made baskets and attempted baskets (17-of-48). But, the pair shot 4-of-4 from the field and 2-2 from the free throw in the crucial fourth quarter. Marianne Bleke scored eight points in the final frame.
The 10 total turnovers in the Class 3A title game were the least of any state finals game. Class 4A saw 32 combined turnovers, Class 2A had 24 combined turnovers and Class 1A was 29 combined turnovers. Bellmont’s four turnovers was the least of any of the 8 state finals teams, followed by Roncalli’s six; the only team outside of 3A with single digit turnovers on state finals Saturday was Eastern with eight turnovers in the Class 2A title game.
Bri Converset won the Patricia L. Roy Mental Attitude Award in Class 3A. According to the IHSAA, Converset maintained a 4.24 GPA while serving as a four-year member of Student Council, a three-year member of the Bellmont Student Athletic Leadership Team (SALT), and a two-year secretary of the National Honor Society. She has earned Academic All-State honors in soccer, was named a Lilly Scholarship finalist for Adams County, and serves as an ambassador for Drug Free Adams County. She is the only senior on Bellmont’s roster.
CLASS 4A
Center Grove’s last state finals appearance in girls basketball was in 1996, before the start of class basketball. It was also a win for the Trojans, who that season took down Valparaiso 55-44 with their scoring 30 years ago almost matching their final of 56 points this season in the state finals.
Norwell’s trip to the state finals for a third straight season marks one of the most rare things in IHSAA girls basketball history. Crown Point made the finals in 1983 (a loss to Bedford North Lawrence), 1984 and 1985 – with back to back titles before class basketball was a thing. Since class basketball was instituted for the 1997-98 season, Bishop Luers won three straight titles from 1999-2001 in Class 2A and Shenandoah was in the 3A title game from 2001-2003. Also in Class 2A, Heritage Christian won four straight from 2006-2009 and Bishop Luers appeared in three straight again from 2010-2012. Tri-Central went to three straight, winning them all in Class 1A from 2003-2005 and Canterbury won all of the Class 1A state titles from 2008-2009. Norwell’s third straight trip to the state finals is the only time 8th instance of a team making three straight finals. The Knights cross over two classes to do so is the second area team to ever do that, with Canterbury winning in Class 1A in 2012 and 2013, then being the 2A runner up in 2014 and 2015.
Two players never left the court in the Class 4A state title game. Norwell’s Macie Saalfrank and Center Grove’s Haley Wagoner each played 32 minutes in the finale. They are the only two players to never leave the court in any game during State finals Saturday.
Center Grove’s 11 point comeback ties the Class 4A state title game record for the biggest comeback to win a game. The Trojans trailed by 11 with 3:41 left in the third quarter.
Norwell’s Macie Saalfrank was the Patricia L. Roy Mental Attitude Award winner for Class 4A. According to the IHSAA, Saalfrank has maintained a 4.04 GPA while balancing her commitments as a member of the National Honor Society, an Executive Officer for Riley Dance Marathon, and a multi-sport athlete in basketball, volleyball, and tennis for the Knights. Beyond the classroom and competition, she gives back by volunteering as a coach, serving in her church, and helping lead the Friday Night Cleanup Crew following football and basketball games.
Gracyn Gilliard for Center Grove hit the most free throws of any single state finals player with nine. Her 10 total free throw attempts matched a state finals top mark with Elliot Leffler (Roncalli; 7-10), Sidney Burton (Eastern; 8-10) and Addison Smith (Eastern; 6-10).
Norwell was the only state finals team to score less than their opponent off turnovers, in the paint, off fast breaks and in second chance points. Norwell still had more points than anyone else in the state finals (other than opponent Center Grove) in points off turnovers with 16. Center Grove finished with 26 points off turnovers and Eastern had 15.
Vanessa Rosswurm from Norwell finishes her career as Wells County’s second all-time scorer with 1,805 points. She is third all-time in Norwell scoring behind boys players Darin Archbold and Luke McBride. Her 698 points this season is second in a season in school history behind Archbold.
OTHER NOTES
• Center Grove’s win over Norwell moved them to 29-0 on the season. They are the first unbeaten team in girls basketball to win a state title in 13 years.
• Roncalli’s loss in the Class 3A state title game meant that no top ranked team in the state in their class captured a state title this season.
• As noted a bit above, the Southern Conference has now won four straight girls basketball Class 1A state titles. Lanesville won the title in 2023 and 2024, while Borden has gone back to back in 2025 and 2026.
• Class 2A did not feature any local teams, but Eastern won the title with a 50-32 win over Oak Hill. Sidney Burton led all Class 2A players with 16 points in the win. Eastern won three of the four quarters, including a 16-5 fourth quarter.
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