Bellmont enters the 2026–27 season in a position few programs ever experience: attempting to follow the first girls basketball state championship in school history. The Braves return nearly every contributor from a team that went 24-3 entering the Class 3A state final and captured sectional, regional and semistate championships along the way. Bellmont’s regional title was its first since 1993, while its 56-41 semistate victory over Connersville secured the program’s first trip to the state championship game.
Coach Andy Heim’s team lost only one senior, Bri Converset, leaving a roster loaded with players who understand what is required to make a deep postseason run. That experience may be Bellmont’s greatest strength. The Braves have varsity-tested players at every position and a group that has already demonstrated its willingness to share the basketball, defend and play with composure in high-pressure situations.
Ashley Bleke and Mary Bleke give Bellmont two proven offensive centerpieces. Ashley averaged a team-best 13.5 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.7 assists while shooting 40.4 percent from the field as a sophomore. Mary was just behind her at 13.3 points per game and shot a highly efficient 59.4 percent from the floor. Together, they provide the Braves with versatility, size and two players capable of carrying the offense on any given night.
Senior guard Lanie French brings additional scoring, shooting and leadership after averaging 8.9 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.7 assists last season. French shot 38 percent from the field and 34.1 percent from beyond the arc while playing in all 25 games listed in Bellmont’s state-finals statistics. Her ability to stretch defenses and make experienced decisions should be particularly valuable as she moves into her final season.
Oni Krueckeberg gives Bellmont another established perimeter threat after producing 7.8 points, two rebounds and 1.8 assists per contest and was considered a wildly important piece to the program according to Heim. Kaitlyn Barton also returns following a strong sophomore season in which she averaged 6.3 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.6 assists. Barton shot 36.3 percent from the field and connected on 31.1 percent of her 3-point attempts, giving the Braves another guard who can score or facilitate.
Bellmont’s depth extends well beyond its leading scorers. Kate Kitson averaged 4.3 points, 2.6 rebounds and a team-high 2.5 assists, while 6-foot center Hadley Caffee contributed 2.8 points and 3.1 rebounds. Ella Schumm, Katelyn Borne and Ava Billman provide additional options in the frontcourt, giving Heim the flexibility to use different combinations without sacrificing size, physicality or experience.
Freshman guard Berkely Caffee is the key newcomer after advancing from the middle school program. She will enter an unusually experienced varsity environment, allowing her to develop without immediately carrying a major burden. Still, her addition could make an already deep backcourt even more competitive and give Bellmont another option capable of earning minutes as the season progresses.
The Braves’ stated goals begin with winning the Northeast Eight Conference championship, but the larger challenge will be handling the expectations created by last season’s historic run. Bellmont wants to remain focused on each week instead of looking ahead to February, an approach that helped the Braves navigate last year’s postseason. With almost the entire championship roster returning, Bellmont will begin the season as one of northeast Indiana’s most experienced teams—and as a legitimate threat to make another extended tournament run.
“I think this team has the potential to put up a lot of points this season which should make them a fun watch. While they are typically known for their tough defense (which we should still have), I am more excited for them to show off their scoring ability this season” says Heim. “On top of all that, our schedule has gotten much more difficult which should create some great games.”
WHY #1?
Bellmont enters the season ranked No. 1 in the area because the reigning Class 3A state champion returns nearly its entire rotation, losing only Bri Converset to graduation. This as Bellmont was the only team in the area to cash in and win a state title in Indianapolis, despite the area being represented in three of the four classes. The Bleke sisters both returning after averaging 26.8 points together give the Braves proven scoring, shooting and ball-handling. With championship experience, exceptional depth and few apparent weaknesses, Bellmont has the personnel to contend again both in and out of the area.
CRITICAL GAME – NOVEMBER 27 at HOMESTEAD
On November 27, Bellmont will take the trip to Homestead in the midst of their season long five straight road game stretch. The Braves and Spartans have squared off the last two seasons after not having played since they were conference foes in 2015. Alot changed over that time, with the Braves losing that last conference game to the Spartans 90-19.
Even as things have changed, Bellmont has not beaten Homestead since 2008. Last season, Bellmont lost just three times with their 23 point loss to Homestead being the worst point differential of the season. So this early season contest is going to be a big benchmark game in Bellmont’s charge to defend their title, as well as an important early season game in part of a heavy schedule for Bellmont.
CRUCIAL PLAYER
Even coach Andy Heim will tell you that Oni Krueckeberg was a highly underrated impact player in the state title run. Krueckeberg gained invaluable experience while starting and playing meaningful minutes throughout Bellmont’s first run to the state finals. If she improves her outside efficiency after shooting 28.4 percent from three, she could become the player who transforms an already balanced lineup into one with no comfortable defensive matchup as she builds on last season’s 7.8 point per game average.
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