The 2024-25 IHSAA girls basketball state championship games are set for Saturday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Let’s keep with tradition and start our coverage with some preliminary takeaways for each game.
Each game will be streamed live via pay-per-view on IHSAAtv.org ($15 per game or $20 for all games).
Semistate wrap: Makalusky surpasses Parrish, Warsaw dazzles, 2026 Miss Basketball
Class A: Borden vs. Lafayette Central Catholic, 10:30 a.m.
Borden has scored 50-plus points in four straight games and five of six, with the lone exception coming in regional against Vincennes Rivet, a come-from-behind 41-35 win. The Braves have a balanced scoring attack headlined by Ava Wheeler, and bolstered by Riley Rarick, AJ Mallad, Emma Hart and McKenna Mullen. They can get rolling in a hurry and once they do, are capable of scoring in the 60s.
That’s going to be really difficult against Lafayette Central Catholic, which had not allowed 50 points to a Class A opponent until Saturday’s 53-50 overtime win vs. Marquette Catholic in the semistate final. The Knights are an old, battle-tested team that’s comfortable playing a game in the low-50s (Borden can grind out those types of games, too).
It’s probably more important for LCC to keep the score in the 50s than it is for Borden to push it into the 60s.
‘They’re special talents.’ 6-foot junior tandem leads Borden
Class 2A: South Knox vs. Rensselaer Central, 12:45 p.m.
Rensselaer is big and it’s physical. They’re tough to see over, Nova Cross said following Sheridan’s semistate semifinal loss, then once you get past one, there’s another long player right there. That sort of length isn’t necessarily anything new for 2A favorite South Knox, which has played Hamilton Southeastern and Homestead at the Hall of Fame Classic, Washington, Corydon Central, Lanesville and Evansville Central. But it still could come into play at Gainbridge, with the Bombers capable of mixing up their defenses.
Playing lockdown defense will be critical, because points will be extremely difficult to come by against South Knox, which is giving up fewer than 29 points per game. Kendal Hill and Grace Detweiler were tremendous against Heritage Christian, limiting the Eagles to 40 points.
Class 3A: Norwell vs. Greensburg, 6 p.m.
This feels like a something’s gotta give scenario when analyzing from the Norwell side. One of the Knights’ calling cards is their 1-3-1 zone and the variations coach Eric Thornton installs based on individual matchups. That defense, which was very good against Columbia City in the state semifinals, generates 22 takeaways (14 steals) per game. Greensburg is one of the more efficient teams it’ll encounter this season, with the Pirates averaging fewer than 11 turnovers per game.
Greensburg should have an advantage with its depth of scoring. Four different Pirates are averaging in double figures, with Claire Larrison, Mylie Wilkison, Leah West and Aly Powers all pouring in between 10-16 ppg. They also shoot better than 50% from the field as a team.
Class 4A: Warsaw vs. Lawrence North, 8:15 p.m.
Considering the speed at which both teams play and their propensity for explosive scoring runs, this game could be decided by which side finds its rhythm and settles in first. That’s what happened for Warsaw in both semistate games last weekend, and it cruised through McCutcheon then rallied to upend Hamilton Southeastern.
Denying those open looks will be imperative for Lawrence North (obviously), but it has the athleticism and depth to matchup with Warsaw’s power-packed lineup.
On the other side, the Tigers must take care of the ball. Lawrence North feasts on transition opportunities, using its frenetic pressure to turn teams over and get out and run.
More: 4A state title may stay in district after all as Lawrence North survives Pike
2025 IHSAA girls basketball state finals schedule
All games Saturday, March 1 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse and will be streamed
Class A: Borden vs. Lafayette Central Catholic, 10:30 a.m.
Class 2A: South Knox vs. Rensselaer Central, 12:45 p.m.
Class 3A: Norwell vs. Greensburg, 6 p.m.
Class 4A: Warsaw vs. Lawrence North, 8:15 p.m.
How to watch IHSAA girls basketball state finals
All four state championship games will stream exclusively on IHSAAtv.org via pay-per-view for $15 per game or $20 for all games.
Follow Brian Haenchen on Twitter at @Brian_Haenchen.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana high school girls basketball state finals: IHSAA championship games