IHSAA BOYS BASKETBALL STATE FINALS
This past Saturday, I had the opportunity to photograph the IHSAA Boys Basketball State Finals at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis for Indiana Preps Sports Network.
March in Indiana is Hoosier Hysteria. It may be just basketball in 49 other states, but this is Indiana.
From arriving at the arena at 8:00 AM to finally walking out at 11:30 PM, it was a full, unforgettable day of high school basketball. Four state championship games. Four different classes. One electric atmosphere that never let up.
The day tipped off early with Class 1A and didn’t slow down until the final buzzer of 4A late that night. Photographing all four games meant constantly adapting, different teams, different tempos, different emotions, but the same intensity across the board.
From the quiet focus during warmups to the raw emotion of championship moments, every game told its own story.
Class 1A – Barr Reeve vs. Triton
The day started with a matchup full of storylines: Barr Reeve’s young core under a new coach against a seasoned Triton program led by a longtime head coach. Triton came out sharp, jumping to an early lead and setting the tone. Meanwhile, Barr Reeve, whose entire starting lineup returning, looked like a team feeling the moment. But that didn’t last long...
By the second quarter, Barr Reeve settled in. A strong run erased the deficit and sent the game into halftime tied, shifting the energy on both the court and the baseline. The turning point came late in the third. With the score locked at 30-30, a steal near mid-court turned into a go-ahead layup, giving Barr Reeve a lead they wouldn’t give back. From there, momentum fully swung. Timely shooting, especially from beyond the arc, and disciplined defense created separation. Triton struggled to respond offensively, unable to find rhythm from three-point range, while Barr Reeve stayed efficient and controlled the game. What was once a tight game slowly turned into a steady climb toward a championship.
For Barr Reeve, it was a defining performance, poise from a young team, timely plays in big moments, and a glimpse of a future that looks just as bright as the present. The Barr Reeve Vikings won their 3rd state champion title 50-37 over the Triton Trojans in the IHSAA Class 1A State Finals.
Class 2A - Parke Heritage vs. Westview
If 1A was about momentum, 2A was about moments.
This game had everything, elite shooting, fast-paced runs, and a finish that came down to the final seconds. Both teams lit it up from deep early, combining for a barrage of three-pointers that kept the crowd buzzing. Parke Heritage struck first, building an early lead behind efficient offense and confident shooting, but Westview answered with resilience, chipping away and eventually taking control in the second half.
By the fourth quarter, it felt like every possession could decide the game. Westview grabbed momentum with a run to take the lead, but Parke Heritage never folded. In the final seconds, trailing by one, a drive into the lane collapsed the defense, leaving a wide-open look at the rim for the go-ahead basket. On the other end, one final defensive stand sealed it. A contested shot, a rebound, and just like that, the celebration began. Parke Heritage captured its first state title in program history, not just with shooting, but with composure and execution when it mattered most.
The Parke Heritage Wolves won 57-56 over the Westview Warriors in the IHSAA Class 2A State Finals.
Class 3A - Indianapolis Cathedral vs. New Haven
If 2A was about moments, 3A was a battle.
From the opening tip, both teams committed to a relentless pace, full-court pressure, constant motion, and very few stoppages. It felt less like a typical game and more like a war of attrition, with neither side willing to slow down. Cathedral struck early, building a double-digit lead behind strong scoring and energy. But New Haven didn’t blink. They responded with runs of their own, cutting into the deficit and eventually turning the game into a back-and-forth fight.
By the second half, it was anyone’s game. There were multiple ties, constant lead changes, and a physical edge that showed up in every possession, loose balls, contested shots, and defensive plays on both ends. New Haven even grabbed the lead midway through the second half, proving they weren’t just hanging around, they were pushing for control. But championship games often come down to the final stretch.
With under four minutes to play, Cathedral delivered the decisive run. After absorbing everything New Haven threw at them for three quarters, they found another gear, stringing together stops, converting at the free-throw line, and slowly creating separation. Free throws became the difference late. After struggling earlier in the game, Cathedral locked in during the fourth quarter, knocking down shots at the line to close things out.
New Haven battled until the end, forcing turnovers, protecting the rim, and staying within reach for most of the night. But Cathedral’s depth, composure, and late execution proved to be the difference. In a game defined by pace and pressure, it was endurance, and a strong finish, that secured the title.
The Indianapolis Cathedral Irish won their 3rd state champions title, 71-61 over the New Haven Bulldogs in the IHSAA Class 3A State Finals.
Class 4A - Mt. Vernon (fortville) vs. Crown Point
The final game of the night delivered a true championship storyline - adversity, resilience, and a star performance when it mattered most.
Crown Point controlled the first half, setting the tone early and building a double-digit lead heading into the break. Mt. Vernon struggled to find rhythm offensively, and despite strong effort, couldn’t quite close the gap before halftime.
But the second half told a completely different story.
Mt. Vernon came out aggressive, quickly chipping away at the deficit. A strong opening stretch in the third quarter brought them right back into the game, shifting both momentum and energy inside the arena. Still, Crown Point didn’t go away. They held onto a narrow lead late into the third and even into the early part of the fourth, keeping the pressure on.
That’s when the game changed.
Led by a dominant all-around performance from their senior leader, Mt. Vernon took control in the final minutes. Key baskets, timely free throws, and composed possessions flipped the game in their favor after trailing for most of the night. What started as a slow offensive showing turned into a clutch finish. Late-game execution sealed it - converting at the line, finishing through contact, and getting the stops they needed to hold off Crown Point down the stretch. In the end, it was a comeback defined by toughness and belief. Mt. Vernon closed out a historic season with a statement finish, turning a 10-point halftime deficit into a championship moment.
The Mt. Vernon Marauders won their 1st state champion title, 52-50 over the Crown Point Bulldogs in the IHSAA Class 4A State Finals.
Final thoughts
From the first tip in 1A to the final net cut down in 4A, this day was everything that makes Indiana basketball special. Long hours, nonstop action, and four completely different championship stories all unfolding on the same floor.
Each game had its own identity. Grit. Momentum. Chaos. Comebacks. But the constant was the emotion, players leaving everything they had on the court, communities showing up, and moments that will stick with them for a lifetime.
That’s what makes this more than just basketball.
Fifteen and a half hours later, walking out of the arena, camera full and legs exhausted, it all felt worth it. Because days like this aren’t just about who wins, they’re about capturing something real.
This is March. This is Indiana. This is Hoosier Hysteria - through my lens.
