IHSAA Girls Basketball State Finals: Borden and Eastern Crowned Champions

The 2026 IHSAA girls basketball state championships concluded Saturday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, with Borden securing the Class A title and Eastern (Pekin) winning in Class 2A. The event showcased thrilling matchups and standout performances from Indiana’s top high school basketball players.

Class A Championship: Borden Braves Repeat as Champions

The Borden Braves defeated the Fremont Eagles 51-31 to win their second consecutive Class A state championship. Borden’s dominant performance included holding Fremont to just 31 points, tying the Class A record for fewest points allowed in a state final.

Emma Hart of Borden was awarded the Mental Attitude Award, selected by the IHSAA executive committee. Hart finished the game with 15 points and 15 rebounds. Riley Rarick contributed 10 points and 8 assists, although AJ Mallad added 13 points, shooting 3-7 from three-point range. Grace Scharlach led Fremont with 10 points.

Borden demonstrated control throughout the second half, extending their lead with strong offensive and defensive play.

Class 2A Championship: Eastern (Pekin) Edges Oak Hill

In a closely contested Class 2A final, Eastern (Pekin) defeated Oak Hill 12-7 at the end of the first quarter. Katie Hauner opened the scoring for Eastern with a three-pointer, and Sidney Burton extended their lead with a tough finish in the paint.

As of the first quarter, Eastern led 10-5, with Katie Hauner scoring five points. Both teams took the court as they warmed up for the state championship matchup.

State Finals Information

All four state championship games streamed exclusively on IHSAAtv.org via pay-per-view, with options for individual games ($20) or a full-day pass ($25). Tickets were available for $20 per person ($24.75 with TicketMaster fees) and were all digital, accessible through mobile phones via Ticketmaster.com or the Gainbridge Fieldhouse box office.

Upcoming Events at Gainbridge Fieldhouse

Gainbridge Fieldhouse will also host the IHSAA Girls Volleyball State Finals on November 8, 2025, featuring matchups including Faith Christian vs. Trinity Lutheran (Class 1A), Benton Central vs. Barr-Reeve (Class 2A), Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger vs. Roncalli (Class 3A), and FW Carroll vs. Plainfield (Class 4A). More information on the volleyball finals is available here.

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