Norwell and Hamilton Heights likely were done celebrating their regional championships five days ago. As both teams know, there’s a heck of a lot more left on the table.
The two probably went into Semi-State selection Sunday with the reality of the random draw, that the two consensus top teams in 3A had a one-in-three shot for a rematch of last year’s regional final.
The IHSAA logo printed on the ping pong with the name “Hamilton Heights” was sucked up first from the tube into the hands of commissioner Paul Neidig, and of course, the one named “Norwell” followed.
Those results will wake them up bright and early with a date Saturday morning at 10 a.m. at Huntington North High School. The other side in the North Region has NorthWood (20-6) facing Bremen (15-11), the two bottom teams left, respectively.
It’s not to say that this would be the state championship. No. 3 Gibson Southern sits on the South Regional side of the bracket — but having both in the quarterfinal rubs fans all across the state of Indiana the wrong way.
Regardless, if both teams wanted to bring home a state championship, they needed to run into one another at some point. It might as well be now.
The Huskies, now 24-2 after a 55-31 regional win over Woodlan at Lapel High School, are rated as the No. 1 team by the ICGSA.
Norwell wrapped up its first regional title since the 2021 year with a 58-44 win over Benton Central.
When we look at some more metrics and rankings, the Knights have the slightest of edges, just like the four-point defeat last season to the Huskies.
Norwell is the top team on the Jeff Sagarin ratings in 3A, but Hamilton Heights is a hair behind them at No. 2. Maxpreps lists Norwell as the top team in 3A and No. 10 in the state regardless of class, Hamilton Heights second, and then 12th overall.
The margin is paper-thin, and it’s hard to get a grasp on a projected winner.
Many remember Camryn Runner, one of the best players in Indiana. She dropped 25 points in a 6-7 shooting performance and went 10-10 at the line against Norwell last season.
The University of Evansville signee averaged around 17 points per game in her first three years of varsity basketball, but now has had a monster 27.0 rate, 5.6 rebounds and 4.1 steals.
Her sidekick, Ella Hickok, averages 10.2 and junior guard Katie Brown averages 8.8.
One could think, ‘Well, just stop Runner, right?’ Wrong. As Hickok exploded for a team-high 28 over Woodlan.
But Norwell has the firepower and the depth too.
Senior’s Kennedy Fuelling and Makenzie Fuess combine for nearly 40 points per game, but it was Vanessa Rosswurm and Dekota Hubble stepping up when it mattered most.
Rosswurm hit 4-6 from downtown to lead the team with 17 points, while Hubble added 13 points to a nine-rebound game.
The key was Hubble’s eight offensive rebounds that either gave her points or her teammates points in return.
I expect this to be the game of the year and a packed Huntington North gymnasium on Saturday. A Clash of the Titans, if you will.
A reminder that the winner of this game will play the winner of the Northwood/Bremen game at approximately noon The Semi-State championship will be played at 8 p.m. for the right to go to the state title game.
