Cathedral's Aldridge, Smith Lead Fighting Irish to 3A State Finals

Reaching the IHSAA Class 3A state championship game required exactly what Cathedral built its season around: a senior-driven offense, possession-first defense, and two players capable of making every important decision in crunch time.

Keaton Aldridge and Julien Smith carried the Fighting Irish to Gainbridge Fieldhouse, where Cathedral chased its third state title in program history and second in five years. Aldridge averaged 18.1 points per game and served as the offensive anchor, an inside-out threat who finished through contact in the paint or pulled defenders out to create kick-out opportunities for shooters. Late in games, Cathedral's half-court sets ran through Aldridge; his ability to operate in low-clock situations made him the program's most critical possession-by-possession piece.

Smith, a 6-foot transfer guard signed to play at Mount St. Mary's, contributed 15.6 points per game and shot 40 percent from three-point range during the season, making him one of the most efficient perimeter threats in the 3A field. His connections to Mt. Vernon alumni Luke Ertel and Max Vise, former training partners who ended up on the opposing side at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, gave the state final a subplot as charged as the game itself. Former summer workout partners, separated by a conference border, meeting again on the largest stage of their high school careers.

Cathedral's route to the final rested on three consistent execution points. Aldridge's paint presence drew fouls and kept opposing defenses from collapsing on Smith's three-point range. Smith's 40-percent clip from distance punished any defense that shaded help toward the paint. And the Fighting Irish operated all season as one of the most turnover-averse programs in the field, limiting opponent transition baskets and staying out of foul trouble when games tightened in the fourth quarter.

The coaching staff avoided burning early timeouts, preserving decision-making authority for late possessions, and Cathedral's conditioning-heavy practice schedule positioned the team to close games stronger than its opponents. Winning a third state title would cement this senior class's legacy and carry real recruiting momentum into the next cycle.