Evansville-area girls fall in semistate as Reitz's best season ends

Center Grove 53, Evansville Reitz 37 in the Class 4A semistate at Jasper, and the loss ended what local coverage had called Reitz’s best season in 45 years. Center Grove buried nine 3-pointers and turned a dominant early run into a comfortable victory that stopped Reitz’s first semi-state appearance since 1981.

"The Trojans surrendered their first points of the game at the 6:12 mark of the first quarter. They did not allow another point until two minutes into the second and outscored Reitz 18-0 during that stretch." Center Grove rode that stretch and its perimeter shooting to the win. Gracyn Gilliard paced the Trojans with 21 points, Lillia Tapak added 10, and MacKenzie Pierce and Haley Wagoner chipped in nine points apiece.

Reitz was led by Kierstyn Kaiser with 17 points and Rhyan Wagner with 10, but the Panthers could not overcome Center Grove’s hot shooting. Reitz arrived in Jasper after a regional championship at Bedford North Lawrence, where the Samford recruit Bailey Hape had a game-high 19 points and Reitz defeated Columbus North 56-45 to capture the program’s first IHSAA sectional title in 36 years.

Coach Brock Stone had framed that regional victory as evidence the program was changing course. "I think they now see that they're capable and belong with the elite in the state of Indiana," Stone said after the regional win. "We had so many young girls here today, and it's making them believe. When they get their chance, we can keep this thing rolling." That momentum carried Reitz to Jasper, but Center Grove’s balance of 3-point shooting and the early defensive shutout proved decisive.

Two other Evansville-area teams played at Charlestown. Borden advanced with a 56-38 win over Evansville Christian, eliminating the Eagles from the tournament. Greenwood Christian survived a late Tindley rally to win 53-50; Myra Finnity finished with 17 points and 14 rebounds, Molly Hunter posted a 14-point, 14-rebound double-double, and Reagan Willis added eight. Borden and Greenwood Christian are set to meet in the Charlestown championship at 8 p.m.

Across the state semistate slate, Oak Hill upset 2A No. 1 Whitko 66-58 as Brianna Dailey scored 19, Landri Hardman 17 and Morgan Cates 13. Parke Heritage mounted a 21-point fourth-quarter comeback to beat Heritage Christian 46-37, recording the program’s first semistate win. Floyd Central’s Elise Coleman scored 18, Mia Gianfagna 14 and Brinley Clark 11 in their regional slate, and Lawrence Central emerged into the Class 4A championship pairing with Center Grove at 8 p.m. in Jasper.

The IHSAA girls basketball state finals are scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 28 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, with Class A at 10:30 a.m., Class 2A at 12:45 p.m., Class 3A at 6:00 p.m. and Class 4A at 8:15 p.m. For Reitz, the 2025-26 season closes with clear milestones, a sectional title and a rare semi-state berth, even as the program’s deepest run in decades ended at Jasper.