IHSAA Announces Five Honorees for Boys Basketball State Finals Halftime

Five individuals will be recognized on the floor at Gainbridge Fieldhouse during halftime of the 116th Annual IHSAA Boys Basketball State Finals this Saturday, March 28, with the IHSAA officially releasing the honorees and their awards in a packet published March 24, 2026.

The Richard G. Lugar Award is named in honor of late United States Senator Richard G. Lugar, who served from 1932 to 2019. The award is given to a Hoosier who exemplifies the highest standard of professional ethics, sportsmanship and moral character, and carries the endorsement of their IHSAA member high school. This year, Sen. Ron Alting is the named recipient, with a Loogootee resident set to be honored during the 2A halftime. Alting, a Lafayette Republican, is the longest-serving member of the Indiana Senate, first elected in 1998.

Among the other honorees, a basketball official identified as Arthur carries a resume that underscores exactly why this kind of recognition matters. Arthur has logged 34 years as a licensed basketball official in Indiana, working 29 boys sectionals, 19 regionals, and nine semi-state contests over that span. A second official named Scott will be stepping onto that Gainbridge floor with particular weight behind him: Saturday's state championship game marks his fifth IHSAA State Championship Game assignment.

The ceremony arrives against a backdrop of deep institutional history. The 116th Annual IHSAA Boys Basketball State Finals take place March 28, 2026, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Session one, featuring the 1A and 2A championships, tips at 10:30 a.m., with the 3A and 4A session scheduled for 6:00 p.m.

The IHSAA also used the release to highlight its Champions of Education Awards, presented by Ivy Tech Community College. The award recognizes teachers and faculty who go above and beyond to challenge students to reach their full potential, with the IHSAA awarding $250 to the classroom of each recipient on behalf of Ivy Tech, the presenting sponsor. Last year, Jeffersonville's Jeff Wigginton and Fishers' Greg Miller were recognized at the Class 4A State Championship with that same honor, both accepting their plaques on-court.

The release also included historical context that frames just how significant this weekend's event is. Franklin Community holds the state record with 33 consecutive state tournament victories spanning 1920 to 1923. Indianapolis Attucks follows with 29, from 1955 to 1957. On the coaching side, Bill Green's six state championships stand alone at the top of the all-time list, ahead of Everett Case, Marion Crawley, Glenn Curtis, and Jack Keefer, who each won four.

The IHSAA, a voluntary not-for-profit organization founded in 1903, has built its mission around providing wholesome, educational athletics for Indiana's secondary schools. Saturday's halftime ceremonies reflect that mission directly, putting the spotlight on the officials, educators, and public servants who keep that foundation intact long after the buzzer sounds.