IndyStar Picks Every Semistate Game Ahead of Saturday's High-Stakes Action

Every March in Indiana, the semistate round separates the contenders from everyone else. IndyStar published its game-by-game predictions package on March 20, one day before 16 teams took the floor in a win-two-or-go-home semistate format, and by Saturday night the bracket had delivered its verdicts. Each semistate site featured four teams from the same class, playing two semifinal games and a championship, with winners advancing to the state championship game on March 28 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

Here is how every class played out.

Class 4A: Mt. Vernon punches through New Castle

The Class 4A semistate at New Castle Fieldhouse produced the marquee matchup of the weekend. Crown Point defeated Northridge 66-40 in one semifinal, while Mt. Vernon (Fortville) handled Decatur Central 66-46 in the other. That set up a championship clash that lived up to its billing. New Albany knocked off Terre Haute North 65-57 to reach the title game, but it was Mt. Vernon who closed the day, edging New Albany 77-69 in a game that saw Purdue commit Luke Ertel, Max Vise, Jamaree Collins, and Amari Smith all playing central roles on the floor. Mt. Vernon (Fortville), now 27-3, advances to the Class 4A state final against Crown Point (25-1) on March 28 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

Class 3A: Cathedral dismantles the field in Seymour

The Class 3A semistate at Seymour was Cathedral's showcase. Cathedral knocked out No. 2 Princeton Community 85-64 in the semifinal round and then took down No. 1 Silver Creek in the championship, 73-68. The win was notable for its degree of difficulty: Silver Creek's only previous loss this season had come against Crown Point. Cathedral is back in the state championship for the fifth time in program history; the Irish last played at state in 2022, when they beat Chesterton in the 4A championship.

Out of the Logansport semistate, New Haven pulled off the story of the day. New Haven had lost back-to-back games before the start of the state tournament, bounced back to win six straight, knocked off Delta and Columbia City in semistate, and is making its first-ever state championship appearance. Junior guard Tarvar Baskerville delivered the decisive moment: he scored the go-ahead bucket for the Bulldogs with 2.4 seconds left in the semistate championship. Cathedral and New Haven will meet in the Class 3A title game at approximately 6 p.m. on March 28.

Class 2A: Westview rolls, Parke Heritage grinds

Westview defeated Fort Wayne Luers 69-48 in the Class 2A north semistate final after beating Lapel 65-62 in the semifinals earlier Saturday. The Warriors have now built one of the most compelling resumes in the state. Westview (27-1) last played in the state finals in 2014, falling to Park Tudor, and previously won back-to-back titles in 1999 and 2000.

From the south bracket at Southport, Parke Heritage made things harder but got the job done. The Wolves defeated Triton Central 44-38 in the semifinal, then Linton-Stockton pushed Austin to overtime and won 82-74, before Parke Heritage closed out the championship 66-53. Westview and Parke Heritage will meet in the Class 2A state championship at approximately 12:45 p.m. on March 28.

Class 1A: Barr-Reeve and Triton survive and advance

The smallest class produced the tightest finishes. Barr-Reeve (27-1) has won 18 straight games, but the Vikings have needed every bit of that toughness: they beat West Washington 55-53 in the regional and Liberty Christian 39-37 in the first game at semistate. Barr-Reeve then edged Hauser 52-47 in the championship to punch their state finals ticket.

Triton took no such close calls in the early rounds. The Trojans defeated North Vermillion 51-45 in the Class 1A north semistate championship after taking down Tri-County 78-46 earlier in the day. Triton (25-3) is returning to the state finals for the first time since 2013, when it lost to Borden. This is the eighth time Barr-Reeve has made it to state; the Vikings are looking for their third championship, having previously won in 2015 and 2021. This is the fifth time Triton has made it to state, and the program has one championship in its history, winning in 2008 against Lutheran.

What's next: Gainbridge Fieldhouse on March 28

All four state championship games are set for Saturday, March 28 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The full schedule:

• 10:30 a.m.: Class 1A state championship, Triton vs. Barr-Reeve
• Approximately 12:45 p.m.: Class 2A state championship, Westview vs. Parke Heritage
• 6 p.m.: Class 3A state championship, Cathedral vs. New Haven
• Approximately 8:15 p.m. ET: Class 4A state championship, Crown Point vs. Mt. Vernon

IndyStar's picks package was designed to set the table for exactly this kind of Saturday. Now the table is set for the final one: four classes, four champions, one building, one day.