Three Elkhart County Girls Basketball Teams Headed to IHSAA Semistate

Three Elkhart County girls basketball programs - Northridge, Elkhart Christian Academy (ECA) and Fairfield - are among the final 32 teams statewide and will play in IHSAA semistate Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. Each team arrives with a concrete path: win two games this weekend and earn a spot in the state title games set for Feb. 28.

The trio enter semistate with a combined record of 62-17, a mark that underlines why county coaches are talking about depth and momentum. Northridge and ECA are each making just their second-ever semistate appearance, while Fairfield is making its fourth. Northridge’s recent surge included a regional title over Valparaiso, and the Raiders beat Fairfield 51-48 during the regular season.

Northridge coach Doug Springer, in his 19th season in Middlebury, has piled up a 341-129 record at the school and is focusing on the immediate goal of the weekend. “A big, big part of me will be cheering for both ECA and Fairfield Saturday,” Springer said, noting his ties around the county. Springer added, “We played Fairfield every season, and (Falcons coach) Kyle (Hartman) is a good young coach over there. I'm also close to Jenny Yordy (an assistant coach at ECA). We communicate every week.”

Fairfield coach Kyle Hartman, in his third season running the girls program in Benton, framed the county run as a validation of local talent and long-term development. “It just shows there are a lot of good players and a lot of good teams. There is just a lot of talent in this area right now and it's awesome to see. I have a lot of respect for Northridge and ECA, and absolutely I want both of them to do well on Saturday. Doug Springer has been a mentor to me,” Hartman said.

Fairfield brings the added weight of recent championship experience in the program footprint; the Falcons won the Class 3A state title in 2023 under coach Brodie Garber, who now coaches Fairfield boys. That recent state-level success helps explain Fairfield’s fourth semistate trip and sets expectations for how the Falcons handle postseason pressure.

Geography and familiarity matter this weekend. The three programs are separated by no more than 15 miles within Elkhart County, creating frequent matchups and coaching relationships that show up in preparation and scouting. Northridge’s semistate assignment includes LaPorte as a site of focus, and coaches have emphasized local connections while keeping attention on opponents and execution.

Saturday’s semistate round will determine which of these county programs advances toward the Feb. 28 state finals. With a combined 62-17 ledger, a recent Northridge-Fairfield 51-48 result, a veteran coach with 341-129 at Northridge and a Fairfield program that captured a 2023 Class 3A crown, Elkhart County figures to be a storyline to watch during semistate weekend.