ELKHART ― Katie Collignon didn’t have an end-of-season speech prepped for Saturday.
The 10th year head coach was sure to note that Marquette Catholic wasn’t taking Fremont lightly heading into its IHSAA Class 1A girls basketball regional championship clash Feb. 14. She was just that confident in the Blazers’ backing up the claim that they were the best of their class.
She was sure that Marquette Catholic would win its third straight regional championship, then win two more games next week to advance to the state finals for the second time in three seasons. She even felt confident that the Blazers’ three-deep senior class would end their high school careers winners, bringing a state championship back to Michigan City for the first time since going back-to-back in 2018 and 2019.
Instead, Marquette Catholic (23-4) fell short with a 64-51 loss to Fremont (26-2), as the Eagles captured their first regional crown since 1999 and second in program history. After losing three games within a 24-hour span at the end of December 2025, the Blazers had won 12 straight prior to this season-ending defeat.
About 25 minutes away from tip-off at @jimtownathletic as @MQTGirlsHoops (23-3) aims to win a third straight IHSAA Class 1A regional championship vs. a 25-2 @Fremont_Sports_ squad that hasn’t done so since 1999. I’ll have live updates with a story for @SBTsports after. 🏀🎥🧵 pic.twitter.com/5BTHCBJ7qz
— Kyle Smedley (@KyleMSmedley) February 14, 2026
Northern Illinois commit Laniah Davis finished with one of the best senior seasons in the state, becoming Marquette Catholic’s all-time leading scorer, surpassing the 2,000-point milestone and receiving a McDonald’s All-American nomination. She scored 20 against Fremont and was maybe the most emotional of all after her final high school game in a program which she will leave as perhaps the best to ever wear its jersey.
“I told the girls that we picked a really bad day to have a bad day,” Collignon said.
The 10th-year head coach said she knew the Blazers were in trouble when she entered their locker room at halftime only to find a squad more discouraged than it should have been.
“We were down six and our heads were down, our energy wasn’t there, they were a step slow on defense. I hadn’t seen that all season long,” Collignon said. “If I knew [why], I would have fixed it … I don’t know why we felt like we were down 15 [points] the entire game ― I didn’t feel that way, but I could feel the energy from the girls.”
In the first quarter, Marquette Catholic came out of the gate hot, leading 13-5 midway through the period. However, that proved to be about the only time the Blazers looked like themselves.
By the end of the first eight minutes, Fremont had a 19-18 lead and did not relinquish its advantage throughout the rest of the game. Eagles junior Mya Turner surpassed 1,000 career points in the third quarter and finished with 26, while senior Grace Scharlach dropped 20 in what would have been her final game if not for the historic win.
Marquette Catholic senior Addison Penziol tried her best to muster up a smile behind tears after her final game. She admitted that the biggest factor behind the Blazers’ demise was an inability to regain confidence after Fremont zapped it in the first quarter.
“It’s always just a mind game; it’s just being mentally strong,” Penziol said. “I think we went out here playing in a way where we were trying not to lose. We should have played our way.”
She finished with five rebounds, three assists, zero points and fouled out. While she hadn’t yet talked to Davis since the buzzer sounded and the Eagles’ stormed the court in celebration, Penziol promised to try and make Davis laugh in their first conversation as Blazers’ alumni.
“We definitely all had the mindset of not thinking this was going to be it,” Pennzoil said. “It happened, and it sucks really bad. I think I could have given it more. I have regrets.”
Elkhart Christian Academy dominates West Central to win regional title
In the other 1A regional featuring a Tribune coverage area team, the Eagles won their second straight championship by beating West Central 65-28 at Warsaw Community High School. It’s not only a second regional crown in a row, but also just the second in program history.
ECA’s season ended in a semi-state semifinal loss to the Blazers last season, and Marquette Catholic even beat the Eagles 50-39 on Jan. 23. Now, ECA will avoid perhaps its biggest obstacle in the way of state championship hopes.
Three Eagles finished in double figures against West Central, with sophomores Lily Maxwell and Kyla Yordy leading the way with 15 points each while freshman Myla Hanlon scored 12.
Kyle Smedley is a sports reporter at the South Bend Tribune. Contact him via email at [email protected] or follow him on X @KyleMSmedley.
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Marquette Catholic girls basketball, Laniah Davis season ends to Fremont