BOONVILLE — One could argue this result means a little bit more.
Washington coach Gretchen Miles won't admit that, at least publicly. She was given the opportunity postgame on Saturday, Feb. 14, at Boonville High School. But the past tells a story. Miles had a decorated playing career with the Hatchets that included a trip to the state finals. The coaching journey, as successful as it is, had yet to reach those heights.
Her program had been close in recent years. This senior class agonizingly so. The Hatchets weren't letting another opportunity slip away.
No. 6 Washington defeated No. 10 Central 47-43 in overtime to win the IHSAA Class 3A regional championship. Its first trip to the semi-state since 1997 and the first for Miles as the coach at her alma mater. A moment which required the most effort, mentally and physically, of any trip to this round previously.
"They say you just have to be ahead when time runs out," Miles said. "The kids stayed the course. And when it came down to it, they got the stop that we needed. We made the plays that made a big difference."
The saying this time of year goes, 'Survive and advance.' That seems fair for this championship. The lead was never more than four over the final five minutes of regulation and overtime. There were over 30 combined turnovers, including three in the final 30 seconds of the fourth quarter.
One or two sequences would determine the winner. Those finally came for the Hatchets (22-4) in the extra period.
Kyra Schuckman scored twice on the block to give Washington a 44-41 advantage. Then in the final minute with Central looking to tie the game, Shay Hawk intercepted a bounce pass on the perimeter and bled precious seconds. London Gilley was eventually fouled and made both ensuing free throws.
"You can't control if the ball goes in the bucket," Miles said. "But the hustle stats are something that we feel like you have to control day in and day out. That was the difference in the last few minutes of the game and overtime. Shay did a good job defensively and came up with the big steal.
"That kid is a complete competitor. She's built for moments like this."
Central (17-12) had the opportunities to repeat as regional champions. The Bears matched the Hatchets' physicality and answered most momentum swings. Karsyn Moore hit a three from the wing on the first possession of overtime and a free throw later to give Central a 41-40 lead.
Turnovers proved too costly, specifically at the end of regulation with a chance to win. Maddy Shirley unofficially had 16 points, 18 rebounds and six blocks in her final game. Olivya Hile also finished in double figures with 12 points.
"Defensively, I'm extremely proud," Central coach David Alexander said. "I thought we executed our game plan and made life tough for their main girls. We rebounded well for the most part. You've got to be able to take care of the ball late. You have to hit layups. Those two things ended up the outcome difference."
Few may have expected this in December when Central struggled to find its identity. The group responded with eight wins over the final 10 games in the regular season. A third sectional title in four years and a single possession from another trip to the semi-state.
That run stands favorably against any other four-year period in program history.
"The legacy these seniors have left is unrivaled," Alexander said. "This group played in four sectional championships and won three of them. Won our first regional. They've left this program a lot better than when they found it. I hope the younger girls were taking notes. Success like this doesn't just happen because you show up every day."
It wasn't enough to eliminate Washington. Hawk had a team-high 16 points, while Murray State recruit Katie Reed totaled 12 points (she hit a pair of big-time threes in the fourth quarter), 10 rebounds and three blocks. The Hatchets now await No. 1 Roncalli, No. 8 Jennings County or Northview next weekend.
This moment though is reserved for this accomplishment. Washington reached the regional four times over the previous six years. It finally broke through that barrier behind an unrelenting, experienced lineup who made winning plays in crunch time.
"It means a lot more as a coach," Miles said. "You get to see the enjoyment from the players. This team is so special. They've been mission driven over the past month. They don't get too high or too low. They are just mission driven."
North Knox delivers a final-minute dagger against Mater Dei
Millee LeRoy had one directive in the fourth quarter: shoot the ball.
Since the halftime break, the North Knox coaches kept asking for someone in the lineup to make a winning play. And with the clock ticking away, the senior found herself open in the corner. LeRoy let it fly with zero hesitation.
It could become the biggest play of the season.
No. 4 North Knox defeated No. 5 Mater Dei 48-42 to win the Class 2A regional championship at Boonville. LeRoy hit a go-ahead three-pointer (her third of the final quarter) with under two minutes remaining to give the Warriors (19-6) their first lead of the second half. It is their first regional title since 2023.
"Millie LeRoy was the girl," North Knox coach Steve Meurer said. "We told her at halftime, if you have the shots then you've gotta take them. Millie did not question herself. She had the confidence. You could see it."
This championship was a rock fight. North Knox started strong but struggled against a 3-2 zone beginning in the second quarter. Mater Dei led for the entirety of the middle frames but never stretched its advantage past six points. Kiersten Wunderlich made it 41-36 on a free throw with five minutes left.
The Warriors took control down the stretch with defense ― Mater Dei only scored one point over the final five minutes and committed 16 turnovers ― and senior leadership. Jade Richter and LeRoy scored buckets to tie it at 41. The latter took the lead on her fourth trey of the championship. Lexi Primus had a game-high 16 points and made four free throws in the final minute to secure the win.
"It definitely took our heart and desire to win," LeRoy said. "I knew we needed a few shots. I took that (shot) with confidence and went in. We've been preparing for this moment. We really wanted it."
Madeline Ford (12) and Izzy Like (11) finished in double figures for Mater Dei, who graduates only one senior from the lineup. North Knox faces No. 8 Heritage Christian, Parke Heritage or Eastern (Pekin) at a location to be announced. The Warriors have never played for a state championship.
The team needed to reach this stage first. A moment which eluded them the last two years (North Knox was upset by Linton-Stockton in 2024 and lost to rival South Knox in 2025) in the sectional. An older lineup proved ready for a tournament run.
"That has been a thorn in our side for two years," Meurer said. "We knew we had a really great opportunity to advance far. And the last two years, we've been really close. When we got over the hump, it was just something else for us. So happy for everybody. They played hard. That was a big-time grind."
Two other Evansville teams won regional championships
Bailey Hape etched her name into program lore.
The Samford recruit had a game-high 19 points and took over in the fourth quarter to help Reitz secure a 56-45 win over Columbus North in the Class 4A regional championship at Bedford North Lawrence. That individual effort, paired with impressive defense down the stretch, pushed the Panthers into rarified air.
No. 13 Reitz will play for its first semi-state since 1981 next weekend.
"I think they now see that they're capable and belong with the elite in the state of Indiana," Reitz coach Brock Stone said. "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."
Columbus North led 31-27 after the third quarter. The first big swing occurred with back-to-back steals from Kierstyn Kaiser, both resulting in three-point plays from the sophomore, to put the Panthers up four with 6:44 left. That's when Reitz turned to its captain.
Hape met the moment only like a senior can in the state tournament. She scored 14 points over the final eight minutes, most of which came on isolation dribble-drives from the top of the key. Nobody on Columbus North could stop her. The Panthers (21-2) built a double-digit advantage with only two minutes remaining.
Kaiser added 12 points, while Kendall Kaiser netted eight. Reitz was 13 of 14 at the foul line in the fourth.
"That's what a senior Division I player does," Stone said of Hape. "We didn't call any plays in the last 6-7 minutes of the game. We gave the ball to Bailey and told everybody else to get on the baseline. Bailey, go make a play. And she made the right play, whether it was scoring or dropping it off to somebody."
Kaylie Harmon led Columbus North (19-7) with 16 points.
Reitz hasn't reached this stage of the tournament since winning the single-class state finals in 1981. It will face No. 10 Floyd Central, No. 3 Center Grove or No. 5 Lawrence Central.
"We made history one time," Stone said. "Let's go make history again and see how many times we can keep doing it."
Evansville Christian won its first regional championship in program history with a 73-32 win over White River Valley at Jasper. The Eagles (19-6) led by 30 by halftime and quickly triggered a running clock following the break. ECS will face No. 2 Borden, Greenwood Christian or the Indianapolis Tindley-Trinity Lutheran winner.
Kyle Sokeland is a sports reporter for the Courier & Press. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) @kylesokeland or email at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Four Evansville area teams win IHSAA girls basketball regional