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2026 Class 3A State Championship Recap
INDIANAPOLIS - Better to be early than not show up at all.
Maybe this was Bellmont’s mantra entering the season. Probably not. Whatever the case, the Braves, a team with no senior starters, captured the Class 3A state championship with a 55-46 victory over Roncalli at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
The win represents Bellmont’s first state title in basketball, girls or boys.
“Look, I’d be lying if I told you that I thought we’d be sitting here right now,” said Braves’ coach Andy Heim. “These girls had high dreams. They had high dreams last year. Put it down on a card to say we’re going to win a state championship with their friends, and they accomplished it.
“It’s been a wild week. Halfway through the week, I thought I saw a little bit of a tiredness come across these girls. So many responsibilities. And when we got on the court … again, I should never doubt them. It was an amazing job by them. Thirty-two minutes of just intense defense. You saw it in that fourth quarter where Roncalli got a little bit tired.”
IHSAA Class 3A State Championship
Bellmont 55, Roncalli 46
Bellmont scored 12 consecutive points in 1:57 of game clock early in the first period to take control before the Royals surged late in the second to pull to 25-21 at halftime.
Roncalli jumped out to a quick 5-0 lead, but the Braves responded with buckets down low from each of the Bleke twins, Mary and Ashley, and 3-pointers scored by Lanie French and Ashley Bleke. Sophomore guard Oni Krueckeberg’s steal and layup made it a 12-5 Bellmont advantage at 4:16 of the first.
“I think it’s expected in the first minute. Your nerves kind of get to you,” said Bellmont junior guard Kate Kitson. “You have to settle in for a second, and then we started playing our game.
“We trusted our preparation for this game, so I think we were fine after that first minute.”
The Braves appeared in control with a 21-10 lead early in the second. Roncalli had other thoughts, closing the quarter on an 11-4 run to regain the momentum with two periods still to play.
Led by junior guard Elliot Leffler, the Royals crept closer. Senior guard Brennah Cerny knotted the count at 31-31 with a triple from the right wing at 2:58 of the third. Roncalli finally regained the upper hand twice at 34-33 on a Leffler 3-pointer late in the third, and, again, at 36-34 on two Leffler free throws at 7:45 of the fourth.
Bellmont could’ve crumbled against the more-experienced Royals, but didn’t.
Mary Bleke scored a layup, and Ashley Bleke delivered a trey at 7:01 to put the Braves ahead, 41-38. Bellmont was able to maintain slim leads the rest of the way with one of the game’s biggest hoops coming from French on a triple with 3:33 left for a 48-43 advantage.
Leffler, whose body absorbed no fewer than two hard falls late, had her court time limited down the stretch due to an injury to her right leg. She returned at 1:41, but Roncalli at this point trailed, 50-43. Leffler was helped off the court by teammates with 30.6 ticks remaining after scoring a game-high 22 points.
“I’m not sure what it is yet. Just tweaked something there on the inner thigh,” said Roncalli coach Jason Sims of Leffler’s injury. “I really can’t speculate at this point. I thought we showed a lot of toughness and grit. Like we’ve done all year, we were able to climb back and actually took the lead.
“Got to give (Bellmont) credit. They hit some timely 3s. But I’m really proud of the effort to get back into it. That’s a really good basketball team across the way there. We knew that coming in.”
Bellmont (25-3) fashioned a more-balanced attack with four players in double-figures.
Krueckeberg and Ashley Bleke tallied 13 points apiece, while Mary Bleke scored 12 and French 11. Mary Bleke led all rebounders with 12 with Ashley Bleke dishing seven assists.
Senior center Lydia Stahley corralled seven boards to lead the Royals (27-4), who received four assists from both Cerny and senior guard Reagan Turk.
Bellmont finished with 32 rebounds to Roncalli’s 26. Neither squad shot well from the floor with the Braves making 17 of 48 (.354) and the Royals converting 15 of 43 (.349).
“Their hard work. Their dedication. They showed it tonight, and I think they showed the state exactly what they are,” said Heim of the Braves. “Just a great team.”
Class 3A State Championship Records
None
Bri Converset of Bellmont named Patricia L. Roy Mental Attitude Award
The IHSAA Executive Committee named Bri Converset of Bellmont High School as the Patricia L. Roy Mental Attitude Award winner in Class 3A Girls Basketball.
The award is presented annually to a senior participant in each classification who was nominated by her principal and coach and has demonstrated excellence in mental attitude, scholarship, leadership and athletic ability.
Bri has maintained a 4.24 GPA while serving as a four-year member of Student Council, a three-year member of the Bellmont Student Athletic Leadership Team (SALT), and a two-year secretary of the National Honor Society. She has earned Academic All-State honors in soccer, was named a Lilly Scholarship finalist for Adams County, and serves as an ambassador for Drug Free Adams County.
In addition to competing in basketball and soccer for Bellmont over the past four years, Converset has dedicated her time to community service as a youth soccer referee, church lector, elementary school aide, and longtime volunteer at summer camps.
She is the daughter of Matt and Jennifer Converset of Decatur, IN, and plans to attend the University of Saint Francis to study Elementary Education and play women’s soccer.
The Indiana Fever and Indiana Pacers, the presenting sponsors of the IHSAA Girls Basketball State Tournament, presented a $1,000 scholarship to the general scholarship fund at Bellmont High School in the name of Bri Converset.
The award is named in honor of the late former IHSAA assistant commissioner Patricia L. Roy, who administered the girls basketball state tournament from its inception in 1976 until her retirement in 1999.
IHSAA’s Champion of Education Award, presented by Ivy Tech Community College
This award recognizes teachers and faculty who go above and beyond to challenge students to reach their full potential. As an organization that emphasizes keeping education at the forefront of high school athletics, the IHSAA is proud to shine a light on two honorees in this year’s class. On behalf of Ivy Tech Community College, presenting sponsors of the IHSAA Champion of Education Award, the IHSAA will award $250 to the classroom of each recipient.
Presenters: Erik Coyne, Chancellor of Ivy Tech Bloomington
- Maria Poteet teaches Health & Physical Education and coaches Softball at Roncalli High School. She has developed lifelong relationships with many of her students over the years and is known as an impactful role model to all! Her commitment to Roncalli and their student athletes goes beyond the classroom and playing fields. Coach Mo’s passion, loyalty, and love for Roncalli have truly been a blessing to the entire school community!
- Tory Fuelling serves as a Guidance Counselor at Bellmont High School, where he plays a vital role in ensuring students are mentally, socially, and academically prepared to succeed. He fosters a positive school climate, connects families with valuable resources, and is a trusted colleague who can always be counted on. Beyond his counseling role, his insight and dedication to athletics through helping with game planning and mentoring coaches has elevated Bellmont’s athletic program and demonstrated the true power of relationships, teamwork, and shared vision!