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Kicking off a day full of dominant girls’ basketball in the IHSAA State Finals at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Saturday are the No. 2 Borden Braves and No. 3 Fremont Eagles, two teams with one previous state finals appearance between them and unbreakable chemistries that could weigh heavily on the 1A outcome.

The Braves (24-4) emerged from their first state finals appearance in school history as champions in 2025, adding just the third title regardless of sport for the community. Fremont (28-2) – similar to Borden’s run to the championship last season – made its first semi-state appearance this season and is awaiting its first state title in school history in any sport.

“[Last year’s state run] just gives us a lot of experience,” Borden head coach Matt Vick said. “Even last year, we got down 13 points in the second quarter and our girls never got flustered. For them to keep battling, I trust them and I think they trust each other…to make plays and just chip away if we get down in a hole.”

Fremont comes to the tournament with an impressive repertoire of recent victories, defeating every tournament opponent by double digits. Their standout win came in a 64-51 upset over No. 1 Marquette Catholic to emerge from regionals unscathed for the first time in program history.

Despite the school’s lack of state finals history – no team has made it to the finals in any sport – those double-digit wins have played a large part in solidifying their role this Saturday and boosting their confidence.

“I think it gave the girls the extra confidence going into semi-state and understanding that we were just two games away,” Fremont head coach Shae Thomas said. “They really came together and knew that they could dial in and really do it. Beating a team like Marquette Catholic just showed them that they are able to compete at the highest level.”

The Class 1A State Championship featuring Borden (24-4) and Fremont (28-2) will stream via PPV on IHSAAtv.org this Saturday at 10:30 am ET / 9:30 CT!

Fremont and Borden each boast their own unique offensive schemes, with two players averaging double-digits per game on the Eagles’ side vs. four for the Braves. Fremont puts up an average of 59.5 points per game on a 32.4 percentage from beyond the arch, thanks in large part to the role of junior Grace Scharlach.

Sharlach, a 5’5 guard, has appeared in all 30 games with a staggering 59.2 field goal percentage, 50.4 three-point field goal percentage and 20.6 points per game. Mya Turner, junior forward, trails with 16.1 points per game.

“If one of us is having a bad game, we know the other is probably going to have a good game,” Turner said. “We can do other things in many other ways, like [playing] defense or even on offense, just getting rebounds and stuff like that. If we’re having a good game, we’ll probably make the extra pass and put it out to that person who’s scoring.”

Sharlach continued: “It makes it harder for teams. If they want to triangle or face guard, we have other players that step up… It just really helps us having two threats on the court.

Borden’s confidence from the defensive side comes from their length. With three players at 5’10 or taller compared to Fremont’s tallest at 5’9, the opportunity to close down the Eagles’ offensive opportunities, secure rebounds and bring the ball back to their side of the court is there.

Bringing the ball back for a good chance to score by any player on the court gives the Braves an offensive advantage, too. Senior guards Riley Rarick and AJ Mallard lead the team with 16.3 and 11.6 points per game, respectively.

“I would say our two advantages are that we played here last year and we have a little bit of a size advantage on them and some length,” Vick said. “I would say that should help us on the rebounding, but you never know, it depends on if we block out or not. I just think that there could be some times it depends on the defense that they play. I know they play a lot of 1-2-2, so if we’re able to get [the ball] to our post players, I like our chances.”

The way both teams are clicking on the court leading up to the final game of the season is a direct correlation to the chemistry they’ve built throughout the year, both in the gym and outside. Fremont’s team has bonded directly with personal time spent together, including making pasta, making TikToks and sledding during winter break.

On the court, Borden’s strength of schedule against bigger schools following their 2025 championship put a target on its back and forced the team to come together and achieve this goal. But for most players, they had been together for years already and have an inherent chemistry as a team.

“A lot of us… have been at Borden for my entire life. AJ [Mallard] joined in seventh grade and Ava [Wheeler] joined in eighth,” Braves senior forward Emma Hart said. “AAU [basketball clubs] also helped, but our chemistry was always there. From the beginning we clicked, and it definitely shows. These girls are my family at this point.

Now, they each play for school history: Borden seeking its second straight title, and Fremont seeking its first regardless of sport. For small communities on opposite ends of the state, championships mean a little more to those in and around the school.

“Our community is super excited,” Thomas said. “It’s a great opportunity for these girls, a great experience, and I hope they take it in all week.”