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Indianapolis Cathedral 71, New Haven 61
IHSAA Class 3A State Championship
Indianapolis Cathedral 71, New Haven 61
INDIANAPOLIS - The first non-media timeout wasn’t called until two minutes into the third quarter on Saturday night, and the strategy was by design.
Third-ranked Cathedral and New Haven both had similar game plans for their IHSAA Class 3A boys basketball State Finals showdown inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Run, pressure, run and run some more.
A war of attrition from the beginning, the Cathedral Irish (25-5) were the first to flinch, taking a timeout after New Haven (22-8) pulled within a possession, 39-37, in the second half, but they won the fight by delivering the final blow in the fourth quarter, 71-61.
“We always talk about playing four quarters. Three quarters, body blows, then the last fourth quarter, throwing the knockout punch. I think we did that well today,” Cathedral senior R’Mani Wells said.
For three-and-a-half quarters, the 3A state championship was truly any team’s race with six ties overall and 11 lead changes between both contenders until the Irish put together a 13-4 run in the final 3:47.
Cathedral built an 11-5 lead in the first quarter, and behind an 11-point first frame by senior Julien Smith, who finished with a game-high 21 points and nine rebounds, the Irish held a 12-point advantage, 19-7.
Then the New Haven Bulldogs responded with an 8-2 run to cut the deficit, 19-15, before Cathedral freshman Jayden Kennedy tipped in a putback with a second left to end the first quarter, 21-15.
From that point, the marathon became a sprint, as Cathedral coach Jason Delaney shouted out, “Let’s go, move!” and “Keep moving!” from the bench to his determined Irish.
“That’s our strategy. We run all four quarters. It doesn’t change for us. Having someone like Keaton (Aldridge) taking the ball up the court and if you don’t stop him, he’s gonna go all the way every time,” Smith said. “Just being that aggressive, having that motor as a group, it wears teams down.”
The Bulldogs kept stride.
Cathedral had 16 turnovers. New Haven had 14 turnovers.
The Irish recorded eight steals and pulled down 45 rebounds (24 off the defensive glass), while the Bulldogs had eight steals and 32 rebounds (19 on the defensive glass).
New Haven generated 22 points off turnovers. Cathedral netted 14 off miscues and logged 30 points in the paint compared to New Haven’s 36.
“I consider it a boxing match. They’re going to throw a lot of punches. Are we going to be able to fight back? To our kids’ credit, we did that for three and a half quarters,” New Haven coach Brandon Appleton said. “We had some difficulty there in the fourth with some foul calls and against a team like that, it’s hard to overcome.”
Making its first State Finals appearance, New Haven held its first lead, 5-3, in the first quarter and grabbed its second in the third, 41-39.
Junior Tarvar Baskerville led the Bulldogs with 20 points and five steals. Senior Jadrien Ezell had 15 points. Senior DaMarcus Wright had six points. Overall, the Bulldogs had eight blocks. Cathedral had six.
New Haven’s eight set a new 3A State Finals record. The team’s 14 combined set another State Finals record for blocked shots (since 1979).
“Couldn’t ask for more in terms of their effort and their belief, and like DaMarcus (Wright) said when we started this journey after the sectional, I guess the job’s not finished yet,” Appleton said. “To Cathedral’s credit, they went to the line and took care of business like they were supposed to do.”
Cathedral attempted 36 free throws in total and converted 21 at 58 percent. New Haven was 14 of 17 from the foul line.
Prior to the fourth quarter, Cathedral was 6 of 14 from the free-throw line. In the final eight minutes, the Irish sank 15 of 22, including 10 of 14 in the last 2:51 of regulation.
“It definitely wasn’t our best ball game, especially from the free-throw line, but again, it’s the resilience of this team that stood out all year long,” Delaney said. “We’re not always the prettiest looking team, but we find a way to get the job done. The chemistry and character of these young men allow us to always have a chance.”
Cathedral entered its third State Finals appearance since 1998 as the state’s second-best offense, averaging 77.4 points. In 22 games, the Irish amassed 70 or more points 22 times.
They reached 80-plus points in 12 games and 90 or more in six contests.
This postseason, they knocked off both No. 2 Princeton Community, 85-64, and No. 1 Silver Creek, 73-68, at the Seymour Semi-State, while overcoming rival No. 10 Brebeuf Jesuit, 69-67, at the Martinsville Regional.
“It’s nothing we haven’t played before. Thanks to our entire season and our schedule, we’ve been in spots like this many times,” Smith said. “We do a really good job of staying together even when they go and run. It’s part of the game. It’s part of basketball. They’re gonna make their run. But we’re gonna fight back, and we’re gonna make our run, too.”
The Bulldogs deployed a similar tactic, not calling their first time out until the 2:45 mark in the third quarter.
“You get those four extra timeouts with the media here, so I was hoping to have it a little closer, so I could burn through all of them there at the end,” Appleton said. “That was just how I envisioned it going. Unfortunately, it just wasn’t quite as close as we needed it to be.”
Cathedral’s four players in double figures and free-throw shooting slowly erased New Haven’s final lead, 55-53, in the fourth quarter off back-to-back buckets from Baskerville and Ezell.
“Man, dreams do come true. Proud of our guys and how they battled. We gave ourselves a chance,” Appleton said. “I think we had a lot of people that didn’t give us much of one, but for a stretch there, we had a lot of people not sure what was going to happen.”
Junior Skylar Rodgers provided Cathedral with 12 points, five steals and three rebounds. Aldridge had 17 points and 11 rebounds with six assists, and a block. Junior Owen Peterson added 11 points and 10 rebounds.
“We were hitting our stride to where in the fourth quarter, we were able to keep going. We were really good in the fourth quarter,” Delaney said. “Nothing fazed them. They came in every day to work. They loved each other. They were coachable and just awesome people to be around. That’s what makes us special. The season flew by because it’s one of the most enjoyable teams I’ve ever had in my 20-some years. I’m happy for these guys, and I know they’re going to do great things.”
Class 3A State Championship Records
Team Most Blocked Shots: 8 by New Haven vs Cathedral
Team Most Combined Blocked Shots: 14 by New Haven (8) and Cathedral (6)
New Haven's DaMarcus Wright receives Arthur L. Trester Mental Attitude Award
Members of the IHSAA Executive Committee named DaMarcus Wright of New Haven High School as the winner of the Arthur L. Trester Mental Attitude Award in Class 3A Boys Basketball.
The award is presented annually to a senior participant in each classification who was nominated by his principal and coach and has demonstrated excellence in mental attitude, scholarship, leadership and athletic ability.
DaMarcus is four-year member of the Bulldog Basketball program. He has served as a two-time team captain, earned two conference championships, received All-Conference honors twice, and was a two-time recipient of the Hustle Award.
In addition to his athletic accomplishments, DaMarcus was honored with his school’s Bulldog Award; recognizing students who exemplify leadership, inclusivity, discipline, and a strong commitment to their school community. He is widely regarded as a leader who sets the standard through his actions, with a genuine and positive influence that elevates those around him as teammates, students, and individuals.
He is the son of Leeandrea Woods of Fort Wayne, Indiana, and plans to attend the University of Findlay in Findlay, Ohio, where he will major in Business Finance and minor in Cyber Security. DaMarcus becomes the first New Haven student-athlete to ever receive an IHSAA mental attitude award.
The Indiana Pacers and Indiana Fever, the presenting sponsors of the IHSAA Boys Basketball State Tournament, presented a $1,000 scholarship to the general scholarship fund at New Haven High School in the name of DaMarcus Wright.
The award is named in honor of the late Arthur L. Trester, who served as the first IHSAA Commissioner from 1929 to 1944 and was a guiding force after the Great Depression.
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: Tracy Davis, Vice Chancellor of Community Engagement at Ivy Tech Ft. Wayne
Father Geoff Mooney teaches Mathematics at Cathedral High School. Father Mooney serves as a spiritual leader for both the basketball team and the entire school community. Known for his humility and genuine connections, he brings joy and inspiration to students and staff alike. An avid runner who also works with cross country and track, Father Geoff leads by example in everything he does!
Terri Wallace serves New Haven Jr./Sr. High School as an English teacher, Computer Applications instructor, and Librarian. Mrs. Wallace has an open-door policy for any student, creating a welcoming environment for all. She builds strong connections with her students while also holding them accountable. A true Bulldog supporter, Mrs. Wallace is a constant presence who makes every student feel like family!