​State champions are remembered forever, and sometimes those who fell short are remembered just as vividly. As part of our ongoing America 250 project highlighting Hoosier Hysteria, here are some of the top boys and girls high school basketball programs that did not win a state championship in the Class Era (1998–present).
Anderson opened the era as the top-ranked Class basketball team, highlighted by a January victory over national powerhouse DeMatha. Led by senior Eric Bush, the Indians won three sectional games by a combined seven points before losing by three to No. 2 Pike in the regional. It was only Anderson’s second loss of the season. The No. 2 Wildcats were bona fide title contenders, but in a regional semifinal against No. 1 Bloomington South in Columbus, Lawrence North fell in overtime. That night is remembered for more than the game itself, as Wildcat senior and Kentucky recruit John Stewart collapsed on the court and later died in the hospital.
The Fighting Irish carried a perfect 29–0 record into the 3A championship at Market Square Arena, anchored by a lineup that included All-Star Jennifer Callier, future All-Star Sharika Webb, and future All-Star Jill Corbett. Cathedral’s run ended in a 72–71 loss to NorthWood, but Cathedral would go on to win back-to-back titles the following two years.
The Cougars were ranked No. 1 and undefeated entering the 4A final, boasting future NBA Draft picks and All-Americans Jared Jeffries and Sean May. Yet Marion had its own future pro in Michigan State recruit Zach Randolph, who poured in 28 points to power a 62–56 victory in front of a sold-out Conseco Fieldhouse.
The Warriors boasted one of the state’s best scorers in Shanna Zolman, who would become Miss Basketball, yet her team never advanced beyond the regional. Wawasee—undefeated in Zolman’s junior year and averaging 75.1 points per game—fell to Fort Wayne Concordia by six. Zolman would graduate with a state record 3,085 career points, a mark that stood for years.
Many may forget that the Golden Knights were the No. 1 undefeated squad entering the tournament. Arlington, led by senior Deonta Vaughn, Anthony Munford, and David Squires, defeated Lawrence North by 10 in December’s regular-season meeting. The Wildcats avenged the loss in the sectional semifinal by 15 en route to a second of three straight state titles.
The Bearcats reached Conseco Fieldhouse in back-to-back years, with the 2005 group posting only two losses behind four double-digit scorers, including Indiana All-Star Jordan Armstrong. The issue, though, was that Muncie faced Lawrence North in each appearance during its three-peat, a challenge headlined by Greg Oden and Mike Conley Jr. It seemed almost inevitable who stood in the Wildcats’ way during that era.
The Panthers stood 13–4 in mid-February before tearing through the state tournament behind Mr. Basketball Eric Gordon, who averaged 29 points per game. North Central ran out of gas in the 4A final, losing 87–83 to East Chicago for a better SEO footprint.