INDIANAPOLIS — The Hamilton Southeastern Royals were No.1 in the state for reason. They were the real deal and proved it on Saturday night by winning their first ever Girls Class 4A State Title 55-44 over Lawrence North. Don’t get it twisted though, it was a Battle Royale for three quarters.
Lawrence North jumped off of the bus and went on a 6-2 run with Jayla Smith shooting the three like a champ. However, like I said, HSE was No.1 for a reason. They came roaring back to tie it up 6-6 with 2:20 left in the first quarter. At the first time out the Royals had settled down and were up 9-8.
However, LN was not intimidated at all. They earned the right to be in the state title game too. So throw the records and rankings out of the window. It was a fight from the word go.
As Hamilton Southeastern began to figure out the pace LN was playing with they began to get shots to fall. At the end of the first quarter the Royals were up 12-8.
Sydney Parrish suddenly became a problem for the Lady Wildcats as she started getting to the rack with ease scoring 9 of her 30 points in the first half. Before I could bite into my hot dog they had gone up 18-8 with 6:12 left in the half.
But hold on a second bruh…LN was not going out like that. They went on a 6-2 run to get to within 6 to make it 20-14 in the blink of an eye.
Head coach Chris Giffin pulled out the press to force turnovers at 3 minute mark and it worked. Katie Davidson knocked down a three to get the Wildcats to within one point down 20-19. On the very next possession Jayla Smith drained a three to put the Wildcats up 22-20. She scored 9 of her total 15 points in the first half. It was pandemonium in Bankers Life Fieldhouse!! What’s that Chris Brown? “On and Poppin’?” Yeah what he said.
At the break the Wildcats from Lawrence North had the No.1 team in the state on the ropes down 22-20.
Sydney Parrish came out of the break and scored 6 straight points for the Royals. However, the Wildcats kept answering. Katie Davidson was beginning to be a problem for HSE as she continued to get to the rack for Lawrence North.
It suddenly became the Katie and Sydney show!!! They seemed to be the only two players scoring in the third quarter. It was NUTS!!!! At the 3:47 mark of the third quarter HSE was up 32-31. Did I mention that this was a great game? It was incredible!!!
Jayla Smith knocked down another three to put the Wildcats up 34-32 down the stretch of the third quarter. At the end of three the Lady Wildcats were up 35-34.
Katie Davidson started the fourth quarter like she started the game. On fire!!! However, HSE brought the noise and tied it up 37-37. Malea Jackson hit a three to put HSU up 40-37. On the next possession the Lady Royals connected to go on a 5-0 run to go up 42-37. At that point I couldn’t hear a thing.
Sydney Parrish was literally unstoppable as she knocked down yet another three-pointer to extend the Royal lead to 45-37. HSE went on a 11-2 run at that point. Oh make that a 13-2 run because Parrish was doing work. With 2:04 left it was 49-42 HSE.
Over? I don’t think so. Shamaria Walker got the rack for LN to pull the Wildcats to within 5 down 49-44 with 1:46 left to play. Eventually HSE did work down the stretch and end the drama. Congrats to the Royals for making history by bringing home their first ever Class 4A title. Big props to LN for playing a helluva game as well.