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Northwestern’s dynamic duo of Kendall Bostic and Madison Layden combined for 44 points to lead the Tigers to their second-straight Class 3A title with a 61-39 win over Benton Central.

The Tigers of coach Kathie Layden were never headed and were never threatened in the contest to finish 27-3 this season. That follows up a 29-1 mark of a year ago.

Bostic finished with 25 points and 15 rebounds, while Layden had 19 points, including 10-of-12 from the free throw line.

The contest marked the first time since 1995 (and third time overall) that schools from the same conference (in this case, the Hoosier Conference) met for a state title. The two teams, however, didn’t meet in the regular season.

For coach Layden, the victory gives her five state titles in her career. She won three with Tri-Central from 2003-05. The five state titles ranks her second in state history behind Heritage Christian’s Rick Risinger, who has seven.

The Bison, who were denied a state title in their third opportunity (1989, 2011), were led by Audrey Strawsma’s 11 points.  Coach David Baxter’s squad finishes 26-5.

Class 3A State Championship Records
Most Combined Free Throws Attempted: 46 by Northwestern (32) and Benton Central (14)

(Tied) Most Free Throws Attempted: 32 by Northwestern

(Tied) Most Free Throws Made: 10 by Madison Layden, Northwestern

(Tied) Most Free Throws Attempted: 12 by Madison Layden, Northwestern

(Tied) Most Rebounds: 15 by Kendall Bostic, Northwestern

(Tied) Most Steals: 7 by Kendall Bostic, Northwestern

Allison Miller named Mental Attitude Award Winner
Following the game, members of the IHSAA Executive Committee named Allison Miller of Northwestern High School as the winner of the Patricia L. Roy Mental Attitude Award 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.

Allison is a Four-Year Varsity Player for the Lady Tigers and a member of the 2018 and 2019 State Championship teams. Miller was a team captain for the 2018-19 season. Outside of basketball, Allison is also a Varsity participant and All-Conference athlete in both Golf and Tennis for the Lady Tigers.

Outside of athletics, Allison is an active member for her school and her community. She is a member of the Leadership Team for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the FCA Refuge. In her community she is a member of 4-H, as well as her Youth Group at Crossroads Church. Miller has volunteered at the Special Needs Prom, the Crossroads Church, the Kokomo Rescue Mission as well as helping with Fiesta Friday for Northwestern.

Academically, Allison ranks 4th in her senior class of 127 students and has received Northwestern Student of the Month twice.

She is the daughter of Todd and Pam Miller of Kokomo, Indiana, and plans to study Landscape Architecture at Purdue University.

The Indiana Fever and Indiana Pacers, the presenting sponsor of the IHSAA Girls Basketball State Tournament, presented a $1,000 scholarship to Northwestern High School in the name of Allison Miller. Since 1989, more than $840,000 in college scholarships have been presented to deserving high school athletes in Indiana.

The award is named in honor of the former IHSAA Assistant Commissioner Patricia L. Roy, who oversaw the girls basketball state tournament from its inception in 1976 until her retirement in 1999.