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The Columbus North Bull Dogs started slowly but warmed to their task in the Class 4A girls state final. Senior Ali Patberg helped the heating-up process considerably.

Patberg scored 31 points, tying the 4A final record, to boost the Bull Dogs past the Homestead Spartans, 62-56. Patberg hit 12-of-28 shots from the field, grabbed nine rebounds and totaled five assists in leading her team to the come-from-behind victory.

Columbus North trailed by six at the half after shooting just 29.4 percent on its fielders in the first two quarters. The Bull Dogs fell behind by 11 after Homestead scored the first five points of the second half.

But Patberg's play sparked a Columbus North rally. The Bull Dogs took their first lead on a Patberg 3-pointer with three seconds remaining in the third quarter. When Columbus North put the finishing touches on a 16-3 run, it led by seven at 51-44 with 6:40 left in the game.

Coach Pat McKee's Columbus North team was making its second state finals appearance in four seasons, but the Bull Dogs won their first girls basketball state title. Ranked second in the ICGSA poll, the Bull Dogs finished the season with 25 consecutive victories for a 28-1 record. McKee is 118-16 in five seasons as the head coach.

Maliah Howard-Bass contributed 13 points for Columbus North, including seven to help her team close out the victory in the final 3 ½ minutes. Sheyanne Street chipped in 12 points.

Coach Rod Parker's Homestead team, ranked fourth, finished 26-3 after being held to its lowest scoring output of the season. The Spartans had been leading the state in scoring at 76.9 ppg entering the game. Josie Fisher led the Spartans with 13 points. Karissa McLaughlin scored 11. Grace German led Homestead rebounders with eight.

Class 4A Championship Game Records

Most 3-Point Field Goals Made: (Tied) 8 by Columbus North.

Most Combined 3-Point Field Goals Made: 14 by Columbus North (8) and Homestead (6), old record was 12.

Most Combined 3-Point Field Goals Attempted: 43 by Homestead (24) and Columbus North (19).

Highest Combine Free Throw Percentage: .788 by Homestead (14/17) and Columbus North (12/16).

Most Points: (Tied) 31 by Ali Patberg, Columbus North.

Most Field Goals Attempted: (Tied) 28 by Ali Patberg, Columbus North.

 Listen: Columbus North Post-Game | Homestead Post-Game

Columbus North‘s Ali Patberg named Mental Attitude Award Winner
Following the game, members of the IHSAA Executive Committee named Ali Patberg of Columbus North High School as the winner of the Patricia L. Roy Mental Attitude Award in Class 4A 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.

Ali ranks in the top five percent in her class while continuing to dominate on the court.  She is a productive member of many organizations, is an active volunteer in the community, and has also created “A Lasting Impact,” aka ALI, in order to assist a local woman with medical bills. She embodies what a student-athlete is all about. 

She is the daughter of Julie Davis and Rob Patberg of Columbus and will continue her basketball career at the University of Notre Dame, where she is considering majoring in business.

The Indiana Fever and Indiana Pacers, the presenting sponsor of the IHSAA Girls Basketball State Tournament, presented a $1,000 scholarship to Columbus North High School in the name of Ali Patberg. 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.