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Making its first state championship game appearance since back-to-back trips in 1987 and 1988, Noblesville made up for lost time by dominating the fourth quarter to post a 76-52 win over Franklin in the Class 4A championship game.

The Millers of coach Donna Buckley, who had no seniors on its roster, used a near-perfect second quarter to take control, then withstood a Franklin charge in the third quarter by finishing the game on a 23-9 run to claim their second state title (1987).

Noblesville (25-4) rode the back of UConn-recruit Ashlynn Shade, who tied a Class 4A record with a game-high 31 points.

The game was tied, 11-11, in the opening quarter before the Millers scored seven straight points and never trailed again. Noblesville then outscored the Grizzly Cubs, 29-15, in the second quarter, hitting 10-of-12 from the field and 7-of-8 from the free throw line to take a 47-28 lead at halftime.

Coach Josh Sabol’s Grizzly Cubs, however, warmed up in the third quarter and finally pulled within 53-43 after a free throw by Kuryn Brunson with 7:39 remaining in the game.

From there, it was all Noblesville as Shade scored nine points (hitting all four shots from the field) to key the game-ending spurt.
Ava Shoemaker and Reagan Wilson each added 12 points for the winners.

Ashlyn Traylor led Franklin (28-2) with 18 points.

Class 4A State Championship Records

Most Points (tied): 31 by Ashlynn Shade, Noblesville

Highest Combined Free Throw Percentage: .853 by both teams

Franklin’s Kuryn Brunson named Mental Attitude Award winner
Following the game, members of the IHSAA Executive Committee named Kuryn Brunson of Franklin Community 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.

Academically, Kuryn has been able to excel in the classroom taking AP classes, Honors level, and other challenging courses. She’s a past recipient of her school’s Sportsmanship of the Month Award and is a member of the FCHS Blue Crew, where she’s routinely found at various high school events supporting her classmates.

She is the daughter of Ms. Sarah Price of Franklin, IN. She is undecided on her college choice but hopes to study Psychology while playing basketball.

The Indiana Fever and Indiana Pacers, the presenting sponsor of the IHSAA Girls Basketball State Tournament, presented a $1,000 scholarship to Franklin Community High School in the name of Kuryn Brunson.

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