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MIDDLEBURY — Doug Springer has spoke of taking the Northridge girls basketball program to a different level.
Just before Christmas this year, the Raiders will get that opportunity, as a veteran Northridge team has been chosen to play in the prestigious Hall of Fame Classic in New Castle.
Northridge, which reached the Class 4A Elite Eight this season, will face Franklin Central in the second game on Dec. 21st at the New Castle Fieldhouse.
The first game at 11 a.m. will feature McCutcheon against Pendleton Heights. McCutcheon beat the Raiders to knock them out of the state tournament in February.
The consolation game will take place at 6 p.m. and the championship contest will follow.
Northridge loses only one senior starter from the tournament run (point guard Macey Riegsecker). The Raiders finished 20-8 last season, beating Warsaw in the sectional finals and Valparaiso at the Jimtown Regional. It was just the program’s second regional title.
Among the returning players are standouts Lily Scholl (18.3 points-per-game), Alli Ambers (12.5) and Zoe Yeater (9.9). Scholl will play for the Indiana Junior All-Stars this summer.
Franklin Central finished 13-10 last year, while Pendleton Heights was 22-4 with a Class 4A sectional title, McCutcheon closed the season at 23-6 with 4A sectional and regional titles and a berth in the LaPorte Semistate title game.
“This is just an unbelievable opportunity for our program and our school to play in the most prestigious tournaments in Indiana,’’ Springer said. “When you have the chance to play in the largest fieldhouse in the nation and have the opportunity to showcase the girls we have coming back, I think it puts our program at the state level.
“I’m just thrilled for our players, our coaching staff, our entire program and of course our community.’’
After the difficult loss to McCutcheon at the semistate, a disappointed Springer spoke about wanting to build the Northridge program so it can play at the semistate and state level every season.
“We have revamped our schedule next season so it will prepare us for the state tournament,’’ Springer said. “We want to play the best teams in Indiana to get ready.
“In my 19 years here, this will be an important moment to show where we are as a program. I’ve never put tremendous importance on wins and losses, but to play on this kind of stage – as the second smallest Class 4A team in the state – is a great opportunity.
“Now we need to do things to get ready ... hitting the weight room this off-season will be very important for the challenges we’ll face.’’
Springer has a record of 341-130 in 19 years at Northridge and 393-148 in 22 years overall.
Fourteen of the past 18 Miss Basketball winners have played in the Hall of Fame Classic, while 12 players have gone on to play in the WNBA, including Notre Dame alums Skylar Diggins and Jackie Young.
The boys teams will play on December 22nd, with Oak Hill (17-7 this year) facing Terre Haute North (21-6, 4A sectional and regional titles) at 11 a.m. and Homestead (22-6, 4A sectional and regional titles) playing New Albany (19-4) in the second game. The consolation game begins at 6 p.m. and the title contest will follow.
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Just before Christmas this year, the Raiders will get that opportunity, as a veteran Northridge team has been chosen to play in the prestigious Hall of Fame Classic in New Castle.
Northridge, which reached the Class 4A Elite Eight this season, will face Franklin Central in the second game on Dec. 21st at the New Castle Fieldhouse.
The first game at 11 a.m. will feature McCutcheon against Pendleton Heights. McCutcheon beat the Raiders to knock them out of the state tournament in February.
The consolation game will take place at 6 p.m. and the championship contest will follow.
Northridge loses only one senior starter from the tournament run (point guard Macey Riegsecker). The Raiders finished 20-8 last season, beating Warsaw in the sectional finals and Valparaiso at the Jimtown Regional. It was just the program’s second regional title.
Among the returning players are standouts Lily Scholl (18.3 points-per-game), Alli Ambers (12.5) and Zoe Yeater (9.9). Scholl will play for the Indiana Junior All-Stars this summer.
Franklin Central finished 13-10 last year, while Pendleton Heights was 22-4 with a Class 4A sectional title, McCutcheon closed the season at 23-6 with 4A sectional and regional titles and a berth in the LaPorte Semistate title game.
“This is just an unbelievable opportunity for our program and our school to play in the most prestigious tournaments in Indiana,’’ Springer said. “When you have the chance to play in the largest fieldhouse in the nation and have the opportunity to showcase the girls we have coming back, I think it puts our program at the state level.
“I’m just thrilled for our players, our coaching staff, our entire program and of course our community.’’
After the difficult loss to McCutcheon at the semistate, a disappointed Springer spoke about wanting to build the Northridge program so it can play at the semistate and state level every season.
“We have revamped our schedule next season so it will prepare us for the state tournament,’’ Springer said. “We want to play the best teams in Indiana to get ready.
“In my 19 years here, this will be an important moment to show where we are as a program. I’ve never put tremendous importance on wins and losses, but to play on this kind of stage – as the second smallest Class 4A team in the state – is a great opportunity.
“Now we need to do things to get ready ... hitting the weight room this off-season will be very important for the challenges we’ll face.’’
Springer has a record of 341-130 in 19 years at Northridge and 393-148 in 22 years overall.
Fourteen of the past 18 Miss Basketball winners have played in the Hall of Fame Classic, while 12 players have gone on to play in the WNBA, including Notre Dame alums Skylar Diggins and Jackie Young.
The boys teams will play on December 22nd, with Oak Hill (17-7 this year) facing Terre Haute North (21-6, 4A sectional and regional titles) at 11 a.m. and Homestead (22-6, 4A sectional and regional titles) playing New Albany (19-4) in the second game. The consolation game begins at 6 p.m. and the title contest will follow.
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