INDIANAPOLIS (WNDU) – The Warsaw girls basketball team made a strong comeback in the fourth quarter, but ultimately fell short in a 65-59 loss to Lawrence North in the Class 4A state championship game on Saturday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

Down by 18 in the third quarter, the Tigers (26-2) clawed all the way back and narrowed the deficit to just three points twice in the final minute, but the Wildcats (19-8) did enough to hold on to their lead and clinch their second state title in program history.

Warsaw made its first three 3-pointers of the game and closed the first quarter on a 8-0 run to take a 19-16 lead, but Lawrence North stormed right back and took a 35-27 lead into the locker room after ending the first half on a 15-3 run.

The Wildcats would take advantage of Warsaw’s cold shooting in the third quarter and push their lead to 18 points, but that’s when things started to click again for the Tigers.

After missing 10 straight 3-pointers, Warsaw made its next five 3-point shots and opened the fourth quarter on a 12-4 run to make it a seven-point game. While that momentum eventually stalled, Lawrence North’s poor free-throw shooting kept the Tigers in the game.

Warsaw would cut the deficit to three points twice in the final minute, but the Wildcats were able to pull away thanks to four clutch free throws from Ke’Adriah Butler.

The Tigers were seeking their first state championship in girls hoops since 1978. This was their first state final appearance since 2004.

Brooke Winchester posted a double-double (20 points, 13 rebounds) to lead Warsaw. Joslyn Bricker scored 13 points while Brooke Zartman added 12.

Butler led Lawrence North with 20 points while Jamaya Thomas had 14 and Kalea Bentley scored 12. Naja Winston nearly had a double-double with 9 points and 14 rebounds.

After the game, Warsaw’s Abbey Peterson was named the 2025 Class 4A Patricia L. Roy Mental Attitude Award winner.

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