Indiana girls basketball state finals 2024: Four storylines to watch

We're just a few days away from the 2023-24 high school girls basketball season's grand finale. There will be plenty of coverage to come — here and on The Scorers Table (YouTube.com/@IndyStarHank) — but let's kick things off with a few storylines to monitor.

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Some names to monitor this weekend…

The first two should be fairly obvious: Jaylah Lampley and Laila Abdurraqib. Lawrence Central is having a moment — by "moment" I mean potentially on the verge of a multi-year run — and those two have been at the forefront. 12-11 as freshmen, 16-8 as sophomores and now 29-1 with the program's first state finals appearance.

The other two are sleepers: Lake Central's Vanessa Wimberly and Lanesville's Hadley Crosier.

Wimberly's numbers are solid for a very well-rounded Indians team and she brings a strong postseason resume: regional runner-up as a freshman, keyed a semistate upset of nationally ranked South Bend Washington last year and helped orchestrate wins over SBW, Homestead and Noblesville the past two weeks to reach Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

Crosier and the Eagles are playing for a second consecutive Class A state championship and with a jump to 2A on the horizon, things are setting up for the 5-9 guard to make an even bigger splash next year. Crosier is closing in on 1,000 career points with over 300 rebounds, assists and steals.

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More Marquette magic?

Staying in Class A: Lanesville is a heavy favorite Saturday morning, but no one should be writing off Marquette Catholic. The Blazers are coming off a dramatic win at the buzzer vs. Clinton Central (a 72-70 final!) and boast an electrifying talent in sophomore Laniah Davis.

No. 4 is something special, folks. The 5-7 sophomore averages 20 points, six rebounds, three assists and three steals. She went for 26 points (10-for-20 FG) and seven rebounds vs. Caston in the state quarterfinals, then recorded 31 points (13-for-18 FG) and eight rebounds vs. Clinton Central in the nightcap.

This could be the start of something special for Marquette with its entire lineup returning and Lanesville moving up to 2A (the Eagles will be really good again next year). The Blazers won back-to-back titles in 2018 and 2019.

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Game of the day in 2A

I'm taking a different approach with 3A, so we're ascribing GOTD honors to the second game of the daytime session. But that's not to say it's not deserved.

Bishop Luers has a pair of skyscrapers in the post with 6-2 sophomore Miley Wareing, a 55% shooter, and 6-0 senior Addie Shank, a 47% shooter and the program's all-time leading rebounder. The Knights, who upset 4A power Columbia City in December, knocked out Lapel, last year's 2A runner-up, in the semistate semifinals.

Brownstown Central's post-sectional road took it through South Spencer (2OT), Linton-Stockton (won by 7) and Eastern Hancock, which it limited to 10 points in the second half. "Disciplined" and "gritty" were descriptors used by L-S coach Jared Rehmel when previewing the Braves and EH coach Shari Doud after playing them. Another item of note: Brownstown Central volleyball finished runner-up in 2A last fall.

Eric Thornton looks to break through

Eric Thornton has won 452 games, 12 sectionals and three regionals across his 27 seasons at Norwell, but this is his first trip to Gainbridge Fieldhouse. He's run into some powerhouses (South Bend Washington in 2021 and Heritage Christian in 2016 and 2017) and fallen agonizingly short (lost by four to Hamilton Heights in last year's regional), but this year's Knights — led by their seven seniors — have rolled through the first three rounds to earn their title shot.

Norwell faces a significant test in Gibson Southern. Under the direction of sixth-year coach Kyle Brasher, who's also making his first finals appearance (123-31, four sectionals, two regionals), the Titans boast a heck of a 1-2 punch with junior Gabby Spink and senior Chloey Graham, plus an up-and-coming freshman in the 6-1 Paige Schnaus.

Follow Brian Haenchen on Twitter at @Brian_Haenchen.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: IHSAA girls basketball state finals: Championship storylines to watch