How each South Bend area girls basketball team advanced to Saturday's regional championship games

An impressive eight teams won girls basketball sectional championships from the South Bend Tribune coverage area last week.

More: Here are your South Bend area girls basketball regional pairings, schedule

It’s not easy to win a sectional title. Every team has to win at least two games, with others needed three wins to cut down the nets. And while some sectional brackets are harder to navigate than others, it’s still a major accomplishment being one of the final 16 teams standing in your class.

What was the most important reason for each of these eight teams to reach this point? It’s the question we proposed to all the head coaches still playing from our area.

Here is what they had to say on what allowed them to be playing for regional championships Saturday night:

Steven Reynolds, South Bend Washington

“Their resilience. The players and staff have been through a lot of adversity, but we all decided to dig our heels in and persevere to make this happen. We are going to continue to need that same resilience moving forward.”

More: With Reynolds at point, SB Washington girls basketball wins fourth-straight sectional title

Doug Springer, Northridge

“Our chemistry, belief, and trust in every member of our program. These girls have been in the gym since our seniors were 6th graders and our freshman were 3rd graders. We work all of our third, fourth, fifth, and sixth graders out together in the same gym, and because of this, they have built unbreakable bonds that allow us to fight together through every moment.”

More: Northridge tops Penn for 4A girls basketball sectional championship

Alex Robinson, Bremen

“Our girls have done a wonderful job committing to playing as a team on both ends of the floor. We hit a rough patch in the middle of the season, but we were able to reset with new goals and a fresh start coming out of Christmas break. Team offense and a newfound focus on defense have gotten us to this point.”

Aimee Litka, New Prairie

“Playing the right way offensively and defensively. For us, we always talk about trusting the process, and I think we’ve gotten to the point where the process has been tested and it has been trusted. This was my first senior class coming in, and it was a process. Being able to learn to play the right way, we were able to do things differently defensively, like ramp up our pressure, play a little bit more aggressively. But then offensively, them playing together for so long has allowed them to learn how to play the right way.”

Taylor Burkhart, NorthWood

“Our team chemistry. Our players are supportive of each other and unselfish, which has contributed to an encouraging, yet competitive season. Our players are not just playing to win the next game, they are playing for each other. The relationships that our players have developed on and off the court, bonding outside of basketball, celebrating success, and overcoming challenging situations, has helped our team become who it is today.”

Nicholas Amor, LaVille

“Their unrelenting defense. Our scoring average is lower than most, our shooting percentage is lower than most, but each and every game they bring a defensive intensity that is (I'm biased) unmatched in the area. That intensity and team effort on one end of the floor has gotten them to where they are. My hope is they can come together and believe that they aren't done yet and put together a full game on both sides of the floor in the regional championship against Andrean.”

Katie Collignon, Marquette Catholic

“Our defensive effort. We were relentless on the defensive end, causing the other teams to be uncomfortable, force shots and passes, and rush through their offense. Our defensive pressure translated into advantage fast breaks, which allowed us to build a lead in each game of the tournament thus far.”

Krysten Parson, Bethany Christian

“I'm not sure I can pin it on one thing, but I do know that this group is resilient. I think the confidence they gained from last year's state tournament run was evident in their ability to remain calm and steady, regardless of the situation we were facing. Whether we were down 11 or up nine, they played with a great sense poise and determination. They never count themselves out. This is a remarkable group.”

2024 IHSAA GIRLS BASKETBALL REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE

All games Saturday. All times EST

CLASS 4A

At LaPorte

5 p.m.: South Bend Washington (19-4) vs. Lake Central (23-4)

8 p.m.: Northridge (24-3) vs. Valparaiso (19-7)

At Marion

1 p.m.: McCutcheon (21-4) vs. Homestead (22-4)

4 p.m.: Noblesville (16-8) vs. Fort Wayne Snider (22-2)

At Decatur Central

4 p.m.: Mt. Vernon Fortville (13-13) vs. Lawrence Central (26-1)

7 p.m.: Pike (12-14) vs. Plainfield (17-7)

At Bedford North Lawrence

1 p.m.: Bedford North Lawrence (20-4) vs. Center Grove (25-1)

4 p.m.: Franklin (23-3) vs. Evansville North (16-10)

CLASS 3A

At Jimtown

4 p.m.: Bremen (14-11) vs. Hanover Central (17-7)

7 p.m.: New Prairie (20-5) vs. NorthWood (19-6)

At Lapel

1 p.m.: Hamilton Heights (23-2) vs. Woodlan (18-8)

At Caston

4 p.m.: Benton Central (25-3) vs. Norwell (20-4)

At Greencastle

4 p.m.: Indian Creek (21-4) vs. Bishop Chatard (18-8)

At Charlestown

4 p.m.: Greensburg (21-4) vs. Scottsburg (21-4)

At Southmont

4 p.m.: Danville (22-3) vs. Speedway (16-7)

At Crawford County

1 p.m.: Washington (22-4) vs. Gibson Southern (22-4)

CLASS 2A

At Winamac

4 p.m.: LaVille (12-11) vs. Andrean (12-14)

At Bellmont

4 p.m.: Lewis Cass (21-3) vs. Fremont (16-8)

At Lapel

4 p.m.: Lapel (22-4) vs. Eastbrook (23-2)

At Wes-Del

4 p.m.: Lafayette Central Catholic (15-11) vs. Fort Wayne Bishop Luers (16-6)

At Charlestown

1 p.m.: South Spencer (14-11) vs. Brownstown Central (17-9)

At Southmont

4 p.m.: Eastern Hancock (23-1) vs. Parke Heritage (23-3)

At Southwestern (Shelbyville)

4 p.m.: Sheridan (19-5) vs. Northeastern (19-6)

At West Washington

4 p.m.: Linton-Stockton (19-6) vs. North Decatur (18-6)

CLASS 1A

At Winamac

7 p.m.: Marquette Catholic (21-4) vs. Morgan Township (17-7)

At Caston

7 p.m.: Bethany Christian (18-6) vs. Caston (21-3)

At Bellmont

1 p.m.: Northfield (12-12) vs. Clinton Central (23-1)

At Wes-Del

1 p.m.: Daleville (9-13) vs. Union City (13-12)

At Greencastle

7 p.m.: North Central Farmersburg (17-10) vs. Bethesda Christian (18-5)

At Crawford County

4 p.m.: Barr-Reeve (13-12) vs. Lanesville (25-1)

At Southwestern (Shelbyville)

7 p.m.: Jac-Cen-Del (20-5) vs. Eminence (19-7)

At West Washington

1 p.m.: Trinity Lutheran (14-11) vs. Wood Memorial (15-10)

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Eight South Bend area girls basketball teams advanced to regionals. Here's how they did it