Prominent girls and boys teams announced for December Hall of Fame Classic events in New Castle

The Henry Community Health Hall of Fame Classic has announced the girls and boys teams that will play Monday, December 21 and Tuesday, December 22 at the New Castle Fieldhouse.

The prestigious event will be held for the 43^rd time for girls and it will be the 50^th edition for the boys. 

2026 Girls’ Henry Community Health Hall of Fame Classic
New Castle Fieldhouse – Monday, December 21, 2026

11:00 a.m. – Pendleton Heights vs McCutcheon
to follow – Franklin Central vs Northridge
6:00 p.m. – Consolation Game
to follow – Championship Game

2026 Boys’ Henry Community Health Hall of Fame Classic
New Castle Fieldhouse – Tuesday, December 22, 2026

11:00 a.m. – Oak Hill vs Terre Haute North
to follow – Homestead vs New Albany
6:00 p.m. – Consolation Game
to follow – Championship Game

Selecting from the best teams in the state, the girls’ tournament has included 21 teams that went on to win a state championship that season, including 14 class champions and ten class runner-up teams in the past 20 years. 

At the time of this press release – on the boys’ side, 19 participating teams have gone on to win their state championship with six more finishing as state runner-up that season. 

Tickets for the tournaments will be available through participating schools and the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame beginning in early November 2026.

Girls:

Pendleton Heights – The Arabians finished the 2025-2026 season with a regional loss to State Champion Center Grove, which was highlighted by a 22-4 campaign with an average margin of victory over 18 points per game.

Leading the way for the Arabians is 6’3” junior Adah Hupfer who averaged 20.5 points and 13 rebounds a game.  Also contributing for Pendleton Heights is 5’7” junior Aubree Warfel, who adds 7.9 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.1 assists per contest, junior Sami Brunk chipping in 6.4 points and 3.6 rebounds, and freshman Ellie Warfel who adds 5.6 points per game.

Head Coach Nick Rogers is 71-31, having just completed his fourth year at Pendleton Heights.

This will be Pendleton Heights’ first opportunity to play in the Hall of Fame Classic in New Castle.

McCutcheon – With a 2025-2026 campaign record of 23-6, and losing to 4A State Runner-up Norwell in the semi-state, the Mavericks look to continue their long tournament success in the 26-27 season.

The 2026-2027 Mavericks are led in the scoring column by 6’1” junior Lillie Graves, who averages 17.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 5.7 assists per game.  Right behind her is 5’7” junior Keara Lipscomb-Allen who averages 14.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game.  Helping the Mavericks’ cause is junior Ameria Gibson, who averaged 9.9 points and 5.8 rebounds and Trinity Wilburn who added 8.1 points per game.

In 21 years leading the Mavericks, Jeff Knoy is 321-190 in his tenure.

This will be McCutcheon’s second trip to New Castle to play in the Hall of Fame Classic, their first time since 1991.

Franklin Central – With a competitive record of 13-10, after losing a key player to injury, Franklin Central looks to return the majority of their roster from last year, including from injuries to build upon their 2025-2026 season.

Franklin Central was led in the 25-26 season by 6’3” junior Payton Duvall who averaged 12.1 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 3.1 blocks per game.  Adding to the Franklin Central cause is 5’9” junior Ashlee Baker with 11.0 points, 3.9 assists, and 2.2 steals per game, junior Aniya Doughty with 9.1 points and junior Carly Holmes with 7.8 points per game.  The Flashes also will get back 5’7” junior Riley Huotari, who misses the majority of last year with an injury.

Coach Vince Cerbone is 81-108 in 8 years at Franklin Central, and 314-256 in his 25^th year overall.

This will be Franklin Central’s second time to head to the Hall of Fame Classic, the last time being in 2006.

Northridge – Battling in the semi-state with fellow Hall of Fame Classic team McCutcheon, Northridge looks to build on their very successful 20-8 season from a year ago.

The Raiders are led by 5’10” junior Lily Scholl who averaged 18.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals a game.  Helping the Northridge attack are 5’9” junior Alli Ambers who averaged 12.5 points and 5.3 rebounds a game, 5’10” junior Zoe Yeater who averaged 9.9 points, and 4.9 rebounds, along with a group of sophomores who combined for 10+ points per game.

Head Coach Doug Springer is 341-130 in 19 years at Northridge and 393-148 in 22 years overall.

This will be Northridge’s inaugural trip to New Castle to play in the Hall of Fame Classic.

Boys:

Oak Hill  – Returning a great lineup from a team that made it to semi-state, and finishing the regular season with only one loss (25-2 overall), Oak Hill looks to make another deep tournament run in 2026-2027.

The Golden Eagles are led by brothers, Jace and Will Tonagel.  Jace, a 5’10” junior, averaged 15.8 points and 6.1 assists per game, while Will, a 6’0” freshman averaged 14.3 points and 3.6 assists.  Helping the Oak Hill cause is 6’2” junior Kevaunte Simmons, who averaged 7.9 points per game, and 6’1” Jayden Younce, who averaged 6.0 ppg.

Head Coach Kevin Renbarger is currently 327-165 in his 21^st year at the helm of the Golden Eagles.

This will be Oak Hill’s second opportunity to play in the Hall of Fame Classic, the previous time being in 2017.

Terre Haute North – Coming off a very successful 2025-2026 campaign that saw Terre Haute North finish with a 24-4 record, the Patriots look to continue their success during the 2026-2027 season with a core group of players returning looking to make a splash after advancing to semi-state.

Blake Hammond, a 6’5” junior will lead the way for Terre Haute North, as he averaged 11.5 points and 4.7 rebounds to lead the Patriots heading into the 2026-27 season.  Looking to keep their pace and play an expanded role are 6’6” junior Tyler Renn who averaged 9.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.8 assists, along with 6’0” junior guard Mason Loyd who chipped in 4.1 points per game.

Leading the way for the Patriots is Todd Woelfle, who in his 18^th year at Terre Haute North, is 278-177.

This will be the Patriots’ second trip to New Castle to play in the Classic, but the first since 1998.

Homestead – The Spartans return all but one player from a team that went 20-7 and advanced to the semi-state in the IHSAA state tournament during the 2025-2026 campaign.     

Leading the way for the Spartans is 6’6” junior Mack Welker, who averaged 21.0 points 9.8 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game.  Aiding the Homestead cause is 6’1” junior Jake Coolman, who averaged 12 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 3.6 assists and 6’1” sophomore Ryder Imel who averaged 9.5 points per game.

Chris Johnson is the head coach of the Spartans, is 469-194 in his 27^th year at Homestead, and 548-227 in his 32^nd year overall.

This will be Homestead’s second chance to play in the Hall of Fame Classic, with the first being in 2021.

New Albany – Bringing back a core of their roster from a team that went 23-6 and had a deep tournament run, losing to Mt. Vernon in semi-state, New Albany looks to keep that pace for the 2026-27 season.

Pacing the Bulldogs was 6’5” sophomore Noah Washington who averaged 22.4 points and 4.25 rebounds per game.  Helping the balanced attack from New Albany was 6’2” freshman Karson Stoudemire, who averaged 12.68 points and 5.48 rebounds, and 6’0” junior Reece McKee who averaged 9.88 points and 4.57 assists per contest.

Head Coach Jason Jones is 59-18 in his third year at New Albany and 264-259 in 24 years, overall.

New Albany will be playing in their 5^th Hall of Fame Classic, with the previous trips being in 1980, 2001, 2007, and 2016.

14 of the past 18 Miss Basketball winners (Skylar Diggins, Courtney Moses, Bria Goss, Jessica Rupright, Stephanie Mavunga, Whitney Jennings, Ali Patberg, Jackie Young, Karissa McLaughlin, Amy Dilk, Jorie Allen, Ayanna Patterson, Chloe Spreen, and Maya Makalusky) have had the honor to play in the Classic. 13 women to have played in the Classic were named McDonald’s All-Americans (most recently, Ashlynn Shade) and 12 Girls Classic alums have played in the WNBA.

Girls’ legends who have played in the Classic include Stephanie White, Katie Gearlds, Shanna Zolman, Skylar Diggins, Jackie Young, Katie Douglas, Kristen Spolyar, Lisa Shepherd, Abby Conklin, April McDivitt, Kelly Faris, Jennifer Jacoby, Jodie Whitaker, Shrya Ely, Tiffany Gooden and Ali Patberg, Ashlynn Shade, among others.

35 men who went on to win the Indiana Mr. Basketball award have participated in the Boys Classic, including 17 of the last 21 award winners (Luke Zeller, Greg Oden, Tyler Zeller, Jordan Hulls, Cody Zeller, Gary Harris, Zak Irvin, Trey Lyles, Kyle Guy, Romeo Langford, Trayce Jackson-Davis, Anthony Leal, Caleb Furst, Markus Burton, Flory Bidunga, and Braylon Mullins). 27 men to have played in the Classic have been named McDonald’s All-Americans (most recently Greenfield Central’s Braylon Mullins), while 19 have been NBA Draft picks.

Legends to have competed in the Boys Classic include Damon Bailey, Steve Alford, Glenn Robinson, Shawn Kemp, Greg Oden, Mike Conley, Zach Randolph, Eric Montross, Sean May, Delray Brooks, Tom Coverdale, Troy Lewis, Woody Austin, Josh McRoberts, Gary Harris, Luke, Tyler and Cody Zeller, Trey Lyles, Kyle Guy, Romeo Langford, Trayce Jackson-Davis, and Braden Smith, among others.

Including entrants in the 2026 Classic, the event has included 105 different IHSAA-member girls’ programs and 113 different IHSAA-member boys’ programs in tournament history. The 2026 Classic will be streamed on ISC Sports Network.