The field is set for the 2026 Henry Community Health Hall of Fame Classic at New Castle Fieldhouse on Dec. 21 (girls) and Dec. 22 (boys).
This will be the 43rd Hall of Fame event for the girls and 50th for the boys. The girls’ tournament has included 21 teams that went on to win a state championship that season, including 14 class champions and 10 class runner-up teams in the past 20 years.
There have been 19 boys’ Hall of Fame Classic teams go on to win their state championship with six more finishing as runner-up that season.
Tickets will be available through participating schools and the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame beginning in early November 2026.
The girls’ schedule for Dec. 21:
11:00 a.m. Pendleton Heights vs McCutcheonto follow Franklin Central vs Northridge6:00 p.m. Consolation Gameto follow Championship Game
The boys’ schedule for Dec. 22:
11:00 a.m. Oak Hill vs Terre Haute Northto follow Homestead vs New Albany6:00 p.m. Consolation Gameto follow Championship Game
Here is a closer look at the Hall of Fame Classic teams for 2026:
Girls
Pendleton Heights
The Arabians are coming off a 22-4 season and Class 4A sectional championship for coach Nick Rogers, who is 71-31 in four seasons. Leading the way for Pendleton Heights will be 6-3 junior Adah Hupfer (20.5 ppg, 13.0 rebounds), 5-7 junior Aubree Warfel (7.9 ppg, 5.4 rebounds, 4.1 assists), junior Sami Brunk (6.4 ppg, 3.6 rebounds) and freshman Ellie Warfel (5.6 ppg). This will be Pendleton Heights’ first Hall of Fame appearance.
McCutcheon
The Mavericks were 23-6 last season, losing to state runner-up Norwell in the semistate. This group will be led by 6-1 junior Lillie Graves (17.2 ppg, 7.2 rebounds, 5.7 assists), 5-7 junior Keara Lipscomb-Allen (14.6 ppg, 4.6 rebounds, 3.4 assists) junior Ameria Gibson (9.9 ppg, 5.8 rebounds). Jeff Knoy is 321-190 in his 21 seasons as coach. This will be McCutcheon’s second trip to the Hall of Fame Classic and first since 1991.
Franklin Central
The Flashes were 13-10 last season though that record could have been better if 5-7 junior Riley Huotari had not missed the majority of the season due to injury. Coach Vince Cerbone, who has a record of 314-256 in 25 seasons overall, returns a group that will be led by 6-3 junior Payton Duvall (12.1 ppg, 11.1 rebounds, 3.1 blocked shots), 5-9 junior Ashlee Baker (11.0 ppg, 3.9 assists, 2.2 steals), junior Aniya Doughty (9.1 ppg) and junior Carly Holmes (7.8 ppg), along with a healthy Huotari. Franklin Central made one Hall of Fame appearance in 2006.
Northridge
Northridge, coming off a 20-8 season and regional championship, should again be one of the top teams in Class 4A. The Raiders are led by 5-10 junior Lily Scholl (18.3 ppg, 7.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 3.0 steals), 5-9 junior Alli Ambers (12.5 ppg, 5.3 rebounds) and 5-10 junior Zoe Yeater (9.9 ppg, 4.9 rebounds). Coach Doug Springer is 341-130 in 19 years at Northridge and 393-148 in 22 years overall. This will be Northridge’s first Hall of Fame appearance.
Boys
Oak Hill
The Golden Eagles were two wins from reaching the state finals, falling in the Class 2A semistate to Fort Wayne Luers to complete a 25-2 season. Coach Kevin Renbarger, who owns a 327-165 record in 21 seasons, will return 5-10 junior Jace Tonagel (16.0 ppg, 6.0 assists, 3.9 rebounds), 6-foot freshman Will Tonagel (14.3 ppg, 3.6 assists), 6-2 junior Kevaunte Simmons (7.9 ppg) and 6-1 junior Jayden Younce (6.0 ppg). Oak Hill played in the 2017 Hall of Fame Classic in its only appearance.
Terre Haute North
Terre Haute North finished 24-4 with a Class 4A regional title, losing 65-57 to New Albany in the semistate semifinal at New Castle to see its 22-game winning streak snapped. Coach Todd Woelfle, 278-177 in 18 seasons, has a talented group returning, including 6-5 junior Blake Hammond (11.5 ppg, 4.7 rebounds), 6-6 junior Tyler Renn (9.8 ppg, 4.6 rebounds, 2.8 assists) and 6-foot junior Mason Loyd (4.1 ppg). This will be the Patriots second appearance at the Hall of Fame and first since 1998.
Homestead
The Spartans will return almost entirely intact from a team that finished 20-7 and won a Class 4A regional title. Leading the way for Homestead will be 6-6 junior Mack Welker (21.0 ppg, 9.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists) and 6-1 junior Jake Coolman (12.0 ppg, 3.6 assists, 3.4 rebounds) and 6-1 sophomore Ryder Imel (9.5 ppg). Coach Chris Johnson, who is 469-194 in 27 seasons at Homestead and 548-227 overall, took the Spartans to the Hall of Fame Classic in 2021 – the program’s only previous appearance.
New Albany
The Bulldogs are coming off a 23-6 season that ended with a loss to Mt. Vernon in the championship game of the semistate at New Castle. Coach Jason Jones, who has a 59-18 record in three seasons, has a core group coming back that includes 6-5 sophomore Noah Washington (22.4 ppg, 4.3 rebounds), 6-2 freshman Karson Stoudemire (12.7 ppg, 5.5 rebounds) and 6-foot junior Reece McKee (9.9 ppg, 4.6 assists). This is the fifth trip to the Hall of Fame Classic for New Albany, which appeared in 1980, 2001, 2007 and 2016.
Call Star reporter Kyle Neddenriep at (317) 444-6649. Get IndyStar’s high school coverage sent directly to your inbox with the High School Sports newsletter. And be sure to subscribe to our new IndyStarTV: Preps YouTube channel.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Teams, matchups set for 2026 high school basketball Hall of Fame Classic in New Castle
Reporting by Kyle Neddenriep and Brian Haenchen, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
