LAPORTE ― Gratitude was the only thing left to reflect on for Northridge girls basketball after falling in the Class 4A IHSAA semi-state semifinal against McCutcheon, 76-59, Saturday, Feb. 21.
One loss to McCutcheon couldn’t compare to the agony and resilience Northridge faced throughout 2025-26.
Northridge (20-8) lost two of its first three games to start the year. Doubt had crept into the culture of the locker room.
That’s when coach Doug Springer brought the team together for a meeting following his team’s 57-36 loss to Norwell on Nov. 15 after playing Chesterton and Homestead.
“We were at the lowest of lows,” Springer said. “At that point, we were at a crossroads. We could either come together and play for each other and find a higher purpose, or it was going to be a really long season.”
That’s when junior Lily Scholl and senior Cam Conley took ownership of their team. Conley and Scholl decided to lead their programs by leaning on their Christian faith.
Conley started a Fellowship of Christian Athletes club and began leading prayers within their team’s huddle with Scholl.
Those prayers inside their huddle extended outwards into games with Conley leading postgame prayers, win or lose.
“We just wanted to give glory to God in every situation through all the ups and downs,” Conley said. “No matter what your situation is, there’s always a reason for prayer.”
While Northridge didn’t come away on the winning end against McCutcheon, that prayer circle was formed at the conclusion of the IHSAA semi-state state between both programs.
Only this time, Conley wasn’t in a jersey, shorts and sneakers. She was in street clothes. Conley tore her ACL with just four games left before the regular season.
Her season was over, as far as her impact on the court. But that didn’t stop Conley from contributing in other ways and began assuming the role as another assistant coach on the bench after tearing her knee.
Northridge went on a run beating Warsaw 63-60 in the IHSAA 4A sectional championship on Feb. 7. Scholl went off for a program record 42 points against Warsaw and then scored 19 points to capture the IHSAA 4A regional title against Valparaiso 51-50.
Scholl herself battled through a lower leg injury that forced her to wear a walking boot between games and practice during the final stretch of the season.
“Cam Conley is one of the favorite teammates of all time,” Scholl said. “She’s not only my teammate, but she is my sister in Christ. Just getting that hug from her after the game. I could not only share my basketball problems with her, but she’ll give me good advice. I told her she’ll be getting a lot of phone calls with me because I don’t know what I’ll do without her.”
Northridge left LaPorte without a win, but may have achieved something possibly greater behind a gallant effort. Scholl scored 25 points, junior Zoe Yeater added 17 points and junior Alli Ambers contributed 13 points.
“Words can’t describe how proud I am of this team,” Ambers said. “We’ve obviously dealt with adversity at the beginning of the season, and we pointed to God through our adversity. I think that showed on the court. We’ve had some people mention that to us and I’m glad it’s showing that is what we are trying to point to. We played so well together. They are some of my best friends and this is the most fun season I’ve ever had.”
Not only was Northridge ailing from its loss, but McCutcheon was also without its third leading scorer and second leading rebounder junior Ameria Gibson.
Gibson revealed she tore both her ACL and MCL last Saturday against Hamilton Southeastern during the fourth quarter of McCutcheon’s second straight IHSAA 4A regional championship victory.
McCutcheon’s fight song played, they cheered, performed its ritual 2-clap and then almost on instinct, joined Northridge to turn a buzzing gym mixed of heartbreak and triumph into something bigger than basketball.
“Uniting and showing good sportsmanship is a model for the younger girls coming to watch us,” Ambers said. “And it shows the type of team we are. It was special.”
The shots didn’t fall, and playing one more evening together is the only thing Northridge could’ve wanted besides a trophy.
After the tears dried, Ambers and her team saw a bigger picture at play.
“Obviously, we wanted to win, but win or lose, basketball isn’t your whole life,” Ambers said. “Win or lose, you have to point to the higher power.”
Ethan Hanson is the sports reporter for the Journal & Courier in Lafayette. He can be reached at ehanson@jconline.com, on Twitter at EthanAHanson and Instagram at ethan_a_hanson.
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Northridge girls basketball’s faith carries program deep in postseason and life
Reporting by Ethan Hanson, Lafayette Journal & Courier / South Bend Tribune
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