(2-22-26) Bellmont and Norwell will represent the NE8 next week in Indianapolis in the IHSAA Girls Basketball State Championships.

Norwell will attempt to win two consecutive state titles in two different classes. Last year they won the 3A title…which thanks to Indiana’s success factor moved them up a class to 4A.

Bellmont advanced to the IHSAA 3A state championship game after winning their first-ever semi-state title beating Connersville.

Thanks to the success factor implemented on Norwell the Braves took the opportunity to have a big tournament and advance to the title game.

State Semifinal Scores

  • 3A: (24-3) Bellmont 56 (21-8) Connersville 41
  • 3A – Bellmont 57 Culver Academies 46
  • 3A – Connersville 50 Fairfield 36

The Braves will play Roncalli for the title next Saturday…

State Semifinal Scores

  • 4A: (24-4) Norwell 59 (23-5) McCutcheon 42
  • 4A – McCutcheon 76 Northridge 59
  • 4A – Norwell 63 Crown Point 48

Norwell will face undefeated Center Grove for the 4A title…

STATE FINALS 2-28-26 

  • 4A – Center Grove v Norwell
  • 3A – Roncalli v Bellmont
  • 2A – Oak Hill v Eastern Pekin
  • 1A – Borden vs Fremont

ChatGPT AI —-

Here’s a summary of the high-school coaching career of Norwell girls basketball head coach Eric Thornton (Norwell High School, Ossian, Indiana):

Coaching Career & Achievements

Eric Thornton has been the head coach of the Norwell High School girls basketball team since the 1997–98 season, giving him a very long and successful tenure with the program. 

Career highlights include:

Long tenure: Head girls basketball coach at Norwell for over 25 years (starting 1997) with more than 450 wins (e.g., 452-192 through 2023-24 and about 475 wins by 2025). 

Consistent success: His teams have become perennial contenders, regularly posting 20+ win seasons and strong conference finishes. 

Championships & titles: Under his leadership Norwell has won: 12+ sectional championships (2005, 2011–2017, 2020, 2021, 2023, 2024, etc.)  Multiple regional titles (e.g., 2014, 2021, 2024, 2025).  Semi-state championships (2024 & 2025).  State championship: In the 2024-25 season Norwell won its first Indiana Class 3A girls basketball state title under Thornton with a 53-44 victory over Greensburg. 

Awards & Honors

IBCA Bob King Coach of the Year (District 1) for the 2023-24 season, recognizing him as a top coach in Indiana girls basketball. 

Coaching Style & Legacy

Thornton’s impact goes beyond wins and losses:

He has developed a culture of competitiveness and growth at Norwell that keeps the Lady Knights in state title conversations year after year.  His teams often play challenging schedules and make deep postseason runs. 

Background & Education

Thornton is a 1987 graduate of Churubusco High School and played basketball there.  He earned a bachelor’s degree from Ball State University and later a master’s in education.  Before Norwell, he was an assistant coach at Warsaw and Plymouth. 

Did you know…

Schools Playing Up One Class due to Tournament Success Factor —- 4A: Norwell…due to winning the 2025 3A title

Norwell Coach Thornton picked up his 500th career win against McCutcheon win in the Semistate title game

6 out of 8 girls semi-state champions played in the late semifinal on Saturday.

Norwell-Homestead Sectional Game…huge win for the Knights in the tournament run—