INDIANAPOLIS — The final challenger to Lanesville's Class A state title defense happens to be the last team to successfully repeat in Class A: Marquette Catholic.

The Blazers certainly recognize the challenge in front of them. Top-ranked Lanesville returns virtually everyone from last year's team, headlined by Hadley Crosier (a strong Indiana Junior All-Stars candidate) Shelby Allen (might be in the Junior All-Stars conversation) Ava Kerr and Hylton Brumley. Lanesville blasted its way through No. 3 Borden (sectional final), No. 8 Jac-Cen-Del (semistate semifinal) and North Central-Farmersburg (semistate final), with each victory coming in similarly dominant fashion.

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But there's something to be said for how the Blazers reached Gainbridge Fieldhouse, both in the confidence last Saturday's buzzer-beating 72-70 triumph over Clinton Central provided and the youthful squad's confidence as sophomore Laniah Davis brought the ball up and when freshman Marissa Pleasant unleashed the game-winning 3.

"They say youth is funny and sometimes our youth will give up a five-point lead with 30 seconds to go, but they also have this calmness to them," Marquette Catholic coach  Katie Collignon, who is coaching in the Class A final for the third time in her eight-year career. "They don't really understand the moment yet."

"For the girls, it's just about believing in themselves, controlling what they can control and having fun," she continued. "That's how my coaching style is. I'm a super-confident coach, which is probably why my freshman took that shot, but we're really green-light coaches. I like to think when the kids are confident on the floor, they're having more fun and usually play better."

Marquette Catholic is a young team on the rise; Lanesville is in the midst of a mutli-yaer run that will likely extend through next season at the 2A level.

The Eagles are not your traditional Class A team. They out-score opponents 57-34 on average and totaled 130 points across two games last Saturday at semistate.

Lanesville started 13-0 despite missing Allen, their 6-1 center, who suffered a knee injury a couple weeks after last year's final, against a schedule that included the likes of North Central (Farmersburg), 3A Southridge and sectional rival Borden.

"We were trying to find our identity (without Allen early on). We weren't in very good shape, we weren't sure what offense we needed to run or what we were going to do defensively with only six kids," coach Angie Hinton said. "So when we won that North Central game (51-50 on Nov. 11), I felt like, OK, these kids have it in them to be able to grind. And beating Borden at Borden (35-33, Dec. 7) without Shelby was another situation that — wow, maybe we can be real about what we're doing."

Allen is back and averaging over 12 points (61% FG) and seven rebounds through 16 games. She's the anchor inside and a perfect complement to the 5-9 Crosier, Kerr and Brumley (8.9 ppg, 2.4 apg).

Asked about her approach to state finals week, Hinton — who led New Albany to the 1999 4A title — said the focus has been on having fun.

"I think I bring a little more peace and calm to what we're doing and fun and excitement," Hinton continued. "I'm not sure I had as much fun in '99. Last year, we had a blast and this year, I've said we're going to enjoy every moment. … We want to take in and celebrate these kids, let them enjoy where they're at and what they're doing."

No. 1 Lanesville (28-1) vs. No. 5 Marquette Catholic (24-4)

WHEN: Saturday, 10:30 a.m.

HOW TO WATCH: IHSAA.tv ($15 per game or $20 for all four)

COACHES: Lanesville — Angie Hinton (6th year, 144-20); Marquette — Katie Collignon (8th year, 142-57)

SERIES: First meeting

STATE FINALS: Lanesville — 2 (2023*, 2024); Marquette — 3 (2018*, 2019*, 2024);

TEAM STATS: Lanesville — 57.2 ppg (42% FG / 31% 3FG / 64% FT), 33.5 ppg allowed, 29.9 rpg, 13.9 apg; Marquette — 55.1 ppg (42% FG / 22% 3FG / 60% FT), 33.1 ppg allowed, 30.5 rpg, 11.2 apg

TOP PERFORMERS: Lanesville - G Hadley Crosier (15.8 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 4.1 apg), C Shelby Allen (12.1 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 1 apg), G Ava Kerr (9.8 ppg, 2.5 apg, 4.9 rpg); Marquette - G Laniah Davis (20 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 2.7 apg), G Marissa Pleasant (10.2 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 1.6 apg), F Natalie Robinson (7.2 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 1.7 apg)

Follow Brian Haenchen on Twitter at @Brian_Haenchen.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana girls basketball Class A preview: Lanesville vs. Marquette Catholic