FISHERS — It's incredible, really. Class 4A Sectional 8, widely regarded as the state's toughest sectional, has been at the height of its power over the past four seasons and yet, one team has managed to conquer the week-long gauntlet thrice over that stretch: The Noblesville Millers.

They ended a six-year sectional title drought in 2021, used it as a launching pad en route to the program's second-ever state championship in 2022, then took the eventual state runner-up to double overtime in a historic 2023 semifinal.

And then there was Saturday. A team ravaged by graduation, the Millers were 7-7 against the state's toughest schedule coming out of Christmas break, but began building momentum at the end of December with wins over Valparaiso and Fort Wayne Snider.

Noblesville beat Fishers for just the second time since 2017 in Friday's semifinal, then — led by Reagan Wilson, Ava Shoemaker and Meredith Tippner — fended off a furious fourth quarter rally to defeat host Hamilton Southeastern, 49-45, in Saturday's finale.

The Royals, who won the regular-season matchup in November, finish the season 21-4; the Millers (16-8) advance to face Snider (22-2) in next Saturday's regional.

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"Our team, we love this stage," Wilson said. "We've worked so hard for this moment and we finished the job the way we wanted to."

IU commit Maya Makalusky was tremendous at the outset, accounting for 11 of her 14 points (3-for-3 from 3) in the first quarter. But the Millers seized control in the second behind a switch to a 3-2 zone and critical buckets by sophomores CC Quigley (seven points, three steals) and Ally Hutchinson that got the offense rolling.

HSE closed the half on a 5-0 run to draw within six, 27-21, but following a series of empty possessions by both teams, Wilson caught fire for the Millers. She opened the scoring midway through the frame with a layup that pushed the lead to eight, then tacked on seven more points to help Noblesville regain control.

The Iowa State commit and Miss Basketball candidate finished with a team-high 18 points, plus a number of critical plays defensively.

"I think she's Miss Basketball and I think she shows it all the time," Noblesville coach Donna Buckley said. "She doesn't have to score, but man, when you need a big play, she's the one who's going to make that play."

Down nine entering the fourth, Kennedy Holman and Kayla Stidham orchestrated a response for HSE, leading the Royals on a 9-2 run that drew them within a point following a 3-point play by Holman.

The sophomore tandem had successfully reinvigorated their side and with Makalusky prone to go off at any moment, it felt like Hamilton Southeastern was poised for a breakthrough.

But a string of empty possessions down one allowed Shoemaker to reclaim control for Noblesville.

The senior drove the baseline with her left, crossed over to her right and went in for a floating pull-up against Holman that gracefully swished through.

"You just have to not think about it," Shoemaker grinned. "If you think about it, it's not going to go in. So just don't think about it and maybe a miracle will happen, you know?

Moments later, Tippner stole the ball from Makalusky at mid-court and glided in for an uncontested layup that left the score at 44-39 with 2:31 remaining.

Stidham's second triple of the game made it a three-point game once more in the final 90 seconds, but — in a fitting turn of events — Tippner stepped to the line and converted both free throws to push the margin to six. The 5-9 junior struggled mightily at the line during the season, but went 2-for-2 in both sectional games.

"I've put hours-and-hours on that free-throw line and I was as confident as you can get," Tippner said. "Big game situations, I want to be that person there."

"Tipp's free-throw progression this season has been insane," Wilson added. "She has worked her butt off to work that up and it showed up tonight."

A Holman 3-pointer gave HSE one last glimmer of hope, but Shoemaker (13 points, 10 rebounds) converted 1-of-2 at the line and Noblesville was able to begin celebrating its 49-45 victory.

The Millers have won five straight and nine of their past 10.

"This is so special," Buckley said. "It's awesome to see these kids be rewarded for sticking together, because I think a lot of people folded on this group or thought we weren't very good. … I'm just so happy. Gosh, this group of kids is just so special."

Follow Brian Haenchen on Twitter at @Brian_Haenchen.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: IHSAA girls basketball: Noblesville beats Hamilton Southeastern in sectional