Defending 4A state champion New Albany came into the championship game of the Seymour Regional with lots of confidence, but not much size. That proved to be their downfall, as the Castle frontcourt duo of Jack Nunge and Payton Mills combined for 42 points and 24 rebounds as the Knights used a decided height advantage to withstand a 44 point game from Romeo Langford to move on to semistate.

Romeo Langford began the game with a bang, as his step back three-pointer over Triston Wilkinson gave New Albany their first points of the evening. Castle sophomore Alex Hemenway would pace the Knights with seven first quarter points, including five in a row at one point on a putback and a pullup transition three. Langford would hit another three and a pair of free throws for eight first quarter points, but Castle would lead after a period.

New Albany relied heavily on Langford in the second, as the junior guard scored 14 of his team's 16 points in the quarter. One play summarized his talent, as he rose to block a jumpshot from 6'11 Iowa signee Jack Nunge. In the same motion, he grabbed the ball and raced down the floor, beating everyone else for two-handed dunk. The two other points for the Bulldogs came on a pair of Isaac Hibbard free throws just a couple minutes in. Castle would lead by four, but a 10-5 New Albany run, all points by Langford of course, would give the Bulldogs a one-point lead heading into the locker room.

New Albany offense was hard to come by for anyone other than Langford again in the third as he score 10 of his side's 12 points in the quarter, with Isaac Hibbard again providing the other two. Castle would take advantage this time, however, as senior forward Payton Mills scored eight points in the quarter and Jack Nunge controlled the glass. Nunge would have seven offensive rebounds in the game, many of which resulting in tip ins. The Castle lead would grow to as many as seven late in the third, but a Romeo Langford three just before the buzzer cut the deficit to four.

Castle continued to pound the interior in the fourth, as Payton Mills found himself freed of the burden of Romeo Langford, who had been switched onto Jack Nunge. Mills scored 17 of his team high 22 points in the second half, all on shots around the rim and free throws. The 6'5 forward would make his final seven field goal attempts of the night. Castle's biggest lead of the game came at 12 points after an Alex Hemenway three pointer with under four minutes to go. New Albany would get within seven after an Isaac Hibbard three pointer from the corner, but Castle would close the game out from the line and advance to semistate.

New Albany 15 18 12 19 - 64
Castle 16 16 17 23 - 72

New Albany: Romeo Langford 44 points (13/36 FGs, 5/19 3Ps, 13/15 FTs), 6 rebs, 2 blks; Isaac Hibbard 15 points (3/6 FGs, 1/3 3Ps, 8/8 FTs), 6 rebs; Derrick Stevenson 3 points; Blake Murphy 2 points

Castle: Payton Mills 22 points (10/15 FGs, 2/3 FTs), 6 rebs; Jack Nunge 20 points (8/14 FGs, 4/4 FTs), 18 rebs, 4 asts; Alex Hemenway 17 points (7/18 FGs, 2/5 3Ps, 1/2 FTs), 8 rebs, 4 asts; Brandon Eades 8 points (3/8 FGs, 2/3 FTs), Jace Steiler 3 points; Triston Wilkinson 2 points