Notre Dame recruit Ali Patberg nets Miss Basketball honor

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Ali Patberg, a Notre Dame recruit with deep Hoosier basketball roots who led Columbus North to the Class 4-A state title, is the runaway winner of this year’s Indiana Miss Basketball, The Indianapolis Star announced Tuesday.

Patberg was named on 177 of 303 ballots cast, the Star reported. 

Darby Maggard of Fort Wayne Canterbury was second with 22 and Dominique McBryde of Bedford North Lawrence was third with 12.

Patberg’s father, Ron, and his twin brother, Rick, played for Shortridge’s final four teams in 1985 and 1986. Her mother, Julie Davis, and father both played for Hanover College. Through eighth grade, her summer coach was former Mr. Basketball and Indiana University star Damon Bailey.

Patberg also has practiced against Indiana Fever stars Tamika Catchings and Shavonte Zellous. She has employed personal trainer Shon Bolden, whose clients include Catchings and NBA stars George Hill and Jeff Teague.

“Her work ethic is kind of unparalleled,” Notre Dame coach Muffet McGraw said.

College recruiters began tracking Patberg as early as eighth grade and came to include other national powers such as Connecticut, Stanford and Duke.

McGraw said she saw in Patberg a passer, leader and “an Indiana point guard.”

Patberg averaged nearly 26 points per game this season in leading North to a 28-1 record. She raised her game higher during the championship run, averaging nearly 31 points per game over the final five games. In the state championship 62-56 victory over Fort Wayne Homestead, Patberg scored half the Bulldogs’ points and had nine rebounds and five assists. 

She was named the Patricia Roy Mental Attitude Award winner.