By GREG MENGELT

Silver Creek is going back to state. Of course, after losing six seniors from last year’s state championship team, this year’s Silver Creek squad is completely different than last year’s.

On Saturday, the 2021-22 Dragons proved to be equally worthy of being a state finals team.

The Dragons knocked off Bishop Chatard 64-54 at Jeffersonville to win the program’s sectional semistate title — and second in as many years.

Silver Creek dominated the second half and outscored the Trojans 41-26 after halftime.

“I told the girls, everything that you’ve gotten, you’ve earned,” Silver Creek 12th-year head coach Scott Schoen said. “Every game, you went out and were resilient and you were passionate and you loved each other and they kept winning. This is great. I’m so happy for these kids, so I know how bad they wanted to win it. This is their moment. They got a chance and took advantage of it.”

The 26-2 Dragons will face top-rated South Bend Washington (26-3) in Saturday’s Class 3A state championship game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Last year, Silver Creek defeated the Panthers 54-48 to win its first state championship.