(Class 4A) Fourth-ranked Pike turned up its defensive pressure after halftime to run away from eighth-ranked Penn and posted a 56-42 victory in the Class 4A championship game of the IHSAA State Finals on Saturday (March 24) at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

Pike limited Penn to five third quarter points outscoring them by 13 after holding a 26-16 halftime lead and went on to its second state championship in the last four years. The Red Devils won the 1998 Class 4A state championship. It was the school's fourth state championship in a sport having won girls track and field in 1997 and boys tennis in 1969.

The victory also sent out-going coach Alan Darner into retirement with another title. Darner coached for 30 years, including the last six at Pike where he finished with a ledger of 109-37. He was 418-238 overall.

Pike set Class 4A championship game records for fewest points allowed and most steals. The Red Devils' 15 steals was one off of the overall state finals record of 16 set by Gary Roosevelt against Brebeuf in 1991. Penn committed 21 turnovers in the contest.

Chris Thomas of Pike led all scorers with 20 points. David Teague dropped in 16 points and Parnell Smith 10 for the Red Devils (26-3).

Thomas' 20 points moved him up from 16^th to 11^th place on the state's career scoring list with 2,156. Carmel's David Shepherd is 10^th at 2,226 points. Bedford North Lawrence's Damon Bailey holds the top spot with 3,134.

Penn was led in scoring by Andrew Laird’s 14 points and Marqus Husband’s 13. The Kingsmen (23-3), making their first appearance in the state finals, were coached by Dean Foster. Foster, in his third year at Penn, also guided Elkhart Central to the 1995 state finals.

Chris Thomas of Pike, who led the Red Devils to their second Class 4A state championship in four years, was named the 2001 recipient of the Arthur L. Trester Award for Mental Attitude in Class 4A basketball.

Thomas, who also was a key contributor on Pike’s 1998 Class 4A state championship team, scored 20 points as Pike downed Penn in the 2001 title game. That brought his career total to 2,156, which ranks 11^th on the state all-time scoring list.

Thomas was a four-year all-Conference Indiana selection and has been named to the 2001 McDonald’s All-America team.

Academically, Thomas ranks in the top 15 percent in his senior class of 524 students. He is a member of the National Honor Society and active in his church’s youth group. He plans to attend the University of Notre Dame on an athletic scholarship and major in business.

Farm Bureau Insurance, the corporate partner of the Indiana High School Athletic Association, presented a $1,000 scholarship to Pike High School in the name of Thomas.

"Pike was an extremely good and quick team and that led to a lot of their points. The biggest problem we had was turnovers and that led to quick points for Pike. That was the difference and it was the same in the second half."

"In the first quarter we had the opportunity to take the upper hand, but we couldn’t take advantage of it."

"In the second quarter, they forced some turnovers and were able to take a good lead. In the third quarter, they started to penetrate and stretch out their lead. They got into our passing lanes and that disrupted our offense."

"I was proud of our team and the six seniors that helped us get here."

"We were told all week that Penn is very patient with the basketball and would make 10-12 passes. I thought that played into our hands because we are an excellent defensive team. We put very good pressure on the ball, we give good help and deny well. I thought tonight our kids played tremendous defensively."

"On offense it took us a while to get going. But through some of our steals we were able to generate some offense. Chris (Thomas) and David (Teague) were scoring well in the first half but we weren’t getting any scoring from anyone else. And then in the third quarter, Keith (Borgan) came out and hit a couple of big threes."

(On his retirement) "I’ve done this 30 years and I want to try something else in life. I want to have some Friday and Saturday nights open and also see what Thanksgiving and Christmas vacations are like. I think my wife, children and grandchildren deserve better now."

(On winning Trester Award and state championship) "It’s a great feeling to win the Trester Award and the state championship. We (the team) share this award.

Team Rebounds: 6

Team Rebounds: 4

Officials: Ron McGriff, Tim R. Smith.

Attendance: 14,358 (two-game session) 26,435 (four-game total)