Top-ranked Fort Wayne Bishop Luers survived a last-second three-point shot and successfully defended its Class 2A state championship with a 62-60 victory over Forest Park on Saturday at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

Heather Kress' three-pointer from the top of the key rattled inside the rim, bounced off the backboard and off the front of the rim again as time expired.

Coached by Gary Andrews, the Knights became just the fourth school to repeat as state champions joining Crown Point (1984-85), Kokomo (1992-93) and Martinsville (1997-98). It was the school's sixth state championship overall (four titles in football).

Luers threatened to blow the game open in the second period enjoying its largest lead of the game at 36-21 with 3:40 left. Fifth-ranked (2A) Forest Park, however, chipped away at the lead and went into the lockerroom only down 40-34. The Knights were able to open seven-point margins three times in the third period but could never put away Forest Park.

Forest Park went on a 7-2 run over the last 1:42 of the game beginning with Sara Van Winkle's jumper and Katie Miller's two foul shots which pulled Forest Park within 60-57. Luers' Rachel King was sent to the line and made the second of her two free throws to give Luers a four-point advantage at 61-57 with 47.5 to go. Van Winkle then hit another jumper from just inside the free throw line to bring the Rangers within 61-59 with 38.7 seconds left. Another quick foul sent the Knights' Jennie Moppert to the line but she failed to hit either shot. Forest Park's Katie Miller and Luers' Rachel King each added a free throw for their respective teams to make it 62-60 with 10.0 left on the clock before Kress' attempt at the buzzer.

King led all scorers with 22 points while Van Winkle poured in 19 for Forest Park. Kress finished with 17 points and 12 rebounds. Carrie Stine chipped in 14 points for Bishop Luers.

Forest Park's Lisa Hoppenjans was selected by the IHSAA Executive Committee as the recipient of the Patricia L. Roy Mental Attitude Award in Class 2A Girls Basketball.

Hoppenjans, a 5-9 senior forward for the Rangers, ranks 10^th in her senior class of 125 students and is a member of the National Honor Society. She was a delegate last summer to Hoosier Girls State, and is involved in several extracurricular activities both inside and outside school.

She plans to attend Ball State University and major in advertising with a goal of working for a major advertising agency one day.

Farm Bureau Insurance, the corporate partner of the IHSAA, presented a $1,000 scholarship to Forest Park High School in the name of Hoppenjans.

"There's no doubt that the pressure that they applied, we're not used to seeing."

(On Hoppenjans winning Mental Attitude Award) "If there was ever a player who I had coached that deserved to win the mental attitude award, it's Lisa. She epitomizes what it means to have a great mental attitude."

(On Forest Park handling the defensive pressure) "They probably played as well as they could against our press. They had a lot of girls who could handle the ball. They handled our pressure better than I thought they would."

(On finding a way to win) "Anytime you can find a way to win when you shoot that poorly (6-22 in second half), you've got to be proud of your kids."

(On the possibility of a three-peat in 2001) "We'll give it a shot. We’ve got some good players coming back, but we'll miss our seniors. We've got a lot of work to do in the summer. . . . I think this shows how tough it is (to repeat).

Having been here before really helped. We had three starters who had been through it before. I came into this game just wanting to play, wanting to win. I know what it feels like (playing in a championship game).

Team Rebounds: 6

Team Rebounds: 5

Attendance (Two-game session): 7,889

Officials: Bryce Heller, Steve Smith.