Indiana High School Athletic Association

9150 North Meridian Street, Box 40650, Indianapolis, Indiana 46240-0650

Phone: 317-846-6601    Fax: 317-575-4244    Website: www.ihsaa.org

Blake Ress, Commissioner

 

 

JACKSON LEADS BREBEUF JESUIT TO 3A STATE TITLE

Senior forward Amber Jackson scored 22 points to lead top-ranked Brebeuf Jesuit to a 54-38 victory over Fort Wayne Bishop Luers in the Class 3A state championship game at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

 

Jackson, who averaged 13.5 points per game entering the contest, hit 9-of-12 shots from the field, was 4-for-5 from the free throw line and collected seven rebounds to help the Braves capture their first state championship in girls basketball. The victory came 22 years after the school’s only other previous appearance in 1982.

 

The game was also a rematch of the January 24 regular season contest in which Brebeuf Jesuit won at Bishop Luers, 56-40.

 

Jackson was joined in double figures by teammate Natalie Mullikin who finished with 10 points. The Braves, coached by second year mentor Kendall Kreinhagen, finished their championship season at 26-3. Brebeuf led at all the stops – 11-8 at the end of one, 20-14 at halftime and 32-26 at the end of the third period.

 

The fourth-ranked Knights were led by Jessica Hathaway and Marie Kaufmann with 13 points a piece. Kaufmann also pulled down six boards for the Luers cause.

 

Bishop Luers (22-4), making its record fifth appearance in the state finals in the last six seasons, fell for the first time in five state championship contests. The Knights won 2A titles in 1999, 2000 and 2001 and the 3A championship in 2002. Luers was coached by Teri Rosinski, now in her third year.

 

Brebeuf Jesuit’s Amber Jackson Named Patricia L. Roy Mental Attitude Award Recipient

Amber Jackson of Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School was named winner of the 2004 Class 3A Girls Basketball Patricia L. Roy Mental Attitude Award.  Patricia L. Roy was a member of the IHSAA Executive Staff from 1972 until 1999.  She was responsible for girls basketball from the inception of the tournament series in 1976 until her retirement. 

 

At the conclusion of the girls basketball state finals, the IHSAA Executive Committee presents the award to the outstanding senior in the state finals competition.  The recipient of this award, who was nominated by her principal and coaches, must excel in mental attitude, scholarship, leadership and athletic ability in girls basketball.

 

Academically, Amber is in the top 25% of her class and has been on the High Honor Roll every semester at the college prep school.  She is a member of the Black Student Union, where she held the office of Vice-President the last two years, and is also a founding member of the Diversity Advocates.  She was the recipient of the 2003 Scientific American Outstanding Achievement Award and will attend the University of North Texas on a basketball scholarship.  She plans to study Education and wants to become a high school teacher and basketball coach.

 

She also volunteers her time with Help for the Holidays and the Lord’s Pantry, collecting food for homeless shelters.

 

Athletically, in addition to capturing four varsity letters in basketball, she was also a participant in volleyball and track & field earlier in her career with the Braves.  She is a Street & Smith Magazine Honorable Mention All-American for 2003-04.

 

Amber is the daughter of Ms. Cynthia Jackson and Mr. Vincent Jackson of Indianapolis.

 

Farm Bureau Insurance, IHSAA corporate partner, presented a $1,000.00 scholarship to Brebeuf Jesuit in the name of Amber Jackson.

 

New IHSAA Book, Play On, Recaps 100 Years Of High School Sports in Indiana

Looking for holiday gift ideas? The exciting new book, Play On, celebrating 100 years of high school sports in Indiana, is perfect for that sports fan or the history buff you know. Filled with 150 pages of engaging photographs, captivating stories and a walk down memory lane, it’s now on sale through the Indiana High School Athletic Association. It’s not available in book stores, so contact the IHSAA at 317-846-6601 or click on the link above to learn more about this special tribute to 100 years of Indiana high school athletics.

 

Team Posters And Individual Action Photographs Available

Visit 20-20 Photographic, the IHSAA’s photographer and the Midwest’s Leader in Sports Action Photography, for images captured during Saturday’s state championship games! Action photos and team photos as well as the 20-20’s Ultimate Sports Poster will be available for purchase later in the week following the state finals.

 

IHSAA State Championship Merchandise

For t-shirts and other merchandise commemorating this year’s tournament or for any of our events, visit our friends at Morris, Inc.

 

State Finals Programs Available

Couldn’t be there for the state finals? You can still purchase a copy of the official program while supplies last! Programs are $3.00 if you purchase in person at the IHSAA Office (9150 N. Meridian Street in Indianapolis) or $5.00 by mail (postage included). To order, send a check for $5.00 made payable to the IHSAA, a note including your return address and brief description of your request and mail to: IHSAA Programs, PO Box 40650, Indianapolis, IN 46240-0650. Sorry, no credit cards.

 

Class 3A Game Quotes

 

Brebeuf Jesuit Coach Kendall Kreinhagen

Luers is an outstanding basketball team with an outstanding tradition. Our girls really stepped up and practiced all week with great passion and the result was a victory in the state championship.”

 

“When they handed Luers the runner-up trophy I said wow, thinking that was the first time they have received one of those.  They (Luers) are a quality program, a quality team and coach Rosinski always has them prepared, and for our kids to overcome that…it just makes the victory even more gratifying.”

 

“Amber (Jackson) was on a mission and she accomplished that mission tonight for herself and Brebeuf.  She is one of the main reasons we were successful.”

 

(On Amber Jackson winning the Mental Attitude Award) “That’s an excellent reward for a kid of such excellent character on and off the floor.  I’m very happy for both Amber and Brebeuf.”

 

(On Amanda Quattrocchi) “Amanda is not a flashy player, she’s not a kid who’s going to score high numbers.  She does whatever she needs to do for this team to win.  I have not seen anyone who can handle the basketball the way Amanda can handle the ball.  For her to lead us here today says a lot about her.”

 

(On Natalie Mullikin’s pair of 3-pointers) “I thought her second of two three-pointers in the second half gave us a big boost.  It gave us a 10-point lead and some great momentum.”

 

Fort Wayne Bishop Luers Coach Teri Rosinski

“There was no question Brebeuf was a better team. We did not get into our offense and you can attribute that to their defensive pressure. We were a little intimidated on offense for some reason. We never got into the flow, yet Marie (Kaufmann) was almost unstoppable inside.”

 

“Fatigue was a factor and maybe they had a little deeper bench. The size and athleticism, especially with (Amber) Jackson, took some of our key players out of their games.”

 

“We battled to the end. But Brebeuf stepped up like champions and hit some key shots and hit their free throws. I’m proud of these girls and they battled back to get to Conseco (Fieldhouse) after the disappointment of a year ago.”

 

“They put great pressure on the ball and denied the wings. We stood around and watched and that was similar to the first encounter with them when we lost by 16 points.”

 

“We had some little runs, but they had more and bigger ones. They took advantage of most of their offensive opportunities. We needed to be better on offense because of the presence of (Ta’Shia) Phillips and (Amber) Jackson.”