MARTINSVILLE CAPTURES SECOND
STRAIGHT STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
In a game of two of the nation's top teams, Martinsville came away the victor with a 71-65 decision over Lake Central in the Class 4A state championship game in the 23rd Annual IHSAA Girls Basketball State Finals March 14, 1998 at Market Square Arena in Indianapolis.
The Artesians, coached by Jan Conner, claimed their second consecutive state championship and extended their winning streak to 51 games, the third longest in state history. Martinsville (27-0) was ranked No. 2 in the final Class 4A coaches association poll and entered the game ranked No. 2 nationally by USA Today. Martinsville is the first undefeated state champion since Bedford North Lawrence in 1991.
Lake Central, the top-ranked Class 4A team in the coaches association poll, closed 26-1 under coach Tom Megyesi. The Indians, state champions in 1994, were making their third appearance state finals appearance in the last five years. They entered the game ranked No. 14 nationally in the USA Today poll.
Martinsville, which returned its top six players from last year's championship team, was led by senior April Traylor's game-high 28 points. Senior point guard Kristen Bodine poured in 21 points and junior Cortney Cooper added 15.
Senior point guard Kelly Komara topped the Indians' scoring efforts with 21 points while senior center Kelly Kuhn scored 19 points and pulled down 15 rebounds.
The tightly played and highly intense game featured eight lead changes and three ties. Lake Central's largest lead was eight points, while Martinsville's largest was the final margin of six. The last tie came at 62 with 3:58 left on a Kuhn layup for Lake Central. Martinsville took the lead for good at 66-65 on a Traylor layup with 2:48 remaining.
The IHSAA Executive Committee selected Kelly Kuhn of Lake Central High School as the recipient of the Mental Attitude Award in Class 4A Girls Basketball. Farm Bureau Insurance, IHSAA corporate partner, awarded a $1,000 scholarship to Lake Central High School in Kuhn's name.
1998 CLASS 4A CHAMPIONSHIP BOX
Martinsville (27-0)
|
Name |
Min. |
FG |
3FG |
FT |
R |
A |
F |
S |
TO |
TP |
|
Leigh Anne Hardin |
11 |
0-2 |
0-2 |
1-3 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
Kristen Bodine |
32 |
7-14 |
2-5 |
5-7 |
5 |
4 |
0 |
1 |
4 |
21 |
|
Leslie Deaton |
24 |
1-8 |
0-5 |
3-4 |
6 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
5 |
|
Cortney Cooper |
25 |
7-10 |
1-2 |
0-0 |
4 |
1 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
15 |
|
April Traylor |
30 |
11-21 |
1-1 |
5-9 |
7 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
3 |
28 |
|
Natalie Rhoden |
25 |
0-2 |
0-2 |
1-2 |
0 |
2 |
3 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
|
Darren Poe |
12 |
0-0 |
0-0 |
0-0 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
Noelle Clark |
1 |
0-0 |
0-0 |
0-0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Team Totals |
160 |
26-57 |
4-17 |
15-25 |
27 |
12 |
15 |
10 |
11 |
71 |
|
Percentages |
|
45.6 |
23.5 |
60.0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Team Rebounds: 5
Lake Central (26-1)
|
Name |
Min. |
FG |
3FG |
FT |
R |
A |
F |
S |
TO |
TP |
|
Katie Imborek |
30 |
2-6 |
1-2 |
0-0 |
5 |
4 |
5 |
0 |
2 |
5 |
|
Kelly Komara |
32 |
7-18 |
0-1 |
7-8 |
6 |
5 |
4 |
1 |
6 |
21 |
|
Lori Moore |
32 |
5-14 |
0-1 |
0-0 |
6 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
4 |
10 |
|
Amy Paetsch |
22 |
3-5 |
0-0 |
0-0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
2 |
6 |
|
Kelly Kuhn |
30 |
7-13 |
0-0 |
5-6 |
15 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
1 |
19 |
|
Sara Sikich |
1 |
0-0 |
0-0 |
0-0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Cristin Hanyzewski |
1 |
0-0 |
0-0 |
0-0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Mariel Yekich |
12 |
1-3 |
0-0 |
2-2 |
6 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
4 |
|
Team Totals |
160 |
25-59 |
1-4 |
14-16 |
39 |
14 |
20 |
6 |
16 |
65 |
|
Percentages |
|
42.4 |
25.0 |
87.5 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Team Rebounds: 6
Score by Periods:
|
Martinsville |
19 |
18 |
14 |
20 |
71 |
|
Lake Central |
20 |
17 |
13 |
15 |
65 |
Officials: Gary Leistner, Phil Vidito, Doug Bauman (alternate).
Attendance (Class 3A-Class 4A evening session): 10,607
Attendance (four games): 19,185