1999 IHSAA Girls Basketball State Finals

Class 2A Championship Results

 

FORT WAYNE LUERS WINS 2A CHAMPIONSHIP

Fort Wayne Luers' bench play and rebounding were key components as the Knights grabbed a 59-48 victory over Austin in the IHSAA Class 2A championship game on Saturday at Market Square Arena in Indianapolis.

 

Fort Wayne Luers' bench outscored Austin 17-2, including 8 points from junior forward Emily Zoch as the Knights won their first state championship in girls basketball. It was the fourth state title in school history with each of the previous three coming in Class 2A football (1985, 1989 and 1992).

 

The Knights also controlled the boards using a 42-20 difference -- 21 on the offensive glass -- to their advantage. Jennie Moppert, a 5-3 junior guard, led everyone with 11 rebounds.

 

Senior guard Krishna Snyder led Luers in scoring with 11 points, including 3 for 4 from three-point range, while sophomore teammate Emily Loomis added 10 for the top-ranked Knights who finished 27-1 under coach Gary Andrews. Heading into next week's Tournament of Champions, Luers has won 17 consecutive ballgames.

 

Austin junior Ivy Herald took game honors with 16 points and senior Brealie Collins added 11 for the Eagles. Luers' defense held twin sister Baranda Collins to just nine points -- 13 below her average. The Eagles finished 19-8 under first-year coach Dan Deaton.

 

 

LUERS' SCHAEFER WINS MENTAL ATTITUDE AWARD

Sara Schaefer of Bishop Luers High School in Fort Wayne was selected by the IHSAA Executive Committee as the recipient of the Mental Attitude Award in Class 2A Girls Basketball.

 

A three-year starter and this year's co-captain, Schaefer contributed nine points and four rebounds in Luers' victory over Austin in the Class 2A championship game. She is her school's all-time leader in rebounds and blocked shots.

 

A member of the National Honor Society and Future Business Leaders of America, Schaefer ranks ninth in her senior class of 136 students. She intends to study business at Indiana Tech in Fort Wayne.

 

Farm Bureau Insurance, the corporate partner of the IHSAA, presented a $1,000 scholarship to Bishop Luers High School in the name of Schaefer.

 

CLASS 2A POST-GAME QUOTES

Fort Wayne Luers Coach Gary Andrews

"I'm really proud of my kids. This has been our goal since the first day of practice. I thought we were the best 2A team this year, but the best team doesn't always win it. They did a great job of keeping their focus having been ranked number one."

 

"We were quicker than they were and we did a good job of wearing them down. We really focused on going to the offensive boards. Our focus was to get on their shooters and they have four good perimeter players which caused some matchup problems for us. It allowed them to get back into the game after we jumped out to the big lead."

 

(On defending Austin scoring leader Baranda Collins) "We played against some other great players this season. We wanted to make sure she didn't get her 20 points."

 

(On Luers' offensive balance) "You can't key on one, two or even three people. We've had eight different people score in double figures at one time or another this season. I think that was evident in today's game."

 

Fort Wayne Luers Sara Schaefer

(On being unranked in preseason polls) "Being unranked was definitely a motivating factor. We knew we had the talent to be a number one team. We didn't get the respect we deserved until we beat (Class 4A state finalist) Fort Wayne Snider earlier this season."

 

Austin Coach Dan Deaton

"It was very tough for us to handle their press and rebounding just killed us. The rebounding was a big factor. We were down three rebounds at the half and we could never get over the hump. We're not an up-tempo team and we tried to adjust but just couldn't get it done. My hat's off to Fort Wayne Luers. They deserve the number one ranking. They are a very physical team. This was the most physical game we've been in."

 

"Fort Wayne Luers has a nice, nice ball club. Their press scared me to death and we didn't know what to do. They were the quickest team we've seen this year."

 

Austin Baranda Collins

"It was a big accomplishment not being .500 at any time before this season and then to go to the state championship this year."

 

 

 

 

CLASS 2A CHAMPIONSHIP BOX SCORE

 

Fort Wayne Luers (27-1)

Name

Min.

FG

3FG

FT

R

A

F

S

TO

TP

Jennie Moppert

27

3

1

2

11

3

4

1

5

9

Rachel King

21

1

0

1

8

3

4

3

2

3

Emily Loomis

15

4

0

2

6

0

2

1

2

10

Krishna Snyder

24

3

3

2

4

4

1

0

3

11

Sara Schaefer

30

3

0

3

4

1

0

0

0

9

Katie Merz

1

0

0

0

1

0

0

0

0

0

Molly Hartman

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Catie Wyss

18

2

1

0

2

1

1

2

3

5

Pam Clemente

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

April Wyss

4

2

0

0

2

0

0

0

0

4

Emily Zoch

17

3

0

2

3

1

1

1

0

8

Megan Dossen

1

0

0

0

1

0

1

0

0

0

Team Total

160

21

5

12

42

13

14

8

15

59

Percentages

 

.375

.313

.522

           

Team Rebounds: 8

 

Austin (19-8)

Name

Min.

FG

3FG

FT

R

A

F

S

TO

TP

Sarah Winchester

25

3

0

2

1

0

2

0

0

8

Ivy Herald

30

6

3

1

2

1

2

2

4

16

Amy Herald

16

0

0

2

1

0

3

0

1

2

Baranda Collins

28

3

0

3

1

3

4

3

5

9

Brealie collins

31

3

2

3

8

3

1

4

5

11

Sara Hawkins

4

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Amanda Hunter

1

0

0

0

1

0

0

0

0

0

Erin Chandler

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Samara Ray

9

0

0

0

1

0

4

1

0

0

Missy Feltner

10

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Lyndsay Green

3

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Julie Bagwell

11

1

0

0

5

0

0

1

1

2

Team Totals

160

16

5

11

20

7

16

11

16

48

Percentages

 

.400

.357

.688

           

Team Rebounds: 5

 

Score by Quarters:

Fort Wayne Luers

21

8

13

17

-

59

Austin

15

11

8

14

-

48

 

Attendance (Two-game session): 6,776.

Officials: Chip Sweet, Gary Wier.