Clinton Prairie survived a second half rally and held off New Washington, 50-42, for the Class A girls basketball state championship on Saturday at Market Square Arena in Indianapolis.

Coached Connie Garrett, Clinton Prairie finished with its 19^th straight victory and a 25-2 record. It was the first state championship in girls basketball for the Gophers and the fourth in the school's history, all of which have come under Garrett's direction. Garrett led the Gophers to state titles in volleyball in 1984-85, 1997-98 (Class A) and 1998-99 (Class A) and earned the distinction of becoming the first coach ever to lead a team to a volleyball and girls basketball state championship. Clinton Prairie also became the third school to win titles in volleyball and girls basketball in the same year joining Fort Wayne Snider (1987-88) and Martinsville (1996-97).

New Washington, making its first appearance in the state finals in any team sport, finished its season 22-5 under coach Terry White.

New Washington jumped out to an early 5-0 lead, before Clinton Prairie took control and led 14-10 at the first stop and 29-16 at halftime. The Mustangs climbed back into it with a 7-0 run to start the third period and trailed just 36-35 at the break. New Washington regained the lead at 37-36 with 7:32 to go in the game and after a 40-40 tie at the 3:11 mark, Clinton Prairie got a pair of field goals from senior guard Kourtney Mennen that spurred a 10-0 Gopher run that put the game away.

Mennen led all scorers and rebounders with 23 points and 10 boards, resepectively. Clinton Prairie's Heather Allen contributed 11 points and 9 rebounds before fouling out of the game. New Washington's Kirsti Holloway led her team with 15 points and 9 rebounds. Emily Bower followed with 12 points.

The IHSAA Executive Committee named Kourtney Mennen of Clinton Prairie High School as the winner of the Mental Attitude Award in Class A Girls Basketball.

Mennen, a 5-10 senior guard for the Gophers, scored 23 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and had 3 steals in Clinton Prairie's 50-42 victory against New Washington in the Class A championship game.

The leading scorer for her team this year at 27.7 points per game, Mennen ranks third on this year's state scoring list. Heading into next weekend's Tournament of Champions, she ranks 6^th on Indiana's all-time single season scoring charts with 750 points and 8^th on the state's career list with 2,158 points. Besides basketball, Mennen starred for her school's volleyball team leading it to the Class A state championship the last two years.

An honor roll student who ranks in the top one-third of her senior class, Mennen has been an active volunteer in various school and outside activities. She has signed to play basketball at Indiana State University next fall and plans to major in sports medicine or psychology.

Farm Bureau Insurance, the IHSAA's corporate partner, presented a $1,000 scholarship to Clinton Prairie High School in the name of Kourtney Mennen.

"We controlled the boards, especially in the first half. It was a team goal of ours and it was very important (34-28 advantage). In the fourth quarter, I told Kourtney to deny (New Washington's Kirsti) Holloway the ball. That was probably as big a difference as any in the ballgame. (Mennen) did a great job."

"We weren't as nervous playing here because of the last two times (Clinton Prairie won the last two volleyball titles at Market Square Arena).

(On winning the Mental Attitude Award) "I was really shocked, speechless. I have to say it’s a tremendous honor and I have to thank my teammates who helped me a lot."

(On defending New Washington's Kirsti Holloway) "We all did a great job in defending her. Our help-side defense was tremendous.

(On next week's Tournament of Champions) "We are a competitive team. We can play with some (Class) 4A schools. I have some good feelings and some bad feelings concerning the Tournament of Champions."

"I think we really gave the people their money's worth. We knew it would be difficult to handle her (Kourtney Mennen). We really struggled with finding someone to guard her. I was disappointed with our team in the first half. We wanted more heart, intensity and desire in the first half."

"Our number one concern was intensity, blocking out, etc. We challenged our kids in the second half. I wish we could have played the first half like the second half. In the fourth quarter, they extended their defense and made it difficult for our perimeter offense. We rely on the three point shot."

Team Rebounds: 9

Team Rebounds: 9