Phone: 317-846-6601
Fax: 317-575-4244 Website:
www.ihsaa.org
_____________________________________________________________________________
March 25, 2006
NEW CASTLE WINS SECOND BOYS BASKETBALL TITLE
New Castle
escaped with a 51-43 victory over Jay County to win the 3A state championship
at Conseco Fieldhouse. It was the Trojans’ second boys
basketball title and comes 74 years after winning it all in 1932.
New Castle (20-7)
was led by junior Zach Hahn’s game-high 29 points and seven rebounds. Hahn was 4-7 from 3-point range, while going
5-7 from the free throw line for the second-highest point total in a 3A title
contest. Junior Luke Bennett was the
only other Trojan to score in double figures with 10, while seven of his points
came from the free throw line.
Jay County
was led by senior Tyler Rigby’s 16 points.
Rigby set a 3A individual record for highest 3-point field goal
percentage after making 4-7 (.660). The New
Castle defense did not allow any other Patriot to score in double figures.
Jay County
(20-7) led after the first quarter, 9-6, connecting on three three-pointers and
also took an 18-16 lead into halftime on Tyler Rigby’s three-pointer with four
seconds left.
The lead
exchanged hands three times in the third quarter before New Castle grabbed the
lead for good on junior Bryant Hazelman’s
three-pointer with :35 seconds left giving the Trojans a 36-33 lead. The
Patriots cut the margin to three points several times in the final eight
minutes but could get no closer as New Castle hit its free throws down the
stretch.
Coached by Steve
Bennett, New Castle set a Class 3A state finals record for the fewest points
allowed.
Jay County
was coached by Craig Teagle who guided the Patriots
to the school’s first appearance in the state finals.
JAY COUNTY’S TYLER RIGBY WINS TRESTER AWARD
Jay
County senior guard Tyler Rigby is the 2005-06 Boys Basketball Class 3A
recipient of the Arthur L. Trester Mental Attitude
Award as selected by members of the IHSAA Board of Directors.
Rigby,
who leads his team in scoring with an 11.7 average, is a two-time team captain
for coach Craig Teagle’s Patriots, helping them to
their first-ever State Finals appearance. Rigby also excelled in tennis
for Jay County, combining with senior basketball teammate Randy Evans to reach
the quarter-finals of the IHSAA Individual Doubles Tournament last fall with a
22-4 season record.
In
the classroom, Rigby is pursuing an Academic Honors Diploma with a 3.67
cumulative grade point average. The National Honor Society student is
active in his church youth group and as a volunteer at the West Jay Community
Center Camp.
“Tyler
has demonstrated time and time again that he is a good communicator, citizen,
student and athlete,” said Jay County principal Dr. Wood Barwick.
“He is a highly dedicated athlete who knows how to sacrifice for perfection and
motivate fellow teammates to strive for
excellence. Tyler recognizes his great potential for the future, yet he
is a humble and approachable person who loves to share his extensive knowledge
about basketball with others, his fellow students in particular.”
The
recipient, nominated by his principals and coaches, must excel in mental
attitude, scholarship, leadership, and athletic ability in boys basketball.
The
award is named in honor of Trester, the IHSAA’s first commissioner who served from 1929-44.
Indiana
Farm Bureau Insurance, IHSAA corporate partner, presented a $1,000 check to Jay
County High School in the name of Tyler Rigby.
Rigby,
the son of Brad and Connie Aker, plans to major in
computer science in college next fall.
VSN MEANS ACTION PHOTOGRAPHY
Visit our
friends at Visual Sports Network, the IHSAA’s official photographer for all state championship
events and one of the leading action photographers in the
CHAMPIONSHIP MERCHANDISE STILL AVAILABLE
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
souvenir program while supplies last! Programs are $3.00 if you purchase in
person at the IHSAA Office (
POST-GAME QUOTES
Steve Bennett, New Castle Coach
“In the second half, the difference was that
we were able to make some defensive stops. It took a lot of toughness on
our part to do that. Obviously, Zach Hahn kind of
opened things up for us offensively.”
“You
cannot fall very much behind Jay County because they are a great team in executing
their offense and running time off the clock. Zach made some good
baskets, but the rest of the team had some big-time defensive stops.”
“Zach
gets himself loose well off the dribble for his shots. He’s so relentless
and an unbelievable competitor.”
“In
the first half, Jay County had eight offensive rebounds. I told our
players that you’re not going to win that way. Defensively, we always
want to help when they posted up and we were able to do that in the second
half. We pushed the ball down the court more plus we told Zach to put us
on his back.”
“It’s
been since 1932 that we won a state championship. Obviously, it’s a huge
thing that everyone is going to remember. When you coach at New Castle,
it is really special and I’m just proud to be a part of it.”
Zach Hahn, New Castle
“Everybody
came together and did what we had to do to win. It was an incredible win
and atmosphere. We showed poise all season and poise won us the game
tonight. Coach just kept calling plays for Chase (Stigall)
and I. He says to take over the game and that’s what I tried to do.”
Craig Teagle, Jay County Coach
“They
are just so physical, they took us out of a lot of stuff we like to do
offensively. They may have worn us down a little with their physical
play. But, our kids played a great game; we don’t have any superstars
they just play well together. We fought and battled, and every time we
made a mistake, the (Zach) Hahn kid made us pay. He is going to be a
division I player and there is a reason for that.”
“I
thought our game plan coming in was pretty good. One of our big goals was
to not let them get on runs. But, the (Zach) Hahn kid basically just took
the game over in the third quarter. Some of that was due to foul trouble
and some due to the fact he is a great player. We really did fight and
played hard as a team.”
“I
thought they were just physically stronger than us. They bumped us off
some things we wanted to do. We had some shots inside but we just
couldn’t get them to go down. Our biggest post players are 6’2” and they
are 6’5” and 6’7”…so obviously that altered our shots a little bit.”
“The
foul trouble kind of hurt us. Anytime our point guard goes on the bench
we are hurting. He is one of our best players.”
“These
are great kids. I hope it proved to people what five guys that step on
the court, play together, make the extra pass, and play great team defense can
accomplish.”
(On
#5 Tyler Rigby)
“I
love the kid. He has been outstanding all season. He has been a
captain the last two seasons. Somebody is missing out if they don’t grab
this kid at some small college.”
(On
#3 Zach Hahn)
“He
is a shooter. They set the high ball screens, staggered ball screens,
double ball screens and sometimes we didn’t get out far enough. Any kid
who plays basketball can learn something from him, he keeps his dribble alive,
he never picks up his dribble, he backs up and creates
space and comes back again. When you have the ball in your hands that
much, and are that skilled, and you are that good of shooter, you are going to
have opportunities to score. The kid is a great player.”
Tyler Rigby, Jay County
“I just want to recognize my other team
members. They had just as good a shot at winning this award. As a
team we hadn’t planned on being here this season…but it was in the back of our
minds. We thought we had a shot. We play so well together on both
offense and defense and that is what has made us so hard to beat.”