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

_____________________________________________________________________________

 

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 Midwest. VSN, which was on site on Saturday, has captured hundreds of images from this year’s State Finals and will have them ready for viewing and purchase beginning Monday.

 

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 (9150 N. Meridian Street in Indianapolis) or $5.00 by mail (postage included). To order, have your Visa or MasterCard ready and call us at 317-846-6601 during business hours (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. EST).

 

 

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.”