February 25, 2017
Second Quarter Run Propels Wood Memorial to School's First State Championship
Wood Memorial used a late first-half spurt and a big fourth quarter to pull away in a 68-43 victory over Union City to win the Class A girls state title.
The No. 1 ranked Trojans went on an 8-0 run late in the second quarter to take a 10-point lead on the No. 8 ranked Indians when Chloe Bartley made two free throws to give Wood Memorial a 33-23 lead with 1:26 remaining in the first half.
The Trojans outscored the Indians 19-13 in the second quarter and 22-7 in the fourth quarter, including their final eight points of the game from the free throw line. Chloe Mowery made a free throw with 12 seconds to go to put the Trojans ahead by 25, their largest lead of the game.
Wood Memorial finished 28-1 under head coach Johnnie Bartley and the Trojans won a state title for the first time in school history in any sport. They appeared in the finals for the second time in girls basketball after finishing runner-up to Oregon-Davis in 2007.
Brenna Maikranz led the Trojans with 26 points, including 10-of-14 shooting from the free throw line. Carsen Robinson scored 16 points on 5-of-7 shooting from the field and Sydney Day added 10 points. Lexi Lashbrook had seven points and 12 rebounds and while Chloe Barley finished with eight points, 10 rebounds and six assists.
Union City made its first appearance in the finals and ended the season 24-5 under head coach Sarah Black.
Justiss Cantu led the Indians with 18 points while Kelsey Zimmers and Kora Kerns each scored eight points.
Class A State Championship Records
None.
Wood Memorial's Brenna Maikranz named Mental Attitude Award winner
Following the game, members of the IHSAA Executive Committee named Brenna Maikranz of Wood Memorial High School as the winner of the Patricia L. Roy Mental Attitude Award in Class A Girls Basketball.
The award is presented annually to a senior participant in each classification who was nominated by her principal and coach and has demonstrated excellence in mental attitude, scholarship, leadership and athletic ability.
Academically, Maikranz ranks 16th in her senior class and has been a starter for every basketball game all four years. She has also played soccer for four years and will play her fourth year of softball this spring. She also has served as Yearbook Editor, was involved in the Prom Committee, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Student Council.
"She is respected, revered by students, parents, instructors, teammates, coaches, opponents, coaches, administrators, ministers and school-community members in all ways," said Principal Kevin R. Smith. "Brenna is someone that everyone should have the opportunity to get to know, she will leave a lasting impression."
She is the daughter of Brian and the late Lisa Maikranz of Oakland City and plans to enroll in a Pre-Veterinary program of study with the goal of enrolling in Purdue University's Veterinary Sciences program. Brenna also becomes the first Wood Memorial student-athlete to receive an IHSAA mental attitude award.
The Indiana Fever and Indiana Pacers, the presenting sponsor of the IHSAA Girls Basketball State Tournament, presented a $1,000 scholarship to Wood Memorial High School in the name of Brenna Maikranz. Since 1989, more than $840,000 in college scholarships have been presented to deserving high school athletes in Indiana.
The award is named in honor of the former IHSAA assistant commissioner Patricia L. Roy, who oversaw the girls basketball state tournament from its inception in 1976 until her retirement in 1999.