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

NORTH CENTRAL GIRLS WIN BIG SCHOOL STATE CROWN

In its first appearance in the IHSAA State Finals since 1979, North Central of Indianapolis finally took home the hardware as the fifth-ranked Panthers upended Warsaw, 53-38, in the Class 4A state championship game at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

North Central (23-3) won its 13^th consecutive game getting physical and playing pressure defense that kept second-ranked Warsaw off-balance most of the game. Warsaw (26-3) entered the contest winners in 26 of their last 27 matches and finished as the runner-up for the second time following their 1991 showing. The Tigers won it all in 1976 and 1978.

Amber Harris, North Central’s 6-5 sophomore center was an intimidating presence in the paint throughout the game. She blocked a 4A record nine shots and added 10 points and 11 rebounds. She nearly became the first girl to dunk in the 29 years of the IHSAA State Finals but her attempt rimmed out on a breakaway play in the fourth quarter. Lucia Darling’s 12 points paced North Central.

Warsaw’s Jaclyn Leininger, one of the state’s top scorers this season, finished with 18 points, seven below her average, and finished with eight rebounds. Julie Seiss was the only other Tiger in double figures with 10 points.

The Panthers jumped out to a 16-3 lead after the first eight minutes but Warsaw got its offense going in the second by taking the ball to the basket. The Tigers went on a 13-2 tear in the second and cut their deficit to two points just before halftime but North Central had the final word in both the second and third quarters with buckets in the final seconds. Sara Jordan hit a mid-range jumper just prior to the halftime horn to give her team a four-point cushion at 20-16. Ebony Jenkins added a reverse layup as time expired in the third to extend the North Central lead at that point to nine points at 33-24.

North Central was led by seventh year coach Alan Vickrey, who won his first state championship, while Warsaw was coached by 18^th year skipper Will Wienhorst.

Warsaw’s Michell DeGeeter Named Recipient of Patricia L. Roy Mental Attitude Award

Michelle DeGeeter of Warsaw High School was named winner of the 2004 Class 4A Girls Basketball Patricia L. Roy Mental Attitude Award. Patricia L. Roy was a member of the IHSAA Executive Staff from 1972 until 1999. She was responsible for girls basketball from the inception of the tournament series in 1976 until her retirement.

At the conclusion of the girls basketball state finals, the IHSAA Executive Committee presents the award to the outstanding senior in the state finals competition. The recipient of this award, who was nominated by her principal and coaches, must excel in mental attitude, scholarship, leadership and athletic ability in girls basketball.

President of the National Honor Society, Michelle ranks 5^th in her class of 378, with plans to enter Butler University to major in Pharmacy.

She is a member of Students Against Drunk Driving, Business Professionals Association, Mathletes and is the sports editor of student newspaper, Tracks. She is an ESL, English as a second language, tutor, as well as a Peer tutor.

Michelle was a four year member of the Tigers’ volleyball squad, where she was captain this past season, and also participated as a member of the school’s track & field team. Co-captain the last two seasons, she was a four year starter on the varsity basketball unit and was named to the All-Northern Lakes Conference team two years, while also being named Academic All-State.

Michelle is the daughter of Jeanine and Mike DeGeeter of Warsaw.

Farm Bureau Insurance, IHSAA corporate partner, presented a $1,000.00 scholarship to Warsaw High School in the name of Michelle DeGeeter.

New IHSAA Book, Play On, Recaps 100 Years Of High School Sports in Indiana

Looking for holiday gift ideas? The exciting new book, Play On, celebrating 100 years of high school sports in Indiana, is perfect for that sports fan or the history buff you know. Filled with 150 pages of engaging photographs, captivating stories and a walk down memory lane, it’s now on sale through the Indiana High School Athletic Association. It’s not available in book stores, so contact the IHSAA at 317-846-6601 or click on the link above to learn more about this special tribute to 100 years of Indiana high school athletics.

Team Posters And Individual Action Photographs Available

Visit 20-20 Photographic, the IHSAA’s photographer and the Midwest’s Leader in Sports Action Photography, for images captured during Saturday’s state championship games! Action photos and team photos as well as the 20-20’s Ultimate Sports Poster will be available for purchase later in the week following the state finals.

IHSAA State Championship Merchandise

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 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, send a check for $5.00 made payable to the IHSAA, a note including your return address and brief description of your request and mail to: IHSAA Programs, PO Box 40650, Indianapolis, IN 46240-0650. Sorry, no credit cards.

Class 4A Game Quotes

North Central Head Coach Alan Vickrey

“We thought we could defend (Jaclyn) Leininger. We thought we could do it a certain way and we worked really hard on it this week and did a pretty good job of it.”

“We saw two or three things that Warsaw liked to do and we were not going to let them do those things. We simply just tried to take that concept out of their offensive scheme and make them do other things. They did a pretty good job of adjusting, but we executed our plan just a little bit better.”

“We wanted to get off to a good start and make them use their energy to come from behind. The more we can pressure them gives us a big advantage in the fourth quarter.

“I was very impressed with our four guards. They understand the game, know how to take care of the ball and are just tremendous together. They played so well as a unit. I’m proud of them.”

Warsaw Head Coach Will Wienhorst

“North Central, give them a lot of credit. They took us out of our game. I thought we came back well in the second quarter but they just played very good defense.”

“Obviously, Harris deflected and blocked a lot of shots and that intimidated us. She did a great job against us. I’m very proud of our young ladies. They played hard all year and we just picked a game that we didn’t move the ball as well as we should have. North Central just did a great job defensively.”

“We got a chance to play in the big dance and that’s a great thing. I really loved these seniors and this team and I’m glad they got a chance to come down here and play in this game.”

(On Jaclyn Leininger and Michelle DeGeeter) “Jaclyn did nothing except lead us for four years along with Michelle DeGeeter and tonight she played hard and got double and triple-teamed.”

“We were able to come back in the second quarter by taking the ball to the hole and getting to the foul line. We’re a team that likes to get to the foul line.”