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

____________________________________________________________________

 

THE 28TH ANNUAL IHSAA GIRLS BASKETBALL STATE FINALS

The 28th chapter of the Indiana High School Athletic Association girls basketball state finals will be written this Saturday, March 8 at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis with the final two teams in all four classes decided following semi-state play last weekend.

 

Among the eight teams are two defending state champions (Southwestern (Hanover) and North Vermillion), a two-time champion from previous years (Kokomo), a team making its third consecutive appearance in the finals (Shenandoah) and four others making their debuts at this level of the tournament.

 

Saturday’s first game, the Class A championship, will pit defending champ North Vermillion against first-time participant Tri-Central. Coached by Ken Gentrup, North Vermillion enters the game unbeaten at 26-0 and the winner of 50 consecutive contests dating back to Nov. 10, 2001, their third game of last season.

 

Tri-Central, meanwhile, won the school’s first conference, sectional, regional and semi-state crowns this season under the guidance of fourth-year coach Kathie Layden. The Trojans have won 10 straight ballgames to reach this point.

 

In Class 2A, the matchup between Shenandoah and Southwestern of Hanover is the first championship game rematch from the previous year in the history of the state tournament.

 

Southwestern, led by Donna Cheatham, the state’s all-time winningest coach in the girls game with a 479-123 career mark (.795) over 28 years, has the Rebels back in the title game after emerging victorious in last year’s game against Shenandoah, 70-64. The Rebels fell in two of their last three regular season games, but have won five straight in tourney action to make it back to Conseco Fieldhouse.

 

Shenandoah hopes the third trip is the charm as the Raiders have come up short in the two previous 2A championship games. In 2001, the lost to Fort Wayne Bishop Luers, 55-39. Coach Todd Salkoski’s bunch lost its last regular season game, but rolled through its tournament competition by an average of 26.3 points per game. Both teams faced each other earlier this season with Shenandoah claiming a 72-60 win in the semifinals of the Hall of Fame Classic in New Castle on Dec. 27.

 

The battle for the Class 3A crown is a matchup of a pair of first-time participants.

 

Beech Grove, coached by Dawn McNew, won a thrilling double-overtime game for the Southport Semi-State championship over North Harrison last Saturday thanks to the play of 6-1 senior guard Katie Gearlds, who was recently named a McDonald’s All-American and currently leads the state at nearly 30.0 points per game. Gearlds hit three consecutive free throws with no time remaining in regulation to force the first overtime. She finished the game with a career high 46 points and now ranks fourth in Indiana girls career scoring with 2,488 points.

 

South Bend St. Joseph’s makes its first trip to the state finals riding an 18-game winning streak and becomes just the second South Bend school to reach the state finals in tournament history (South Bend Riley last year in Class 4A).  The Indians, of coach Mike Megyese played tough defense in their semi-state victory over Highland on Saturday holding their opponent to just 26 points, including an 8:27 scoreless stretch in the first half.

 

The Class 4A nightcap features one of Indiana’s most successful programs in unbeaten Kokomo facing first-time entrant Perry Meridian.

 

Kokomo ties the state record with its fifth appearance in the state finals (Valparaiso is the other), but its first in seven years and its first under coach Charlie Hall. The schoool won state championships in 1992 and 1993, and finished as runner-up in 1994. These Wildkats lost last year’s sectional opener but have been perfect throughout the 2002-03 season and have maintained their perch a top the Class 4A state poll for much of the season.

 

Perry Meridian’s Falcons earned their berth in the big school championship game following Kelsey Gurganus’ blocked shot of a Bloomington North three-pointer at game’s end that would have tied the game had it gone. Coach Mike Armstrong’s group has won eight straight by an average margin of 18.8 points.

 

The Games

Class A – Tri-Central (22-4) vs. North Vermillion (26-0)

Class 2A – Shenandoah (23-5) vs. Southwestern (Hanover) (21-7)

Class 3A – South Bend St. Joseph’s (24-2) vs. Beech Grove (27-1)

Class 4A – Kokomo (25-0) vs. Perry Meridian (24-4)

 

Venue: Conseco Fieldhouse, Indianapolis; Capacity: 18,500 (www.consecofieldhouse.com)

Date: Saturday, March 8, 2003

Time: Session I (Class A, 2A) tips at 10:38 a.m. EST; Session II (Class 3A, 4A) tips at 6:38 p.m. EST

Tickets: $10.00 per session; $18.00 all day. Reserved tickets can be purchased at the participating schools the week of the state finals. Contact those schools for ticket distribution hours. Tickets also will be available game day at the ticket office at Conseco Fieldhouse.

Television: WHMB-TV, Indianapolis is originating the broadcast of all four games with Craig Wallen calling the play-by-play; Stephanie McCarty providing color commentary and Bob Nagle as the sideline reporter. Check local listings for stations carrying the broadcast.

Radio: The IHSAA Radio Network will be broadcasting all four games to stations throughout the Hoosier state. Scott Uecker will provide the play-by-play for the Class A and 2A games with Mark Jaynes calling the Class 3A and 4A games.

 

 

 

Meet the Tri-Central Trojans

 

State Finals History

First Appearance

 

Notes

Rating Pre-Season/Final:  #15 / #2…Last Year: Lost to Clinton Prairie (68-55) in Tri-Central Sectional…History: 1 sectional (2003), 1 Regional (2003), 1 Semi-State (2003)…Kristen Miller with 14 points and 11 rebounds in semi-state championship game…forfeited December 12 win over Maconaquah because of use of ineligible player.

 

Reg. Season Off:                 20 gms                  1,167/58.3               

Reg. Season Def:                                                                   806/40.3

Tournament Off:                    6 gms                      386/64.3               

Tournament Def:                                                    262/43.6

Overall Off:                            26 gms                  1,553/59.7            

Overall Def:                                                           1,068/41.0

Big Win:                                 61 (94-33 vs. Lakeview Christian, 2/1)

Big Loss:                                 6 (46-40 @ Madison-Grant, 12/4)

Best Offensive Game:        94 (94-33 vs. Lakeview Christian, 2/1)

Best Defensive Game:       24 (69-24 vs. Maconaquah, 12/12)

 

Team Roster

Lt

Dk

Full Name

Ht

Gr

Pos

GP

FG%

3FG%

FT%

APG

RPG

PPG

10

10

Sarah Boyle

5-6

12

G

26

39.0

26.3

64.7

1.6

1.4

3.0

12

12

Amanda Watson

5-6

12

G

26

34.3

30.6

68.3

2.0

2.7

8.6

20

20

Christina Parkison

5-5

10

G

23

26.7

36.4

47.4

0.5

0.9

1.1

22

22

Andrea Bowne

5-10

10

F

10

16.7

0.0

25.0

0.0

0.3

0.2

24

24

Meranda Burnett

5-4

9

PG

26

43.7

37.3

65.7

4.3

2.6

12.7

30

30

Kristen Miller

5-11

11

C

24

59.8

0.0

55.1

1.0

9.7

12.5

32

32

Andrea Dewitt

5-5

11

G

14

37.5

0.0

66.7

0.1

0.7

0.6

34

34

Janel Cox

5-4

9

PG

23

45.7

50.0

75.0

0.4

1.0

1.8

40

40

Kaci Allen

5-9

9

F

26

51.4

0.0

61.7

0.5

4.6

5.7

42

42

Megan Overton

5-8

12

G/F

26

35.4

30.3

66.0

5.1

5.6

14.1

44

44

Stephanie Haak

5-8

12

F

17

33.3

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.4

0.4

50

50

Anne Cage

5-9

10

C

20

50.0

0.0

43.8

0.0

1.1

0.6

Team

Opponents

 

 

 

 

 

42.3

31.2

62.6

15.6

31.9

59.7

 

 

 

 

 

37.6

27.5

54.5

5.8

28.7

41.2

 

Team Facts

Town/City: Sharpsville

County: Tipton

Superintendent: Lee Williford

Principal: Dave Driggs

Athletic Director: Gary Rhew

Head Coach: Kathie Layden

Nickname: Trojans

Colors: Royal Blue, Gold & White

Conference: Hoosier Heartland

Enrollment: 326 in four grades

Last Year’s Tournament: Lost to Clinton Prairie, 68-55, in first round of Tri-Central Sectional     

 

2002-03 Results (22-4)

Date

Opponent

W/L

Score

11/16

Frankton

W

46-29

11/22

Taylor

W

75-40

11/23

at Sheridan

W

60-26

11/26

at Hamilton Heights

W

62-58 ot

11/30

Northwestern

L

51-46

12/4

at Madison-Grant

L

46-40

12/10

at Clinton Prairie

W

54-39

12/12

Maconaquah

L

2-0

12/21

at Laf. Central Catholic

W

68-38

12/27

at Caston

W

58-52

12/28

North Miami

W

39-35

1/4

Mishawaka Marian

W

47-33

1/8

at Elwood

W

51-50

1/16

at Rossville

W

67-32

1/18

Clinton Central

W

53-31

1/22

Tipton

L

45-43

1/25

at Carroll (Flora)

W

66-49

1/28

Western

W

67-38

2/1

Marion Lakeview Christian

W

94-33

2/4

Eastern (Greentown)

W

62-57

Tri-Central Sectional

2/11

Covenant Christian

W

69-33

2/14

Lapel

W

73-38

2/17

Clinton Prairie

W

65-50

Lapel Regional

2/22

South Newton

W

69-52

2/24

Southern Wells

W

57-52

Warsaw Semi-State

3/1

Washington Township

W

53-37

 

 

 

 

Meet the North Vermillion Falcons

 

State Finals History

Champion: 2002 (A)

Appearances: 2002 (A), 2003 (A)

 

Previous State Finals Results

2002 (Class A Championship)

North Vermillion 45, Hebron 42

 

Notes

Rating Pre-Season/Final:  #1 / #1… Last Year: Defeated Hebron (45-42) for Class A state championship…History: 9 sectionals (1988-89-90-91-96-98-2001-02-03),  2 regionals (2002-03), 2 semi-states (2002-03),  1 championship (2002)…has won 50 consecutive games.

 

Reg. Season Off:                 20 gms                  1,325/66.2               

Reg. Season Def:                                                                   805/40.2

Tournament Off:                    6 gms                      376/62.6               

Tournament Def:                                                    232/38.6

Overall Off:                            26 gms                  1,701/65.4            

Overall Def:                                                           1,037/39.8

Big Win:                                 62 (76-14 vs. Chrisman (IL), 12/19)

Best Offensive Game:        85 (85-50 vs. Riverton Parke, 1/9)

Best Defensive Game:       14 (76-14 vs. Chrisman (IL), 12/19)

 

Team Roster

Lt

Dk

Full Name

Ht

Gr

Pos

GP

FG%

3FG%

FT%

APG

RPG

PPG

12

12

Bree Swartz

5-3

10

G

15

40

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.3

0.7

21

21

Elisha Chancey

5-6

9

G

8

20

0.0

0.0

0.0

1.3

0.0

22

22

Kylie Heidbrider

5-7

10

F/G

16

45.5

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.7

23

23

Allison Hughes

5-6

11

G

26

37

29.7

73.3

4.9

5.3

16.6

30

30

Rachel West

5-7

12

G

26

34.5

30.3

60.8

1.8

4.4

11.4

31

31

Lindsay Varner

5-6

11

F

26

42.3

50

48.4

5.2

5.2

4.5

34

34

Kayla Hinkle

5-8

12

F

26

56.4

31.1

65.8

3.2

10.3

19.4

35

35

Jennifer Puckett

5-10

12

C

26

42.2

0.0

48.4

0.7

5.0

5.3

40

40

Annie Morgan

5-4

12

G

26

39.2

28.9

60.8

3.4

3.8

4.5

42

42

Andrea Kilgore

5-7

9

G

18

20

16

63.2

0.1

1.2

2.0

44

44

Sara Sheridan

5-9

10

F/C

17

20

0.0

0.0

0.2

1.3

0.4

50

50

Karen Wickens

5-6

11

F

24

33.3

0.0

0.0

0.1

1.3

0.4

Team

Opponents

 

 

 

 

 

--

--

--

--

--

65.3

 

 

 

 

 

--

--

--

--

--

39.5

 

Team Facts

Town/City: Cayuga

County: Vermillion

Superintendent: Paul Roads

Principal: Oren A. Sutherlin

Athletic Director: Jim Puckett

Head Coach: Ken Gentrup

Assistant Coaches: David Erwin, Candice Downey

Student Managers: Keri Heidbrider, Krista Farthing

Nickname: Falcons

Colors: Blue and White

Conference: Wabash River

Enrollment: 267 in four grades

Last Year’s Tournament:  Finished 25-1; defeated Hebron, 45-42, to win Class A state championship

 

2002-03 Results (26-0)

Date

Opponent

W/L

Score

11/12

Attica

W

78-30

11/15

vs. Turkey Run

W

81-41

11/16

at Riverton Parke

W

77-41

11/19

at North Montgomery

W

58-48

11/21

at West Vigo

W

69-41

11/23

at Turkey Run

W

76-23

12/5

at Seeger

W

44-34

12/12

at Fountain Central

W

50-44

12/19

Chrisman (Ill.)

W

76-14

1/4

vs. Shakamak

W

61-19

1/5

at South Putnam

W

71-55

1/9

Riverton Parke

W

85-50

1/11

Fountain Central

W

56-47

1/16

Southmont

W

67-38

1/18

Crawfordsville

W

68-49

1/21

at South Vermillion

W

63-52

1/23

at Covington

W

53-36

1/25

at Schlarnan (Danville, Ill.)

W

66-61 ot

2/4

Rockville

W

52-34

2/8

North Central (Farmersburg)

W

73-38

North Vermillion Sectional

2/11

Riverton Parke

W

63-39

2/17

Rockville

W

47-27

2/18

Turkey Run

W

66-34

Southwestern (Shelbyville)

2/22

Rising Sun

W

62-33

2/22

Morristown

W

68-50

Southridge Semi-State

3/1

South Central (Elizabeth)

W

70-49

 

 

 

Meet the Shenandoah Raiders

 

State Finals History

Runner-Up: 2001 (2A); 2002 (2A)

Appearances: 2001 (2A); 2002 (2A); 2003 (2A)

 

Previous State Finals Results

2001 (2A Championship)

Fort Wayne Bishop Luers 55, Shenandoah 39

2002 (2A Championship)

Southwestern (Hanover) 70, Shenandoah 64

 

Notes

Rating Pre-Season/Final:  #1 / #5… Last Year: Lost to Southwestern (Hanover) (70-64) in state championship game…will play in first state championship game rematch from previous year in tournament history…History: 6 sectionals (1987-89-2000-01-02-03),  4 (2000-01-02-03),  3 semi-states (2001-02-03)...lost final regular season game, but rolled through sectionals with average win of 26.3 points per game...defeated Southwestern (Hanover) 72-60 in Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame Classic semifinals on December 27; lost to Class 3A state finalist Beech Grove, 64-60, in Hall of Fame championship game.

 

Reg. Season Off:                 22 gms                  1,507/68.5               

Reg. Season Sef:                                                                   970/44.0

Tournament Off:                    6 gms                      396/66.0               

Tournament Def:                                                    238/39.6

Overall Off:                            28 gms                  1,903/67.9            

Overall Def:                                                           1,208/43.1

Big Win:                                 57 (86-29 vs. Blue River Valley, 11/19)

Big Loss:                               32 (64-32 @ Mount Vernon (Fortville), 2/6)

Best Offensive Game:        95 (95-46 @ Wes-Del, 12/5)

Best Defensive Game:       14 (69-14 vs. Hagerstown, 2/18 in sectional)

 

Team Roster

Lt

Dk

Full Name

Ht

Gr

Pos

GP

FG%

3FG%

FT%

APG

RPG

PPG

4

4

Jasmine Rogers

5-10

9

F

15

28.0

0.0

100.0

0.1

1.4

1.2

10

10

Tasha Cass

5-5

11

G

28

38.0

26.1

57.6

0.9

1.4

2.8

15

15

Emily Gray

5-8

12

G/F

27

37.5

32.3

77.8

1.1

1.2

2.7

21

21

Mary Saunders

5-10

11

F

5

00.0

0.0

75.0

0.0

0.2

0.6

23

23

Chelsea Miller

5-9

10

G

27

44.3

34.6

77.8

1.7

3.7

15.3

30

30

Kara Keesling

5-7

10

G

27

43.8

27.1

63.7

4.1

2.8

9.4

32

32

Charli McCord

5-9

10

F

28

52.9

20.0

60.5

0.8

3.6

6.0

33

33

Amber McKinley

5-5

9

F

24

40.4

39.0

67.9

4.2

2.2

5.9

35

35

Suzanne Pressel

5-6

12

G/F

28

56.1

25.0

36.8

1.6

2.1

1.9

44

44

Janalee Atkinson

5-8

12

C

21

33.3

00.0

75.0

0.3

1.2

1.1

52

34

Amanda Norris

5-10

12

G/F

28

68.3

25.0

73.9

1.8

7.2

17.7

55

55

Teran Warner

6-1

12

F/C

28

43.3

22.7

46.3

3.5

6.1

6.6

Team

 

 

 

 

 

48.6

32.0

66.5

19.2

31.5

68.0

Opponents

 

 

 

 

 

35.4

27.9

63.0

—

21.4

43.1

 

Team Facts

Town/City: Middletown

County: Henry

Superintendent: Mark Gould

Principal: Charles Willis

Athletic Director: Rick Penn

Head Coach: Todd Salkoski

Assistant Coach(es): Dale Griggs, Kathy Terrell, Thom Reddington, Jeff Miller, and Robin Riggs

Student Managers: Meghan Reddington, Brittany Beard, Ashley Owens, Derek Cass, Jennifer Atkinson, Brittany Charles, and Ashley Guffey

Nickname: Raiders

Colors: Navy Blue and Gold

Conference: White River Athletic

Enrollment: 393 in four grades

Last Year’s Tournament: Finished 22-4; lost to Southwestern (Hanover), 70-64, in Class 2A state championship game

 

2002-03 Results (23-5)

Date

Opponent

W/L

Score

11/15

at Anderson

W

65-34

11/19

Blue River Valley

W

86-29

11/22

Alexandria

L

70-64

11/26

at Eastern Hancock

W

58-38

11/30

at FW Bishop Luers

L

59-50

12/5

at Wes-Del

W

95-46

12/7

Wapahani

W

78-40

12/9

Muncie Southside

W

74-35

12/14

at Union County

W

72-39

12/17

at New Castle

L

53-51

12/20

Pendleton Heights

W

68-43

12/27

vs. Southwestern (Hanover))

W

72-60

12/27

vs. Beech Grove

L

64-60

1/3

Centerville

W

86-35

1/7

at Richmond

W

70-50

1/9

Tri

W

73-29

1/21

at Yorktown

W

83-35

1/23

at Rushville

W

58-39

1/24

Knightstown

W

80-45

1/30

Lapel

W

64-41

2/4

Union (Modoc)

W

68-22

2/6

at Mt. Vernon (Fortville)

L

64-32

Winchester Sectional

2/11

at Centerville

W

72-35

2/18

Hagerstown

W

69-14

2/19

Winchester

W

51-40

South Adams Regional

2/22

Mississnewa

W

75-40

2/22

Garrett

W

63-56

Warsaw Semi-State

3/1

Boone Grove

W

66-53

 

 

 

Meet the Southwestern Rebels

 

State Finals History

Champion: 2002 (2A)

Appearances: 2002 (2A), 2003 (2A)

 

Previous State Finals Results

2002 (2A Championship)

Southwestern (Hanover) 70, Shenandoah 64

 

Notes

Rating Pre-Season/Final:  #2 / #8…Last Year: Won Class 2A state championship over Shenandoah (70-64)… will play in first state championship game rematch from previous year in tournament history…History: 3 sectionals (2001-02-03),  2 regionals (2002-03),  2 semi-states (2002-03),  1 championship (2003)…during one stretch from December 2 through January 17, went 4-5, losing by an average of 11.8 points per game…lost two of last three regular season games…hit the century mark for the only time during regular season finale (110-51 vs. Austin)…scored 90+ points three times…scored 80+ points six times… Donna Cheatham all-time winningest coach in Indiana girls basketball with 479-123 career mark (.795) over 28 years, including 101-47 (.682) in six seasons at Southwestern; also coached Scottsburg to the 1989 state championship…Last year’s Class 2A Mental Attitude Award winner: Brianna Howard, 2002, now plays at Purdue.

 

Reg. Season Off/:                                23 gms                  1,548/67.3            

Reg. Season Def:                                                                1,178/51.2

Tournament Off:                    5 gms                      313/62.6               

Tournament Def:                                                    248/49.6

Overall Off:                            28 gms                  1,861/66.4            

Overall Def:                                                           1,426/50.9

Big Win:                                 65 (98-33 vs. Shawe Memorial, 11/19)

Big Loss:                               16 (86-70 @ Louisville Mercy (KY), 12/2)

Best Offensive Game:        110 (110-51 vs. Austin, 2/5)

Best Defensive Game:       27 (91-27 vs. Shawe Memorial, 11/29)

 

 

Team Roster

Lt

Dk

Full Name

Ht

Gr

Pos

GP

FG%

3FG%

FT%

APG

RPG

PPG

4