Indiana High School Athletic Association, Inc.

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 3, 2007

 

 

PHILLIPS LEADS BREBEUF JESUIT TO SECOND 3A TITLE IN FOUR YEARS

Led by senior McDonald’s All-American Ta’Shia Phillips, the Brebeuf Jesuit Braves captured the Class 3A state title by defeating the Wawasee Warriors, 51-43. It was the second state championship for the Braves as they also took home the trophy in 2004.

 

At 6-6, Phillips dominated the inside finishing the night with 29 points and 9 rebounds. She also set a Class 3A championship game record with eight blocks. Junior Ivie Obeime added nine points and eight rebounds for the Braves’ effort.

 

Defense and turnovers set the tone for the first half with both teams running up and down the floor setting a hectic pace. A scrappy Wawasee team pulled down 12 offensive rebounds in the opening half but Brebeuf Jesuit held a 20-19 advantage at halftime. Phillips tallied 14 points and three rebounds in the first 16 minutes. Sophomore Taylor Goshert hit three three-pointers in the third quarter as the teams were locked at 38-38 entering the fourth. Phillips took over the final eight minutes as she recorded five points, five rebounds and four blocks.

 

The Warriors tenacious defense created 22 turnovers but the inside game of the Braves, who scored 36 of their 51 points in the paint, proved too much.

 

Brebeuf Jesuit (23-6), which also defeated Wawasee, 58-53, on December 23, was coached by Kendall Kreinhagen. She is in her fifth season with the Braves and was also at the helm for the Braves’ 2004 championship run.

 

Wawasee, led by ninth year coach Kem Zolman was making its first appearance in the state finals since 1985. The Warriors finished the season with a record of 22-4. They were led by Goshert who ended the night with 13 points and junior guard Kalyn Lantz chipped in with 10. Senior Shawn Knafel finished with seven rebounds.

 

 

WAWASEE’S MEGAN WALKER NAMED MENTAL ATTITUDE AWARD WINNER

Following the game, members of the IHSAA Executive Committee named Megan Walker of Wawasee High School as the winner of the Patricia L. Roy Mental Attitude Award.

 

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.

 

Walker ranks third in her class of 195 students. She is a member of the National Honor Society and Student Council serving as the Vice President of that organization.

 

Besides basketball, she also participates in soccer and softball and is expected to graduate with 12 varsity letters this spring.

 

Walker also is involved with Kiwanis, Teacher Help Day, Freshman Orientation and also assists in the school’s athletic department. Outside of school, she referees soccer and basketball at the Lakeland Youth Center.

 

She is the daughter of Kevin and Cheryl Walker of Milford and plans to major in Pharmacy at Butler University.

 

Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, the IHSAA’s corporate partner, will present a $1,000 scholarship to Wawasee High School in the name of Walker.

 

The award is named in honor of former IHSAA assistant commissioner Patricia L. Roy, who oversaw the girls basketball state tournament from its inception in 1976 until her retirement in 1999.

 

 

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 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

 

Kem Zolman, Wawasee Head Coach

 

“I couldn’t be prouder of a group of young ladies that in my opinion just that if you just look at us from time to time you would see what was going on out there.  How in the world did they get here?  But I am telling you, you can’t measure the heart the determination of a group of girls, kids that take different roles than they’re used to in the previous years they accept that role and they make it work.  For that I will be ever grateful for these seniors.”

 

“These three seniors that we’ve had to take a different role as they have, has just been unbelievable.  The quality of young people that we’ve got, the award that Megan (Walker) received tonight is just unbelievable.  But that’s just the kind of individual, she’s not only a pretty decent basketball player but the individual has morals and character that you hope that young people graduate from high school, go into our society and contribute.”

 

 

 

Kendall Kreinhagen, Brebeuf Jesuit Head Coach

 

“Offensively, we wanted to work the ball around until we could we could get it into (Ta’Shia) Phillips. When we get it into her, we know we have a good chance of scoring. We showed good patience to do that.”

 

“We fought and fought hard all game. The difference was (Ta’Shia) Phillips and (Ivie) Obeime. Thank goodness both of them came to play tonight. The whole team played our hearts out.”

 

“(Ta’Shia) Phillips was phenomenal. She was able to sit in the post. She was so focused in her play today and the state of Indiana saw a great player play a great game. (Ivie) Obeime’s play was huge. She had some key steals and rebounds and points especially in the fourth quarter.”

 

“We are all about denial, defensively, and especially in the last quarter.”

 

(On Phillips)

“What she was offensively was the difference, but defensively every time Wawasee went into the lane they weren’t looking to shoot. When they did, it came right back at them.”