Phone: 317-846-6601 Fax: 317-575-4244 Website: www.ihsaa.org
Blake Ress, Commissioner
_________________________________________________________________________
March 7, 2009
CANTERBURY EDGES RIVET IN
OT FOR SECOND STRAIGHT TITLE
Canterbury’s
Megan Pedro stepped up big in overtime to help No. 7 Fort Wayne Canterbury to
its second consecutive Class A state title with a 72-66 victory over top-ranked
Vincennes Rivet.
Pedro, who
ended with 14, scored seven of the Cavaliers 10 points in the extra session
picking up for the loss of star player Tabitha Gerardot
who fouled out of the game with 25 seconds remaining in regulation. It was the
first championship game decided beyond regulation since 2000.
Canterbury
converted 2-of-3 field goals and 5-of-6 from the free throw line in overtime,
while Rivet only connected on one of its six attempts from the field during
that time.
After Gerardot’s fifth foul, Mallory Niehaus’ two
free throws gave Rivet a four point lead at 61-57 with :25
seconds remaining before Becky Pedro came on. On an in-bounds play under the
basket, Pedro passed the ball off the back of a Rivet defender, scooped it up
and scored and was fouled on the play. She hit the free throw to draw the
Cavaliers within one at 61-60 with :13 seconds left. Next,
Rivet’s Sara Young was sent to the foul line and made the second of two
free throws for a two point advantage. Pedro then hit a jumper with :04 seconds left to tie the game and force overtime.
Gerardot
and Cassie Kreiger led Canterbury with 18 points each while Becky Pedro
finished with 15. Gerardot matched her Class A state
championship game record set last year with 17 rebounds.
Erin Wehrheim finished with 18 points for Rivet,
Casandra Brocksmith added
12 and Young 11.
It was the
17th straight victory for Canterbury and coach
Scott Kreiger. The Cavaliers finished 23-4. Vincennes Rivet, the smallest
school to ever play in the girls basketball state
finals with 92 students and making its first appearance, finished 23-2. The
Patriots were coached by Tim Young.
CANTERBURY’S
KELLY KARR NAMED MENTAL ATTITUDE AWARD WINNER
Following
the game, members of the IHSAA Executive Committee named Kelly Karr of Fort
Wayne Canterbury 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.
Karr is a
four-year member of the varsity team, won her summer league mental attitude
award and was voted most valuable teammate.
She’s
been active in the Student Government for three years having served as
secretary, was a member of the Key Club, Student Athletic Advisory Committee,
and three times earned first place in state choir competition.
Academically,
she holds a 3.8 GPA on a 4.0 scale and plans to attend Michigan State
University next fall. She has been named to the Headmaster’s List twice
and also on the Honors List the rest of her school career.
She is the
daughter of Scott and Anne Karr of Fort Wayne.
Indiana
Farm Bureau Insurance, the IHSAA’s corporate
partner, will present a $1,000 scholarship to Canterbury High School in the
name of Karr.
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.
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
CLASS
A POST-GAME QUOTES
Canterbury Head Coach Scott Kreiger
(In general). “It was a great game. I’m sure it was a great game to watch.
It was a fun game to coach. Lots of quality play out
there. Lots of kids stepping up.”
(On losing Gerardot to fouls) “Our program has never been, nor
will it ever be, structured around one kid. When Tabitha went out with fouls,
the other five kids stepped up and made plays. That’s what we do.
Everyone’s got a role to play, and they play that role well. That’s
why we’re a championship team. When we got into the overtime, I really
felt positive because the momentum shifted dramatically. The play Becky (Pedro)
made right at the end to tie it up really took the wind out of Rivet’s
sails. When that happened, I felt like we could strike early. If we could do
that and get on top, we could take advantage of the momentum.”
(About his
team in overtime) “By getting to overtime they got a second life. …
The momentum did shift. Their resolve toughened up even more. They made a
couple of plays at the defensive end and continued to score at the offensive
end. I think they sensed the change in momentum and took advantage of
that.”
(On getting
down in second half but coming back) “I think the experience of this team
showed. They’ve been in that situation before and didn’t panic.
They simply played 32 minutes, and in this case played 36 minutes. That’s
something they’ve been able to do all year.”
Tabitha Gerardot
on how she felt after fouling out: “Everybody was just so tough. It was just comforting
for me to see how strong everybody was. I really enjoyed watching them, even
though I wanted to be out there.”
Paige Wells on what the championship
means: “This
one is really special. We fought really hard to get where we are. Winning this
year seals the deal and proved we could do it again.”
Rivet
Head Coach Tim Young
(At end of
regulation) “We still executed. They turned up their defense. We missed a
couple of free throws down that stretch.
There were two or three inside shots from 6-7 feet that we were making throughout the
game that just didn’t fall. They made some very difficult driving shots
that tied the basketball game.
(In overtime). “Typically when you
see overtime basketball games, the team that jumps out early, then the other
team starts getting back on its heels and quits attacking. I think we
might have done that.”
(On having no seniors). “These young ladies sitting here beside me are very
disappointed. But guess what. The group of ladies out there today, plus one, is
coming back next year.”
(On how his
team played when Tabitha Gerardot fouled out for
(On
shooting in Lucas Oil Stadium) “I was pleased with how the setup was.
It’s an amazing basketball setup. … I think the Lucas Oil Stadium
staff did a tremendous job. It’s a basketball arena, too.”