Four defending state champions return in defense of their titles and a two-time state champion from 1998 is in the field for the first time in three years at the 27^th Annual Indiana High School Athletic Association Girls Swimming and Diving State Finals Friday and Saturday (Feb. 9-10) at the IUPUI Natatorium in Indianapolis.

Senior Jenni Anderson of Chesterton looks for her third straight sweep in the 50 freestyle and 100 backstroke. She’s joined by sophomores Leah Retrum of Columbus North and Katherine Robinson of South Dearborn who were the 2000 state champions in the 500 freestyle and 100 freestyle, respectively. Retrum is the top seed in the 500 freestyle and 200 individual medley, while Robinson had the fastest sectional time in the 100 butterfly.

After two years away from high school activity as she trained for international competition, senior Lacey Boutwell of Noblesville is back in the field. As a freshman in 1998, she was the state champion in the 50 freestyle and 100 freestyle. Boutwell still holds the state meet record in the 50 freestyle, a clocking of 22.90. Boutwell is the top seed in the 100 freestyle and the 200 freestyle.

In the team competition, top-ranked and defending state champion Carmel aims for its 15^th consecutive title. The Greyhounds withstood a strong challenge from second-ranked North Central of Indianapolis at the Carmel Sectional to win their 17^th consecutive sectional championship. Carmel has the top seed in the 200 medley relay and with Tenley Bick in the 100 breaststroke.

Columbus North and Hamilton Southeastern compiled the state’s highest winning totals with 408 points each at the sectionals they hosted. It was a state-best 18^th consecutive sectional title for No. 3-ranked Columbus North.

Indiana University Natatorium, Indianapolis

A 67-66 road victory by Ben Davis over top-ranked (Class 4A) Terre Haute North last Saturday whittled the list of unbeaten teams to seven going into the final week of the regular season.

Play in the 26^th Annual IHSAA Girls Basketball Tournament series begins Tuesday (Feb. 13) at 64 sectional sites across the state.

Veteran coaches Jan Conner of Martinsville and Donna Sullivan of Seymour have announced their retirements at the conclusion of the season. Conner directed Martinsville to the last single-class state championship in 1997 and the first Class 4A crown in 1998. She also coached final four teams at Benton Central in 1988 and 1989. Sullivan has served as girls basketball coach at Seymour since 1971 and has guided the Owls in every IHSAA state tournament since its inception in 1976. The 1987 Owls reached the state finals.

Class 4A – Kokomo (19-0), Highland (20-0).

Class 3A – Franklin County (19-0), Wawasee (20-0).

Class 2A – Forest Park (19-0), Fort Wayne Luers (20-0), Shenandoah (19-0).

Class A – None.

www.ihsaa.org/g-basketball/01Leaders.htm

www.ihsaa.org/g-basketball/0001Bests.htm

Pairings for the 91^st Annual IHSAA Boys Basketball Tournament will be shown live by WHMB (Channel 40) of Indianapolis on Monday, Feb. 26.

The draw will be conducted at the WHMB studios and broadcast at 5 p.m. (EST). The pairings will be posted on the IHSAA website at 6 p.m. A copy of the pairings will be emailed to outlets on the IHSAA email list at 6 p.m.

In its second year as the originating station for the IHSAA Network, WHMB reaches nearly 50 percent of households in Indiana with its over-the-air signal and on cable systems.

Stations in other television markets throughout Indiana will have the opportunity to take a satellite feed from WHMB to air the broadcast. Interested stations should contact Keith Passon, WHMB general manager, as soon as possible. Passon can be reached at 317-773-5050.

Merrillville boys basketball coach Jim East recorded his 500^th career victory Feb. 2 as the Pirates defeated Duneland Conference rival Chesterton 80-67. East in his 33^rd season as a head coach and 21^st at Merrillville.

He was an assistant coach on Connersville’s 1972 IHSAA state championship team and directed Merrillville to a runner-up finish in the 1995 IHSAA state tournament.

East is one of six active coaches with 500 or more varsity victories. The list also includes all-time Indiana victory leader Jack Butcher of Loogootee, Bill Harrell of Muncie Central, Pat Rady of Terre Haute, Jim Jones of Terre Haute North, Bill Patrick of Tippecanoe Valley and Basil Mawbey of Cass.

www.ihsaa.org/b-basketball/01Leaders.htm

www.ihsaa.org/b-basketball/0001Bests.htm

Stan Benge, girls basketball coach at Ben Davis, celebrated his 300^th career victory Feb. 1 as the Giants defeated Brebeuf 83-46. Benge is in his 16^th season, all at Ben Davis. He directed the Giants to the IHSAA Class 4A state championship in 2000.

Laura Brumfiel, a senior at Cambridge City Lincoln, became the school’s career scoring leader Feb. 3 while scoring 13 points in a 72-38 loss to Eastern Hancock. Brumfiel left the game with 1,155 career points, breaking the previous record of 1,150 points by Kylie Thornhill. Brumfiel also is the school’s career assists leader with 405.

Levi Carmichael, a senior at Eastern (Bloomfield), became the school’s career scoring leader Jan. 31 with 20 points in a 62-53 victory at Barr-Reeve. Carmichael left the game with 1,312 points.

Carroll (Fort Wayne) clinched its first Northeast Hoosier Conference girls basketball title Jan. 27 with a 67-40 victory over Bellmont.

Jay Dawson, a senior at Benton Central, became the fifth player in school history to score 1,000 career points. He reached the plateau Feb. 2 with 21 points against North Montgomery in an 88-47 victory.

Larry Kahle, girls basketball coach at New Harmony, celebrated his 100^th career victory Jan. 11 as the Rappites defeated Mount Vernon.

Tara Kensinger, a senior at Oregon-Davis scored the 1,000^th point of her career Feb. 1 against Elkhart Baptist. Kensinger scored 17 points in the game. She also brought her career rebounding total to 958.

Lake Central High School will induct former girls basketball standouts Kristina Divjak and Leslie Rossa into its athletic hall of fame during ceremonies at Friday’s (Feb. 9) game between the Indians and Andrean. The 1995 graduates led Lake Central to the IHSAA girls basketball state championship in 1994.

Meghan Lunsford, a senior at Cambridge City Lincoln, broke the school record when she connected on seven three-point goals Feb. 1 as the Golden Eagles defeated Cowan 65-27.

Brooke McKee, a senior at Southwood, broke the school’s girls basketball career scoring record Jan. 31 against Eastbrook. She scored 24 points in the game and brought her career total 1,039. The previous record was 1,028 by 1977 graduate Rhonda Martin.

Tom McKinney, boys basketball coach at Bloomington North, celebrated his 350^th career victory Feb. 3 as the Cougars moved to 12-2 with a 58-55 triumph at Lawrence Central. McKinney, who directed Bloomington North to the IHSAA state title in 1997, is in his 14th year at the school. He previously coached at Franklin.

Courtney Nicley, a senior at Western Boone, broke the school’s single-game scoring record Jan. 30 as the Stars defeated visiting Rossville 79-53. Nicely scored 47 points, and broke the standard of 44 set by Laura Burns in 1997-98. Her father, Paul Nicley, set the school’s single-game record for boys basketball with consecutive 47-point games in 1975-76. Courtney Nicley followed her single-game explosion with a 22-point effort Feb. 2 against Crawfordsville that gave her 1,015 points for her career.

Kelly O’Donnell, a senior at Indianapolis Scecina, established a school record Jan. 30 with seven three-point goals in a 77-35 loss at Warren Central.

Angie Rodgers, a senior at Castle, became the first girl in school history to score 1,000 career points. She reached the plateau Jan. 29 in a 55-53 loss to Evansville Memorial while scoring 24 points. Roe has signed a Division I basketball letter of intent with Florida Atlantic.

Kyle Roe, a senior at Hamilton Southeastern, broke the school record for three-point goals in a game when he netted nine in 14 attempts Jan. 23 as the Royals defeated Park Tudor 89-70. Roe scored 39 points in the game.

South Bend Riley clinched its first Northern Indiana girls basketball title since 1979 with a 61-51 victory over South Bend Clay on Feb. 2.

Jordan Tandy, a senior at Triton Central, grabbed his 500^th career rebound and became the school’s career rebounding leader Feb. 3 as the Tigers defeated South Decatur 70-38.

Wawasee won its first outright Northern Lakes Conference girls basketball title since 1984 and set a school regular with its 20^th victory of the season in an 86-51 victory Feb. 2 at Northridge. The Warriors (20-0) finished league play at 7-0.

Josh Weimer, a senior at Lakeland, celebrated his 18^th birthday Feb. 2 with 11 three-point goals in 17 attempts. He finished with a career-high 40 points to lead the Lakers past Churubusco 87-71. The 11 three-pointers is a state high this season.