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

_____________________________________________________________________________

MEDIA INFORMATION                                                                           March 2, 2005

Contact: Jason Wille, Sports Information Director                                                                    

E-Mail: jwille@ihsaa.org

 

 

GIRLS BASKETBALL STATE FINALISTS GATHER FOR 30TH TIME SATURDAY

Two defending state champions, one former champ, one former runner-up and four schools that will be making their first appearance on Indiana’s biggest basketball stage, make up this year’s eight participants in the IHSAA’s 30th Girls State Finals.

 

Tri-Central in Class A and North Central of Indianapolis in 4A are both back to defend their respective titles won a year ago. In fact, Tri-Central, coached by Kathie Layden, will be looking to become the first school to win its third consecutive state championship in the small school class. The Trojans return three of their five starters from last year’s title winner – juniors Kaci Allen, Meranda Burnett and Janel Cox. North Central, meanwhile, went into the post-season losing two of its last three ballgames, but has caught fire in the tournament including an upset victory over top-ranked Hamilton Southeastern in the sectional opener on the opponent’s home floor. The Panthers, who only returned one starter – 6-5 junior Amber Harris – from last year’s squad, have won all six tournament games by 10 or more points and the last three by 20 or more. They are coached by Alan Vickrey, now in his eighth year with the Panthers. Over his 24 years as a head coach, he is 388-194 to rank eighth among winningest active coaches in the state.

 

Shenandoah in Class 2A is returning to the state finals for the fourth time in five seasons under the coaching of Todd Salkoski. The Raiders won the 2A state tournament in 2003 after finishing as the runner-up the previous two years. This year’s team won a nail-biter in overtime in the regional semis, a 69-66 victory over Southwestern (Hanover), a team Shenandoah had played twice in previous years in the state championship game. The team then beat Cambridge City Lincoln for the regional crown and edged Charlestown, 51-48, in Saturday’s semi-state.

 

Also back for another shot at a crown is South Bend St. Joseph’s, the 2003 state runner-up to Beech Grove in Class 3A. Top-ranked in the 3A poll and with all five starters back from last year’s regional championship team, the Indians sport the best record of any state finalist team at 24-1 and have beaten their six tournament foes by an average of 26.3 per game. In their last regular season contest on Jan. 29, St. Joseph’s won at 4A finalist Gary West Side by an 80-67 count. They are coached by Mike Megyese.

 

Each championship game will feature a team that is making its first trip to the state finals.

 

In Class A, Northeast Dubois, skippered by Alan Matheis, will be sending a team to the state finals for the first time in an IHSAA team sport (baseball, basketball, football, soccer, softball, volleyball). The Jeeps, ranked fifth in the Class A poll and winners in 11 of their last 12 contests, edged Bloomfield in Saturday’s semi-state, 52-50, to earn the berth.

 

After five previous journeys to the semi-state, North Judson-San Pierre’s girls team finally broke through to the state finals this year. It’s the first Bluejays basketball team to play in the state finals since the boys team played in the 16-team finals in 1934 at Hinkle Fieldhouse. The 2005 North Judson-San Pierre team comes into the game having won 18 of its last 19 games with John Hampton coaching.

 

Like Northeast Dubois, Corydon Central will be represented in a team sport state finals for the first time in school history. Coached by Michael Uhl, the Panthers are winners of 15 consecutive games and haven’t lost since Dec. 30. In fact, their two season setbacks have come by a total of five points.

 

In the big school championship game, the third trip to semi-state was the charm for Gary West Side and coach Rodney Fisher. West Side’s Shanee Butler hit a three-pointer from near the top of the key with 15 seconds remaining against Kokomo in the semi-state game for a 49-47 victory which put the Cougars in their first state title game. Fisher is the fifth winningest active head coach in the state with 444 victories in his 28 years, 19 of which have come at the West Side post. He owns an .810 winning percentage (325-76) as the Cougars coach.

 

The girls basketball state finals also will be part of a great list of hardwood events coming to Indianapolis over the next five weeks, particularly in the women’s game, including the Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament at Conseco Fieldhouse (March 3-7) and the NCAA Women’s Final Four (April 3, 5) at the RCA Dome.

 

 

THE 30TH ANNUAL IHSAA GIRLS BASKETBALL STATE FINALS

Saturday, March 5, 2005

 

Session I

Class A | Tri-Central (18-7) vs. Northeast Dubois (20-5)

Game begins at 10:36 a.m. EST; Gates open at 9:30 a.m.

Class 2A | North Judson-San Pierre (22-3) vs. Shenandoah (21-5)

Game begins approximately 40 minutes following conclusion of previous game.

 

Session II

Class 3A | South Bend St. Joseph’s (24-1) vs. Corydon Central (24-2) | Game begins 6:36 p.m. EST; Gates open at 5:30 p.m.

Class 4A | Gary West Side (23-4) vs. North Central (Indianapolis) (19-7) | Game begins approximately 40 minutes following conclusion of previous game.

 

For a PDF view of the team rosters, statistics and other information, click on Meet The Teams.

 

Where: Conseco Fieldhouse, (capacity 18,500) (www.consecofieldhouse.com), Indianapolis, IN, USA.

This is the fifth year the IHSAA Girls Basketball State Finals have been played in this venue. It is the home of the Indiana Pacers (NBA) and the Indiana Fever (WNBA).

Conseco Fieldhouse | Seating Chart | Driving Directions | Parking | Fieldhouse Facts | Fieldhouse History

 

Tickets: Single Session $10.00 | Season $18.00.

Reserved tickets can be purchased at the participating schools the week of the state finals. Contact those schools for ticket distribution hours. Any remaining tickets will be available game day at the Conseco Fieldhouse ticket office.

 

Television: WHMB-TV, Indianapolis is originating the broadcast of all four games on the IHSAA Championship Television Network. For the Class A & 2A championships, Chuck Freeby will call the play-by-play, Jane Schott will provide the analysis and Rob Blackman as the sideline reporter. Working the Class 3A & 4A games will be Jerry Baker with the play-by-play while Schott and Freeby will provide analysis and sideline reports, respectively. Log on to the IHSAA website at www.ihsaa.org this week for the most updated list of stations carrying the broadcasts. Coverage

 

Radio: WIBC Radio in Indianapolis will act as the originating station for all four games of the IHSAA Championship Radio Network. Jim Barbar will provide the play-by-play for all four games during the day along with Rich Nye as the sideline reporter. Judi Warren will provide analysis during the Class A and 2A games while Jan Conner will analyze the 3A and 4A contests. Log on to the IHSAA website at www.ihsaa.org this week for the most updated list of stations carrying the broadcasts. Coverage

 

Souvenir Programs: $3.00 per copy, available at the event on gameday. $5.00 by mail. To pay by Visa or MasterCard, contact the IHSAA at 317-846-6601 (M-F, 8-4 p.m. EST).

 

Lodging in Indy: For those interested in making hotel reservations in Indianapolis during the state finals, visit the Indianapolis Convention & Visitors Association website at www.indy.org/ihsaawinterhotels for a list of options and rates. Or, contact 1-800-556-INDY or 317-684-2589 (Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. EST) or via e-mail at traveldesk@indianapolis.org. | Restaurants & Dining

 

Public Entrance -- The public may enter from Pennsylvania Street or Delaware Street into a common lobby on the north side of Conseco Fieldhouse. Ticket office windows are located there.

 

Media Hosts: IHSAA Sports Information Director Jason Wille and Communications Director Joe Gentry, along with assistants Mike Wilson and Travis Tranbarger, will be on hand to assist in your coverage of the state meet.

 

Media Work Room -- As in previous years, the media workroom at Conseco Fieldhouse will be open all day and be available to working media members. The work area contains complimentary phones that will accept credit card and 800 calls. Soft drinks and snacks will be available.

 

Media Credentials – Media credentials are available to this event to legitimate, working members of the media. Credentials are not transferable person to person. Broadcast media should contact Mark Higdon of Associated Sports Productions at 317-633-1462 to make arrangements immediately. Print media and approved broadcast media should make their credential request on company letterhead and fax it to IHSAA Sports Information Director Jason Wille at 317-575-4244. No e-mail requests will be accepted. Approved requests will be left for pickup inside the Media Entrance at Conseco Fieldhouse beginning at 8:30 a.m. EST.

 

Media Entrance -- To gain admittance, the 2004-05 IHSAA Girls Basketball State Finals Media Media Credential is required. The entrance is in the southeast corner of Conseco Fieldhouse adjacent to Delaware Street. The door is marked Media Entrance and is located at the opposite end of the building from the public entrance. Please allow a few extra minutes to pass through security.

 

Press Seating – With the exception of the Associated Press, all radio stations, the IHSAA Championship Radio Network and the IHSAA Television Network whose seats are marked, an open seating policy is used on the west side of Conseco Fieldhouse.

 

Results and Statistics – Both will be posted to the IHSAA website as soon as possible after the game. Stats and box scores will be distributed at the end of each quarter on press row as well as in the media work room.

 

No Children, Please – With the exception of high school students representing their school’s newspaper, yearbook, radio or  television station, and who have a team participating, no young people or children will be issued  media credentials or be allowed in the working media area.

 

Post Game Guidelines and Procedures

With the exception of the IHSAA’s Official Photographer -- 20-20 Photographic, the IHSAA Championship Radio Network and IHSAA Television Network, all media members are asked to remain off the floor during the post-game ceremonies.

 

The post-game ceremonies order will be as follows:

  • Mental Attitude Award presentation
  • Runner-Up medals and trophy presentation
  • Championship medals and trophy presentation
  • Team Photographs by 20-20 Photographic

 

Following the Class A, 2A and 3A awards ceremonies, coaches and selected players will be escorted to the Media Interview Room for a formal press conference which is located on playing floor level just off the media entrance elevator. We ask your assistance to use the press conference as the appropriate time to conduct interviews. The runner-up team coach and selected players will go first followed by the championship team coach and players.

 

Because of newspaper deadline issues at the end of the 4A contest, no press conference will be scheduled and news media will be allowed to conduct interviews on and around the floor after the awards ceremonies. For those working on deadline, the IHSAA will distribute “quick quotes” in the media work room taken from the IHSAA Television and Radio Network interviews as soon as possible after the game.

 

 

Latest State Rankings

Compiled by the Indiana Coaches of Girls Sports Association. Feb. 7 Poll (End of Regular Season).

 

State Scoring & Rebounding Leaders

As reported to the IHSAA through games of Feb. 26, 2005

 

A complete list of the state’s top scorers and rebounders is available at: State's Leaders

 

Top 10 Scoring

Player

School

Class

Grade

Games

Total

Avg.

High

Jodi Howell

Alexandria Monroe

2A

12

22

631

28.7

52

Megan King

Fort Wayne Canterbury

A

10

23

616

26.8

40

Samantha Stahl

Owen Valley

3A

10

21

547

26.1

41

Stefanie Gerardot

Fort Wayne Bishop Luers

3A

12

25

600

24.0

38

Amanda Stull

Rushville

3A

11

22

526

23.9

41

Ashley Barlow

Pike

4A

11

22

521

23.7

36

Candace Jones

Indianapolis Arsenal Technical

4A

12

21

487

23.2

39

Janette Burgin

Clinton Prairie

A

12

22

499

22.7

37

Angela Willis

Richmond

4A

12

22

499

22.7

37

Brittany Schoen

South Central (Elizabeth)

A

9

19

411

21.6

31

 

Top 10 Rebounding

Player

School

Class

Grade

Games

Total

Avg.

High

Kelsie Manuel

Union (Dugger)

A

11

20

268

13.4

20

Maria Roller

Medora

A

11

21

276

13.1

27

Ta’Shia Phillips

Brebeuf Jesuit

3A

10

25

326

13.0

27

Anna Kammrath

South Central (Union Mills)

A

11

25

317

12.7

21

Kris Coner

Indian Creek

2A

12

21

256

12.2

20

Stephanie Lynch

New Albany

4A

12

20

232

11.7

19

Poppy Miller

New Haven

3A

12

22

258

11.7

--

Brittney Moore

Merrillville

4A

11

21

243

11.6

18

Leah Young

Medora

A

12

21

245

11.6

16

Rachel Varnes

Cloverdale