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 15, 2005

Contact: Jason Wille, Sports Information Director                                                                    

E-Mail: jwille@ihsaa.org

 

 

GIRLS GYMNASTICS STATE FINALS THIS SATURDAY

Plenty of new faces will perform this Saturday in the quest for a championship as the 33rd Annual IHSAA Girls Gymnastics State Finals take place at Perry Meridian High School in Indianapolis on Saturday.

 

A different team will appear on the podium’s top step this year as defending champion Hobart did not make this year’s state field. Eyeing the 2005 state title are regional champions Center Grove, Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger, Lawrence Central and Valparaiso. But don’t be surprised if the new state champ finished second at one of last week’s regionals as has happened three out of the previous five years including in Hobart’s case a season ago. The top two teams at each regional have automatically advanced to the state finals since the format changed in 2000.

 

Valparaiso will be gunning for its sixth state title in the sport attempting to tie the state record, while Bishop Dwenger is looking for its third, including its second in three years. Every other team is in search of its first crown, including Crown Point, the only team in this year’s field making its state finals debut.

 

Individually, only two former state champions return to this year’s meet and they both won the same event. Competing in the uneven parallel bars is defending winner Brianna Neumann, a senior from Fort Wayne Northrop and junior Ashley Jacob of Lawrence Central who won the event as a freshman two years ago. Neumann, placed third in the bars at the Huntington North Regional last Friday while Jacob won all-around honors, including three of the four events at the Harrison Regional in West Lafayette.

 

The absence of Valparaiso’s Rebekah Porter, a six-time state champion who graduated last year, and Hobart sophomore Kara Morton, the defending champion in the balance beam, who sustained an injury prior to the sectional that has kept her out of competition, has opened the door for many.

 

Based on their regional performances, those to keep an eye on include Jacob who recorded a 9.8 on the vault and a 38.325 in the all-around competition to top all regional participants; junior Emily Goins of New Palestine who tallied a 9.55 on the balance beam and; senior Jorie Stahl of Crown Point who bested the rest in the floor exercise with her 9.8 last weekend.

 

 

State Finals Order of Participants | Regional Results | Sectional Results

 

 

The 33rd Annual IHSAA Gymnastics State Finals

Date: Saturday, March 19, 2005.

Time: Opening ceremonies begin at 12:30 p.m. EST; competition at 1:00 p.m.

Admission: $6.00.

Where: Perry Meridian High School, 401 W. Meridian School Rd., Indianapolis | Map

Media Host: IHSAA Sports Information Director Jason Wille will be on hand to assist you in your coverage of the event.

Credentials: The black, laminated “2004-05 IHSAA State Finals Media Credential” is good for admission.

Programs: Complimentary copies of the official state finals program will be available for members of the media and include the order of participants in each event as well as some history behind the event.

Working Space: Tables, chairs and electrical power will be available in the balcony area for use by the media. The school’s athletic office will have an available phone line for filing stories and photographs.

Photographers: With the exception of the IHSAA’s Official Photographer from 20-20 Photographic, all photographers should remain off the competition floor during the event. The lower level bleachers are available for your use. After the event, you will be welcome on the floor for the award ceremonies. Also, during the event, please use discretion when photographing the athletes as your camera flash can pose a danger to the safety of the athletes during their performances. Your cooperation is appreciated.

Results: Copies of the official results will be distributed at the meet’s conclusion and will also be posted to the IHSAA website at www.ihsaa.org.

 

 

 

 

BOYS BASKETBALL

 

FINALS STEP: BOYS BASKETBALL SEMI-STATES ON SATURDAY

One defending state champion, five others who have previously been crowned state winners and five more who are playing in their first semi-state highlight this Saturday’s action as the 95th Annual Boys State Basketball Tournament Series reaches its third of four stops.

 

Doubleheaders at each of four sites will be the order of the day with the winner of each game earning a spot in next Saturday’s state finals at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

 

Lawrence North is the only defending state champion still alive in this year’s tournament and will face Terre Haute South in the second game at Southport. Terre Haute South will look for its first trip back to state since 1991. Other former state champs that hope to continue on the tournament trail include Gary West Side, Muncie Central, Plymouth, Washington and Harding.

 

West Side, the 2002 winner in 4A, and Muncie Central will face off in the second game at Lafayette Jefferson. Muncie Central, with its record eight state titles, is looking to break a drought which has reached 17 years since their last appearance in the finals.

 

Plymouth, which won the 1982 state championship in a thrilling double overtime game against Gary Roosevelt, will attempt to end its own state finals drought of 23 seasons. The Pilgrims will meet Wawasee, a first-time regional champion, in the second game at Huntington North.

 

The second game at Seymour will pit Washington against Roncalli. Washington’s state finals dry spell goes back to 1942, the year the school won its third of three championships. Roncalli, meanwhile, is on the verge of its first trip to state after winning the school’s first sectional on March 5. The Rebels have several players on their team that have won three consecutive state football titles for the school.

 

Harding, the 2001 champ in Class 2A, will go toe-to-toe with Glenn, a first-time comer to the semi-state round, in the opener at Huntington North.

 

Besides Glenn, Roncalli and Wawasee, other teams playing in their first semi-states this weekend are Knightstown, which will face 2003 2A state runner-up Forest Park in the opening game at Southport, and Hauser, which will meet Loogootee in Seymour’s first game. Loogootee hopes to advance to the state finals for the first time in 30 years.

 

The first game at Lafayette Jefferson will feature Lapel and Fort Wayne Blackhawk Christian. Lapel hasn’t played in the semi-state since its only other trip in 1940, the year the Bulldogs lost to Hammond Technical in the first game of the state finals. Blackhawk Christian, on the other hand, will be looking for a repeat journey to Conseco Fieldhouse after falling to Waldron in last year’s Class A state championship game.

 

BOYS BASKETBALL SEMI-STATES

Date: Saturday, March 19, 2005.

Times: Recommended time of 1:00 p.m. with second game to follow.

Ticket Information: $7.00.

Media Credentials: Contact host athletic department, unless a live television, radio or internet broadcast is planned. In that case, please contact Mark Higdon of Associated Sports Productions at 317-633-1462 to make arrangements.

Home Team: Second team listed in each pairing is designated as home team.

 

LAFAYETTE JEFFERSON

Game 1 – Class A – Lapel (23-3) vs. Fort Wayne Blackhawk Christian (17-8).

Game 2 – Class 4A – Muncie Central (26-1) vs. Gary West Side (19-4).

 

HUNTINGTON NORTH

Game 1 – Class 2A – Harding (15-9) vs. Glenn (20-6).

Game 2 – Class 3A – Wawasee (20-6) vs. Plymouth (21-3).

 

SOUTHPORT

Game 1 – Class 2A – Forest Park (21-4) vs. Knightstown (21-3).

Game 2 – Class 4A – Terre Haute South (22-5) vs. Lawrence North (22-2).

 

SEYMOUR

Game 1 – Class A – Loogootee (20-4) vs. Hauser (19-6).

Game 2 – Class 3A – Washington (25-2) vs. Roncalli (19-6).

 

 

STATE FINALS PAIRINGS

Date: Saturday, March 26, 2005.

Site: Conseco Fieldhouse, Indianapolis.

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

Indianapolis Accommodations | Restaurants & Dining

Ticket Information: Session $10.00; Season $18.00.

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

 

Session I

Class A Championship

10:30 a.m.

 

Class 2A Championship

12:30 p.m. (approx.)

 

Session II

Class 3A Championship

6:30 p.m.

 

Class 4A Championship

8:30 p.m. (approx.)

 

 

TOURNAMENT TIDBITS

 

LOOKING FOR FIRST STATE FINALS APPEARANCE -- 4A: None; 3A: Roncalli, Wawasee; 2A: Glenn, Knightstown; A: Hauser.

 

LOOKING TO BREAK STATE FINALS DROUGHT (Five or more years) – 65 years Lapel (1940); 63 Washington (1942); 30 – Loogootee (1975); 23 – Plymouth (1982); 17 Muncie Central (1988); 14 – Terre Haute South (1991).

 

LOOKING TO REPEAT AS SEMI-STATE CHAMPIONS – 4A: Lawrence North; 3A: None; 2A: None; A: Fort Wayne Blackhawk Christian.

 

SEMI-STATE CHAMPIONSHIP LEADERS (Year of last title) – 13 – Marion (2000); 12 – Lafayette Jefferson (1996); 11 – Anderson (1990), Muncie Central (1988); 8 – New Albany (1996), East Chicago Washington (1985); 7 – Kokomo (1997); 6 – Gary Roosevelt (1991), Jeffersonville (1995); 5 – Evansville Bosse (1982), Fort Wayne Central (1960), Indianapolis Crispus Attucks (1959); 4 – Ben Davis (1996), Evansville Central (1953), Fort Wayne South Side (1958), Lafayette Central Catholic (2003), Madison (1962), Pike (2003), Richmond (1992), South Bend Central (1963), Terre Haute South (1991), Vincennes Lincoln (1984), Warsaw (1996). Note: 1935-36 was the first year for semi-states.

 

BEST RECORDS IN THE FIELD – Muncie Central (4A) (26-1), Lawrence North (4A) (22-2), Washington (3A) (25-2).

 

TOP CURRENT WINNING STREAKS – Muncie Central (19 straight); Washington (17); Lawrence North (14); Lapel (12).

 

RANKED TEAMS STILL ALIVE (IBCA Poll) – 2. Muncie Central; 3. Lawrence North; 11. Washington; 18. Terre Haute South.

 

2004 STATE CHAMPIONS ALIVE – 4A: Lawrence North; 3A: None; 2A: None; A: None.

 

2004 STATE FINALIST TEAMS ALIVE4A: Lawrence North; 3A: None; 2A: None; A: Fort Wayne Blackhawk Christian.

 

FORMER STATE CHAMPIONS ALIVE4A: Gary West Side (2002 (4A)), Lawrence North (1989, 2004 (4A)), Muncie Central (1928, 1931, 1951, 1952, 1963, 1978, 1979, 1988); 3A: Plymouth (1982), Washington (1930, 1941, 1942); 2A: Harding (2001 (2A)); A: None.

 

SMALLEST SCHOOLS IN THE FIELD (from 2004-05 IHSAA School Directory) – Fort Wayne Blackhawk Christian (220), Lapel (298).

 

LARGEST SCHOOLS IN THE FIELD (from 2004-05 IHSAA School Directory) Lawrence North (2,701), Terre Haute South (1,810).

 

FIRST-TIME REGIONAL CHAMPIONS -- 4A: None; 3A: Roncalli, Wawasee; 2A: Glenn, Knightstown; A: Hauser.

 

REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP DROUGHTS BROKEN (Five or more years) – 65 years Lapel (1940); 54 – Glenn (1951); 22 Washington (1983); 14 Terre Haute South (1991); 11 Muncie Central (1994); 7 Plymouth (1998).

 

REPEAT REGIONAL CHAMPIONS – 4A: Lawrence North; 3A: None; 2A: None; A: Fort Wayne Blackhawk Christian.

 

ACTIVE REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP STREAKS – 3 – Fort Wayne Blackhawk Christian; 2 – Lawrence North.

 

REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP LEADERS (Year of last title) – 38 – Lafayette Jefferson (1996); 34 – Marion (1994); 33 – Kokomo (1997); 28 – Anderson (1996); 25 – Logansport (1974); 23 – Muncie Central (2005); 20 – Richmond (1992); 19 – Evansville Central (1992), Frankfort (1985), Rushville (1979); 18 – Bedford (1974), Connersville (1989), Washington (2005); 17 – New Castle (2000); 15 – Jeffersonville (2000), New Albany (1997).

 

 

CREDENTIAL REQUESTS BEING ACCEPTED FOR BOYS BASKETBALL STATE FINALS

Requests for media credentials to the 95th Annual IHSAA Boys Basketball State Finals on Saturday, March 26 are now being accepted.

 

All requests, except for live radio and internet broadcasts, should be made to the attention of Jason Wille, IHSAA Sports Information Director, on company letterhead and faxed to 317-575-4244. E-mail requests will not be considered. Requests for live radio and internet broadcasts should be made to Mark Higdon, Associated Sports Productions, Inc. at 317-633-1462.

 

The black, laminated pass issued earlier this year and known as the “2004-05 IHSAA State Finals Media Credential” WILL NOT be accepted for admittance. This event, like football and girls basketball, requires a separate application.

 

Those approved requests can be mailed or picked up at the State Finals Press Conference at Conseco Fieldhouse on Monday morning, March 21 if indicated on your request form. All approved requests received Monday, March 21 or later will be held for pickup on Saturday, March 26 at the Media Entrance of Conseco Fieldhouse.

 

Of note, the IHSAA asks your cooperation in limiting your requests to legitimate, working members of the media. Credentials are not transferable and unauthorized usage may result in revocation of credential privileges. Also, children will not be granted credentials and should not be brought to the venue. Your cooperation is appreciated.

 

 

BOYS BASKETBALL STATE FINALS PRESS CONFERENCE ON MONDAY

Coaches from the eight schools in the 2005 IHSAA Boys Basketball State Finals will gather Monday (March 21) at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis for the pre-tournament meeting and press conference. The organizational meeting for school personnel will begin at 10 a.m. EST in the “Best Locker Room” on the playing floor level of the building. The coaches will take part in a press conference beginning at approximately 11 a.m. in the interview room of the Indiana Pacers, also located on the playing floor level. One-on-one interviews with the coaches may be conducted at the conclusion of the press conference.

 

Beginning at 9:45 a.m. EST, members of the media (please have identification if requested by security) should use the Entry Pavilion elevator on the north side of Conseco Fieldhouse and take it to the playing floor level. The “Best Locker Room” is straight down the hallway on the left. The usual Media Entrance on the building’s southeast side will not be available for entry.

 

Updated statistics, rosters and other team information as submitted by the schools will be distributed at the press conference. For outlets that cannot attend, a special state finals information package will be available on the IHSAA website later that day. If you would like to pick up your credentials at the press conference, please indicate that on your request. Please note credential request information mentioned above.

 

 

Latest State Rankings

Compiled by the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association. Feb. 27 Poll (End of regular season)

 

State Scoring & Rebounding Leaders

As reported to the IHSAA through games of March 12, 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

Dominic James

Richmond

4A

12

22

685

31.1

49

Kyle Benge

Plymouth

3A

12

24

659

27.5

44

Shannon McCormick

Muncie Burris

2A

11

19

487

25.7

46

Eric Gordon

North Central (Indianapolis)

4A

10

24

613

25.5

36

Adam Gore

Monrovia

2A

12

24

594

24.8

43

Jesse Howell

South Spencer

2A

12

22

528

24.0

40

Jonathon Jamerson

South Bend Washington

4A

11

22

524

23.8

43

Jeremy Stouder

Elkhart Christian Academy

A

12

23

543

23.6

46

Luke Harangody

Andrean

3A

11

23

541

23.5

---

Jordan Brewer

Clinton Prairie

A

12

22

517

23.5

44

 

Top 10 Rebounding

Player

School

Class

Grade

Games

Total

Avg.

High

Jeremy Stouder

Elkhart Christian Academy

A

12

23

299

13.0

22

Brandon Schumm

Southern Wells

A

12

20

253

12.7

16

Luke Harangody

Andrean

3A

11

23

284

12.3

---

Andrew Joslin

Indianapolis Howe Academy

3A

10

19

234

12.3

22

Mark Williams

Howe Military