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 22, 2006

Contact: Jason Wille, Sports Information Director                                                                    

E-Mail: jwille@ihsaa.org

 

 

TWO REMATCHES INCLUDED IN SATURDAY’S BOYS BASKETBALL STATE FINALS

Four repeat entries from 2005, another making its first trip since 1984 and three others making their first appearances in school history highlight Saturday’s hardwood festivities in the 96th Annual IHSAA Boys Basketball State Finals at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

 

Two of this year’s games – Class 2A and 4A – are rematches from last season, the first time since 1928 that that has occurred for a championship game.

 

Harding and Forest Park will go at it once again in Class 2A while the Class 4A game features Muncie Central and Lawrence North with plenty of historical ramifications involved.

 

Two-time defending 4A state champion Lawrence North (28-0) will attempt to become just the third team to win three consecutive state championships (Franklin 1920-22) (Marion 1985-87). A victory, which would be their 45th straight, would also equal the state record for the longest winning streak in state history (Indianapolis Cripus Attucks 1955-56) and earn them the distinction as the 10th team in state history to finish a season unbeaten.

 

Tradition-rich Muncie Central (20-5), despite losing all five starters from last year’s runner-up team, has navigated its way back to the final game as well. The Bearcats will be looking to add their record ninth state championship and are playing in a record 15th title game since their initial experience back in 1923.

 

New Castle, making its first trip to the state finals since 1984 and ninth appearance overall, will meet Jay County for the 3A championship. Jay County is the first school from that county to ever advance to this level of the tournament.

 

The opening game in Class A will pit two first-timers against one another as Hauser meets Tri-Central. Both are ranked in the top five of the Associated Press Class A poll at Nos. 3 and 4, respectively. Tri-Central features the state’s leading scorer in senior Grayson Flittner at 29.3 PPG.

 

This PDF file contains additional information on the state finals, including game notes, rosters, stats and schedules for each of the eight teams.

 

Last year’s evening session (Class 3A and 4A games) drew a sell-out crowd of 18,345 for the first time since 2000.

 

 

96th Annual IHSAA Boys Basketball State Finals

Date: Saturday, March 25.

Site: Conseco Fieldhouse, 125 S. Pennsylvania Street, Indianapolis.

Conseco Fieldhouse | Seating Chart | Driving Directions | Parking | Fieldhouse History & Facts | Indy Hotels & Dining

Admission: 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. Remaining tickets also will be available game day at the ticket office at Conseco Fieldhouse.

Home Team: The first-named team in each game will be the designated home team.

 

Session I

Class A Championship – Tri-Central (23-3) vs. Hauser (24-2). 10:36 a.m. EST

Class 2A Championship – Harding (17-9) vs. Forest Park (24-3). Follows at approximately 12:30 p.m. EST

 

Session II

Class 3A Championship – Jay County (20-6) vs. New Castle (20-6). 6:06 p.m. EST

Class 4A Championship – Muncie Central (20-5) vs. Lawrence North (28-0). Follows at approximately 8 p.m. EST

 

 

Television: All four state championship games will be carried live statewide on cable television via the Indiana Cable Network. Chris Denari and John Laskowski will provide the play-by-play and color commentary throughout the

day with John Michael Vincent serving as the sideline reporter.

 

Radio: All four state title games will be aired on the IHSAA Championship Radio Network throughout the Hoosier State. Jerry Baker and Pete Smith will provide the play-by-play and color commentary for the Class A and 2A games, while those same duties will fall to Vince Welch and Steve Witty for the Class 3A and 4A contests. Bob Lovell will work as the sideline reporter throughout the day.

 

Internet: Audio streaming for all four state championship contests will be available to fans around the globe via the IHSAA’s Official Internet Voice, www.hoosierauthority.com.

 

Souvenir Programs: $3.00 per copy, available at the event on game day. $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 for a list of options and rates at www.indy.org. 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.

 

Practice Times – The eight schools will each have a one hour practice at Conseco Fieldhouse on Thursday and Friday. Practices are open to the media, but not to the general public. Please go to the Employee/Media Entrance at Conseco Fieldhouse on the southeast side of the building facing Delaware Street for access. Any interviews or comments before, during or after the practice are at the coaches’ discretion. The practice times are as follows:

 

Thursday, March 23

2:30 p.m. – Muncie Central

3:30 p.m. – Hauser

4:30 p.m. – Tri-Central

5:30 p.m. – New Castle

 

Friday, March 24

1 p.m. – Lawrence North

2 p.m. – Jay County

3 p.m. – Forest Park

4 p.m. – Harding

 

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. Gates will open to fans at 9:30 a.m. for the morning session and re-open at 5 p.m. for the evening session. The facility will be cleared following the 2A game.

 

Media Entrance -- To gain admittance, the 2005-06 IHSAA Boys 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 Employee/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. The entrance will open Saturday morning at 8 a.m. EST and re-open at 4 p.m. EST for the evening session of games.

 

Media Hosts -- IHSAA Sports Information Director Jason Wille and Communications Director Joe Gentry, along with assistants Mike Wilson and Amber Feldman, will be on hand to assist in your coverage of the state finals.

 

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 as well.

 

Media Seating – With the exception of the Associated Press, all radio and internet stations, the IHSAA Championship Radio Network and the Indiana Cable 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. 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.

 

Locker Room Access: No one except tournament workers and team coaches and participants will have access to the inner hallways where locker rooms are located.

 

Post-Game Media Guidelines And Procedures

With the exception of the IHSAA’s Championship Radio and Television networks, its official photographer (Visual Sports Network), and its Internet Voice (HoosierAuthority.com), all media members are asked to remain off the playing floor and behind the ropes during the post-game awards ceremonies. The order for post-game ceremonies will be as follows:

  • Mental Attitude Award presentation
  • Runner-Up medals and trophy presentation
  • Championship medals and trophy presentation
  • Team Photographs by Visual Sports Network

 

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 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.

 

 

MONTEZUMA’S TOM ROHR TO BE HONORED AS TOP OFFICIAL

Tom Rohr is the recipient of the 2006 Interscholastic Athletic Official Association Award for excellence in the sport of boys basketball. Rohr will be honored in a special ceremony during today’s state finals. During his career, he has 29 sectionals, 20 regionals, seven semi-states and two state finals to his credit.

 

Each year, the Indiana High School Athletic Association, in cooperation with the National Federation of Interscholastic Officials Association, recognizes and honors an outstanding official in each of 11 sports during the school year.

 

Rohr was nominated for this award by his peers from the Wabash Valley Officials Association, one of 26 associations located throughout Indiana made up of men and women who give up much of their personal time to assist in providing wholesome, worthwhile and healthy activities for the student-athletes of our state. This honor comes as a result of Rohr’s selection by a committee representing those 26 associations. Statewide, there are more than 8,000 officials licensed by the IHSAA in 11 sports.

 

A 34-year member of the Wabash Valley Officials Association, Rohr has served as an officer, and as a clinician for six years.

 

He is a graduate of Montezuma High School, and has been employed by Encroach for 38 years. Rohr has two children, Jennifer and Kirk, and two grandchildren, Dalton and Destiny.

 

 

 

STATE STATISTICAL LEADERS (as of Tuesday, March 21, 2006)

The following lists of statistical leaders are compiled from information contained at Stats & Go, the IHSAA’s exclusive athletic statistics reporting and publishing service. The IHSAA encourages each of its member schools to participate by registering for free at www.statsandgo.com and updating team and individual statistics by 4 p.m. each Monday of the season.

 

Points per game

 

Name

School (Class)

Grade

G

FG

3FG

FTM

Points

High

PPG

1.

Grayson Flittner

Tri-Central (A)

12

26

238

100

187

763

48

29.3

2.

Vaughn Duggins

Pendleton Heights (3A)

12

20

218

26

124

586

48

29.3

3.

Kelly Muensterman

Evansville Mater Dei (3A)

12

25

233

58

134

658

42

26.3

4.

Aaron Carter

Perry Central (2A)

11

21

183

50

128

524

42

25.0

5.

Ryne Lightfoot

NorthWood (3A)

12

21

162

42

156

522

38

24.9

6.

Chris Vanhoose

Lanesville (A)

11

24

186

44

173

589

39

24.5

7.

Jonathan Jamerson

South Bend Washington (4A)

12

21

149

59

151

508

40

24.2

8.

Dallas Richardson

Lafayette Jefferson (4A)

12

22

185

79

82

531

33

24.1

9.

Shannon McCormick

Muncie Burris (2A)

12

22

184

52

108

528

45

24.0

10.

Luke Harangody

Andrean (3A)

12

25

217

8

149

591

39

23.6

11.

Josh Singer

Marion Lakeview Christian (A)

12

19

182

8

65

437

37

23.0

12.

Chase Haltom

Cloverdale (2A)

12

22

175

87

65

502

36

22.8

13.

Dairese Gary

Concord (4A)

11

20

153

23

115

444

35

22.2

14.

T.J. Wells

Keystone (A)

12

16

144

0

62

350

34

21.9

T15.

Josh Smith

Orleans (A)

12

24

204

4

95

507

35

21.1

T15.

Luke Smith

Rochester (2A)

12

24

172

53

109

506

32

21.1

17.

Preston Mattingly

Evansville Central (4A)

12

22

157

37

104

455

40

20.7

18.

Donnie Pruitt

Randolph Southern (A)

12

21

143

80

59

425

40

20.2

19.

Eshaunte Jones

Fort Wayne North Side (4A)

11

21

163

49

44

419

35

20.0

20.

Grant Leiendecker

Homestead (4A)

12

21

143

55

71

412

40

19.6

 

Rebounds per game

 

Name

School (Class)

Grade

G

Off

Def

Total

High

RPG

1.

Jeron Lewis

Fort Wayne North Side (4A)

12

23

118

200

318

24

13.8

2.

Luke Harangody

Andrean (3A)

12

25

152

167

319

20

12.8

3.

Nathan Schumacher

Evansville Central (4A)

12

22

116

162

278

19

12.6

4.

Kevin Kyle

North Montgomery (2A)

12

23

81

175

256

18

11.1

5.

Aaron Carter

Perry Central (2A)

11

21

59

171

230

19

11.0

6.

Jordan Brittain

Medora (A)

12

19

86

121

207

18

10.9

7.

Richard Oliver

Restoration Christian (A)

12

22

100

138

238

14

10.8

8.

Matt Howard

Connersville (3A)

11

22

54

180

234

18

10.6

9.

Blaine Hammond

Blue River Valley (A)

11

23

104

135

239

17

10.4

10.

Ben Werner

Fairfield (2A)

11

19

73

109

182

20

9.6

T11.

Trevor Davids

Western Boone (3A)

12

21

95

102

197

18

9.4

T11.

Adam Richie

North Judson–San Pierre (2A)

12

21

64

133

197

17

9.4

13.

Luke Etchison

Frankton (2A)

12

18

65

102

167

14

9.3

14.

Norman Wells

Madison (3A)

12

25

76

150

226

13

9.0

15.

Garrett Butcher

Edgewood (3A)

10

22

81

115

196

19

8.9

16.

Mark Mosier

Westville (A)

11

23

62

140

202

19

8.8

T17.

John Leonard

Michigan City Marquette (A)

10

20

78

95

173

19

8.7

T17.

Scott Poulsen

Castle (4A)

12

21

57

125

182

15

8.7

T19.

Chad Bain

Clarksville (2A)

12

21

56

125

181

14

8.6

T19.

Tyree Glass

Fort Wayne