2000 IHSAA Girls Basketball State Finals

Class 4A Championship Results

BEN DAVIS WINS ITS FIRST GIRLS BASKETBALL STATE CROWN

Ben Davis held off a determined Valparaiso squad to capture an exciting 56-53 victory in the Class 4A state championship game on Saturday at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

The (Class 4A) top-ranked Giants finished 28-0 under coach Stan Benge. It was the second IHSAA state championship for Ben Davis this school year (5A football) and its first in girls basketball.

Additionally, Ben Davis becomes the ninth different school to complete a perfect season. Previously finishing unbeaten were: Warsaw (1976, 1978), East Chicago Roosevelt (1977, 1979), Crown Point (1984), Fort Wayne Northrop (1986), Noblesville (1987), Bedford North Lawrence (1991), Martinsville (1998) and New Albany (1999). Ben Davis also becomes the third consecutive Class 4A state champion to finish undefeated (Martinsville, 1998, New Albany, 1999).

Ben Davis led most of the game but had to hang on in the final minutes as Valparaiso rallied to grab a 52-50 lead with 1:27 remaining after Courtney Rosenbaum converted a three-point play after being fouled on a layup. Ashley Allen, who finished with 19 points, then answered with a layup of her own to tie the score at the 1:13 mark.

After a Ben Davis foul, Rosenbaum converted the first of two free throws, before Allen hit a jumper in the lane with :10 seconds remaining to put the Giants up 54-53. While moving the ball up court on the ensuing play, the Giants pressing defense forced a jump ball and gained possession on the alternating possession rule.

Ben Davis inbounded the ball and wasted several seconds before being fouled with just over a second to go. Allen rebounded the miss free throw and put it back for the final margin.

The (Class 4A) fourth-ranked Vikings, coached by Greg Kirby, finished their season 25-2. The Vikings were making their state record fifth appearance in the state finals, but have never won a title.

Both teams top players came up big in the game. Rosenbaum took game honors with 22 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. Ben Davis' Shyra Ely, who fouled out with 1:27 to play, finished with 21 points and 11 rebounds. Allen finished with 19 points for Ben Davis as did Erin Sampsel for Valparaiso.

BEN DAVIS' STRAHM WINS ROY MENTAL ATTITUDE AWARD

Sara Strahm of Ben Davis High School was selected by the IHSAA Executive Committee as the recipient of the Patricia L. Roy Mental Attitude Award in Class 4A Girls Basketball.

Strahm, the daughter of assistant coach Terry Strahm, will become the first Ben Davis athlete to win 12 varsity letters having started all four years in softball and volleyball.

Academically, Strahm ranks 23rd in her senior class of 860 students with a 4.1 grade point average (4.0 scale). She has served as her class secretary the last three years, is a member of the National Honor Society and also works as the school's yearbook sports editor.

She has accepted a basketball scholarship to Butler University where she intends to major in journalism and education.

Farm Bureau Insurance, the corporate partner of the IHSAA, presented a $1,000 scholarship to Ben Davis High School in the name of Strahm.

CLASS 4A POST-GAME QUOTES

Ben Davis Coach Stan Benge

"Our pressure worked some but we couldn't pressure them like we wanted because of our foul troubles. Valparaiso has a very good team. We played nine or 10 good team this year and Valparaiso should be ranked very high (in regards to Ben Davis' USA Today national ranking).

(On Shyra Ely fouling out of the game) "Right before Shyra picked up her fifth foul, we thought about spreading our offense out. My assistant coach wanted to but I decided not to."

Ben Davis' Shyra Ely

"Teamwork (was the key to the victory). After I fouled out, everyone stepped up."

Valparaiso Coach Greg Kirby

"I think with six minutes, we were down nine points and we fought back and took a lead against the No. 3 ranked team in the country. In the end, their athleticism won the game for them. We thought if we could make them score on the first shot we would be in pretty good shape. But it was the second and third shots that killed us like everybody else."

(On the season) "This group played as well consistently as any group that I've ever had."

(On Valparaiso's Erin Sampsel) "She's really the most important reason that we're 25-2."

 

CLASS 4A CHAMPIONSHIP BOX SCORE

Ben Davis (28-0)

Name

Min.

FG

3FG

FT

R

A

F

S

TO

TP

Kristyn Cox

15

1-2

0-0

1-2

1

1

4

1

1

3

Sara Strahm

25

2-13

1-3

0-1

3

2

4

1

0

5

Shyra Ely

30

9-13

0-0

3-3

11

0

5

2

4

21

Ashley Allen

29

9-20

1-5

0-0

5

1

4

4

1

19

Megan Jones

32

2-7

0-2

0-0

5

5

1

4

1

4

Amber Johnson

21

2-6

0-1

0-0

1

2

1

4

0

4

Adrienne Jones

8

0-0

0-0

0-0

0

1

0

1

1

0

Team Total

 

25-61

2-11

4-6

27

12

19

16

8

56

Percentages

 

.410

.182

.667

           

Team Rebounds: 1

Valparaiso (25-2)

Name

Min.

FG

3FG

FT

R

A

F

S

TO

TP

Allison Mosak

31

2-4

0-0

0-0

0

0

0

0

1

4

Lee Traynham

32

2-6

0-0

2-4

7

4

3

0

4

6

Courtney Rosenbaum

32

9-13

0-0

4-7

11

0

3

1

5

22

Erin Sampsel

32

5-8

1-2

8-9

4

4

1

1

8

19

Dana Lippelt

30

1-3

0-1

0-0

2

1

2

0

2

2

Karen Puplava

3

0-0

0-0

0-0

2

0

1

0

0

0

Team Totals

 

19-34

1-3

14-20

29

9

10

2

20

53

Percentages

 

.559

.333

.700

           

Team Rebounds: 2

Score by Quarters:

Ben Davis

11

16

15

14

-

56

Valparaiso

12

9

13

19

-

53

Attendance (Two-game session): 9,031

Officials: Jay C. Smith, Eric Coburn.