IHSAA Girls Basketball

1996-97 State Finals in Review

Martinsville became the 16th different school to claim the state championship in the 22nd Annual Indiana High School Athletic Association Girls Basketball State Finals March 1, 1997 at Market Square Arena in Indianapolis.

Coached by Jan Conner, Martinsville defeated Crown Point 66-59 for its 24th consecutive victory and a 26-1 finish to its championship season. Crown Point, a two-time state champion making its first state finals appearance since 1985, finished 22-5 under the direction of coach Tom May.

With only one senior on its roster and none in the starting lineup, Martinsville's aggressive defense was outstanding. The Artesians forced 24 Crown Point turnovers resulting in 15 Martinsville points.

Junior forward April Traylor led Martinsville offensively with 17 points, while guards Natalie Rhoden and Kristen Bodine contributed 14 points each.

Junior Sarah Little came off the bench to lead Crown Point scoring with 14 points.

Martinsville, a first-time state finalist whose only loss was to 1996 state champion Center Grove in the third game of the season, entered tournament play ranked second in the state coaches association poll. Crown Point was ranked 19th.

Crown Point had advanced to the championship game with a 58-42 semifinals triumph over first-time state finalist NorthWood (25-1). Jennifer Peak led Crown Point with 12 points, while LoriDawn Klotz and Amy Zercher paced NorthWood with 11 points each.

Martinsville took a 31-17 halftime lead over Columbus East in the first semifinals game, but had to withstand the determined Olympians in the fourth quarter before posting a 55-51 victory. The game was tied 47-47 with 3:46 to play before Martinsville rallied to advance. Junior Bryn Gallagher contributed 14 points and 14 rebounds for Columbus East, while Leslie Deaton led Martinsville offensively with 14 points.

April Traylor was named the tournament's most valuable player by the Associated Press. Other members of the all-tourney team were Kristen Bodine and Natalie Rhoden of Martinsville, and Jennifer Peak and Sarah Little of Crown Point.

The IHSAA Executive Committee selected Amberly (A.J.) Whitehead of NorthWood as the 1997 recipient of the IHSAA Mental Attitude Award in Girls Basketball. Farm Bureau Insurance, corporate sponsor of all IHSAA tournaments, presented a $1,000 scholarship in Whitehead's name to NorthWood High School.

A total of 380 schools and 4,457 athletes began competition at the sectional level.

Amy Frey of Perry Meridian won the Third Annual IHSAA-Farm Bureau Insurance 3-Point Shootout by hitting 16 of 25 shots in the final round of competition. It was the second title for Frey, who was the inaugural champion in 1995.

The 1997 runners-up were sophomore Jennifer Turner of Terre Haute North and senior Sheila Whitaker of Warsaw who hit 15 shots each. Senior Angie Watt of Princeton finished fourth with nine.

Frey was representing the Beech Grove Sectional and the Southport Semi-State area. She hit 14 shots in the semifinals to qualify for the championship round. Turner was the top shooter in the semifinals with 17 hits, followed by Watt with 14 and Whitaker with 12.

At every level of the competition, shooters had the opportunity to shoot five balls each at five different stations around the three-point arc within a 60-second period.

Team Rebounds: 4

Team Rebounds: 4

Score by Quarters:

Martinsville	10	21	7	17	-	55
Columbus East	7	14	16	14	-	51

Officials: Bryce Heller, Jay C. Smith, Kent Smith

Attendance: 12,759 (Two-game session)

Team Rebounds: 5

Team Rebounds: 12

Score by Quarters:

NorthWood	10	11	7	14	-	42
Crown Point	13	14	13	18	-	58

Officials: Norman Delph, Roger Holder, Kent Smith

Attendance: 12,759 (Two-game session)

Team Rebounds: 4

Team Rebounds: 9

Score by Quarters:

Crown Point	13	19	15	12	-	59
Martinsville	16	14	19	17	-	66

Officials: Marvin Davis, Ed Scahill, Kent Smith

Attendance: 12,743