SOUTHRIDGE CAPTURES SCHOOL'S
FIRST IHSAA STATE CROWN
Southridge converted six free throws in the last 24 seconds of the game to capture a 62-57 victory and the Class 2A state championship at the 23rd Annual IHSAA Girls Basketball State Finals March 14, 1998 at Market Square Arena in Indianapolis.
After Bluffton had cut the lead to 56-55, Southridge's Rachel Matthews hit four consecutive free throws and Jessica Heidorn added two more with 2.4 seconds left on the clock to put the game out of reach for the Raiders. It was the first state crown in any sport for Southridge, which finished the season 21-5 under Stan Roesner. It was the first trip to the state finals for Southridge.
The Raiders were led by four-year starters Kara Meyer and Jill Fenneman, who scored 28 and 12 points, respectively. Each collected 13 rebounds. Four players scored in double figures for Bluffton, which also was making its first state finals appearance. Abby Salscheider led the Tigers with 20 points and six rebounds. Rachel Miller added 14 points and six rebounds.
Bluffton, coached by Ron DeWitt, ended its year at 21-6 after its first appearance in the state finals.
The IHSAA Executive Committee selected Abby Salscheider of Bluffton High School as the recipient of the Mental Attitude Award in Girls Basketball for Class 2A. Farm Bureau Insurance, the corporate partner for all IHSAA tournaments, presented a $1,000 scholarship to Bluffton High School in the name of Salscheider.
1998 IHSAA CLASS 2A CHAMPIONSHIP
GAME BOX SCORE
Southridge (21-5)
Name |
Min. |
FG |
3FG |
FT |
R |
A |
F |
S |
TO |
TP |
Rachel Matthews |
27 |
0-7 |
0-2 |
6-6 |
4 |
2 |
4 |
1 |
9 |
6 |
Ara Uebelhor |
31 |
3-10 |
0-1 |
1-2 |
5 |
3 |
4 |
0 |
6 |
7 |
Kara Meyer |
31 |
12-21 |
3-9 |
1-2 |
13 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
3 |
28 |
Jayme Boeglin |
31 |
3-8 |
0-2 |
1-1 |
3 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
7 |
Jill Fenneman |
29 |
3-6 |
0-0 |
6-10 |
13 |
2 |
5 |
1 |
1 |
12 |
Amanda Veatch |
1 |
0-0 |
0-0 |
0-0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Jessica Heidorn |
6 |
0-1 |
0-0 |
2-2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
Anna Bueltel |
1 |
0-0 |
0-0 |
0-0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Jennifer McClane |
1 |
0-0 |
0-0 |
0-0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Laura Riehle |
1 |
0-0 |
0-0 |
0-0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Jamie Newman |
1 |
0-0 |
0-0 |
0-0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Team Totals |
160 |
21-53 |
3-14 |
17-23 |
40 |
10 |
14 |
6 |
21 |
62 |
Percentages |
|
39.6 |
21.4 |
73.9 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Team Rebounds: 9
Bluffton (21-6)
Name |
Min. |
FG |
3FG |
FT |
R |
A |
F |
S |
TO |
TP |
Lindsay Wolf |
26 |
4-11 |
3-6 |
0-0 |
3 |
1 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
11 |
Rachel Miller |
31 |
5-13 |
2-3 |
2-6 |
6 |
5 |
2 |
5 |
5 |
14 |
Abby Salscheider |
31 |
8-23 |
0-3 |
4-6 |
6 |
2 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
20 |
Heather Schlagenhauf |
9 |
0-1 |
0-0 |
0-0 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
Jill Shanklin |
26 |
1-5 |
0-0 |
0-0 |
3 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
Jaymie Garrett |
1 |
0-0 |
0-0 |
0-0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Janette Robles |
1 |
0-0 |
0-0 |
0-0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Abby Mowery |
27 |
5-11 |
0-0 |
0-0 |
6 |
0 |
4 |
1 |
0 |
10 |
Leslie Schweikhardt |
1 |
0-0 |
0-0 |
0-0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Christena Frauhiger |
5 |
0-0 |
0-0 |
0-0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
Abbi Tuttle |
1 |
0-0 |
0-0 |
0-0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Natalie Ballinger |
1 |
0-0 |
0-0 |
0-0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Team Totals |
160 |
23-64 |
5-12 |
6-12 |
25 |
8 |
16 |
16 |
14 |
57 |
Percentages |
|
35.9 |
41.7 |
50.0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Team Rebounds: 11
Score by Periods:
Southridge |
12 |
16 |
19 |
15 |
-- |
62 |
Bluffton |
11 |
12 |
17 |
17 |
-- |
57 |
Officials: Bruce Klonowski, Kent Smith, Keith Fields (alternate)
Attendance (Two-game session): 8,578