Indiana High School Athletic Association
Phone: 317-846-6601
Fax: 317-575-4244 Website:
www.ihsaa.org
_____________________________________________________________________________
March 25, 2006
RANGERS REPEAT AS CLASS 2A STATE CHAMPIONS
In
the first rematch of a championship game since 1928, top-ranked Forest Park won
its second state title in as many years defeating Harding, 61-55, for the Class
2A state championship.
The
Rangers (25-3) became the second team in Class 2A to defend their title (Westview 1999-2000) and it was their 3rd title
game appearance in four years.
Junior
Clint Hopf led Forest Park with 20 points and 10 rebounds
to lead the balanced Forest Park attack. Senior Brandon Hopf
contributed 17 points and 14 rebounds and junior Nathan Allen added 11 points
off the bench.
Like
last year’s game between these two teams, this one went down to the wire again.
Tied at 44-44 heading into the fourth quarter, the lead changed hands twice
early before the Rangers took the lead for good on an offensive rebound and
basket by senior Brandon Hopf at the 5:49 mark for a
49-48 lead. Harding never gave in though. Trailing 56-50, junior Deaundre Muhammad hit a 3-pointer with 1:02 left and the
Hawks quickly called time out. On the next play, Muhammad stole the ball and
scored on a layup to cut the Ranger lead to 56-55 with :50 left. Forest Park sealed it at the line hitting 5
of 6 free throws down the stretch for the final margin.
Coached
by Al Gooden, Harding was led in scoring by Muhammad with 16 points, senior
James Humphrey with 14 and sophomore Pryce Underwood finished with 11. The
Hawks ended the season with a record of 17-10 with 10 of those games against 4A
schools preparing them for their tourney run. Humphrey set a 2A title game
record with five blocked shots and the Harding defense set a record with 17
steals.
Harding
dominated the offensive glass early on and used it to take a 10 point lead early
in the first quarter but Forest Park closed on a 9-1 run though to pull even at
17-17. Harding owned a 27-26 lead at halftime and finished the game with 19
offensive rebounds while their press created 25 Forest Park turnovers.
Coached
by Tom Beech, Forest Park ended the season riding a 19 game winning streak, second
only to Lawrence North which will go for its 45th win the Class 4A
championship game later tonight.
FOREST PARK’S TIM JAMES WINS TRESTER AWARD
Forest Park
senior guard Tim James is the 2005-06 Boys Basketball Class 2A recipient of the
Arthur L. Trester Mental Attitude Award as selected
by members of the IHSAA Board of Directors.
James is a
two-year starter for the Rangers, helping coach Tom Beach’s team to the 2005
Class 2A championship. The two-time
all-conference selection is captain of the Rangers’ top-ranked squad this
season. James will finish his career as
the school’s all-time leader in three-point accuracy, hitting 48 of 109 treys
(.440) coming into the final game. The
versatile James also plays baseball for the Rangers, earning an invitation to
the Junior All-Star Showcase.
James ranks
first in his senior class with a perfect 4.00 cumulative grade point
average. The National Merit Scholar is
an Honor Roll student. He is active in
the Beta Club (president), National Honor Society, Key Club, Fellowship of
Christian Athletes (president), Peers Educating Peers, and Students Against
Destructive Decisions. James also is a
member of the school’s Variety Show Band.
James
serves as a volunteer teaching guitar lessons, the organist for his church, and
a youth basketball camp instructor.
“Tim is the
ultimate positive example of how young men should be,” said
The
recipient, nominated by his principals and coaches, must excel in mental
attitude, scholarship, leadership, and athletic ability in boys basketball.
The award
is named in honor of Trester, the IHSAA’s
first commissioner who served from 1929-44.
Indiana
Farm Bureau Insurance, IHSAA corporate partner, presented a $1,000 check to
James, the son
of Anthony and Kathy James, will be attending the
VSN MEANS ACTION PHOTOGRAPHY
Visit our
friends at Visual Sports Network, the IHSAA’s official photographer for all state championship
events and one of the leading action photographers in the
CHAMPIONSHIP MERCHANDISE STILL AVAILABLE
For
t-shirts and other merchandise commemorating this year’s tournament or for any
of our events, visit our friends at Morris, Inc.
STATE FINALS PROGRAMS AVAILABLE
Couldn’t be
there for the state finals? You can still purchase a copy of the official
souvenir program while supplies last! Programs are $3.00 if you purchase in
person at the IHSAA Office (
POST-GAME QUOTES
Tom Beach, Forest Park Coach
“Every
state championship is great. Harding made it tough on us. They have
a great team. But our guys were just a little bit better.”
“It
was a fantastic win for us. It was our worst free throw exhibition of the
season. But these guys got it done for us.”
“Harding
came right at us in the beginning, but our kids really stuck with it. We
kept our composure. We thought there would be runs and that is exactly
what happened.”
“Our
defense throughout the tournament has been fantastic. Today, once we got
going after those first four minutes, we played great. Defensively we had
to adjust to the pace of the game.”
“Our
big men (Hopf & Hopf)
were great underneath. In addition, our guards were able to get them the
ball.”
“We
call our fans the ‘Ranger Nation’ and they have backed us all year.”
“The
game went like I thought it would. We weren’t very happy with the
start. They played with a lot of emotion. We can’t simulate the way
they play in practice. The one thing we talked about all week was
composure, whether you are ahead 10 or behind 10. We did a good job of
keeping our heads in the game.”
“We
made good adjustments on the floor. We just didn’t do anything different
than we did in practice all week. We just said play…and that is what we
did.”
“These
six seniors have been leaders all year. When you play in a state
tournament you want to win a state championship…these guys did it twice.”
Al Gooden, Harding Coach
(on making it to the state finals)
“No one thought we had a chance to be here (in the state finals). As a
coach, you ask the kids to play hard and give you everything they’ve got.
All 11 of my guys left it on the floor today. I’m real proud of them for
that.”
(on being a state runner-up in 2002, 2005 and 2006)
“How
many teams do you know that would like to be here right now? It’s hard to
be disappointed or frustrated when your team is here fighting for a
championship. Yes, we are disappointed with the result, but, overall, I
couldn’t be happier for this group.”
(on his team’s 16-6 start)
“We
had a nice start, but it’s a long game. Give Forest Park credit.
They are a good basketball team. They did a nice job of coming back.”
(on his team’s fourth-quarter run)
“We
scored when we got the ball to the right places. In the fourth quarter,
we rebounded and started to make some shots, but that wasn’t enough to get us
over the top.”
(on shooting and turnovers)
“We
didn’t shoot the ball well today, but still had a chance to win. I think
we also turned it over too often. It’s hard to win when you have 25
turnovers.”
Harding senior James Humphrey
(on
playing against the Hopf cousins)
“They
are both really tough. You go to block out one, and the other comes in to
grab the rebound. They are both strong and tall. They were tough to
deal with all afternoon.”