March 7, 2015
Lafayette Central Catholic topples Barr-Reeve for Class A title
This time, no stirring comeback was needed. The Lafayette Central Catholic Knights gained their biggest lead -- nine points -- with 5 minutes remaining and held on for a 52-44 victory over previously unbeaten Barr-Reeve in the Class A girls state final.
The Knights closed out the victory at the free throw line, hitting 6-of-8 in the final minute. Their championship triumph came on the heels of a rousing semi-state win over Oregon-Davis (47-44), in which the Knights rallied from an eight-point deficit in the final 51 seconds. The team found added inspiration after assistant coach Jeff Dienhart passed away last week after a long battle with illnesses caused by cystic fibrosis.
Central Catholic, ranked second in the ICGSA poll, was making its second state finals appearance and first since capturing the 2006 title. The Knights, who finished 24-6, won 15 of their last 16 games.
Coach Craig DeVault's Central Catholic team was led in scoring by Emily Burks with 17 points. Cameron Onken contributed 16 and Maggie Bobillo had 10. Onken led her team with eight rebounds.
Coach Mark Holt's Barr-Reeve team, ranked first in the ICGSA poll, was led by Tiara Kenney's 18 points. Megan Graber had 10 points and also tied Olivia Carroll for the Vikings' rebounding lead with seven.
Barr-Reeve was making its first appearance in the girls basketball finals. The Vikings, who led the state with a 31.4-point defensive average, finished 28-1.
Class A Championship Game Records
None.
Listen: Lafayette Central Catholic Post-Game Press Conference | Barr-Reeve Post-Game Press Conference
Barr-Reeve’s Hannah Bullock named Mental Attitude Award winner
Following the game, members of the IHSAA Executive Committee named Hannah Bullock of Barr-Reeve High School as the winner of the Patricia L. Roy Mental Attitude Award in Class A Girls Basketball.
The award is presented annually to a senior participant in each classification who was nominated by her principal and coach and has demonstrated excellence in mental attitude, scholarship, leadership and athletic ability.
Hannah’s talents extend beyond basketball as she has earned a 3.958 GPA on a 4.0 scale and was a starter on the 2013 IHSAA Class A state championship volleyball team. She is also an active member in her church and has gone on several mission trips throughout the United States. She serves as the Treasurer of the Beta Club and is a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
She is the daughter of Steve and Wanda Bullock of Montgomery and plans to major in the medical field at Vincennes University next fall. Her brother, Micah, was the Trester Mental Attitude Award winner in boys basketball last March.
The Indiana Fever and Indiana Pacers, the presenting sponsor of the IHSAA Girls Basketball State Tournament, presented a $1,000 scholarship to Barr-Reeve High School in the name of Hannah Bullock. Since 1989, more than $840,000 in college scholarships have been presented to deserving high school athletes in Indiana.
The award is named in honor of the former IHSAA assistant commissioner Patricia L. Roy, who oversaw the girls basketball state tournament from its inception in 1976 until her retirement in 1999.