2002 IHSAA Class 4A
Terre Haute South got a big
night from its junior center and staked claim to its first girls
basketball state title with a 63-42 victory over South Bend Riley in the Class
4A championship game at Conseco Fieldhouse
in
Third-ranked Terre Haute
South had a decided height advantage with 6-6 junior center Reicina
Russell roaming the paint. Russell tallied Class 4A records for scoring with 31
points and seven blocked shots and affected numerous other Riley attempts. The
Braves constantly passed over the top of the Riley defense to Russell for easy layins. Russell scored 20 points and had five blocks in the
first half alone.
Melanie Boeglin
was the only other Brave in double figures with 10 points.
Juniors Suntana
Granderson and Crystal Norman, Riley’s two scoring
leaders, did most of the damage for the Wildcats. Both chalked up 19 points and
seven rebounds each, but no other Riley player scored more than two points.
The Braves, making their
first appearance in the state finals, finished a 25-2 championship season under
20th year coach Alan Maroska.
Unranked South Bend Riley,
also making it first trip to the finals, completed a 24-4 year under
eighth-year coach Mike Megyesi.
Click for Final Box Score
Game Notes
TH South’s Darci Rector Selected For Roy
Mental Attitude Award
Darci Rector of
Academically, Rector ranks 10th in her senior class of 360 students.
She has served as her class
Vice President all four years and is a member of the National
Honor Society. Rector was named her school’s Homecoming Queen last fall. She
intends to study pharmacy at
Athletically, she leads the
team in field goal percentage at 72%. Besides basketball, Rector was a three
year participant in volleyball for the Braves.
The award in named after
Patricia L. Roy, the former assistant commissioner of the IHSAA, who is
regarded both statewide and nationally as a pioneer in girls
athletics. It is presented annually in each classification of the state finals
to a senior who best displays mental attitude, scholarship, leadership and
athletic ability and was nominated by her principal and coach.
Farm Bureau Insurance, the
IHSAA corporate partner, presented a $1,000 scholarship to
Six Records Set Or Tied In Class 4A Game
Most Points Scored – 31 points by Reicina Russell, Terre Haute
South.
Most Field Goals Made – 14 by Reicina Russell,
Terre Haute South.
Most Blocked Shots – 7 by Reicina Russell,
Most Combined Blocked Shots – 10 by Terre Haute South (7) and
Most Assists –
7 by Kristen Clary,
Most Combined Fouls – 36 by Terre Haute South (19) and
Granderson Finishes 26th In
2001-02 State Scoring
South Bend Riley junior guard
Suntana Granderson finished
with 19 points, just shy of her 20.9 average for the season. She finishes the
year with 548 points for a 20.8 average for 26th on this season’s
state scoring leaders list.
State Finals
Photographs and Team Posters
Visit the website of 20-20 Photographic, the IHSAA’s official photographer for its state championship
events. The company will display action photographs from this year’s Girls
Basketball State Finals during the week following the state finals that you may
purchase. Also for sale will be team posters commemorating your school’s path
to the state finals.
State Finals Programs
Available
Couldn’t be there for the
girls basketball state finals? You can still purchase a copy of the official
state finals program while supplies last! Programs are $3.00 if you purchase in person at the
IHSAA Office (
Quotes
On T.H. South’s Reicina Russell – “I think Reicina
Russell was the difference in the game.
It’s just so tough to defend someone of her size (6’6”). They (T.H. South) lobbed to her all night and
we tried to front the post, but she’s just too good. When she gets it two feet from the basket,
she is going to score. 6’6” is tough to
defend.”
“I’m so proud of my
kids. It’s a great accomplishment to be
here and they’re already talking about coming back next year. It’s truly the experience of a lifetime for
these girls and I hope we will get to experience it again next year.”
On the youth of S.B. Riley – “We
had two or three freshman on the floor tonight and all of them gained
invaluable experience. They got a taste
of what its like to play in a game of this magnitude. Everyone returning is saying that we’ll be
back (next year), and I hope they’re right.”
“They (T.H. South) did a
great job of attacking the basket with (Reicina) Russell and
pressuring the ball on the perimeter.
Some of my teammates came out nervous but I wasn’t. If anything, our starting five seemed to be a
little over-excited. I’m just excited to
be here and hope we’ll be wearing the blue ribbons next year.”
Terre Haute South Head Coach – Alan Maroska
“We had a nice little run
there when they (S.B. Riley) pulled to within three at 33-30. With the strength of the MIC (Metropolitan
Interscholastic Conference) opponents, I felt like it was a sink or swim
situation and I think that really helped us get to the championship game.”
(Reicina)
Russell had the effort tonight because the kids were willing to get her the
ball. Before the game, we talked about
going inside and then moving outside because of the jitters. Then in the second half you could begin to
see us relax a little bit.”
“Kristen Clary and Darci Rector both hit shots in the third quarter that I
felt put a dagger in their (S.B. Riley) heart.
I felt they had two or three outstanding players, and what an effort
they gave tonight. We knew it had to be
a total team effort both offensively and defensively to win this game.”
“
“All of the fans at the game
rooting for us really got our energy pumping.
I felt the rhythm in the first half, the guards did a great job of
getting me the ball and its pretty easy getting a shot
off because of my size.”