Phone: 317-846-6601
Fax: 317-575-4244 Website:
www.ihsaa.org
_____________________________________________________________________________
March 4, 2006
LAFAYETTE CENTRAL CATHOLIC BRINGS HOME ITS FIRST GIRLS’ STATE
TITLE
Sparked by
a third quarter run, Lafayette Central Catholic squeaked by with a 75-68
victory over South Central (Elizabeth) and claimed the Class A state
championship, its first girls’ title in any sport.
After being
down by as many as nine points in the first quarter, the Knights pulled to
within one point before halftime bringing the score to 28-27. Both teams showed tough defensive pressure in
the first half resulting in low field goal percentages.
In the
third quarter, an energized Central Catholic squad outscored South Central 19-5
to take a 46-33 lead into the final eight minutes.
A high-scoring
fourth quarter was the highlight of the game.
South Central initiated a full-court press that they maintained for the
entire quarter. The Rebels pulled to
within three points at 68-65 with :50 left in the
game, but the Knights never relinquished that margin. South Central did,
however, outscore Lafayette Central Catholic in the final quarter 35-29.
Free throws
carried the Knights in the game, who connected on
32-42 (.762) for the day. That mark also
set Class A state finals team records for most free throws made and most free
throws attempted. Entering today’s game, Central Catholic had been shooting
only .553 from the line as a team.
Lafayette
Central Catholic (18-10) was led by four players who ended up with double
figures. Junior Katie Pechin had 20 points for the day after connecting on 12-14
from the free throw line. Seniors Katie
Riddell, Jenna Jones and Rachel Bishop finished with 16, 14 and 11 points,
respectively. Geoff Salmon, in only his second year, was the Central Catholic
coach.
South
Central (23-6) was sparked by their three-point shooting, making seven in the
game. Its total also set a Class A state finals team record.
Sophomore
Brittany Schoen of South Central led all scorers with a Class A record 28
points. Sarah Yelch
was the only other Rebel to score in double figures with 10. Randall Schoen, in his seventh season, was
the Rebels coach.
South
Central committed 32 fouls in the contest as part of their effort to reclaim
the lead. Their total resulted in a
Class A team record for most fouls in a game.
SARAH PEASE NAMED MENTAL ATTITUDE AWARD WINNER
South
Central (Elizabeth) senior Sarah Pease is the 2006 recipient of the Patricia L.
Roy Mental Attitude Award for Girls Basketball Class A as selected by members of
the IHSAA Executive Committee.
Pease
helped coach Randall Schoen’s Rebels to a 23-6 record and the school’s
first-ever trip to the IHSAA Finals in any sport. She entered today’s Class A championship game
tied for ninth in the state in assists (4.6).
She has earned all-sectional and all-conference honors. The versatile Pease also competes
in cross country, track, and cheerleading.
She is a Wendy’s High School Heisman state winner who was featured on
the IHSAA smoke-free poster series.
Pease ranks
fourth in her senior class with a 3.873 cumulative grade point average.
“Sarah has
always been a responsible, enthusiastic, and competent young woman,” said South
Central principal James A. Crisp. “She
has always performed above and beyond the call of duty in class as well as in
her numerous extra-curricular activities.”
Pease has
served as her class president as a sophomore and senior. The National Honor Society student has also
served in SADD, student council, band, FCA, and as editor of the school newspaper.
She has
been active in her community by volunteering for a blood drive, canned food
drive, Relay for Life, the March of Dimes, Toys for Tots, and on two youth
mission trips.
Pease, the
daughter of Jeff and Jacquelyn Pease, plans to study exercise science and
sports communications at Indiana University.
Indiana
Farm Bureau Insurance, the IHSAA’s proud corporate partner, presented South
Central (Elizabeth) High School with a $1,000 scholarship in the name of Sarah
Pease that goes to the school’s general scholarship fund. Since 1989, over $512,000 in college
scholarships have been presented to deserving high school students in Indiana.
The
recipient of this award, who was nominated by his principal and coach, must
excel in mental attitude, scholarship, leadership and athletic ability in girls
basketball.
The award
honors former IHSAA assistant commissioner Patricia L. Roy, who served the
association from 1972-99.
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
Randall Schoen, South Central
(Elizabeth) Coach
“I
thought our girls came out and played early in the ball game. The third
quarter was our undoing. But, our girls came back late in the game and
didn’t give up. They haven’t quit all year. If we could’ve kept a
few key players on the court, we could’ve made a better run.”
“The
officiating kind of tightened up on us in the third quarter and it made it hard
for us to run our press and have it work.”
“In
the second half, we probably should’ve been more patient when we made that
run. We forced a few things and that stopped us from regaining the lead.”
“Brittany
(Schoen) got a lot of points late. They made it tough on her early.
We talked at halftime and said she hadn’t done much, yet we were still up one
point.”
“I
give my girls all the credit. They’ve never given up and the three
seniors were leaders all year. That helped us in the first half. We
thought we could come up here and win it all.”
(Comment on Sarah Pease, Mental Attitude Award winner): “She’s always at
the head of the class in anything she does. Sarah made a difference for
this basketball team.”
Geoff Salmon, Lafayette Central
Catholic Coach
“Wow!
The strides this team has made over the last month and a half is
unbelievable. And the way we have won, we have been down several times
throughout the tournament and had to fight back to win. The other key
today was our free throw shooting. On the year we were about 56% from the
line. Today, we shot 80% in the second half and 76% for the game and that
is what won the game.”
“South
Central was caught up in our game plan to get the ball to (Kathleen)
Mills. They did a great job of taking care of her. I told the girls
if they (South Central) are not going to come out and guard you step up and
shoot the ball.”
“All
week have shot at least 50 free throws a day. Free throws are always
big. South Central did a good job, they knew we had not shot free throws
well this season and they put us on the line early. Fortunately for us we
hit them (free throws) today.”
“Every
game in this tournament we have had a different leading scorer. Anybody
who has followed us all year knows we do not have a superstar. It is just
unbelievable. That is what has made us a good basketball team and also
makes it fun coaching these kids.”
#22
Katie Riddell
“In
the first half I only took one shot. I don’t think I was getting that
many good looks in the first half, but in the second half I found myself open a
lot and just decided to shoot it. Luckily, they went in.”
“We
just tried to stay focused and concentrate on making our free throws. It
really boosts your confidence when you see others hit them (free throws).”