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Fax: 317-575-4244 Website: www.ihsaa.org
_____________________________________________________________________________
March 4, 2006
CASTLE WINS 4A TITLE ON FIRST TRIP TO FINALS
Unranked
Castle upset top-ranked South Bend Washington to capture the school’s first girls state basketball title 83-72, in a game which set a
record for the most points ever scored by two teams in a girls state title game.
Both teams were making their first appearances
at the finals and proceeded to set many records.
The
Knights, led by fourth year coach Wayne Allen, finished the season 25-3. They
lost three mid-season games before closing the season on a 15-game winning
streak to win the title. The Panthers suffered only their second loss of the
season finishing 25-2 for 12th year coach Marilyn Coddens.
The
Panthers had led the state in scoring offense as well as margin of victory but Castle
used a balanced scoring attack in the upset with four players in double-figures.
Junior forward Jasmine Ussery led the way with 22
points, senior Maria Olsthoorn added 21, senior Stephanie Gehlhausen scored
16 and senior Katelyn Smith chipped in with 11 of her
own. Ussery also set a state record for rebounds in a
championship game with 16.
South
Bend Washington had three scorers in double figures as freshman Skylar Diggins netted 22, with
four 3-pointers which tied a state record. Sophomore Emily Phillips scored 18
and junior Sherice White ended the night with 12.
The
first quarter saw a record fall for most combined points at 41 with Castle
leading 24-17. The Knights then used a 16-0 run midway through the second
quarter to run lead to 18 before the Panthers closed the half on a 7-0 run of
their own. The fourth quarter opened with South Bend Washington hitting two
quick 3-pointers to cut the lead to 62-56 but the balance in the Castle line-up
would allow them no closer. The two teams combined for a record 43 points in
the last quarter eclipsing the previous mark of 41 set in the opening quarter.
The
game set state 4A records in many categories including most points by Castle (83),
most free throws made by Castle (31), most combined points (155), most combined
points in a quarter (43) as well as a half (79). South Bend Washington set
records with most 3-pointers made (8) and most field goal attempts (67). At the
end of the night, a total of 18 team or individual records were broken and 5
others were tied.
CASTLE’S LYNN McKINNEY NAMED MENTAL ATTITUDE RECIPIENT
Castle
senior forward Lynn McKinney is the 2005-06 Girls Basketball Class 4A recipient
of the Patricia L. Roy Mental Attitude Award.
McKinney
is a three-year starter for the Knights, helping Coach Wayne Allen’s team to a
24-3 record and its first-ever State Finals appearance in 2006 after a Final
Four trip in 2005. McKinney led Castle in three-pointers with 44 treys
entering tonight’s championship game.
McKinney
is also a four-year letter winner in volleyball, serving as team captain and
winning the team’s Mental Attitude Award as a senior.
McKinney
is 29th in her senior class with a 3.83 cumulative grade point
average. The National Honor Society student is active in Fellowship of
Christian Athletes and as a Senior Mentor. She volunteers in the
community, serving food at a homeless shelter and working as a nursery
supervisor at her church.
“Lynn
volunteered her time and efforts to ease the suffering inflicted by a massive tornado
on November 6,” said Castle principal Phillip DeLong.
“Her willingness to give up her free time (school was not in session for two
days) to help clear storm debris, serve meals and lend comfort is a true
picture of the content of her character.”
McKinney,
the daughter of Dr. Kent and Marilyn McKinney, plans to study engineering at
Purdue.
Indiana
Farm Bureau Insurance, the IHSAA corporate partner, presented a $1,000.00
scholarship to Castle High School in the name of Lynn McKinney. Since
1989, more than $512,000 in college scholarships have
been presented by Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance to deserving high school
students in the state.
Award
recipients, nominated by their principals and coaches, must excel in mental
attitude, scholarship, leadership, and athletic ability in basketball.
A
member of the IHSAA Executive Staff beginning in 1972, Ms. Roy was responsible
for girls basketball from the inception of the
tournament series in 1976 until her retirement in 1999. Regarded both
statewide and nationally as a pioneer in girls athletics, Roy served on the
IHSAA Executive Staff longer than anyone in the history of the Association.
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
Wayne Allen, Castle Coach
(Opening
comments)
“Defensively,
when they (SB Washington) cut the lead to just six, we came right back and ran
the lead to 10. When you keep that double-digit lead it’s pretty
easy. We did a nice job on the glass and made our free throws when we had
to.”
“This
is an unbelievable feeling. I thank our entire administration and school
for supporting us throughout the year. This is terrific for our
community. I was getting goose bumps just watching our players warm up in
this tremendous facility (Conseco Fieldhouse).”
(On
Castle’s inside play)
“We
were very successful getting the ball into the post tonight. Both Jasmine
(Ussery) and Maria (Olsthoorn)
have great skills around the basket. Jasmine is also a tremendous athlete
and I think her statistics showed that tonight.”
(On
SB Washington’s #4 Skylar Diggins)
“Skylar is a very special player. She is the type of
player that will be good for many years to come. She is not the kind of
player I would want to face on a regular basis.”
(On
the feeling of winning a state title)
“I
have done nothing in life with the exception of the birth of my three kids,
birth of my two grand-children and the marriage to the wife that is better than
this.”
(On
#40 Jasmine Ussery) (State Finals record 16 rebounds)
“I’m
really not surprised. She has been a phenomenal rebounder
all along. She is without question the best offensive rebounder
I have ever coached.”
#40
Jasmine Ussery
“After
the first of the year (January) we got on a roll and just kept winning
games. This is a great feeling. I’m happy to be part of such a
special team. We really rebounded well tonight and picked up the defense
when we had to.”
Marilyn Coddens,
South Bend Washington Coach
“We
were behind early and we fell apart on the boards. But to our credit, we
came back in the second half and pretty much played even with them. We
were just in that hole at the beginning of the game and couldn’t get out of it
the rest of the way.”
“In
the second half, it was just a matter of better focus and pressing defense on
our part. We really hustled and did not quit.”
“Castle
tonight just out-sized us. They out-rebounded us. You just can’t
give up 80-some points. We haven’t done that all year. It was a
hard lesson to learn. But I was proud because we didn’t give up.”