Indiana High School Athletic Association, Inc.

9150 North Meridian Street, Box 40650, Indianapolis, Indiana 46240-0650

Phone: 317-846-6601    Fax: 317-575-4244    Website: www.ihsaa.org

Blake Ress, Commissioner

_________________________________________________________________________

March 3, 2007

 

SOUTH BEND WASHINGTON RUNS AWAY WITH 4A CROWN

Returning all five starters from last year’s state runner-up team, South Bend Washington returned to Conseco Fieldhouse and beat Columbus East, 84-64. Washington finished the season with 28 straight wins after dropping the first game of the year.

 

In a fast paced, up-tempo game, South Bend Washington had too much offense for Columbus East with most of it coming in the paint where the Panthers outscored the Olympians, 64-20.

 

Sophomore Skyler Diggins and senior Ashley Varner led the Panthers in scoring with 27 and 24 points, respectively. Diggins also collected 17 rebounds and Katelyn Boocher tallied 10.

 

To start the game South Bend Washington built a 10-point lead, but Columbus East chipped away to tie at at 16-16 and the end of one quarter. Washington took control in the second quarter outscoring the Olympians 20-6 to take a 36-22 lad at halftime. Washington put up 30 more points in the third quarter alone to take a 66-45 lead heading into the final eight minutes.

 

Columbus East was led by senior Shelby Ross’ 25 points and 11 rebounds. She scored 14-of-15 from the free throw line.

 

This was the first girls state championship for the Panthers and the school’s first title since 1973 when the football team won in the very first year of the state tournament. Marilyn Coddens was the Washington coach.

 

This was Columbus East’s fourth trip to the finals and second time as runner-up (1980). Under coach Danny Brown, the Olympians finished their year 24-3.

 

State finals records that were broken in the contest include:

 

  • Most points in a game, 84 by Washington.
  • Most points in a half, 48 by Washington in the second half.
  • Most points in a quarter, 30 by Washington in the third quarter.
  • Most field goals attempted, 77 by Washington.
  • Most made field goals, 34 by Washington.
  • Most rebounds by one team, 52 by Washington.
  • Most blocked shots, 11 by Washington.
  • The two teams combined for 90 points in the second half.
  • The two teams combined for 53 points in the third quarter.
  • The two teams combined for 143 field goals attempted.
  • The two teams combined for 30 assists.
  • The two teams combined for 100 rebounds in the game.
  • The two teams combined for 31 steals.
  • The two teams tie the 3-pointers attempted mark of 30.
  • Diggins breaks the field goals attempted mark with 28.
  • Diggins breaks the rebounding mark with 17 rebounds.

 

 

KATELYN BOOCHER NAMED MENTAL ATTITUDE AWARD WINNER

Following the game, members of the IHSAA Executive Committee named Katelyn Boocher of South Bend Washington High School as the winner of the Patricia L. Roy Mental Attitude Award.

 

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.

 

Boocher ranks 15th her senior class of 291 students and is a member of the National Honor Society and Students Against Destructive Decisions.

 

She has given her time tutoring fellow students, coaching softball at the elementary and junior high level and is a volunteer office worker at her school.

 

Besides basketball, Boocher is a four-year letterwinner in volleyball and expects to do the same in softball this spring. She intends to play softball in college and will study either secondary education at Akron or Bethel College. She also hopes to coach one day.

 

She is the daughter of Gerard and Susan Boocher of South Bend.

 

Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, the IHSAA’s corporate partner, will present a $1,000 scholarship to South Bend Washington High School in the name of Boocher.

 

The award is named in honor of former IHSAA assistant commissioner Patricia L. Roy, who oversaw the girls basketball state tournament from its inception in 1976 until her retirement in 1999.

 

 

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 Midwest. VSN, which was on site Saturday, has captured hundreds of images from this year’s State Finals and will have them ready for viewing and purchase beginning Monday.

 

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 (9150 N. Meridian Street in Indianapolis) or $5.00 by mail (postage included). To order, have your Visa or MasterCard ready and call us at 317-846-6601 during business hours (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. EST).

 

 

 

 

 

POST-GAME QUOTES

 

Marilyn Coddens, South Bend Washington Head Coach

 

“We did believe that if we worked to our potential that we would have the capability to come back to the state finals. We knew we had the scoring power, it was just a matter of how much Columbus East would score.”

 

“The first half was kind of scary because we weren’t hitting any of our outside shots. Normally we do that. At half, we said if they give us those shots, we have to keep on trying. They fell, plus we were able to penetrate their defense a little more and generate more offense.”

 

“Our team matured so much in the last year. It was unbelievable. Our focus was able to make us one of the most tenacious teams in the state. Our aggressiveness on defense and doing the little things we did helped us build a good lead in the middle of the game.”

 

 

Danny Brown, Columbus East Head Coach

 

 “We really ran into a buzz saw tonight.  South Bend Washington is a really good team with a lot of speed and quickness.  We have a lot to be proud of.  It was a tremendous season.  There’s no doubt it is a bitter sweet moment but we accomplished a lot this year.”

 

(on South Bend Washington)

“They really dictated the tempo tonight.  It seemed like they were shooting lay ups all evening long.  A lot of people say Skylar Diggins is one of the best sophomores in the nation and I can certainly see why.  She had a tremendous game and that performance was hard to overcome.”

 

(on Shelby Ross)

“Shelby has been outstanding for us all season long.  We probably relied on her too much tonight.  Throughout the season, we’ve had a lot of balanced efforts but she was really the only one who was able to score on a regular basis tonight.”

 

Columbus East Senior Shelby Ross

“This is a tough way to end the season, but I’m still proud to be part of this team.  We could’ve played better defense tonight.  But you have to give South Bend Washington a lot of credit.  Skylar Diggins is a really tough player to go against.  She played well tonight and she still has two more years in high school.”