By Brandon
Jones
Staff Writer
PLYMOUTH ���?? Kokomo junior Rebekah Basinger
connected on what she thought was a 3-point basket with just over a minute
remaining in the Class 4A Semistate matchup Feb. 25 with top-ranked South Bend Washington.
connected on what she thought was a 3-point basket with just over a minute
remaining in the Class 4A Semistate matchup Feb. 25 with top-ranked South Bend Washington.
The basket
would have brought No. 4 Kokomo within two points at 59-57, but it was not
meant to be. (More on that later.) In an aggressive contest that would see more
than 30 free throws made, the young No. 1 Panthers prevailed, 60-58, to advance
to the state finals March 4.
would have brought No. 4 Kokomo within two points at 59-57, but it was not
meant to be. (More on that later.) In an aggressive contest that would see more
than 30 free throws made, the young No. 1 Panthers prevailed, 60-58, to advance
to the state finals March 4.
Nearly
5,000 fans packed into a standing-room-only crowd at Plymouth High School
to watch the weekend���?�s most glamorous semistate showdown, and they would not be
disappointed. While phenomenal freshman Skylar Diggins may get the majority of
the publicity for the Panthers, Washington
is FAR from a one-man (er, woman) show.
5,000 fans packed into a standing-room-only crowd at Plymouth High School
to watch the weekend���?�s most glamorous semistate showdown, and they would not be
disappointed. While phenomenal freshman Skylar Diggins may get the majority of
the publicity for the Panthers, Washington
is FAR from a one-man (er, woman) show.
In a fast-paced
first quarter that saw runs by both teams, fans were on the edges of their seat
and emotions were running high. It sounds trite, but seriously, that���?�s how it
was.
first quarter that saw runs by both teams, fans were on the edges of their seat
and emotions were running high. It sounds trite, but seriously, that���?�s how it
was.
The teams
came out firing, but Kokomo
was just a little hotter early on. Behind sharp-shooting senior Whitney Farris,
Kokomo ran off
10 straight points after trailing 6-5 just minutes into the game.
came out firing, but Kokomo
was just a little hotter early on. Behind sharp-shooting senior Whitney Farris,
Kokomo ran off
10 straight points after trailing 6-5 just minutes into the game.
But South Bend Washington
responded late in the quarter with a run of its own. Not Diggins, but rather
the duo of Emily Phillips and Ashley Varner did the damage in a 7-0 spurt that
pulled Washington
within two points at 18-16 after one quarter of play. Another seven straight
Panther points early in the second period then turned a five-point deficit into
a 23-21 lead.
responded late in the quarter with a run of its own. Not Diggins, but rather
the duo of Emily Phillips and Ashley Varner did the damage in a 7-0 spurt that
pulled Washington
within two points at 18-16 after one quarter of play. Another seven straight
Panther points early in the second period then turned a five-point deficit into
a 23-21 lead.
At that
point, Kokomo���?�s
Audrey McDonald had seen enough. The senior connected from 3-point range, she
drove, and she got to the free throw line in scoring seven points in a
two-minute span, putting Kokomo
ahead at 29-24.
point, Kokomo���?�s
Audrey McDonald had seen enough. The senior connected from 3-point range, she
drove, and she got to the free throw line in scoring seven points in a
two-minute span, putting Kokomo
ahead at 29-24.
The final
basket was a crucial one as the three-point play gave Varner her third personal
foul.
basket was a crucial one as the three-point play gave Varner her third personal
foul.
With the
6-footer on the bench, someone needed to step up for South Bend. Enter Diggins.
6-footer on the bench, someone needed to step up for South Bend. Enter Diggins.
Scoreless
to that point, Diggins (21.1 points, 5.6 assists per game) hit a mid-range jump
shot, then responded with a steal and three-point play on the next possession
as Washington
knotted it up at 29.
to that point, Diggins (21.1 points, 5.6 assists per game) hit a mid-range jump
shot, then responded with a steal and three-point play on the next possession
as Washington
knotted it up at 29.
The Panthers,
now fueled by their star freshman, got hot while finding an answer to McDonald
on the other end. Washington
closed the half on a 12-2 run to take a 36-31 lead into the locker room.
now fueled by their star freshman, got hot while finding an answer to McDonald
on the other end. Washington
closed the half on a 12-2 run to take a 36-31 lead into the locker room.
A Whitney
Farris free throw started the second half of play for Kokomo
as the Wildkats pulled within four, but then South Bend Washington
and Diggins picked up right where they left off.
Farris free throw started the second half of play for Kokomo
as the Wildkats pulled within four, but then South Bend Washington
and Diggins picked up right where they left off.
Three
consecutive 3-point baskets by three different scorers propelled the Washington bench and the
sellout crowd to their feet. A no-look pass from Diggins to Varner followed,
and Washington
had scored 11 of the first 12 points of the quarter for a cumulative 23-3 run
and a commanding 47-32 lead.
consecutive 3-point baskets by three different scorers propelled the Washington bench and the
sellout crowd to their feet. A no-look pass from Diggins to Varner followed,
and Washington
had scored 11 of the first 12 points of the quarter for a cumulative 23-3 run
and a commanding 47-32 lead.
But Kokomo fought back with a
spurt of its own. An Olivia Martin three sparked a 9-1 Wildkat run to end the
quarter, and for all that excitement, Washington
had failed to extend its halftime lead as the score stood at 49-44 heading into
the fourth.
spurt of its own. An Olivia Martin three sparked a 9-1 Wildkat run to end the
quarter, and for all that excitement, Washington
had failed to extend its halftime lead as the score stood at 49-44 heading into
the fourth.
If ask
most Kokomo
fans what they remember about the fourth quarter from this contest, few will
mention the spectacular play of both teams. On the contrary, many likely will
refer to the happenings during the game���?�s closing minutes.
most Kokomo
fans what they remember about the fourth quarter from this contest, few will
mention the spectacular play of both teams. On the contrary, many likely will
refer to the happenings during the game���?�s closing minutes.
Free
throws would set the tone for much of the pressure-packed quarter as the
aggressive play continued. Washington
went up by nine at 55-46 midway through the final stanza on a beautiful driving
layup by Diggins with an assist from sophomore point guard Phillips.
throws would set the tone for much of the pressure-packed quarter as the
aggressive play continued. Washington
went up by nine at 55-46 midway through the final stanza on a beautiful driving
layup by Diggins with an assist from sophomore point guard Phillips.
But the more-experienced
Wildkats struck back quickly by driving into the paint rather than settling for
jump shots, and Kokomo
pulled within 57-54 with just under two minutes remaining. But after a timeout
by Washington
coach Marilyn Coddens, Varner returned to the lineup with four fouls and scored
an easy basket to put the Panthers ahead, 59-54.
Wildkats struck back quickly by driving into the paint rather than settling for
jump shots, and Kokomo
pulled within 57-54 with just under two minutes remaining. But after a timeout
by Washington
coach Marilyn Coddens, Varner returned to the lineup with four fouls and scored
an easy basket to put the Panthers ahead, 59-54.
This is
where the blur begins for Kokomo
fans.
where the blur begins for Kokomo
fans.
A jumper
from the left corner by Basinger was good, and a referee signaled to the scorer���?�s
table that two points should be awarded for the basket. But apparently another
official had signaled three, and the scoreboard flashed a 59-57 advantage for South Bend.
from the left corner by Basinger was good, and a referee signaled to the scorer���?�s
table that two points should be awarded for the basket. But apparently another
official had signaled three, and the scoreboard flashed a 59-57 advantage for South Bend.
Washington pushed the ball back down the court
immediately, so there was no time for a review or conference at the scorer���?�s
table.
immediately, so there was no time for a review or conference at the scorer���?�s
table.
A Washington miss with
under 30 seconds to play gave the Wildkats possession, down by two points â�?�¦ or
so they thought.
under 30 seconds to play gave the Wildkats possession, down by two points â�?�¦ or
so they thought.
The
scoreboard still read 59-57 as McDonald stepped to the line with 13 seconds left
after being fouled on a 3-point attempt. But the 90 percent free throw shooter could
only connect on two of the three attempts, and the contest was now tied at 59.
scoreboard still read 59-57 as McDonald stepped to the line with 13 seconds left
after being fouled on a 3-point attempt. But the 90 percent free throw shooter could
only connect on two of the three attempts, and the contest was now tied at 59.
Right?
Wrong.
As Washington waited to
inbound the ball for what was thought to be an attempt to win or send the game into
overtime, the officials had a conversation at midcourt. The conference
continued and made its way over to the scorer���?�s table, where a point was
deducted from Kokomo���?�s
total.
inbound the ball for what was thought to be an attempt to win or send the game into
overtime, the officials had a conversation at midcourt. The conference
continued and made its way over to the scorer���?�s table, where a point was
deducted from Kokomo���?�s
total.
That made
the score 59-58 in favor of Washington,
which now only needed to inbound the ball and convert from the free throw line.
And the Panthers did just that.
the score 59-58 in favor of Washington,
which now only needed to inbound the ball and convert from the free throw line.
And the Panthers did just that.
Sort of.
Phillips
was fouled immediately and went to the line. She made the first attempt, but
missed the second. McDonald grasped the rebound for Kokomo, which elected not to take a timeout
but rather dribble down the court for the potential game-winning 3-pointer.
was fouled immediately and went to the line. She made the first attempt, but
missed the second. McDonald grasped the rebound for Kokomo, which elected not to take a timeout
but rather dribble down the court for the potential game-winning 3-pointer.
When
McDonald���?�s 30-foot attempt fell short and time expired, Washington had escaped with a 60-58 victory.
McDonald���?�s 30-foot attempt fell short and time expired, Washington had escaped with a 60-58 victory.
The
referees also escaped to the locker room as a host of boos from the Kokomo crowd echoed
through the gymnasium.
referees also escaped to the locker room as a host of boos from the Kokomo crowd echoed
through the gymnasium.
For Kokomo (23-3), Farris led
the way with 22 points, 19 coming in the second half. McDonald added 18 but had
just five in the second half.
the way with 22 points, 19 coming in the second half. McDonald added 18 but had
just five in the second half.
Phillips
had 16 points and Diggins 12 for South Bend Washington, which improved to 25-1 and will face No. 11
Castle for the 4A state championship next Saturday evening in Indianapolis.
had 16 points and Diggins 12 for South Bend Washington, which improved to 25-1 and will face No. 11
Castle for the 4A state championship next Saturday evening in Indianapolis.
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