Indiana State | Archive | March, 2006

Trio of defending champions tops ICGSA preseason softball polls

Posted on 27 March 2006 by alexanderscot.


The Indiana Coaches of Girls Sports Association (ICGSA) has posted its preseason softball polls
online. Topping the charts as we head into the 2006 season are three defending
state champions â??? Martinsville (Class 4A),
Eastern (Greentown) 2A), and Clinton Prairie (A) â??? as well as Pendleton Heights
in Class 3A.

Teams are listed by rank followed by school and first-place votes, if
applicable. The rankings from March 20:



Class 4A

1. Martinsville
(5)

2. Lake
Central (4)

3. Hamilton
Southeastern

4. McCutcheon

5. Chesterton

6. Brownsburg

7. East Central

8. Avon

9. Penn

10. Munster

11. Decatur Central

12. Center Grove

13. Franklin
Central

14. Anderson
Highland

15. Columbia
City


Class 3A

1. Pendleton
Heights (5)

2. Andrean

3. Gibson Southern (1)

4. Boonville

5. Culver Academies

6. New Palestine

7. Evansville
Memorial

8. Heritage Hills (1)

9. Blackford

10. Northridge

11. Princeton

12. West
Lafayette

13. Bellmont

14. Evansville
Mater Dei

15. Mishawaka
Marian


Class 2A

1. Eastern (Greentown) (6)

2. Frankton

3. Indianapolis
Scecina (1)

4. Cass (1)

5. Eastside (1)

6. Bremen

7. Hanover
Central

8. Forest Park

9. Speedway

10. Clarksville

11. Cambridge
City Lincoln

12. Heritage Christian

13. Churubusco

14. Rochester

15. North Putnam

 

Class A

1. Clinton
Prairie (6)

2. North Daviess

3. Lanesville

4. Pioneer

5. Indianapolis
Lutheran

6. South Central (Union
Mills)

7. Lafayette
Central Catholic

8. Frontier

9. Michigan City Marquette

10. Southern Wells

11. Shakamak

12. Hebron

13. Cowan

14. North Central
(Farmersburg)

15. Turkey
Run

So what do you
think? Share your thoughts in our Softball forum.

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Boys Outdoor Leader Board standards and how to submit

Posted on 26 March 2006 by alexanderscot.

To submit performances, send an e-mail to brandon@hoosierauthority.com
with “Boys Outdoor Leader Board” in the subject line. Make sure ALL
information is in the correct order (as listed below), with each entry
on a separate line. And make sure performances meet the cutoff
standards listed next to the event.

In your e-mail, please include the following:

Event: What event the mark was in
Mark/Time: What the mark was in the event
Name: First and Last
Grade: 9, 10, 11, or 12
School: Full school name
Date: When the performance took place
Meet: Name of the meet
Location: Where it took place
Regional: What track regional the athlete will compete in
Proof: Where to verify the results

Timing: FAT or handheld?
Type: New performance or update of existing performance?

Times for the 100 and 200 as well as the 110 hurdles must be Fully
Automatic Timing (FAT) — no hand times (HT) will be accepted.
Elsewhere, all hand times must be rounded up to the next tenth of a
second (a hand time of :49.51, for example, should be written as
:49.6). All hand time performances will be converted to FAT by adding
0.24 seconds.
ALSO! Before sending in a Boys Outdoor Leader Board
submission, make sure the mark in the event meets the pre-established
standards. If submitting a time for a relay, leave the “Name” section
blank.

The events:

100-meter dash: :11.25 * must be FAT
200-meter dash: :23.00 * must be FAT
400 meters: :51.25 FAT or :51.0 HT
800 meters: 2:02.0
1600 meters: 4:30.0
3200 meters: 9:45.0
110-meter hurdles: :15.00 * must be FAT
300-meter hurdles: :40.30 FAT or :40.0 HT
Long jump: 21â??-06â?
High jump: 6â??-04â?
Shot put: 52â??-00â?
Discus throw: 150â??-00â?
Pole vault: 14â??-00â?
4 x 100 relay: :43.50 FAT or :42.3 HT
4 x 400 relay: 3:27.0
4 x 800 relay: 8:10.0

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Girls Outdoor Leader Board standards and how to submit

Posted on 26 March 2006 by alexanderscot.

To submit performances, send an e-mail to brandon@hoosierauthority.com
with “Girls Outdoor Leader Board” in the subject line. Make sure ALL
information is in the correct order (as listed below), with each entry
on a separate line. And make sure performances meet the cutoff
standards listed next to the event.

In your e-mail, please include the following:
Event: What event the mark was in
Mark/Time: What the mark was in the event
Name: First and Last
Grade: 9, 10, 11, or 12
School: Full school name
Date: When the performance took place
Meet: Name of the meet
Location: Where it took place
Regional: What track regional the athlete will compete in
Proof: Where to verify the results
Timing: FAT or handheld?
Type: New performance or update of existing performance?

Times for the 100 and 200 as well as the 100 hurdles must be Fully
Automatic Timing (FAT) — no hand times (HT) will be accepted.
Elsewhere, all hand times must be rounded up to the next tenth of a
second (a hand time of :59.51, for example, should be written as
:59.6). All hand time performances will be converted to FAT by adding
0.24 seconds.
ALSO! Before sending in a Girls Indoor Leader Board
submission, make sure the mark in the event meets the pre-established
standards. If submitting a time for a relay, leave the “Name” section
blank.

The events:

100-meter dash: :12.80 * must be FAT
200-meter dash: :26.50 * must be FAT
400 meters: 1:00.00 FAT or :59.8 HT
800 meters: 2:23.0
1600 meters: 5:20.0
3200 meters: 11:45.0
100-meter hurdles: :15.80 * must be FAT
300-meter hurdles: :47.50 FAT or :47.2 HT
Long jump: 16â??-06â?
High jump: 5â??-03â?
Shot put: 38â??-06â?
Discus throw: 120â??-00â?
Pole vault: 9â??-06â?
4 x 100 relay: :50.50 FAT or :50.2 HT
4 x 400 relay: 4:10.0
4 x 800 relay: 10:00.0

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STATE FINALS: Bruising Hauser unloads 64-36 Class A pummeling onto Tri-Central – literally

Posted on 26 March 2006 by alexanderscot.


By E.
Shawn Aylsworth
Managing Editor

INDIANAPOLIS
â??? Hauser got a
triple-double from big man Bobby Jolliff and 24 points from guard Gabe Miller
as the third-ranked Jets held No. 4 Tri-Central to 16 percent shooting in a
rugged 64-36 rout in the Class A championship March 25 at Conseco Fieldhouse.

Jolliff comes down with board
Hauser 6’8″ center Bobby Jolliff outreaches Tri-Central’s Matthew Bozell for one of his game-high
15 rebounds. Jolliff posted a triple-double by adding 10
points and 11 blocks.
Photo by Natalie Evans

Grayson Flittner, the state’s
leading scorer, fouled out and was limited to 6-for-28 shooting en route to a
team-high 23 points for the Trojans, who shot a horrid 3 for 37 in the second
half.

Hauserâ??s Perkins wins
Trester Award
Hauser senior forward Jordan Perkins is the 2005-06 Boys Basketball
Class A recipient of the Arthur L. Trester Mental Attitude Award as selected by
members of the IHSAA Board of Directors.

Perkins is a two-year letterman in basketball, helping coach Bob Nobbeâ??s
Jets to a 25-2 record and their first-ever state championship in any sport. He
is a three-sport performer, playing baseball and tennis all four years. He
helped the Hauser baseball team to a Class A state runner-up finish last
spring.

Perkins ranks third in his senior class with a 3.815 cumulative grade
point average. The National Honor Society president is a Boysâ?? State nominee,
DAR award winner, and an eXceL award winner (formerly Project XL). He has
served as a featured speaker at the Hauser Veteranâ??s Day program, he volunteers
at the annual Hope Heritage Days celebration, and he also helps distribute
coloring books and other resources to local elementary schools.

â??Jordanâ??s
character is the underlying element that has and will continue to distinguish
him from his peers,â? said Hauser Principal Tim Stephens. â??He is one of those
students who always has a smile, brings humor to any situation, and does the
right thing.�

The recipient, nominated by their principals and coaches, must excel in
mental attitude, scholarship, leadership, and athletic ability in boys
basketball. The
award is named in honor of Trester, the IHSAAâ??s first commissioner who served
from 1929-44. Indiana
Farm Bureau Insurance, IHSAAâ??s corporate partner, presented a $1,000 check to Hauser High
School in the name of Jordan Perkins.

Perkins, the son of Joel and Rita Perkins, will be attending Eastern Kentucky University
this fall.

So
what do you think? Share your thoughts in our Boys Basketball forum.

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STATE FINALS: 4A No. 1 LN makes Indiana boys history with 80-56 romp over Muncie Central

Posted on 26 March 2006 by alexanderscot.


By Brandon Jones
Staff Writer

INDIANAPOLIS
â??? In a fitting ending to a perfect 29-0 season and a third consecutive Class 4A
state basketball championship, the top-ranked Lawrence North Wildcats disposed
of the most historical program in Indiana in dominating fashion.

In a
contest that was never in doubt, Lawrence North defeated the eight-time state
champion Muncie Bearcats, 80-56, in front of a sellout crowd of 18,483 March 25
at Conseco Fieldhouse. Ohio State-bound seniors Greg Oden and Michael Conley
did the damage, as usual, and they took turns beating the undermanned Bearcats
in every facet of the game.

Conley
took charge from the beginning as he scored 11 first-quarter points on perfect
5-of-5 shooting. The Wildcats used runs of six and eight consecutive points to
bookend the quarter with a simply magnificent performance.

â??We felt
there was no other way,â? Conley said. â??We’ve (Conley and Oden) been together
too long for this to be our last night together and not win and make history. That
means a lot to both of us.

â??For us to
do it together, we felt there was no other way to do it.�

The two
seniors combined for 17 first-quarter points, easily outdistancing Muncie
Central by themselves as Lawrence North was well on its way after the first
eight minutes of action. The 24-7 advantage mirrored a big-school football
score more than that of a state championship basketball affair.

If things
looked bleak for Muncie Central after the opening quarter, they only got worse
as the contest wore on. After a Ben Botts jumper opened the second period, LN
once again picked up right where it left off as role player Damian Windham
scored four consecutive points for a 28-9 advantage, including a steal and
coast-to-coast layup.

A LaMarcus
Coatie response at the other end drew Muncie Central back within 17, but that
was as close as the ballgame would get for the rest of the evening. The Wildcats
scored 22 of the final 25 points of the quarter to hold a commanding 50-24
halftime advantage.

â??Mike Conley said before the game that this was going to be our best
game of the season,â? Oden said. â??He put us on his back, and we played a great
first half.�

The 26 points
scored by LN in the second quarter and the 50 at halftime were the first two of
nine 4A state records to fall in this game. Two others were tied.

Muncie
Central, playing for pride the rest of the way, came out of the locker room and
held its own at the outset of the third period as juniors Brandon Jenkins and
Tom Freeman took charge.

An Oden
layup was answered by a Jenkins jumper. A Brandon McDonald 3-point basket at
one end was surpassed by a Freeman putback and layup at the other, and Muncie
Central began looking like a team that deserved to be playing in the state
finals.

But Lawrence
North, and Oden in particular, took the game over and wowed the crowd once
again.

The 7-foot
center displayed all angles of his game in the quarterâ??s closing minutes. He
scored on a rebound dunk, a floater in the lane, then finally stepped out to
the perimeter to knock down a rare 15-foot jump shot.

After a
media timeout with Lawrence North leading 63-36, the Wildcats ended the quarter
as they often do â??? with a 9-2 spurt spearheaded by Oden and Conley. Lawrence
North held an insurmountable 72-39 advantage entering the final period of play,
which was a sloppy one.

Though the
Wildcats had a 33-point advantage and many of the sellout crowd had now
departed, LN coach Jack Keefer did not like the lethargic way his team was
playing early in the final stanza. Oden and Conley had simply gotten bored, and
it showed in their play as the Wildcats had gone cold from the floor.

Muncie
Central showed signs of life as the Bearcats scored nine of the quarterâ??s first
11 points, and the Bearcats doubled the output of their counterparts in the
final period, 17-8. The final quarter at least gave the purple-clad faithful a
rare cheering opportunity in what would turn out to be another record: most
lopsided victory in state finals history.

But this night
belonged to the other â??Cats. With the win, LN becomes just the third school in Indiana history to win
three straight state championships, joining Franklin and â??The Wonder Fiveâ? in 1920-22
and the Jay Edwards/Lyndon Jones-led Marion Giants in 1985-87.

â??For these guys to be remembered up there with Oscar (Robertson) and all
the other 3-peat teams â?¦ I donâ??t think that was our target,â? Keefer said. â??Our
target was to win the state championship.

Fittingly,
Oden and Conley filled up the stat sheet. The big man finished his final high
school career with 26 points and 11 rebounds in just 28 minutes of action. The
point guard, on the other hand, totaled 21 points to go with seven rebounds. Windham and Qadr Owen also
scored in double digits with 10 points apiece.

Icing on
the cake? Oden was awarded the Arthur L. Trester Mental Attitude Award, which
goes to the senior player that most exhibits top performance in the areas of
mental attitude, scholarship, leadership, and athletic ability.

A dream
ending to an illustrious high school career indeed.

â??It has been a great journey with all the seniors,â? Oden said. â??We just
had a lot of fun this year. I really think it is going to take some time before
we get put in the â??greatâ?? category.

â??Right now, we are just going to enjoy a state championship.â?

Keefer, meanwhile,
was busy dodging questions of what he will do next year without his two senior
leaders.

“It’s
just wonderful â??? they have worked for that,â? Keefer said. â??I know people are
going to say he’s 7-foot and Mike’s this and Mike’s that. But I’m telling you,
there a lot of 7-footers that aren’t very good. Greg has worked and worked and
worked.

â??He’s done
a wonderful job of getting himself in a position to be successful, and Mike’s
done the same thing.”

Botts
paced Muncie Central (20-6) with 20 points, while Freeman added 12 and Terry
Jenkins had 11. The Bearcats shot just 38 percent (21 of 55) and were hamstrung
by a combined 5-for-23 effort from their backcourt duo of the Jenkinses.

â??Youâ??ve got to give Lawrence North credit â??? they came
out ready to play and on a mission,â? Fine said. â??I donâ??t think if we played our
best game of the century, we couldâ??ve beaten them tonight.

â??Our players never gave up. Thatâ??s the type of kids that we
have here. I am proud of them.�

Keefer,
reflecting upon the first undefeated season by a 4A champ since Pike in 2003, felt the
Wildcats was be unable to run the table in 2006.

â??I thought we would kind of stumble somewhere along the way,â? Keefer
said. â??I canâ??t say we have played a bad game this year.

â??I think every game we have played we have had moments where we didnâ??t
compete, but as a group this team has competed every night out for 29 in a
row.�

Nine Class 4A records set, two tied
Hereâ??s a
look at the 11 4A finals records either set or tied in the game, all of them
but one a team record:
  • Most
    points: LN, 80 (79, North Central (Indianapolis)
    vs. Elkhart Central, 1999)
  • Most
    points in a half: LN, 50 (45, Elkhart Central (2nd half) vs. North
    Central, 1999)
  • Most
    points in a quarter: LN (2nd quarter), 26 (24, Elkhart Central (4th
    quarter) vs. North Central, 1999)
  • Largest
    margin of victory: LN, 24 (21, LN vs. Columbia City
    (21), 2004)
  • Most field
    goals made: LN, 33 (28, Elkhart Central vs. North Central, 1999)
  • Most
    combined field goals made: 54 (53, Elkhart Central vs. North Central, 1999)
  • Highest
    combined field goal percentage: .474 (.473, LN (24-39) vs. Muncie Central
    (19-52), 2005)
  • Most
    combined 3-point field goals made: 15 (13, Bloomington North (10) vs. Marion (3), 2000)
  • Most
    3-point field goal attempts: Muncie Central, 22 (22, Bloomington North vs. Marion, 2000)
  • Most
    assists: LN, 16 (15, LN vs. Muncie Central, 2005, and Pike vs. DeKalb, 2003)
  • Most
    assists (individual): 7, Qadr Owen, LN (7, Adam Liddell, DeKalb, vs. Pike,
    2003)
Lawrence Northâ??s Oden wins Trester Award
Lawrence North senior center Greg Oden is the 2005-06 Boys Basketball
Class 4A recipient of the Arthur L. Trester Mental Attitude Award as selected
by members of the IHSAA Board of Directors.

Oden is the 2006 Naismith Award winner as the best high school player in
the nation after leading coach Jack Keeferâ??s team to its third consecutive
state championship and 45 straight wins. The two-time National Player of the
Year helped the Wildcats to a perfect 29-0 season, and they should become the
first team from the state to be ranked first nationally.

In the classroom, Oden has a 3.62 cumulative grade point average.

â??Greg is simply the best student leader we have in our building,â? said
Lawrence North Principal Lynn L. Lupold. â??The commitment to excellence that
Greg demonstrates on the court is mirrored in the classroom. Greg is
consistently an ambassador for our school, our state, and our country.�

The award is named in honor of Trester, the IHSAAâ??s first commissioner
who served from 1929-44. Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, IHSAAâ??s corporate
partner, presented a $1,000 check to Lawrence
North High
School in the name of Greg Oden.

Oden is the son of Zoe Oden.

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Lawrence Central plummets from third to ninth in latest boys track poll

Posted on 26 March 2006 by alexanderscot.


The Indiana Association of Track
and Cross Country Coaches (IATCCC) has released its weekly poll for the 2006
boys track & field season. The poll from March 23:

1.

Warren Central

2.

Fort Wayne  Northrop

3.

Lawrence North

4.

Ben Davis

5.

North Central (Indianapolis)

6.

Pike

7.

Carmel

8.

Southport

9.

Lawrence Central

10.

Valparaiso

11.

Franklin Central

12.

Richmond

13.

Merrillville

14.

Portage

15.

Andrean

16.

Noblesville

17.

Terre Haute South

18.

Bloomington North

19.

Zionsville

20.

Bloomington South

20.

Center Grove

20.

Chesterton


So
what do you think? Share your thoughts in our Boys Track & Field
forum.

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FW Northrop overtakes North Central in latest girls track poll

Posted on 26 March 2006 by alexanderscot.

The
Indiana Association of Track and Cross Country Coaches (IATCCC) has released
its weekly poll for the 2006 girls track & field season. The poll from
March 23:

1. Fort Wayne Northrop
2. Ben Davis
3. North Central (Indianapolis)
4. Lawrence North
5. Northridge
6. Fort Wayne Concordia Lutheran
7. Carmel
8. Westfield
9. Lawrence Central
10. Bloomington North
11. Chesterton
12. Pike
13. Warren Central
14. Terre Haute North
15. Culver Academies
16. Carroll (Fort Wayne)
17. Muncie Central
18. Sullivan
19. Terre Haute South
20. Indianapolis Chatard
21. Hamilton Southeastern
22. Homestead
23. Bloomington South
24. Indianapolis Cathedral
25. Columbus North

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North Central's Amber Harris named 2006 Miss Basketball

Posted on 26 March 2006 by alexanderscot.


Staff Report

Amber
Harris, the 6â??5â? senior center who led North Central (Indianapolis) to Class 4A state titles in
2004 and 2005, has been named the 2006 Indianapolis
Star Indiana Miss Basketball.

Harris earned
60 votes from the nearly 200 coaches and media members who cast ballots, outdoing
South Bend St. Josephâ??s Melissa Lechlitner (37 votes) and Ashley Barlow of Pike
(27). Harris will play for Purdue this fall, while Lechlitner and Barlow each are
heading to Notre Dame.

Interestingly,
Harris was not even named player of the year on The Starâ??s 2006 Super Team. That honor went to Barlow, the 5â??9â?
guard who averaged 25.1 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 4.7 assists a game in leading
the Red Devils to a 20-6 record.

Harris
averaged 16.5 points a game her senior season after scoring 19.8 per as a
junior.

“She
brings things with her size and athleticism that are very rare in the female
game,” Purdue coach Kristy Curry told The
Star. “The state of Indiana
should be very proud to have, in a lot of people’s minds, the best player in
the country.”

Added
North Central coach Alan Vickrey: “She really likes sharing experiences
with other people. She would rather make a great pass than a dunk any day.
That’s part of her magic.”

Harris
will become the seventh Miss Basketball to play at Purdue, joining 2003 winner
Katie Gearlds of Beech Grove and last yearâ??s honoree, Alexandriaâ??s Jodi Howell.

A list of former Indiana Miss Basketballs:

1976: Judi Warren, Warsaw
1977: Teri Rosinski, Norwell
1978: Chanda Kline, Warsaw
1979: LaTaunya Pollard, East Chicago Roosevelt
1980: Maria Stack, Columbus East
1981: Cheryl Cook, Indianapolis Washington
1982: Trena Keys, Marion
1983: Jody Beerman, Heritage
1984: Sharon Versyp, Mishawaka
1985: Jodie Whitaker, Austin
1986: Kim Barrier, Jimtown
1987: Lori Meinerding, Fort Wayne Northrop
1988: Vicki Hall, Brebeuf
1989: Renee Westmoreland, Scottsburg
1990: Patricia Babcock, Culver Academies
1991: Jennifer Jacoby, Rossville
1992: Marla Inman, Bedford North Lawrence
1993: Abby Conklin, Charlestown
1994: Tiffany Gooden, Fort Wayne Snider
1995: Stephanie White, Seeger
1996: Lisa Winter, Huntington North
1997: Lisa Shepherd, Richmond
1998: Kelly Komara, Lake Central
1999: April McDivitt, Connersville
2000: Sara Nord, Jeffersonville
2001: Shyra Ely, Ben Davis
2002: Shanna Zolman, Wawasee
2003: Katie Gearlds, Beech Grove
2004: Jaclyn Leininger, Warsaw
2005: Jodi Howell, Alexandria

So
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STATE FINALS: Hahn lifts No. 10 New Castle to 3A title win over Jay County, 51-43

Posted on 26 March 2006 by alexanderscot.


By E. Shawn Aylsworth
Managing Editor


INDIANAPOLIS â??? New Castle guard Zach Hahn was a pedestrian 3 of 7 from the field and had seven points as the Trojans trailed, 18-16, at halftime of the Class 3A state championship game March 25 against Jay County at Conseco Fieldhouse.


But after hitting five straight shots and outscoring the Patriots 14-6 by himself in a four-minute stretch of the third quarter, Hahn had assumed control of the game. The 6â??1â? junior maintained that momentum the rest of the way, adding eight more points en route to a game-high 29 as 10th-ranked New Castle won, 51-43.


The 43 points set a new 3A state finals record for fewest points allowed for New Castle, which captured its second state championship overall and first since 1932.


â??It was an incredible win and atmosphere,â? Hahn said. â??We showed poise all season, and poise won us the game tonight.â?


This one got off to a slow start as the only things that made much noise in the opening period were the aforementioned rabid fan sections of each squad. Both Jay County and New Castle easily boasted the loudest fans of the four state finals games, creating the most intense atmosphere of the day.


Fitting, in that this turned out to be the best game.


Cold shooting was the entree in the first quarter. New Castle missed five of its seven shots and did not make one till the 4:46 mark, while Jay County was not much better at 3 for 9. But the three buckets were all 3-pointers, two of them by senior guard Tyler Rigby, and that was good enough for a 9-6 Patriot lead at the break.


New Castle opened the second stanza with a 7-0 run on a three from Hahn, a jumper by sophomore forward Chase Stigall, and a layin by senior forward Ryan Freeburg as the Trojans nailed their first four attempts of the period. But Jay County, which missed eight of its first nine second-quarter shots, responded with a 9-3 run to take an 18-16 lead into the locker rooms.


The run was culminated by an improbable banked-in 3-pointer just ahead of the buzzer from the right angle by the 6â??1â? Rigby, whose 4-of-6 effort from behind the 3-point line translated into a 3A finals-record .667 percentage.


â??Our kids played a great game,â? said Jay County coach Craig Teagle. â??We donâ??t have any superstars; they just play well together.


â??We fought and battled, and every time we made a mistake, the Hahn kid made us pay.â?


Payment via Hahn solo began midway through the third quarter, after a 6-1 Jay County run gave the Patriots their biggest lead at 24-17.


Hahn missed a runner but converted on a putback and was fouled, converting the free throw to cut the lead to four. After a missed 3-pointer by Rigby, Hahn drilled his. A Hahn steal led to a Freeburg bucket in the paint, and the rapid-fire 8-0 run in only 48 seconds got New Castle the lead back at 25-24.


Junior forward Corey Comer hit a set-shot three and a putback to get Jay County back on top at 29-25, but then came Hahn Blitzkrieg #2:


  • A layin to cut the deficit to 27-25
  • A 3-pointer to make it a one-point game at 31-30
  • Another three to put New Castle ahead, 33-31
  • A 3-pointer from junior guard Bryant Hazelman â??? his only points of the game â??? on an assist from Hahn after he penetrated then kicked the ball back out

The whirlwind quarter ended with A) New Castle leading, and B) an eye-opening realization that the 13,483 in attendance may have just witnessed the 2007 Mr. Basketball.


â??The Hahn kid basically just took the game over in the third quarter,â? Teagle said. â??They set the high ball screens, staggered screens, double-ball screens and sometimes we didnâ??t get out far enough.


â??Any kid who plays basketball can learn something from (Hahn). He keeps his dribble alive, he never picks up his dribble, he backs up and creates space and comes back again. The kid is a great player.â?


Echoed coach Bennett: â??We pushed the ball down the court more, plus we told Zach to put us on his back. Zach gets himself loose well off the dribble for his shots.


â??Heâ??s so relentless and an unbelievable competitor.â?


Still, Jay County had drained five of its 10 third-quarter shots and found itself down only 36-33 following the Hahn highlight show. And the Patriots would keep it within three right down to the last two minutes.


The first six points of the fourth quarter were scored at the line, three by each side, and the margin remained three at 39-36 with 3:44 to go. Time for â??Hahn: Part III (3-D).â?


Hahn followed up his own missed runner with another successful putback for a 41-36 lead before senior guard Zac Green answered for Jay County with a baseline runner. But after a Hahn missed jumper, Greenâ??s solid penetration resulted in a costly turnover when he made a bad pass on the kick-out.


Hahn, of course, made him pay by converting on a drive to the hoop. Rigby, however, made a similar drive and was fouled, and his pair of free throws made it 43-40 with 1:48 left.


The next two plays determined the outcome.


With New Castle in the double-bonus, Hahn chewed up a sizeable chunk of clock with some virtuoso dribbling before being fouled by Green at 1:11. Oops â??? Hahn is an 86 percent free throw shooter. He made the first but surprisingly missed the second, providing Jay County with the opening it didnâ??t deserve after fouling the wrong player.


But Comer inexplicably hoisted up a quick three from the top of the key that missed, and when junior forward Drew Tower rebounded for New Castle, the clock was under a minute and Jay Countyâ??s hopes were under the bus.


Junior guard Luke Bennett hit a pair of free throws for a 46-40 lead at :37.2. Rigby, an 82 percent free thrower, was fouled away from the ball, but he only made one of two. Bennett sank two more shots at :30 to push the lead to 48-41, and there simply wasnâ??t enough time left for the Patriots to revive themselves.


â??We had some shots inside, but we just couldnâ??t get them to go down,â? Teagle said.


Jay County, which was appearing in its first-ever boys basketball state finals, was led by Rigbyâ??s 16 points. No other Patriot reached double figures.


New Castle, meanwhile, had a pair of double-digit scorers: Bennett with 10, and some kid named Hahn. The star of the game had seven rebounds and four assists to go with those 29 points, which came on 10-of-19 shooting (4 of 7 from downtown).


Trojans endured mid-season rough patch

If you has asked Bennett on Valentineâ??s Day if he thought his Trojans would be state champions six weeks later, the ninth-year coach probably would have asked if you were nuts. New Castle had just lost, 60-56, at home to Pendleton Heights â??? the Trojansâ?? third straight defeat and sixth loss in their last eight games, four of them at vaunted New Castle Fieldhouse.


Aside from that last defeat, though, the teams they had fallen to were Marion, Logansport, Muncie Central, Huntington North, and Anderson. All ranked at some point in the season, and all 4A schools that double as North Central Conference foes (New Castle is the only 3A school in the basketball tradition-rich NCC).


Call it strength of schedule.


â??When you coach at New Castle, it is really special,â? Bennett said. â??Iâ??m just proud to be a part of it.â?


Jay Countyâ??s Rigby wins Trester Award

Jay County senior guard Tyler Rigby is the 2005-06 Boys Basketball Class 3A recipient of the Arthur L. Trester Mental Attitude Award as selected by members of the IHSAA Board of Directors.


Rigby, who leads his team in scoring with an 11.7 average, is a two-time team captain for coach Craig Teagleâ??s Patriots, helping them to their first-ever state finals appearance. Rigby also excelled in tennis for Jay County, combining with senior basketball teammate Randy Evans to reach the quarterfinals of the IHSAA Individual Doubles Tournament last fall with a 22-4 record.


In the classroom, Rigby is pursuing an Academic Honors Diploma with a 3.67 cumulative grade point average. The National Honor Society student is active in his church youth group and as a volunteer at the West Jay Community Center Camp.


â??Tyler has demonstrated time and time again that he is a good communicator, citizen, student, and athlete,â? said Jay County Principal Dr. Wood Barwick. â??He is a highly dedicated athlete who knows how to sacrifice for perfection and motivate fellow teammates to strive for excellence.


â??Tyler recognizes his great potential for the future, yet he is a humble and approachable person who loves to share his extensive knowledge about basketball with others, his fellow students in particular.â?


The recipient, nominated by his principals and coaches, must excel in mental attitude, scholarship, leadership, and athletic ability in boys basketball. The award is named in honor of Trester, the IHSAAâ??s first commissioner who served from 1929-44. Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, IHSAAâ??s corporate partner, presented a $1,000 check to Jay County High School in the name of Tyler Rigby.


Rigby, the son of Brad and Connie Aker, plans to major in computer science in college next fall.


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STATE FINALS: Different year, same story as 2A No. 1 Forest Park defeats Harding, 61-55

Posted on 26 March 2006 by alexanderscot.


By Brandon Jones
Staff Writer



INDIANAPOLIS â??? In a rematch of the 2005 Class 2A state championship game, it was once again the Forest Park Rangers prevailing, this time by a score of 61-55 in front of 13,483 fans March 25 at Conseco Fieldhouse.



Most coaches would frown upon their team committing 25 turnovers, which led to a state finalsâ?? record 17 steals by 15th-ranked Harding, combined with shooting a dismal 50 percent from the free throw line. Forest Park head man Tom Beach certainly did.



â??We came into the game with the goal of committing less than 20 turnovers and making more free throws than our opponents shoot, and we were successful with one of the two,â? Beach said. â??We know our kids intend on passing the ball to someone in green (referring to the Rangersâ?? visiting green jerseys), but sometimes there is a Harding player there.â?



Beachâ??s team looked lethargic coming out of the gate. Behind three 3-point baskets by Harding junior guard Deaundre Muhammad, the Hawks jumped on top-ranked Forest Park early, racing out to an early 16-6 advantage with 3:20 remaining in the opening period.



â??I usually put the least amount of emphasis on the first quarter of a basketball game,â? said Beach. â??Harding came right at us in the beginning, but our kids really stuck with it. We kept our composure.



â??We thought there would be runs, and that is exactly what happened.â?



Indeed it was.



Beachâ??s team responded with an 11-1 run, led by senior Brandon Hopfâ??s five late points, to close out the quarter. The teams finished the first period of play exactly where they had begun as the score was knotted at 17.



The pace slowed in the second period as the teams traded turnovers and the hot-shooting Muhammad cooled off. The contest featured four lead changes in the second quarter as the Rangers uncharacteristically delivered a dagger into Harding from the perimeter as opposed to where they usually do their damage: in the paint.



Hardingâ??s 6â??7â? senior James Humphrey was not intimidated by the 1-2 punch of 6â??7â? cousins Brandon and Clint Hopf as he took it straight at the Rangersâ?? big men. Humphrey, who recorded a state finalsâ?? record five blocked shots in the game, scored six of Hardingâ??s 10 points in the quarter.



But 6-foot junior Beau Troesch had the last laugh as he connected on a 3-point basket as time expired, pulling Forest Park within a mere one point, 27-26, at halftime.



Muhammad looked as if he would continue his hot shooting to start the second half when he collected an offensive rebound and put-back basket. But then the big men of Forest Park took over.



Back-to-back layups by Brandon Hopf and a David Welp jumper allowed the Rangers to regain the lead at 32-29. A 10-3 run gave Forest Park a 36-32 advantage with under four minutes to play in the third.



The teams then traded baskets before Harding closed the quarter with a feisty 9-2 spurt to tie the game at 44 with one quarter remaining to decide the Class 2A state champion.



The pace picked up once again as the teams came out for the fourth quarter, and the lead changes were aplenty. A Welp free throw began the scoring for Forest Park before Harding responded at the other end.



Forest Park (25-3), as all great teams do, took control as the Hopf contingent took over. Brandon Hopf had six fourth-quarter points and Clint Hopf had five in the period, and after the Rangers regained the lead at 49-48 as the furious pace continued, they would never trail again.



A Clint Hopf free throw after an offensive rebound (Forest Park outrebounded the Hawks 44-31) stretched Forest Parkâ??s advantage to six points at 56-50 with only 1:56 to go. The contest was still in doubt, however, as Harding refused to go away.



A 3-pointer by Muhammad and a steal that turned into an easy layup at the other end pulled Harding to within one at 56-55. Those would be Hardingâ??s last points of the contest, though, as some sloppy play down the stretch and the towering presence of Brandon Hopf inside was just too much.



Brandon Hopf connected on two free throws to put the Rangers ahead 58-55 before a wild shot by Humphrey was unsuccessful. Forest Park then iced the contest down the stretch from the free throw line. Final score: Forest Park 61, Harding 55.



It was Forest Parkâ??s second consecutive state championship in boys basketball.



â??No one thought we had a chance to be here (in the state finals),â? said Harding coach Al Gooden. â??As a coach, you ask the kids to play hard and give you everything theyâ??ve got. All 11 of my guys left it on the floor today.



â??Iâ??m real proud of them for that.â?



The Hawks finished 17-10 on the season to go along with a second straight state runner-up finish.

Beachâ??s final comment summed up him and his teamâ??s sentiments on the contest.



â??These six seniors have been leaders all year,â? Beach said. â??When you play in a state tournament, you want to win a state championship.



â??These guys did it twice.â?



Four Class 2A records set, two tied

Hereâ??s a look at the six 2A finals records either set or tied in the game, all of them but two an individual record:


  • Most combined blocked shots: 13, (11, Harding (9) vs. Forest Park (2), 2005)
  • Most steals: Harding, 17 (14, Harding vs. Forest Park 2005)
  • Highest field goal percentage: .800 (8-10), Clint Hopf, Forest Park (.692 (9-13), Jeff Nelson, Westview vs. Paoli, 1999)
  • Most 3-point field goals made: 4, Deaundre Muhammad, Harding (4, Rusty Garner, Alexandria vs. Southwestern (Hanover), 1998)
  • Highest 3-point field goal percentage: .667 (4-6), Deaundre Muhammad, Harding (.667 (4-6), Rusty Garner, Alexandria vs. Southwestern (Hanover), 1998)
  • Most blocked shots: 5, James Humphrey, Harding (3, Kyle Johnson, Jimtown vs. Brownstown, 2004)

Forest Parkâ??s James wins Trester Award

Forest Park senior guard Tim James is the 2005-06 Boys Basketball Class 2A recipient of the Arthur L. Trester Mental Attitude Award as selected by members of the IHSAA Board of Directors.


James is a two-year starter for the Rangers, helping coach Tom Beachâ??s team to back-to-back 2A championships in 2005 and 2006. The two-time all-conference selection is captain of the Rangersâ?? top-ranked squad this season. James will finish his career as the schoolâ??s all-time leader in three-point accuracy, hitting 48 of 109 treys (.440) coming into the final game. The versatile James also plays baseball for the Rangers, earning an invitation to the Junior All-Star Showcase.


James ranks first in his senior class with a perfect 4.0 cumulative grade point average. The National Merit Scholar and Honor Roll student is active in the Beta Club (president), National Honor Society, Key Club, Fellowship of Christian Athletes (president), Peers Educating Peers, and Students Against Destructive Decisions. James also is a member of the schoolâ??s Variety Show Band.


James also serves as a volunteer, teaching guitar lessons, playing organ for his church, and serving as a youth basketball camp instructor.


â??Tim is the ultimate positive example of how young men should be,â? said Forest Park Principal Jeff Jessee. â??He is an excellent role model for our young students, and his values of honesty and moral character are impeccable. Tim is one of the finest young men that I have met in 20 years.â?


The recipient, nominated by his principals and coaches, must excel in mental attitude, scholarship, leadership, and athletic ability in boys basketball. The award is named in honor of Trester, the IHSAAâ??s first commissioner who served from 1929-44. Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, IHSAAâ??s corporate partner, presented a $1,000 check to Forest Park High School in the name of Tim James.


James, the son of Anthony and Kathy James, will be attending the University of Evansville this fall.


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