The 93rd
Cass Wins First State Championship In School History
Top-ranked Cass became the seventh undefeated state champion, continuing their excellent play as they defeated Forest Park 57-48 in the Class 2A state championship game. The win gave Cass High School its first state championship in school history.
Cass, coached by Hall of Famer Basil Mawbey, finished the season at 26-0, while eighth-ranked Forest Park finished a great season at 23-5 under head coach Ted Beach. Mawbey won his second state championship after leading Connersville to the 1983 state championship and became the first to coach to take three different schools to a state championship game. He led Kokomo to the runner-up finish in 1989.
Cass only committed five turnovers as their patient offense proved too strong for Forest Park to overcome. The Kings grabbed the lead for good just two minutes into the contest and led at every stop. The most spectacular play of the game came at the end of the first quarter when Forest Park’s Adam Brames hit a three-pointer from approximately 63 feet to draw the Rangers to within 19-15.
Forest Park drew within six points on a pair of occasions in the fourth period, but any thoughts of a rally were squelched as Cass hit two free throws each on consecutive trips down the floor to balloon the lead back to 10 points at 48-38 with 3:24 remaining.
Cass’ Beau Bauer led the game with 24 points, 12 rebounds and 8 assists. Also contributing for Cass was Zach Frey who had 9 points and 7 rebounds. Forest Park was led by Brames with 12 points, and Neal Knies with 11 points. Luke Rohleder pulled down 10 rebounds for Forest Park, five on the offensive end.
Beau Bauer Wins Trester
Award for Mental Attitude
Beau
Bauer of Lewis Cass High School was named winner of the Arthur L. Trester Award for Mental Attitude in Class 2A Boys
Basketball. Members of the IHSAA
Executive Committee present the award to the outstanding senior participant in
each classification of the boys basketball state
finals. The recipients of this award,
who were nominated by their principals and coaches, must excel in mental
attitude, scholarship, leadership and athletic ability in basketball.
Athletically,
Bauer is a four year varsity letterman, while acting as the Kings’ co-captain
in his junior and senior seasons. He has been selected to the North All-Star
team and was the top vote recipient for this year’s Mid-Indiana First Team All
Conference. Bauer also has competed at
the varsity level for two seasons in tennis and three seasons in baseball at
Cass.
Bauer
is a Presidential Classroom Delegate, a delegate to the Hoosier Boys State and
a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
Academically,
he is a member of the National Honor Society and ranks second in his class of
106. He is a member of the Mid-Indiana Academic All-Conference team, and acts
as his Senior Class Vice-President. He is undecided on his college career, but
plans to major in Computer Engineering.
Beau is
the son of Mike and Darla Bauer of Walton.
Farm
Bureau Insurance, IHSAA corporate partner, presented a scholarship check for
$1,000.00 to Lewis Cass High School in the name of Beau Bauer.
Game Notes
·
First
State Championship In School History
An IHSAA member school since 1963, this was the first state title for Cass High School, located in the town of Walton Cass County.
·
Cass 46-1
Over Two Year Span
The Kings are 46-1 over the last two years. They finished the regular season unbeaten in 2002 before falling in the opening round of sectionals to finish 20-1. Under Basil Mawbey, Cass has a 68-3 record over his three seasons.
·
Cass One
of Seven Unbeaten Champs In Tournament History
Cass,
at 26-0, becomes the seventh team in the 93-year history of the tournament to
finish a season undefeated and the first since the 1985
1955-56
1956-57
1968-69
1969-70
1970-71
1984-85
·
Basil Mawbey Sixth Coach To Win State Titles At Two Different
Schools
The list of coaches to have accomplished the feat include:
Bill Green — Indianapolis Washington 1969; Marion 1975, 1976, 1985,
1986, 1987
Marion Crawley — Washington 1941, 1942; Lafayette Jefferson 1948, 1964
Glenn Curtis — Lebanon 1918; Martinsville 1924, 1927, 1933
Burl Friddle — Washington 1930; Ft. Wayne South Side 1938
Cliff Wells — Bloomington 1919; Logansport 1934
Basil Mawbey — Connersville
1983; Cass 2003 (2A)
·
Mawbey First To Coach
Three Different Schools In Championship Game
Cass coach Basil Mawbey became the first person to coach three different schools in an IHSAA state championship game.
Cass 2003 (2A) (Won state
championship)
Class 2A Game
Records
Most Blocked Shots (Tied) – 5 by Forest Park vs. Cass.
Most Combined Blocked Shots (Tied) – 8 by Forest Park (5) and Cass (3).
Most Field Goals Made – 9 by Beau Bauer, Cass vs. Forest Park.
Most Field Goals Attempted – 22 by Beau Bauer, Cass vs. Forest Park.
Most Assists – 8 by Beau Bauer, Cass vs. Forest Park.
Most Blocked Shots (tied) – 2 by Josi
Faust, Cass and Geoff Van Winkle, Forest Park.
Team Posters And Individual Action Photographs Available
Visit 20-20
Photographic, the IHSAA’s photographer and the
For t-shirts and sweatshirts commemorating the 93rd
Annual IHSAA State Finals or for any of our events, visit our friends at Morris, Inc.
State Finals
Programs Available
Couldn’t be at Conseco Fieldhouse 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
(
Game Quotes
“When the game began,
“We were pretty efficient offensively throughout the game, even though we missed a few good looks early. I think we played pretty well. We didn’t shoot a great percentage but we were efficient. Our guard play was excellent and we really handled their pressure defense. They were after us continually defensively. Beau had the ball in his hands numerous minutes and he only had one turnover. That is outstanding.”
(On winning the 2A championship)
“This doesn’t just happen, today’s success began two years
ago and it really feels great to win.
This is the greatest thrill ever.”
(On being undefeated)
“We’ve experienced a lot of pressure being undefeated, so we try and gear our practices to help us prepare for pressure games by putting that pressure on ourselves in practice. That way we are ready for the pressure of game situations. We go into each game thinking we can win.”
Cass’ Beau Bauer
“Our main goal was to keep it out of the high post and keep the pressure on their perimeter shooters. Zach (Frey) and I did a pretty good job on the perimeter and the guys down low plugged it up. One of our big goals was to know where Van Winkle was at all times. He is a great player. I thought he was one of the best defensive players we have played against all season. As you could probably tell by my first few shots, a couple of air balls, I was pretty tight and rushed it.”
“In the first half, we had way too many turnovers and gave
up too many offensive rebounds. I am very proud of our effort. Cass is known
for their “D” and they played outstanding “D”. Cass is the best team, by far,
that we played all year long.”
(On what Cass did differently on “D” than the other teams
this year)
“They covered the perimeter and shut down the inside. We
couldn’t score either place. They made adjustments all over the floor.”
(On the season)
“If you have to lose one, this would be the one to lose, for
the championship. It’s not how you want to end, it’s
not bitter, but disappointing.”
(On the 63-foot shot at the end of the first quarter)
“We should run that play more often.”
Forest Park Geoff Van
Winkle
“Ranger fans will remember this for the rest of their
lives.”