Class 4A state champion Pike used a 7-0 run midway through the fourth quarter to defeat Indianapolis Cathedral 62-58 in the second semifinal game of the Inaugural IHSAA Tournament of Champions April 3 at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis.

The victory set up a showdown with Class A state champion Lafayette Central Catholic (25-3) in the championship game.

After the game was knotted at 50 with 5:02 remaining, Pike (29-1) went on a seven-point run that gave the Red Devils a 57-50 advantage with 2:40 remaining. Indianapolis Cathedral hung tough and closed the gap to 60-58 on Bobby Allen's three-pointer with 26 seconds left. Pike clinched the victory with 15 seconds remaining with freshman Chris Thomas hit two free throws.

Senior forward Rodney Smith led Pike with 20 points and six rebounds. Senior forward Rylan Hainje topped Indianapolis Cathedral with 16 points and 12 rebounds.

Pike Head Coach Alan Darner -- "Our key was to get the ball to Rodney (Smith) and to get (Cathedral's Rylan) Hainje in foul trouble. We accomplished that."

(On playing Lafayette Central Catholic on Saturday) -- It's going to be a late night tonight. We'll go back to school and figure out what we're going to do. We taped last week's (Class A) game and looked at it, taped tonight's game and had three of our coaches scout Central Catholic tonight. Any team that can score 113 points -- I don't care if it was a two overtime game or not -- you're going to have your hands full."

(On tournament) -- "I still think they should go one way or the other. But Cathedral is a 4A talent and are as good as anyone in the state. I think in the boys there is a lot more parity than in girls basketball and you saw that parity tonight."

Pike senior forward Rodney Smith -- "We just go out and play loose. There is no pressure. We've already proven ourselves by winning a state championship."

Cathedral Head Coach Pete Berg -- "I want to thank whoever we need to thank for the opportunity to play in this tournament. We are about the kids who played hard and gave it everything they had. This game was a lot like the first game we had against Pike. It was very physical and both teams like the physical play. They are the best team we played this year. I've watched high school games for a long time and I haven't seen a team play this well for such a sustained period of time (7-8 weeks)."

(On losing final game) "You're not going to hear any sour grapes from me. We've been losing our last game for a hundred years."

Cathedral senior forward Rylan Hainje -- "They're one of the best teams in the state. We wanted to prove we could play with them. However, even with the outcome, they can't take away our state title. They were one of the best teams in the state today. We really wanted to play them because of the revenge factor."

Cathedral junior guard Bobby Allen -- "This was the most fun game I've ever played. I'm the smallest person on the floor, but I scrapped and played as hard as I could."