It’s a new year and a completely different field as the 91^st IHSAA Boys Basketball Tournament reaches its ultimate stage Saturday (March 24) at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

There are no repeat entries from the 2000 state finals and five of the contenders have never traveled this far before. The only former state champion is Pike, which captured the 1998 Class 4A and Tournament of Champions titles in the first year of the multiple-class format.

The other former state finalists are Batesville and Muncie Southside. Batesville is here for the third time, but the first since 1943 when the Bulldogs were eliminated by eventual state champion Fort Wayne Central in the semifinals. Muncie Southside reached the Class 3A state championship game in 1999 before falling to Plainfield 77-64.

Attica, Blue River Valley, Evansville Mater Dei, Harding and Penn are making their first state finals trip in boys basketball. Blue River Valley and Harding will be making their first appearance in any IHSAA state finals in a team sport.

None of the eight state finalists played head-to-head during the 2000-01 regular season. Blue River Valley (Class A) and Muncie Southside (Class 3A) enter with 18-game winning streaks. Evansville Mater Dei (Class 3A) is on a 15-game roll.

Three of the eight state finalist teams will change classification for the 2001-2002 season. Muncie Southside moves from Class 3A to 4A and Harding jumps from Class 2A to 3A. Evansville Mater Dei will drop from Class 3A to 2A. Statewide, 38 schools will play in a different classification for the 2001-02 and 2002-03 seasons.

The 2001 IHSAA Basketball State Finals have a football flavor with Attica, Evansville Mater Dei and Penn returning to Indianapolis after playing in the IHSAA Football State Finals last November. Their basketball teams include several two-sport standouts, including four players who have been selected to play in the Indiana Football Coaches Association Biomet North-South All-Star game this summer. Those players are Trai Essex of Harding, Nate Larson and Josh Smith of Attica, and Nathan Wildeman of Evansville Mater Dei.

Additionally, Josh Smith of Attica (Class A) and Justin Smith of Penn (Class 5A) were selected by the IHSAA Executive Committee as recipients of the 2000 Phil N. Eskew Award for Mental Attitude in their respective classes. Josh Smith ranks in the top 25 percent of his class and has served as its president all four years of high school. Justin Smith ranks No. 1 in Penn’s senior class of 673 students.

$10 for one session; $15 for both sessions. Single-session tickets will be sold at the participating schools Tuesday through Thursday. Single-session and two-session tickets will be sold Tuesday through Saturday at Conseco Fieldhouse. Call 317-917-2500 for more information.

10:35 a.m.

Blue River Valley (22-4) vs. Attica (20-6)

12:45 p.m. (approximate); 45 minutes following conclusion of Class A awards ceremony

Harding (22-5) vs. Batesville (21-5)

6:35 p.m.

Muncie Southside (22-3) vs. Evansville Mater Dei (26-1).

8:45 p.m. (approximate); 45 minutes following conclusion of Class 3A awards ceremony

Penn (23-2) vs. Pike (25-3)

Practices are open to the media, closed to the public.

First IHSAA state finals appearance in any sport for the 37-year-old consolidation of Mt. Summit and Mooreland in northern Henry County . . . Prior to beginning of the multiple-class format in 1998, the Vikings had never won a boys basketball sectional . . . Vikings play for a state title after winning four straight sectional and four straight regional titles . . . Have reeled in 16 straight victories since a 80-53 loss Jan. 6 at Muncie Central left them 6-4 . . . Junior guard Kyle Cox ranks 18th in state scoring with a 23.4 average . . . Jones has hit 199 of 214 (.929) free throws this season, including 21 of 23 in two semi-state games . . . Senior Philip Griffith (15.6 points) and junior Brandon Cool (10.1 points) complement Cox inside . . . Coach Barry Huckeby is 43-7 in two seasons . . . Huckeby, a former New Castle star, played collegiately at Boston University and Miami University in the early 1990s . . . Huckeby is the son-in-law of Brownsburg boys basketball coach Jimmie Howell.

Three months after making the school’s first IHSAA state finals appearance in any sport with a runner-up finish in Class A football, the Red Ramblers return . . . The 12-man basketball roster includes 10 football players, nine of whom comprised the starting offensive unit that averaged 47.7 points a game . . . They’re good for 72.8 in basketball . . . Senior Josh Smith headlines the group and rates as one of the most productive football/basketball stars in state history . . . Smith ranks second in state football history with 798 career points and is 84^th in basketball career scoring with 1,808 points. He’s also seventh on the state career rushing list with 6,122 yards . . . Smith stands 12^th in state basketball scoring this season at 24.2 and leads team in rebounding (7.3) . . . Smith has received an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy . . . Sophomore Travis Kirby complements Smith with 12.9 points and senior Theron Schmid, the football quarterback, chips in 9.5 . . . Coach Ralph Shrader is 71-23 in four seasons at Attica. He previously coached seven seasons at Culver Military the last four (34-49) as head coach . . . Shrader also serves as an assistant coach in football and as the varsity baseball coach.

First IHSAA Boys Basketball State Finals appearance for the Hawks and the first by a Fort Wayne school since the Northrop Bruins won the 1974 state title . . . Hawks reached semi-state finals in 2000 before falling to eventual state champion Westview in a 59-58 heartbreaker . . . Six players graduated from that team but Hawks were renewed by a strong group of sophomores and juniors . . . Senior Trai Essex (19.4 points, 12.0 rebounds) also is a standout in football at wide receiver where he caught 48 passes for 769 yards and six touchdowns as a senior . . . The 6-foot-6 Essex has signed a football letter of intent with Northwestern . . . The only other seniors on the roster are forward J.T. Langston (9.7 points, 4.6 rebounds) and backup Kelvin Norfleet and. . . Coach Al Gooden, a former basketball standout at Fort Wayne Wayne (1977), played collegiately at Ball State. He’s 144-97 in 11 seasons at Harding and 163-121 overall with two previous seasons at Heritage.

Third IHSAA Boys Basketball State Finals appearance and first since 1943 when the Bulldogs fell to the eventual state champion Fort Wayne Central in the semifinals, 33-24 . . .Current edition stunned top-ranked Eastern (Bloomfield) 89-71 in the semi-state opener and held off unranked Covington 59-55 in semi-state championship . . . Nine of 11 players were included on the school’s most recent honor roll listing . . . Seniors Matthew Robbins (16.9) and Jacob Garvin (14.0) pace the scoring attack . . . Robbins has 52 three-pointers and junior Chris Steinfort has 42 . . . Coach Mel Siefert, a Batesville alumnus, has compiled a 145-45 record in eight seasons as head coach after six years as an assistant. His teams have won six sectional and two regional titles.

Rebels have unfinished business to resolve after falling to Plainfield 77-64 in 1999 Class 3A championship . . . Six players, including starters Ryan Baumgartner, Brian Bell and Brice Jones, are back from that game . . . Jones is the leading scorer (17.3), followed by Baumgartner (12.0 points, 7.3 assists) and Bell (10.9) . . . Rebels finished season ranked No. 2 in AP media poll with Evansville Mater Dei No. 1 . . . Riding a 16-game winning streak with only one loss since Jan. 1 . . . Coach Rick Baumgartner, father of Ryan, is in year three of his second tour at Muncie Southside. He also coached there from 1993-95 . . . Baumgartner is 87-35 in six seasons at Muncie Southside and 278-192 in 22 seasons overall.

A remarkable year of athletic success continues for the Wildcats, making their first basketball state finals appearance after winning first 2A football title and seventh consecutive wrestling state crown . . . . Won first basketball sectional title in 1999 and now has won three straight . . . Reached semi-state finals in 2000 before falling to eventual state champion Brebeuf 66-63 . . . Avenged that loss with 68-66 thriller over Brebeuf in 2001 Washington Semi-State finals . . . 6-9 junior center Matt Kiefer anchors attack with 17.4 points and 9.3 rebounds . . . Eight basketball players were on football roster, four of whom were starters . . . Three-sport senior standout Jared Schiff contributes 15.5 points . . . Schiff ranks eighth on the state career receiving list with 2,393 yards . . . Patrick Mallory (10.1 points) opens at guard after starting both ways in football . . . Backup senior forward Nathan Wildeman rushed for 169 yards and four touchdowns in the 2000 Class 2A football championship . . . Coach Roger Sills is 115-91 in nine seasons, all at Mater Dei, in two different stints.

Making first basketball state finals appearance and joining football (1997 5A champion, 1999 5A state runner-up, 2000 Class 5A champion), baseball (1998 state champion), soccer (1999 state champion) and wrestling (1998 team state finalist) among boys teams from Penn to reach the state finals in a team sport during the last four school years . . . Senior forwards Marqus Husband (15.2) and Andrew Laird (16.2) carry the offensive load . . . Senior guard Jim Modlin dangerous outside with 51 three-pointers in 106 attempts (.481) . . . Laird became the fourth player in school history to reach 1,000 career points late in the regular season and now has 1,136 . . . Three Kingsmen also played on the 2000 Class 5A football state championship team – senior starting guard Justin Smith as the backup quarterback, junior Adam Cramer as a backup wide receiver and sophomore Josh DeLodders as a starting defensive back . . . . Dean Foster, who guided Elkhart Central to the 1995 IHSAA Boys Basketball State Finals, joins a short list of coaches who have taken two different schools to the final round. The Blue Blazers fell to Merrillville 62-49 in the semifinals . . . Foster is 56-19 in three seasons at Penn and 313-276 overall in 22 seasons overall with 13 seasons at Bremen and six at Elkhart Central.

Back for its second visit after winning the Class 4A and Tournament of Champions titles in 1998, the first year of the multiple-class format . . . Red Devils have an abundance of weapons, but Notre Dame-bound Chris Thomas is the engine . . . Senior guard averages 23.4 points and 5.8 assists . . . Thomas was a non-starter but a key contributor on 1998 title team . . . The son of 1976 Indiana All-Star Frank Thomas (Fort Wayne North Side) ranks 16^th on the state’s career scoring list with 2,136 points. He needs 10 points in his 106th and final high school varsity game to finish his career 11^th on the state chart. The No. 10 position, held by Carmel’s Dave Shepherd at 2,226 points, is out of reach . . . Forward David Teague (15.3 points) has blossomed as a senior after being cut his freshman and sophomore seasons . . . Sophomore frontline starters Parnell Smith (6.6 points, 6.3 rebounds) and Justin Cage (7.8 points, 6.8 rebounds) have added bulk to the inside game . . . Red Devils won Hall of Fame Classic title decisively, 97-68 over Huntington North and 74-54 over Merrillville. . . . Coach Alan Darner, who directed the 1998 state champions, has announced his retirement and intention to relocate to Florida after this season. He’s 108-37 in six seasons at Pike after a 142-59 run at Anderson Highland in nine seasons. Darner also coached 15 seasons (167-142) in his native Ohio.

Jerry Baker will anchor the IHSAA Championship Network’s coverage of the 91st IHSAA Boys Basketball State Finals Saturday (March 24) at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

Baker will deliver the play-by-play call, with Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame coach Dave Nicholson serving as analyst. They will be joined by sideline reporters Chris Denari and Bob Nagel.

WHMB (Channel 40) of Indianapolis is the flagship station of the IHSAA Network. Affiliates are listed below.

Evansville – WTSN (Ch. 17).

Fort Wayne – WPTA (Ch. 21).

Indianapolis -- WHMB (Ch. 40).

Jasper -- WJTS (Ch. 27).

Louisville -- WFTE (Ch. 58).

Merrillville -- WYIN (Ch. 56).

South Bend -- WHME (Ch. 46).

Terre Haute – Consult local cable television listings.

Vincennes – WVUT (Ch. 22)

Galaxy 10 #24K

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State finalists Evansville Mater Dei and Penn could join Lafayette Central Catholic as the only schools to celebrate IHSAA state championships in football and boys basketball in the same school year.

On Nov. 24, Evansville Mater Dei defeated Fort Wayne Luers 56-10 for its first IHSAA football title. Senior wide receiver Jared Schiff , also a starter in basketball, grabbed four passes for 45 yards in the game. He finished his football career ranked sixth on the state single-season receiving yardage list with 1,347 yards and eighth on the career receiving yards chart with 2,393 yards.

One day later at the RCA Dome, Penn collected its fourth state title in the last six years and fifth overall with a 21-0 triumph over Center Grove.

Attica, who will play Blue River Valley in the Class A state championship game, also was a 2000 IHSAA football state finalist. The Red Ramblers fell to Adams Central 29-21 despite a 230-yard rushing performance by Josh Smith who also scored two touchdowns.

Lafayette Central Catholic became the first school to win IHSAA football and boys basketball titles in the same school year when it claimed both Class A championships in 1999-00. The Knights defeated Perry Central 59-7 for their second football state title, and then downed Union (Dugger) 82-70 for their second Class A basketball crown in three years.

The record for IHSAA state championships in a single school year by one school is five, by Carmel in 1981-82 and 1988-89. In 1981-82, the Greyhounds captured titles in boys cross country, boys tennis, girls swimming, football and boys golf. The first four titles of 1981-82 came during the fall season. In 1988-89, Carmel claimed IHSAA titles in girls cross country, boys cross country, girls swimming and diving, girls tennis and boys golf.

Seth Colclasure, a junior guard from Bellmont who led the state in scoring this season with a 29.4 average, has become the most accurate free throw shooter for a season in state and national history.

Colclasure hit 167 of 171 free throw attempts during the 2000-01 campaign for a .976 percentage. His single-game best came against Columbia City with 14 of 14. He also hit 12 of 12 against Carroll (Fort Wayne) and Harding. Colclasure got to the line in 23 of 24 games and never missed more than one free throw in a game.

The former national mark for season free throw accuracy, as compiled by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) and listed in the 2001 NFHS Sports Record Book, was .975 (119-122) by Daryl Moreau of De La Salle High School in New Orleans during the 1978-79 season. The former state record of .950 was by Steve Drabyn Jr. of LaPorte in 1999-00 on 151 of 159.

Two other Hoosiers also are included on the NFHS season free throw percentage top 10 list. Steve Alford of New Castle hit 286 of 303 (.943) during the 1982-83 campaign and ranks seventh. Drabyn hit 155 of 167 (.928) in 1998-99 to rank 10^th.

Kyle Cox, a junior guard at Blue River Valley, is poised to join the list depending on his accuracy in Saturday’s Class A state championship game against Attica. Cox, who hit 21 of 23 free throws in two semi-state victories, stands at .929 this season on 199 of 214. As a sophomore in 1999-00, Cox hit 196 of 212 (.924).

With a season left to play, Colclasure is within range of finishing in the national career top 10 for free throw percentage. In three varsity seasons, he stands at 376 of 398 for a .944 percentage. The national record, as compiled by the NFHS, is held by Drabyn at .921 on 397 of 431. Alford is third at .886 (546-616) for the 1982-83 season. Two other Hoosiers are in the career top 10 – Michael Allen of Shakamak (418-478, .874) in 1987-90 and Brian Good of Rossville (466-536) in 1985-88.

Colclasure ended the season with a run of 44 straight free throws in six games beginning Feb. 27 against Fort Wayne Northrop. The state record for consecutive free throws, as reported to the IHSAA, is 72 by Rob Cavanaugh of Valparaiso during the 1989-90 season. Brett Snodgrass of East Central had a run of 66 straight during the 1996-97 season, and Alford connected on 64 consecutive free throws during his senior season of 1982-83.