Page 7 - 2008-09 Boys Basketball State Finals Program

fifth trip overall and first since 1983. For the Zebras, their are ranked 23rd nationally by USA Today. The northeast
last state finals appearance spans 72 years (1937). Oddly Panthers are making their first boys basketball state finals
enough, both teams are also facing their first top 10 foe this appearance. The Panthers from the south are competing in
postseason. the state finals for the first time in 49 years and seeking the
Fast Facts school’s first basketball crown since 1919.
• Princeton is seeking its first state championship in any Fast Facts
sport. • FW Snider’s meeting against top-ranked Bloomington
South will be the program’s third straight contest against
• A win for Rochester would mark the school’s fifth state a top 10 team after beating No. 9 Marion at regional and
title (boys track, 1918; boys golf, 1980; 2A football, 1987; No. 8 Munster at semistate.
2A girls basketball, 2004).
Tournament Preview • With a victory today, Princeton would become the 11th • Bloomington South’s last state championship occurred
undefeated state champion all-time. in 1998 as quarterback Rex Grossman led the Panthers
By RICHARD TORRES • Players to Watch: Rochester – Bruce Grimm, Jr. (6-1, to a Class 5A football championship.
VYPE High School Sports Sr., G): 25.2 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 5.7 apg; Brody Schoen (6-0, • If victorious, Bloomington South would become the 11th
Magazine, Central Indiana Sr., G): 9.7 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 2.2 apg; Austin Lowe (6-1, Sr., or 12th undefeated state champion (Class 3A Princeton
G/F): 7.8 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 3.2 apg. Princeton – Rontray is also currently undefeated).
It’s been three years since Indiana has witnessed an Class 2A Championship Chavis (6-4, So., G): 16.7 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 3.5 apg; Trevor • Players to Watch: Fort Wayne Snider – Jonathan
undefeated state championship run. Today, two of the eight Fort Wayne Bishop Luers (22-4) vs. Brownstown Central George (6-3, Sr., F): 15.9 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 4.5 apg; Jalen Sims (6-3, Sr., G): 15.2 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 3.8 apg; Reggie
state finalists have a chance to change that fact. (20-6), approximately 40 minutes following conclusion of Packer (6-2, So., G): 14.3 ppg, 5.6 apg; Dontray Chavis Hearn (6-5, Sr., F): 14.9 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 2.6 apg; Bradley
With wins, both Class 3A Princeton and Class 4A previous game. (6-4, So., F): 11.5 ppg, 5.1 rpg.
Bloomington South can join the state’s elite 10, a feat last In search of its second straight state title, Fort Wayne Sneary (6-6, Sr., F): 12.9 ppg, 7.4 rpg. Bloomington
South – Jordan Hulls (6-0, Sr., G): 15.9 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 5.3
achieved by Class 4A champion Lawrence North (29-0) in Bishop Luers has toppled five postseason opponents by an Class 4A Championship apg; Darwin Davis Jr. (5-10, So., G): 12.7 ppg, 5.2 apg;
2006. average margin of 19.6 points while also knocking off top- Fort Wayne Snider (25-1) vs. Bloomington South (25-0), Spencer Turner (6-3, So., G): 11.8 ppg, 2.4 rpg; Erik
Meanwhile, both defending champions Class A Triton and ranked Tipton and No. 3 Bluffton. Brownstown Central has approximately 40 minutes following conclusion of previous Fromm (6-8, Jr., F): 10.1 ppg, 7.0 rpg.
Class 2A Fort Wayne Bishop Luers have the opportunity to produced its best record in five years, and in the process, game.
reach the pinnacle once again. has defeated both No. 9 Forest Park and No. 4 Winchester The unbeaten Bloomington South Panthers are ranked third
Which storylines will come to fruition? this postseason. nationally by USA Today. The Fort Wayne Snider Panthers
Today, we’ll have our answers. Fast Facts
Class A Championship • FW Bishop Luers’ Deshaun Thomas leads the state in Enter to WIN!
Triton (24-2) vs. Jac-Cen-Del (24-2), 10:30 a.m. (ET) scoring and is ranked 12th on the state’s all-time career
For a second consecutive year, Triton will vie for a scoring list with 2,220 points.
basketball state title. This time around, though, history is • Brownstown Central is making its third boys basketball
on the line. With a victory today against Jac-Cen-Del, the state finals appearance overall and first since 2004 (L, Enter the Raffle to win!
Trojans would become the first Class A team to win back- 63-59 vs. Jimtown).
to-back state titles. The top-ranked Eagles are making their
first boys basketball state finals appearance. • FW Bishop Luers coach James Blackmon, an Indiana Stop by the VYPE Tent to enter. During
All-Star at Marion, set the IHSAA state finals record for
Fast Facts points (52), field goals made (24) and field goal attempts Session 1, win an autographed Bill Russell
• The defending state champion Trojans have won 23 (47) in a double-overtime loss to Anderson in the 1983 basketball. During Session 2, win an
consecutive games against Class A opponents since state semifinals. autographed LeBron James basketball.
falling 49-47 to Oregon-Davis on March 5, 2007.
• Players to Watch: Fort Wayne Bishop Luers – Winners will be drawn during halftime of
• The Eagles rank eighth in the state in margin of victory Deshaun Thomas (6-7, Jr., G): 30.1 ppg, 15.0 rpg, 2.8
(19.7). The Trojans rank 11th (17.3). apg; Lawrence Barnett (6-0, Sr., G): 11.7 ppg, 2.8 apg; the second game during each session! All
• The name Jac-Cen-Del originates from the school’s Evan Blackmon (6-0, So., G): 11.3 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 2.2 apg. entries must be received no later than the
three southeastern Indiana feeder townships of Brownstown Central – Taylor Wischmeier (6-7, Jr., F): start of the second quarter of the second
Jac(kson), Cen(ter) and Del(aware). 16.2 ppg, 7.7 rpg; Blaze Ayers (6-6, Sr., C): 12.7 ppg,
6.6 rpg, 2.3 apg; Spencer Allman (6-3, So., G): 11.7 ppg, Proud Partners: game during each session.
• Players to Watch: Triton – Colton Keel (6-4, Sr., F): 15.9 2.1 rpg.
ppg, 8.1 rpg, 3.0 apg; Griffyn Carpenter (6-0, So., G): *must be present to win
15.3 ppg, 4.0 rpg; Joel Meister (6-1, Sr., G): 13.0 ppg, Class 3A Championship
3.7 rpg, 2.3 apg. Jac-Cen-Del – Matt Gehl (6-2, Sr., G): Rochester (23-3) vs. Princeton (28-0), 6 p.m. (ET)
20.1 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 4,8 apg; Blake Sutton (5-11, Sr., G): Between them, both Rochester and Princeton have made a
13.3 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 4.6 apg; Tim Arnett (6-3, So., F): 11.5 combined seven appearances at the boys basketball state
ppg, 6.4 rpg, 3.5 apg. finals. For undefeated Princeton, today marks the Tigers’ www.mancavecollectibles.com Check us out: www.vype.com/centralindiana

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