Page 24 - 2008-09 Girls Basketball State Finals Program

Last Year’s State Finals in Review

GREYHOUNDS RUN AWAY WITH FIRST STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

The Carmel Greyhounds defeated the defending cham- and two ties in the first half as Carmel led at the break, 43-
pion South Bend Washington Panthers, 84-72, to claim the 39.
school’s first girls basketball title. It was the school’s state- Although the Panther’s press caused some Carmel
leading 89th IHSAA championship in all sports including the turnovers, the six-point lead the Greyhounds took into the
5A football and girls swimming and diving championships fourth quarter was never relinquished. Carmel was led in
earlier this school year. scoring by junior Chrissy Steffen who tied a 4A state finals
Balanced scoring was the key to the Greyhound victory record with 31 points (Reicina Russell, Terre Haute South,
as they placed four players in double figures. The teams 2002). Senior Danielle Havel added a double-double with
mirrored each other in many statistical categories but the 16 points and a game-high 14 rebounds. Senior Ashlee
Greyhounds (23-4) came out on top where it mattered most Spearman and junior Lauren McRoberts each ended the
to end the Panthers’ hopes for back-to-back titles. evening with 14 points a piece.
The game was back and forth with six lead changes The Panthers were led by the state’s leading scorer
junior Tyler Diggins with 25, four shy of her average, and
fellow junior Takoia Larry added 24. Larry and senior
Shalana Murray finished with a team high nine rebounds
each.
The Panthers, coached by Marilyn Coddens in her 14th
season, were making their third consecutive state finals ap-
pearance. They compiled a 137-14 record over the previous
six years. Carmel, led by fourth year coach Scott Bowen,
made its second title game appearance and first since its
1995 state runner-up season.
Carmel’s 84 points tied South Bend Washington’s
output from 2006-07 against Columbus East for the most
points in a 4A title game. The 156 points between the two
teams set the record for points in a final game.
PLYMOUTH EDGES BISHOP CHATARD FOR FIRST STATE TITLE

Leslie Swihart’s free throw with :03 seconds remaining Plymouth, led by 16th year coach Dave Cox, finished
gave Plymouth a one point win and the 3A state champion- the season at 22-4. Centa led the way with 14 points and
ship, the school’s first in girls basketball. nine boards, junior Lyzz Smith added 13, and Leslie Swihart
With the game tied at 46-46, Swihart drove the lane finished nine points and seven assists.
and was fouled on the play by Rachel Kimack of Bishop Kevin Sweeney, in his fourth year at the helm at Bishop
Chatard. Swihart missed the first free throw and hit the sec- Chatard, led the Trojans to a 23-5 record. Senior guard
ond for the 47-46 lead. Chatard’s Megan Gardner tossed up Anne Boese
a last second heave which caromed off the front of the rim. finished
The girls state title came a little over 11 months after with 15
the boys team carried home the 3A state championship. It points, five
was the Plymouth girls’ first trip back to state since its 3A rebounds,
state runner-up season in 2001. and four
In a game that featured 11 ties and six lead changes, assists, while
Chatard went up 44-40 on Anne Boese’s layup with 4:44 Caroline
remaining but Plymouth came right back on its next posses- Schutzman
sion as Brittany Davis nailed a jumper to pull within 44-42. added 13
Plymouth then tied it with 1:37 left on a Swihart layup. points and
Gardner hit a pair of free throws with :47 left to give Chatard grabbed
a two-point edge but Jessica Centa nailed a short jumper to eight boards.
even it at 46-46 with :38 seconds left. Megan Gard-
Gardner was fouled with 16 seconds left in the game ner chipped
by Swihart but missed the front end of the one-and-one and in with 13
Plymouth called timeout with 10 second left to set up its points and
last play. The Pilgrims then in-bounded the ball setting up six assists.
Swihart’s drive to the basket in the final seconds.
20 IHSAA - Pure Spirit. Pure Sport!

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