Page 21 - 2015-16 Girls Basketball State Finals Program

Last Year’s State Finals in Review

Heritage Christian heats up, topples Fort Wayne Canterbury in Class 2A

The Heritage Christian Eagles used an 11-2
run to end the third quarter and then a striking 19-0
streak near the end of the game and wrapped up
a 73-53 victory over the Fort Wayne Canterbury
Cavaliers in the Class 2A girls state finals.
It was a matchup of the two top-ranked teams in
Class 2A and two of the most decorated girls squads
in the state. The high-octane Eagles broke open
a close game by outscoring Canterbury by a 22-4
count in fast-break points and a 38-14 margin on
points in the paint.
Coach Rick Risinger’s Heritage Christian team,
ranked No. 1 by the ICGSA, won the 2A title for the
second consecutive season and sixth time since
2006. The six crowns tie Fort Wayne Bishop Luers
for the most in state girls basketball history. It was
also the sixth championship for Risinger, who tied
former boys basketball coach Bill Green (Marion and
Indianapolis Washington) for the most in the sport in
state history. their fourth consecutive state championship game
after recently winning their eighth straight regional
The Eagles finished 28-2. They were led in scor- crown, a state record.
ing by Tyasha Harris with 20 points. Katlyn Gilbert
and Peyton Fallis each contributed 13 while Sydney Darby Maggard led the Cavaliers’ scoring with
Hall had 11. Hannah Williams led the Eagles with 16. Mason VanHouten scored 11 and Lilly Peters had
nine rebounds. 10. Katherine Smith grabbed 17 rebounds, which tied
a 2A final record.
Coach Wayne Kreiger’s Cavaliers, who were
ranked No. 2, finished 23-3. They were playing in
Lafayette Central Catholic topples Barr-Reeve for Class A title
This time, no stirring comeback was needed. had 10. Onken led her team with eight rebounds.
The Lafayette Central Catholic Knights gained their
biggest lead -- nine points -- with 5 minutes remain- Coach Mark Holt’s Barr-Reeve team, ranked
ing and held on for a 52-44 victory over previously first in the ICGSA poll, was led by Tiara Kenney’s 18
unbeaten Barr-Reeve in the Class A girls state final. points. Megan Graber had 10 points and also tied
Olivia Carroll for the Vikings’ rebounding lead
The Knights closed out the victory at the free with seven.
throw line, hitting 6-of-8 in the final minute. Their
championship triumph came on the heels of a rous- Barr-Reeve was making its first appearance in
ing semi-state win over Oregon-Davis (47-44), in the girls basketball finals. The Vikings, who led the
which the Knights rallied from an eight-point deficit state with a 31.4-point defensive average, finished
in the final 51 seconds. The team found added 28-1.
inspiration after assistant coach Jeff Dienhart passed
away the week prior to state after a long battle with
illnesses caused by cystic fibrosis.
Central Catholic, ranked second in the ICGSA
poll, was making its second state finals appearance
and first since capturing the 2006 title. The Knights,
who finished 24-6, won 15 of their last 16 games.
Coach Craig DeVault’s Central Catholic team
was led in scoring by Emily Burks with 17 points.
Cameron Onken contributed 16 and Maggie Bobillo
IHSAA - Pure Spirit. Pure Sport. Pure INDIANA! 21