Staff Report
Colin Altevogt and Adam Rouse preview the Class 3A girls basketball championship
game between No. 9 Fort Wayne Luers and
seventh-ranked Evansville
Memorial. Colin handles the former, while Adam tackles the latter â?¦
FORT WAYNE LUERS KNIGHTS
Though the players are new, the name should stand for itself. On
Saturday, Fort Wayne Luers (23-4) will look to extend its record to five state
championships.
Saturday, Fort Wayne Luers (23-4) will look to extend its record to five state
championships.
An early blowout loss to Brebeuf dropped Luers from the rankings,
and the Knights were on the down low for much of the season. But now theyâ??ve
hit their stride, rattling off 16 straight with a shot to grab #17 in Conseco
Fieldhouse.
and the Knights were on the down low for much of the season. But now theyâ??ve
hit their stride, rattling off 16 straight with a shot to grab #17 in Conseco
Fieldhouse.
Backcourt
Luersâ?? offense starts with one of the best players youâ??ve never
heard of.
heard of.
Sophomore MarKee Martin is the quintessential point guard. She
quietly and efficiently runs the Knight offense, distributing the ball to the
open player while keeping turnovers to a minimum. Martin plays glove-tight
defense and has the ability to take control of a game â??? she outscored
Miss Basketball candidate Melissa Lechlitner in the Plymouth Semistate
championship. Martin is dangerous if not accounted for. She seldom misses an
open jumper and can put up points in a hurry.
quietly and efficiently runs the Knight offense, distributing the ball to the
open player while keeping turnovers to a minimum. Martin plays glove-tight
defense and has the ability to take control of a game â??? she outscored
Miss Basketball candidate Melissa Lechlitner in the Plymouth Semistate
championship. Martin is dangerous if not accounted for. She seldom misses an
open jumper and can put up points in a hurry.
Senior guard Vini Dawson has worked her way into the starting
lineup through the course of the season. Earlier in the year, Dawson routinely led the team in scoring
coming off the bench. As the only senior on this underclassmen-dominated squad,
Dawsonâ??s impact
cannot be measured in just stats. Sheâ??s the only current player that was on the
Knightsâ?? last state championship team two years ago, albeit the junior varsity.
Dawson is a
decent outside shooter, but her mid-range jumper is lethal.
lineup through the course of the season. Earlier in the year, Dawson routinely led the team in scoring
coming off the bench. As the only senior on this underclassmen-dominated squad,
Dawsonâ??s impact
cannot be measured in just stats. Sheâ??s the only current player that was on the
Knightsâ?? last state championship team two years ago, albeit the junior varsity.
Dawson is a
decent outside shooter, but her mid-range jumper is lethal.
Freshman Kelsey Wyss has also progressed into the top five
throughout the season. Solid from the free throw line, Wyss is a good jump
shooter and isnâ??t afraid to put up the big shot. In the Summit Conference
tournament final, Wyss knocked down a big jumper to ice the game after coming
out with an injury. Although just a freshman, she plays with the poise of an
upperclassman.
throughout the season. Solid from the free throw line, Wyss is a good jump
shooter and isnâ??t afraid to put up the big shot. In the Summit Conference
tournament final, Wyss knocked down a big jumper to ice the game after coming
out with an injury. Although just a freshman, she plays with the poise of an
upperclassman.
Frontcourt
Officially listed as a guard, freshman Jessica Hathaway can play
inside or out, knocking down the three or scoring from the paint. Hathaway must
stay out of foul trouble at Conseco â??? she picked up three early fouls in the
first half last weekend, and her absence forced coach Teri Rosinski to go
deeper down the bench than usual. Hathaway comes from a basketball pedigree: Her
sister hit the game-winner to send the Knights to the state finals two years
ago.
inside or out, knocking down the three or scoring from the paint. Hathaway must
stay out of foul trouble at Conseco â??? she picked up three early fouls in the
first half last weekend, and her absence forced coach Teri Rosinski to go
deeper down the bench than usual. Hathaway comes from a basketball pedigree: Her
sister hit the game-winner to send the Knights to the state finals two years
ago.
Though Martin is the star, sophomore Amanda Pedro is the heart
and soul of this young Knight team. She was the key to the sectional
championship win over Fort Wayne Concordia Lutheran, putting up seven points in
the last 1:37, including the game-winner with 13 seconds remaining.
and soul of this young Knight team. She was the key to the sectional
championship win over Fort Wayne Concordia Lutheran, putting up seven points in
the last 1:37, including the game-winner with 13 seconds remaining.
With much of the attention usually focused on Martin, Pedro can
break out for a big game on any night. She has good shooting range and is
nearly impossible to keep off the offensive boards, especially in crunch time.
Pedro is a tenacious competitor. In an early-season game against Concordia, she
played with the flu, coming off the bench to score 17 in a crucial conference
matchup.
break out for a big game on any night. She has good shooting range and is
nearly impossible to keep off the offensive boards, especially in crunch time.
Pedro is a tenacious competitor. In an early-season game against Concordia, she
played with the flu, coming off the bench to score 17 in a crucial conference
matchup.
Bench
The non-starters will be key for the Knights. Rosinski usually
likes going to her bench early and often. Most likely, Martin will be the only
one going all 32 minutes as Luers employs a deep rotation.
likes going to her bench early and often. Most likely, Martin will be the only
one going all 32 minutes as Luers employs a deep rotation.
Sophomore Amber Gottfried, who got starts early on, watched most
of the semistate from the sidelines, perhaps with some sort of injury. Her
inside presence will be vital considering the teamâ??s guard-laden roster.
of the semistate from the sidelines, perhaps with some sort of injury. Her
inside presence will be vital considering the teamâ??s guard-laden roster.
Freshman Megan Pedro was also in the semistate starting lineup
and may very well be there on Saturday. Listed as a guard, the younger Pedro
plays a lot like her older sister. Her height (6â??0â?) allows her to post up
defenders and ****** down rebounds, but she can also play on the perimeter.
and may very well be there on Saturday. Listed as a guard, the younger Pedro
plays a lot like her older sister. Her height (6â??0â?) allows her to post up
defenders and ****** down rebounds, but she can also play on the perimeter.
Centers Monica Lohmuller and Sarah Freiburger should also see
minutes in the game, especially if the forwards find themselves in foul
trouble. Both were called upon in the semistate game.
minutes in the game, especially if the forwards find themselves in foul
trouble. Both were called upon in the semistate game.
Intangibles
Rosinksi, who should be a runaway candidate for coach of the
year, is in her third state finals. Expect the fifth-year coach to have her
girls focused and ready to play.
year, is in her third state finals. Expect the fifth-year coach to have her
girls focused and ready to play.
Though they are young (four underclassmen start, and there is
only one senior on the roster), many of these girls have had sisters on the
team and grew up watching Knight basketball.
Donâ??t let their grades fool you;
these girls play older than their age.
only one senior on the roster), many of these girls have had sisters on the
team and grew up watching Knight basketball.
Donâ??t let their grades fool you;
these girls play older than their age.
Throughout the season, the Knights have learned to battle in
close games. They defeated cross-town rival Concordia three times by a combined
eight points, and they took defending 3A state champion South Bend St. Josephâ??s
down to the final minute before pulling away.
close games. They defeated cross-town rival Concordia three times by a combined
eight points, and they took defending 3A state champion South Bend St. Josephâ??s
down to the final minute before pulling away.
The old clich?© is that the best teams simply find a way to win.
Luers has been doing that all season. Now the Knights need it just once more
for title #5.
Luers has been doing that all season. Now the Knights need it just once more
for title #5.
How Fort
Wayne Luers got here
Wayne Luers got here
Fort
Wayne Dwenger Sectional
Wayne Dwenger Sectional
New Haven,
W 90-38
W 90-38
Fort Wayne
Dwenger, W 50-40
Dwenger, W 50-40
Fort
Wayne Concordia Lutheran, W 49-48
Wayne Concordia Lutheran, W 49-48
Peru
Regional
Regional
Jay
County,
W 54-42
County,
W 54-42
NorthWood,
W 39-32
W 39-32
Elkhart Central Semistate
South
Bend St. Josephâ??s, W 56-49
Bend St. Josephâ??s, W 56-49
EVANSVILLE MEMORIAL TIGERS
The Tigers (23-4) are led by Purdue signee FahKara Malone, who
is among the stateâ??s leaders in points (20.3) and assists (4.7).
is among the stateâ??s leaders in points (20.3) and assists (4.7).
Memorial is 15-1 against 3A schools this season, with the lone
loss coming to Western back on Dec. 30. Two of the other losses came against 4A
Castle, which is also competing for a state title, as the Tigers finished
second to Castle in Southern Indiana Conference play.
loss coming to Western back on Dec. 30. Two of the other losses came against 4A
Castle, which is also competing for a state title, as the Tigers finished
second to Castle in Southern Indiana Conference play.
The Tigers, who have an impressive 10 Mental Attitude Award
winners in the schoolâ??s history, are making their first-ever appearance in a
girls basketball state final.
winners in the schoolâ??s history, are making their first-ever appearance in a
girls basketball state final.
Backcourt
Malone, a senior, is the unquestioned leader in the backcourt. The
speedy 5â??5â? point guard has the ability to shoot the three or penetrate and
connect on the midrange jumper. Malone was able to burn Rushvilleâ??s zone in
last weekâ??s 72-56 Jeffersonville
Semistate win for 18
first-half points. And her passing skills are out of this world.
speedy 5â??5â? point guard has the ability to shoot the three or penetrate and
connect on the midrange jumper. Malone was able to burn Rushvilleâ??s zone in
last weekâ??s 72-56 Jeffersonville
Semistate win for 18
first-half points. And her passing skills are out of this world.
Fellow senior Courtney Reising, the other guard in the lineup, is
deadly from long range. The 5â??7â? Reising averages 9.8 points on the strength of
45 percent shooting (59 of 132) from behind the arc, which ranks fifth in the
state.
deadly from long range. The 5â??7â? Reising averages 9.8 points on the strength of
45 percent shooting (59 of 132) from behind the arc, which ranks fifth in the
state.
Frontcourt
Sophomore Chelsea Falkenstein, junior Kari Stieler, and senior
Jennifer Balbach are the usual starters up front and give the Tigers enough
size to compete in the trenches. Falkenstein (6â??1â?) averages 9.0 points a game
and leads Memorial with seven boards per game. Balbach can play inside or out
and uses her versatility to chip in 6.2 points and grab 5.3 rebounds.
Jennifer Balbach are the usual starters up front and give the Tigers enough
size to compete in the trenches. Falkenstein (6â??1â?) averages 9.0 points a game
and leads Memorial with seven boards per game. Balbach can play inside or out
and uses her versatility to chip in 6.2 points and grab 5.3 rebounds.
Stieler, meanwhile, seems to always be around the ball, and the
5â??6â? junior is contributing 6.9 points.
5â??6â? junior is contributing 6.9 points.
How Evansville
Memorial got here
Memorial got here
Evansville Memorial Sectional
Boonville, W 56-41
Mt.
Vernon
(Posey), W 75-51
Vernon
(Posey), W 75-51
Evansville
Bosse, W 69-52
Bosse, W 69-52
Jasper
Regional
Regional
Corydon, W 72-58
Gibson Southern, W 49-41
Jeffersonville Semistate
Rushville, W 72-56
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