Staff Report
Colin
Altevogt and Bubba Harnist preview the Class 2A girls basketball championship
game between No. 17 Westview and top-ranked Heritage Christian. Colin handles
the former, while Bubba tackles the latter â?¦
WESTVIEW
WARRIORS
WARRIORS
In a girls basketball playoffs full of upsets, Westview (24-3) is
the Cinderella story. The Warriors, who flew under the radar all season, are
playing in their first-ever state championship. Westview did not crack the Top
10 in the Associated Press poll all season.
the Cinderella story. The Warriors, who flew under the radar all season, are
playing in their first-ever state championship. Westview did not crack the Top
10 in the Associated Press poll all season.
Backcourt
The Warriors, who started a three-guard lineup in their Elkhart Semistate win over Harding, lack height.
Besides 6â??1â? center Tiffany Fisher, Westviewâ??s starters are no taller than
5â??7â?. While the girls have quickness, they must hang onto the ball to have a
chance against Heritage Christian. The Warriors committed 23 turnovers against
Harding last week, opening the door for the Hawks to cut a 20-point deficit
down to one on multiple occasions.
Besides 6â??1â? center Tiffany Fisher, Westviewâ??s starters are no taller than
5â??7â?. While the girls have quickness, they must hang onto the ball to have a
chance against Heritage Christian. The Warriors committed 23 turnovers against
Harding last week, opening the door for the Hawks to cut a 20-point deficit
down to one on multiple occasions.
Junior Michelle Hanley is the key for the Warriors at the guard
position. She isnâ??t afraid to pull up for the jumper and is money from the free
throw line (9 of 10 at semistate).
position. She isnâ??t afraid to pull up for the jumper and is money from the free
throw line (9 of 10 at semistate).
Frontcourt
Tiffany Fisher. Remember the name. The sophomore center, who had
to sit out much of last year due to injury, has simply dominated the
competition. Fisher averages nearly 20 points and 10 boards per outing, and she
steps up in big games. Her best effort of the year was the 29-point, 14-rebound
effort last weekend.
to sit out much of last year due to injury, has simply dominated the
competition. Fisher averages nearly 20 points and 10 boards per outing, and she
steps up in big games. Her best effort of the year was the 29-point, 14-rebound
effort last weekend.
Fisher should get a touch every time down the court. It is
nearly impossible to keep her from getting her points â??? she has scored in
double figures in all but one of Westviewâ??s 27 games this season. If she can
find ways to pass out of double and triple teams, the Warriors could pull the
upset.
nearly impossible to keep her from getting her points â??? she has scored in
double figures in all but one of Westviewâ??s 27 games this season. If she can
find ways to pass out of double and triple teams, the Warriors could pull the
upset.
Bench
The Warriors seem to play a pretty small rotation. Westview had
no bench points against Harding in the semistate.
no bench points against Harding in the semistate.
Intangibles
This is an inexperienced group. Before this season, the Warriors
had never won a regional championship. Their star is basically in her first
season of high school ball, and the teamâ??s lone senior tore her ACL at midseason
and will not suit up.
had never won a regional championship. Their star is basically in her first
season of high school ball, and the teamâ??s lone senior tore her ACL at midseason
and will not suit up.
However, this all could work in Westviewâ??s favor. All the
pressure will be on top-ranked and heavily favored Heritage Christian. Westview
is playing the role of the happy-to-be-there team, so the Warriors should be
able to play loose and relaxed.
pressure will be on top-ranked and heavily favored Heritage Christian. Westview
is playing the role of the happy-to-be-there team, so the Warriors should be
able to play loose and relaxed.
How
Westview got here
Westview got here
LaVille
Sectional
Sectional
Fairfield,
W 62-54
W 62-54
Glenn,
W 55-42
W 55-42
Jimtown,
W 40-38
W 40-38
Rensselaer Regional
North Montgomery, W 60-59
Rensselaer, W 56-48
Elkhart Central Semistate
Harding,
W 59-48
W 59-48
HERITAGE
CHRISTIAN EAGLES
CHRISTIAN EAGLES
With all that Heritage Christian (24-3) has been through this
year, playing for the state championship may seem just like any other game.
year, playing for the state championship may seem just like any other game.
Former Heritage Christian coach Mark â??Docâ? Richards lost his
battle with cancer Sept. 23. Under his replacement, coach Rick Risinger, the Eagles
put last seasonâ??s disappointing 12-12 record behind them and mowed through the
competition. Now they are one step away from honoring â??Docâ? the best way they
know how â???
by winning a state championship.
battle with cancer Sept. 23. Under his replacement, coach Rick Risinger, the Eagles
put last seasonâ??s disappointing 12-12 record behind them and mowed through the
competition. Now they are one step away from honoring â??Docâ? the best way they
know how â???
by winning a state championship.
This is the second state finals for Heritage Christian in the
last three years. The Eagles lost to Rochester,
50-41, in 2004.
last three years. The Eagles lost to Rochester,
50-41, in 2004.
Backcourt
The Eagles start two freshmen in the backcourt, led by Claire
Freeman and her 10.5 points a game. The other guard, Emily Anderson, averages
7.1 ppg. In last weekâ??s Southport Semistate win, Freeman scored 14 points while Anderson added six.
Freeman and her 10.5 points a game. The other guard, Emily Anderson, averages
7.1 ppg. In last weekâ??s Southport Semistate win, Freeman scored 14 points while Anderson added six.
With both starting guards listed at 5â??5â?, height has to be an
issue for the Eagles. These two will key the attack all day, looking to score
on offense and to stop the quickness of the Westview guards on defense. These
two must be careful with the basketball; repeating last weekâ??s 15 turnovers
could spell trouble.
issue for the Eagles. These two will key the attack all day, looking to score
on offense and to stop the quickness of the Westview guards on defense. These
two must be careful with the basketball; repeating last weekâ??s 15 turnovers
could spell trouble.
Frontcourt
Look for this to be the key to the game. The starting frontcourt
of freshman Kelly Faris, sophomore Kayla Skaggs, and junior Bre Jones will have
to find a way to somehow stop Tiffany Fisher off last weekâ??s huge game.
of freshman Kelly Faris, sophomore Kayla Skaggs, and junior Bre Jones will have
to find a way to somehow stop Tiffany Fisher off last weekâ??s huge game.
On the other hand, if Jones continues her hot shooting from last
week, the Eagles could be in the driverâ??s seat. Last week, Jones scored 20
points on 7-of-8 shooting, including 5 of 6 from 3-point range. Faris, considered
a defensive specialist, will have her hands full with Fisher. Sheâ??s a capable
scorer, though, averaging a team-high 11.1 points a game.
week, the Eagles could be in the driverâ??s seat. Last week, Jones scored 20
points on 7-of-8 shooting, including 5 of 6 from 3-point range. Faris, considered
a defensive specialist, will have her hands full with Fisher. Sheâ??s a capable
scorer, though, averaging a team-high 11.1 points a game.
Skaggs chips in eight points a game, so Westview canâ??t forget
about her, either.
about her, either.
Bench
While not the deepest, the HC bench is a strength as the subs
know whatâ??s expected of them. The bench players easily interchange with the
starters, and when the subs are in, Heritage Christian rolls on without seeming
to miss a beat.
know whatâ??s expected of them. The bench players easily interchange with the
starters, and when the subs are in, Heritage Christian rolls on without seeming
to miss a beat.
Intangibles
Despite its youthful nature, this team is put together very well.
The Eagles all seem to complement each other very well, and any of the starters
is capable of scoring lots of points. Risinger told me after the North Knox
game how he loves the balance of his team and how well they are working
together.
The Eagles all seem to complement each other very well, and any of the starters
is capable of scoring lots of points. Risinger told me after the North Knox
game how he loves the balance of his team and how well they are working
together.
Not only that, but the advantage HC has over Westview is that
some of these players have been in this situation before. That said, all the
pressure is on the No. 1-ranked Eagles. Will heavily favored Heritage Christian
ignore all the hype and play like it has throughout its tourney run, or will
underdog Westview come out loose and steal a victory?
some of these players have been in this situation before. That said, all the
pressure is on the No. 1-ranked Eagles. Will heavily favored Heritage Christian
ignore all the hype and play like it has throughout its tourney run, or will
underdog Westview come out loose and steal a victory?
With all that sentimentality, itâ??s hard to see the Eagles
failing to bring one home for â??Doc.â?
failing to bring one home for â??Doc.â?
How Heritage Christian got here
Triton
Central Sectional
Central Sectional
Triton
Central, W 49-33
Central, W 49-33
Park
Tudor, W 53-27
Tudor, W 53-27
Speedway,
W 45-30
W 45-30
Batesville
Regional
Regional
Shenandoah,
W 60-31
W 60-31
Southwestern
(Hanover), W
56-37
(Hanover), W
56-37
Southport Semistate
North
Knox, W 52-36
Knox, W 52-36
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