Hoosier Basketball Magazine has announced its Top 40 senior
girls basketball performers for the 2006-2007 season, according to
Garry H. Donna, publisher of Hoosier Basketball Magazine. These girls
were selected from approximately 1,500 senior players statewide.

Five players who participated in the 2007 IHSAA State Finals highlight
the list of Top 40 invitees. They are 2007 Miss Basketball Ta’shia
Phillips, Brebeuf (Class 3A champion), Ashley Varner, South Bend
Washington (4A champ), Shelby Ross, Columbus East (4A runner-up), Stephanie Wagner, Jimtown (2A runner-up) and Kaiti Cochren,
Oakland City Wood Memorial (1A runner-up).

Statistical evaluation, game observation, and statewide research
were conducted all season long and throughout the state tournament to
determine Hoosier Basketball Magazine’s Top 40.

Two sessions of the Top 40 Workout will be hosted by Hoosier Basketball
Magazine in conjunction with the IHSAA and the IBCA on Sunday, April
15, at Ben Davis High School in Indianapolis.

Twenty girls of the Top 40, primarily from Northern and Southern Indiana, will participate in the first session (1 to 3 p.m.
ET). The remaining 20 girls of the Top 40, primarily from Ventral
Indiana, will compete during the second session (3:30 to 5:30 p.m.). Ten
alternates will also participate in drills and scrimmages, with five in each
session.

Mike Armstrong (Perry Meridian) and Jodi Whitaker (Lawrence
North) will direct both sessions. Four other outstanding Indiana girls
high school coaches have been invited to join the Top 40 staff. They
are Danny Brown (Columbus East), Marilyn Coddens (South Bend
Washington), Steve Drabyn (Avon), and Jim Rose (Bloomfield).

Both sessions are open to the public for an admission charge of
$5.

HOOSIER BASKETBALL’S 2007 TOP 40 SENIOR GIRLS
Azjah Bass, Lawrence North
Sarah Bassler, Southport
Ty’Ronda Benning, Muncie South
Brittany Bowen, Columbus North
Hillary Bowling, Center Grove
Ashley Bright, Switzerland County
Becca Bruszewski, Wheeler
Kaiti Cochren, Oakland City Wood Memorial
Kara Crawford, Winamac
Kristen Dockery, South Bend St. Joseph’s
LeAnn Douglas, Shelbyville
Courtney Flanigan, Boone Grove
Kelly Gardner, Indianapolis Chatard
Lacey Hornaday, Rushville
Nicole James, Franklin Central
Sabrina Johnson, Jeffersonville
LaTice Jones, Gary Roosevelt
LaTonya Lloyd, Charlestown
Katie Lyons, New Palestine
Molly Martin, Terre Haute North
Lauren Meneghetti, Munster
Brooklyn Morrow, Avon
Amberly O’Dell, Argos
Amy Orender, Whiteland
Brooke Osborne, McCutcheon
Denita Phelps, Hammond
Ta’shia Phillips, Brebeuf
Rashida Ray, Harding
Shelby Ross, Columbus East
Sydney Smallbone, South Bend St. Joseph’s
Sam Stahl, Owen Valley
Jessica Stout, Bloomfield
Stephanie Thomas, Avon
Kayla Thompson, Covenant Christian
Jasmine Ussery, Castle
Ashley Varner, South Bend Washington
Stephanie Wagner, Jimtown
Corie West, New Castle
Misty Wynn, Boonville
Mandy Yoder, NorthWood

HOOSIER BASKETBALL’S 2007 TOP 40 ALTERNATES
Rebekah Basinger, Kokomo
Amber Boyle, Oregon-Davis
Jasmine Cain, Jeffersonville
Caitlin Dougherty, Mooresville
Emily Einhaus, Jac-Cen-Del
Marceya Mingo, Fort Wayne South
Mollie Taulbee, Knox
Kasey Thompson, Oak Hill
Darcie Warner, Springs Valley
Hillary Wenning, North Decatur

The foloowing players were invited but will be unable to participate:

Sarah Dermody, LaPorte
Katie Hacker, Franklin Central
Ebony Jackson, Indianapolis Arlington
Sha’la Jackson, Fort Wayne South
Megan King, Fort Wayne Canterbury
Tiffany Miller, South Bend Clay
Emma Tucker, Michigan City
McKenna Williams, North Knox
De’Ja Wills, Anderson

LOUISVILLE, Ky. ���?? The impact of Indiana products was certainly felt
at the 2007 McDonalds All-American game March 28 at Freedom Hall in
Louisville, Kentucky.

As Brebeuf���?�s Ta���?�Shia Phillips and North Central (Indianapolis)
product Eric Gordon participated on the floor, Jeffersonville girls
coach Chad Gilbert coached his East squad to a win with Indiana native
John Wooden seated next to him.

Girls: East 105, West 76
Indiana representatives saw both the good and bad in a lopsided girls
game as Indiana Miss Basketball Phillips was a member of the losing
West team, while Jeffersonville girls coach Chad Gilbert guided his
East team to a fast start and win.

Phillips scored 10 points and grabbed seven rebounds in a losing
effort. The 6â�?��?�6â�?� Brebeuf senior was a starter for the West in the
seventh annual girls game.

It was a rough start for Phillips and her West teammates, who fell behind 20-2 early in the game and never led.

â�?��?Quite a slow start, more than I am used to,â�?� said the center. â�?��?But
it was a different style of play out here than we played in high
school.â�?�

â�?��?They came out hitting everything and we came out a little slow not hitting as many shots.â�?�

It was a slow start offensively, but on the first play of the game,
Phillips ���?? who is still uncommitted to a college ���??blocked a shot just
five seconds after the opening tip.

Phillips defended, but appeared to lose wind as the game progressed.
She had five points and three rebounds at half on her way to her totals
of 10 and seven.

The 6â�?��?�6â�?� star was a focal point of the Brebeuf offense the past few years, but saw fewer touches in the All-Star format.

���?Being a post player, it does turn into a guard���?�s game, but at the
same time, they are depending on us to get rebounds, so that���?�s what we
have to do.â�?�

While Phillips���?� team struggled, the man coaching the opposition ���??
Gilbert ���?? and his East players were having fun with the outcome.

â�?��?I told them by the first TV timeout we want the West team looking down and asking â�?��?Why is the East team having so much fun?â�?��?�â�?�

â�?��?We did what we wanted to do, thatâ�?��?�s what it boiled down to.â�?�

Gilbert���?�s East team, which led by as many as 36 points in the
blowout, was led by Maya Moore���?�s (Lawrenceville, GA ���?? UConn) 18 points.
The game MVP went to Jasmine Thomas (Fairfax, VA ���?? Duke), who tallied
16 points, nine rebounds, a game-record six assists, and three steals.

Boys: West 114, East 112
North Central���?�s Eric Gordon ���?? four days removed from a 4A State Finals
loss ���?? was one of five starters for the talent-overloaded West team in
the 30^th edition of the boys all-star game.

Even for an All-American game, the five West starters seemed likely
to overmatch the East with talent, as Gordon was joined by Derrick Rose
(Chicago, IL ���?? Memphis), Kyle Singler (Medford, OR ���?? Duke), Michael
Beasley (Upper Marlboro, MD ���?? Kansas State), and Kevin Love (Lake
Oswego, OR ���?? UCLA), the top five players in the class of 2007,
according to Rivals.com.

What those fans may not have known is that Gordon was dealing with a hamstring injury which slowed him during the week.

���?It was a good week overall, but it was tough on me because I came
back from a state championship game and I���?�ve been playing with a little
bit of an injury.â�?�

Gordon was slow to start the game, missing a pair of three point
shots before scoring on a pass from game MVP Michael Beasley with 8:52
left in the first half. Gordon went on to hit a three-pointer from the
wing and two free throws before the half, but also expended plenty of
energy defending scoring phenom O.J. Mayo.

While it may have been a slow start for Gordon, the players around
him had little trouble finding the basket, as the two teams combined
for 16 points in the first 2:00 of the game and hit the half with a
68-57 lead for Gordon���?�s West squad.

The East came back, outscoring the West 55-46 in the second half,
but fell short when two looks at the basket in the closing seconds
would not fall.

Gordon netted three more field goals after the half, finishing
5-of-13 with 13 points. He was also credited with three rebounds, two
assists and a steal in 22 minutes.

His counterpart, Mayo, finished just 4-of-17 and 1-of-9 from long distance, with just 12 points in the 114-112 win for the West.

The MVP was Kansas State-bound Beasley, who recorded 23 points and
12 rebounds in a 10-of-13 shooting performance for the West ���?? one of
their five players who scored in double figures.

Gordon said his hamstring injury bothered him throughout the week, but he didn���?�t fear missing the game.

â�?��?It wasnâ�?��?�t that much of a concern. I knew it was going to slow me down a little bit, but itâ�?��?�s getting better each day.â�?�

Before the game, it was obvious that Gordon was one of the crowd
favorites, after a huge cheer for the future Indiana Hoosier in
warm-ups and as starting lineups were announced. It was a greeting
Gordon appreciated.

���?Indiana is close to here and there was a good group of Indiana fans
here in Louisville, so I knew they would come out with a good crowd,â�?�
Gordon said after the game.

Young autograph seekers caught E.J. by a bit of surprise as they asked ���?Mr. Gordon���?� for his autograph.

â�?��?Yeah, that did seem weird. They call my dad Mr. Gordon (not me).â�?�

The week also provided an opportunity for Gordon to speak to the former UCLA coaching legend and Indiana native John Wooden.

���?He talked about he was from Indiana and Martinsville, which is not
all that far from where I live, so there���?�s a little bit of tradition
right there.â�?�

A week of honor
All of the Indiana representatives came away with a sense of honor to
have been invited to participate in the McDonalds All-Star game.

â�?��?Being a participant is great, not many people get to do it,â�?�
Phillips declared. ���?Especially since it���?�s a fundraiser for needy
children and families, that was the best part.â�?�

���?The entire experience was great. You learn from it, you have fun,
and you get to play with other great players,â�?� said Phillips, who will
participate in the WBCA High School All-American game in Cleveland
March 31.

Gilbert also came away glad to have been asked to coach.

From being around the athletes to the dinners, appearances, trips,
and practices associated with the game, Gilbert took a lot away from
the week, including a fascinating 47-minute speech by former basketball
star Bill Walton as well as posing for a photo holding a basketball
along with John Wooden.

���?It was so big-time to be out here, to be a part of something so
special. This whole week we were treated like kings and queens and to
be around the best boys and girls high school athletes in the United
States was just a remarkable experience.â�?�

Posted in Uncategorized0 Comments

Licensed to Mililani High School       Hy-Tek's Meet Manager 3/31/2007 06:09 PM

             2007 Roosevelt-Kalani Preseason Track Meet - 3/9/2007             

                              Kaiser High School                               

                                Girls Results                                    

Event 5  Girls 100 Meter Dash Junior Varsity

================================================================

    Name                    Year School                  Finals 

================================================================

  3 Okazaki, Ashley           SO Roosevelt                13.9h  

  4 Yoshimoto, Demi           SO Roosevelt                13.9h  

  5 Taketa, Sara              SO Roosevelt                14.1h  

  5 Pabro, Ku'uipo             9 Kaimuki                  14.1h  

  7 Lariosa, Leighna-Ann      FR Kalani                   14.2h  

  8 Matsunaga, Lindsey         9 Kaimuki                  14.3h  

  9 Watanabe, Christy         SO Roosevelt                14.5h  

 10 Takekawa, Lindsay         FR Roosevelt                14.8h  

 11 Cudiamat, Nympha          SO Roosevelt                15.0h  

 11 Mier, Tatianna            FR Kalani                   15.0h  

 13 Loo, Tori-Ann             SO Roosevelt                15.1h  

 13 Kolo, Natasha             FR Roosevelt                15.1h  

 15 Miller, Natasha            9 Kaimuki                  15.2h  

 16 Monteilh, Ahulani         FR Roosevelt                15.4h  

 17 Hew-Len Lii, Moanikeala   FR Roosevelt                15.5h  

 18 Maa, Ashlyn               FR Roosevelt                15.6h  

 19 Coloma, Zoe Anne          SO Roosevelt                15.8h  

 20 Okimura, Jessica          SO Roosevelt                15.9h  

 21 Chau, Kristina            FR Roosevelt                16.4h  

 21 Chau, Geena               FR Roosevelt                16.4h  

Event 1  Girls 100 Meter Hurdles Junior Varsity

================================================================

    Name                    Year School                  Finals 

================================================================

  1 Lau, Leah                 SO Roosevelt                18.1h  

  2 Eala, Chelsie             SO Kalani                   19.1h  

  3 Lee, Debra                SO Kalani                   20.3h  

  4 Young, Reiki              FR Roosevelt                21.6h  

Event 2  Girls 100 Meter Hurdles Varsity

================================================================

    Name                    Year School                  Finals 

================================================================

  1 Iha, Christine            JR Kalani                   18.1h  

  2 Matsuda, Dari-Ann         JR Kalani                   18.8h  

  3 Haru, Ihilani             SR Castle                   18.9h  

  4 Sueoka, Shantay           SR Roosevelt                20.7h  

Event 5  Girls 100 Meter Dash Junior Varsity

================================================================

    Name                    Year School                  Finals 

================================================================

  1 Kanda, Melody             FR Castle                   12.5h  

  2 Balbas, Dezarae           SO Roosevelt                13.4h  

 23 Taguma, Jennifer           9 Kaimuki                  16.5h  

Event 6  Girls 100 Meter Dash Varsity

================================================================

    Name                    Year School                  Finals 

================================================================

  1 Taketa, Yasmina           JR Kalani                   12.4h  

  2 Dudoit, Tahnee            SR Roosevelt                13.4h  

  3 Aranaydo, Tahnee          JR Farrington               13.7h  

  4 Ferreira, Karmen          JR Roosevelt                13.9h  

  5 Taketa, Minden            SR Roosevelt                14.0h  

  6 Cinco, Elyssa             12 Kaimuki                  14.1h  

  7 Teanio, Raelynn           11 Kaimuki                  14.4h  

  8 Saito, Megann             SR Roosevelt                14.5h  

  9 Lee, Brittany             SR Roosevelt                15.1h  

 10 Taga, Tamami              JR Roosevelt                15.2h  

 11 Jang, Grace               JR Roosevelt                15.5h  

Event 9  Girls 1500 Meter Run Junior Varsity

================================================================

    Name                    Year School                  Finals 

================================================================

  1 Isaaes-Kalahiki, Terina   FR Farrington             6:10.9h  

  2 Akamine, Megan            SO Castle                 6:11.1h  

  3 Watanabe, Lauren          FR Kalani                 6:11.9h  

  4 Fujimoto, Crystal         SO Roosevelt              6:16.5h  

  5 Kim, Lia                  SO Kalani                 6:25.8h  

  6 Otaguro, Jessica          SO Roosevelt              6:35.0h  

  7 Miyakawa, kalen           SO Kailua                 6:51.9h  

Event 10  Girls 1500 Meter Run Varsity

================================================================

    Name                    Year School                  Finals 

================================================================

  1 Bae, Nicole               JR Roosevelt              5:57.4h  

  2 Nomura, Kristy            SR Kalani                 6:18.8h  

  3 Ah Yuen, Kamalei          JR Farrington             9:00.8h  

Event 13  Girls 4x100 Meter Relay Junior Varsity

================================================================

    School                                               Finals 

================================================================

  1 Kaimuki High School                                   57.1h  

  2 Roosevelt High School                                 57.1h  

  3 Roosevelt High School  'B'                            60.5h  

Event 14  Girls 4x100 Meter Relay Varsity

================================================================

    School                                               Finals 

================================================================

  1 Roosevelt High School                                 56.1h  

Event 17  Girls 400 Meter Dash Junior Varsity

================================================================

    Name                    Year School                  Finals 

================================================================

  1 Furtado, Shelby           SO Castle                   68.8h  

  2 Patton, Cherie             9 Kaimuki                  76.1h  

  3 Underwood, Charna         FR Kalani                 1:26.9h  

Event 18  Girls 400 Meter Dash Varsity

================================================================

    Name                    Year School                  Finals 

================================================================

  1 Elbourne, Renee           12 Kaimuki                  65.1h  

  2 Aranaydo, Tahnee          JR Farrington               69.1h  

Event 21  Girls 300 Meter Hurdles Junior Varsity

================================================================

    Name                    Year School                  Finals 

================================================================

  1 Loo, Tori-Ann             SO Roosevelt                59.4h  

  2 Kobayashi, Amanda         FR Kalani                   65.1h  

Event 22  Girls 300 Meter Hurdles Varsity

================================================================

    Name                    Year School                  Finals 

================================================================

  1 Iha, Christine            JR Kalani                   55.4h  

  2 Haru, Ihilani             SR Castle                   57.1h  

  3 Sueoka, Shantay           SR Roosevelt                59.1h  

  4 Matsuda, Dari-Ann         JR Kalani                   60.3h  

  5 Galase, Kiana             SR Kalani                   69.1h  

Event 25  Girls 800 Meter Run Junior Varsity

================================================================

    Name                    Year School                  Finals 

================================================================

  1 Kobayashi, Amanda         FR Kalani                 3:00.1h  

  2 Fujimoto, Crystal         SO Roosevelt              3:05.6h  

  3 Akamine, Megan            SO Castle                 3:05.8h  

  4 Otaguro, Jessica          SO Roosevelt              3:18.8h  

  5 Schalow, Emily            10 Kaimuki                4:08.8h  

Event 26  Girls 800 Meter Run Varsity

================================================================

    Name                    Year School                  Finals 

================================================================

  1 Bae, Nicole               JR Roosevelt              2:55.3h  

  2 Pristou-Globokar, Tamra   JR Castle                 2:58.8h  

  3 Nomura, Kristy            SR Kalani                 3:02.9h  

Event 29  Girls 200 Meter Dash Junior Varsity

================================================================

    Name                    Year School                  Finals 

================================================================

  1 Lee, Jamie                SO Kalani                   28.4h  

  2 Kanda, Melody             FR Castle                   28.7h  

  3 Okazaki, Ashley           SO Roosevelt                29.4h  

  4 Lariosa, Leighna-Ann      FR Kalani                   30.0h  

  5 Pabro, Ku'uipo             9 Kaimuki                  30.5h  

  6 Patton, Cherie             9 Kaimuki                  30.7h  

  7 Yoshimoto, Demi           SO Roosevelt                31.2h  

  8 Mier, Tatianna            FR Kalani                   32.4h  

  9 Miller, Natasha            9 Kaimuki                  32.4h  

 10 Lee, Debra                SO Kalani                   32.5h  

 11 Maa, Ashlyn               FR Roosevelt                33.2h  

 12 Coloma, Zoe Anne          SO Roosevelt                33.6h  

 13 Young, Reiki              FR Roosevelt                33.7h  

 14 Loo, Tori-Ann             SO Roosevelt                34.1h  

 15 Chau, Geena               FR Roosevelt                34.6h  

 16 Okimura, Jessica          SO Roosevelt                34.9h  

 17 Chau, Kristina            FR Roosevelt                35.7h  

 18 Underwood, Charna         FR Kalani                   35.7h  

 19 Eala, Chelsie             SO Kalani                   39.1h  

Event 30  Girls 200 Meter Dash Varsity

================================================================

    Name                    Year School                  Finals 

================================================================

  1 Taketa, Yasmina           JR Kalani                   26.9h  

  2 Saito, Megann             SR Roosevelt                30.9h  

  3 Teanio, Raelynn           11 Kaimuki                  31.1h  

  4 Whittaker, Megan          SR Kalani                   31.4h  

  5 Cinco, Elyssa             12 Kaimuki                  31.7h  

  6 Lee, Brittany             SR Roosevelt                32.3h  

  7 Jang, Grace               JR Roosevelt                32.8h  

Event 34  Girls 3000 Meter Run Varsity

================================================================

    Name                    Year School                  Finals 

================================================================

  1 Pristou-Globokar, Tamra   JR Castle                13:57.2h  

Event 37  Girls 4x400 Meter Relay Junior Varsity

================================================================

    School                                               Finals 

================================================================

  1 Kaimuki High School                                 4:59.2h  

Event 38  Girls 4x400 Meter Relay Varsity

================================================================

    School                                               Finals 

================================================================

  1 Roosevelt High School                               4:59.7h  

  2 Kalani High School                                  5:15.3h  

Event 41  Girls High Jump Junior Varsity

================================================================

    Name                    Year School                  Finals 

================================================================

  1 Balbas, Dezarae           SO Roosevelt              3-06.00  

Event 42  Girls High Jump Varsity

================================================================

    Name                    Year School                  Finals 

================================================================

  1 Yeung, Amy                JR Roosevelt              4-00.00  

Event 46  Girls Pole Vault Varsity

================================================================

    Name                    Year School                  Finals 

================================================================

  1 Yeung, Amy                JR Roosevelt              6-00.00  

  1 Lee, Brittany             SR Roosevelt              6-00.00  

Event 50  Girls Long Jump Varsity

================================================================

    Name                    Year School                  Finals 

================================================================

  1 Taketa, Yasmina           JR Kalani                15-00.50  

  2 Elbourne, Renee           12 Kaimuki               14-03.50  

  3 Dudoit, Tahnee            SR Roosevelt             12-01.00  

  4 Wong, Kelli-Ann           JR Kalani                11-07.00  

  5 Whittaker, Megan          SR Kalani                11-03.50  

Event 53  Girls Triple Jump Junior Varsity

================================================================

    Name                    Year School                  Finals 

================================================================

  1 Lau, Leah                 SO Roosevelt             29-00.50  

  2 Taketa, Sara              SO Roosevelt             28-10.25  

  3 Watanabe, Christy         SO Roosevelt             26-04.00  

Event 54  Girls Triple Jump Varsity

================================================================

    Name                    Year School                  Finals 

================================================================

  1 Elbourne, Renee           12 Kaimuki               35-04.25  

  2 Whittaker, Megan          SR Kalani                28-05.50  

 -- Wong, Kelli-Ann           JR Kalani                    FOUL  

Event 58  Girls Discus Throw Varsity

================================================================

    Name                    Year School                  Finals 

================================================================

  1 Faaleaoga-Maloata, Agnes  JR Kailua                  106-02  

  2 Crowell, Chevelle         JR Kailua                98-04.50  

  3 Wilson, Chelsie           SR Roosevelt                90-03  

  4 Tonga, Uheina             JR Farrington            71-07.50  

  5 Pea-Ulugaono, Neta        SR Kailua                62-07.50  

  6 Lam, Linda                JR Kalani                   58-00  

Shalana Murray (left) hugs teammate Sherice White (right) after the Panthers’ victory. Photo by Natalie Evans

INDIANAPOLIS
���?? The South Bend Washington Panthers finished as the runner-up in the
Class 4A girls basketball championship last year. They made sure to top
that on March 3 at Conseco Fieldhouse.

Led by a record-setting 27-point, 17-rebound performance by
sophomore guard Skylar Diggins and 24 points from senior Ashley Varner,
coach Marilyn Coddens���?� Panthers defeated Columbus East, 84-64, to claim
their first girls basketball championship in a game that saw 16 IHSAA
state finals records tied or broken.

â�?��?Our kids were relentless â�?��?? they were so focused,â�?� said Coddens.

Leading the focus was the team leader, Diggins, the 5â�?��?�9â�?� guard who
set a 4A state finals record with 17 boards ���?? 10 of them offensive ���??
more than anyone in the 10 years of class basketball championships in
Indiana. The super soph also set a 4A finals record with 28 attempted
field goals.

���?We vowed to ourselves that after the loss last year to Castle that
we were going to come back and play hard, and that we would be back and
we would be state champions,â�?� said Diggins. â�?��?And our dream has come
true.â�?�

The win was South Bend Washington���?�s 28^th straight as the Panthers finish the year 28-1 after a season-opening 63-58 loss to Fort Wayne South.

Washington jumped out to a 16-6 early lead, but the game did not
begin easily for Diggins. Struggling to find her jumper, Diggins missed
her first five shots. But the Panthers were still tied with Columbus
East 16-all at the end of the first period.

The Panthers had scored the first seven points of the game, feeding
the inside to Ashley Varner and fellow senior Katelyn Boocher. But the
Olympians scored 10 straight to close the quarter, led by Bethlynn
Ross���?� six and Shelby Ross���?� seven early points.

McKayla Barber of Columbus East catches her breath during a timeout. Photo by Natalie Evans

Columbus
East was able to match the first basket of the second quarter but began
to lose pace after that, in large part due to Diggins. Still struggling
from the field, she got some advice from an older teammate.

â�?��?Kate Boocher came to me and said, â�?��?Skylar, go to the rack,â�?��?� â�?�
Diggins said. ���?So I listened and fed off that and once I started doing
that, I found my game.â�?�

The sophomore���?�s game in the second quarter was nine points and five
offensive rebounds as the Panthers outscored East on an 18-4 run that
lasted until the 36-22 halftime score.

As if her second-quarter output wasn���?�t good enough, Diggins improved
with a third quarter that would qualify as a full game for most.
Diggins went for 14 points, seven rebounds, two assists, and three
steals in the third period alone as her team built the lead up to 66-45
entering the fourth.

â�?��?Her threes werenâ�?��?�t going down, and she let the game come to her,â�?� Coddens said.

A 17-6 run midway through the third pushed the lead to as many as
25, but Ross wasn���?�t content to watch her chance at a title slide by.
The East senior scored 12 points in the third to give her 20 to that
point, but the Olympians���?� shooting never allowed them back into the
game.

Columbus East’s Shelby Ross (left) focuses on the basket while Katelyn Boocher goes for the block.  Photo by Natalie Evans

As
time grew short, Columbus East struggled to find points, making just 4
of 17 shots in the fourth quarter while adding nine more turnovers to
their total. In the fourth quarter, Ross went 1 of 7.

With 2:55 left in the game and her team up by 27, Coddens put in her
five seniors, signifying that a title was clinched. But the 13th-year
coach knew well before the game that her team was on its way.

���?They were so focused all this week, even in the locker room before
we came out,â�?� said Coddens. â�?��?It was such a different atmosphere from
last year. The coaches, we walked out and went ���?Oh my God.���?� We knew
then it was over.â�?�

Diggins, proving her status as the state���?�s top sophomore and
possibly the best player in the state, finished 10 of 28 from the field
for 27 points, adding the 17 rebounds, six assists, five steals, and
three blocks in 28 minutes. Varner was 10 of 13 for 24 points, and
junior guard Emily Phillips added 16 as the Panthers swiped 19 steals,
blocked 11 shots, and forced 25 turnovers.

Ross wrapped up with 5-of-19 shooting for 25 points, 11 rebounds,
five assists, and four steals as her Columbus East team managed eight
less field goals than turnovers. Center McKayla Barber finished with 11
rebounds and seven points.

The Panthers also set 4A records for most points scored by a team as
well as most points scored in a half (48) and quarter (30) in becoming
the first South Bend school to win a girls basketball championship.

â�?��?Itâ�?��?�s just overwhelming â�?��?? itâ�?��?�s so hard to explain,â�?� Varner gushed.
â�?��?You think you have the words to explain it, but you really donâ�?��?�t.â�?�

Diggins concurred.

â�?��?Itâ�?��?�s a feeling thatâ�?��?�s indescribable,â�?� she said. â�?��?We worked so hard
to get to this point, and now that we���?�re here it hasn���?�t sunk in yet
that we���?�re state champions.

���?It means a lot for the city. There were about 4,000 or 5,000 fans
here wearing green supporting us, and that is a great atmosphere to
play around and a great community to be a part of.â�?�

SB Washington���?�s Boocher named Mental Attitude Award winner
Following
the game, members of the IHSAA Executive Committee named Katelyn
Boocher of South Bend Washington as the winner of the Patricia L. Roy
Mental Attitude Award. Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, the IHSAA���?�s
corporate partner, will present a $1,000 scholarship to South Bend
Washington in the name of Boocher.

The award, named in honor of the former IHSAA assistant commissioner
who oversaw the girls basketball state tournament from its inception in
1976 until her retirement in 1999, is presented annually to a senior
participant in each classification who was nominated by her principal
and coach and has demonstrated excellence in mental attitude,
scholarship, leadership, and athletic ability.

Boocher ranks 15^th her senior class of 291 students and
is a member of the National Honor Society and Students Against
Destructive Decisions. She has given her time tutoring fellow students,
coaching softball at the elementary and junior high level, and is a
volunteer office worker at her school.

Besides basketball, Boocher is a four-year letterwinner in
volleyball and expects to do the same in softball this spring. She
intends to play softball in college and will study either secondary
education at Akron or Bethel College. She also hopes to coach one day.

She is the daughter of Gerard and Susan Boocher of South Bend.

So what do you think? Share your thoughts in our Girls Basketball forum.