Girls Basketball Coordinator
had a multitude of reasons to lose the Class 3A state championship
March 3 at Conseco Fieldhouse, but the sixth-ranked Braves needed just
one to win it as Brebeuf downed No. 8 Wawasee, 51-43, for its second 3A
title in four seasons.
The Braves
(23-6), who defeated Fort Wayne Luers for the â??04 3A crown, shot just 5
of 14 from the free throw line in the fourth quarter while committing
five turnovers. But eventually the play of senior Taâ??Shia Phillips was
enough.
(23-6), who defeated Fort Wayne Luers for the â??04 3A crown, shot just 5
of 14 from the free throw line in the fourth quarter while committing
five turnovers. But eventually the play of senior Taâ??Shia Phillips was
enough.
The 6â??6â? Miss
Basketball frontrunner scored 29 points on 12-of-15 shooting, adding
nine rebounds and eight blocked shots to almost single-handedly carry
the Braves to the win.
Basketball frontrunner scored 29 points on 12-of-15 shooting, adding
nine rebounds and eight blocked shots to almost single-handedly carry
the Braves to the win.
â??Sheâ??s been
able to make us a better basketball team,â? said Brebeuf coach Kendall
Kreinhagen. â??When a superstar can scream and yell and say, â??Iâ??m going
to get mine!â?? she didnâ??t do that.
able to make us a better basketball team,â? said Brebeuf coach Kendall
Kreinhagen. â??When a superstar can scream and yell and say, â??Iâ??m going
to get mine!â?? she didnâ??t do that.
â??In my mind, thatâ??s a Miss Basketball.â?
Thanks to
Phillips, Brebeuf dominated inside all game long. The Braves outscored
the Warriors 36-10 in the paint and had 10 more blocked shots.
Phillips, Brebeuf dominated inside all game long. The Braves outscored
the Warriors 36-10 in the paint and had 10 more blocked shots.
â??Every time
Wawasee went into the lane, they werenâ??t looking to shoot,â? Kreinhagen
said. â??When they did, it came right back at them.â?
Wawasee went into the lane, they werenâ??t looking to shoot,â? Kreinhagen
said. â??When they did, it came right back at them.â?
After a mistake-filled first half, Brebeuf led 20-19. Despite shooting just 25 percent from the floor, Wawasee (22-4) was able to stay within a point, thanks in large part to 12 offensive rebounds.
The Braves
werenâ??t without problems, either. Phillips was 7 of 9 from the field,
but the rest of her team had connected on just 1 of 8 in the opening
half. Junior guard Callie Curry had also sat out quite a bit with foul
trouble.
werenâ??t without problems, either. Phillips was 7 of 9 from the field,
but the rest of her team had connected on just 1 of 8 in the opening
half. Junior guard Callie Curry had also sat out quite a bit with foul
trouble.
The teams combined for 22 turnovers in the first two quarters.
Wawasee took
its first lead on a basket by 6â??1â? senior center Shawn Knafel on the
first possession after halftime. Brebeuf answered with a basket from
sophomore guard Lauren Meadows, but a three from sophomore guard Taylor
Goshert, whose 13 points led the Warriors, helped the Warriors reclaim
the lead at 24-22.
its first lead on a basket by 6â??1â? senior center Shawn Knafel on the
first possession after halftime. Brebeuf answered with a basket from
sophomore guard Lauren Meadows, but a three from sophomore guard Taylor
Goshert, whose 13 points led the Warriors, helped the Warriors reclaim
the lead at 24-22.
Phillips responded with a three-point play for Brebeuf, and Wawasee, which would tie on multiple occasions, never led again.
A three from
Goshert at the top of the key with 2:55 to go in the third tied the
game at 36, and the teams entered the final period knotted at 38. But
the Warriorsâ?? inability to hold onto the ball in the fourth quarter â??? Wawasee had eight fourth-quarter turnovers â??? ultimately cost them down the stretch.
Goshert at the top of the key with 2:55 to go in the third tied the
game at 36, and the teams entered the final period knotted at 38. But
the Warriorsâ?? inability to hold onto the ball in the fourth quarter â??? Wawasee had eight fourth-quarter turnovers â??? ultimately cost them down the stretch.
Curry broke
the tie by grabbing a steal and scoring a subsequent layup. Wawasee
tied the game again at 40, but Phillips scored a three-point play off a
drive to put Brebeuf up for good.
the tie by grabbing a steal and scoring a subsequent layup. Wawasee
tied the game again at 40, but Phillips scored a three-point play off a
drive to put Brebeuf up for good.
Still up
three, senior forward Ivie Obeime got a steal and conversion to put the
Braves up by five with 3:14 remaining. Obeime, whose hustle was central
to the Bravesâ?? ability to hold on late in the game, stole the ball
again on the next possession.
three, senior forward Ivie Obeime got a steal and conversion to put the
Braves up by five with 3:14 remaining. Obeime, whose hustle was central
to the Bravesâ?? ability to hold on late in the game, stole the ball
again on the next possession.
After Wawasee
junior guard Kalyn Lentz cut the deficit to two at 45-43 with 2:22 to
go, Obeime answered with a basket to double Brebeufâ??s lead.
junior guard Kalyn Lentz cut the deficit to two at 45-43 with 2:22 to
go, Obeime answered with a basket to double Brebeufâ??s lead.
With under a
minute left, Phillips missed the front end of a one-and-one, but Obeime
came down with the rebound. Later, Phillips missed the second of two
free throws, and Obeime again snatched the ball away from Wawasee,
leaving two Warrior teammates shouting their displeasure at each other.
minute left, Phillips missed the front end of a one-and-one, but Obeime
came down with the rebound. Later, Phillips missed the second of two
free throws, and Obeime again snatched the ball away from Wawasee,
leaving two Warrior teammates shouting their displeasure at each other.
â??The difference was Phillips and Obeime,â? Kreinhagen said. â??Thank goodness both of them came to play tonight.â?
The Warriors
never once blocked out the shooter on fourth-quarter free throws and,
combined with those eight miscues, it must too much to overcome.
never once blocked out the shooter on fourth-quarter free throws and,
combined with those eight miscues, it must too much to overcome.
â??I couldnâ??t be
prouder of a group of young ladies that in my opinion just that if you
just look at us from time to time you would see what was going on out
there,â? said ninth-year Wawasee coach Kem Zolman, father ofIndiana
prouder of a group of young ladies that in my opinion just that if you
just look at us from time to time you would see what was going on out
there,â? said ninth-year Wawasee coach Kem Zolman, father of
Wawaseeâ??s Walker
Following the
game, members of the IHSAA Executive Committee named Megan Walker of
Wawasee as the winner of the Patricia L. Roy Mental Attitude Award.
game, members of the IHSAA Executive Committee named Megan Walker of
Wawasee as the winner of the Patricia L. Roy Mental Attitude Award.
The award 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. Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, the IHSAAâ??s corporate partner,
will present a $1,000 scholarship to Wawasee in the name ofWalker
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. Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, the IHSAAâ??s corporate partner,
will present a $1,000 scholarship to Wawasee in the name of
ranks third in her class of 195 students. She is a member of the
National Honor Society and Student Council, serving as the vice
president of that organization.
also is involved with Kiwanis, Teacher Help Day, and Freshman
Orientation as well as assisting in the schoolâ??s athletic department.
Outside of school, she referees soccer and basketball at the
Besides
basketball, she also participates in soccer and softball and is
expected to graduate with 12 varsity letters this spring. The daughter
of Kevin and Cheryl Walker ofMilford plans to major in pharmacy at Butler University
basketball, she also participates in soccer and softball and is
expected to graduate with 12 varsity letters this spring. The daughter
of Kevin and Cheryl Walker of
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