Central Noble Claims First Title

INDIANAPOLIS: by Steven Stremming

In game two of the IHSAA Girl’s Class Basketball State Championships, presented by the Indiana Pacers and Indiana Fever, the Central Noble Cougars clawed their way to their first state title in basketball with a 46-42 win over the Winchester Golden Falcons.

Central Noble used a solid second half, where they overcame a 25-19 halftime deficit to claim the victory at Banker’s Life Fieldhouse.

Cougar Junior Sydney Freeman was key as she scored 11 of her 14 total points, five steals and four rebounds all in the second half of the game.

Photo by: Steven Underwood/Excel High School Sports

Fellow Cougar, 6’1 Junior, Meleah Leatherman tallied seven points and nine rebounds in providing a one-two punch for the victors in the second half.

Photo by: Steven Underwood/Excel High School Sports

Leatherman tallied eleven points with twelve rebounds and two blocked shots for the game.

One of the biggest surprises of the game was the scoring of 5’5 Freshman Lydia Andrews who tallied nine points with two steals in twenty four minutes of floor action. Andrews averaged less than two points a game during the season.

Photo by: Steven Underwood/Excel High School Sports

For a superb Winchester team Sophomore Maddie Lawrence scored a game high 20 points despite being hobbled after falling hard to the floor in the third quarter. Lawrence also snared eight boards with three assists and two steals in 32 minutes of action.

Photo by: Steven Underwood/Excel High School Sports

Winchester’s Shelby Miller, 6′, Junior added eight points with three blocked shots and Sophomore Becca Chamberlin added eight points. 6’3 Junior Kira Robinson tallied nine boards and six blocks, two steals and two assists for Winchester.

Photo by: Steven Underwood/Excel High School Sports

Photo by: Steven Underwood/Excel High School Sports

This was the first appearance for either school in the state finals.

Calista Rice, the diminutive 5’5 Senior guard collected the Patricia L Roy Mental Attitude Winner for Class 2A.

Attendance for Session 1 was 5,918.