Published: 2/26/2007
Author: Bob_Richards
© Old Gold Free Press Columnists
IHSAA State Finals setThe field is set for the 2007 IHSAA Girl's State basketball Championships at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on Saturday, March 3rd. Tickets are $10 for a two-game morning or evening session, and $18 for an all-day pass.
Class A Championship (10:30 a.m.):
Oregon-Davis (24-3) vs. Oakland City Wood (19-8)
Class 2A Championship (follows Class A game):
Jimtown (24-2) vs. Heritage Christian (25-3)
Class 3A Championship (6:00 p.m.):
Wawasee (22-3) vs. Brebeuf Jesuit (22-6)
Class 4A Championship (follows Class 3A game):
South Bend Washington (27-1) vs. Columbus East (24-2)
Kelly Faris and Heritage Christian make a return trip to the state title game, as does South Bend Washington and Division I recruits Skyler Diggins and Emily Phillips. The difference between this year and last is the improved polish in Ashley Varner's game. Washington will be tough to be denied this year. And following a year absence from Conseco, Brebeuf returns with 6'6 all-american Ta'Shia Phillips, who is coming off a 30 point, 19 rebound performance in the semistate. Wawasee and Brebeuf have played once this season already, and Brebeuf won the December 23rd contest, 58-53.
Purdue recognizable in Washington state
In an article about the rising talent pool in the state of Washington, University of Washington head coach June Daugherty was quoted saying, "When I'm out there watching the '08s and '09s, more than ever I'm sitting there with Tennessee, Stanford, Purdue. These kids are getting recruited very high. It's exciting." We have heard Purdue spending time on the west coast recruiting and the article points out why. A record 29 players from Washington signed to Division I schools in the class of 2007, and the Washington classes of 2008 and 2009 are said to be even deeper.
READ MORE: Seattle Times
Ramblings
"I don't believe I've ever coached against a better player than Brittany Rayburn. She is the complete package. She's 6-foot-tall, can run, jump, shoot, do about anything she wants to and does. She is a special player, there is no doubt about that." -- Wood Memorial head coach Johnnie Bartley on coaching against Brittany Rayburn.
Big Ten Recruiting
Greenville's (OH) Macie Blinn, a 6'0 junior wing, will play basketball at Illinois in 2008-09. Blinn is a second team Division II All-Ohio selection averaging 19.2 points per game as a junior. Blinn chose the Illini over offers from Miami, Ball State, Dayton, Vanderbilt and George Washington. Averaged 14.4 points as a sophomore. Blinn was also an all-district pick in volleyball and carries a 3.8 GPA.
READ MORE: Big Ten Recruiting: Commitments
