This article is being written before the 2009 Indiana High School Girls' Basketball State Finals are held at the Lucas Oil Stadium. The change in location is due to a conflict with the Big Ten Women’s Tournament. The boys' high school championship games will continue to be held at the Conseco Fieldhouse. Over the years the finals have been played at numerous sites but this will be the biggest venue to ever host the girls' championship games. It will be interesting to observe the players' and fans' reaction to playing in such a massive structure.
Playing the championship games in such a massive facility causes one to recall the finals that were played in the Hoosier Dome in 1990. Hall of Famer Coach Dan Bush successfully guided the Bedford North Lawrence Stars through the tournament trail to capture the crown and cut down the nets in front of 40,046 delirious fans. Those in attendance were part of the largest crowd in the world to ever witness a high school basketball game.
Concord High School came into the finals ranked number one and undefeated. The Minutemen eked out 70-66 over the Anderson Indians in the first morning game. The second game was even more exciting as Bedford North Lawrence came back from a half time deficit to send the Southport Cardinals home by the score 58-55. In the championship game Concord was ahead 58-52 when the electrifying Damon Bailey took over and scored the last 11 points for the Stars. Bedford North Lawrence pulled out a 63-60 win.
Indiana high school basketball is long on heritage and tradition and those are the main reasons the only statewide high school basketball hall of fame in the nation is located in the Hoosier State. Basketball enthusiasts are encouraged to relive their high school memories and visit the Indiana High School Basketball Hall of Fame in the near future.
Readers are encouraged to share one of their favorite state finals memories. Such items should be sent to roger@hoopshall.com.
Yours in sports,
Roger Dickinson
