Shyra Ely

2000 IHSAA Class 4A State Championship: Ben Davis 56, Valparaiso 53

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• published: 13 Jan 2016
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Ben Davis held off a determined Valparaiso squad to capture an exciting 56-53 victory in the Class 4A state championship game on Saturday at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The (Class 4A) top-ranked Giants finished 28-0 under coach Stan Benge. It was the second IHSAA state championship for Ben Davis this school year (5A football) and its first in girls basketball. Additionally, Ben Davis becomes the ninth different school to complete a perfect season. Previously finishing unbeaten were: Warsaw (1976, 1978), East Chicago Roosevelt (1977, 1979), Crown Point (1984), Fort Wayne Northrop (1986), Noblesville (1987), Bedford North Lawrence (1991), Martinsville (1998) and New Albany (1999). Ben Davis also becomes the third consecutive Class 4A state champion to finish undefeated (Martinsville, 1998, New Albany, 1999). Ben Davis led most of the game but had to hang on in the final minutes as Valparaiso rallied to grab a 52-50 lead with 1:27 remaining after Courtney Rosenbaum converted a three-point play after being fouled on a layup. Ashley Allen, who finished with 19 points, then answered with a layup of her own to tie the score at the 1:13 mark. After a Ben Davis foul, Rosenbaum converted the first of two free throws, before Allen hit a jumper in the lane with :10 seconds remaining to put the Giants up 54-53. While moving the ball up court on the ensuing play, the Giants pressing defense forced a jump ball and gained possession on the alternating possession rule. Ben Davis inbounded the ball and wasted several seconds before being fouled with just over a second to go. Allen rebounded the miss free throw and put it back for the final margin. The (Class 4A) fourth-ranked Vikings, coached by Greg Kirby, finished their season 25-2. The Vikings were making their state record fifth appearance in the state finals, but have never won a title. Both teams top players came up big in the game. Rosenbaum took game honors with 22 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. Ben Davis' Shyra Ely, who fouled out with 1:27 to play, finished with 21 points and 11 rebounds. Allen finished with 19 points for Ben Davis as did Erin Sampsel for Valparaiso. Sara Strahm of Ben Davis High School was selected by the IHSAA Executive Committee as the recipient of the Patricia L. Roy Mental Attitude Award in Class 4A Girls Basketball. Strahm, the daughter of assistant coach Terry Strahm, will become the first Ben Davis athlete to win 12 varsity letters having started all four years in softball and volleyball. Academically, Strahm ranks 23rd in her senior class of 860 students with a 4.1 grade point average (4.0 scale). She has served as her class secretary the last three years, is a member of the National Honor Society and also works as the school's yearbook sports editor. She has accepted a basketball scholarship to Butler University where she intends to major in journalism and education. Farm Bureau Insurance, the corporate partner of the IHSAA, presented a $1,000 scholarship to Ben Davis High School in the name of Strahm.