Story of the Year (No. 9): Indiana Showdown Instant Classic

 

2008-09 MAXPREPS TOP 10 STORIES OF THE YEAR
Ranking: No. 9
What: Ben Davis (Indianapolis) edged Washington (South Bend) 71-69 in a game that not only decided the Indiana 5A state championship, but also the national crown as well.
When: March 7, 2009
Where: Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis
How: A last-second, off-balance 15-foot shot by Bria Goss with 1.4 seconds remaining decided this up-and-down classic.
Why so important?: It was the first time two undefeated teams faced each other for the Indiana state championship, the first time a girls team from Indiana finished with 30 wins and 13,300 showed up for the game.
MaxPreps Stories of the Year: A panel of six MaxPreps national writers first established the top 10 stories of the year, and then voted them in order in terms of national interest, importance and possible future significance. 

Friday: No. 8 – A seemingly meaningless blowout girls basketball game in Texas ignited a firestorm of national debate.

 

THE BIGGEST GIRLS basketball game of 2008-09 didn’t disappoint. In fact, it may have even surpassed the enormous billing.

 

There was plenty of that.

 

Ben Davis (Indianapolis) sophomore Bria Goss banked in a 15-foot leaner with 1.4 seconds remaining giving the appropriately-named Giants a 71-69 5A state championship-game victory over Washington (South Bend) before 13,300 fans at Lucas Oil Stadium On March 7.

 

A last-second halfcourt shot by National Player of the Year Skylar Diggins fell short as did Washington’s hope for a perfect season and mythical national championship.

 

Instead, Davis became the first girls team in state history to go 30-0 while Washington finished 26-1.

 

The Giants came into the game No. 2 in the MaxPreps Xcellent 25 but eventually moved up to the top spot when previous top-ranked Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) was defeated in the Southern California finals to Brea Olinda.

 

Washington finished No. 2 in the country because it played virtually a dead-even game with the national champions, which got 18 and 12 points respectively from seniors Alex Bentley and DeAirra Goss, who both had fouled out.

 

That helped Washington erase a solid 11-point cushion with just less than three minutes left after a barrage from Diggins, who scored eight points of her game-high 29 points in a 55-second span.

 

Her last bucket with 45 seconds left tied the game at 69-69 before Bria Goss took the last shot. She told the Indianapolis Star that she was falling down so she lost sight of the ball.

 

But she could hear it.

 

“I didn't even see it go in,” she told the Star. “They were all yelling and screaming, so I guess I made it.”

 

Bria Goss finished with 15 for Davis, which won its third state title after winning in 2000 and 2001. The Notre Dame-bound Diggins, who made 8 of 21 shots and 12 of 13 free throws, was backed up by Jasmine Watson and Karis Phillips with 12 apiece.

 

Diggins, who played in four straight state title games, winning one, told the South Bend Tribune: “We have nothing to hang our heads about. We played our hearts out.”

 

The game started relatively close, as the Panthers battled to a one-point lead after the first quarter. Ben Davis’s defense took over in the second quarter, forcing the Panthers into tough shots and turnovers.

 

At halftime, the Giants clearly looked like the best team in the state, taking a 10-point advantage into the locker room.

 

Each team managed 19 points in the third quarter, and it looked like the Giants were going to cruise to just the third title in school history. Washington, however, had been in the state finals each of the three previous years, and was not about to roll over and hand Ben Davis the trophy.

 

“I thought our kids played well,” Benge said. “We had a couple of kids foul out (in the fourth quarter) and we made some mistakes down the stretch. There was definitely some nervousness (at the end).”

 

During a 55-second span in the fourth quarter, Diggins went off for eight points, including a jump shot that tied the game at 69 with 45 seconds left.

 

Diggins had 10 of her team’s 25 fourth-quarter points, but with all of the big-name seniors on the floor, it was future D-I star Bria Goss who hit the game-winner.

 

“Once the tied it up, we knew that (Bria) could get off the shot,” said Benge. “We had our best shooters waiting on the wings, but she’s hit big shots for us before, so we knew that she could do it.”

 

THE PREGAME HYPE (MaxPreps preview of game)

 

All agreed that the first-ever girls basketball meeting between Washington and Ben Davis is huge. 

 

“It’s the biggest girls game in the history of Indiana,” veteran South Bend Tribune sports writer Scott Davidson said.

 

The game not only will decide the Indiana 4A champion but many believe the 2008-09 mythical national championship as well. Davis is No. 2 in both MaxPreps’ National Guard computer and Xcellent 25 human rankings, while Washington is No. 7 and No. 3, respectively.

 

Both up-tempo teams are unbeaten, both have squashed foes by more than 30 points per game and both feature multiple Division I talents, including National Player of the Year co-favorite Skylar Diggins, a 5-9 guard from Washington making her fourth straight state-final appearance.

 

“This one is definitely different,” Diggins said. “This is an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

 

Appropriately, the backdrop for this one is also enormous, so gigantic that it may well play a role in the game’s victor.

 

Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the Indianapolis Colts, is a ridiculously large site of four girls state championship games Saturday, finished off with the 4A game at approximately 8 p.m.

 

Conseco Fieldhouse, which has hosted the last eight finals, is occupied this weekend by the Big 10 women’s tournament.

 

Lucas Oil Stadium is a seven-level, 1.8-million square foot monstrosity that holds 63,000 for football games. With some pretty major configuring, Saturday’s state championships will accommodate approximately 17,000.

 

How many figure to show up for the late show? Indianapolis Star reporter Patrick Dorsey thinks it might just fill up.

 

“That’s what we’re hearing,” he said.

 

For a girls basketball game? Indiana is a basketball Mecca for sure, but the boys, like every other state, draw most of the attention.

 

Diggins said approximately 10,000 have shown for previous girls state championships. The national appeal, and extra seats, makes this a larger draw Davidson said.

 

“I honestly think those with no connection at all to the two schools or regions will show up for this one,” he said. “It’s that special of a game.”

 

So how will the team’s handle the extra juice? Davis coach Stan Benge has been a part of numerous huge showdowns over his 24 seasons, that includes 467 wins and two state titles (2000 and 2001), and no one is immune to pre-game jitters.

 

“The butterflies are natural,” he said. “But once you’re out there, once you get a sweat going and the referees blow a whistle or two, then it doesn’t matter if you’re playing in front of 200 or 20,000.”

 

Diggins agrees.

 

“I don’t think I’ll be so much nervous as anxious,” she said. “There’s so much buildup and we’ve had to wait a week, we’re all just anxious to play the game.”

 

But beyond the nervous is the giant backdrop.

 

Bigger arenas create a different depth perception which usually equals poor outside shooting. The team that relies on more 3-point shooting will likely be at a disadvantage.

 

“But both teams can get to the rack,” Davidson said. “And both teams like the up-tempo game. It shouldn’t be a factor.”

 

Diggins’ game might be affected. She can definitely slash, but her potent 3-point shooting - 55 of 131 (42 percent) - often opens up her drive. How concerned is she with the vastness of the domed Lucas Stadium?

 

She and both teams will get a one-hour shoot-around Friday but nothing more. Both teams walked around the facility on Monday.

 

“It’s huge especially with the stands completely empty,” she said. “I’ve never played in a dome before. I’m sure it will be a little different. You just need to focus a little more.”

 

With at least four Division I players on Davis’ roster, Diggins certainly has no room to be lackadaisical.

 

The Giants are led by 5-9 Penn State-bound guard Alex Bentley, who scored at 15.6 points per game. Other college-bound players are 5-10 senior forward DeAirra Goss (Western Michigan), 5-11 junior Dee Dee Williams (Purdue) and 5-7 junior Jordan Huber (Ball State).

 

Sophomore Bria Goss, a 5-9 guard, might end up being better than all of them.

 

Benge won’t say if this team is better than the previous two Davis state champions, but the Giants do have a chance to become the first 30-win undefeated team in Indiana history.

 

“I don’t think either of the other teams had as much depth as this one,” he said. “The thing that makes this team so strong is the play good team basketball; they work hard and really enjoy the game.”

 

How do they plan to stop Diggins?

 

“We’ll just do our best to contain her and hope nobody else has a big game,” he said.  

 

Giving up just 35 points per game, defense is definitely strength for Davis, which has allowed 29.1 its lasts seven game. The Giants don’t play a 6-footer in their rotation which may be good news for 6-3 Washington post Jasmin Watson (11.5 points, 8.7 rebounds per game).

 

Other strong threats for the Panthers, the highest scoring team in the state at 76.4, are 5-11 senior Takoia Larry (12.4 ppg), 5-2 senior Karis Phillips (7.1) and 5-9 senior Rakeesha Lane (6.8).

 

Everything, however, centers are the Notre Dame-bound Diggins, who averages 29.0 points, 6.4 assists, 6.4 rebounds and 5.6 steals per game.

 

“The key for Washington is they must attack from the get-go and continue to play no matter what the score,” Davidson said. “It’s virtually a dead-even game but the X-factor is Diggins. No matter how you look at it Washington has the best player on the floor.”

 

Much of the Panthers’ offensive game is built on steals and transition. Likewise for the Giants.

 

That, along with all the other fixings, makes this a tantalizing matchup.

 

“Forget everything else, it should just be a fun game to watch,” Benge said. “Both teams like to fast break. Both teams simply get after it. No matter what, the fans will get their money’s worth.”

 

DAVIS CROWNED XCELLENT NATIONAL CHAMP

 

Stan Benge had a good feeling. But not quite this good.

 

In his 24th season as girls basketball coach at Ben Davis (Indianapolis, Ind.), Benge came into the year with 438 wins and two state titles. Last year’s 24-2 team was one of its most talented but was upset in the state playoffs.

 

“We had everyone back and we were motivated,” he said.

 

The Giants responded in giant fashion, becoming the first girls team in Indiana history to win 30 games and go undefeated.

 

For it – and a thrilling 71-69 win over four-time consecutive state finalist Washington (South Bend) in the 4A title game before almost 14,000 fans at Lucas Oil Stadium – Davis earned the 2008-09 MaxPreps Girls Basketball Xcellent No. 1 spot.

 

Utilizing an unselfish brand of ball with tenacious defense, the Giants finished 30-0 to win its first mythical national champion.

 

“Our goal was to win the state title for sure,” Benge said. “But go undefeated? And win all the other awards? No way.”

 

The Giants had four legitimate Division I players in Penn State-bound Alex Bentley (team-best 15.7 points per game), Western Michigan-signee DeAirra Goss and juniors Dee Dee Williams and Jordan Huber, who have committed to Purdue and Ball State, respectively.

 

The best player on the team may eventually be 5-foot-9 sophomore Bria Goss, who scored 16 points in the title game including a buzzer-beater to win it.

 

“Everybody is already after her,” Benge said of Bria Goss.

 

But this team wasn’t about star power, the coach said. It was about a work ethic.

 

“Like one college coach said to me: “Very seldom see you a teams as talented as ours work as hard as they do.”

 

E-mail Mitch Stephens at mstephens@maxpreps.com.