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Chelsea Jones scored 4 of her game-high 23 points in a back-and-forth overtime session to lead the No. 2 Austin Lady Eagles to their first girls basketball state championship, a 70-65 victory over Fort Wayne Bishop Luers in the Class 2A title game.

Jones was part of a balanced attack that saw three players score in double figures, including 19 points from senior guard Katy McIntosh and 18 from senior forward Michelle Goodin. The trio helped Austin fend off Fort Wayne Luers’ attempt to win their state-record sixth state championship.

It was Bishop Luers that jumped out to an early 14-10 advantage, led by six first-quarter points from sophomore forward Brooke Ridley, but the Lady Eagles battled back to take a 29-26 halftime lead.

Although Austin stretched its lead to nine points by the beginning of the fourth quarter, Luers fought back with strong play both inside and out. Four straight baskets by center Miracle Woods and two threes from Hilary Watts helped the Lady Knights overcome the deficit to take a one-point lead with just over a minute to play in regulation. After two free throws from Brierra Young, Austin got the ball in the hands of their leading scorer, and McIntosh didn’t disappoint. The senior drove hard to the basket, made the runner, and got fouled. Her converted free throw sent the game to overtime, tied at 59-59.

The extra session saw both teams start out hot, but Jones and McIntosh went a combined 3-for-3 from the field to give the Lady Eagles and head coach Jared Petersen the push they needed to finish their state championship season with a 26-2 record.

For Fort Wayne Luers, the contest marked just the second time the team has lost in seven state finals appearances; Denny Renier’s team finishes the year with an 18-8 record. Woods led the Lady Knights with 17 points and 12 rebounds, while Young finished with 12 points and 4 assists.

Austin's Katy McIntosh Named Mental Attitude Award Winner
Following the game, members of the IHSAA Executive Committee named Katy McIntosh of Austin High School as the winner of the Patricia L. Roy Mental Attitude Award.

The award is presented annually to a senior participant in each classification who was nominated by her principal and coach and has demonstrated excellence in mental attitude, scholarship, leadership and athletic ability.

McIntosh is a four-year varsity basketball letterwinner for the Eagles.  She has been nominated as a McDonald’s All-American for her accomplishments throughout the 2009-10 season. The multi-talented athlete has also been the top singles player for Austin’s tennis team for the past four years.    

She is a member of several organizations and clubs at Austin, including the National Honor Society and Student Council.  She was part of the Austin Youth Volunteers group which performs numerous services within the community.

McIntosh is ranked second in her class.  Next year she will attend the University of Indianapolis to pursue a degree in Nursing. 

Austin Principal Sherman Smith commented, “Katy possesses a drive and determination that ‘seals the deal’ when it comes to basketball or anything that she is involved in.  She is focused on a particular goal and works tirelessly to achieve that goal.”

She is the daughter of Lanny and Belinda McIntosh of Austin.

Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, the IHSAA’s corporate partner, will present a $1,000 scholarship to Austin High School in the name of McIntosh.

The award is named in honor of the former IHSAA assistant commissioner Patricia L. Roy, who oversaw the girls basketball state tournament from its inception in 1976 until her retirement in 1999.

Austin Head Coach Jared Petersen
“I’m just trying to take it all in right now. I’m a little speechless, it’s a feeling I can’t describe. To be with these girls since they were freshmen, they were kind of thrown to the fire. And now as seniors to get over that hump is an unbelievable feeling.”

“We’ve had this goal since they were freshmen. Early on, we were blocked by Heritage Christian. This was our goal to achieve before they graduated. I hate to lose them but what a way to go out.”

On shot selection
“These four seniors have been here before and I trust them. They have the green light. I don’t tell kids not to shoot because that’s when you mess with a kid’s confidence.”

On trying to rebound against a larger Luers team
“We didn’t have the size to match up with them. We hoped to get them into a fast-paced game. We had no answer for their rebounding.”

On the 4th quarter start
“I knew the charge was coming. I told the kids they (Luers) are not gonna quit-they’re gonna come and make a run. After they took the lead, we were finally able to get some stops. Stops are something we’ve preached on for years in that we gotta get some stops in the man-to-man defense. At some time in your career, we’ve gotta get some big stops to make a difference. Tonight we got the stops we needed to get into overtime.”

Fort Wayne Bishop Luers Head Coach Denny Renier
“Austin is a very good ball club.  In overtime they got the lead on us and made some plays and we didn’t.  I’m disappointed in the outcome, but I’ve never been around a bunch of players who fought like they do.  With all the things that have happened to this team this year, they fought back to have the lead by three late in the game, but we just couldn’t hang on.”

“I’ve never come close to a year like this at Luers in terms of having injuries and the accident.  And have all the things happen to these kids and get to the state finals and battle a good team to the end  -- you have to be proud of them.”

“In the first half, McIntosh (13 points) and Jones (11 points) hurt us a lot.  We played pretty well even though we are not a high-powered offense.  We got inside to Miracle (Woods) a lot in the second half and they had trouble defending her.  But we missed some easy shots.”

“To be down nine points at the end of the third quarter and to come back and take the lead says a lot about our kids.  (In the comeback) we went inside and Brierra (Young) hit some big three’s.  But we’ve been doing that all year.  But again, we just didn’t have enough gas at the end.”

“They kind of fooled us at the end of regulation.  They showed us zone and went man to man, and we didn’t get a good shot off.”