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Evansville Memorial scored the first seven points of overtime, and never relinquished that advantage on their way to a 58-50 victory over Benton Central and the school’s first girls basketball state championship on Saturday at Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne.

Natalie Cohlmeyer, Evansville Memorial’s second-leading scorer during the season, was held without a point during regulation, but scored six points in overtime to lead the Tigers. Memorial outscored Benton Central 17-9 in the extra period.

Mallory Ladd finished the game with 24 points and 13 rebounds. She was one of three Memorial players, along with Anna Hackert and Marie Hackert, who pulled down double-digit rebounds. The Tigers’ size caused problems inside for Benton Central throughout the game, as the Bison were unable to score off of penetration.

Sophomore guard Caitlyn Tolen led Benton Central with 16 points, while Hillary Moore earned a double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds. David Baxter’s Bison team made the team’s first state finals appearance since 1989, and the third appearance in school history. The Bison, who came into the game on a 20-game winning streak, finish the season with a 24-1 record.

Evansville Memorial won their first title in the school’s second trip to the state finals. The Tigers wrap up their year with a 28-1 record for head coach Bruce Dockery.

Benton Central’s Hillary Moore Named Mental Attitude Award Winner
Following the game, members of the IHSAA Executive Committee named Hillary Moore of Benton Central High School as the winner of the Patricia L. Roy Mental Attitude Award in Class 3A Girls Basketball.

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.

Moore ranks in the top 10 percent of her senior class academically. She has served as Vice President and Secretary for the school’s Future Farmers of America club, is a member of the National Honor Society, the Spanish Honor Society and Spirit Club. Outside of school, she is a 10-year 4-H Club member and part of its Junior Leaders organization.

She intends to study Agriculture and Business Administration at Indiana-Purdue-Fort Wayne (IPFW) beginning next fall.

She has earned her fourth varsity letter in basketball, served as a team captain and helped the Bison to three sectional championships, two regional titles and last weekend’s semi-state crown. Besides basketball, she will run her fourth year of track this spring and also represented the Bison volleyball and cross country teams one year each.

She is the daughter of Rick and Shelley Moore of Otterbein.

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

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.

Class 3A State Championship Game Quotes

Evansville Memorial Coach Bruce Dockery
“We had heart and confidence and were able to come out with a victory in a tough situation tonight.”

“We switched to a man-to-man defense in the last four minutes.  That’s what got us back into the game in the fourth quarter and got us to overtime.”

“The difference in overtime was we got off to a good start.  Anytime you do that it’s big.  Sarah Stone hit the three and we had a couple of shots inside.  We had a couple of key defensive stops as well.”

“This was one of the worst shooting games we have had.  Benton Central’s defense had a lot to do with that.  That’s been the key to their success all year.”

“This championship was for all the ladies that have played in this program and have never had an opportunity to play for a state championship.”

(On four seniors) “You look what we have accomplished over the last four years and what we did tonight.  Without them it would have been difficult.”

“Without Mallory Ladd we would not be talking today.”

Benton Central Coach David Baxter
“It just really hurts to be that close - a free throw here a lay-up there it might have made things different.”

(On the physical play in the paint) “It reminded me of some small college if not mid-major basketball in the paint.  We knew we had a size disadvantage but our girls just put on their hard hats and came to work.”

(On Memorial’s Mallory Ladd) “She’s got that good inside-out game.  I know she missed a few on the perimeter in the first half.  She just gets herself to the line.  It’s a very remarkable skill she has, we were making things very difficult on her.”