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Northwestern’s expected run to a Class 3A state championship got off to a bit of a sluggish start, but coach Kathie Layden’s Tigers used a 16-1 run in the second quarter to take command and roll to a 63-42 win over Greensburg at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.

The No. 2 Pirates led early and trailed only 15-13 early in the second quarter before Northwestern went on its decisive run. The Tigers eventually led by as many as 26 points in the fourth quarter before settling for the final margin.

The victory gives top-ranked Northwestern (29-1) its first state title in program history, although head coach Kathie Layden became the second coach to lead two different schools to a state championship joining Donna Cheatham. She guided Tri-Central to Class A titles in 2002, 2003 and 2004.

Stephanie Burns led the Tigers (who finish with a 22-game winning streak) with 17 points, while Kendal Bostic added 14 and Madison Layden (the coach’s daughter) with 13 points.

Misha Morrison led Greensburg (23-4) with 12 points.

Class 3A State Championship Records

Most Points in a Quarter: (Tied) 24 by Northwestern vs. Greensburg (2nd quarter).

Most Combined Fouls: 42 by Northwestern (21) and Greensburg (21).

Sarah Vas named Mental Attitude Award winner
Following the game, members of the IHSAA Executive Committee named Sarah Vas of Northwestern 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.

Vas is team captain for Northwestern, and a four-year letter winner in basketball. She has helped the team to a conference championship, two sectional championships, a regional championship and a semi-state championship. 

Outside of athletics, she spends time volunteering for different events at Northwestern and has also given her time to Howard Haven-Nursing Home. In the classroom, she is third in her class of 117. Vas has been dubbed the Outstanding Chemistry student and earned a level three honorable mention for the 2015 national letters about literature contest. 

She is the daughter of Timothy and Mary Vas and will study pharmacy at Purdue University.

The Indiana Fever and Indiana Pacers, the presenting sponsor of the IHSAA Girls Basketball State Tournament, presented a $1,000 scholarship to Northwestern High School in the name of Sarah Vas. Since 1989, more than $840,000 in college scholarships have been presented to deserving high school athletes in Indiana.

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.