12 YEARS AGO (1998): Lafayette Catholic Central, Alexandria, Cathedral and Pike

Click to view image

CLASS A: LAFAYETTE CENTRAL CATHOLIC 56, BLOOMFIELD 48
Lafayette Catholic Central became the first catholic school to win a boys state title. Catholic schools were first admitted to the IHSAA beginning in 1942-43, and Central Catholic joined in 1957-58, its first year of existence. Evansville Rex Mundi (1964), Andrean (1980), Indianapolis Cathedral (1982), Hammond Noll (1988), South Bend St. Joseph's (1989 and 1993) and Brebeuf (1991) had each made it to the state finals, but never won the championship. Central Catholic head coach Chad Dunwoody, in just his third year with the Knights, became the youngest man to win an IHSAA boys basketball title since 25-year-old Ike Tallman at Muncie Central in 1963.
 

CLASS 2A: ALEXANDRIA 57, SOUTHWESTERN (HANOVER) 43 

Alexandria's victory in the Class 2A championship was their first state title of any kind. The Tigers join rival Anderson as the only Madison County schools to claim a state championship. Anderson won championships in 1935, 1937 and 1946. Rusty Garner, a senior guard for Alexandria, was selected by the IHSAA Executive Committee as the recipient of the Arthur L. Trester Award for Mental Attitude in Class 2A Boys Basketball. Garner, the son of Alexandria Athletic Director Ron Garner, scored 24 points in leading his school to its first state title.

CLASS 3A: INDIANAPOLIS CATHEDRAL 72, YORKTOWN 47 

With its Class 3A victory, Indianapolis Cathedral joins Lafayette Central Catholic, the Class A victor, as the first Catholic schools to ever win an IHSAA boys basketball state championship. It was Cathedral's sixth IHSAA state title in the school's history. The Fighting Irish had previously won football championships in 1986 (3A), 1992 (3A) and 1996 (4A); girls tennis in 1986; and volleyball (3A) last November.

CLASS 4A: PIKE 57, MARION 54 

Pike High School earned its first IHSAA state championship in boys basketball and the third in the school's history. Pike's road to the Class 4A state title was paved with top 10 teams. In seven tournament games, the Red Devils defeated four ranked opponents in Class 4A -- No. 7 Noblesville (66-64 in sectional opener), No. 10 North Central (Indpls.) (69-66 in sectional championship), No. 1 Anderson (68-65 in regional championship) and No. 4 Marion (57-54 for Class 4A state championship). Marion suffered its first loss in seven state championship game appearances with the loss to Pike. The Giants were 6-0 in the title game, winning it all in 1926, 1975, 1976, 1985, 1986 and 1987. Only fellow North Central Conference member Muncie Central has won more championships, with eight.