GBB: IHSAA state finals will return to Terre Haute next year

From ihsaa.org

The IHSAA Executive Committee approved a return of the IHSAA Girls Basketball State Finals to Terre Haute for a second consecutive year at the committee’s final monthly meeting of the 2011-12 school year June 21.

The Committee voted 18-0 to return the state finals and its four state championship games to the Hulman Center for a second year. The one-year contract calls for the games to be played Saturday, March 2, 2013 in the 10,200-seat venue.

The multi-purpose facility has hosted many IHSAA and NCAA tournament events over the years and is the home of the Indiana State University basketball teams. Terre Haute also has hosted the IHSAA Cross Country Finals at the renowned LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course since 2004.

In addition to Terre Haute, the IHSAA received bids to host the games at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis along with the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne, the host site for the 2010 and 2011 state finals.

“The Association wishes to thank all three entities for their submissions of proposals to host our girls state basketball championships,” said Cox. “In the final analysis, the proposal from Terre Haute provided the best support and opportunities to the eight member schools that will arrive at the state finals, along with other considerations extended to the IHSAA.

“The entire Terre Haute community should be proud of their leadership in the creation and execution of this effort.”

In Board of Directors-related stuff …
In addition, a third seat on the IHSAA Board of Directors became vacant to start 2012-13 as Fort Wayne Concordia Lutheran principal John Marks resigned after recently announcing his retirement following a 42-year career, the last 29 at Concordia. He has represented private schools on the IHSAA Board since that seat was created in 2007.

Tri-West Hendricks principal Jim Diagostino resigned his District II Class 2A seat after accepting a job in another district In April, when Connersville athletic director Pam Noble, who held the seat reserved for a South District Female, announced her retirement after a 34-year career, 33 at Connersville.

Those vacant seats will be filled during the next Board of Directors election in December.