Plymouth edges Indianapolis Chatard 47-46 for Class 3A title

By HANK LOWENKRON, AP Sports Writer

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Plymouth's Brittany Payne and Alex Starr celebrate beating Indianapolis Bishop Chatard

Plymouth's Brittany Payne, left, and Alex Starr celebrate their 47-46 win over Indianapolis Bishop Chatard in an IHSAA Class 3A girls basketball state final game at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 1, 2008. (AP Photo/Tom Strickland)

By Beth Boehne

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Leslie Swihart's free throw with 3.5 seconds left gave Plymouth its first girls basketball title with a 47-46 win over Indianapolis Chatard in the girls Class 3A high school basketball championship on Saturday.

Swihart was fouled as she drove to the basket. The senior guard missed her first free throw badly. Her second hit the front of the rim before falling in to give the Pilgrims the lead for the first time since the opening moments of the second half.

It was the sixth lead change in a tight defensive battle that was tied 11 times. Neither team led by more than six points at any time.

Jessica Centa led Plymouth (22-4) with 14 points and 9 rebounds despite sitting out most of the fourth quarter with four fouls. Lyzz Smith chipped in 13 points, while Swihart contributed 9 points and a game-high 7 assists.

Anne Boese took scoring honors with 15 points for Chatard (23-5), which reached the title game of the girls tournament for the first time. Caroline Schutzman and Megan Gardner each had 13 for the Trojans.

The teams battled on nearly even terms in the first half, which ended with Plymouth holding a 24-22 advantage following two free throws by Swihart with 1:08 left. There were two lead changes and four ties in the first half.

Plymouth's biggest lead of the game was four points with 5:57 left in the first half, and Chatard's largest lead of the opening half was three points.

Chatard came out hot for the second half, hitting its first four shots from the field and six of its first nine attempts to open the game's biggest lead at 36-30.

Reserve Alex Starr responded with a 3-pointer for Plymouth for her only score in the game.

Smith then brought the Pilgrims to within one by converting two free throws. She followed that with a short jumper with 15.9 seconds left in the quarter.

Boese then sent Chatard into the fourth quarter nursing a 38-37 advantage after hitting two free throws with 7.9 seconds left in the third period.

Centa, who ranks 13th in her class of 233 seniors, was named as the winner of the Patricia L. Roy Mental Attitude Award by the IHSAA.

Thursday, Mar 6 at 11:21 AM chs and phs fan wrote ...

congrats to both teams..you both played a great game..

Tuesday, Mar 4 at 12:36 AM PHS Student wrote ...

Who cares wat luke did, last time i check the boys won last year, end of story.

Monday, Mar 3 at 12:08 AM Stall wrote ...

Plymouth got lucky and who really cares wut the tv guys are saying ya guys scared of the truth? Yea Zeller hit the GW shot its true duh

Sunday, Mar 2 at 10:46 PM PHS Fan wrote ...

Rude, your band director lead the band in playing "Angel is the Centerfold" during half time. How rude is that. Check out the lyrics. Besides that GREAT JOB GIRLS!

Sunday, Mar 2 at 9:18 PM steve wrote ...

class b-ball sucks go back to the way it was

Sunday, Mar 2 at 8:31 PM Biggie wrote ...

Mr. L. in what manner is that statement disgusting? Take a good look at how he handled your Michael Edison's "situation". Were there any derogative remarks? That could have been a lot worse for your community. At 5:39 in the morning, you should be happy that the girls played won. Get some sleep man. By the way Dean said the same thing on FOX.

Sunday, Mar 2 at 12:04 PM Mark wrote ...

Congratulations Plymouth.

Sunday, Mar 2 at 5:39 AM Mr. L wrote ...

Greg Carrol you are so rude!!! Forget the pie in your face comments about that Luke Zeller shot! That was boys. You must have a terrible vice against Plymouth to say such nonsense about the game! Your disgusting and need fired immediately! Stick to what's real!

Saturday, Mar 1 at 11:22 PM Big Lar wrote ...

Congratulations to Plymouth High school once again. What a program they have, and a gutsy bunch of girls who hung in there to the end! The ONLY girls basketball team in our area,to bring back the trophy! Way to go!

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