News

(New Castle) – The Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame proudly announces the fields for the 2015 City Securities Hall of Fame Classic tournaments to display the best teams, players, coaches, and fans in Indiana high school basketball on Tuesday, December 29 and Wednesday, December 30 at the New Castle Fieldhouse.
 

2015 Girls’ City Securities Hall of Fame Classic
New Castle Fieldhouse – Tuesday, December 29, 2015

11:00 a.m. (ET)            Noblesville vs. Benton Central
to follow                        Princeton vs. Lebanon
6:00 p.m.                      Consolation Game
to follow                        Championship Game

2015 Boys’ City Securities Hall of Fame Classic
New Castle Fieldhouse – Wednesday, December 30, 2015

11:00 a.m. (ET)           Lawrence Central vs. McCutcheon
to follow                       Carroll (FW) vs. Martinsville
6:00 p.m.                     Consolation Game
to follow                       Championship Game

The prestigious event will be held for the 32nd time for girls and it will be the 39th edition for the boys.

Selecting from the best teams in the state, the girls’ tournament has included 18 teams that went on to win a state championship that season, including 11 state champions and five state runner-up teams in the past 13 years alone. 2014 Girls Classic champion Heritage Christian became the 8th team in history to win the Classic and an IHSAA class championship in the same season with their 2A championship on March 7.

On the boys side, 13 participating teams have gone on to win their state championship, with five more finishing as state runner-up that season. 

Tickets for the tournaments will be available through participating schools and the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in the 2015-16 school year.

ABOUT THE TEAMS

Girls

Noblesville – The Millers return a pair of Indiana Junior All-Stars and frontline firepower from a 23-4 team that won the Hoosier Crossroads Conference. 

5’9” junior forward Alexis Shannon (Florida Atlantic University) averaged 18.2 points and 4.2 rebounds and 5’9” junior guard Katelyn O’Reilly (Florida Atlantic) averaged 15.1 points and 8.6 rebounds, leading to each being tabbed as Indiana Junior All-Stars.  6’2” forward Emily Kiser averaged 5.8 points and 5.2 rebounds as a freshman and is expected to play a significant role for the Millers.

Noblesville comes off a 2015 4A sectional championship victory and regional finals appearance, and are 53-17 over the past three seasons.

Head coach Donna Buckley has won 93 games in her 7 seasons at Noblesville and has 189 career wins in 15 seasons at Fort Wayne South and Greenfield-Central as well.

Noblesville will make their 2nd appearance in the girls Classic. The Millers hosted the 1985 event, losing to Tipton, then defeating Forest Park in the consolation game.  Keck coaches her 2nd team in the event – she led Greenfield-Central into the 2007 event, where they lost to Terre Haute South, then defeated Huntington North to win the consolation game.

Benton Central – The Bison return a majority of their roster from their 25-1 sectional and Hoosier Conference champion team.   

6’2” junior center Kaylan Coffman (University of Evansville) averaged 13.7 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.3 blocks, 5’4” junior guard Bayley Goodman averaged 10.8 points and 2.3 assists, 6’0” junior forward Katie Shields averaged 8.2 points and 4.1 rebounds, and 5’7” sophomore guard Madison Tolen averaged 7.7 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.3 steals.

The Benton Central girls program is well-established, having made three state finals appearances all-time (1988, 1989, 2011 3A).  The Bison have won five sectional, three regional and one semi-state championships in the last seven seasons and their 200-39 record (.837) is the 3rd best winning percentage in the state over the past 10 seasons.

Head coach David Baxter is 103-16 in five seasons at BC and is 179-98 in 12 seasons as a varsity coach.

Benton Central will make their 2nd appearance in the girls Classic.  They participated in the 1985 event at Noblesville, defeating Forest Park, then losing to Tipton in the championship game.

Princeton – The Tigers return star power and a significant portion of the roster that led them to a 30-1 record and 3A state championship this past season.

Princeton has been led by 6’0” junior phenom Jackie Young (University of Notre Dame), who averaged a state-leading 32.4 points per game along with 10.6 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 3.1 steals and became the first girl in Indiana basketball history to score over 1,000 points in a single season (1,003).  A member of the 2015 Indiana Junior All-Stars core team, she’ll enter the 2015-16 season already Princeton’s all-time leading scorer (2,290) and ranking 13th in Indiana girls career scoring with a chance to break Wawasee’s Shanna Zolman’s state girls record of 3,085 points.  Young is joined by 5’11” sophomore forward Brooke James, who averaged 14.2 points and 4.5 rebounds.  5’9” junior forward Hannah Brewer averaged 6.2 points, 5.6 rebounds and 4.0 assists and 5’6” freshman guard Kiare Young averaged 3.4 points.

51-2 over the past two seasons, following their undefeated 2013-14 regular season, the Tigers have won 56 of their last 58 regular season games, dating back to December 6, 2012.

Head coach Charlie Mair has an 84-16 record in four seasons at Princeton and has won 423 games in 34 seasons overall, 30 of them as head coach at North Posey.

Princeton makes their 1st appearance in the girls Classic.  The Princeton boys participated in the 2009 event.

Lebanon – Led by a prolific scorer, the Tigers look for continued success coming off a 23-4 regional finals appearance.

5’10” junior Kristen Spolyar (Butler University) was the state’s 2nd leading scorer (32.2 points) and 3rd-best in the state in steals (6.0), along with 9.0 rebounds, 4.1 assists this past season.  She has been named a member of the 2015 Indiana Junior All-Stars core team.  5’6” sophomore guard Brooke Montgomery averaged 10.4 points, 2.5 assists and 2.3 steals, 5’10” junior center Peyton Terrill averaged 8.2 points and 8.2 rebounds and 5’5” sophomore guard Kassidi Cadle averaged 5.4 points.

The Tigers have won 17 or more games each of the last five seasons, including three 20-win campaigns and four sectional championships.  Their 100-23 record (.813) is the 16th best in Indiana in that span.

Head coach Beth DeVinney is 61-14 in her three seasons at Lebanon and has 273 career wins in her 19th season, following stints at Pike and Seymour.

Lebanon makes their second appearance in the girls Classic, following their 2005 event championship.  Led by tournament co-MVP Maggie Boyer,

Lebanon defeated eventual 4A state champion Castle, then Carmel in the event at New Castle.

Boys

Lawrence Central – In their first season under head coach Al Gooden with a young roster, the Bears showed their potential for the upcoming season.

6’3” junior guard Kyle Guy (University of Virginia) averaged 19.6 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.3 assists and has been named a member of the 2015 Indiana Junior All-Stars core team.  6’2” junior guard Mehki Biffle (Marian University) averaged 15.9 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.6 assists, 6’0” junior guard Mario Nalls averaged 5.5 points, 6’0” sophomore forward Marlon Sam averaged 5.6 points and 3.0 rebounds, 5’6” sophomore Daveon Bell averaged 4.2 points and 2.6 assists, 6’4” junior forward Nash Griffin averaged 4.6 points and 6’7” junior forward Ben Resner averaged 2.5 points. 

The Bears roster loses only one senior from a team that played the state’s 4th toughest schedule and won 10 of their final 14 games in 2014-15.

Head coach Al Gooden has been a head coach for 27 seasons at Heritage, Harding, New Haven and now Lawrence Central.  His 403 career wins place him 22nd in wins among active head coaches.  His 22-year stint at Harding established them as a state power, winning 10 sectionals, six regionals, five semi-states, with four 2A & 3A state runner-up finishes and winning the 2001 2A championship, all in the school’s final 14 years.   

Lawrence Central makes their first appearance in either the boys or girls Classic.

McCutcheon – Coming off their winningest season in 21 years, the 22-5 Mavericks return some talented players and an experienced head coach for the coming season.

Despite the graduation of leading scorer Tre’Shon Heard, McCutcheon will expect to return 6’4” junior forward Darnell Butler, who averaged 13.9 points and 6.3 rebounds.  6’3” sophomore forward Haden Deaton averaged 11.3 points and 4.4 rebounds, 6’3” senior forward Spencer Caldwell averaged 7.6 points and 5’10” freshman guard Robert Phinisee averaged 6.9 points. 

The Mavericks have averaged 18 wins over the past three seasons, winning 73% of their games in that span.  In their inaugural campaign in the North Central Conference, the Mavs were 7-2 and 2nd in conference standings this past season.

Veteran head coach Rick Peckinpaugh has completed his 30th season at McCutcheon and 36th year overall.  He has won 426 games with the
Mavericks and has 488 career wins, including six seasons at Avon, placing him 12th on the active coaching wins list.

McCutcheon makes their first appearance in the boys Classic.  The McCutcheon girls won the 1991 event at New Castle, defeating Randolph Southern and Charlestown.

Carroll (FW) – The 23-4 Chargers will attempt a repeat of their sectional championship effort when the 2015-16 season opens.

Despite the graduation of multiple starters, Carroll will look forward to the return of 6’7” junior forward Kyle Mallers (Ball State), who averaged 13.3 points and 4.9 rebounds and was a member of the 2015 Indiana Junior All-Stars core team.  6’0” sophomore guard Jacob Redding averaged 9.9 points and 6’3” junior forward Kelham Brown averaged 5.0 points. 

The Chargers are 38-13 over the past two seasons.  Their 23-4 mark this past season is all the more impressive when considering that three of the losses came to conference rival and eventual 4A state champion Homestead, with the other a one-point overtime road loss.

Head coach Marty Beasley has won 142 games and three sectional titles in his 10 seasons at Carroll.  In all, he has 211 wins in 16 seasons as a head coach, beginning his head coaching career at Garrett.

Carroll makes their first appearance in either the boys or girls Classic.

Martinsville – The history-rich Artesians program returns to the Classic 25 years after their first appearance, on the heels of a 17-7 season.

6’8” junior forward Keegan Northern (University of Indianapolis) averaged 13.4 points and 5.0 rebounds, 6’3” junior guard Zach Anderson averaged 12.1 points, 6’0” junior guard Logan Ratts averaged 5.5 points and 3.8 rebounds, 5’11” junior guard Wyatt Stroder averaged 3.6 points and 6’4” junior center Josh Bertelsen averaged 3.8 points.

Martinsville has had five consecutive winning seasons, averaging 16 wins per season over that span. 

Head coach Kip Staggs enters his 3rd season at Martinsville, his teams having won 68% of their games (32-15) in his first two seasons.

Martinsville makes their second appearance in the boys Classic.  The Artesians won the 1990 event at New Castle, defeating Southport 60-58 and then Gary Roosevelt 66-62 to win the championship.  The Martinsville girls won the 1997 girls Classic in their only appearance, meaning Martinsville is the only school in Classic history to have a boys and girls team participate and hold an undefeated record in the event (4-0).

History:
22 young women who went on to win Indiana’s Miss Basketball title have participated in the girls Classic, including each of the last seven Miss Basketball winners (Skylar Diggins, Courtney Moses, Bria Goss, Jessica Rupright, Stephanie Mavunga, Whitney Jennings and Ali Patberg). Girls legends who have played in the Classic include Stephanie White, Katie Gearlds, Shanna Zolman, Lisa Shepherd, Abby Conklin, April McDivitt, Kelly Faris, Jennifer Jacoby, Jodie Whitaker, Shrya Ely and Tiffany Gooden, among others.

24 men who went on to win Indiana’s Mr. Basketball title have participated in the boys Classic, including eight of the last 10 award winners. 23 men to have played in the Classic have been named McDonald’s All-Americans, while 15 have been NBA Draft picks.

Legends to have competed in the boys Classic include Damon Bailey, Steve Alford, Glenn Robinson, Shawn Kemp, Greg Oden, Mike Conley, Zach Randolph, Eric Montross, Sean May, Delray Brooks, Tom Coverdale, Michael Menser, Pat Graham, Troy Lewis, Woody Austin, Josh McRoberts, Gary Harris, Luke, Tyler and Cody Zeller and Trey Lyles among others.

Sponsor:
For the 19th consecutive season, City Securities Corporation is the title sponsor of the event. Founded in 1924, City Securities Corporation is the oldest and largest independent, full-service investment firm in Indiana. Having financed more projects for Indiana schools and municipalities than any other firm in history, City Securities has, quite literally, helped build the State of Indiana.  Today, City Securities is still a leader in municipal bonds (underwriting 50% of all competitive and negotiated bids), but is also so much more – offering full-service personal investment advisors, as well as expertise in corporate and public finance. A wholly-owned subsidiary of City Financial Corporation, City Securities is headquartered in downtown Indianapolis, Ind.

Television:
The Classic will once again be televised in Central Indiana and webcast worldwide by the Hall of Fame’s partner, WHMB TV-40. Details of the broadcast schedule will be made at a later date.