GBB 1A STATE FINAL: #7 FW Canterbury outlasts #1 Rivet in OT, 72-66

By Mike McGraw

Executive Director

INDIANAPOLIS – Take all the talk about large facilities hurting shooting, all the talk about Class A games being boring, and all the talk about girls basketball not being entertaining, then throw them out the window. In the first of four girls basketball state championship games March 7 at Lucas Oil Stadium, top-ranked Vincennes Rivet and No. 7 Fort Wayne Canterbury blasted apart every myth about the state finals.

These two talented teams played what many people will say is the greatest game in 1A title history. Most of those people will be from Fort Wayne. That is because Canterbury emerged with a successful defense of its 2008 championship in a 72-66 overtime thriller.

(TO CHECK OUT PICTURES BY MARK GRICIUS AND JEFF HEMMER AND JIM HUNT FROM THE CANTERBURY-RIVET 1A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME, CLICK HERE!!)

These two squads were so evenly matched, played the game in such similar styles, and competed at such a high level that it was actually well into the second half before there was any real drama. Don’t get me wrong – the game was competitive and entertaining from the outset.

It simply took awhile for a storyline to emerge. Consider the following statistics …

In the first half, Canterbury (23-4) shot 13 of 28 from the field, Rivet was 12 of 27. Rivet hit 3 of 8 attempts from 3-point land, Canterbury was 2 of 7. Both teams went 6 of 7 at the free throw stripe. The biggest lead in the first half was four points, and both teams enjoyed that margin. There were more lead changes than you could count. The score after one quarter was 17-16 in favor of Rivet (23-2). The score at half was 34-33 in favor of Canterbury.

The simple fact is that for two-and-a-half periods, the two teams simply ran up and down the court settling nothing but giving a tremendous show to the fans in attendance.

When the drama finally arrived, it did so in unforgettable fashion. The Rivet Patriots began to control play more frequently as the third quarter ticked away. Twice in the period they extended the lead to five points, including a quarter-ending flurry that put them ahead 49-44.

When Rivet scored the first four points of the fourth period it was suddenly 53-44, and for the first time all day the pressure was squarely on the Cavaliers. Canterbury’s Tabitha Gerardot responded immediately with a three from the top of the key, and the chase was on.

The 5’11” junior center’s shot launched a seven-point run that pulled Canterbury within two at 53-51. From that point to the end of regulation, this became a possession-by-possession war that saw players from both sides shine in the glare of the biggest stage.

Yet Rivet kept the Cavaliers at bay with the lead alternating between two and four points over the final six minutes.

When Rivet sophomore Mallory Niehaus drained two free throws with 30 seconds left, giving the Patriots a 61-57 advantage, it looked as if the tiny Vincennes school (92 students total) might force the Cavaliers to come up short. Gerardot had fouled out moments before, taking her 18 points and 17 rebounds to the bench with her.

Canterbury needed a hero, and Becky Pedro answered the call. The sophomore guard drilled a 3-pointer to cut the lead back to one at 61-60. Then, after Rivet hit one of two free throws in the final seconds, Pedro hit a short jumper to tie the game just before the buzzer.

Four quarters of beautifully played basketball had decided nothing. It had simply led two tired but valiant teams to an extra four minutes of battle. In the overtime, the story was much the same as the intense fourth quarter had been.

Only this time around, it was Canterbury that grabbed the early advantage and fought to stave off Rivet.

The Cavaliers opened the scoring, and Rivet responded with two free throws to tie it again. Canterbury’s other Pedro, senior forward Megan, hit a trey for a 67-64 advantage, only to see the Patriots cut it back to one. Finally, junior guard Paige Wells canned two charity tosses for Canterbury, and that was one more time than Rivet could answer.

Canterbury, which played just seven girls, put four of them in double figures. They were led by the 18 points of Gerardot and junior forward Cassie Kreiger. Rivet had three players in double figures, led by 18 points from sophomore forward Erin Wherheim.

Here are a couple of other facts that might interest you: Four years ago, Vincennes Rivet had lost 43 straight games. Canterbury loses only one significant senior, while Rivet loses none.

Prepare yourself. There may be a Round 2.