Eagles soar to greatness, win fourth straight state title

When everything was on the line, they were in sync like a finely tuned symphony. Talk about sweet music. Talk about hitting the high note. Talk about superb senior leadership. When senior Claire Freeman banked in a leaning runner with three ticks remaining in overtime, Heritage Christian coach Rick Risinger leapt into the air with his fists soaring about as high as the emotions of his Eagles were running in their 60-58 Class 2A victory over Oak Hill - a flight that carried them into Indiana high school girls basketball history. Heritage Christian, which joined Fort Wayne Luers (1999-2002) as the only teams to win four consecutive championships, also became the first school to win them all in the same class. "Our first championship was special. This was the toughest, but it was right there when it comes to a special meaning for us,'' said Risinger, who downplayed the fact he became the only coach in history to win four straight championships, surpassing boys coaches Ernest Wagner (Franklin, 1920-22), Bill Green (Marion, 1985-87) and Jack Keefer ( Lawrence North, 2004-2006). "I haven't thought about that . . . I just want to concentrate on these girls. What a thrill for them, especially our seniors.'' Freeman, also happy and thrilled to be part of history and to make the shot that provided such a marvelous and memorable finish, said it would take a while for it to really settle in. "Wow, this is something. It all happened so fast. I was actually trying to get the ball to Kelly (Faris). When she was covered, all I could think about was getting to the basket , and I just threw up a prayer, I guess you could say,'' said Freeman, smiling after a sensational effort that included 11 points, three rebounds, three assists and two steals. Faris, spreading the ball with precision passes and directing traffic when the ball wasn't even in her hands, made sure the Eagles were in unison and remained focused when she brought them back from a six-point second-half deficit. Faris, whose timing and awareness is to the basketball court like a maestro to an orchestra, joined Freeman and Emily Anderson, who finished with 14 points, as the only players to play on four straight state championship teams. The University of Connecticut-bound Faris, who sat for much of the first half with three personal fouls, scored 11 of her 13 points in the second half while also pulling down eight rebounds, dishing out five assists and adding three steals. "I don't know what more can be said about Kelly,'' said Risinger, arms folded and nodding following the on-court postgame celebration. "She's simply amazing. She has a sense about her that you cannot teach. Sometimes you think she has eyes in the back of her head. She's just a superb player and is just so very dangerous when the ball is in her hands.'' Which is often. "I think I contribute the best to our team when I'm on the point,'' said Faris, one of only two Indiana girls named a McDonald's All-American. "I've always seemed to see the floor well; it's been that way since my freshman year, I guess. Plus, we have a good group of players, who react well to different things, and we seem to anticipate each other's moves. This has been a fun ride, and I'll miss my teammates. This has been like family.'' Fortunately for Risinger, some of the family ties will continue since the cupboard is a long way from being bare. Sophomore Liz Stratman, who had 12 points and nine rebounds and blocked four shots, two against 6-4 Oak Hill junior Ashley Pickering, who led all scorers with 20 points, could be the centerpiece for the Eagles (26-1), who'll enter the 2009-10 season riding a 62-game winning streak against Indiana opponents, including 43 in a row against 2A foes. And then there's junior starter Kaycee Jones, 5-9 sophomore Maddie Anderson, the sixth man, and freshman Brittany Webb, whose 3-pointere pulled the Eagles within one point of Oak Hill (27-2) after three periods. "Right now I just want to relax and not think about next year,'' said Risinger, who boasts an incredible 104-8 won-loss record in his four seasons at the north side Indianapolis school . "We have some great girls, and we certainly have a lot of talent coming back. So, I think we have a lot to look forward to. A group of seniors we had this year doesn't come along very often. What an accomplishment . . . I mean, what an accomplishment this really is.''