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2022 IHSAA 2A State Finals Preview

By Randy Beckett
Updated: February 24, 2022

2A Class State Championship

IGBRR #4 Forest Park (25-3) v IGBRR #8 Frankton (23-5)

Sagarin Ranking: Forest Park #71, Frankton # 57
Strength of Schedule: Forest Park #160, Frankton #123
ICGSA Final Poll: Forest Park #8, Frankton #11
IGBRR Preseason Poll: Forest Park #4, Frankton #10
Conference: Forest Park (Pocket, 3rd), Frankton (Central Indiana, 3rd)
Last State Championship Game: Forest Park 2000 (Runner-up), Frankton 2020 (Runner-up)

Leading Scorer: Forest Park (Jr) Amber Tretter 17 PPG, Frankton (Sr) Lauryn Bates 14 PPG
Leading Rebounder: Forest Park (JR) Amber Tretter 10 RPG, Frankton (So) Emma Sperry 7 RPG

Preview: The Frankton Eagles are making their second appearance in the state championship game in the last three seasons, while Forest Park Rangers will make its first appearance in over twenty years. The Eagles were able to get a late game winning basket in the Final-Four round to punch their ticket, while the Rangers used a seventeen-point first quarter in their contest to propel them past their opponent and into the finals. Forest Park has not lost to a 2A team this season, all three of their loses came to 3A teams that spent time in the IGBRR top 20. Frankton played one of 2A’s toughest schedules, with three of their losses coming to 4A teams that saw time in the top twenty. Several of the Eagle starters are holdovers from the 2019-20 state runner-up squad. Three of those seniors include guard Lauryn Bates that is averaging a team best 14 PPG and 6.8 RPG, SG Bailee Webb who hit the game winner last weekend (7 PPG) and point guard Cagney Utterback (6.8 PPG). Add in the length and athleticism of sophomore Emma Sperry (10.5 PPG & 7 RPG) who led the team with 15 points in their Semi-State win, along with the production of transfer Amaya Collins (6.3 PPG) and the Eagles are a balanced & experienced squad. The Frankton programs has now won eighty games over the last four seasons. Forest Park is led by 6’1 junior forward Amber Tretter averaging a double-double 17 PPG & 10 RPG, who has the ability to take over games with her athletic length. The strength of the Rangers is the experience and balance of their starting squad. Three other starters average over 9 PPG making it difficult for a defense to key in on a single scorer. Senior Ali Welp (10 PPG), and juniors Carley Begle (10 PPG), and Lydia Betz (9.5) all have the ability to lead Forest Park on the offensive end. Also to be noted is the Ranger’s stingy post season defense that is allowing only 37 PPG through six tournament games. Forest Park has won over seventy games the last four seasons. Both teams are in search of their first state championship.

Prediction: Forest Park 47, Frankton 44
A toss up by most measures. Frankton has the experience, has navigated a tough schedule and will be bringing the entire town from less than an hour to downtown Indy. Forest Park has the most dominate player in the match-up, is tested as well and simply was sharper in their Final-Four contest. Frankton will need to shoot it better than they did a week ago, keep the Rangers off the offensive glass and stay aggressive on both ends. Forest Park will want to dictate their pace, utilize their balance and size, and keep Amber Tretter out of foul trouble and on the floor. This one could come down to who has the ball last but if the Rangers can pick up from where they left off last week they will be returning to southern Indiana with their first state title.

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