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2020 1A State Final: Loogootee v Pioneer

By Randy Beckett
Updated: March 1, 2020

#1 Loogootee Lions (26-2) have been at the top of the 1A ranking throughout the season. The #4 Pioneer Panthers (25-2) have made a steady rise throughout the season and added freshman Ashlynn Brooke late in the season, who was recovering from injury. Loogootee is led by a trio of juniors in Brooklynn Jones (14PPG), Kalea Fleming (12PPG), and Mackenzie VanHoy (9PPG). Pioneer is led by sophomore Hailey Cripe (16PPG) and freshman Ashlynn Brooke (15PPG) since returning from injury.

It took over two minutes for the first points to be scored, as Pioneer would get on the board first. Loogootee’s first three field goals would be from behind the three-point line and the Lions would lead 9-4 at the 3:30 mark. From there Pioneer would use a 7-0 run over the next three minutes to take 13-9 advantage before Loogootee would hit their fourth triple, third by Makenzie VanHoy, of the quarter to pull within 13-12 to end the first quarter.

The Panthers would take their biggest lead at 26-17 with 2:28 left in the second quarter but would not score the rest of the half and settle for a 26-20 advantage at the half. Hailey Cripe led Pioneer at the half with 9 points, while Mackenzie VanHoy had 11 points for the Lions. Loogootee got up eleven more shot than Pioneer but only shot 23% in the half. Pioneer used a 13-point advantage off of the fast break to win the first half.

Pioneer would lead by 8 at the 3:30 mark of the third when Loogootee would use 8-0 run over the next two minutes and the game would be knotted 32-32 on a Brooklynn Jones three. The third period would end with a slim 36-35 lead for Pioneer. Jones, Lion’s leading scorer, who had been held to three points in the first half scored 10 in the quarter.

Pioneer would nurse that slim lead until 3:10 remaining in the state title contest when Kylie VanHoy’s jump shot gave Loogootee a 39-8 lead. A couple of steals and four made free throws from Madison Blickenstaff would put the Panthers back out front once again with 74 seconds left in the game. Two free throws from Kalea Fleming seven seconds later would put Loogoottee back in the lead for good. A desperation shot by Hailey Cripe would go wide and Loogootee would be the 2020 1A State Champs 45-43. Pioneer was unable to get a field goal in the final quarter, getting all seven points from the line, while committing six turnovers in the frame. Loogootee used three field goals and four free throws for the deciding margin.

Loogootee was led by Brooklynn Jones with 17, while Mackenzie VanHoy added 15. Junior PG Kalea Fleming played a solid floor game with 7 points, 8 assist, 5 rebounds and only 2 turnovers. Pioneer was paced by Hailey Cripe with 13 points and 10 rebounds, and Madison Blickenstaff finished with 12. Loogootee only shot 29% but connected on eight three pointers and forced Pioneer into 20 turnovers that led to 17 points.

Loogootee (45): Jones (17), M.VanHoy (15), Fleming (7), K.VanHoy (3), J.Walker (3)

Pioneer (43): Cripe (13), Blickenstaff (12), A.Brooke (7), O.Brooke (6), M.Baker (3), M.Walker (2)