[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 5]
[House]
[Page 6517]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            INDIANA COLLEGE AND HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL 1999

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from Indiana (Ms. Carson) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Ms. CARSON. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to be here this afternoon 
speaking about a rich tradition and important part of Hoosier heritage, 
an element of life that the great State of Indiana continues to support 
and love, basketball, a game with which Indiana has become synonymous.
  Indiana's basketball is nearly unparalleled. The names from the 
State, John Wooden, Oscar Robertson, Chuck Taylor, Larry Bird, bring to 
mind all that basketball should and can be. The rivalries such as the 
one between IU and Purdue, and the stories of epic proportions such as 
the movie ``Hoosiers'' is what separates Indiana basketball from all 
the rest. These icons and ideals continue to be revered, inspire 
greatness, and offer a mystical and enriching quality to a game that 
continues to grow and captivate fans around the country, but remains in 
the heart of Indiana.
  It is my honor to acknowledge that this tradition of excellence and 
inspiration continues today. The sensational Lady Boilermakers of 
Purdue, and the coach of the boilermakers, enjoyed a story book season 
on their way to winning the NCAA National Championship, while North 
Central High School in Indianapolis played nearly flawlessly at the end 
of their season to capture their first high school 4A State 
championship.
  I would like to acknowledge a remarkable young woman, Carolyn Peck, 
who coached the Lady Boilermakers to an NCAA championship.
  Ms. Peck is the recipient of the 1999 John and Nellie Wooden Award, 
one of the most prestigious honors in college basketball. At the age of 
32, she was the youngest coach in the Big Ten and has quickly risen to 
the top of women's basketball coaching circles.
  With her unmatched enthusiasm and grace, Ms. Peck is a leader, coach 
and motivator who is destined to become one of the greatest names in 
women's collegiate sports. In 1997-98, during her first season as head 
coach, the Purdue Lady Boilermakers finished with a 23-10 overall 
record, won the Big Ten Conference Tournament, advanced to the NCAA 
Tournament Elite Eight, and ranked number 11 in the final USAToday/ESPN 
poll. During this past season, Ms. Peck led the lady boilermakers to an 
NCAA championship victory and an amazing 32-1 overall record.
  Carolyn Peck, holding true to Hoosiers' reputation for great 
basketball, is undeniably a wonderful role model for young women 
everywhere.
  I would also like to congratulate a high school that is in my 
district, the North Central High School of Indianapolis. The North 
Central High School Panthers, led by coach Doug Mitchell, won Indiana's 
1999 Division 4A State Basketball Championship and then defeated 2A 
champion Westview to win the Tournament of Champions. The Panthers' 
victory capped an outstanding season whereby the Panthers finished with 
an overall record of 25 wins and only 5 losses. The Panthers became 
Marion County's fifth champion in the past 11 years. The Panthers' run 
to the championship included a hard-fought 79-73 overtime win over then 
number one ranked Bloomington South. Trailing by 3 points with little 
time left on the clock, Jason Gardner, Indiana's Mr. Basketball, hit a 
clutch 3-point shot as time expired to send the game into overtime. The 
courage and commitment to excellence displayed by the Panthers are 
befitting for the champions of the most esteemed high school basketball 
tournament in the world.
  I would like to recognize Eric Chapman, Jason Gardner, Nick Gardner, 
Wegahta Ghebremichael, John Hayes, Max Matthews, Doug Moore, Lucas 
Query, Shawn Radford, Eric Rhodes, Zach Scott and Donald Yates. Mr. 
Speaker, each of these players understand the importance of teamwork 
and are worthy of being called champions.
  Finally, Mr. Speaker, I would like to mention that I will probably be 
back on the floor in mid-June to congratulate another team from 
Indianapolis, the Indiana Pacers, who will have just won the NBA 
championship.

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