JIM PETERS: South Central girls hoops manager Budka wins IBCA scholarship

Call Derek Budka a techno-geek and he'll smile, shake your hand and say thank you.

Otis moves from Valparaiso boys hoops program to girls

VALPARAISO | Joe Otis has done a little bit of everything in his coaching career, so the move the Valparaiso coach made Tuesday night shouldn't come as any surprise.

Jeanette Gray steps down as VHS girls basketball coach

VALPARAISO | Basketball has dominated Jeanette Gray’s life for as long as she can remember and it has come at the expense of her family.

Porter County-area prep basketball notes: Boone, Kouts, Washington have memorable seasons

Porter County-based statistician Keith Nuest scouts area prep basketball.

Porter County-area prep basketball notes: Boone to face Luers in North Judson Regional

Porter County-based statistician Keith Nuest scouts area prep basketball.

FW Canterbury wins fifth consecutive state title

Tired or not, Fort Wayne Canterbury's Cavaliers picked up the pace after a close call and went on to beat Vincennes Rivet 42-35, claiming their fifth girls state championship in six seasons.

Times Indiana Girls Basketball Coach of the Year: Merrillville's Amy Govert

MERRILLVILLE | By the end of the 2012 summer offseason, Merrillville's girls basketball team had lost more than its graduating class of four seniors.

Times Indiana Girls Basketball Player of the Year: Merrillville's Dariyan Morris

MERRILLVILLE | Before every girls basketball game this season, Merrillville's Dariyan Morris would chew a cup of ice.

Scouting the 2012-13 Times All-Area Girls Basketball Team

First team

Marian Catholic sends girls basketball team off to state finals

Marian basketball players Melanie Ransom, bottom left, and Teniya Paige, center, receive encouragement Wednesday from Sister Mary Jo — who the players describe as "our No. 1 fan." The Marian team will play Whitney Young on Friday at Redbird Arena in Bloomington-Normal for the state seminfinal game.

Marian Catholic sends girls basketball team off to state finals

The Marian Catholic High School girls varsity basketball team.

Porter County-area prep basketball notes: Charlesworth moves up LaCrosse scoring list

Porter County-based statistician Keith Nuest scouts area prep basketball.

Canterbury, Hamilton Heights advance from C.P. Semistate

CROWN POINT | The Crown Point gym seats 3,800 fans and Saturday those included parents and students from four schools around the state, girls basketball aficionados from the region and a handful of nuns.

Porter County-area prep basketball notes: Kouts boys seek 3rd straight perfect PCC title

Porter County-based statistician Keith Nuest scouts area prep basketball.

HILLARY SMITH: Welcome back, here where we need ya

The Hammond Civic Center was the last host of a semistate basketball tournament in the region.

Merrillville's season ends in regional final

VALPARAISO | Merrillville clawed back from a deficit of as many as five in the fourth quarter of Saturday's regional semifinal.

Rensselaer, Griffith fall short in girls hoops regional semifinals

RENSSELAER | Rensselaer senior girls basketball player Laura Tonner hid her face in her hands after missing two free throws after a technical foul was called on Benton Central late in the second half.

Bobcats eliminate Cherokees at regional for second straight season

FULTON | Morgan Township grew accustomed to pain this season, so as they filed toward the bus to travel for a consolation pizza lunch, no one showed any signs of hurt.

Wolves win 'ugly' but will take it

ROCHESTER | Coach Candy Wilson could chuckle after this one.

Merrillville tops Lake Central to reach Valparaiso Regional final

VALPARAISO | After falling behind at halftime, Lake Central's girls basketball team capitalized inside the paint in the third quarter, making shots it had missed in the first half and finding open shooters.