Mandi Johnson helped make Crawfordsville girls’ basketball history with a second half effort for the ages back on Feb. 14, 2009.
The senior scored all 19 of the Athenians third quarter points and scored 24 straight to lift Crawfordsville past Danville 52-32 at Western Boone and to their first sectional crown in school history. It remains the only girls basketball sectional title in school history for Crawfordsville.
“I don’t think I have ever gone against a player that scored all of their points in a quarter,” Danville coach Mark Callighan told the Journal Review after the game. “She is a Division I player and she decided to take that game over, it’s that simple.”
The sectional win came in the eighth of nine seasons coached by Darren Haas, who amassed a 124-73 record guiding the Athenians.
“We made some history,” he said after the game. “We have two fantastic seniors that stole the show. Mandi was electrifying in the second half. She was absolutely awesome.”
“Lexi (Stevens) is one of the best point guards ever. They have so much more ahead of them. But before they go, we have some more things to do.”
Stevens had eight points, four assists and four steals for the Athenians in the win, while junior Alex Gasaway added 10 rebounds.
Crawfordsville defeated Western Boone 67-47 and North Montgomery 57-39 in the sectional before advancing to the final against Danville.
The Athenians went on to win the regional with wins over Batesville (56-50) and Rushville (58-51), before falling in the semi-state 49-44 to Owen Valley. Crawfordsville held a 44-43 lead with under 40 seconds to play, before the Patriots scored the final six points of the game to seal the win and a trip to the state finals.
