"It's not just me, by far," explains Washington All-American Skylar Diggins.

For most, the number one thing they think of when they hear, "South Bend Washington girls basketball" is the name "Skylar Diggins."

It makes sense. Diggins is the heavy favorite to become Miss Indiana Basketball and a huge reason the Panthers will play for their 4th consecutive state championship Saturday at 8pm at Lucas Oil Stadium against fellow unbeaten Ben Davis.

But there is certainly more to Washington than just Skylar. The next person that comes to mind to many is Jasmine Watson, due to Watson's fame as the girl that transferred from Memorial to Washington.

Yet, while both of those players are key, there are three other senior starters that are just as important to the Panthers success.

Washington knows they wouldn't be where they are if it wasn't for the play of Takoia Larry, Rakeesha Lane and Karis Phillips.

"Skylar and I get together and she says, 'you know they are going to be focused on me,'" point guard and 1st year starter Karis Phillips explains. "I agree with her that they will do that and then I just come out of no where on them."

It also helps that the feisty Phillips stand just 5'2" and the opposition sometimes literally over looks her.

The trio has been huge in a number of games this season. Against Plymouth early in the year, Watson was still ineligible and Skylar was out with the flu. The other three picked up the slack and led Washington to a road win over a defending state champion.

Then in Muncie in a national showcase tournament, Diggins and Watson both fouled out. The trio picked it up again, led the Panthers from behind to a win over New Jersey state champion, University.

Make no mistake. All three can play.

Lane is a tremendous passer. Newscenter 16 saw that first hand in practice last week when she had a behind the head pass to Jasmine Watson for a bucket.

Those efforts in practice translate to the game as well. The rest of the world so that last Saturday in Semi-State when Lane had a behind the back pass in transition to Larry for a beautiful basket.

"I was like, let me try this and see if it will work," Lane says reflecting back on the play. "If it didn't, I'd just get in trouble."

Lane didn't get in trouble although her coach Mo Scott does like to joke about those passes.

"I told her, 'you've got to stop stealing my passes,'" Scott said laughing. "As long as we are winning, I'm going to accept it but you have got to quit stealing my passes."

Larry, who made that bucket, has been the team's 2nd leading scorer all season. When Washington was down 13-10 after one quarter, it was Takoia who scored the first five points of the 2nd to spark the Panther rally.

For her, being a part of this team has been about more than just basketball.

"Most people say, 'the pride of the West Side is bad or what can the West Side do?'" Larry explains.

"But we are proving to people that the West Side is about everything it can be about."

These seniors are a part of a legacy. One they hope ends with their second state championship victory in four years.

Washington will depart for Indy at 8:30am Friday morning. The school will hold a pep rally at about 7:45 in the gym to send them off.

WNDU will have live coverage from Lucas Oil Stadium on Saturday on Newscenter 16 at 6 and after the game on Newscenter 16 at 11.