RENSSELAER — Hollywood producers couldn’t have asked for a better script. Western’s girls basketball team couldn’t have asked for a better ending and yet there’s still a chapter to be written.

In its 35th season in the IHSAA the Western Lady Panthers snatched victory from the hands of defeat here Saturday night in the championship game of the Class 3A Rensselaer Regional, overcoming seemingly insurmountable foul trouble to edge South Bend St. Joseph’s 36-34 for their first regional crown since the IHSAA began governing girls basketball.

Chris Keisling, Western’s fifth coach in as many years, knew his team had what it took to make a deep tournament run when he took over the reins in October. He’s spent the last six months turning the panthers into believers.

“To see the kids work so hard and have an ending like this in the regional is great,” he said. “Regional champs for the first time in school history — that’s something no one can ever take away from these kids.”

Indiana All-Star candidate and IUPUI recruit Nicole Rogers scored 23 of her team’s points including a pair of assassin-like 3-pointers down the stretch after re-entering with four fouls with under 5:00 to play.

Western’s full-court pressure, led by reserve guard Kiersten Durbin’s five second-half steals, helped force the Indians into 23 turnovers as the Panthers held off St. Joe’s final charge.

Rogers picked up her fourth foul with 4:55 to play and subbed out, but with the season on the line Keisling sent her back onto the floor with 4:08 to play and it immediately paid dividends. The 5-foot-11 senior knocked down a step-back triple from the left wing to put Western (19-6) ahead for good at 32-29. After an Indians bucket, Rogers was left all alone on the right wing with 1:51 to play where her fourth 3-pointer of the game hit nothing but net to give the Panthers a 35-31 advantage.

“I wasn’t nervous at all,” Rogers said, screaming so she could be heard over the Western student section which stormed the court with authority after the win. “I knew my team would pick it up and stay in it. They did a great job of that and Coach did the right thing by sitting me down, but we played great half [of the fourth] to make this possible.”

With a four-point lead in hand, Western’s defense went on the offensive with a full-court press that gave St. Joe (18-7) fits. Durbin grabbed four steals in the final six minutes playing out top.

“Coming together and playing our 23-Attack [pressing defense] enabled us to get those steals and slow the game down,” Durbin said. “Those traps really helped.”

Durbin’s last steal came after the Indians had pulled within a point at 35-34 with :35 to play after a Michelle Weaver steal and breakaway layup. Allison Lindley was fouled on her way to the hoop following the steal with :19 left and hit the front end of a 1-and-1 trip to the line to put Western up 36-34.

St. Joe’s Alex Kubsch missed a 3-pointer from the left wing with :10 left. Durbin was fouled on the rebound. She missed the front end of the 1-and-1 but Kubsch’s double-clutch desperation heave from beyond the arc missed its target. Lindley secured the rebound as the final buzzer sounded.

“Normally when I play, if you pay attention to my mouth, I sing a lot,” said Lindley, who is also a member of Western’s state-qualifying girls golf team. “It keeps me from getting upset. To be honest, when I stepped up to the line [for the free throws with :19 left] I just acted like it was a five-foot putt.”

Western held a 10-8 lead after the first stop with the help of Rogers’ first two 3-pointers. Indians freshman Weaver was whistled for her third foul with 3:06 to go in the first period. She stayed in the game but it seemed to negate her ability to be aggressive offensively the rest of the way. She entered the regional averaging 13 points per game — second on the team — but was held to seven Saturday night.

“We tried to slow it down but Chris was smart enough to attack and force our hand,” St. Joe coach Eric Mauch said. “Weaver is a heck of a player as a freshman but I think the foul trouble affected her mentally. She couldn’t be in her aggressive mode. We had to sub her in spots we normally wouldn’t. It was a battle in my head to put her on Rogers because I wanted a tall, lanky player on her. [Weaver] had some trouble subsequently.”

A Durbin breakaway steal gave Western its first lead of the second half at 27-25 with 6:17 to play before the drama that was the last half of the fourth quarter unfolded.

Rogers’ 23 points and nine rebounds were both game highs. Kubsch led St. Joe with 10 points and six boards.