INDIANAPOLIS — Megan Pedro wouldn't go there. OK, maybe a little. It was the same with Kelly Karr. These Canterbury basketball players offered no three-peat guarantee. Caution came with the optimism from a second-straight Canterbury girls state championship.

As for Cavaliers athletic director Ken Harkenrider, he offered perspective.

Here's the deal in the glow of Saturday's 72-66 overtime victory over No. 1 Vincennes Rivet - can the Cavaliers win three state titles in a row, something only Bishop Luers and Heritage Christian have done in girls basketball history?

The Knights, by the way, made it four straight (three at 2A, one at 3A) from 1999 to 2002. Heritage Christian has won the last four Class 2A titles.

Why not? Pedro said. Canterbury does, after all, return nine players, including leading scorer and rebounder Tabitha Gerardot.

“It's a strong possibility,” the senior forward said, “but I won't call things out right now. They've got a year of work to do.”

Added Karr, the Cavaliers' senior guard and Class A mental attitude award winner: “I think they have a chance. They have to work hard like we did this year.”

Pedro and Karr will graduate, as will Nakao Mauch. They combined for 8.6 points and 7.1 rebounds.

The 5-11 Gerardot, one of the state's best inside players, will return after averaging 23.1 points and 13.0 rebounds. Also back is forward Cassie Kreiger (11.7 points), and guards Becky Pedro (7.7 points, 5.1 assists), Paige Wells (4.6 points) and Madison Moyle (3.8 points) and everybody else from a 23-4 team.

“A majority of those girls are sophomores,” Megan Pedro said. “They have a chance to win a lot more. They have a good future ahead of them.”

Harkenrider understands the unpredictability of athletic team futures even with a roster loaded with talent. And yet, a potential dynasty looms, although with Rivet returning everybody from its 23-2 team, so does potential challenge.

“The kids who come back, and we have a lot coming back, hopefully that stuff starts perpetuating itself,” Harkenrider said. “They've been there. Knowing what it feels like goes a long way in the following year. Right now we're starting from ground zero again. We'll keep our fingers crossed.”

Crossed fingers alone won't work. Besides all that effort and coaching and crunch-time performing, you need the resources to sustain excellence. That job goes to Harkenrider, who doesn't skimp when it comes to running a first-class program in every sport.

“We try to create an atmosphere where we tell the kids your job is to do the best you can and we'll put things in place to make sure that happens,” he said. “Starting at the regional level in terms of travel, we make sure we give them nice places to stay, a nice meal. Regardless of whether they move on, it will still be a special experience. This group, in particular, has appreciated that.”

Appreciation produces pride that helps sustain success.

“This is a tribute to the kids, first and foremost,” Harkenrider said about Saturday's victory. “One of the things we talk about, regardless of returning players, and there was a lot of discussion at the end of last year that, because we had almost everybody back (four of five starters from a state title team), that this is automatic. It's not.

“Every team has to start from scratch and prove it's capable of getting it done. This was a great group that worked together. On any given day somebody else would step up.”

On Saturday, a lot of players stepped up.

That was guaranteed.