SPORTS

January 4, 2011

South Ripley Lady Raiders, "Hold that Tiger"

GARY FRANKLIN PHOTO Above, the Lawrenceburg Lady Tiger finds the challenge of scoring against a wall of South Ripley Lady Raiders in the paint impossible. Pictured from left are Kaitlyn Welch #34, Shannon Adkins #33 and Jessica Foster #21.

Gary Franklin, Sports Editor
A Southwestern Hanover Rebel raid on the Jac-Cen-Del Eagles' nest on Friday, December 17, became a touch and go situation before the varsity basketball game wound to a close.
The night's opening action between the JV teams resulted in a two point victory for coach Steve Narwold and his Eagle squad, 40-38.
In varsity play, the Rebels got off to an early four point lead, only to have Eagle seniors Matt Speer and Joe Abplanalp reshape the atmosphere with downtown connections on a pair of 3 pointers. Eagle Jayson Purdy added to JCD's lead with his first FG for an 8-4 lead.
One of two FT connections for Speer along with a FG by Eagle senior Clay Comer advanced JCD's lead to 11-6 at the quarter break.
During period two, Eagle progress continued with the sinking of a pair of FT's by Purdy, a pair of FG's by senior Brock Shadday, three of four FT shooting by Speer and a second trey by Abplanalp along with his drilling of a pair of FT's , earning JCD a 25-14 halftime lead.
Scoring for JCD came hard during the first half of the third period as Abplanalp scored the old fashioned three point play with his sinking of a FG/FT combination to regain an 11 point Eagle edge at 28-17.
That's when the skate key seemingly fell from the Eagle skate and the Rebels began to surge. The Rebels rallied to put in 10 consecutive points, cutting JCD's lead to just one at 28-27.
In the remainder of the third, Eagle scoring was added by Codey Martin, Derek Lunsford and Clay Comer with a FG each while the Rebels accumulated 18 to gain the one point lead at 38-37 by period's end. The one time 13 point JCD edge had been erased and turned into a one point deficit heading into the final period of play.
In the fourth, Eagle senior Matt Speer scored a FG to regain a momentary lead for JCD, only to have the Rebels cap it. The battle was on and the winner would have to earn it as neither was willing to go down peacefully.
A tie was recorded at 38 before Eagle Lunsford added a pair of FG's and a FT offering to give JCD a 43-38 edge. Eagle Lunsford went to the floor hard in an attempt to block a three pointer by SwH that knotted the game at 44.
With the game tied and Lunsford on the bench, Eagle junior point guard Jayson Purdy stepped up to task, nailing a FG. Teammate Speer added three the old fashioned way while senior Clay Comer orchestrated some fine defensive movement to cleanly block several SwH scoring attempts.
Scoring for JCD came from a pair of FT's made by both Purdy and Lunsford while SwH scoring was limited, ending the game by a final count of Jac-Cen-Del 55-48 Southwestern Hanover.
Though the loss of senior Trevor Arnett due to injury is most evident, so is the strengthening of players who would normally not have seen as much floor time. Coach Bradshaws Eagles are weakened but continue to be a viable threat to be reckoned with when on the hardwood.

Varsity scoring
Jac-Cen-Del Eagles 55
Matt Speer 13
Joe Abplanalp 11
Derek Lunsford 9
Jayson Purdy 8
Clay Comer 6
Brock Shadday 4
Codey Martin 2
Trent Smith 2
Trevor Arnett INJ.
Dustin Wagner DNP
Andrew Snyder DNP

S'western (H) Rebels 48
Means 13
Taylor 10
Hubbard 6
Perry 6
Jenkins 6
Smith 3
Hamilton 2
Henry 2