Eagle boys follow path laid by 2013-14 Lady Eagles
JCD gains possession of the traveling Pride Trophy
Gary Franklin
SPORTS EDITOR
Just a few short days ago, the South Ripley Raiders held possession of both the girls and boys basketball Ripley Publishing Company Inc. traveling Pride Trophy.
In fact, the Scott Smith coached Lady Eagles put their stamp on the girls’ trophy on November 16, when they defeated the visiting Lady Raiders by 31 at 68-37.
With South Ripley possessing the RPCI boys’ traveling Pride Trophy at the onset of this new 2013-14 basketball season, the annual Turkey Shootout held on Tuesday evening, November 26, afforded the same opportunity for the JCD Eagle boys, who also captured possession at games end by a nine-point margin at 71-62.
GARY FRANKLIN PHOTO
Pictured front from left are the JCD Eagles, who have just toppled the Ripley Publishing Co. Inc. traveling Pride Trophy holder, the South Ripley Raiders, in the annual Turkey Shootout by a score of 71-62 are: sophomore Tyler Huff (12), senior Trey Brown (22), senior Austin Wagner (44), junior Bo Kaiser (14), sophomore Devon Wilson (20), and junior Riley Thomas (32). Standing: Varsity cheerleaders: Hannah Mulikin, Justice Thoman and Alexis Bushhorn; senior Adam Siebert, sophomore Evan Borgman (40), junior Alex Pilz (52), and junior Allen Hooton (30) along with cheerleaders: Shelbie Huffmeyer, Jessilyn Tunny and Kelsey Foster. Not pictured: senior Eagle Cord Comer (24).
The opportunity for the Milan Indians to capture the boys’ trophy will occur during regular season action on February 13, in their game at MHS. Should the tribe grasp the victory over the Eagles, they will possess it until next season's games begin in 2014-15; however, should JCD hang on to the trophy via a victory over Milan, South Ripley's Raiders would have an opportunity to re-gain possession during their final regular season game slated at SRHS, on February 28. Ironically, these days many of the players from each school’s teams play in summer leagues as teammates. The rivalry between teams to finish as the winner, when school teams meet, continues to raise spirit as in the past; however, the insult of losing has lost much of its sting as the result.
This particular game between the Eagles and the Raiders found specific basketball history interest as South Ripley Superintendent Rob Moorhead’s youngest son, Trent, a senior, transferred to South Ripley from South Dearborn. Basketball and Moorhead have a rich tradition in Ripley County basketball, as Rob’s father, William “Gus” Moorhead successfully coached Versailles and South Ripley squads for many years. Son, Rob earned notoriety as a well-mannered, positive, young man and productive athlete while at SRHS. Both are members of the Ripley County Basketball Hall of Fame. With the inclusion of young Moorhead, Trent, as a senior on the 2013-14 SR Raider basketball team, their Ripley County basketball impact and heritage has come full circle.
Varsity battle
SR 62 vs. 71 JCD
Just when you think you have a game between these two teams figured out, cautiously look up again, as it’s likely the worm has turned. This meeting would be no different.
Game is on!
Eagle sophomore Evan Borgman at 6' 8" controlled the center court opening tip. Failure by either team to connect for a score led Eagle senior Adam Siebert FG to break the ice and gain the 2-0 lead at the six-minute mark. Junior teammate Allen Hooton drained the three bomb for 5-0. Siebert added his second FG score for 7-0, inducing an SR called timeout at 5:07. On returning to action, a wasted trip led to another Eagle Siebert FG and the 9-0 edge.
Finally, Raider senior Joe Dicken broke the chill with a FG, only to find it countered by yet another Eagle Siebert basket and a score of 11-2 at 3:30.
Raider senior Halcomb nailed a pair of awarded FT offerings, but, again, Eagle Siebert negated them with another FG score.
Trailing by nine at 4-13, Raider Halcomb scored a FG but missed the combo FT possibility shot. Awaken the (at least in this game) sleeping giant, Raider senior Trent Moorhead, scoring his first FG at 1:21.
Eagle Hooton added a FG score that was followed by a pair of teammate Borgman FT makes, resulting in the conclusion of the first period as Raider Moorhead netted a FG just prior to the horns sounding. First period ended, JCD solidly in control (so it seemed) at 17-10.
Quarter Two
Borgman capped a pair of FT shots from the charity stripe to open second quarter scoring. Raider Moorhead converted the old-fashioned, three-point play with his FG/FT combination connections. Eagle Siebert and Raider Halcomb traded FG scores. Eagle junior Alex Pilx added a FG score before Raider Dicken came up empty on his FT opportunity.
Trailing 15-23, Raider senior Logan Linkmeyer scored a pair of FTs , only to have them offset by Eagle senior Austin Wagner’s FG score and a pair of Hooton FT makes.
Down by 12, Raider Moorhead made one of two FT shots. Eagle sophomore Tyler Huff complicated matters further with a three-pointer. Raider Moorhead answered with a pair of back-to-back FT makes, reducing SR’s deficit to single digits at 22-30.
Eagle Borgman added a FG score before Raider sophomore Elijah Roepke entered the game to put down a FG and a three-point score at the 1:20 mark. Eagle Borgman’s FG score was countered by Raider Roepke’s two FT makes.
Remaining first-half action found Eagle Hooton connecting on a pair of FT shots followed at the horn by a Raider Dicken FG to go to the locker room for the half-time break, JCD 36, South Ripley 31.
Quarter Three
Opening the third, Eagles Hooton scored a three-pointer and teammate Borgman added a FG. Raider’s Dicken sank the three bomb, while teammate Halcomb netted a FG and FT before Moorhead's scoring of a pair of FTs and a FG knotted the game at 41 at the 6:30 mark of the third period. Eagle Hooton regained a JCD lead with a FG score. Raider Dicken re-knotted the score with a FG. Eagle Huff’s FG for the lead was countered by a Raider Moorhead FG. Eagle Siebert scored a FG before Raider Moorhead and Eagle Huff traded one for two FT connections.
A Raider senior Caleb Huntington downtown three-point connection put SR on top for the first time in the game at 49-48 at the 2:05 mark. Eagle Huff knotted the score with his one of two FTs scored.
A pair of FT misses by Eagle Huff led to an Eagle Borgman FG to regain JCD the 51-49 two point lead. A perfectly executed buzzer beating drive for the lay up score by Raider junior Brady Meyer following a one for two connection at the charity stripe by teammate Halcomb gave SR the lead at 52-51, heading to quarter four.
An exciting finale!
The final period of action included some questionable calls, as is usual, along with huge resulting penalties as the clock ticked down to a conclusion.
Eagle Siebert gave JCD the one-point edge with his opening FG score. Raider Halcomb’s two FT connections regained the one point edge for SR. Eagle Siebert connected for one of two at the charity stripe to knot the game at 54 at the 6:47 mark.
Eagle Hooton drilled a three-pointer and Raider Linkmeyer nailed a pair of FTs, leading to a JCD called timeout. A very sticky defense forced JCD into calling another timeout before forfeiting the basketball on the second count.
The foul assessed to Raider Roepke sent Eagle Borgman to the charity stripe where he connected on both deliveries. Raider Halcomb countered with a FG. Eagle senior Trey Brown regained the momentum with his FG score.
At 2:05, a foul on Raider Halcomb sent Eagle Siebert to the FT line where he made one of two shot. Trailing by four at 58-62, SR called for a time-out.
Returning to action, Raider Linkmeyer made two FTs. Eagle Siebert scored a FG. A fourth foul assessed to Raider Dicken at 1:20 sent Eagle junior Bo Kaiser to the charity stripe where he made one of the two offered him.
Raiders trailing by five, 60-65 at the 1:08 mark, Eagle Hooton was assessed his fifth foul, and left the game. The ensuing action turned what was a positive and exciting contest between good-hearted rivals into chaos.
Tangling of Raider Dicken’s feet controversially led to a foul called on him, which led to undesired commentary from a fellow teammate, resulting in a technical foul assessed his teammate. The end result, Eagle Borgman toed the charity stripe and nailed a pair of FTs, giving JCD the seven-point advantage at 67-60, and for all practical purposes eliminated Raider hopes of continuing their comeback with the ball also going to JCD, after the made shots.
The quick foul to re-gain the basketball put Eagle Brown on the line where he connected for the pair. In the waning seconds, Eagle Borgman missed a pair of FT shots. Raider Linkmeyer scored a FG with just 12 ticks remaining, and Eagle Brown closed court scoring action with his two charity line connections and for the final winning victory margin of nine at 71-62.
JCD: 17 36 51 71
SR: 10 31 52 62
South Ripley Raiders 62
Sr. Trent Moorhead 19
Sr. Austin Halcomb 14
Sr. Joe Dicken 9
Sr. Logan Linkmeyer 8
So. Elijah Roepke 7
Sr. Caleb Huntington 3
Jr. Brady Meyer 2
Non-scoring listed Raiders included: Junior - Chase Samples, Sophomores - Kaleb Riley, Ty Tucker and Julian Carpenter.
(On roster but not dressed: senior Austin Grider.)
Jac-Cen-Del Eagles 71
Sr. Adam Siebert 20
Jr. Allen Hooton 17
So. Evan Borgman 16
So. Tyler Huff 7
Sr. Trey Brown 6
Sr. Austin Wagner 2
Jr. Alex Pilz 2
Jr. Bo Kaiser 1
Jr. Riley Thomas 0
(On roster but not dressed: senior Cord Comer.)
The season opening battle between the Raiders and Eagles was the first JCD action since naming Perry Nash their new head boys basketball coach. In the South Ripley Raider corner, boys Head Basketball Coach Travis Wrightsman returns.
"With all sports contests, at the end, one team has more points on the scoreboard than another, but as with this game, the only thing I once again found proven, was that both teams had the heart, determination and stamina to give their best for their respective schools and community. Yes, on the scoreboard one had more points, but I didn’t see any losers on the hardwood, nor after the contest. The only one I could find possibly being the loser this night would be the person who loves Hoosier Hysteria and its rivalries and missed witnessing the contest. Congratulations fellas and best wishes with the remainder of your respective seasons battles."
Jr. Varsity results
JCD 34 vs SR 49
SR 16 27 31 49
JCD 7 19 27 34
Jac-Cen-Del Eagles 34
So. Devon Wilson 12
Fr. Reuben Benham 9
So. Maverick Dwenger 7
Jr. Riley Thomas 4
Jr. Cameron Horan 2
Non-scoring Eagle sophomores - Dillon Engel, Ben Smith and Allen Troy. (Soph. Lucas Williams - Inj)
South Ripley Raiders 49
Fr. Cory Walker 14
Jr. Alex Dagley 9
Fr. Derek Turner 8
So. Matt Bennett 6
Fr. Charlie Turner 5
Fr. Tyler Cole 4
So. Wyatt Elston 3
Non-scoring Raider sophomores - Joe Watson, Dennis Turner and Larry Pickett & freshman Carson Powers.
Returning as JV boys basketball coaches for SR’s Raiders was Brad Samples and Matt Inman for the JCD Eagles.