The Versailles Republican Sports

March 18, 2010

Taking you courtside for the 2010 SR Raider boys' final basketball game

Gary Franklin, Sports Writer

The 2010 South Ripley Raider boys basketball teams welcome to the Connersville Spartan Bowl for IHSAA Class 2A Regional action was a short one as they fell hard in the opening contest to the Park Tudor Panthers, 30-44.
Followed by a large fan base the Raiders had the benefit of the so-called sixth man, but when action began to unfold, it was obviously going to require more than that.
Quarter One
PT 8-4 SR
Senior Raider Thadaus Fleming secured the opening tip to a Raider teammate, but the team failed to capitalize on their first scoring attempt. Park Tudor's Rapp, in response, quickly drilled a 3-pointer to lead early 3-0.
Two turnovers later, sophomore flash for the Panthers, Kevin Ferrell, (averaging 24+ per game) netted his first score with a 3-pointer, to give PT a six point advantage.
Following a foul called on the Panthers, Raider senior Brian Thomas missed his first FG attempt. Thomas was then fouled and sent to the charity stripe, where he failed to connect on both offerings.
Senior Fleming finally put SR on the scoreboard with a FG at 3:14. Panther Ferrell answered with a FG, leading to senior Raider Jimmy Hartman netting his first basket of the game, which cut the Panther lead to four at 8-4.
Raider junior Jonathan Grossman entered the Raider lineup, only to be whistled for his first foul. As time ticked on the scoreboard clock clicked down to two seconds remaining, Raider Grossman delivered the 3-point attempt, which went just wide, ending the first quarter, PT 8-4 SR.
In spite of poor execution by SR offensively, encouragement yet loomed as the Panthers had not been able to run away from them, at least not at this juncture of the game. Much too early to even consider throwing in the towel, thus the Raiders made a surge to reinstate themselves into the thick of the battle.
Quarter Two
PT 16-13 SR
Park Tudor was awarded the ball to start second quarter action, only to find senior Raider Chase Grider making a quick steal, tossing to a hustling Grossman, who scored the lay up. Now trailing only by two points, PT's Ferrell threw up a whatever shot that fell through the hoop and Raider Thomas was whistled for a foul. PT's Ferrell toed the FT line, but failed to convert the old fashioned three point play.
A second team foul called on PT led to senior Raider Hartman's second FG and Raider junior teammate Jerad Walters delivery of his first FG, knoted the game at 10. Before one could get into enjoying the knotting of the score, PT's Ferrell scampered goal to goal to deliver another FG for a Panther lead.
Walters delivered his first 3-pointer of the day, giving SR their first and as it would turn out , only lead of the day at 13-12.
Raider Hartman's first assessed foul, sent PT 's Goodie to the FT line where knotted the game at 13 with one of two FT makes.
A first foul assessed to senior Raider Fleming sent PT's Nesbit to the charity stripe, where his one of two connections sent the Panthers back in the lead, as it was, to stay. PT's Ferrell ended the scoring for the first half with his netting a FG with just over two minutes remaining in the period.
In the time remaining to be played, Raider Grider was assessed a foul and the Panthers called for a time out., resulting in a halftime score of Park Tudor 16-13 South Ripley. Trailing, but very much in the contest at the least.
Quarter Three
PT 25-17 SR
A senior Raider Denny Mayes turnover following their first possession of the ball in opening third period action led to a pair of PT fouls being assessed. The second sent Mayes to the charity stripe where he came up empty on both tries. A Raider Thomas turnover for a called travel led to an SR time-out.
Panther Nesbit finally scored the first FG of the period. A third foul assessed to Panther Tannebaum sent Raider Hartman to the charity stripe where he delivered for two more SR points.
With SR trailing by three at 15-18, Hartman was injured and had to leave the game. A pair of fouls on Park Tudor and a second on Raider Grider was whistled before PT's Ferrell threw up another what-cha-ma-call-it that fell through the net, accompanied by the ensuing FT to complete the old fashioned three point play with the foul assessed to Raider Fleming.
SR was trailing by six points at 15-21, with just over three minutes remaining in the third quarter. SR took another time-out. A PT foul sent Raider senior Kile Huss to the charity stripe where he connected on one of two shots.
The short lived Raider gain was erased as Panther Tannebaum connected for his second FG of the period. A false double foul was assessed to SR and PT. Fouls were whistled against Raiders Tucker and Huss before Hartman re-entered SR's lineup.
Raider Fleming picked up his third foul with 25 seconds remaining in the third quarter off a PT Rapp drive for a FG . Rapp missed his FT attempt. Raider Fleming was then fouled. At the charity stripe he missed the first but made the second. Another PT foul sent Raider Hartman to the free throw line where he also missed the front end of the one plus one offering, leaving the final score of the third quarter PT 25-17 SR.
Fourth Quarter
PT 44-30 SR
As the final quarter of competition resumed, the obvious became reality. This would indeed be the last game of 2010 for the South Ripley Raiders and their extended season pursuit would indeed grind slowly but surely to an end.
In the opening seconds of final period action, PT added another FG, stretching their lead to the largest of the contest at 10 points. Raider senior Hartman added a FT of two attempts, only to have PT add set another dagger with their ensuing FG. A Raider turnover led to SR's calling another time-out with nearly five minutes remaining.
In resuming play, Raider Thomas was assessed a foul, sending PT's Ferrell to the charity stripe where he converted both shots. The Panthers were now solidly in control by 13 points at 31-18.
When all appeared to be lights out for the Raiders, senior Fleming forced a five count on his man, Raider Walters nailed his second 3-pointer of the day, but with the deficit back to 10, Raider Thomas was again charged with a foul, sending PT's Ferrell to the charity stripe. Ferrell missed the front end of his one plus one opportunity.
At the four minute mark, Raider Walters was charged with his first foul of the game, the ninth in the half on the team. The Panthers sank both shots. A foul on PT sent senior Raider Chase Grider to the charity stripe where he connected on both shots for his only score of the game.
Back to a 10 point deficit at 23-33, another Raider Thomas turnover resulted in a fourth foul being assessed to teammate Fleming, the tenth on the team. PT went to the line and made one of the two.
With two and a half minutes remaining in the contest, a small ember of hope yet burned. Coach Wrightsman instructed Fleming to foul, hoping to regain the ball without losing anymore time off the clock. However, that was a fifth and final for the senior, retiring him to the Raider bench to only watch for the remainder of the game.
The PT player sank both shots, extending their lead to its largest up to that point at 15, at 38-23 over SR. Raider junior Tanner Tucker connected for his first and only FG of the game. A foul called on Raider Grider, his third of the game, sent PT's Ferrell to the charity stripe where he netted both shots.
A fifth foul called on PT's Tannebaum sent him to the bench for the remainder of the contest, however after giving Raider Grider the basketball on the FT line, the officials took the ball away from him and entered a replacement for Tannebaum, then again gave Grider the ball where he missed both shots.
Raider junior Sam Stratton had entered the game for SR before senior Denny Mayes drew his second foul. Park Tudor scored the two FT's, advancing their lead to 17 points. Raider Stratton was fouled in the act of shooting and converted the old fashioned three point play with the sinking of his FT offering along with the FG.
Raider Mayes created his third called foul, sending PT to the line where they were successful on both attempts. In the seconds remaining, Raider Mayes was able to finally get a FG to fall for his only two points on the day, leaving the score, Park Tudor 44- 30 over South Ripley.
Coach Wrightsman emptied his bench to give the remaining Raider team members an opportunity to be a part of the action as the game was winding down.
The second game
In second regional game competition, the 20-4 Winchester Golden Eagles captured a 24 point win over the 16-6 Centerville Bulldogs.
Regional Championship
The IHSAA Class 2A Boys Basketball Regional championship game held at the Connersville Spartan Bowl resulted in a Park Tudor Panther victory over the Winchester Golden Eagles, ending as a nine point Park Tudor victory at 50-41.