Gary
Franklin - Sports Writer
After a sixteen day lay-off from
the hardwood over the Christmas break, the
South Ripley Lady Raider squad found their
return to the sport an enjoyable one. The Lady
Raiders defeated the Milan Lady Indians 50-34
in the opening contest of the Ripley County
Invitational Tournament, held at Batesville,
on Tuesday night, January 3.
The Lady Raider outing last encountered before
the Christmas break found them, 'on the short
end of the stick so to speak', as they fell
prey to the Austin Lady Eagles by the final
score of 53-37 on Saturday morning, December
17.
In the opening game of the RCGT #31which would
lead to the #82 Boys' Ripley County Tournament,
and the first games for Ripley County basketball
teams of the new Year, eager fans surrounded
the court for the tip-off at mid-court.
Mark Ferguson, Batesville High School Athletic
Director, and Chairman of the RCT Committee
opened the comments for the evening announcing
time had arrived for the girls' to take the
floor for warm-up at 5:40 p.m. allowing the
teams a 20 minute period for stretching, shooting,
etc.
At 6:00 p.m. as the horn sounded expiring
the warm-up period, Megan Hughes of Jac-Cen-Del
sang the National Anthem, officials for the
opening game were announced as were the participating
team members and coaching staff leading to
the tip- off.
Facing at mid-court for the
jump was 5'10" Lady
Raider junior Abbey Lemon, and Milan Lady Indian
senior Megan Lade, at 5'7". The Lady Raiders
controlled the opening tip but failed to capitalize.
At 6:16, the opening score for the game came
at the hands of Milan Lady Indian freshman
Kelly Stutler, who rang up the 3 pointer from
the arc. South Ripley Coach Steve Snyder quickly
called for a time-out.
Following the time-out, senior Kristen Huss
drew first blood for the Lady Raiders with
a FG for 2. Sophomore Kady Alloway answered
for the Lady Indians with a driving lay up,
5-2 Indians. Lady Raider junior, Ashley Thomas
responded with a FG for 5-4 .
Lady Indian Kady Alloway mounted another attack
for a FG, 7-4, quickly responded to by Lady
Raider senior Beth Thieman, who let her 3 pointer
sail finding nothing but the bottom of the
net for the first tie of the game at 7 with
2:55 remaining in the first quarter.
Lady Indian K. Alloway put her team back in
the lead with a FG but only momentarily as
Lady Raider Huss tied the game at 9 at the
1:44 juncture. Lady Indian senior Megan Lade
put her first FG score on the board giving
them the lead at 11-9 with 1:00 on the clock.
Thieman countered for the Lady Raiders with
a FG, thus an 11-11 tie.
At :32, a foul called on Lady Raider Lemon
put Lady Indian Lacee Alloway on the free throw
line to attempt a pair which she made, giving
the Indians once again a 2 point margin at
13-11.
The quarter expired with Lady Raider
Lemon scoring a FG, knotting the score at 13.
At the onset of the second period of play,
Lady Raider Huss with a FG gave her team their
first lead in the game at 15-13, and quickly
followed it with another FG for a 17-13 lead
which prompted Lady Indian Coach Jeff Stutler
to call a time-out.
Lady Indian Stutler scored a FG, 17-15. Lady
Raider junior, Ciara McGuire drained a 3 point
shot for 20-15. Lady Raider Thieman drove end
to end for the lay up, 22-15. Coach Stutler
called for a time-out with 3:01 left in the
second quarter.
Near the 2:30 mark, Lady Raider Huss launched
a 3 pointer that connected giving the Lady
Raiders a 10 point advantage at 25-15. As the
quarter ticked away, Lady Raider sophomore
Susannah Mann added a FG for the Lady Raiders
taking the half-time score to 27-17.
The Lady Raiders had rallied over the Lady
Indians in the second quarter 14-2, and the
recently tied and tight contest was beginning
to slip away from the Lady Indians.
Light appeared for the Lady Indians as they
opened the third quarter as Stutler drained
a 3 pointer, 27-20, prompting SR Coach Snyder
to call a time-out at 6:48. Lady Raider Thieman's
scoring 1 of 2 FT's and McGuire adding a FG
gave the Lady Raiders a 12 point advantage
at 30-18.
K. Alloway scored a FG, and Lady Indian junior
Cassie Billingsley scored 2 for 2 FT attempts
bringing the score to 30-22. Lady Raider senior
Josie Franklin on her first possession after
entering the game drove the length of the floor
for a FG putting the Lady Raiders back up by
10 at 32-22 at the 2:40 mark of the third.
Coach Snyder of the Lady Raiders called time-out
at 2:20. A Lady Raider scoring drive resulting
in FG's by Thieman, Kellie Collier, Erica Ester,
and Beth Stratton escalated the Lady Raider
score to 40-22 where the quarter scoring stopped.
In the fourth, at 7:32, Coach Stutler called
a time-out. Lady Raider McGuire made 1 of 2
FT attempts and a FG taking the score to 43-22.
Lady Indian Stutler answered with 2 for 2 FT
shooting for 43-24. Lady Raider Lemon added
1 of 2 FT's, 44-22, doubling the Lady Indian
score at the 6:10 mark.
Abbey Bergman, a Lady Indian sophomore scored
both free throw attempts, 44-24. Lady Raider
Lemon put in a couple of FG's, and Lady Indian
Stutler added a 3 pointer, taking the score
to 48-29.
At 2:49 remaining in the game, Lady Raider
Coach Snyder emptied his bench, entering Ester,
Mann, Collier, Courtney Walker and Katie Polly
into the game. Mann scored a FG taking the
Lady Raider score to 50 for the game. The Lady
Indians responded with a 3 pointer by junior
Denise Lawhorn and a FG by freshman Rebecca
Haugh for a 34 point game total. The final
score South Ripley 50-34 Milan.
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