Osgood Journal Sports
December 25, 2007

JCD Lady Eagles basketball team record unblemished at 10-0 in first half of '07-'08 season

Gary Franklin, Sports Editor

There is nothing magical in their style of play, no gimmicks nor tricks, simply well coached youth with drive anbd determination to be the best they can be, game in and game out.
The Varsity Lady Eagles, following the lead of Head Coach Scott Smith, currently hold a 10-0 season record. On December 17, with a season record of 9-0, they were already ranked #2 in the ICGSA Girls Basketball Poll for Class 1A.
The most recent victim of the Lady Eagles was the South Decatur Lady Cougars. In a game played at South Decatur, the Lady Eagles came out a bit slow on the take off, only scoring three points in the first quarter to the Lady Cougars' four.
As time lapsed and quarters passed, they got their act together. By halftime, the Lady Eagles held a six point edge at 20-14. When the end of the third quarter had rolled around, they were up by 15 at 35-20, and by game's end they had complete control, winning by an 18 point spread, 42-24.
Coach Smith called the game played by his Lady Eagles a "defensive gem". The team struggled to find the basket in the first quarter as did South Dectur, however, the following quarters proved the Lady Eagles defense solid as they held the Lady Cougars to 24 points total for the game.
Score by quarter
1st So. Decatur 4-3 JCD
2nd JCD 20-14 So. Decatur
3rd JCD 35-20 So. Decatur
Final JCD 42-24 So. Decatur
JCD Lady Eagles 42
Kiersten Young 9
Valorie Wagner 9
Kaylin Ploeger 8
Becca Wagner 7
Kristen Hicks 6
Janine Huff 2
Kara Harlemert 1
Non-scoring Lady Eagles were: Carissa Simon, Allana Newhart, Samantha White, Kayka Kohlman, Andi Roberts and Alyssa Hammond.
So. Decatur Cougars 24
Megan Johannigman 7
Elizabeth Mauer 5
Allsion Cunningham 4
Kieghlea Owens 2
Krista Galloway 2
Jaime Huff 2
Haley Holdreith 2
Non-scoring Lady Cougars were: Ashley Lewellyn, Chellsey Hermesch, Brianna Palmer and Courtney Apperson.
The Lady Eagle JV fell 34-32 after a terrific comeback from a deficit of 11 points late in the fourth quarter.

GARY FRANKLIN PHOTO Lady Eagle Kaylin Ploeger (44) goes up for the center court opening jump against South Decatur Lady Cougar (20), Allison Cunningham, as Lady Eagle teammates Val Wagner (center) and sister Becca Wagner (30) await the outcome.

 

GARY FRANKLIN PHOTO Pictured from left, Lady Eagles Kristen Hicks and teammate Kiersten Young stop the offensive advance of the Lady Cougar Julie French(24)

 

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JCD Eagle varsity boys remain perfect at 6-0, heading into 2008

Gary Franklin, Sports Editor

The Jac-Cen-Del varsity basketball teams remain the hot ticket in Ripley County at the close of 2007. The girls behind Head Coach Scott Smith are at 10-0, and the boys behind Head Coach David Bradshaw, stack the deck at 6-0.
Both teams give a good performance for the fans' buck. Solid defense, structured offense, and scoring from most any player at any given time in a game. Good bench strength available to either coach keeps the floor buzzing as they compete.
The Eagle boys opened their season with a win over the South Ripley Raiders, and have continued with five more victories. They were over the Batesville Bulldogs, the Southwestern-Shelby Spartans, the North Decatur Chargers, the Trinity Lutheran Cougars and most recently, the Southwestern Hanover Rebels.
An originally scheduled game at Rising Sun against the Shiners, set for Saturday, December 15, was postponed due to weather. That game has been rescheduled to be played at Rising Sun on January 16, with the JV game beginning at 6 p.m.
The Eagle boys varsity team includes four seniors, Brandon Gehl, Kellen Stolze, Eric Horan and Aaron Harmeyer, and four juniors: Blake Sutton, Matt Gehl, Tim Arnett and Gerald Hardesty, along with sophomores Shane Adams, Daniel Harlemert and Brandon Wilhoit.
The next competition scheduled for the boys is against the South Ripley Raiders, in the second game on opening night of the 2008 Ripley County Tournament. That is to be played at Batesville High School on Thursday, January 3, with tip off at approximately 7:45 p.m.