The Versailles Republican Sports
January 8, 2009

35th annual Ripley County Girls Basketball Tournament is underway

Gary Franklin, Sports Writer

Another year has broken its way into reality with the annual RCT action underway. The freshman boys tournament was played early during December, allowing the varsity girls to break the ice on the new year with competition held at JCDHS on Tuesday evening, January 6. A winter blast through the night before caused most local schools to call for a two hour delay, literally starting opening day of the tournament with "ice-breaking".
As the day's weather conditions became better, a first day's return from Christmas break (for most students) proceeded, making way for the traditional beginning of the RCT as scheduled.
Action at hosting Jac-Cen-Del High School began with a rival match between the neighboring JCD Lady Eagles and the South Ripley Lady Raiders. In the first game of the new basketball season, the Lady Eagles pulled off a one point overtime win over the rival Lady Raiders at SRHS, 44-43. reigniting the rivalry embers to a flame between the two schools sports programs.
South Ripley vs Jac-Cen-Del
The center court tip between 6' sophomores Lady Raider Jessica Foster and Lady Eagle Alyssa Hammond got the game underway with SR controlling the tip.
Senior Lady Raider Erica Ester put the first points on the scorebook, following which four Lady Eagles scored five FG's to take an eight point advantage at 10-2. Scoring FG's for JCD were: Samantha White, Becca Wagner, Alyssa Hammond (2) and Kristen Hicks.
The Lady Raiders' answer came in four consecutive FG's by Jordan Vinup (2) and one each from Kasey King and Whitney Walker, to knot the game at 10.
The balance of the quarter found two Lady Eagles scoring. Samantha White drained a trey and Valorie Wagner scored her first FG of the night. SR scores came from back to back FG's from Jessica Foster, to close quarter one JCD 15-14 over SR.
The Lady Raiders went on a 9-0 run in opening the second quarter to lead 21-15, before the Lady Eagles scored again. The remainder of the half found the two teams basically trading baskets, ending the quarter's play with the Lady Raiders leading 32-25.
The Lady Eagles' deficit grew as they only scored six to the Lady Raiders' 11 in the third period. Unable to retake the lead in the fourth quarter, the Lady Eagles fell by game's end, 39-47.

So. Ripley Lady Raiders 47
Sarah Webster 2
Erica Ester 14
Kasey King 10
Jessica Foster 10
Whitney Walker 2
Lakin Davis 3
Jordan Vinup 6
Jac-Cen-Del Lady Eagles 39
Samantha White 7
Valorie Wagner 8
Becca Wagner 16
Alyssa Hammond 6
Kristen Hicks 2
Alissa Stolze -
Brooke Gilland -
Meagan Hughes -
Hailee Sizemore -
Kristin Konradi -
Quarter scores
JCD 15-14 SR
SR 32-25 JCD
SR 43-31 JCD
SR 47-39 JCD
Batesville vs Milan
Opening night's game two center court tip between Milan Lady Indian Jessica Wessler and Batesville Lady Bulldog Madison Lamppert resulted in the Lady Bulldogs gaining first possession and a quick basket for the lead by Elise Stephens. Continuing to add to their score were Lady Bulldogs Amy Wuestefeld with 3 FG's and a three pointer, Ashley Wuestefeld with a FG, and Madison Lamppert with a pair of FT's for a 15-0 run.
First to answer for the tribe was Kelly Stutler, draining the three ball, followed by Jessica Wessler's FG. Lady Bulldog Lawson Sitterding scored the old fashioned three combo of a FG and a FT before Lady Indian Arielle Noel scored a FG to end the first quarter with Batesville well in control at 18-7.
Quarter two found the Lady Bulldogs adding a 15-4 run taking their halftime lead to 22 points at 33-11.
The Lady Indians outscored the Lady Bulldogs 13-9 in the third period, but the hole already dug was too deep for them to recover from.
A total of ten points scored in the fourth period made for a long finish with Batesville adding six points to the tribe's four. The final score was Batesville 48-28 Milan.
Batesville Lady Bulldogs 48
Elise Stephens 2
Jenny Meyer 8
Ashley Wuestefeld 8
Amy Wuestefeld 13
Julie Meyer 4
Becca Wintz 2
Fawn Ryan 7
Lawson Sitterding 2
Madison Lamppert 2
Kerri Kinker -
Curly Paul -
Milan Lady Indians 28
Kelly Stutler 13
Arielle Noel 2
Becca Haugh 3
Brittany Lewis 4
Jessica Wessler 6
Kayla Stutler -
Montana Winters -
Ciera Ison -
Elaina Voss -
Quarter scores
Batesville 18-7 Milan
Batesville 33-11 Milan
Batesville 42-24 Milan
Batesville 48-28 Milan