Osgood Journal Sports
March 3, 2009

Roundball showdown in new Raider corral

Gary Franklin, Sports Writer

A first time meeting of the South Ripley Raider and Jac-Cen-Del Eagle high school boys basketball teams in the newly constructed SRHS gym occured on Friday, February 27, where it also represented the last regular season game for both schools.
Unlike most year's, this final game of the season had no relevance on the ORVC outcome, as the conference counting game was represented in the two team's first meeting in the '08-'09 season. However it was a first time meeting in the new SRHS gym for the two teams and the Ripley Publishing Co. Inc. "Pride Trophy" was on the line.
The evening's festivities included a chili supper available to the public beginning at 4 p.m., shuttle bus rides provided by SRHS for fans to the gym from parking areas near the school, and the excitement of fans common to athletic meetings between the two schools. Along with that, add the fact that it was senior basketball player and student manager honors night and the night had many reasons to be special.
JV contest
The JV game tip off at center court around 6 p.m. quickly resulted in a Raider Chris Allison FG and the first two points of the game. Eagle Daniel Harlemert responded with a pair of FG's to tie the game and give JCD their first lead at 4-2. Eagle Brandon Wilhoit added a FG. Raider Tanner Tucker scored, followed by teammate Jonathan Grossman's FG and FT to lead the Eagles at the end of quarter one, 7-6.
Raider Sam Stratton opened the second quarter scoring with a FG, Tucker and Grossman followed, extending the SR lead to seven at 13-6 at the half time break.
In the third quarter, Eagle FG's were scored by Dalton Garnett and Joe Abplanalp. Raider Grossman nailed a three pointer followed by a Jordan Walters FG, leading to another Grossman FG to extend the Raider lead to double at 20-10.
A flurry of Eagle baskets brought them back into the game. Scoring were Wilhoit with a three pointer and a FT, Garnett with a pair of FT's, and a Derek Lunsford FG to cut the Raider margin to two at 20-18. Lunsford added one of two FT's before Raider Grossman put in a FG. An Eagle Wilhoit FG followed by teammate Ethan Harmeyer's FG gave JCD a short lived lead at 23-22 before Jordan Walters scored a FG at the horn to put SR back on top by one going into the fourth quarter at 24-23.
Eagle Wilhoit scored a pair of FT's and teammate Harlemert added one of his two attempts before Raider Jordan Walters knotted the game at 26 with a FG. Raider Tucker's FG put SR up but Eagle Lunsford's nailing of a pair of FT's tied the game again, this time at 28.
Eagle Wilhoit scored a FG only to have it negated by Raider Tucker's old fashioned three point play with a FG and a FT to give SR the lead. Tucker and Jerad Walters each added one of two FT tries for the three point lead at 33-30. Eagle Abplanalp scored one of two FT shots followed by teamate Garnett's FG for a tie at 33.
(OVERTIME)
An Eagle controlled tip led to a Lunsford FG, then a tie off Raider Allison's FG. Eagle Lunsford scored a FG and the FT followed by a pair of FT's to put JCD up five at 40-35 with half of the three minute overtime period gone.
Eagle Harlemert made one of two FT shots before Raider Tucker sank a FG. Eagle Lunsford netted two more FT's, as did teammate Abplanalp before Raider Jerad Walters swooshed the net with a three pointer cutting the margin to five at 45-40.
Eagle Abplanalp scored two more FT's, Raider Tucker sank a FG and Eagle Harlemert nailed both FT offerings to account for the rest of the game's scoring, resulting in a JCD victory of 49-42 after the overtime.
JV - Score by Quarter
SR 7-6 JCD
SR 13-6 JCD
SR 24-23 JCD
SR 33-33 JCD
(OT) JCD 49-42 SR
JCD JV 49
Derek Lunsford 14
Brandon Wilhoit 12
Daniel Harlemert 8
Joe Abplanalp 7
Dalton Garnett 6
Ethan Harmeyer 2
Non-scoring Eagles: Brock Shadday, Tyler Kays, Donnie Lows, Clay Comer and Logan Simon.
SR JV 42
Tanner Tucker 14
Jonathan Grossman 12
Jordan Walters 6
Jerad Walters 4
Chris Allison 4
Sam Stratton 2
Non-scoring Raiders: Patrick Scott, Denny Maayes, Cody King, Dylan Groves, Jake Waldron and Jared Grossman.
SRHS seniors honored
Raider senior basketball team players (boys and girls), student managers and cheerleaders, along with their parents were announced and presented gifts on court. The introduction of SRHS seniors included: Andy Miller, Thomas Welch, Jordan Bodenberg, Seth Leonard, Kevin Gullion, Jordan Vinup, Erica Ester, Janna Lloyd, Jordan Clements, Chelsea Durham, Ashley McCauley, Katie Polly and Ryan Dennis.
During that time, SRHS Principal Bob Meyer announced that a donation bucket would be passed among the crowd at the conclusion of the first quarters action by the cheerleaders of both JCD and SR, to collect donations toward a scholarship fund that was to be started by the parents of the late SRHS teacher, Miss Riggle.
Raider game commentator Bob Lafary acknowledged and welcomed SR school board member and Indiana State Police officer Robert Garcia and wife Kelly's presence at the game as he has only recently returned home from his tour of duty in Iraq.
South Ripley Raider senior Seth Leonard, one of the five senior members of this year's varsity basketball team then sang "The National Anthem" before the introduction of cheerleaders and players and the ensuing center court varsity game tip off.
Varsity contest
Even though the opening tip was controlled by the Raiders, Eagle Matt Gehl managed to put the first points on the scoreboard with a FG. Raider Brian Thomas quickly responded with a three pointer to put the Raiders up 3-2. Eagle Gehl scored another FG, it countered by Raider Chase Grider. Eagle Tim Arnett and Raider Jordan Bodenberg exchanged FG's, followed by Raider Andy Miller's first FG of the game for a Raider lead of 9-6.
Eagl Gehl scored a FT of two shots before converting the old fashioned three point play with a FG and FT to again give the Eagles the lead at 10-9. Raider Grider was fouled on a three point attempt and sent to the charity stripe where he converted two of the three given.
Eagle Gehl and Raider Thomas Welch exchanged FG's followed by Eagle Tim Arnett and Raider Welch FG exchange to end the first period's scoring with South Ripley up 15-14 over Jac-Cen-Del.
Second quarter action led to Eagle Trevor Arnett's scoring of a FG, countered by a FG by Raider Seth Leonard. Raider Welch's FG was countered by a pair of Eagle Gehl FT's. Raider Miller scored a FG, but Eagle Blake Sutton drilled a three pointer. Raider Grider cashed in on another FG, but again Eagle Sutton drilled the three pointer, this time followed by a three pointer from teammate Trevor Arnett.
Following a South Ripley time out, Eagles Gehl and Trevor Arnett each scored FG's, leading to another SR time out. Returning to action, Eagle Sutton and Tim Arnett FG's followed by a Raider Grider FG followed by another Eagle Gehl FG left the halftime score JCD 37-25 SR.
Raider Welch opened scoring in the third quarter with back to back FG's. Eagle Tim Arnett scored a FG only to be countered by Raider Bodenberg's FG. Eagle Tim Arnett scored a FG but missed the FT offering. Eagle Gehl added a FG followed by back to back FG's by Raider Miller.
Eagle Trevor Arnett cashed in on the FG, but he too missed the FT offering. Raider Grider made both ends of the one and one at the charity stripe. Eagle Shane Adams scored a FG to re-extend the JCD lead to 10. Eagle Gehl closed the period with one of two FT's and a FG for the Eagle lead of 50-37.
Raider Welch again opened the scoring in the period with a FG, countered by Eagle Tim Arnett. Raider Bodenberg sank both FT shots and added a FG, leading to a JCD called timeout.
Eagle scoring included a pair of FT's by Sutton, a FG by Gehl and making of one of two FT's each by Trevor Arnett and Sutton before Raider Grider scored a pair of FT's. Eagle Gehl nailed yet another FG, followed by a Raider Miller net popping three pointer.
Following the Raider called time out, Miller aded another FT. Eagle Sutton made one of two FT offerings followed by Raider Bodenberg's sinking of two FT's. With Eagle scoring by Gehl with a FG, Sutton with a FG and Gehl with two more FT's, the game time remaining was under a minute and JCD firmly in control with a 16 point lead at 67-51.
Raider Grider added a FG, Eagle Adams made one of two from the charity stripe, Raider Thomas scored a FG and Eagle Derek Lunsford made one of two FT offerings to end game scoring. The final count, JCD 69-55 SR.
Jac-Cen-Del is off to IHSAA Class 1A Sectional #60 action at South Decatur High School where they will open the tournament on Tuesday, March 3, as they face the Oldenburg Academy Twisters with a 7 p.m. center court tip off. The Eagle overall regular season ended with a 18-2 record and as a 6-0 ORVC conference champion.
South Ripley Raider extended season action will open the second night of IHSAA Sectional #44 action at the North Decatur High School on Wednesday, March 4, against the Switzerland County Pacers with a 6 p.m. center court tip off slated. The Raiders ended regular season play with a 8-12 overall season record, 3-3 in ORVC play.
Varsity -Score by Quarter
SR 15-14 JCD
JCD 37-25 SR
JCD 50-37 SR
JCD 69-55 SR
Jac-Cen-Del Eagles 69
Matt Gehl 29
Blake Sutton 14
Tim Arnett 12
Trevor Arnett 10
Shane Adams 3
Derek Lunsford 1
Non-scoring Eagles: Gerald Hardesty, Spencer Purdy, Ethan Harmeyer, Brandon Wilhoit, Joe Abplanalp, Daniel Harlemert and Dalton Garnett.
South Ripley Raiders 55
Chase Grider 14
Andy Miller 12
Jordan Bodenberg 10
Brian Thomas 9
Thomas Welch 8
Seth Leonard 2
Non-scoring Raiders: Kevin Gullion, Denny Mayes, Kile Huss, Chris Allison, Jordan Walters, Tanner Tucker and Thad Fleming-(DNP-sick)