The Versailles Republican Sports

February 17, 2011

South Ripley Raider freshman boys claim 2010-11 ORVC Basketball Tournament Championship Title

Gary Franklin, Sports Writer

The ugly grasp of winter held the scheduled ORVC Freshman Boys Tournament at bay for some time. However, as is the way with Indiana basketball, if their is a will, their is a way, just may be on a different day, as was the case for completion of the tournament.
The original dates for the tournament were scheduled for the Milan Indians to travel to Jac-Cen-Del HS to battle the Eagles on Monday, January 31. South Ripley High School was designated as the site for the tournament this year, however the Switzerland County Pacers drew a bye, South Ripley got a bye as Rising Sun had no freshman boys team this season and the Southwestern Hanover Rebels claimed a bye in their first round as the Madison Shawe Hilltoppers were also unable to collect a freshman team this season.
Monday's tournament action was halted at JCD due to weather conditions, as was the Tuesday scheduled two game set up at SRHS. That in turn forced a change in the championship game's original Wednesday scheduled time to be played.
With all plans gone with the wind so to speak, the entire tournament was played in one night and the South Ripley Raiders held on in overtime to grasp the championship title on February 7.
The JCD Eagles won over the Milan Indians and the Southwestern Hanover Rebels to advance to the championship game. The South Ripley Raiders, with a bye earned against RS in the first round, saw their first action of the tournament against the Switzerland County Pacers, and defeating them, earned the remaining spot in the championship contest.
Coach Jolly's freshman team played 12 games this season, not counting the ORVC freshman tournament.
Games of the season and the result thereof included:
Loss @ Jac-Cen-Del 30-36
Loss to Madison 18-38
Win over Switz. Co., 36-27
Loss @ East Central 25-41
Loss to Law'burg 33-49
Loss to Milan (RCT) 38-51
Win over SwH 37-22
Loss @ Franklin Co. 9-37
Win over N. Decatur 34-27
Loss @ Trinity Luth. 30-38
Dbl OT win over JCD 36-34
Loss @ Switz. Co. 27-33
With the regular season behind them, the Raiders had one place left to prove themselves, the ORVC Freshman Tournament.
SR vs SC
"The Raiders applied a great defensive effort in their opening battle against the Switzerland County Pacers," stated coach Jolly. Offensively, SR was led by Gus Berry with 12 points, Ryan Lengerich 8 points, Logan Linkmeyer scored 4 points and Austin Grider added 3.
Championship -
SR vs JCD
It proved to be no easy task for either championship game contender as play went to an overtime to declare a winner. (Nice job Eagles in getting to the championship round and in making the battle competitive to the end.)
As coach Jolly reported on the championship game, "JCD came out with the hot hand early in the championship battle and continued to hold a lead until the game had gotten into the fourth quarter."
During the fourth, SR caught JCD, and eventually grasped a six point edge on JCD with less than a minute remaining in regulation play. Coach Roy Thomas' Eagles refused to fold, forcing the game to overtime by game's end.
The Raiders outscored JCD 4-0 in the overtime period to claim the championship title.
Eagle scoring included a 15 point production by Siebert with Powers adding six, Harmeyer five, Wagner three and Dickman two, for a 31 point total.
Raider scoring was led by Gus Berry with 15 points including four 3-pointers. Austin Grider added 11, Ryan Lengerich five and Cole Engel four to a total of 35 points for the game by the Raiders.
Coach Jolly's freshman team ended their season with a record of 6-8. A positive effort at season's end found them winning five of their final eight games, including winning the ORVC Tournament.
Nice finish guys!

SUBMITTED PHOTO The 2010-11 ORVC Freshman Tournament Champion South Ripley Raiders pictured front from left include: Jason Bodenberg, Ryan Lengerich, Gus Berry, Joey Waldron and Caleb Huntington. Standing: Freshman boys coach Kyle Jolly, Cole Engel, Austin Allen, Stefan Anderson, Austin Grider and Logan Linkmeyer.