Lady Raiders vs. Lady Eagles, basket by basket
Gary Franklin
SPORTS EDITOR
Varsity - Quarter One
As varsity action for the two rivals unfolded at SRHS in the Saturday afternoon, Feb. 8, tip-off, sophomore Lady Eagle Jordan Day netted a trey for the three-point opening edge. Lady Raider senior Samantha Wilhoit answered the call, draining a three pointer of her own, knotting the game at three.
GARY FRANKLIN PHOTO
At right, Lady Raider senior Samantha Wilhoit (11) hustles to her spot for the three-point delivery.
Continuing action found senior JCD Lady Eagle Brooklyn Ronsheim connecting for a FG and a 5-3 lead for JCD. Junior Lady Raider Hayley Schwarte responded with a FG for the 5-5 tie and added a three-pointer to give SR their first lead in the contest at 8-5.
At the 5:31 mark of the opening period action, Lady Eagle Ronsheim connected for another FG, 7-8. Lady Raider Wilhoit launched a nothing but net three-pointer, 11-7. At 4:58, junior Lady Eagle Jacqlyn Menchhofer earned opportunity at the charity stripe, where she connected on one of two attempts—the only point she would score for the game—8-11.
Lady Eagle Ronsheim came up empty, after her two free-throw attempts at 4:17; however, Lady Raider Schwarte launched and nailed her second three-pointer of the game for a six point, 14-8 SR edge.
Sophomore Lady Eagle Hayley Bruns added a FG score for JCD, followed by junior Lady Eagle Jenna Hughes drive for a FG and a mere two-point deficit at 12-14; however before the quarter buzzer sounded, Lady Raiders Schwarte and Wilhoit connected on a three-pointer each to elevate the first period final score to SR 20-12 over JCD. Unexpectedly, the 4-11 SR Lady Raiders had come out on fire nailing six treys in their opening period action and held a near double the point lead on the 15-2 Jac-Cen-Del Lady Eagles.
Quarter Two
Adding to the day’s surprises of the eventually realized victorious Lady Raider effort was sophomore Ellie Ayers, who produced 11 points by games end. Ayers first two points were connections from the charity stripe to open second period scoring and give SR their first double-digit lead at 22-12. Junior teammate Erin Gloyd scored one of two attempts from the charity stripe to which Lady Eagle junior Kelsey Bowling and senior Sydney Keene scored a FG, each cutting into their deficit slightly for 16-23.
GARY FRANKLIN PHOTO
At left, South Ripley Lady Raider sophomore Ellie Ayers (2) finds comfort and 11 points from the charity stripe.
Lady Raider Schwarte quickly answered the call, scoring a FG and FT combination. Senior Lady Raider teammate Emily Cumberworth paved her way into the scoring chart with a pair of FT connections leading to a missed effort by teammate Gloyd on a one-plus-one opportunity and finally a one-of-two connection by teammate Ayers for a 29-16, 13-point Lady Raider lead.
Lady Eagle Keene scored a FG, but Lady Raider Ayers neutralized the effect adding a pair of free throws to her total with 2:43 remaining in the half.
A FG scored by Lady Eagle Bruns was followed by a Lady Raider Cumberworth one-for-two effort connection. Lady Eagle Day drove for a FG score, but Lady Eagle Gloyd answered in kind with a FG. Gloyd continued to add with a three-pointer before Lady Eagle Ronsheim ended first half scoring with a FG.
Shocked, JCD left the hardwood trailing by 13 at the halftime break, 24-37.
Quarter Three
Lady Eagle Day opened second half scoring action with a FG. Lady Raider Cumberworth answered with a FG score. Lady Eagle Keene connected on a pair of FT offerings setting the score at 28-39 but was almost immediately whistled for her fourth foul at the 5:29 mark.
Lady Eagle sophomore Abby Wagner replaced Keene on the floor and netted a three-pointer at the 2:22 mark.
Final scoring in the third period was realized by sophomore Lady Raider Elizabeth Bodenberg with her connections on a pair of FT offerings, representing her total scoring for the game.
Quarter Four
With nothing short of an uphill battle to face, the Lady Eagles would attempt a comeback victory in the final period of play. On the line was an outright ORVC Championship Title and possession of the Ripley Publishing Co. Inc. Traveling Pride Trophy; however, the South Ripley Lady Raiders and shall we say fate would have its say before the game was indeed concluded and a winner named.
Cutting their deficit to single digits early in the fourth period, Lady Eagle Bowling scored a pair of FTs for 33-41. Lady Raider Wilhoit then scored a FG. Lady Eagle Day netted a pair of FT offerings and at the 5:02 mark was whistled for her fourth foul.
Lady Raider Ayers missed the front end of the one-plus-one opportunity. Lady Raider Schwarte was called for her fourth foul, while attempting to rebound the Ayers miss. Lady Eagle Ronsheim missed both her shots from the charity stripe.
Lady Eagles Hughes and Keene rallied to nail back to back three-pointers, cutting their deficit to just two points at the 4:33 mark. Back in the game and plenty of clock left, at least so it would seem; however, Lady Eagle Hughes was whistled for her fourth foul at 4:26 to which Lady Raider Ayers toed the line and nailed the pair.
Back to back FG scores by Lady Eagles Ronsheim and Day knotted the score, for the first time since 8-8 in the opening period, at 45.
Lady Raider Gloyd stepped to the charity stripe to finish the old-fashioned, three-point play with a FG/ FT combination, off a shot that bounded off the top of the scoreboard before falling directly through the rim, for the three point 48-45 lead at the 2:20 mark.
In response, Lady Eagles Hughes and Ronsheim each netted FG scores to take the lead at 49-48 over SR at 1:55.
Lady Raider Cumberworth knotted the score at 49 and advance the Raiders to 50-49 over JCD with her second FT connection at 1:42. Following a SR called time-out at 1:18, Lady Raider Ayers again toed the charity stripe line to net one of two FT offerings, thus a two-point SR lead at 51-49.
With 58.3 seconds remaining on the regulation game clock, Lady Eagle Bruns scored a FG to knot the score a 51.
Again, with just 39.5 seconds remaining, Lady Raider Ayers was the beneficiary of an assessed foul call sending her to the charity stripe where she promptly connected on both attempts to give SR the two-point edge at 53-51.
With 20.5 seconds remaining, Lady Raider Wilhoit was whistled for a fourth foul sending Lady Eagle Ronsheim to the charity stripe for two shots. Both were missed. SR took a time-out at 17.1 seconds, and upon returning, Lady Eagle Menchhofer was assessed her fourth foul resulting in Lady Raider Ayers toeing the charity stripe one again where she proceeded to miss the first but nail the second to give SR a three-point, 54-51 edge with just 15 ticks remaining in the game.
The Lady Eagle desperation attempt to score became fruitless, as the final horn sounded; SR had held out to upset a tough opponent. South Ripley very likely played their best game of the year; JCD found just the opposite.
We extend best wishes and good luck to both teams, as they proceed onward to their extended season competition challenges: South Ripley in 2A Sectional action at Milan High School and Jac-Cen-Del in their home-hosted Class 1A Sectional action.