Wabash’s Alivia Short attempts to get a shot off against an Oak Hill defender. Photo by Don Hurd

By Eric Christiansen
echristiansen@nmpaper.com

NORTH MANCHESTER --  The adage, “Regular season records don't matter. At tournament time, everyone is 0-0” was showcased Saturday night in the Sectional 37 semifinal game between Manchester and Lewis Cass.

The host Squires entered the game with a 16-7 record, set to face the 1-21 Kings.

Manchester appeared to have the game in hand with a 17-10 first quarter lead, but Cass used a 7-0 run to open the second quarter and it it up at 17-17.

The Kings never went away, but the Squires held on for a 45-39 win to advance to the championship game played Monday, Feb. 4 against Oak Hill.
 

Wabash’s Anthony Long attempts to take down an opponent Saturday at the Peru wrestling regional. Photo by Eric Christiansen

By Eric Christiansen
echristiansen@nmpaper.com

PERU -- Wabash 106 pounder Jared Brooks leads a group of eight Wabash County wrestlers to semi-state in Fort Wayne this weekend.

Brooks won the 106 pound weight class and was the county's only champion at the Peru wrestling regional on Saturday, Feb. 2.

Brooks started the day with wins by pin over Oak Hill and Kokomo, then won the championship round with an 11-0 major decision over Maconaquah.

Also advancing for Wabash in third place was Ethan Higgins at 120 pounds.
 

By Josh Sigler
Jsigler@thepaperofwabash.com

The Wabash boys basketball team fell behind early in a 70-52 loss to Mississinewa Monday night.

The Apaches trailed 17-5 at the end of the first quarter and never recovered.

The loss drops Wabash to 12-2 on the season. The Apaches entered the week receiving the 15th most votes in the Class 2A Associated Press poll.
 

Wabash's wrestling team celebrates winning the Peru Wrestling Sectional on Saturday evening. Photo provided

By Eric Christiansen
echristiansen@nmpaper.com

PERU -- Behind two champions and three runners-up, the Wabash Apache wrestlers won the team title at the Peru Sectional Saturday, Jan. 26.

Manchester and one champion and two runners-up to finish second as a team.

Northfield ended seventh in the team standings, and Southwood was ninth.

Southwood's Alissa Pershing (20) and Makayla Bechtold (5) tie up a Tippecanoe Valley player. Photo by Don Hurd

By Josh Sigler
and Eric Christiansen
news@thepaperofwabash.com

Three girls basketball teams played for the Three Rivers Conference championship Thursday, Jan. 24, Northfield, Manchester and Tippecanoe Valley, all with one loss. When the dust cleared, the two Wabash County teams shared the 2018-19 championship.

Northfield had no trouble at Rochester in a 59-27 win to finish 8-1 in the TRC and 20-2 overall.

At Tippecanoe Valley, Manchester held off a late comeback attempt from the host Vikings for a 43-40 win to share the conference trophy with the Norse.
 

By Josh Sigler
jsigler@thepaperofwabash.com

Wabash’s boys basketball team defeated North Miami Friday night 84-43 to improve to 10-1 on the season.

The Apaches jumped out to a 25-9 lead by the end of the first quarter, and upped that lead to 45-15 by halftime.

Wabash was led by Trenton Daughtry, who finished with 25 points, seven rebounds and eight steals.

Logan Vander Velden added 18 points, four rebounds and three steals. Jasper Walter chipped in 16 points, and Elijah Vander Velden added eight points, four rebounds and three blocks.
 

Emma West, first row middle, will attend and play softball at Taylor University in Upland starting this fall. Pictured are, front, l-r, Melissa West (mother), Emma West, Adam West (father); back, MHS head softball coach Brittany Holmes, Hadley West, Ainsley West, and Taylor University head softball coach Erin Kotlarz. Photo by Eric Christiansen

By Eric Christiansen
echristiansen@nmpaper.com

NORTH MANCHESTER -- Emma West has been playing softball for as long as she can remember.

The Squire senior will continue to make memories on the diamond for the next four years, signing with Taylor University in Upland to play softball.

"I chose Taylor because of the team and the atmosphere," West said. "I love the campus and everything about the School. I like that it's a small school and campus."

West said she began looking at colleges as early as her freshman year of high school, including schools at the Division I level all the way to Division III. She chose an NAIA school, and is looking forward to continuing softball at Taylor.

By Josh Sigler
jsigler@thepaperofwabash.com

The Northfield girls basketball team defeated North Miami on Friday night 46-33, its 12th straight victory.

The Class A, No. 4-ranked Lady Norse improved to 17-2 on the season with the victory.

Northfield jumped out to a 9-2 lead by the end of the first quarter and never looked back.

Addi Baker led the Lady Norse with 11 points, seven rebounds and three steals, and Ariel Dale added nine points, two assists and two steals.