Manchester's Kam Lester drives to the basket as Wabash's Blake Gribben and Elijah Vander Velden defend. Photo by Eric Christiansen

By Eric Christiansen
echristiansen@nmpaper.com

NORTH MANCHESTER -- After a close first half, the Wabash boys basketball team turned a 30-24 lead into a 16-point Three Rivers Conference win over Manchester Friday, Jan. 11.

The Apaches starting five scored all of Wabash's second half points, including shooting 16-20 free throws, to run away with the 67-51 win.

“I thought it was a great team win, especially with Logan (Vander Velden) getting into (foul) trouble,” Wabash coach Paul Wright said. “Jared (Holley), Kallen (Kelsheimer) and Blake (Gribben) all came in and tried to make up for Logan.”
 

Northfield senior Ariel Dale (front, center) prepares to sign her letter of intent to continue her education and basketball career at Taylor University. Also looking on are parets Brad (front, left), and Marlea Dale, Taylor assistant coach Natalie Young (back, left), Northfield head coach Melissa Allen, and Taylor head coach Jody Martinez. Photo by Josh Sigler

By Josh Sigler
jsigler@thepaperofwabash.com

Northfield senior Ariel Dale Friday signed a letter of intent to continue her basketball career and education at Taylor University in front of family, teammates and coaches in the Northfield library.

The decision on where to go to college can be a nerve-wracking one for most, but for Dale, the choice was easy.

“Personally, I wanted to go to a Christian school, and Taylor was just all-around a good fit for me,” Dale said. “I love the coaches and their style of basketball. I knew I wanted to study elementary education, so I just saw it as a good fit for me.”
 

Southwood's Jackson Siimons looks to put up a shot around the defense of Wabash's Jasper Walter during Friday night's basketball action. The Apaches won 87-58 to improve to 8-1 on the season. Photo by Josh Sigler

By Josh Sigler
jsigler@thepaperofwabash.com

Led by five players who scored at least eight points, Wabash’s boys basketball team picked up a convincing 87-58 win over host Southwood Friday night, Jan. 4.

The Apaches (8-1) built a 26-13 lead by the end of the first quarter, an took a 46-31 lead into the half. Wabash outscored the Knights 41-27 in the second half.

Dereck Vogel led the Apaches with 21 points, eight rebounds, three steals and three assists. He hit 5-of-10 from 3-point range.
Trenton Daughtry added 19 points, five steals and six assists, and Logan Vander Velden added 15 points, 10 rebounds and five assists.
 

By Josh Sigler
jsigler@thepaperofwabash.com

Wabash’s boys varsity basketball team claimed its first Wabash County Basketball tournament since 2005 Saturday night, outlasting Southwood 57-54 at Manchester High School.

The Apaches (7-1) led 15-12 by the end of the first quarter, and upped that lead to 31-22 by the 2:36 mark of the second quarter before taking a 38-28 lead into the half.

Southwood started the third quarter on a 9-3 run to pull to within 41-37, and soon thereafter, Carson Rich capped a 15-5 run with a 3 from the right wing to tie the score at 43-43.
 

By The Paper Staff

Northfield’s girls basketball continued its winning ways, defeating Kokomo 59-37 Tuesday night to improve to 10-2 on the season.

The Class A No. 6-ranked Lady Norse built a 21-6 lead by the end of the first quarter to take control of the contest early on.
Ariel Dale led Northfield with 17 points, five assists and seven steals.
 

Manchester's Kennedy Fierstos attempts to get a shot off against Southwood defenders. Photo by Harold V. Chatlosh

By The Paper Staff

The Wabash boys basketball team improved to 5-1 on the season with a 66-34 victory over county rival Northfield on Friday night, while Northfield’s girls squad returned the favor Saturday night, topping Wabash.

The Apaches led at lead stop, taking a 14-7 lead by the end of the first quarter, and holding a commanding 37-19 lead by the half. Wabash outscored the Norse 29-15 in the second half.
 

Southwood's Sierra Stout attempts to block a shot by Northfield's Ariel Dale on Friday night. Dale, wh scored the 1000th point of her career earlier in the week, led Northfield with 21 points. Photo by Joseph Slacian. 

By The Paper Staff

Northfield and Southwood basketball teams split a girls-boys doubleheader on Friday, Dec. 7.

The Lady Norse defeated Southwood, 77-19, while the Knights’ boys basketball team defeated Northfield, 80-31.

In the girls game, Northfield dominated from the start, building a 26-4 lead after one quarter. The Lady Norse built on that lead in the second quarter, taking a 43-6 halftime lead.

Northfield’s defense held Southwood to just 13 points in the second half to pick up its seventh win of the year

Northfield's Kyra Kennedy tries to drive around Manchester's Jirni Cripe during second quarter action Saturday night. Photo by Joseph Slacian 

By The Paper Staff

Led by 13 points apiece from Kennedy Fierstos and Eva Bazzoni, Manchester’s girls basketball squad outlasted Class A No. 4 ranked Northfield 41-39 Saturday at Northfield.

Manchester took a 19-14 lead by the end of the first quarter, and maintained a 30-27 lead at the half. Northfield edged closer, 33-31 at the end of the third quarter, but Manchester was able to hold the Lady Norse off in the end to improve to 4-4 on the season.

Northfield fell to 5-2.