Members of Emmanuel Christian School’s state basketball championship team are (front, from left) Davis Coyne, Jeff Miller, Levi Hinds, Jaxton Coyne, Preston Ritzema and Tyler Kline; Keanu Rish (back row, from left) Jonathan Napier, Jordan Rish, Ariston Trusty, Trey Younce and coach Merrill Templin. Photo provided

By The Paper staff

INDIANAPOLIS -- Emmanuel Christian School’s basketball team captured the Indiana Association of Christian School’s state basketball tourney championship on Saturday, March 7, in Indianapolis.
Emmanuel has been a member of the IACS for 32 years.

Coached by Merrill Templin, the school captured the state title for Division II, which is comprised of smaller Christian schools. This is the school’s first state championship.

By Bill Barrows

As we move into the next faze of the high school sports season, I would like to take this time to thank some very important people who have helped us along the way in making the season to this point a success. First of all, a collective “thank you” to all of the student-athletes and their parents who have provided tons of memorable moments that we have witnessed to this point. Without you, there is little reason for us to document Wabash County sports exploits.

Another group that deserves a lot of credit are the coaches, who prepare the student athletes each and every day for their shining moments during the season. Long hours of preparation, practice sessions, meetings, interviews, dealing with weather conditions and schedule changes make their labor of love a tough road to navigate at times.

The Wabash Lady Apaches basketball team enters the packed house at the Warsaw semistate on Saturday afternoon. Photo by Gary Andrews 

By Gary Andrews

WARSAW -- The Wabash Lady Apache basketball team traveled to Warsaw Saturday to play in itsfirst ever semistate. Wabash got to Warsaw by winning the Manchester sectional and Lapel regional.

Fort Wayne Canterbury would end the Lady Apache run, as Wabash had a cold shooting night, connecting on just 20 percent from the field in a 57-39 loss to the No.2 team in the state.

Brodie Hough (center) prepares to sign a letter of intent to play golf at Anderson University. He is joined by his parents Mike Hough (front, from left) and Michele Hough, along with (back row, from left) Wabsh Principal Josh Blossom, Wabash Athletic Director Greg Martz, Wabash golf coach Darren Porter, and Honewell Golf Course pro Mel Thomas. Photo by Gary Andrews 

By Gary Andrews

Wabash senior Brodie Hough made his decision Thursday to play golf at Anderson University next year.

The Ravens are led by first year coach Kent Williams. Williams comes to Anderson with over 40 years of golf experience. Since 2010, he has been a golf instructor at Gray Eagle Golf Course in Fishers. In the 37 years prior, Williams served as Head Golf Pro and greens superintendent at Brockway Golf Course in Lapel.

Sami White (center) signs a letter of intent to play volleyball at Davenport University. She is joined by her parents, Jody White (left) and Johnny White, as well as Davenport Coach Megan Lenhart (back row, from left), Southwood Athletic Director and volleyball coach Tom Finicle, and Southwood principal Tim Drake Photo by Gary Andrews

By Gary Andrews

Southwood senior Sami White signed her letter of intent Friday to continue her volleyball career at Davenport University in Grand Rapids Michigan next year.

White led the Lady Knights to the 2A state championship game this past season and was selected first team all conference the past two seasons along with being selected first team all state and a member of the north all star team this past fall.

Davenport is coached by former Southwood stand out player Megan (Garner) Lenhart. Lenhart graduated from Southwood in 2000 and is 12th all time in career attacks and 12th in career kills

Owen Yeadon drains a three for the Wabash Apaches. Photo by Gary Andrews

By Gary Andrews

The Wabash boys’ basketball team ended its regular season Friday with a 44-28 loss to Elwood. The Apaches have a 5-17 record heading in to this week’s sectional.

Elwood got the early jump on the Apaches, jumping out to a 9-2 lead before two Tyler Hough free throws ended the quarter with Wabash trailing 9-4.

By Gary Andrews

The Southwood boys basketball team ended their regular season on a high note, defeating Bluffton 53-47 on senior night to improve to 13-9 heading to the post season.

The Knights jumped on the Tigers early, leading 19-11 after one and 31-21 at the half. Bluffton cut the margin to 7 after three, with the Knights holding on for the 53-47 final.

Leaders were: Brandin Frazier 16 points, 9 rebounds; Carson Blair 16 points 3 rebounds; Alex Harmon 15 points 12 rebounds 8 blocks 3 steals; Noah Kirk 4 points 4 rebounds; Nathan Hollars 2 points 2 rebounds; Robbie Cole 8 assists

Southwood’s Robbie Cole (34) drives for two of his 19 points on Friday night against Northfield. Photo by Gary Andrews

By Gary Andrews

The Southwood boys’ basketball team was one win away from a piece of the Three Rivers Conference title and needed a win over county rival Northfield to get that share Friday. Jumping out to a quick 7-0 start the Knights defended home court by defeating Northfield 64-46 to share the TRC title with Tippecanoe Valley and Manchester.

The quick start was just that as Carson Blair took the Alex Harmon tip off and drained a three just four seconds into the game. Robbie Cole and Brandin Frazier then hit back to back buckets for the 7-0 lead. Tanner Wilcox stopped the run with a bucket with Alex Harmon answering. Jared Short made it 9-3 with a bucket when Noah Kirk hit from long range for a 12-3 Knight lead. The Norse would respond with buckets from Heath Miller and Noah Shear to cut the lead to 12-7 when Mathew Norse drained a three to give the Knights a 15-7 lead. Austin Burns finished the scoring in the quarter as Southwood led 15-9 after one.