by Gary Andrews

The Northfield Lady Norse 7th grade basketball team completed an undefeated season by winning the RRC tournament Saturday at Wabash. Northfield defeated Manchester 35-22 in the semi-finals before dismantling Tippecanoe Valley 44-19 in the championship. The Lady Norse finished 15-0.

Against Manchester, Ariel Dale led with 12 points. Kelcie Thomson and Melanie Beery added 8 points each.

by Gary Andrews

Northfield senior Elaina Terrell has signed her national letter of intent to continue her volleyball career at Purdue Calumet next year. While playing with the Lady Norse, Terrell was an outside hitter. Terrell was in the top 15 in the TRC in serving percentage at 89.6 percent, eighth in attacks with 369 and ninth in blocking. Terrell is undecided in a major but is leaning towards sports management. “Elaina decided on PUC because she felt comfortable with the team and coach and she is very excited about the growth Coach Julie Wiejak has planned for the team,” said Elaina’s mother, Jennie.

In the IHSAA State Finals Friday night, Colton Dawes wrestled Cornelious Elliott II in the 113lb class.  The Perry Meridian grappler was more experienced at the State level, but Dawes put together some strong offensive and defensive scrambles.  In arguably Dawes’ best match of the year, he pushed his opponent to the limit.  The final score read as a 5-3 loss, but those watching the match, felt it was one of the better matches of the first round.  It was an awesome season for Colton!

Jake Smith faced off with Guy Henson of Avon at the 285lb class. Neither wrestler was able to tally a point in the first period.  In the second period Guy escaped for a point.  In the third Jake returned the favor, scoring an escape.  The match came down to one late scramble where the Avon wrestle came out on top.  The final was score 3-1.  It was a good season 40-2 for this senior Knight.

by Bill Barrows

There is one week of boys’ high school action before we focus on the postseason. The boys’ sectional draw was held on Sunday and here is how it went. On Tuesday, March 4, Hoosier Hysteria gets underway at Manchester High School. Here is the breakdown:

Game 1: North Miami vs. Oak Hill. Tuesday, 7 p.m.

Game 2: Wabash vs. Cass. Wednesday, 6 p.m.

Game 3: Southwood vs. Manchester. Wednesday, 7:30 p.m.

Game 4: Northfield vs. Winner of Game 1. Friday, 6 p.m.

Game 5: Winner of Game 2 vs. Winner of Game 3. Friday, 7:30 p.m.

by Gary Andrews

The Wabash Lady Apaches were in pursuit of their first regional title at Lapel Saturday, winning the first game 55-48 over Southmont before falling short against Tipton in the championship game 48-37.

The Lady Apaches got off to a slow start in their game against Southmont. After leading 6-2 Southmont would out score Wabash 11-2 the remainder of the quarter to lead Wabash 13-8 after one.

Wabash, showing no panic came storming back in the second. Sarah Puckett would hit a free throw that ignited a 6-1 run as the Lady Apaches tied the score at 14 just two minutes into the second. After a Southmont three and trailing 17-14 Kyleigh Hampton would connect twice, one a three to give Wabash a 19-17 lead. Puckett would then hit two free throws, followed by buckets from Claire Cromer and Lyndsie Thomas to lead 25-17. Thomas and Cromer would each hit one more time in the quarter and Wabash led 30-18 at the half.

by Gary Andrews

Every year as the boys’ basketball regular season nears the end, county rivals Southwood and Northfield do battle for bragging rights of the metro school system. The two squads fought that battle Friday night at Northfield with the Knights winning the war 75-46.

Southwood got off to a good start right off the bat on a Corey Phillipy three that was followed by a bucket from Alex Harmon to lead 5-0. Jarred Short would get the Norse on the board and cut the lead to 2 points with a three before the Knights scored 6 straight. Jackson Blair hit, then got a steal for a lay-up before Harmon made it 11-3. Tanner Wilcox stopped the run with a bucket when Alex Harmon answered with a dunk to make it 13-5. Blair and Phillipy would trade buckets with Wilcox and the Knights led 17-9 after one.

by Gary Andrews

The Manchester boys’ basketball team locked up a runner up finish in the TRC Saturday with a 49-46 win over Rochester. The Squires finished the conference with a 6-1 record.

The Squires trailed 11-10 after the first stop, getting five buckets with three coming from Chase Fierstos. Braydon Sewell and Clayton Petrie each had a bucket.

The Squires would play the Zebras to a 9-9 tie in the second, hitting three shots from behind the arch. Clayton Petrie got two of the three's with Claudell Dickantone getting the other. Manchester trailed 20-19 at the half.

By Bill Barrows
Now that the IHSAA Girls’ Sectional is in the rear view mirror, the number of game dates decreases, but that doesn’t make it any less intense. There are two solid weeks of boys’ high school action before we focus on the postseason. The Boys’ Sectional draw will be held at the IHSAA offices in Indianapolis on Sunday, Feb. 23.
     This week, on Tuesday, Northfield travels to Maconaquah, while Southwood heads in the opposite direction, playing at Adams Central. Wabash will be the lone team at home as they host Eastbrook.
     Friday, Wabash takes to the road, heading north to play in Warsaw at Lakeland Christian Academy while Manchester travels to Columbia City. The lone in-county contest will be a big one as Northfield hosts Southwood in an important TRC match-up. Rick Harness and I will be on hand to cover the action at about 7:15 p.m. on Wabash WebTV.