The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1217670
The Press-Dispatch Wednesday, March 4, 2020 B-1 SPORTS Submit sports items: Call: 812-354-8500 Email: sports@pressdispatch.net or bring in a hard copy: 820 E. Poplar Street, Petersburg See REBELS on page 2 See SPARTANS on page 3 www.UebelhorGM.com • Jasper • 1-800-937-8721 By Andy Heuring Press-Dispatch Sports sports@pressdispatch.net Pike Central played one of its best streaks of basketball this season early against South Spencer, but eventually fell victim of the Rebel defensive pres- sure and shooting to fall 62-40 on Thurs- day. Pike Central had a slow start, leading to a South Spencer 6 -0 lead when Dar- ian Johnson hit a 10 -footer at the 4:45 mark. But the Chargers' rally started with a Jaden Guth three-pointer 15 sec- onds later. Jace Kelly extended the lead to 8 -3 on a drive with 3:09. Pike Central owned the next three minutes. While South Spencer was missing four straight three-pointers, the Chargers were hitting them. Sean Hanselman hit his first of three, three-pointers for the game to make it 8 -6 with 1:50 left. For the night, Hansel- man was three of four on three-pointers and two of three from two-point range. Pike Central ran the clock down to six seconds when freshman Peyton How- ald pulled the trigger on a three-point- er to give the Chargers their first and PIKE CENTRAL GETS BYE IN SECTIONAL Pike Central drew a bye in the Vin- cennes Sectional. They are sched- uled to play the winner of Vincennes and Washington in the second game on Friday. Vincennes and Washing- ton play in the only first-round game of the sectional on Tuesday night. Washington is 17-5 this year, while Vincennes if 10 -12. The Hatchets, if they win, will be a tough match-up for the Chargers. Washington beat Pike Central 57-40 on February 8. Pike Central's strength has been their shooting. Against South Spen- cer, they shot 45 percent from the floor and 46 percent from three-point range. Their problem continues to be turnovers. They had 14 against South Spencer. "We need to take better care of the ball so we can have more shot oppor- tunities. If we can do that for four quarters, we will be okay," said El- liott. The other game in the sectional has Princeton (9 -13) playing Sullivan (21-3) at 6:30 p.m. on Friday in the first game. The sectional champion- ship is set for 7:30 p.m. on Saturday. Chargers fall to Spartans 55-36 By James Capozella Press-Dispatch Sports sports@pressdispatch.net A 14-0 start at South Knox was most of the difference in a 55 -36 road trip loss at the hands of the South Knox Spartans this past Tuesday. Ethan Scott countered with a couple driving baskets and two of two from the line, but South Knox zinged the nets for a trio of threes added to a dozen markers, including six baskets, produced a 21-6 first quarter the Chargers could not overcome. Ethan Gorby was good for six points in the second quarter and Scott added a bas- ket, but Spartans Justin Fickling and Cody Dawson kept up the heat with 13 points be- tween them for a 38 -14 halftime advantage. Gorby opened the second quarter with his first three-pointer, but then Spartans Justin Fickling, Cody Dawson and Tristian Wirth ran nine unanswered points to lead 30 -9 with just two minutes off the clock. Char- ger senior Ethan Scott got a basket to go with 5:22 remaining before halftime, but the South Knox offense continued their positive ways with a 36 -11 edge until Charger junior Ethan Gorby succeeded with a three-point play with 2:22 remaining before halftime. The Spartans made it a 26 -point game in the third, but threes by Gorby and Pey- ton Howald cut the South Knox lead to 20. However, Garrett Holscher nailed his third three of the game to make it a 43-23 con- test. Gorby got to the line for one of two and then Hanselman hooped a three-bag- ger at 4:25, cutting the margin to 19. Scott made a steal and raced for his fourth score of the night and Howald contributed a second three-pointer for a 49 -29 third quarter stop. The Chargers held the Spartans to a pair of baskets in the fourth, but just Howald, Hanselman and Gorby netted baskets to fin- ish the fourth quarter 7-6. The 15 -point third quarter that included three-baggers by How- ard (2), Hanselman and Gorby resulted in a 15 -11 quarter, but it wasn't enough going in- to the last eight minutes. Gorby finished with a dozen markers, in- cluding a pair of threes and two of three from the line. Scott had four baskets and two of two from the line for 10 points. Pey- ton Howald hit two threes in the third and a basket in the fourth for eight points and Se- an Hanselman got on the scoreboard with six points in the second half. Ficklin led all scorers with 22 points and his team went eight of eight from the line, and equaled the five threes by Gorby, How- CHARGER'S EARLY STREAK CAN'T HOLD OFF REBEL DEFENSE Pike Central Middle School wrestler Briar Thomas fends off a shot and grabs on in hopes of pulling his opponent to the mat on his back. James Capozella photos Sean Hanselman eyes the hoop for a fourth-quarter basket in the 55-36 loss to South Knox. James Capozella photo Chargers nab Tecumseh 39-24 The Charger middle school wrestlers notched a 39 -24 win over POAC rival Tecumseh with Gage Morton (85), Grant Boyd (102), Isaac Shimer (175) and Remington Bottoms (195) posting wins. Bil- ly Like (80), Gage Gordon (117) and Skylar Shel- ton (160) added team points with forfeits in their weight classes. Saturday's middle school wrestling tournament included teams from Tecumseh, Southridge, Her- itage Hills, South Spencer and Evansville North. South Spencer won over the Chargers 45 -30, with two and three forfeits respectively. Gage Mor- ton, Grant Boyd and Isaac Shimer each won by for- feit, and Shelton at 150 and Bottoms at 195 won by pin. Southridge prevailed 90 -12 with three Char- ger forfeits and a pin at 150 pounds for Shelton. Evansville North was a 59 -29 loss with wins by Like (80), Morton (85), Shelton (150) and Bottoms (195). Boonville claimed a 72-27 win with Morton, (85), Matt Hayes (132)Shelton (150) and Shimer (160) notching wins. Other Chargers in the Saturday event were Hayden Goings, Briar Thomas, Jonathon San- chez, Riley Mosby, Markis Hutchinson and Jacob Harker. Team captains Skylar Shelton, Reming- ton Bottoms, Matt Hayes and Isaac Shim- er circle the mats during warm-up on Sat- urday at Pike Central. Pike Central's Ethan Scott goes up for a shot in the lane against a South Spencer defender. Scott scored 13 points in the fourth quarter for the Chargers.