The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/210126
B-1 Wednesday, November 13, 2013 The Press-Dispatch Stone leads PCMS 8th graders past Fort Branch, 32-22 Graham 'pretty pleased' after scrimmage By Ed Cahill Press-Dispatch Sports Editor sports@pressdispatch.net Audra Stone scored a game-high 12 points as the Pike Central Middle School eighth grade girls' basketball team opened its season with a 32-22 victory over host Fort Branch on Thursday, Nov. 7. Despite hitting just five of 31 field goal attempts (16.1 percent) and one of four tries from the free throw line, the Lady Chargers converted 11 turnovers by the Lady Twigs into six points while taking an 11-10 halftime lead. "This was the first game of the season, and it showed starting out," Pike Central head coach Eric Knight said. "The girls were nervous and came out a little scared. Their shots were not falling but I was still very proud of how hard they were playing. The defense was great and they played with a lot of hustle." Back-to-back baskets by Demi Croak at the start of the third quarter extended the Lady Chargers' lead to 15-10. After Fort Branch's Caroline Eichmiller scored off an assist from Abby Goings to cut the deficit to 15-12 with 4:57 left in the third period, Stone netted six points and Jalah Barnes added two as Pike Central outscored the Lady Twigs 8-1 to stretch its lead to 23-13 with 2:28 remaining in the quarter. "After halftime, the girls came out of the locker room and started knocking down shots," said Knight, whose team made six of seven field goal attempts at the start of the second half. Fort Branch slashed the Lady Chargers' lead in half as Patience Stephens hit a jumper, then buried a three-pointer, pulling the Lady Twigs to within 23-18 with 1:22 left in See Stone on B-3 Pike Central High School freshman guard/forward Hannah Yager (left) goes up for a shot during a pre-season scrimmage against visiting Mount Vernon on Monday, Nov. 11. Ed Cahill photo. By Ed Cahill Press-Dispatch Sports Editor sports@pressdispatch.net Pike Central Middle School eighth grader Audra Stone (15) takes a shot while Fort Branch's Kyra Smith (10) and Caroline Eichmiller (42) defend during game action on Thursday, Nov. 7. Ed Cahill photo. Despite seeing his varsity squad get outscored in two of three quarters by visiting Mount Vernon during a preseason scrimmage on Monday, Nov. 11, Pike Central High School girls' basketball coach Randy Graham said afterward that, overall, he was "pretty pleased." "We still have a lot of things to work on with our young teams, but the girls gave a great effort and did some things well," said Graham, whose Lady Chargers will open the 2013-14 season at South Knox on Friday, Nov. 15. "We were pleased with our help defense most of the night. We did a pretty good job in transition and executed some things offensively. We also did a pretty good job of moving the basketball." In the first quarter, with both teams playing man-to-man defense, Mount Vernon out- scored Pike Central 8-7. Senior forward Emily Howes hit a three-pointer for the Lady Chargers while senior forward Kaylee Hadley and sophomore forward/center Stephanie Halbrader added two points each. In the second quarter, with both teams playing zone defense, the Lady Chargers outscored the Lady Cats 14-10. Howes buried a pair of three-pointers while sophomore guard Alyx Abbott and freshman guard/forward Jolene Whitehead added one each. Halbrader also sank two free throws in as many attempts. In the third quarter, with both teams mixing up their defenses, Mount Vernon outscored Pike Central 10-3. Howes scored two points while Halbrader hit one of two tries from the charity stripe. "Overall, each quarter got a little more physical as the players started getting comfortable," Graham said. "Mount Vernon is a very physical team and always does a great See Scrimmage on B-2 7th grade girls open season with loss at FBCS By Ed Cahill Press-Dispatch Sports Editor sports@pressdispatch.net A scoreless first-quarter proved to be the difference as the Pike Central Middle School seventh grade girls' basketball team dropped a 21-17 season-opening loss at Fort Branch on Thursday, Nov. 7. The Lady Chargers committed eight turnovers in the opening period as Fort Branch, on baskets by Katherine Dickinson and Graysen Chambers, took an early 4-0 lead. "Lots of first-game jitters," said Pike Central head coach Ryne Biesterveld. "We have lots of room for improvement." The Lady Chargers got on the scoreboard when Kirsten Jansen sank the one of two free throw attempts with 5:08 left in the second period. Then, after Whitney Norris scored to give the Lady Twigs a 61 lead, Pike Central's Jordyn Graham hit a jumper from the top of the key to pull the Lady Chargers to within 6-3 with four minutes left in the first half. Fort Branch scored back-to-back baskets to extend its lead to 10-3 before Pike Central's Hailey Marchino scored off an assist by Graham to cut the deficit to 10-5 with less than a minute remaining. The Lady Twigs scored four straight points to take a 14-5 lead, but the Lady Chargers, on a basket and a three-point play by Marchino, outscored Fort Branch 5-1 to pull to within 15-10 at the end of the third period. A free throw by Becca Crow with 5:46 left in the fourth quarter cut the Lady Twigs' lead to 15-11, but that would be as close as Pike Central, which hit just three of seven free throws in the final period, would get. Marchino paced Pike Central with 11 points while Crow and Graham added two points each. Jansen and Kylee Shoultz rounded out the scoring for the Lady Chargers with one point apiece. Crow, Graham and Marchino each grabbed six rebounds while Crow had a team-high four steals. Marchino added three steals. For the game, Pike Central made six of 31 field goal attempts (19.4 percent) while sinking five of 14 tries from the free throw line. The Lady Chargers out-rebounded Fort Branch 31-15 while committing 23 turnovers, including just four in the fourth quarter. "We settled down a little in the second half," Biesterveld said. "We were less than .500 from the free See LOSS on B-3 SWIM PRACTICE Left: Ally Sutherland, a sophomore member of the Pike Central High School girls' swimming team, prepares to dive into the pool while swimming laps during a recent practice session. The Lady Chargers will open their season on Monday, Nov. 25, with a home meet against Evansville Bosse and Evansville Central. Above: Kendall Dudenhoeffer, a junior member of the Pike Central High School girls' swimming team, makes a big splash while swimming laps during a recent practice session. Ed Cahill photos. Above: Helen Dudenhoeffer, a sophomore member of the Pike Central High School girls' swimming team, comes up for air while swimming laps. Left: Alivia Cummings, a junior member of the Pike Central High School girls' swimming team, puts in some pool time using a kickboard. Ed Cahill photos. charger Wrestling Practice Above: Pike Central High School wrestling team members Logan Colby (left) and Matt Hayes (right) literally go head to head during practice on Monday, Nov. 11. Center: Pike Central High School wrestling coach Billy Hewig (left) instructs Alex Roberts (facing Hewig) on how to do a take-down move on Colt Brittain (right). Far Right: Pike Central High School wrestling team members Ty Bryant (left) and Jagger Montgomery (right) practice a take-down move. Ed Cahill photos.