The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/94635
D-8 Wednesday, November 21, 2012 The Press-Dispatch have another this Saturday at North Knox High School with the JV at noon and the varsity set for 1:30 p.m. They play at South Spencer Dec. 3. The Lady Chargers varsity and JV basketball teams, front from left, include: manager Kelci Osgatharp, Alyx Abbott, Kalee Hadley, Michal Ashby, Olivia Leighty, The Pike Central Lady Chargers already have played four games and Jordan Like, Emily Howes and manager Janessa Foster. In back are: As- sistant Coach Brent Beck, Cheyanna Padgett, Shelby Hendrixson, Kirstin Asbell, Lindsey Catt, Lindsey Nixon, Samantha Halbrader, Allison Sheffler, Alicia Hanselman, Rachel Roettger, Nicah McFarland, Kimberly McCammon, Assistant Coach Valarie White, and Head Coach Randy Graham. 2012-13 Lady Chargers Basketball Chargers are still looking for some consistency and identifying the top reserves as they get ready for the main portion of the girls basketball schedule with several Pocket Athletic Con- ference games looming in December. They have started out The Pike Central Lady By Mike Johansen 1-3, a game better than last year when they did not win their first game until De- cember. The Lady Chargers have because they also play JV and have limited quarters that they can participate on the varsity team. The Lady Chargers have five veterans back and lost one before the season even started. Senior Chance Lee was on the team and had started practice, but de- veloped a serious medical condition that is now being a lot of room for improve- ment on their record from last season. In fact, the last two years the team has been 3-19 overall and lost in the opening game of the Sectional. The Lady Char- gers were 2-6 in the Pocket Athletic Conference season a year ago, the same as the year before. Coach Gra- ham also hopes they can improve on that record, but said there are several tough teams to contend with in the PAC. ing PAC champion going 8-0 in the league and 18-2 in the Southridge is the defend- She was honorable mention All-PAC last season finish- ing with a nine points per game average plus seven rebounds a game and 2.5 as- sists. She is also a good ball handler. She plays inside or outside and should again be one of the best scoring players in the PAC and also handle defense well. A second forward is senior Olivia Leighty. She averaged 3.5 points and 4.0 rebounds last season. She is a tough defender and at times can score. She has had problems with fouls at times, but that is one area all of the players are work- ing on. That is especially im- portant with so few regulars returning. A third junior forward is PCHS Girls Basketball Upcoming Games Saturday, Nov. 26th at North Knox at South Spencer. 6:30 and 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 6 JV Noon, Varsity 1:30 p.m. Monday, Dec., 3 Hosting Southridge—PAC Game JV at 6 p.m. Varsity at 7:30 evaluated and she could not remain with the varsity. Head Coach Randy Graham said she will be missed and hopes the doctors find an answer for the problem. That left the 17-member Lady Chargers with just four returning players to handle the varsity. One freshman has been added to fill in the starting five and a second freshman was added for the second game. The rest of the varsity is being rotated regular season. They lost to Evansville Mater Dei in the Sectional Semifinals. Gibson Southern finished 7-1 in the PAC and 17-5 in the regular season. They won Sectional 32 before losing to Madison in the Regional. Forest Park, Tell City and Tecumseh are all figuring to be in the mix for the PAC title chase this season. The Lady Chargers are led by senior Jordan Like at one forward position. for the Lady Chargers is se- nior Michal Ashby. She can play inside or outside and has a good long shot as well as not being afraid to mix it up in the paint. She averaged 3.9 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists and Emily Howes. She was the leading three-point shooter of the returning players and averaged 5.3 points a game as a sophomore. She also grabbed three rebounds a game. The lone returning guard 1.7 steals each game. "We have four regulars back that will give us lead- ership as they have a lot of varsity experience. We are quicker than last year. Our overall team speed has im- proved. We believe we have several players that are ca- pable scorers," said Coach Graham. One of the new players moving to the varsity to start the season is guard Alyx Ab- bott, a 5-5 freshman guard. "She will bring some ball handling, scoring and some quickness to our team. We will see how she handles the varsity from the start," added the coach. The Lady Chargers are looking at several other players to fill the varsity spots. The second game Samantha Halbrader, an- other freshman who stands 5-7, moved up to the varsity from the JV. She will play a forward and give some re- lief to the starters. However, Coach Graham is also looking for some oth- ers and all have received varsity as well as JV time. The others looking to step up to the varsity are Lindsey Catt, a 5-6 sopho- more forward; Lindsey Nixon, a 5-6 sophomore for- ward; Allison Sheffler, a 5-5 sophomore guard; Rachel Roettger, a 5-5 sophomore guard-forward; Kimberly McCammon, a 5-5 sopho- more guard. Catt and Nixon are forwards and the rest are at guard or forward. Kalee Hadley, a 5-7 junior forward, is out right now with a foot injury she suf- fered during volleyball. She may not return until second semester. "We are working on im- year Pike Central scored 43 and 35 points. That is one area that does have to pick up. "Our players are really proving our half-court de- fense and we want to cut down on turnovers. We aver- aged just over 20 turnovers a game last year," said Coach Graham. While that is down so far, there still have been too many turnovers and that hurt in the first couple of losses. "We need to be more effective running our offense and scoring points. We averaged 38 points a game last year and that has to pick up. That will not win many basketball games." In the first two games this working hard and want to have a much improved sea- son. We believe we have the talent to do this as long as we keep working hard. We still have some areas to improve, but we are looking forward to the challenge," said the coach. "We want to be in the hunt in the conference race and in the Sectional come February. This group is ca- pable and they should have an improved season with a lot of hard work." Deer meat for needy DNR to connect people who would like deer meat to feed their families with successful hunters who have extra deer meat. GiveIN Game is a free donation program run by the for the two groups to connect on their own time and set up an exchange. Selling, bartering or trading for venison is prohibited. The highly successful program had 702 partici- pants for its first deer season. Registration for the second season of DNR's GiveIN Entering its second season, the program makes it easy Game program starts Sept. 1. If you registered before Sept. 1, you will still need to register again to participate. Register at hunting.IN.gov/7240.htm. For answers to frequently asked questions about deer hunting, see hunting.IN.gov/7389.htm. A majority of the program participants who responded to a recent DNR survey agreed the program is easy to use, private and secure, and that it fosters community goodwill. Best wishes to all Charger teams and athletes Petersburg Owners: Dennis & Sherry Bishop Hardware/Rental Center 105 North 5th St., Petersburg 354-8350 | pete.doitbest.com v y w High Quality Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Care. Close to Home. Whether you're a trained athlete or a weekend warrior, you can count on the experienced orthopedic & sports medicine specialists at Gibson General Hospital to get you back in the game. Thomas Joseph, MD, FRCSC Or Orthopedic Surgery & Sports Medicine Sports Medicine y & Through a partnership with Joseph Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Center, our integrated program offers orthopedic treatment and rehabilitation to care for your sports injuries. And we'll teach you how to prevent further injuries and improve performance to help you stay in the game! Centered Around You. 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