Terre Haute North got the good news Sunday night — or did it?
Coach Mike Allen’s Patriots drew still-winless Northview in the first round of Class 4A Sectional 12, which will be played a little over a week from now on North’s court.
Terre Haute South got sectional favorite — if records mean anything — Plainfield in the other first-round game there a week from Tuesday, while defending champion Mooresville and Martinsville got byes into the Feb. 10 semifinal games.
Plainfield has the only really good record in the field — 15-5 so far — and Northview the only bad one, with the other four teams all grouped within two games of .500 for the season.
In other draws by the Indiana High School Athletic Association on Sunday, both West Vigo and South Vermillion avoided the favorites in the first round of Class 3A Sectional 28 by drawing each other (favored Edgewood and darkhorse Brown County both got byes) and nothing in the Class 2A or Class A pairings looks ominous.
Which is ominous itself, something I’ll explain in a couple of paragraphs.
At Bloomfield, Sullivan’s first venture in a 2A tournament begins with the ninth-ranked Arrows having to go through a number of teams with reasonably similar records. The rematch of Linton and North Central that some of us predicted (the Miners and Thunderbirds play tonight, each seeking a first win of the season) can’t occur until the championship game.
At North Vermillion, things appear to be set up for favorites Riverton Parke and North Vermillion — who have played one overtime game already this season — to meet in the final game, although the Panthers’ first-round opponent, Attica, is one of the most improved teams in the state.
And at Clay City, where the Eels are two-time defending champions with a senior-laden lineup, a hot Shakamak team would seem to be the biggest challenge, something that again could not occur until the last night of the tournament.
But this is the sectional, remember, and things are not always as they seem. There are some nerves involved, particularly in a team’s first game (which is why the recently adopted format of the bye teams each playing a previous winner is one of the good things the IHSAA has done, wiping out some of the advantage to playing one fewer game).
If I knew where he was — or if he’s still alive — I would introduce Randy Harkabus to Mike Allen.
Randy was the big star at Lowell a year or two before I even got to high school, known throughout The Region for his scoring and rebounding and also throughout Lowell for a feat of expectoration that I’d probably better explain to you in person.
Lowell was no longer in a state-record basketball losing streak at that time, but at least was trending toward mediocrity. The Red Devils had to play in the East Chicago Sectional, however, which was usually an immediate kiss of death.
Imagine the thrills that went through Lowell when the draw came out and the Red Devils were paired with Crown Point — not only our bitterest rival, but our bitterest rival having the worst season in its history.
Imagine the depression when the 0-20 Bulldogs picked up their first win in that first-round sectional game.
Play the games and don’t look ahead, girls. I’ll get to as many as I can.
• Honored — Among the highlights of the West Vigo homecoming game Saturday was a ceremony for athletic director Mike Miller, who was recognized — quite reluctantly, I’m told — for his 13 years of service (not 14, he corrected later) and got a standing ovation as well as some memorabilia celebrating both his administrative career and his playing career (he still has the school record of 29 rebounds in a game, which not even daughter Bridget could break).
It was a busy night for Kathy Miller too. She was out there with her husband, children and grandchildren, but also got flowers prior to the varsity game from the Vikes and Tykes, who sang the National Anthem.
• Haven’t heard enough about this — Her fellow Seymour alum, Clint Davis, sent along the complete list of the Silver Anniversary girls basketball team released earlier this month by the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame that includes Indiana State women’s coach Teri Moren.
I wasn’t fortunate enough to see the 1987 Indiana All-Stars that featured Teri as well as Miss Basketball Lori Meinerding (now Morris-DeVries) of Fort Wayne Northrop and Indiana; Nikki Anderson (Cerbone) of Center Grove and Butler; Shannon Hardesty (Cantu) of Crawfordsville and Indiana; Krissi Davis of Noblesville and Notre Dame; Michelle Baker (Davis) of Franklin and Ball State; Vicki Lander of Evansville Bosse and UNLV; Kelly Powell (Richter) of Silver Creek and Eastern Illinois; Jane Calhoun (Scott) of Tipton and Purdue; Sara White of Clarksville and Wake Forest; Dana Wilkerson of Anderson and UNLV; and Ann Zellers (Williams) of Western Boone and IUPUI. Teri, of course, also starred at Purdue.
Other members of the Silver Anniversary team, which will be honored in April, are Janice Holliday (Burrus) of Elkhart Memorial and UNLV; Alicia Dobbels (Clevenger) of Seeger and St. Joseph’s; Shari Clark (Doud) of Mt. Vernon and Drake; Sharon Geary (Franks) of Lake Central and Ohio State; Robin Scott of Madison-Grant and IPFW; and Kristie Talley (Wright) of North Posey and Southern Indiana.
• Confirmation — Heard from Gary Fears this week that Bloomfield has officially withdrawn from the Pizza Hut Wabash Valley Classic (meaning somebody else will have to play at 10 a.m. on the first day now) and will be replaced by Robinson.
PHWVC fans are going to like Aaron Siler of the Maroons, I predict.
• Not surprised — Futsum Zeinasellassie of Indianapolis North Central was Gatorade’s Runner of the Year for boys cross country.
• Reflecting — I can’t blame anyone for getting a little choked up about all the recent oratory surrounding the death of Joe Paterno.
I might also suggest, however, that those people read the recent piece in OnionSports, the one purportedly written by Jerry Sandusky. If you were one of my 99 followers at the time, you already have the link.
Andy Amey can be reached after 4 p.m. at (812) 231-4277 or at 1-800-783-8742; by e-mail at andy.amey@tribstar.com; by mail at P.O. Box 149, Terre Haute, IN; or by fax at (812) 231-4321. Follow @TribStarAndy on Twitter.
High School
Related Photos
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Anyone's possession: South's Dallas Butts falls to the floor as North's Sierra Sykes (in white) and South's Kylie Fendrick scramble for a loose ball Friday night at Hulman Center. (Tribune-Star/Bob Poynter)
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Rebound: South's Kaylee Compton knocks the ball away from a North opponent Friday night at Hulman Center.
Discussion
AMEY TAKES AIM: Getting ready for the dance
- High School
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It’s a rivalry-filled Memorial Day for sectional contenders
Longtime rivalries figure to determine high school baseball sectional champions throughout the Wabash Valley today, with semifinal and final games scheduled at four sites and a stand-alone championship game at a fifth.
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South tops Oldenburg to win tennis semistate
There was no evidence of rally caps, rally towels and certainly no rally squirrels, but Terre Haute South’s No. 1 singles player Maddie Kesler needed a rally in the worst way.
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New route leads to same place for South girls tennis
For so many years, the road to the IHSAA girls tennis state finals for local teams ran through Vincennes (regional) and Jasper (semistate). In other words, south and more south.
This year, their trip was re-routed through Greencastle (regional) and Center Grove (semistate). So it cnahged to east and more east. -
PREP ROUNDUP: Robinson tops Greenville in sectional semifinal
Robinson jumped to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning, then cruised to a convincing 12-3 victory over Greenville in a IHSA Class 2A Vandalia sectional semifinal game on Thursday.
Ashlyn Sullivan was 2 for 3 with a double, home run and three RBIs to lead the winning Maroons. -
West Vigo baseball falls in sectional to Owen Valley
West Vigo overcame the odds to win 20 high school baseball games this season with a lineup that often included four freshmen and few seniors.
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South Vermillion softball's late-season surge comes to end
A late-season surge by South Vermillion wasn’t quite enough to halt a high school softball sectional winning streak by the host team Thursday night, as Edgewood got on top early and held on for a 5-2 win in the championship game of the Class 3A Edgewood Sectional.
The loss was just the second in the last 12 games for the Wildcats. The Mustangs, however, haven’t lost a sectional softball game for eight years in a row. -
South takes second, North third at boys track regional
Terre Haute South finished second and Terre Haute North third on Thursday night at the boys track and field regional at Evansville Central, with 11 individuals and three relay teams qualifying for the state finals June 2.
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PREP ROUNDUP: White River Valley baseball holds off Eminence
Three Eminence errors in the top of the sixth inning finally enabled White River Valley to score in high school baseball Thursday night, and the Wolverines went on to a 5-0 win in Class A Shakamak Sectional action.
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Feeling cursed: South bitten in sectional final again
Terre Haute South softball is not even close to being as cursed as a certain northside baseball team in Chicago, but it might just seem like it.
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PREP ROUNDUP: Mundy, Porter, Knight individual regional winners
Chanli Mundy and Keirra Porter of Terre Haute North were among the individual winners in the IHSAA Evansville Central girls track and field regional that ended late Tuesday night.
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Thornton puts away South Vermillion
Cody Thornton’s three-run blast over the left-field fence was the finishing touch to West Vigo’s 10-3 victory over South Vermillion in the opening game of the Class 3A Greencastle Sectional on Wednesday.
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Lakers triumph, go home for regional
Shakamak took Class A Clay City Sectional honors in high school softball for the first time since 2009 Wednesday, defeating White River Valley 9-5 in the title tilt.
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North Vermillion avenges losses
North Vermillion avenged two high school softball losses during the regular season to win the Class A Riverton Parke Sectional championship Wednesday with a 3-2 triumph over the host Panthers.
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Pats, Knights will meet in sectional
Adler Ingalsbe pooh-poohed his lack of velocity Wednesday night, yet the Terre Haute North pitcher was throwing BBs in the first game compared to Mooresville’s Brandon Topie in the nightcap.
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South outbattles Northview to reach sectional final
Even the best of high school softball pitchers can’t keep all the batters in the middle of Terre Haute South’s lineup down.
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Panthers get 20th win in sectional
Riverton Parke will face North Vermillion in the Class A softball sectional championship at Riverton Parke today, with action commencing at 6 p.m.
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Plainfield Sectional all about parity
Considering Terre Haute South has won five consecutive Class 4A sectional titles in high school baseball, naming the Braves as favorites to capture the 2012 Class 4A Plainfield Sectional would not seem far-fetched.
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PREP ROUNDUP: North Vermillion in title game
Casey West had a triple and three runs scored to help North Vermillion softball advance to the championship game of the Class A Riverton Parke Sectional on Tuesday.
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North takes second in track regional
Terre Haute North finished second with 74 points, six behind team champion Evansville Reitz, during the Evansville Central girls track and field regional that ended late Tuesday night.
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Wildcats advance to sectional softball final; West Vigo falls
Patience, patience.
South Vermillion exhibited great patience, being very selective at the plate and it paid off royally in the fourth inning. -
South, Crawfordsville win in regional tennis semis
Terre Haute South outlasted Fountain Central 4-1 in the first round of the girls high school tennis regional Tuesday, advancing the Braves into today’s championship match against Crawfordsville.
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Braves, Knights open with wins
It was an excellent night for starting softball pitchers to help their own cause Monday night in the Class 4A Northview Sectional.
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Lough dreamt about McMillan
A two-time state finalist in wrestling and a two-time all-Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference football player and wrestler, Tsali Lough of Terre Haute South was named the male recipient of the 2012 McMillan Award on Monday night at South’s Senior Awards Night.
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PREP ROUNDUP: Panthers cruise in sectional opener
Sarah Burnham pitched a two-hit shutout with 10 strikeouts in high school softball Monday evening as host Riverton Parke defeated defending champion Rockville 10-0 in opening-round action at the Class A Riverton Parke Sectional.
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Notable tradition bodes well for Riverton Parke
Located practically in the shadow of a high school that sets one state standard in track and field, Riverton Parke has a tendency to be overlooked in that sport.
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Vikings get 18th win over Shakamak
West Vigo began a busy week of high school baseball Monday on a winning note, defeating Shakamak 6-3.
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Greencastle new site for girls tennis regional
The starting times might prove to be a bone of contention, but otherwise coaches Bill Blankenbaker and Emily Goff are thrilled their respective girls high school tennis teams will begin play today at the Greencastle Regional.
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Northview sectional groups 3 20-win teams
Three teams with 20-plus victories will attempt to claim the Class 4A Northview Sectional crown for high school softball this week, and most of the other Wabash Valley sectional fields also appear to be wide open.
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Terre Haute South softball takes Riverton Parke tournament
Terre Haute South is going into the Class 4A Sectional at Northview on Monday with momentum, confidence, a deep bench and a healthier pitching staff than it has had in quite a while.
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North baseball splits doubleheader with Indy North Central
Some of their incentive could have been sapped a couple of nights earlier, when Center Grove achieved an eight-inning victory over Warren Central to clinch the Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference high school baseball championship.
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It’s a rivalry-filled Memorial Day for sectional contenders
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