TERRE HAUTE —
No person, be it student or adult, should resist learning opportunities even though it’s Christmas break.
The 12th Pizza Hut Wabash Valley Classic, which opens today and runs through Friday at Terre Haute North, offers many, many learning opportunities for fans. You just might surprise yourself.
To wit:
• How about mathematics, physics and engineering with the parabolic curve?
• How about philosophy with the irresistible force meeting the immovable object paradox?
• How about a history lesson with the battle between North and South?
First, the parabolic curve, which very simply stated shows graphically the probable attendance ebb and flow for the opening day.
Crowds are expected to build gradually from 10 a.m., reach their crescendo for the 2:30 p.m. (Sullivan vs. Rockville) and 4 p.m. (Terre Haute North vs. Terre Haute South) games, then will likely lessen a bit for the later games.
“I think it will be a packed house for both those games [2:30 and 4 p.m.] … I don’t think there’s any doubt,” Sullivan coach Jeff Moore predicted.
Second, Sullivan (8-0) and Rockville (6-0) represent the irresistible force and the immovable object — or vice versa — as a battle of unbeatens. If they were in opposite brackets, this could be a potential “small school” championship matchup.
Third, history is served with the Terre Haute North vs. Terre Haute South matchup. While North-South is synonymous with the Civil War, this North-South encounter will be fought on the hardwood.
Many pundits say this tournament field is one of the more open when it comes to prognosticating a champion.
Two future and one potential Division-I players in senior Matt O’Leary (Loyola of Chicago), senior Rhett Smith (Indiana State) and junior Lane Mahurin (To be determined) might give a “big” edge to Terre Haute North, Sullivan or Rockville, respectively.
Additional star power in that championship equation? How about Jordan Houser (West Vigo), Dess Fougerousse and Austin Karazsia (Linton) or Justin Crody (Shakamak).
Terre Haute North (5-2) is defending champion, although they no longer have Justin Gant (freshman at Indiana State). However, they are just one free throw and a 3-pointer away from being undefeated as well. Being on their home floor could also give the Patriots a slight edge.
Hey, don’t be fooled by Terre Haute South’s 1-6 record either. If you learned anything at all about the Civil War, the South vowed at that time “they would rise again”.
North-South is certainly one of those “you can throw the record books out when these two teams meet” type of matchup and are usually unpredictable. Besides, although he’s not involved in the North-South game, “Rhett” is a good Civil War name.
Based on those at times unreliable indicators of won-lost records, other challengers might include West Vigo (5-2), Casey (5-1), Shakamak (3-1), Marshall (6-3) or Bloomfield (5-3).
“It’s a great tournament, arguably one of the best tournaments in the state outside of the end-of-the-year state tournament,” West Vigo coach Joe Boehler said. “We’re excited to play in it, a lot of great teams. Feel like it’s pretty open this year.
“We’re hoping we can come in a put together four days of good basketball. I believe we have the ability to, it’s just a matter of getting it done for four straight days. Hopefully, we’ll see what we can do with it.”
Sullivan’s Moore is a big fan of the PHWVC too.
“I think it’s the greatest holiday tournament in the state,” Moore noted. “Highly attended, there’s a lot of big school/small school stuff going on. I love the atmosphere.
“I love the fact you can play three or four games in three or four days. You don’t have time to prepare. Watch your team before you play or you watch them after you play. Then come home, walk through some stuff that morning and get on the bus and go play. Kids love it. They get to play basketball every day.
“Until you get in the [state] tournament, this is the highlight of the season for me every year.”
Enjoy!
High School
A history lesson for Wabash Valley Classic fans
Tourney packs wallop on first day
- High School
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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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Robinson takes regional softball crown
Robinson’s Maroons came from behind in the last two innings Saturday to defeat top-seeded Newton 3-2 and win the Illinois Class 2A Lawrenceville Regional.
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PREP ROUNDUP: Terre Haute South baseball sweeps, takes second place in MIC
Terre Haute South rallied for a tie in the bottom of the seventh and won the game in the bottom of the eighth in Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference high school baseball Saturday, coming behind for a 3-2 win over host Lawrence North.
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PREP ROUNDUP: Baseball, sectional game times announced
Pairings and schedules are set for the Indiana High School Athletic Association tournament.
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PREP ROUNDUP: Game times set for baseball sectionals
Pairings and schedules are set for the Indiana High School Athletic Association tournament.
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South tennis celebrates sectional crown
One day after pulling out its biggest victory of 2012, Terre Haute South High School’s girls tennis team could have taken for granted an opponent it had dominated 5-0 during the regular season.
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South Putnam softball wins 48th straight game, rallying to top Terre Haute North
South Putnam wrapped up an undefeated regular season in high school softball Thursday evening, rallying to defeat Terre Haute North 5-2 at North.
The defending Class 2A state champs will take a 25-0 record and 48-game winning streak into sectional play against Covenant Christian at Cascade next week. “The way we look at it, everyone is 0-0 going into the sectional,” said SP coach Chris Jones. -
North nips South for boys track sectional title
The boys track meet came down to Tyler Seibert of Terre Haute South and Cole Seward of Terre Haute North in the final event again Thursday evening at Terre Haute North.
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PREP PROFILE: North Central baseball has sights on return trip to state finals
Having a 17-4 record with two regular-season games left is something just about every high school baseball team at North Central would appreciate, and the 2012 edition of the Thunderbirds will too.
If it leads to something better in a few weeks, that is. - More High School Headlines
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