Paoli —
Conditions heading into the championship game of the Class 2A Paoli Regional for girls high school basketball could have been better for Sullivan on Saturday.
But although the Golden Arrows had a far tougher game two hours later than Evansville Mater Dei — and Mater Dei is ranked first in the state and the defending state champion — they had at least advanced, thanks to a hard-fought 55-45 win over Austin.
And maybe with the promise of a better game ahead of them.
“This was definitely a warmup game,” said Rhagen Smith, who had 13 points and 14 rebounds in the Arrows’ victory. “Last year [when Sullivan lost to Mater Dei in the regional’s first round] there was a little bit of jitters.”
“We got rattled, and that included me for sure,” said Sullivan floor general Caelan Jones, who had a whopper of a stat line all across the board, “but we stepped back, took a deep breath . . . we’re ready for the next game.”
“It shouldn’t have been so hard,” coach Julie Meeks said of her team’s win. “We were really rattled, and a lot of our turnovers were unforced.”
The third-ranked Arrows jumped out quickly on the eighth-ranked Eagles, scoring the game’s first six points and taking a 15-7 lead when Emily Cottom hit a 3-pointer to open the second quarter.
Austin’s entire offense, for more than a quarter, was the driving ability of senior guard Jessie Davidson — but for a while that was almost enough. The Eagles got within 17-16 and then 22-20 before a steal and two free throws by Jones and a Jones pass to Sydney Chapman for a basket enabled Sullivan to lead 26-20 at intermission.
Turnovers helped Austin score the first seven points of the third quarter, but its 27-26 lead lasted just 15 seconds, until Smith converted two free throws at the other end. Jaleigh Gilham followed with a 3-pointer, but Austin’s Kamry Howard matched it to keep the Eagles within 31-30.
Davidson had been stifled in the third quarter, however, with Chapman getting more help from her teammates. And Sullivan found holes in the Austin defense for some easy shots by Smith and Chapman — set up by passes from Cottom and Jones — to enable the Arrows to outscore the Eagles 10-3 in the last half of the third quarter.
“We knew we couldn’t hold the ball too long [against Austin’s trapping defense],” Jones said. “When you move the ball ... [those shots] are there every time.”
Still the turnovers kept Sullivan’s lead from being comfortable, and the Arrows didn’t score for nearly four minutes of the fourth quarter to let Austin back within 41-37. Jones had two free throws and a steal and layup — moments before picking up a fourth foul — and Sullivan used that breathing room to pull away down the stretch.
Chapman led Sullivan in scoring with 14 points, while Gilham had 10 and Jones finished with nine points, eight rebounds, eight assists and seven steals.
She stayed in the game after the four fouls too.
“When I make a turnover, which I did, I want the ball back so bad it’s like a drug to me,” Jones said of her aggressive fouls.
“If I had to pick a most valuable player, it would be Sydney Chapman,” Meeks said afterward. “She played tough D, tough offense ... she played great today.”
Although Davidson finished with a game-high 16 points — including her team’s first nine of the game — she was held to one basket in the second half and her team struggled when she was ineffective.
“She’s one of the toughest I’ve had to guard all year,” said Chapman, who always gets Sullivan’s toughest defensive assignment. “My goal [against players like that] is hold them below their average [Davidson’s is 19 points per game].
“At halftime we decided to help out on her a little more ... hedge out, try to trap her a little bit.”
“We told [the Arrows] the same thing [at halftime] that we told them before the game,” Meeks said. “We wanted to jump out and double her, make her give the ball up.”
Chapman’s points were also part of the game plan, even though her 12 field-goal attempts were more than she’d taken in all but one game this year.
“We knew [the Eagles] were going to be pressuring Caelan and Jaleigh and clogging it in on Rhagen,” Chapman said, “so I knew I had to look for my shot.”
“I think we executed what we needed,” said Smith, “and down the stretch, with the exception of me, we hit our free throws.”
Mater Dei’s route to Saturday night’s championship game was a lot simpler. The Wildcats went on a 15-0 run in the first quarter to take a 20-4 lead and, after Paoli got within 12 points at halftime, opened the third quarter strong to take all doubt away.
Tori Schickel led the winners with 24 points and 11 rebounds, while Ashlynn Spahn scored 12, Beth Fischer had 10 points and nine rebounds and junior star Maura Muensterman was the best player on the floor with nine points, six rebounds and nine assists. Sophie Sears tried hard to keep fourth-ranked Paoli in the game and finished with 12 points, five rebounds and five assists.
SULLIVAN (55) — Harrison 1-5 0-0 2, Chapman 6-12 2-2 14, R.Smith 3-5 7-12 13, Jones 2-4 5-6 9, Gilham 3-7 2-2 10, Cottom 3-7 0-0 7, Wilkes 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 18-40 FG, 16-22 FT, 55 TP.
AUSTIN (45) — Howard 5-12 2-5 14, Davidson 6-13 3-5 16, Oeffinger 1-5 2-3 4, M.Smith 1-3 1-2 3, Mace 0-2 0-0 0, Riley 1-2 0-0 2, Embrey 2-6 0-0 6, Reynolds 0-0 0-0 0, Jeffries 0-0 0-0 0, Misamore 0-0 0-0 0, Hollan 0-0 0-0 0, Turner 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 16-43 FG, 8-15 FT, 45 TP.
Sullivan 12 14 15 14 — 55
Austin 7 13 13 12 — 45
3-point shooting — Sullivan 3-10 (Gilham 2-6, Cottom 1-4), Austin 5-13 (Howard 2-4, Embrey 2-6, Davidson 1-1, M.Smith 0-2). Total fouls — Sullivan 14, Austin 17. Fouled out — Oeffinger. Technical foul — Gilham. Turnovers — Sullivan 18, Austin 18. Rebounds — Sullivan 37 (R.Smith 14, Jones 8, Harrison 4, Chapman 3, Cottom 3, Gilham 1, team 4), Austin 25 (Oeffinger 5). Assists — Sullivan 15 (Jones 8, Cottom 4, Smith 2, Chapman), Austin 4 (Howard 2). Steals — Sullivan 9 (Jones 7, R.Smith, Gilham), Austin 6 (Davidson 3). Blocks — Sullivan 3 (R.Smith 3), Austin 3 (Howard, Oeffinger, M.Smith).
Next — Sullivan (23-2) and Evansville Mater Dei (25-2) advanced to the regional championship game. Paoli finished 21-2, Austin 19-5.
Tribune-Star staff report Hanover
Rose-Hulman earned a bid to the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Women’s Basketball Tournament despite Saturday’s 74-63 loss at Hanover College.
The Engineers earned the No. 6 conference tournament seed and will face Hanover in a rematch of Saturday’s game in Friday’s opening round. Rose-Hulman and Hanover will square off at 8 p.m. at Transylvania University.
In Saturday’s game at Hanover, three Rose-Hulman players reached double figures in scoring. Freshman Cassidy Cain led the offensive effort with a career-high 18 points on 5-6 from the field and 3-4 from 3-point range.
Other Engineers in double figures included freshman Addie Johnson with 16 points, and freshman Carrie Morris with 10 points.
Katie Gahimer led Hanover with 22 points, and Alicia Hopkins had 14.
Rose-Hulman jumped out to a 12-5 lead at the 15:20 mark, and the Fightin’ Engineer lead reached 10 points at 22-12 on a layup by Johnson with 9:49 left in the first half. Hanover closed the half on a 9-2 run to trim Rose-Hulman’s lead to 31-30 at the half.
In the second half, the two teams battled to a 36-36 tie after a 3-pointer by Cain at the 16:04 mark. Hanover scored nine straight points to take a 45-36 edge, and Rose-Hulman withstood the charge to remain within 59-51 with 7:36 left. The Panthers answered with eight straight points to push their lead to 67-51.
Rose-Hulman is 12-13 on the season. Hanover is 18-7. The rest of the HCAC field includes top-seeded Transylvania, No. 2 Franklin, No. 4 Defiance and No. 5 Manchester.
ROSE-HULMAN (63) — Cain 5-7 5-6 18, Johnson 6-11 3-6 16, Morris 2-4 5-6 10, Gibbs 3-10 1-2 7, Ploof 3-7 0-0 6, Williams 1-3 2-3 4, Gilliam 1-7 0-0 2, Fuhs 0-0 0-0 0, Dalton 0-0 0-0 0, Ottone 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 21-49 FG, 16-23 FT, 63 TP.
HANOVER (74) — Gahimer 10-16 0-0 22, Hopkins 4-8 6-8 14, Malloy 3-4 0-1 9, Caudill 2-4 3-6 7, Brewer 2-5 0-0 6, Prater 2-7 2-6 6, Watson 0-2 5-6 5, Weddle 0-2 3-6 3, DeMoss 1-2 0-0 2, Dilley 0-2 0-0 0, Tubb 0-0 0-0 0, Block 0-1 0-0 0, Morse 0-3 0-0 0, Jones 0-0 0-0 0, Pahren 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 24-58 FG, 19-33 FT, 74 TP.
Halftime score — Rose-Hulman 31, Hanover 30. 3-point goals — Rose-Hulman 5-13 (Cain 3-5, Morris 1-3, Johnson 1-3, Williams 0-1, Gilliam 0-1), Hanover 7-18 (Malloy 3-4, Brewer 2-5, Gahimer 2-4, Morse 0-1, Pahren 0-1, Caudill 0-1, Hopkins 0-2). Fouled out—Ploof. Rebounds — Rose-Hulman 39 (Gibbs 10), Hanover 26 (Gahimer 6). Assists — Rose-Hulman 12 (Ploof 4), Hanover 13. Total fouls — Rose-Hulman 22, Hanover 19. A — 350.
Sports
Related Photos
-
Tribune-Star/Jim Avelis On the move: Sullivan guard Caelan Jones drives past Austin defender Kourtney Mace as the Golden Arrows advanced to the championship game against Evansville Mater Dei.
-
Tribune-Star/Jim Avelis Crowd pleaser: Sullivan's Jaleigh Gilham shoots a 3-pointer in front of the Golden Arrow student section.
-
Tribune-Star/Jim Avelis No entrance: Sullivan Rhagen Smith blocks a shot by Austin's Jessie Davidson late in the Arrows' afternoon win in Paoli.
-
Tribune-Star/Jim Avelis Assist: Sullivan head girl's basketball coach Julie Meeks helps the refs make a call in the Golden Arrows' win over Austin Saturday.
-
Tribune-Star/Jim Avelis Breaking loose: Sullivan's Emily Cottom scores past the defense of Austin's Kamry Howard late in their semifinal game of the Paoli regional.
Discussion
Sullivan reaches regional championship game
- Sports
-
-
Vikings win in extra innings at Rockville
West Vigo scored six runs in its first two innings Saturday, then needed a ninth-inning single by Lucas Fagg to escape with a 7-6 extra-inning win in nonconference high school baseball at Rockville.
-
TH South beats Northview in Big Four makeup baseball game
Terre Haute South wrapped up a share of the MIC baseball title and finished up the Big Four Classic with an 8-1 victory over Northview in less than 24 hours on Saturday morning.
-
Shooters compete to fight cancer
A team of employees at Taghleef, formally A.E.T, would like to give a personal invite for you to join in on a lot of fun while helping save lives.
Cindy and Mark Wilguess are the inspiration behind the Taghleef Team. Cindy herself fought this battle with cancer and won. Last year she led her team to be the No. 1 fundraisers in the Relay for Life. -
ISU's athletic treasure trove
Think of every championship that Indiana State has won in each of its sports, past and present. Think of every tournament — postseason or regular season — which the Sycamores have claimed as their own.
-
Carpenter arrives as Indy 500 threat
And the crowd went wild.
Not only did Ed Carpenter win the pole for the 97th running of the Indianapolis 500, he is the hometown son. Carpenter, the stepson of Tony George, completed his rookie orientation in 2004 and has spent the last several years, proving he deserved to be the IZOD IndyCar Series. There is no questioning his credentials now. -
Carpenter wins Indy 500 pole
Ed Carpenter is on the pole for the 97th running of the Indianapolis 500.
The native of Marshall, Ill., earned the No. 1 spot for the May 26 race with a strong run in the Fast Nine competition at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Saturday. He is the first American driver on the pole since 2006. -
Ort sets ISU RBI record in 16-7 win
Robby Ort celebrated his Indiana State baseball Senior Day on Saturday by becoming the Sycamores’ all-time leader in RBIs as ISU ended its regular season with a 16-7 win over Bradley at Bob Warn Field.
-
Manchester wins regional baseball tournament at Rose-Hulman
Manchester defeated Marietta 8-5 Saturday at Rose-Hulman’s Art Nehf Field to advance to the NCAA Division III baseball championships.
-
TILL IT'S OVER: Terre Haute Triathlon's new race director seeks more events for his hometown
Today is the day for the Thunder in the Valley, and the Terre Haute Triathlon is under new leadership in 2013, the 28th year for the event at Hawthorn Park.
A former Terre Haute North track and cross country standout, Ethan Page is the race director as the race falls under the reign of Page’s new company, Crossroads Events. -
Olds pitches South to share of MIC baseball title
Friday night, winning the second game 5-0 and earning a share of the Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference high school baseball title.
Damon Olds was dominant on the mound for the Braves, striking out 14 and walking just one while pitching a three-hit shutout.
-
Vikings win in extra innings at Rockville
- Local Interest
-
-
Indiana State baseball series canceled
Heavy rain from Thursday through Saturday has forced Indiana State and Tennessee Martin to cancel their three-game weekend baseball series in northwest Tennessee.
-
METRO ROUNDUP: Rose-Hulman baseball to play DePauw on Thursday after Tuesday's rain
The Rose-Hulman baseball team has rescheduled its non-conference game with DePauw to Thursday night.
The start time remains 7 p.m. for the single nine-inning game that was originally scheduled for today. Tuesday’s scheduled Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference game at Anderson was moved to Sunday because of rain. -
Vigo County Youth Soccer Association to host Indiana Soccer Cup Games
The Vigo County Youth Soccer Association will welcome more than 7,000 people to its Springhill Drive facility through two tournaments in the next five weeks.
-
METRO ROUNDUP: North, South well-represented on All-Star teams
Two Terre Haute schools, two Terre Haute coaches and four Terre Haute All-Stars.
When it comes to the 21st Annual North-South All-Star Classic on April14 at Rose-Hulman, it would be hard to discern any North-South bias.
-
Wabash baseball tops Rose-Hulman
Wabash College scored two runs in the third inning and two in the fifth to top Rose-Hulman 4-1 in non-conference baseball Wednesday afternoon.
-
Indiana State baseball series canceled
- High School
-
-
Vikings win in extra innings at Rockville
West Vigo scored six runs in its first two innings Saturday, then needed a ninth-inning single by Lucas Fagg to escape with a 7-6 extra-inning win in nonconference high school baseball at Rockville.
- TH South beats Northview in Big Four makeup baseball game
- Olds pitches South to share of MIC baseball title
- South wins first half of doubleheader against Lawrence North
- PREP ROUNDUP: Calleja pitches West Vigo past South Vermillion
-
Vikings win in extra innings at Rockville
- College
-
Trophies: Ace Hunt rummages through several boxes loaded with sports trophies from days gone by Tuesday afternoon in the basement of the ISU Athletic offices building.
-
ISU's athletic treasure trove
Think of every championship that Indiana State has won in each of its sports, past and present. Think of every tournament — postseason or regular season — which the Sycamores have claimed as their own.
-
Ort sets ISU RBI record in 16-7 win
Robby Ort celebrated his Indiana State baseball Senior Day on Saturday by becoming the Sycamores’ all-time leader in RBIs as ISU ended its regular season with a 16-7 win over Bradley at Bob Warn Field.
-
Bradley ends 16-game MVC losing streak against ISU
Momentum was the only thing riding on Indiana State’s baseball game against Bradley on Friday. With a five-game winning streak going, ISU wanted to keep the good vibes going into next week’s Missouri Valley Conference Tournament.
ISU couldn’t do it. -
Behind 16 hits and Manaea's pitching, ISU beats Bradley
Indiana State’s baseball team rode a wild ride of emotion on Thursday.
First came the public announcement that Bob Warn Field would host the 2014 Missouri Valley Conference Tournament. Later, Sean Manaea’s availability to pitch ISU’s series opener against Bradley was in doubt. -
Indiana State women add five transfers, including experienced D-I point guard
Indiana State coach Teri Moren believes the addition of five more newcomers to the program — in addition to the five who had already joined the program earlier this calendar year — will provide her coaching staff the athleticism and depth it needs to play a successful, up-tempo brand of basketball next season.
-
ISU's athletic treasure trove
- Sports Columns
-
-
Shooters compete to fight cancer
A team of employees at Taghleef, formally A.E.T, would like to give a personal invite for you to join in on a lot of fun while helping save lives.
Cindy and Mark Wilguess are the inspiration behind the Taghleef Team. Cindy herself fought this battle with cancer and won. Last year she led her team to be the No. 1 fundraisers in the Relay for Life. - TILL IT'S OVER: Terre Haute Triathlon's new race director seeks more events for his hometown
- TODD GOLDEN: Don't give up on ISU baseball just yet
- TRACKSIDE: Terre Haute's Carmichael enjoying strong spring in modifieds, stocks
- From Terre Haute to the major leagues: Phegley's play could earn him promotion to Chicago
-
Shooters compete to fight cancer
- Pro Sports
-
-
Colts hoping for more high marks on draft picks
A year ago, the Indianapolis Colts received high marks for the impact players the team added through the NFL draft.
Of the 10 players selected, five ended up either starting or seeing extensive playing time (quarterback Andrew Luck, tight ends Coby Fleener and Dwayne Allen, wide receiver T.Y. Hilton and running back Vick Ballard) during the Colts’ 11-5 season.
While this year’s class may not rival that group in terms of name recognition and flash, it may produce just as many major contributors once the 2013 season gets underway. - Colts in wait-and-see mode for tonight’s NFL draft
- Colts sign Matt Hasselbeck to back up Luck
- Colts introduce free-agent signees
- Indianapolis franchises punter McAfee
-
Colts hoping for more high marks on draft picks
- Terre Haute Rex
-
Consultation: Rex manager Brian Dorsett talks with his pitcher and players during a time-out Sunday, July 15, at Sycamore Field. (Tribune-Star file/Bob Poynter)
-
2012 an up, down season for Rex
The Terre Haute Rex went through plenty of trials and tribulations during the summer of 2012.
The team got off to a sluggish start to settle for third place during the first half of the Prospect League race, but manager Brian Dorsett rallied the troops to a second-half title. - Metro Roundup: Dorsett, Rex players honored in Prospect League postseason awards
- Rex out of playoffs
- Rex mix, match their way to win
- Rex turn eye to Prospect playoffs
-
2012 an up, down season for Rex
- Colts
-
-
Colts' coordinators enjoying getting rookies acclimated
While the Indianapolis Colts put their rookies and a handful of second-year players through workouts this weekend at the team’s Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center, a pair of first-year coordinators are getting a chance to do some valuable on-field work as well.
- Werner, 36 others open Colts’ mini camp
- Colts hoping for more high marks on draft picks
- Werner at top of game
- Colts select pass rusher Werner in first round
-
Colts' coordinators enjoying getting rookies acclimated
- Auto Racing
-
-
Carpenter arrives as Indy 500 threat
And the crowd went wild.
Not only did Ed Carpenter win the pole for the 97th running of the Indianapolis 500, he is the hometown son. Carpenter, the stepson of Tony George, completed his rookie orientation in 2004 and has spent the last several years, proving he deserved to be the IZOD IndyCar Series. There is no questioning his credentials now. - Carpenter wins Indy 500 pole
- TRACKSIDE: Rain still a pain for Wabash Valley racing organizers
- TRACKSIDE: Tough to rise from sprint-car racing, especially in challenging financial times
- METRO ROUNDUP: Rose baseball wins another thriller
-
Carpenter arrives as Indy 500 threat
Preakness Day 2013
Nolan Arenado Fitting Right In With The Rockies
WQAM Audio: Lamar Miller's goal? 1,500 rushing yards
Red Wings beat Blackhawks 4-1 in game 2 of Western Conference Semifinals
Orb heads Preakness field
Betting at the Preakness
Amico: Grizzlies/Spurs series preview
Three and Out: Knick's Bench
Loud Mouths: Venting Machine
Does Orb have a legit shot at the Triple Crown?
Stuart: You gotta move on and win your home games
Green: 'Winning is a mentality; we are not satisfied'
UW Women's Golf team ready to shoot for more NCAA history
Bogut: 'It was a roller-coaster of a season for me'
Pavelski on 0-2 hole: 'We gotta put it behind us and move on'
Curry on Jack & Landry: 'I want them back'
Thompson: 'We've got all the right pieces to win a championship'
Video: Blackhawks' Bickell on Game 2 approach
Barnes: I want to improve by post game and ball-handling
Curry: I don't look like the typical NBA player; I look 18
Twiggy, the Water Skiing Squirrel
Sailor Surprises His Mom At Her CU Denver Graduation Ceremony
Official: ‘Amazing’ No One Was Killed In CT Train Crash
Lotto Fever Sweeps the Country
Coffee Stop Leads To Arrest Of YouTube Sensation Wanted For Murder
Bearded Dragon Reunited With Owner
Marine Reunited with Warzone Companion
Raw: Crash Sends Car Into Fla. Pool
Beyonce Is Pregnant!
SF baseball player overpaid $500,000 RETURNS money -- and team says KEEP IT
$1 Million in Jewels Stolen at Cannes Film Fest
Dad returns from Afghanistan, surprises family during Rays' first pitch
See Jennifer Lopez's New $10m Hamptons Mansion
Woman tricked into taking abortion pill
Emma Watson Goes Pantless
IRS scandal: Republicans seek to tie Obama to agency's woes
Play of the Day: Flipping to Safety
Pregnant Kim Kardashian Squeezes Her Swollen Feet Into Stilettos
Top Videos of the Week: Angry Taco Bell Guy, Glacier Moves on House, Dog Hates Baths
Cindy Crawford Stuns At Cannes
