Pacers beat Grizzlies for fifth-straight home win
Monday, December 31, 2012
Pacers guard D.J. Augustin drives to the hoop against Memphis' Mike Conley.
(Courtesy photo)
INDIANAPOLIS -- The Pacers beat Memphis in an afternoon game on Monday, 88-83. They were without starting point guard George Hill, who missed the game with an injury.
D.J. Augustin, removed from the playing rotation a few weeks ago for rookie point guard Ben Hasbrough, stepped into the void in Hill's absence.
A former top-ten draft pick by Charlotte, Augustin has struggled to find a rhythm since joining the Pacers (18-13) as a free agent last summer.
He entered the game averaging just 3.1 points, on 26 percent shooting, and 2.3 assists per game.
Augustin, his fifth year out of Texas, spent the last two seasons starting for the Bobcats and seemed to find his groove by moving back into that role. He made four of the Pacers' 12 three-pointers, including a dagger late that put Indiana up six with two minutes left.
He also sank four-of-four free throws down the stretch to help seal the win.
"I was out there longer so the shots were able to come to me instead of me trying to force shots in limited minutes," Augustin said. "(Starting) makes a big difference. You come out loose and ready and prepared for the game. But when you come off the bench, you've got to be ready also."
Augustin added a season-high six assists.
Paul George continued his recent success, scoring a team-high 21 points. He also held Grizzlies star forward Rudy Gay to just three-of-17 shooting.
Roy Hibbert, coming off a zero-point, one-rebound catastrophe against Atlanta on Saturday, responded against Memphis.
The Grizzlies (19-9) attacked Hibbert early with Zach Randolph posting up, but they failed to feed the post consistently.
Randolph finished with 21 points and 15 rebounds.
Hibbert finished with four big blocks, including one of Gay that would have closed the gap to three with 1:51 remaining.
Indiana hosts the Wizards for the second time this season on Wednesday at 7 p.m.
At Indiana
Grizzlies 19 22 26 16 -- 83
Pacers 19 19 22 28 -- 88
Individual scoring
Grizzlies: Randolph 7-18, 7-8, 21; Gasol 6-10, 1-1, 13; Gay 3-17, 5-8, 11; Allen 5-8, 1-2, 11; Conley 3-9, 2-2, 9; Ellington 2-4, 0-0, 6; Arthur 3-6, 0-0, 6; Speights 2-6, 1-2, 5; Bayless 0-4, 1-1, 1.
Pacers: George 7-16, 3-4, 21; Augustin 4-9, 5-6, 17; West 3-6, 7-8, 13; Stephenson 3-7, 2-2, 10; Hibbert 3-11, 3-4, 9; T Hansbrough 3-6, 0-0, 6; B Hansbrough 2-5, 0-0, 6; Green 2-5, 0-0, 4; Mahinmi 1-5, 0-0, 2; Young 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Team scoring (three-pointers)
Grizzlies 31-82 (3-11), 18-24, 83; Pacers 28-70 (12-25), 20-24, 88.
Rebounds (offensive)
Grizzlies 44 (18); Pacers 38 (11).
Turnovers
Grizzlies 16; Pacers 18.
Top-ranked Tigers win Hasbrook championship against Rockford
Monday, December 31, 2012
Members of the 2012 All-Hasbrook Tournament team (from left) Erin Ryczek, Kate Walker, Kat Molloy, Alex Gasaway and former players Ann Hall, Sarah McKay, Lindsey Rush, Erin Miller and Dana Ferguson.Not pictured are Spalding senior Kelly Harrod and Rose-Hulman freshman Addie Johnson.
(Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN) [Order this photo]
Saturday's win over Rose-Hulman was just a warm-up for the DePauw women's basketball team as they feasted on Rockford College in the Hasbrook Tournament championship game Sunday, winning 73-43.
Senior point guard Kate Walker was named tournament MVP, having averaged 10.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists in just 18 minutes per game.
"It's nice to be awarded that, especially at the Hasie Tournament," Walker said. "I know this is going to sound corny, but Hasie (former DePauw guard Amy Hasbrook) ... coach talks so highly about her. So being the MVP of that tournament is kind of a big deal.
"In my head, what coach has described Hasie as is the hard-worker, the person who doesn't necessarily get the most points, but puts their whole heart on the court."
The Tigers dominated from the start, jumping out to a 30-4 lead before allowing the Regents their first field goal with 5:18 left in the first half.
After spending most of game Saturday in a 2-3 zone defense, DPU switched back to their customary man-to-man scheme for the final.
"(Zone defense) is something new that we've added in the last three or four years," Tigers head coach Kris Huffman said. "It helps us when we go against teams with a 6'2" center, because we're undersized ... We're just making sure that we're prepared to play anybody, so it's something that we continue to work on."
Height on the front line wasn't a problem against Rockford and the tenacious defense of DePauw kept the Regents out of the paint.
"I always prefer man," Walker said. "I've played man my whole life. I never played zone until I came to DePauw, and even then we don't play it all that often."
The Tigers held a 41-15 lead at halftime, but only a slight 17-16 rebounding advantage.
"We always want to focus on rebounding," Huffman said. "Especially with this being the Hasbrook Tournament, and that was something that she did so well. We talked this week about making sure that this was something that we owned this weekend. We tried to own the glass."
The Tigers hauled in 21 rebounds, including 14 offensive rebounds, in the second half.
With the game well in hand, starters moved aside early after the break, allowing DPU's second unit to carry them the rest of the way.
Senior Kathleen Molloy was the games leading scorer, finishing with a career-high 15 points, making five-of-nine shots (four-of-five threes).
"I knew I was shooting kind of well, but I didn't know it was my career-high," Molloy, whose bio on the team website lists her praying for Hasbrook to get ready for each game, said.
Molloy and junior Alex Gasaway joined Walker on the all-tournament team.
DePauw plays again Friday when the team hosts conference-rival Allegheny at 6 p.m. The men's game follows.
DePauw senior point guard Kate Walker lines up for a runner over Rockford junior Destiny Chaney. Walker was named 2012 Amy Hasbrook Tournament MVP.
(Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN) [Order this photo]
At DePauw
Rockford 15 28 -- 43
DePauw 41 32 -- 73
Individual scoring
Rockford: Ryczek 6-14, 2-2, 17; Nichols 3-6, 2-3, 8; Bjerning 2-4, 0-0, 4; Chaney 1-5, 2-4, 4; Woods 1-5, 0-0, 3; Scott 1-2, 0-0, 3; Lengjak 1-6, 0-0, 2; Lawler 1-5, 0-0, 2; Johnson 0-5, 0-0, 0; Fowler 0-0, 0-0, 0.
DePauw: Molloy 5-9, 1-2, 15; Abendroth 4-4, 0-0, 10; Walker 3-5, 2-2, 9; Gasaway 4-7, 0-0, 9; Trees 2-6, 2-2, 6; Pearson 2-4, 1-2, 5; Ross 2-5, 1-2, 5; McGinnis 2-2, 0-0, 4; Skordos 1-2, 0-0, 3; Stephens 1-4, 1-2, 3; Ondik 1-4, 0-0, 2; Keller 1-4, 0-0, 2; Francis 0-0, 0-0, 0; Stoner 0-2, 0-0, 0; McDonagh 0-2, 0-0, 0; Hacker 0-1, 0-0, 0; Lukemeyer 0-1, 0-0, 0; Frost 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Team scoring (three-pointers)
Rockford 16-52 (7-14), 4-6, 43; DePauw 28-62 (9-19), 8-12, 73.
Rebounds (offensive)
Rockford 33 (16); DePauw 38 (18).
Turnovers
Rockford 22; DePauw 10.
Cougars place third at Speedway girls' basketball tourney
Monday, December 31, 2012
North Putnam junior point guard Bethany Wiatt rips the ball away from Arlington freshman Briella Tomlinson (33), recording one of her game-high nine steals. (Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN )[Order this photo]
SPEEDWAY -- Two teams entered the consolation game at the 2012 Speedway girls' basketball tournament looking to snap a burdensome losing streak.
North Putnam was able to do just that, beating Indianapolis Arlington (0-8) 67-36.
The Cougars (2-10) entered the game with a five-game losing streak. The Golden Knights made headlines a few weeks ago after suffering a 103-2 loss.
"Arlington played hard for 32 minutes," NPHS coach Curtis Lawrence said. "We let (the players) know (after the first game against Western Boone) that there are some things that we can improve on, and we were able to do that against Arlington."
NPHS began the game in attack mode, hoping out to a 13-5 lead and experimenting with full court ball pressure for the first time this season.
When it worked, the Cougars were able to get easy steals and layups. There were also signs of inexperience that allowed the Knights to leak out to the outside and race to the rim.
The Cougars led by only one (13-12) after the first quarter.
Eventually, they figured out how to use press.
NPHS closed the first half on a 16-3 run.
"We felt that, if we could apply a little bit of pressure to them, we would be able to create turnovers," Lawrence said, "which would lead to some easy baskets, which is something we haven't been able to do."
Junior point guard Bethany Wiatt seemed the most comfortable with applying full court pressure. She finished with nine steals, 11 points and three assists.
Senior Sam Lucas was the game's high-scorer, putting in 17 and adding 11 rebounds for the Cougars.
Senior Cayla Kientz added nine points, and sophomore Morgan Smith had eight.
NPHS is in the midst of its most winnable stretch of the season
with games next week against Fountain Central and Eminence.
Lawrence is hoping the new defensive strategy will help keep the momentum going.
"We really haven't played a team yet that I thought the press would be beneficial to us," he said. "When we get behind in a game, we don't have the makeup that is going be able to get us back in the game against the teams that we've played so far. We've got some teams coming up ... that I think our press is going to be beneficial to us."
The Cougars lost Saturday's opening game to Western Boone 65-18.
At Speedway
Game 1
North Putnam 5 6 2 5 -- 18
Western Boone 19 13 14 19 -- 65
Individual scoring
North Putnam: Asbell 1-5, 2-5, 4; Kientz 2-7, 0-1, 4; Wiatt 1-2, 0-1, 2; Lucas 1-4, 0-0, 2; Land 1-2, 0-0, 2; Mindiola 1-1, 0-0, 2; Smith 0-8, 1-2, 1; Clodfelter 0-2, 1-2, 1; Aynes 0-2, 0-0, 0; Pitcock 0-0, 0-0, 0; Reeves 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Western Boone: Harrison 6-16, 3-3, 15; Ramey 6-11, 0-1, 12; Climer 4-6, 0-0, 9; Vanderpool 3-8, 2-2, 8; Henderson 2-7, 1-5, 5; Mitchell 2-8, 0-0, 4; Miller 2-7, 0-0, 4; Marsh 2-11, 0-0, 4; Hole 1-1, 0-0, 2.
Team scoring (three-pointers)
NP 7-33 (0-4), 4-11, 18; WB 28-76 (1-7), 6-13, 65.
Rebounds (offensive)
NP 28 (5); WB 54 (30).
Turnovers
NP 34; WB 13.
Game 2
Indianapolis Arlington 12 3 8 13 -- 36
North Putnam 13 16 18 20 -- 67
Individual scoring
Indianapolis Arlington: Hogue 5-23, 1-2, 13; Tomlinson 4-8, 0-1, 9; Rupert 3-4, 1-1, 7; Davis 1-3, 0-0, 2; Turman 1-7, 0-0, 2; Watson 1-5, 0-0, 2; Hogens 0-1, 0-0, 0; White 0-0, 0-0, 0; Harvey 0-0, 0-0, 0.
North Putnam: Lucas 5-13, 7-10, 17; Kientz 4-6, 3-4, 11; Wiatt 3-8, 5-6, 11; Smith 2-12, 5-10, 9; Asbell 3-8, 1-4, 7; Land 2-6, 0-0, 4; Aynes 2-7, 0-0, 4; Mindiola 1-1, 0-0, 2; Clodfelter 0-3, 0-0, 0; Pitcock 0-2, 0-2, 0; Reeves 0-1, 0-0, 0.
Team scoring (three-pointers)
IA 16-52 (3-15), 2-5, 36; NP 23-66 (0-6), 21-37, 67.
Rebounds (offensive)
IA 42 (7); NP 49 (18).
Turnovers
IA 38, NP 17.
Clovers place 4th at Clinton Prairie Tournament
Sunday, December 30, 2012
Cloverdale senior Sydney Shrum drives in for a layup against Clinton Prairie senior Stephanie Schrock. Shrum made her shot and was fouled.
(Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN) [Order this photo]
FRANKFORT -- The Cloverdale girls' basketball team came out flat after a 10-day layoff, finishing in fourth place at Friday's Clinton Prairie Tournament after losses to the hosts and Hagerstown.
The Clovers played some of their best basketball of the season in the second half of game one against Clinton Prairie, but it wasn't enough to overcome the 22-point halftime deficit as the Gophers won 48-36.
Cloverdale was outrebounded 22-7 in the first half, and turned the ball over 13 times.
The team also made just three-of-20 shots before the break.
The Clovers emerged from halftime with energy, playing almost four minutes before getting a turnover in the third quarter.
As Cloverdale head coach Matthew Langdon dipped into his more inexperienced bench to save his starters energy for game two, the play got a little sloppier, but the still cut into the lead.
In the end, lack of scoring threats with too little time to make up the difference.
"We came out slow in the first game," Langdon said. "In the second half we played good man-to-man and we wanted to ball more ... I hoped we could bring that energy to the second game. (I knew) if we play like that, we have a chance (against Hagerstown)."
It wasn't to be. The team came out flat again, scoring just five first-quarter points. They failed to make a dent the rest of the game and the Tigers secured a 39-27 win.
Hagerstown junior Hayley Rogers scored 18 points in the win.
Senior Amillia Nally, the Clovers most consistent player on Friday, scored 10 points.
Cloverdale was allowed Hagerstown to attempt nearly twice as many field goals (48-26) during the course of the game.
The Clovers defense that has been pressuring opponents into turnovers all year let the team down. The Tigers had just eight in the game, and two in the second half.
"Our offense feeds off our defense," Langdon said. "We didn't do what we need to do."
Langdon said he was disappointed with the effort, but he hopes it was a product of the long layoff and not a sign of things to come.
In addition to the big break, the Clovers also expanded their rotation. Normally the team only gives seven players significant minutes, but Langdon said he realized he is going to need to find a way to keep his starters fresh as the postseason tournament approaches.
"I'm trying to get the starters more time out (of the game)," he said. "If we're going to be a pressing team the whole game, we're going to need to get our starters more of a break."
Cloverdale will carry a five-game losing streak with it when the team hosts South Vermillion on Jan. 3.
Notes: Eastern won the tournament championship game against Clinton Prairie, 59-43 ... Sophomore Bailee Stevens missed the tournament as she recovers from an injury, but she is expected to return in the Clovers next game ... Cloverdale (4-9) had a .500 record before the recent skid.
Cloverdale senior Amillia Nally splits through Hagerstown defenders to get to the basket for a layup.
(Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN) [Order this photo]
At Clinton Prairie
Game 1
Cloverdale 5 2 13 16 -- 36
Clinton Prairie 13 16 11 8 -- 48
Individual scoring
Cloverdale: Nally 4-12, 3-5, 9; Gruener 2-10, 3-4, 7; Shrum 3-4, 0-1, 6; Skiles 1-5, 1-2, 4; Walters 1-3, 1-3, 3; Wellington 1-1, 0-0, 3; Dorsett 0-0, 1-2, 1; Clark 0-3, 0-0, 0; Hamm 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Clinton Prairie: Hanna 3-9, 7-8, 14; Douglass 6-13, 1-2, 13; Clark 4-6, 1-4, 9; Schrock 1-3, 2-2, 4; Schoonveld 2-2, 0-0, 4; Pearson 1-1, 0-0, 3; Dunham 0-0, 1-2, 1; Wines 0-1, 0-0, 0; Sabens 0-0, 0-0, 0; Humrickhouse 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Team shooting (three-pointers)
Cloverdale 12-39 (3-12), 9-17, 36; Clinton Prairie 17-35 (2-4), 12-18, 48.
Rebounds (offensive)
Cloverdale 16 (6), Clinton Prairie 33 (9).
Turnovers
Cloverdale 20, Clinton Prairie 24.
Game 2
Hagerstown 8 12 9 10 -- 39
Cloverdale 5 8 5 9 -- 27
Individual scoring
Hagerstown: H Rogers 9-16, 0-0, 18; C Rogers 3-9, 1-2, 9; O Robinson 2-4, 1-2, 5; M Houck 2-8, 0-0, 4; S Houck 1-1, 0-0, 2; Brown 0-2, 1-2, 1; Arnold 0-3, 0-0, 0; Willis 0-2, 0-0, 0; Caudill 0-3, 0-0, 0; J Robinson 0-0, 0-0, 0; Matanich 0-0, 0-0, 0; Hannon 0-0, 0-0, 0; O Houck 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Cloverdale: Nally 4-7, 2-3, 10; Shrum 1-3, 5-6, 7; Clark 2-2, 0-0, 4; Gruener 1-7, 0-0, 2; Walters 1-2, 0-0, 2; Dorsett 1-2, 0-0, 2; Skiles 0-3, 0-0, 0; Wellington 0-0, 0-0, 0; Hamm 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Team shooting (three-pointers)
Hagerstown 17-48 (2-7), 3-6, 39; Cloverdale 10-26 (0-2), 7-9; 27.
Rebounds (offensive)
Hagerstown 22 (11), Cloverdale 23 (5).
Turnovers
Hagerstown 8, Cloverdale 22.
No. 1 Tigers find legs in Hasbrook semi
Saturday, December 29, 2012
DePauw junior Alex Gasaway drives in for a layup over Rose-Hulman freshman Addie Johnson and junior Kelsey Ploof (50). [Order this photo]
The DePauw University women's basketball team defeated Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology 79-36 on Saturday in the second game of the 2012 Amy Hasbrook Memorial Tournament.
The Tigers are ranked No. 1 in NCAA Division III and showed why with a convincing victory over the Engineers.
It was the Tigers first game in 10 days. The team is coming off a tournament win in Puerto Rico and a break due to the holidays.
DPU head coach Kris Huffman was concerned about her team's condition with the long layoff and, with a cancelled practice on Wednesday, she implemented a new strategy.
The Tigers platooned full five-player units every four minutes.
The starting five of senior Kate Walker, junior Ali Ross, sophomore Savannah Trees, junior Alex Gasaway and senior Ellie Pearson got the team off to a hot 6-for-11 start and a 14-5 lead before sitting down.
"It is fun, but I would say (coach Huffman) probably won't do that again," Ross said. "I liked it, but I also like getting to intermix with the other players."
After allowing six unanswered points by Rose-Hulman, the second unit of sophomores Emma Ondik and Lauren Abendroth, juniors Alison Stephens and Erin McGinnis and senior Kathleen Molloy started to get in sync.
Stephens (12) and Molloy (10) both finished the game in double-digit scoring.
"Coach did it to make sure that we had fresh legs constantly," Walker said. "I usually play with that set of five a lot, so it's not something that I wasn't used to."
The starters returned and expanded the lead to 34-11 with 5:59 left in the half, continuing a 20-0 run.
"We haven't done that this year," Huffman said. "We have some depth, but we usually don't platoon it ... It wasn't totally planned, but it's how it worked out."
The fresh legs allowed the hosts to keep Rose-Hullman off balance, and DePauw exploited it inside.
Gasaway scored 10 of her game-high 17 points in the first half.
DPU continued the platoon strategy in second half and the players got into an even better rhythm.
The Tigers had extra focus for their opponent, Walker said, because they're playing in memory of former DPU star Amy Hasbrook.
"We always learn a lot about Hasie," Walker said. "Coach has always held her up on a pedestal, saying how great she is and how good of a rebounder she is, so it's always a goal during the Hasie Tournament to get as many rebounds as possible and play your heart out.
"No matter what, I always feel like it's playing your heart out for her."
DPU out-rebounded Rose-Hulman by a convincing 40-27 margin.
"Amy was a special player for us," Huffman said. "We may sometimes talk about certain teams of a given year, but (for individual players) Hasie probably stands out. She was a special player ... and to know that we don't have her with us anymore probably brings it to light.
"She's a great example for us to keep her name and her memory alive."
Hasbrook graduated from DePauw in 2000 and died in a house fire in Indianapolis in 2002.
The Tigers face Rockford College (2-9) in the tournament final on Sunday at 5 p.m.
At DePauw
Rose-Hulman 21 15 -- 36
DePauw 40 39 -- 79
Individual scoring
Rose-Hulman: Johnson 4-10, 0-0, 8; Williams 2-4, 3-3, 8; Ploof 2-4, 3-4, 7; Evers 2-7, 1-1, 6; Morris 2-6, 1-2, 5; Gilliam 1-2, 0-0, 2; Cain 0-4, 0-2, 0; Ottone 0-0, 0-0, 0; Gibbs 0-1, 0-0, 0; Dalton 0-0, 0-0, 0; Fuhs 0-0, 0-0, 0; Barnes 0-0, 0-0, 0.
DePauw: Gasaway 7-11, 2-3, 16; Walker 5-11, 2-2, 12; Stephens 4-8, 2-2, 12; Molloy 4-6, 1-2, 10; Ross 4-9, 0-0, 9; Trees 2-4, 1-1, 5; Pearson 1-5, 2-3, 4; Sarkisian 2-2, 0-0, 4; Abendroth 1-5, 0-0, 3; Stoner 1-1, 0-0, 2; Hacker 1-2, 0-2, 2; Ondik 0-2, 0-0, 0; Skordos 0-1, 0-0, 0; McDonagh 0-2, 0-0, 0; Lukemeyer 0-1, 0-0, 0; McGinnis 0-0, 0-0, 0; Keller 0-1, 0-0, 0; Frost 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Team scoring (three-pointers)
RHIT 13-38 (2-14), 8-12, 36; DPU 32-71 (5-14), 10-15, 79.
Rebounds (offensive)
RHIT 27 (3); DPU 40 (18).
Turnovers
RHIT 27; DPU 8.
Tiger Cubs vacation comes to halt against Danville
Saturday, December 29, 2012
Greencastle sophomore Brody Bollman drives in for a layup, fending off Danville defender B'ster Detty.
(Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN) [Order this photo]
The young Greencastle boys' basketball team continues to take steps toward improving, but they're not ready yet and that showed against Danville in the 71-49 loss on Friday at McAnally.
The Tiger Cubs (1-6) played their first game in 13 days and, despite the loss, changes were evident.
"I do think we're seeing improvement as a team, even though the scoreboard may not show it," GHS head coach Troy Greenlee said. "You hate to say you're satisfied with losing a game like this, but as we are, we have to do that. We have to look at where we are and where we were and compare.
"I think we're getting better."
GHS began the game struggling against the fast and aggressive Danville (8-1) defense.
The Warriors converted their first six shots to open the game, mostly fast break layups coming off turnovers.
Danville senior Ian Asher led the early attack, scoring 12 of his game-high 21 points in the first half.
The Tiger Cubs guards began to figure out the pressure, in the second quarter, but Danville found scoring just as easy in their half-court offense.
"They're a really good team and we knew they were a really good team," Greenlee said. "They're such a tough team to guard because they have the perimeter shooters, they can drive the ball well and they have just enough post presence to make it hard."
Greencastle came out sharp after halftime before surrendering a 9-0 run to end the third quarter.
Danville fed senior Jackson Stone in the post throughout the half and the shorter GHS front line couldn't prevent him from getting the ball deep under the hoop for easy lay-ins.
Stone finished with 17 points.
As the Warriors continued to get easy shots, the Tiger Cubs continued to shoot from the outside.
It was only after fouls began to pile up for Danville that GHS started to get into a rhythm.
The Warriors were called for 14 fouls in the second half, and the Cubs made seven-of-11 free throws in the fourth, but by then it was too little, too late.
"We knew it would be a tough game for us if we didn't do the things we talked about before the game, like taking care of the ball," Greenlee said. "We're not where we want to be, but I think we're taking some steps forward."
Freshman Ryan Coble and senior Nick Gilliam each scored seven points to lead the Tiger Cubs.
GHS hosts Speedway on Friday, Jan. 3 at 7:30 p.m.
At Greencastle
Danville 17 19 19 16 -- 71
Greencastle 5 18 12 14 -- 49
Individual scoring
Danville: Asher 8-14, 3-3, 21; Stone 8-9, 1-3, 17; Motes 4-8, 0-0, 10; Just 3-4, 3-4, 9; Amore 3-4, 1-2, 8; Detty 1-2, 2-2, 4; Ross 0-1, 2-2, 2; Collier 1-1, 0-0, 2; Shipley 0-1, 0-0, 0; Weir 0-1, 0-2, 0; Anderson 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Greencastle: Coble 3-6, 1-2, 7; Gilliam 2-7, 2-3, 7; Winslow 3-9, 0-0, 6; Gerard 2-6, 1-2, 6; Mitchell 1-2, 3-5, 5; Foxx 1-3, 2-3, 4; Christy 1-3, 0-0, 3; Bollman 1-6, 1-1, 3; King 1-2, 0-0, 3; Hughes 1-2, 0-0, 3.
Team scoring (three-pointers)
Danville 28-45 (5-12), 10-16, 71; Greencastle 16-45 (7-17), 10-17, 49.
Rebounds (offensive)
Danville 30 (7), Greencastle 28 (12)
Turnovers
Danville 15, Greencastle 21
DePauw brings Bill Lynch back as head football coach
Friday, December 21, 2012
Bill Lynch
DePauw University announced on Thursday it has hired Bill Lynch as the next head football coach.
Lynch was previously the Tigers' head coach for the 2004 season and he will take over on Jan. 2, 2013.
"I wasn't really looking, but when the DePauw situation came up, that really got me thinking about it because I had such a great experience while I was there in 2004," Lynch told the Banner Graphic. "They want to be successful, and they want to be successful in the right way."
Lynch left DePauw with an 8-2 record in just one season as head coach to become offensive coordinator for Indiana University.
He was faced with the difficult task of replacing his good friend, Terry Hoeppner, as head coach of the Hoosiers when Hoep-pner passed away in June 2007.
Lynch spent four seasons as head coach at IU, reaching a bowl game in his first season and compiling a 19-30 record.
After being fired following the 2010 season, Lynch became the associate athletic director for development at his alma mater, Butler.
His duties included working closely with the football team there. He also has three sons who coach college football.
"I haven't been away from football, I just haven't been on the sideline coaching it," Lynch said. "I've got the same passion and energy that I always have."
DePauw athletic director Stevie Baker-Watson said Thursday that hiring Lynch was the completion of a lengthy process.
"It was something that we've really been working on since Coach Long was fired in September," Baker-Watson said. "The whole process I wanted to complete by the holidays."
Robby Long was fired on Sept. 16, just two weeks into the season, for failing to "take corrective actions in a timely manner" regarding administrative issues under his control.
Long had been DePauw's head coach since August 2009.
The Tigers have had five different coaches since Nick Mourouzis retired after the 2003 season, with Long's three-plus years being the longest span.
Choosing Lynch among the candidates seems to signal that DePauw was looking for a long-term commitment more than an up-and-coming hire.
"He was looking for a landing spot, like I was when I came here," Mourouzis said. "This will give us stability."
Lynch, who still owns a house in Putnam County, said DePauw will likely be the final stop of his coaching career.
"We've been very fortunate, my wife and I, to be able to raise our kids in Indiana," Lynch said. "To be able to end it here is really great for us from a family situation."
DPU sorted through more than 130 applicants, narrowing the field to 40 in the top category, Baker-Watson said.
Ten received phone interviews, and the top four -- Lynch, Monmouth College head coach Steve Bell, DPU graduate and Army running backs coach Tucker Waugh and Dartmouth college special teams coordinator Chris Wilkerson -- were brought in last week for interviews.
Baker-Watson said she has received a tremendous amount of feedback from alumni and community members during the coaching search.
Although the school initially planned to keep the hiring process in-house, she decided it would be best to open it up to a hiring firm to keep the search more transparent.
As the field of candidates narrowed, Baker-Watson said she discussed candidates with people close to the DePauw program that were familiar with them.
After announcing the final four, it was a chance for those people to "hit send, again," Baker-Watson said, and share their final thoughts.
This included Mour-ouzis, who sat in on the final interviews.
"He's the best (candidate) for the situation that we have right now," Mourouzis said. "He's proven leadership. He knows all the coaches and has great respect for all the high school coaches in Indiana and the Midwest.
"Success in Division III all comes down to recruiting. I think that he can recruit a lot of good athletes for us here at DePauw."
Baker-Watson added that although the search came as a result of what she called "terrible circumstances" -- firing the previous head coach in the middle of the season -- it was a good opportunity to get feedback from alumni and reset the football program.
DePauw finished the 2012 season with a 2-8 record, losing the Monon Bell Classic for the fourth straight year.
Defensive coordinator Scott Srnka was named interim head coach after Long was let go, but his future and the rest of the staff is uncertain.
Baker-Watson said she would leave that up to Lynch.
"I knew I needed to hire a leader of the program," she said, "and the rest would work itself out."
Getting the coaching staff settled is priorty No. 1 for Lynch when he starts next month.
"I look forward to meeting them," he said. "The first thing is getting to know the staff that are there, and then it's very important to meet and get to know the players that are in the program right now."
DPU students began their winter break last Friday and will not return to class until Jan. 28, giving Lynch nearly a month on the job to recruit current and future players.
He conceded that he hasn't had a chance to watch the team play in recent years, but he is looking to forward to getting started with recruiting, and that starts with the players he has on campus.
"That's what this time of year is all about," Lynch said. "It's a process. First, getting to know (players) in a one-on-one basis and then you start to develop relationships.
"That's what starts building a team."
Lynch has a 100-97-3 career record as a head coach.
Besides DPU and IU, he has also been the head coach of Ball State University (1995-2002) and his alma mater, Butler (1985-1989).
Ball State was recognized by the American Football Coaches Association for outstanding graduation rates from 2000-02.
Lynch has also been an assistant coach at Northern Illinois and the United States Foot-ball League's Orlando Renegades.
Cloverdale's fight for coach Butler a worthwhile cause
Friday, December 21, 2012
I've never been coached by John Butler, and I've not sat in his classroom, but I have learned from him.
He has of way of speaking, about football, and about his kids, that always teaches.
When emotions are high after a game, he's deliberate with his words. He makes sure everyone understands -- always.
He's not telling, he's showing.
As the Cloverdale football team struggled through a winless regular season, Butler stayed positive, upbeat.
There were rumors swirling around -- as early as week three -- that his job could be in jeopardy.
He heard them. The players and parents heard them.
Butler kept it going.
The season started with Cloverdale having its biggest roster in the school's recent history.
By the end of week four, the team had lost 17 of 22 starters to season- or career-ending injury, and nine more of the key subs.
They finished the regular season 0-9, and the sectional quarterfinal game began when Riverton Parke returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown.
Most 16- and 17-year-old kids would get down on themselves.
"My football team -- my staff and my kids -- have literally moved on from the first nine weeks of the season," Butler said after the RPHS game.
On their first drive, the Clovers went for it on fourth down from their own their own 32-yard line.
They picked up the first down. On the next play, junior Wade Warren took the ball 58 yards for a score.
"We bought in to what coach is saying," Warren said Tuesday.
How do you get a group of kids to buy in when all they've known that season is losing? When they walk down the hall wearing jerseys on Friday and other students laugh at them?
"You've got to have faith," senior Dustin Cummings said. "And he believes in us."
Cloverdale won that game. Instead of being down on themselves, the kids played their best football -- physically and mentally -- of the year.
Most of the players and parents love him. It's impossible to get through an interview with Butler and not be interrupted several times by parents and players coming up to shake his hand and thank him.
"I'll get you when we get back," he always says, not wanting to be rude and make the reporter wait. If he shakes one hand, he'll have to shake them all.
After his team lost to Attica in the sectional semifinal game, an emotional Butler spoke to his players and "the football family" about the program; about their commitment.
"When I came here, priority No. 1 was to change the football culture and the way the kids approach work, and they've done it," Butler said. "At this point, it's just a matter of in-school recruiting and getting those kids to buy in to the work ethic that the rest of them show.
"If we can do that, then we'll continue to gradually grow."
Butler told his seniors after that game that they're a part of the program until they walk across the stage and get their diplomas.
After the gathering, it appears many parents are hoping Butler will still be the coach when that happens.
In second stint at DePauw, Lynch now ready to stay
Friday, December 21, 2012
New DePauw head coach stalks the sidelines during his first stint with the Tigers in 2004.
(Courtesy photo/DePauw University)
When Bill Lynch begins his second stint as the head football coach of DePauw University on Jan. 2, it will be under much different circumstance than the last time.
Lynch first coached the team in 2004, replacing legendary DPU head coach Nick Mourouzis.
Coach Nick served as head coach for 23 seasons before stepping down, and the school hadn't known much change.
Beginning with Lynch, the Tigers have had five coaches in the nine years since.
Lynch hadn't planned to make his stay short, but when he got a call from his good friend inviting him to join the staff at Indiana University, it was too much to turn down.
"That was a very unique situation, in that a very good friend of mine, Terry Hoeppner, (called)," Lynch said. "We had kind of grown up together in the coaching profession and always competed against each other.
"We always talked about, if we ever had a chance to work together on the same staff, that would be great."
That opportunity came when Hoeppner took the IU job. He brought with him his young wide receiver's coach, Billy Lynch.
"To be able to go work with Terry, and also to be able to work with my son, it was just a unique, unique situation. That was a different time," Lynch said. "My wife and I are in a different place now with our kids all raised. We had two kids in college at the time. That was the main thing.
"It was a hard decision because I really enjoyed DePauw and had a great experience there."
Lynch won eight games in his one year at DPU, then joined his friend at IU.
After two seasons, Hoeppner became too ill to coach.
Lynch was named the interim head coach just days before Hoeppner died in June 2007.
He lasted four seasons before being let go, then became an associate athletic director at his Alma Mater, Butler.
Billy moved on, too. He's now the wide receivers coach at Rice University.
Lynch's other two sons -- Joey and Kevin, who were in college last time Lynch was DePauw's coach -- have gotten college jobs, too.
Joey is now the tight ends coach at Ball State, and Kevin is the wide receivers coach at the University of Indianapolis.
His sons have kept Lynch close to the game, calling him regularly to talk football, and when the DePauw job came up, Lynch got the hunger to return.
"All along, I've missed coaching," he said. "I've got three sons that are college football coaches. They'd be calling every night, talking about this and talking about that.
"When this opportunity came, I was excited to get involved in it. I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to coach."
Lynch said he's leaving a great situation at Butler, but he believes DPU will be an even better one.
"I really had a special time when I was there before," Lynch said. "I'm really excited about the new leadership. Dr. Casey (DPU president Brian W. Casey) and (athletic director) Steve Baker-Watson; their vision of the future and where they want to go. It's an exciting time."
Lynch graduated from a private liberal arts college himself and said he thinks that atmosphere is a better fit for him now than ever before.
Casey and Baker-Watson share similar goals to Lynch -- having quality student-athletes that are active on campus and in the classroom -- which helps as they try to accomplish another goal, competing at the highest level on the football field.
"They (DPU administrators) want to be successful and they want to be successful in the right way," Lynch said. "That's certainly right in line with my priorities, and I think it's a great fit.
"There's a commitment in that athletics is a very important aspect of the university. I think that's important as a coach, and certainly football is one of those sports that has an impact on campus."
North Putnam swimmers enter break with split against North Montgomery
Thursday, December 20, 2012
ROACHDALE -- The North Putnam boys' swim team continued its recent hot streak with a 115-67 win over North Montgomery on Wednesday.
The two squads each won their respective county championship last season and bragging rights were on the line.
Dane Gray bested his own school record with a 58.72 second finish in the 100-yard backstroke.
Gray picked up another win in the 200 individual medley.
"I'm really proud of Dane's swim, considering he spend four days in the hospital and missed two weeks of training. He's starting to swim like we want him to," NPHS head coach Tony Gray said. "We don't have anyone that's close to any other record right now, but I think we can approach the 100 fly and the breaststroke record by the end of the year."
The girls' team didn't fare quite as well, losing 119-45.
Sophomore Elizabeth Alford had wins in the 50- and 100-yard freestyle.
Samantha Freije, who first learned to swim just six weeks ago, had a strong 100 free and shaved 12 seconds off her personal best time in the 200 free, coach Gray said.
"With the small (roster), it's difficult for (the girls) to compete and win meets," he said. "As long as they keep working hard and have fun, and swim as a team, it's going to be a success for them."
Senior Joe Lehr got a win for the boys team in the 500 free. Michael Noble also stood out, coach Gray said, finishing strong in his first attempt at the marathon event.
"We're swimming a little bit better now," coach Gray said. "The kids got a little bit of rest this week, so the times are starting to drop the way we hoped they would."
The Cougars host a dual meet against Danville on Dec. 27 at 11 a.m.
At North Putnam
Boys' final -- North Putnam 115, North Montgomery 67
Girls' final -- North Montgomery 119, North Putnam 45
Cougars wrestling team comes through against Rockville
Thursday, December 20, 2012
ROACHDALE -- The young North Putnam wrestling team is starting to shape into form. The crew fought to a 60-12 win over Rockville on Wednesday.
Trevor Bingman started out the night with a first round pin at 160 pounds.
After a few forfeits Buck Buchanan picked up where his teammate left off, getting a pin just 26 seconds into the first round.
"The guys had a good effort tonight," NPHS coach Bucky Kramer said. "Overall it was a great win for us. The kids came out and wrestled hard."
Putnam County champion Dean Kleiber dropped to 120 pounds for the first time this year and wasted no time, scoring two takedowns in the first round before scoring a pin fall at 1:33.
Kleiber's drop forced Josh Coulter to move up to 126, and he responded with a second-round win. Coulter fought past a near fall in the first, gave up position to start the second, then fought on to get a pin at 3:12.
"We're still making mistakes. We've got to get better," Kramer said. "You just keep teaching. You show them what they're doing wrong and at one point they'll start to realize, 'OK, this is what I'm doing.'"
The Cougars have 10 days off until their next match, the Twin Lakes Invitational at Monticello on Dec. 29 at 9 a.m.
"We wanted to get a tournament over the holiday, which we haven't had in a long time," Kramer said. "There's going to be some pretty solid squads up there."
At North Putnam
North Putnam 60, Rockville 12
106 -- Straziscar, NP, forfeit , NP
113 -- Mazur, NP, forfeit
120 -- Kleiber, NP, fall, 1:33
126 -- Coulter, NP, fall, 3:12
132 -- Mills, NP, fall, 1:55
138 -- Winings, NP, forfeit
145 -- Attkisson, NP, forfeit
160 -- Bingman, NP, fall, 1:56
170 -- Scobee, NP, forfeit
195 -- Earl, R, forfeit
220 -- Buchanan, NP, fall, 0:26
285 -- Davis, NP, forfeit
Players, parents gather in support of CHS coach
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Don and Robin Bassett (above, left) speak at Support Coach Butler, an effort to save the job of Cloverdale head football coach John Butler.
(Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN) [Order this photo]
CLOVERDALE -- Although no decision has been finalized, word leaked to parents last weekend that the contract of Cloverdale football coach John Butler would not be renewed for next year.
The popular coach and teacher completed his second football season in October with a loss in the sectional semifinal for the second straight year.
Don and Robin Bassett, parents of a junior player on the football team, organized a gathering on Monday night, Support Coach Butler.
Many of those in attendance were players. They each signed a petition that had been pased around school on Monday.
(Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN)
Butler did not organize the meeting and was not present.
"I put this thing in motion and I'm not going to stop until we succeed," Robin said. "(Coach Butler) has got to be the best things that has happened to Cloverdale in years."
The support group plans to bring a large presence to the Cloverdale School Board meeting on Jan. 14 at 7 p.m.
"Coach Butler is not part of this," Don said. "The football family that man has started is here for our coach."
Those in attendance (nearly 80 people total) included 25 current or future Cloverdale football players.
They praised Butler for his ability as a role model, and to teach them not only about football, but about life.
"He's not just trying to better you as a football player, but he's trying to better you as a man," senior Dustin Cummings said.
Junior Cody Stout said Butler's passion helped fuel the team, even while they were struggling to get wins.
"I just think he believes in everybody," Stout said. "He has heart for everybody."
Parents agreed.
Butler has gained the trust of many parents by being open and available to them.
Each post-game speech is on the field, with parents and other community members encouraged to gather around.
This is not new to the community, but the first question Butler always asks to the players is, "Did you have fun?"
The parents at the gathering also said Butler has done a good job keeping the team polite and disciplined.
To some, those things aren't enough.
Butler's teams have a 4-18 record in his two years, and were just 1-10 this season.
As a school, Cloverdale has not had a winning season since finishing 7-3 in 1996.
A Cloverdale School Board member, who wished to remain anonymous, said Butler is a good man and that the decision was not football related.
"I want people to know there are two sides to every story," the board member said.
The board member said Butler's contract is not being renewed because of an unspecified issue related to his "teaching performance," and that Butler and the school's administrators "mutually agreed that something had to be done."
"We're not firing anybody unjustly," the board member said. "We're not firing anybody at all. We're just not renewing his contract."
Butler has been at Cloverdale for two years and is a non-tenured faculty member. All coaches must have their contracts renewed each year.
The coach did not comment on his contract, or the idea that the decision was mutual, but said he is grateful for the community support.
"I've always been in awe of the passion that people in our community have regarding athletics here in Cloverdale," Butler said. "It's one of the things that drew me here."
Butler had interest from other coaching positions at different school when he became the head coach at Cloverdale for the 2011 season.
With word leaking of the possibility of Butler's contract not being renewed, at least one other area coach has said he would welcome Butler as a prominent assistant.
The players had a petition signed by more than 100 Cloverdale High School students (more than one-quarter of the high school enrollment) that want Butler to be retained.
Adding an additional layer, the Cloverdale players in attendance said they would not play at all next year if the head coach is anyone but Butler.
"Basically everyone" has said that, junior Wade Warren said.
If he is indeed not retained, Butler said he hopes the players reconsider that decision.
"Whatever the reason, I would hate to see a kid give up an opportunity to play football because of this type of situation," he said. "To those kids considering not playing because I possibly may not be the head coach, I hope you would reconsider and remember how hard you have worked to get where you are right now.
"Play for yourselves, play for each other, play for your parents, or just play to play. You're the luckiest people on the face of the earth to strap it on and play the greatest game ever invented."
15 fourth-quarter free throws secure Tiger Cubs win over Northview
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Greencastle senior Rayleigh Amis fights through contact to make a layup with four minutes left in the fourth quarter.
(Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN) [Order this photo]
After beating Edgewood on Dec. 1, Greencastle girls' basketball coach Bradley Key said his team could be poised for a big run.
Following a 45-39 win over Northview on Tuesday, the Tiger Cubs have now won four of their last five games.
The Knights committed seven team fouls in the third quarter, putting GHS in the bonus for the remainder of the game.
The Tiger Cubs took advantage, sinking 15-of-19 free throws in the fourth quarter.
"Free throws are a funny thing," Key said. "There's some games you come in shooting 46 percent, and others you're shooting in the 70s."
Sophomore Callan Taylor led the Tiger Cubs with a game-high 21 points. She made nine of her 10 free throws in the fourth quarter.
"Tonight our key players got to the line," Key said. "Callan played a great game."
The Tiger Cubs entered the game planning to take away Northview sophomore Mikayla Rowan.
GHS senior Rayleigh Amis did just that, keeping Rowan to just 11 points.
"I'm proud of how Rayleigh Amis played," Key said. "That was kind of our goal -- to keep her under 12. That's her average.
Sophomore Kenzi Kumpf tried to respond for the Knights, scoring 10 points in the second half, but the team could not overcome the free throw disparity.
"Northview hangs their hat on defense," Key said. "Listening to some of the things their coach has said in the paper -- their offense hasn't been working like he wants it to, but they're a good defensive team."
GHS committed only 10 fouls in the game, and the Knights made just six-of-10 free throws.
The Tiger Cubs (7-5) struggled in their last game, a 49-46 win at Rockville last Thursday.
Key said the team went through a tough practice on Saturday and said he was happy the team responded.
"We had a tough Saturday practice; one they probably won't forget for a while," Key said. "It was a good game. It was a fun, team win."
GHS has nearly two weeks off until its next game, an afternoon contest against Owen Valley on Saturday, Dec. 29 at 12:30.
At Greencastle
Northview 6 11 6 16 -- 39
Greencastle 8 11 9 17 -- 45
Individual scoring
Northview: Kumpf 12, Rowan 11, Smith 9, Weddle 5, Hughes 2, Halfhill 0, Girton 0, Fagg 0.
Greencastle: Taylor 21, Lenihan 10, Basile 6, Amis 6, Earl 2, Covert 0, T Stoltey 0, D Stoltey 0.
Turnovers
Northview 14, Greencastle 21
Clovers lose track of Tri-West
Monday, December 17, 2012
Cloverdale senior Brody Pfaff soars past Tri-West's Austin Musial after a pump fake.
(Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN) [Order this photo]
LIZTON -- The Saturday night luck ran out for the Cloverdale boys' basketball team against Tri-West this week.
The Clovers entered the game with a 2-0 Saturday-night record, but lost to the Bruins 74-35.
CHS coach Pat Rady was short on words following the loss.
"We've got to be more ready to start a game," Rady said. "We have to play 32 minutes, but you can't have 14 turnovers in one half (as CHS did in the first)."
The defense of the Clovers was porous in the early going. The Bruins took advantage by driving straight to the rim, making eight-of-nine two-point shots in the first quarter.
Tri-West shot 64 percent in the first half (18-for-28).
Cloverdale didn't shoot badly (nine-for-22, 41 percent), but the team's 13 first-half turnovers were too much to overcome.
Six players finished with nine or more points for the balanced Tri-West attack, led by sophomore Trevor Waite's 15.
The Clovers trailed 46-21 at the break, nearly insurmountable for the CHS players, Rady said.
"We're not a team that has skill enough that we can come from behind," he said. "You've got to be able to have patience, slow the ball down, and make them play defense.
"When we tried that, we'd throw it away, we'd make a bad pass. And we missed some shots.
"If we could hit some of the open shots that we missed, that would help. We missed some shots that you've got to hit."
CHS upped the pace in the third, trying to shoot its way back into the game, but the team could only keep pace.
Junior Kedrick Collet, Cloverdale's most consistent shooter and scorer so far this year, was called for an intentional foul late in the quarter after he pushed a Bruins player.
With Collet on the bench for the rest of the game, Cloverdale lost its offensive rhythm, making only one-of-eight shots for the remainder of the game.
Sophomore Brantson Scott was the lone brightspot for Cloverdale, scoring a game-high 20 points and hauling in eight rebounds.
Senior Nick Cupp had seven boards and two blocks.
Brody Pfaff, a senior that missed the team's first five games due to an injury, also had two blocks.
Cloverdale doesn't have long to figure out solutions to the ongoing three-game skid.
The team returns to action Tuesday at Eastern Greene.
"Eastern Greene is probably one of the better teams we play," Rady said. "We've got one night (of practice) to work on some things. We can't panic. We've got to keep working."
At Tri-West Hendricks
Cloverdale -- 11 10 8 6 -- 35
Tri-West -- 28 18 21 7 -- 74
Individual scoring
Cloverdale: Scott 6-10, 7-11, 20; Dorman 2-7, 0-0, 5; Pfaff, 1-6, 2-7, 4; Collet 1-4, 1-2, 3; Schroer 1-9, 0-0, 2; Cupp 1-2, 0-0, 2; Cummings 0-1, 0-0, 0; Hughes 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Tri-West: Waite 3-5, 7-8, 15; Hendershot 5-7, 1-1, 12; Burks 5-10, 0-0, 10; Gadberry 4-6, 2-2, 10; Tucker 5-7, 0-0, 10; Musial 4-10, 1-2, 9; Phelps 1-1, 3-4, 5; Lynn 1-2, 0-0, 2; Miller 0-4, 1-2, 1; Frecker 0-4, 0-1, 0; Miller 0-1, 0-0, 0.
Team scoring (three-point)
Cloverdale 12-38 (2-14), 9-19, 35; Tri-West 27-56 (5-15), 17-20, 74.
Rebounds (offensive)
Cloverdale 30 (10), Tri-West 37 (12).
Turnovers
Cloverdale 20, Tri-West 11.
Host Tiger Cubs win holiday invite
Monday, December 17, 2012
Greencastle's Blaine Fenwick finishes a pin fall against his Sullivan opponent, earning a key six points for the Tiger Cubs.
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The Greencastle High School wrestling team followed up a county championship on Thursday with a win at the Greencastle Holiday Tournament on Saturday, completing a strong week for the Tiger Cubs.
GHS hosted the event and finished with a 4-0 team record, topping South Vermillion (3-1), Sullivan (2-2), Covington (1-3) and Monrovia (0-4).
The tournament culminated with Greencastle and Sullivan squaring off.
With one weight class left, the teams were tied at 33.
A Sullivan win meant a three-way tie for first place.
Greencastle's strongest wrestlers compete at higher weight classes, but 2012 Putnam County champion Ryley Cook wasted no time, pinning his Golden Arrows opponent in just 39 seconds.
"That was a good way to end it. That was surprising," GHS coach Matt McComish said. "This is our only Saturday tournament we host with multiple teams here. It's a big deal to the guys. It's nice to get all the fans in here."
GHS had six class champions: Cameron Hinton (120), Riley Boswell (145), Aaron Langdon (160), Carter Lewis (170), Hunter Smith (180) and Jordan Froderman (285).
McComish also said 138-pound Nick Pingleton stood out. He finished 3-1, the first time he's failed to win the tournament in his four years.
Blaine Fenwick, taken to a hospital after suffering injuries to his neck at Thursday's county tournament, also competed on Saturday and said he is feeling better.
The hospital visit was precautionary, he said, and the injuries were to muscles around his neck.
Each match was tougher than the last for the Tiger Cubs' team as a whole.
Greencastle opened with a 47-23 win against Covington, then a 48-30 win over Monrovia.
After a rotation off, Greencastle faced then-perfect South Vermillion. The Tiger Cubs won 52-24. The 39-33 win over Sullivan completed the team's sweep.
"It's good to get a win today," McComish said. "South Vermillion's got a good team. (Fifth-place) Monrovia's got a lot of talent."
Greencastle hosts Avon on Tuesday at 6 p.m.
At Greencastle
Greencastle Holiday Tournament
1. Greencastle (4-0), 2. South Vermillion (3-1), 3. Sullivan (2-2), 4. Covington (1-3), 5. Monrovia (0-4)
Class winners
106 -- Charles Capps, Monrovia
113 -- Tanner Bishop, SVHS
120 -- Cameron Hinton, GHS
126 -- Cory Orndorff, Sullivan
132 -- Nick Byrd, Sullivan
138 -- Colt Thompson, Sullivan
145 -- Riley Boswell, GHS
152 -- Clay Sichting, Monrovia
160 -- Aaron Langdon, GHS
170 -- Carter Lewis, GHS
182 -- Hunter Smith, GHS
195 -- Karson Allen, Covington
220 -- Dalton Hardy, Covington
285 -- Jordan Froderman, GHS
Pacers beat Grizzlies for fifth-straight home win
Monday, December 31, 2012
Pacers guard D.J. Augustin drives to the hoop against Memphis' Mike Conley.
(Courtesy photo)
INDIANAPOLIS -- The Pacers beat Memphis in an afternoon game on Monday, 88-83. They were without starting point guard George Hill, who missed the game with an injury.
D.J. Augustin, removed from the playing rotation a few weeks ago for rookie point guard Ben Hasbrough, stepped into the void in Hill's absence.
A former top-ten draft pick by Charlotte, Augustin has struggled to find a rhythm since joining the Pacers (18-13) as a free agent last summer.
He entered the game averaging just 3.1 points, on 26 percent shooting, and 2.3 assists per game.
Augustin, his fifth year out of Texas, spent the last two seasons starting for the Bobcats and seemed to find his groove by moving back into that role. He made four of the Pacers' 12 three-pointers, including a dagger late that put Indiana up six with two minutes left.
He also sank four-of-four free throws down the stretch to help seal the win.
"I was out there longer so the shots were able to come to me instead of me trying to force shots in limited minutes," Augustin said. "(Starting) makes a big difference. You come out loose and ready and prepared for the game. But when you come off the bench, you've got to be ready also."
Augustin added a season-high six assists.
Paul George continued his recent success, scoring a team-high 21 points. He also held Grizzlies star forward Rudy Gay to just three-of-17 shooting.
Roy Hibbert, coming off a zero-point, one-rebound catastrophe against Atlanta on Saturday, responded against Memphis.
The Grizzlies (19-9) attacked Hibbert early with Zach Randolph posting up, but they failed to feed the post consistently.
Randolph finished with 21 points and 15 rebounds.
Hibbert finished with four big blocks, including one of Gay that would have closed the gap to three with 1:51 remaining.
Indiana hosts the Wizards for the second time this season on Wednesday at 7 p.m.
At Indiana
Grizzlies 19 22 26 16 -- 83
Pacers 19 19 22 28 -- 88
Individual scoring
Grizzlies: Randolph 7-18, 7-8, 21; Gasol 6-10, 1-1, 13; Gay 3-17, 5-8, 11; Allen 5-8, 1-2, 11; Conley 3-9, 2-2, 9; Ellington 2-4, 0-0, 6; Arthur 3-6, 0-0, 6; Speights 2-6, 1-2, 5; Bayless 0-4, 1-1, 1.
Pacers: George 7-16, 3-4, 21; Augustin 4-9, 5-6, 17; West 3-6, 7-8, 13; Stephenson 3-7, 2-2, 10; Hibbert 3-11, 3-4, 9; T Hansbrough 3-6, 0-0, 6; B Hansbrough 2-5, 0-0, 6; Green 2-5, 0-0, 4; Mahinmi 1-5, 0-0, 2; Young 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Team scoring (three-pointers)
Grizzlies 31-82 (3-11), 18-24, 83; Pacers 28-70 (12-25), 20-24, 88.
Rebounds (offensive)
Grizzlies 44 (18); Pacers 38 (11).
Turnovers
Grizzlies 16; Pacers 18.
Top-ranked Tigers win Hasbrook championship against Rockford
Monday, December 31, 2012
Members of the 2012 All-Hasbrook Tournament team (from left) Erin Ryczek, Kate Walker, Kat Molloy, Alex Gasaway and former players Ann Hall, Sarah McKay, Lindsey Rush, Erin Miller and Dana Ferguson.Not pictured are Spalding senior Kelly Harrod and Rose-Hulman freshman Addie Johnson.
(Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN) [Order this photo]
Saturday's win over Rose-Hulman was just a warm-up for the DePauw women's basketball team as they feasted on Rockford College in the Hasbrook Tournament championship game Sunday, winning 73-43.
Senior point guard Kate Walker was named tournament MVP, having averaged 10.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists in just 18 minutes per game.
"It's nice to be awarded that, especially at the Hasie Tournament," Walker said. "I know this is going to sound corny, but Hasie (former DePauw guard Amy Hasbrook) ... coach talks so highly about her. So being the MVP of that tournament is kind of a big deal.
"In my head, what coach has described Hasie as is the hard-worker, the person who doesn't necessarily get the most points, but puts their whole heart on the court."
The Tigers dominated from the start, jumping out to a 30-4 lead before allowing the Regents their first field goal with 5:18 left in the first half.
After spending most of game Saturday in a 2-3 zone defense, DPU switched back to their customary man-to-man scheme for the final.
"(Zone defense) is something new that we've added in the last three or four years," Tigers head coach Kris Huffman said. "It helps us when we go against teams with a 6'2" center, because we're undersized ... We're just making sure that we're prepared to play anybody, so it's something that we continue to work on."
Height on the front line wasn't a problem against Rockford and the tenacious defense of DePauw kept the Regents out of the paint.
"I always prefer man," Walker said. "I've played man my whole life. I never played zone until I came to DePauw, and even then we don't play it all that often."
The Tigers held a 41-15 lead at halftime, but only a slight 17-16 rebounding advantage.
"We always want to focus on rebounding," Huffman said. "Especially with this being the Hasbrook Tournament, and that was something that she did so well. We talked this week about making sure that this was something that we owned this weekend. We tried to own the glass."
The Tigers hauled in 21 rebounds, including 14 offensive rebounds, in the second half.
With the game well in hand, starters moved aside early after the break, allowing DPU's second unit to carry them the rest of the way.
Senior Kathleen Molloy was the games leading scorer, finishing with a career-high 15 points, making five-of-nine shots (four-of-five threes).
"I knew I was shooting kind of well, but I didn't know it was my career-high," Molloy, whose bio on the team website lists her praying for Hasbrook to get ready for each game, said.
Molloy and junior Alex Gasaway joined Walker on the all-tournament team.
DePauw plays again Friday when the team hosts conference-rival Allegheny at 6 p.m. The men's game follows.
DePauw senior point guard Kate Walker lines up for a runner over Rockford junior Destiny Chaney. Walker was named 2012 Amy Hasbrook Tournament MVP.
(Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN) [Order this photo]
At DePauw
Rockford 15 28 -- 43
DePauw 41 32 -- 73
Individual scoring
Rockford: Ryczek 6-14, 2-2, 17; Nichols 3-6, 2-3, 8; Bjerning 2-4, 0-0, 4; Chaney 1-5, 2-4, 4; Woods 1-5, 0-0, 3; Scott 1-2, 0-0, 3; Lengjak 1-6, 0-0, 2; Lawler 1-5, 0-0, 2; Johnson 0-5, 0-0, 0; Fowler 0-0, 0-0, 0.
DePauw: Molloy 5-9, 1-2, 15; Abendroth 4-4, 0-0, 10; Walker 3-5, 2-2, 9; Gasaway 4-7, 0-0, 9; Trees 2-6, 2-2, 6; Pearson 2-4, 1-2, 5; Ross 2-5, 1-2, 5; McGinnis 2-2, 0-0, 4; Skordos 1-2, 0-0, 3; Stephens 1-4, 1-2, 3; Ondik 1-4, 0-0, 2; Keller 1-4, 0-0, 2; Francis 0-0, 0-0, 0; Stoner 0-2, 0-0, 0; McDonagh 0-2, 0-0, 0; Hacker 0-1, 0-0, 0; Lukemeyer 0-1, 0-0, 0; Frost 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Team scoring (three-pointers)
Rockford 16-52 (7-14), 4-6, 43; DePauw 28-62 (9-19), 8-12, 73.
Rebounds (offensive)
Rockford 33 (16); DePauw 38 (18).
Turnovers
Rockford 22; DePauw 10.
Cougars place third at Speedway girls' basketball tourney
Monday, December 31, 2012
North Putnam junior point guard Bethany Wiatt rips the ball away from Arlington freshman Briella Tomlinson (33), recording one of her game-high nine steals. (Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN )[Order this photo]
SPEEDWAY -- Two teams entered the consolation game at the 2012 Speedway girls' basketball tournament looking to snap a burdensome losing streak.
North Putnam was able to do just that, beating Indianapolis Arlington (0-8) 67-36.
The Cougars (2-10) entered the game with a five-game losing streak. The Golden Knights made headlines a few weeks ago after suffering a 103-2 loss.
"Arlington played hard for 32 minutes," NPHS coach Curtis Lawrence said. "We let (the players) know (after the first game against Western Boone) that there are some things that we can improve on, and we were able to do that against Arlington."
NPHS began the game in attack mode, hoping out to a 13-5 lead and experimenting with full court ball pressure for the first time this season.
When it worked, the Cougars were able to get easy steals and layups. There were also signs of inexperience that allowed the Knights to leak out to the outside and race to the rim.
The Cougars led by only one (13-12) after the first quarter.
Eventually, they figured out how to use press.
NPHS closed the first half on a 16-3 run.
"We felt that, if we could apply a little bit of pressure to them, we would be able to create turnovers," Lawrence said, "which would lead to some easy baskets, which is something we haven't been able to do."
Junior point guard Bethany Wiatt seemed the most comfortable with applying full court pressure. She finished with nine steals, 11 points and three assists.
Senior Sam Lucas was the game's high-scorer, putting in 17 and adding 11 rebounds for the Cougars.
Senior Cayla Kientz added nine points, and sophomore Morgan Smith had eight.
NPHS is in the midst of its most winnable stretch of the season
with games next week against Fountain Central and Eminence.
Lawrence is hoping the new defensive strategy will help keep the momentum going.
"We really haven't played a team yet that I thought the press would be beneficial to us," he said. "When we get behind in a game, we don't have the makeup that is going be able to get us back in the game against the teams that we've played so far. We've got some teams coming up ... that I think our press is going to be beneficial to us."
The Cougars lost Saturday's opening game to Western Boone 65-18.
At Speedway
Game 1
North Putnam 5 6 2 5 -- 18
Western Boone 19 13 14 19 -- 65
Individual scoring
North Putnam: Asbell 1-5, 2-5, 4; Kientz 2-7, 0-1, 4; Wiatt 1-2, 0-1, 2; Lucas 1-4, 0-0, 2; Land 1-2, 0-0, 2; Mindiola 1-1, 0-0, 2; Smith 0-8, 1-2, 1; Clodfelter 0-2, 1-2, 1; Aynes 0-2, 0-0, 0; Pitcock 0-0, 0-0, 0; Reeves 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Western Boone: Harrison 6-16, 3-3, 15; Ramey 6-11, 0-1, 12; Climer 4-6, 0-0, 9; Vanderpool 3-8, 2-2, 8; Henderson 2-7, 1-5, 5; Mitchell 2-8, 0-0, 4; Miller 2-7, 0-0, 4; Marsh 2-11, 0-0, 4; Hole 1-1, 0-0, 2.
Team scoring (three-pointers)
NP 7-33 (0-4), 4-11, 18; WB 28-76 (1-7), 6-13, 65.
Rebounds (offensive)
NP 28 (5); WB 54 (30).
Turnovers
NP 34; WB 13.
Game 2
Indianapolis Arlington 12 3 8 13 -- 36
North Putnam 13 16 18 20 -- 67
Individual scoring
Indianapolis Arlington: Hogue 5-23, 1-2, 13; Tomlinson 4-8, 0-1, 9; Rupert 3-4, 1-1, 7; Davis 1-3, 0-0, 2; Turman 1-7, 0-0, 2; Watson 1-5, 0-0, 2; Hogens 0-1, 0-0, 0; White 0-0, 0-0, 0; Harvey 0-0, 0-0, 0.
North Putnam: Lucas 5-13, 7-10, 17; Kientz 4-6, 3-4, 11; Wiatt 3-8, 5-6, 11; Smith 2-12, 5-10, 9; Asbell 3-8, 1-4, 7; Land 2-6, 0-0, 4; Aynes 2-7, 0-0, 4; Mindiola 1-1, 0-0, 2; Clodfelter 0-3, 0-0, 0; Pitcock 0-2, 0-2, 0; Reeves 0-1, 0-0, 0.
Team scoring (three-pointers)
IA 16-52 (3-15), 2-5, 36; NP 23-66 (0-6), 21-37, 67.
Rebounds (offensive)
IA 42 (7); NP 49 (18).
Turnovers
IA 38, NP 17.
Clovers place 4th at Clinton Prairie Tournament
Sunday, December 30, 2012
Cloverdale senior Sydney Shrum drives in for a layup against Clinton Prairie senior Stephanie Schrock. Shrum made her shot and was fouled.
(Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN) [Order this photo]
FRANKFORT -- The Cloverdale girls' basketball team came out flat after a 10-day layoff, finishing in fourth place at Friday's Clinton Prairie Tournament after losses to the hosts and Hagerstown.
The Clovers played some of their best basketball of the season in the second half of game one against Clinton Prairie, but it wasn't enough to overcome the 22-point halftime deficit as the Gophers won 48-36.
Cloverdale was outrebounded 22-7 in the first half, and turned the ball over 13 times.
The team also made just three-of-20 shots before the break.
The Clovers emerged from halftime with energy, playing almost four minutes before getting a turnover in the third quarter.
As Cloverdale head coach Matthew Langdon dipped into his more inexperienced bench to save his starters energy for game two, the play got a little sloppier, but the still cut into the lead.
In the end, lack of scoring threats with too little time to make up the difference.
"We came out slow in the first game," Langdon said. "In the second half we played good man-to-man and we wanted to ball more ... I hoped we could bring that energy to the second game. (I knew) if we play like that, we have a chance (against Hagerstown)."
It wasn't to be. The team came out flat again, scoring just five first-quarter points. They failed to make a dent the rest of the game and the Tigers secured a 39-27 win.
Hagerstown junior Hayley Rogers scored 18 points in the win.
Senior Amillia Nally, the Clovers most consistent player on Friday, scored 10 points.
Cloverdale was allowed Hagerstown to attempt nearly twice as many field goals (48-26) during the course of the game.
The Clovers defense that has been pressuring opponents into turnovers all year let the team down. The Tigers had just eight in the game, and two in the second half.
"Our offense feeds off our defense," Langdon said. "We didn't do what we need to do."
Langdon said he was disappointed with the effort, but he hopes it was a product of the long layoff and not a sign of things to come.
In addition to the big break, the Clovers also expanded their rotation. Normally the team only gives seven players significant minutes, but Langdon said he realized he is going to need to find a way to keep his starters fresh as the postseason tournament approaches.
"I'm trying to get the starters more time out (of the game)," he said. "If we're going to be a pressing team the whole game, we're going to need to get our starters more of a break."
Cloverdale will carry a five-game losing streak with it when the team hosts South Vermillion on Jan. 3.
Notes: Eastern won the tournament championship game against Clinton Prairie, 59-43 ... Sophomore Bailee Stevens missed the tournament as she recovers from an injury, but she is expected to return in the Clovers next game ... Cloverdale (4-9) had a .500 record before the recent skid.
Cloverdale senior Amillia Nally splits through Hagerstown defenders to get to the basket for a layup.
(Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN) [Order this photo]
At Clinton Prairie
Game 1
Cloverdale 5 2 13 16 -- 36
Clinton Prairie 13 16 11 8 -- 48
Individual scoring
Cloverdale: Nally 4-12, 3-5, 9; Gruener 2-10, 3-4, 7; Shrum 3-4, 0-1, 6; Skiles 1-5, 1-2, 4; Walters 1-3, 1-3, 3; Wellington 1-1, 0-0, 3; Dorsett 0-0, 1-2, 1; Clark 0-3, 0-0, 0; Hamm 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Clinton Prairie: Hanna 3-9, 7-8, 14; Douglass 6-13, 1-2, 13; Clark 4-6, 1-4, 9; Schrock 1-3, 2-2, 4; Schoonveld 2-2, 0-0, 4; Pearson 1-1, 0-0, 3; Dunham 0-0, 1-2, 1; Wines 0-1, 0-0, 0; Sabens 0-0, 0-0, 0; Humrickhouse 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Team shooting (three-pointers)
Cloverdale 12-39 (3-12), 9-17, 36; Clinton Prairie 17-35 (2-4), 12-18, 48.
Rebounds (offensive)
Cloverdale 16 (6), Clinton Prairie 33 (9).
Turnovers
Cloverdale 20, Clinton Prairie 24.
Game 2
Hagerstown 8 12 9 10 -- 39
Cloverdale 5 8 5 9 -- 27
Individual scoring
Hagerstown: H Rogers 9-16, 0-0, 18; C Rogers 3-9, 1-2, 9; O Robinson 2-4, 1-2, 5; M Houck 2-8, 0-0, 4; S Houck 1-1, 0-0, 2; Brown 0-2, 1-2, 1; Arnold 0-3, 0-0, 0; Willis 0-2, 0-0, 0; Caudill 0-3, 0-0, 0; J Robinson 0-0, 0-0, 0; Matanich 0-0, 0-0, 0; Hannon 0-0, 0-0, 0; O Houck 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Cloverdale: Nally 4-7, 2-3, 10; Shrum 1-3, 5-6, 7; Clark 2-2, 0-0, 4; Gruener 1-7, 0-0, 2; Walters 1-2, 0-0, 2; Dorsett 1-2, 0-0, 2; Skiles 0-3, 0-0, 0; Wellington 0-0, 0-0, 0; Hamm 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Team shooting (three-pointers)
Hagerstown 17-48 (2-7), 3-6, 39; Cloverdale 10-26 (0-2), 7-9; 27.
Rebounds (offensive)
Hagerstown 22 (11), Cloverdale 23 (5).
Turnovers
Hagerstown 8, Cloverdale 22.
No. 1 Tigers find legs in Hasbrook semi
Saturday, December 29, 2012
DePauw junior Alex Gasaway drives in for a layup over Rose-Hulman freshman Addie Johnson and junior Kelsey Ploof (50). [Order this photo]
The DePauw University women's basketball team defeated Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology 79-36 on Saturday in the second game of the 2012 Amy Hasbrook Memorial Tournament.
The Tigers are ranked No. 1 in NCAA Division III and showed why with a convincing victory over the Engineers.
It was the Tigers first game in 10 days. The team is coming off a tournament win in Puerto Rico and a break due to the holidays.
DPU head coach Kris Huffman was concerned about her team's condition with the long layoff and, with a cancelled practice on Wednesday, she implemented a new strategy.
The Tigers platooned full five-player units every four minutes.
The starting five of senior Kate Walker, junior Ali Ross, sophomore Savannah Trees, junior Alex Gasaway and senior Ellie Pearson got the team off to a hot 6-for-11 start and a 14-5 lead before sitting down.
"It is fun, but I would say (coach Huffman) probably won't do that again," Ross said. "I liked it, but I also like getting to intermix with the other players."
After allowing six unanswered points by Rose-Hulman, the second unit of sophomores Emma Ondik and Lauren Abendroth, juniors Alison Stephens and Erin McGinnis and senior Kathleen Molloy started to get in sync.
Stephens (12) and Molloy (10) both finished the game in double-digit scoring.
"Coach did it to make sure that we had fresh legs constantly," Walker said. "I usually play with that set of five a lot, so it's not something that I wasn't used to."
The starters returned and expanded the lead to 34-11 with 5:59 left in the half, continuing a 20-0 run.
"We haven't done that this year," Huffman said. "We have some depth, but we usually don't platoon it ... It wasn't totally planned, but it's how it worked out."
The fresh legs allowed the hosts to keep Rose-Hullman off balance, and DePauw exploited it inside.
Gasaway scored 10 of her game-high 17 points in the first half.
DPU continued the platoon strategy in second half and the players got into an even better rhythm.
The Tigers had extra focus for their opponent, Walker said, because they're playing in memory of former DPU star Amy Hasbrook.
"We always learn a lot about Hasie," Walker said. "Coach has always held her up on a pedestal, saying how great she is and how good of a rebounder she is, so it's always a goal during the Hasie Tournament to get as many rebounds as possible and play your heart out.
"No matter what, I always feel like it's playing your heart out for her."
DPU out-rebounded Rose-Hulman by a convincing 40-27 margin.
"Amy was a special player for us," Huffman said. "We may sometimes talk about certain teams of a given year, but (for individual players) Hasie probably stands out. She was a special player ... and to know that we don't have her with us anymore probably brings it to light.
"She's a great example for us to keep her name and her memory alive."
Hasbrook graduated from DePauw in 2000 and died in a house fire in Indianapolis in 2002.
The Tigers face Rockford College (2-9) in the tournament final on Sunday at 5 p.m.
At DePauw
Rose-Hulman 21 15 -- 36
DePauw 40 39 -- 79
Individual scoring
Rose-Hulman: Johnson 4-10, 0-0, 8; Williams 2-4, 3-3, 8; Ploof 2-4, 3-4, 7; Evers 2-7, 1-1, 6; Morris 2-6, 1-2, 5; Gilliam 1-2, 0-0, 2; Cain 0-4, 0-2, 0; Ottone 0-0, 0-0, 0; Gibbs 0-1, 0-0, 0; Dalton 0-0, 0-0, 0; Fuhs 0-0, 0-0, 0; Barnes 0-0, 0-0, 0.
DePauw: Gasaway 7-11, 2-3, 16; Walker 5-11, 2-2, 12; Stephens 4-8, 2-2, 12; Molloy 4-6, 1-2, 10; Ross 4-9, 0-0, 9; Trees 2-4, 1-1, 5; Pearson 1-5, 2-3, 4; Sarkisian 2-2, 0-0, 4; Abendroth 1-5, 0-0, 3; Stoner 1-1, 0-0, 2; Hacker 1-2, 0-2, 2; Ondik 0-2, 0-0, 0; Skordos 0-1, 0-0, 0; McDonagh 0-2, 0-0, 0; Lukemeyer 0-1, 0-0, 0; McGinnis 0-0, 0-0, 0; Keller 0-1, 0-0, 0; Frost 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Team scoring (three-pointers)
RHIT 13-38 (2-14), 8-12, 36; DPU 32-71 (5-14), 10-15, 79.
Rebounds (offensive)
RHIT 27 (3); DPU 40 (18).
Turnovers
RHIT 27; DPU 8.
Tiger Cubs vacation comes to halt against Danville
Saturday, December 29, 2012
Greencastle sophomore Brody Bollman drives in for a layup, fending off Danville defender B'ster Detty.
(Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN) [Order this photo]
The young Greencastle boys' basketball team continues to take steps toward improving, but they're not ready yet and that showed against Danville in the 71-49 loss on Friday at McAnally.
The Tiger Cubs (1-6) played their first game in 13 days and, despite the loss, changes were evident.
"I do think we're seeing improvement as a team, even though the scoreboard may not show it," GHS head coach Troy Greenlee said. "You hate to say you're satisfied with losing a game like this, but as we are, we have to do that. We have to look at where we are and where we were and compare.
"I think we're getting better."
GHS began the game struggling against the fast and aggressive Danville (8-1) defense.
The Warriors converted their first six shots to open the game, mostly fast break layups coming off turnovers.
Danville senior Ian Asher led the early attack, scoring 12 of his game-high 21 points in the first half.
The Tiger Cubs guards began to figure out the pressure, in the second quarter, but Danville found scoring just as easy in their half-court offense.
"They're a really good team and we knew they were a really good team," Greenlee said. "They're such a tough team to guard because they have the perimeter shooters, they can drive the ball well and they have just enough post presence to make it hard."
Greencastle came out sharp after halftime before surrendering a 9-0 run to end the third quarter.
Danville fed senior Jackson Stone in the post throughout the half and the shorter GHS front line couldn't prevent him from getting the ball deep under the hoop for easy lay-ins.
Stone finished with 17 points.
As the Warriors continued to get easy shots, the Tiger Cubs continued to shoot from the outside.
It was only after fouls began to pile up for Danville that GHS started to get into a rhythm.
The Warriors were called for 14 fouls in the second half, and the Cubs made seven-of-11 free throws in the fourth, but by then it was too little, too late.
"We knew it would be a tough game for us if we didn't do the things we talked about before the game, like taking care of the ball," Greenlee said. "We're not where we want to be, but I think we're taking some steps forward."
Freshman Ryan Coble and senior Nick Gilliam each scored seven points to lead the Tiger Cubs.
GHS hosts Speedway on Friday, Jan. 3 at 7:30 p.m.
At Greencastle
Danville 17 19 19 16 -- 71
Greencastle 5 18 12 14 -- 49
Individual scoring
Danville: Asher 8-14, 3-3, 21; Stone 8-9, 1-3, 17; Motes 4-8, 0-0, 10; Just 3-4, 3-4, 9; Amore 3-4, 1-2, 8; Detty 1-2, 2-2, 4; Ross 0-1, 2-2, 2; Collier 1-1, 0-0, 2; Shipley 0-1, 0-0, 0; Weir 0-1, 0-2, 0; Anderson 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Greencastle: Coble 3-6, 1-2, 7; Gilliam 2-7, 2-3, 7; Winslow 3-9, 0-0, 6; Gerard 2-6, 1-2, 6; Mitchell 1-2, 3-5, 5; Foxx 1-3, 2-3, 4; Christy 1-3, 0-0, 3; Bollman 1-6, 1-1, 3; King 1-2, 0-0, 3; Hughes 1-2, 0-0, 3.
Team scoring (three-pointers)
Danville 28-45 (5-12), 10-16, 71; Greencastle 16-45 (7-17), 10-17, 49.
Rebounds (offensive)
Danville 30 (7), Greencastle 28 (12)
Turnovers
Danville 15, Greencastle 21
DePauw brings Bill Lynch back as head football coach
Friday, December 21, 2012
Bill Lynch
DePauw University announced on Thursday it has hired Bill Lynch as the next head football coach.
Lynch was previously the Tigers' head coach for the 2004 season and he will take over on Jan. 2, 2013.
"I wasn't really looking, but when the DePauw situation came up, that really got me thinking about it because I had such a great experience while I was there in 2004," Lynch told the Banner Graphic. "They want to be successful, and they want to be successful in the right way."
Lynch left DePauw with an 8-2 record in just one season as head coach to become offensive coordinator for Indiana University.
He was faced with the difficult task of replacing his good friend, Terry Hoeppner, as head coach of the Hoosiers when Hoep-pner passed away in June 2007.
Lynch spent four seasons as head coach at IU, reaching a bowl game in his first season and compiling a 19-30 record.
After being fired following the 2010 season, Lynch became the associate athletic director for development at his alma mater, Butler.
His duties included working closely with the football team there. He also has three sons who coach college football.
"I haven't been away from football, I just haven't been on the sideline coaching it," Lynch said. "I've got the same passion and energy that I always have."
DePauw athletic director Stevie Baker-Watson said Thursday that hiring Lynch was the completion of a lengthy process.
"It was something that we've really been working on since Coach Long was fired in September," Baker-Watson said. "The whole process I wanted to complete by the holidays."
Robby Long was fired on Sept. 16, just two weeks into the season, for failing to "take corrective actions in a timely manner" regarding administrative issues under his control.
Long had been DePauw's head coach since August 2009.
The Tigers have had five different coaches since Nick Mourouzis retired after the 2003 season, with Long's three-plus years being the longest span.
Choosing Lynch among the candidates seems to signal that DePauw was looking for a long-term commitment more than an up-and-coming hire.
"He was looking for a landing spot, like I was when I came here," Mourouzis said. "This will give us stability."
Lynch, who still owns a house in Putnam County, said DePauw will likely be the final stop of his coaching career.
"We've been very fortunate, my wife and I, to be able to raise our kids in Indiana," Lynch said. "To be able to end it here is really great for us from a family situation."
DPU sorted through more than 130 applicants, narrowing the field to 40 in the top category, Baker-Watson said.
Ten received phone interviews, and the top four -- Lynch, Monmouth College head coach Steve Bell, DPU graduate and Army running backs coach Tucker Waugh and Dartmouth college special teams coordinator Chris Wilkerson -- were brought in last week for interviews.
Baker-Watson said she has received a tremendous amount of feedback from alumni and community members during the coaching search.
Although the school initially planned to keep the hiring process in-house, she decided it would be best to open it up to a hiring firm to keep the search more transparent.
As the field of candidates narrowed, Baker-Watson said she discussed candidates with people close to the DePauw program that were familiar with them.
After announcing the final four, it was a chance for those people to "hit send, again," Baker-Watson said, and share their final thoughts.
This included Mour-ouzis, who sat in on the final interviews.
"He's the best (candidate) for the situation that we have right now," Mourouzis said. "He's proven leadership. He knows all the coaches and has great respect for all the high school coaches in Indiana and the Midwest.
"Success in Division III all comes down to recruiting. I think that he can recruit a lot of good athletes for us here at DePauw."
Baker-Watson added that although the search came as a result of what she called "terrible circumstances" -- firing the previous head coach in the middle of the season -- it was a good opportunity to get feedback from alumni and reset the football program.
DePauw finished the 2012 season with a 2-8 record, losing the Monon Bell Classic for the fourth straight year.
Defensive coordinator Scott Srnka was named interim head coach after Long was let go, but his future and the rest of the staff is uncertain.
Baker-Watson said she would leave that up to Lynch.
"I knew I needed to hire a leader of the program," she said, "and the rest would work itself out."
Getting the coaching staff settled is priorty No. 1 for Lynch when he starts next month.
"I look forward to meeting them," he said. "The first thing is getting to know the staff that are there, and then it's very important to meet and get to know the players that are in the program right now."
DPU students began their winter break last Friday and will not return to class until Jan. 28, giving Lynch nearly a month on the job to recruit current and future players.
He conceded that he hasn't had a chance to watch the team play in recent years, but he is looking to forward to getting started with recruiting, and that starts with the players he has on campus.
"That's what this time of year is all about," Lynch said. "It's a process. First, getting to know (players) in a one-on-one basis and then you start to develop relationships.
"That's what starts building a team."
Lynch has a 100-97-3 career record as a head coach.
Besides DPU and IU, he has also been the head coach of Ball State University (1995-2002) and his alma mater, Butler (1985-1989).
Ball State was recognized by the American Football Coaches Association for outstanding graduation rates from 2000-02.
Lynch has also been an assistant coach at Northern Illinois and the United States Foot-ball League's Orlando Renegades.
Cloverdale's fight for coach Butler a worthwhile cause
Friday, December 21, 2012
I've never been coached by John Butler, and I've not sat in his classroom, but I have learned from him.
He has of way of speaking, about football, and about his kids, that always teaches.
When emotions are high after a game, he's deliberate with his words. He makes sure everyone understands -- always.
He's not telling, he's showing.
As the Cloverdale football team struggled through a winless regular season, Butler stayed positive, upbeat.
There were rumors swirling around -- as early as week three -- that his job could be in jeopardy.
He heard them. The players and parents heard them.
Butler kept it going.
The season started with Cloverdale having its biggest roster in the school's recent history.
By the end of week four, the team had lost 17 of 22 starters to season- or career-ending injury, and nine more of the key subs.
They finished the regular season 0-9, and the sectional quarterfinal game began when Riverton Parke returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown.
Most 16- and 17-year-old kids would get down on themselves.
"My football team -- my staff and my kids -- have literally moved on from the first nine weeks of the season," Butler said after the RPHS game.
On their first drive, the Clovers went for it on fourth down from their own their own 32-yard line.
They picked up the first down. On the next play, junior Wade Warren took the ball 58 yards for a score.
"We bought in to what coach is saying," Warren said Tuesday.
How do you get a group of kids to buy in when all they've known that season is losing? When they walk down the hall wearing jerseys on Friday and other students laugh at them?
"You've got to have faith," senior Dustin Cummings said. "And he believes in us."
Cloverdale won that game. Instead of being down on themselves, the kids played their best football -- physically and mentally -- of the year.
Most of the players and parents love him. It's impossible to get through an interview with Butler and not be interrupted several times by parents and players coming up to shake his hand and thank him.
"I'll get you when we get back," he always says, not wanting to be rude and make the reporter wait. If he shakes one hand, he'll have to shake them all.
After his team lost to Attica in the sectional semifinal game, an emotional Butler spoke to his players and "the football family" about the program; about their commitment.
"When I came here, priority No. 1 was to change the football culture and the way the kids approach work, and they've done it," Butler said. "At this point, it's just a matter of in-school recruiting and getting those kids to buy in to the work ethic that the rest of them show.
"If we can do that, then we'll continue to gradually grow."
Butler told his seniors after that game that they're a part of the program until they walk across the stage and get their diplomas.
After the gathering, it appears many parents are hoping Butler will still be the coach when that happens.
In second stint at DePauw, Lynch now ready to stay
Friday, December 21, 2012
New DePauw head coach stalks the sidelines during his first stint with the Tigers in 2004.
(Courtesy photo/DePauw University)
When Bill Lynch begins his second stint as the head football coach of DePauw University on Jan. 2, it will be under much different circumstance than the last time.
Lynch first coached the team in 2004, replacing legendary DPU head coach Nick Mourouzis.
Coach Nick served as head coach for 23 seasons before stepping down, and the school hadn't known much change.
Beginning with Lynch, the Tigers have had five coaches in the nine years since.
Lynch hadn't planned to make his stay short, but when he got a call from his good friend inviting him to join the staff at Indiana University, it was too much to turn down.
"That was a very unique situation, in that a very good friend of mine, Terry Hoeppner, (called)," Lynch said. "We had kind of grown up together in the coaching profession and always competed against each other.
"We always talked about, if we ever had a chance to work together on the same staff, that would be great."
That opportunity came when Hoeppner took the IU job. He brought with him his young wide receiver's coach, Billy Lynch.
"To be able to go work with Terry, and also to be able to work with my son, it was just a unique, unique situation. That was a different time," Lynch said. "My wife and I are in a different place now with our kids all raised. We had two kids in college at the time. That was the main thing.
"It was a hard decision because I really enjoyed DePauw and had a great experience there."
Lynch won eight games in his one year at DPU, then joined his friend at IU.
After two seasons, Hoeppner became too ill to coach.
Lynch was named the interim head coach just days before Hoeppner died in June 2007.
He lasted four seasons before being let go, then became an associate athletic director at his Alma Mater, Butler.
Billy moved on, too. He's now the wide receivers coach at Rice University.
Lynch's other two sons -- Joey and Kevin, who were in college last time Lynch was DePauw's coach -- have gotten college jobs, too.
Joey is now the tight ends coach at Ball State, and Kevin is the wide receivers coach at the University of Indianapolis.
His sons have kept Lynch close to the game, calling him regularly to talk football, and when the DePauw job came up, Lynch got the hunger to return.
"All along, I've missed coaching," he said. "I've got three sons that are college football coaches. They'd be calling every night, talking about this and talking about that.
"When this opportunity came, I was excited to get involved in it. I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to coach."
Lynch said he's leaving a great situation at Butler, but he believes DPU will be an even better one.
"I really had a special time when I was there before," Lynch said. "I'm really excited about the new leadership. Dr. Casey (DPU president Brian W. Casey) and (athletic director) Steve Baker-Watson; their vision of the future and where they want to go. It's an exciting time."
Lynch graduated from a private liberal arts college himself and said he thinks that atmosphere is a better fit for him now than ever before.
Casey and Baker-Watson share similar goals to Lynch -- having quality student-athletes that are active on campus and in the classroom -- which helps as they try to accomplish another goal, competing at the highest level on the football field.
"They (DPU administrators) want to be successful and they want to be successful in the right way," Lynch said. "That's certainly right in line with my priorities, and I think it's a great fit.
"There's a commitment in that athletics is a very important aspect of the university. I think that's important as a coach, and certainly football is one of those sports that has an impact on campus."
North Putnam swimmers enter break with split against North Montgomery
Thursday, December 20, 2012
ROACHDALE -- The North Putnam boys' swim team continued its recent hot streak with a 115-67 win over North Montgomery on Wednesday.
The two squads each won their respective county championship last season and bragging rights were on the line.
Dane Gray bested his own school record with a 58.72 second finish in the 100-yard backstroke.
Gray picked up another win in the 200 individual medley.
"I'm really proud of Dane's swim, considering he spend four days in the hospital and missed two weeks of training. He's starting to swim like we want him to," NPHS head coach Tony Gray said. "We don't have anyone that's close to any other record right now, but I think we can approach the 100 fly and the breaststroke record by the end of the year."
The girls' team didn't fare quite as well, losing 119-45.
Sophomore Elizabeth Alford had wins in the 50- and 100-yard freestyle.
Samantha Freije, who first learned to swim just six weeks ago, had a strong 100 free and shaved 12 seconds off her personal best time in the 200 free, coach Gray said.
"With the small (roster), it's difficult for (the girls) to compete and win meets," he said. "As long as they keep working hard and have fun, and swim as a team, it's going to be a success for them."
Senior Joe Lehr got a win for the boys team in the 500 free. Michael Noble also stood out, coach Gray said, finishing strong in his first attempt at the marathon event.
"We're swimming a little bit better now," coach Gray said. "The kids got a little bit of rest this week, so the times are starting to drop the way we hoped they would."
The Cougars host a dual meet against Danville on Dec. 27 at 11 a.m.
At North Putnam
Boys' final -- North Putnam 115, North Montgomery 67
Girls' final -- North Montgomery 119, North Putnam 45
Cougars wrestling team comes through against Rockville
Thursday, December 20, 2012
ROACHDALE -- The young North Putnam wrestling team is starting to shape into form. The crew fought to a 60-12 win over Rockville on Wednesday.
Trevor Bingman started out the night with a first round pin at 160 pounds.
After a few forfeits Buck Buchanan picked up where his teammate left off, getting a pin just 26 seconds into the first round.
"The guys had a good effort tonight," NPHS coach Bucky Kramer said. "Overall it was a great win for us. The kids came out and wrestled hard."
Putnam County champion Dean Kleiber dropped to 120 pounds for the first time this year and wasted no time, scoring two takedowns in the first round before scoring a pin fall at 1:33.
Kleiber's drop forced Josh Coulter to move up to 126, and he responded with a second-round win. Coulter fought past a near fall in the first, gave up position to start the second, then fought on to get a pin at 3:12.
"We're still making mistakes. We've got to get better," Kramer said. "You just keep teaching. You show them what they're doing wrong and at one point they'll start to realize, 'OK, this is what I'm doing.'"
The Cougars have 10 days off until their next match, the Twin Lakes Invitational at Monticello on Dec. 29 at 9 a.m.
"We wanted to get a tournament over the holiday, which we haven't had in a long time," Kramer said. "There's going to be some pretty solid squads up there."
At North Putnam
North Putnam 60, Rockville 12
106 -- Straziscar, NP, forfeit , NP
113 -- Mazur, NP, forfeit
120 -- Kleiber, NP, fall, 1:33
126 -- Coulter, NP, fall, 3:12
132 -- Mills, NP, fall, 1:55
138 -- Winings, NP, forfeit
145 -- Attkisson, NP, forfeit
160 -- Bingman, NP, fall, 1:56
170 -- Scobee, NP, forfeit
195 -- Earl, R, forfeit
220 -- Buchanan, NP, fall, 0:26
285 -- Davis, NP, forfeit
Players, parents gather in support of CHS coach
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Don and Robin Bassett (above, left) speak at Support Coach Butler, an effort to save the job of Cloverdale head football coach John Butler.
(Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN) [Order this photo]
CLOVERDALE -- Although no decision has been finalized, word leaked to parents last weekend that the contract of Cloverdale football coach John Butler would not be renewed for next year.
The popular coach and teacher completed his second football season in October with a loss in the sectional semifinal for the second straight year.
Don and Robin Bassett, parents of a junior player on the football team, organized a gathering on Monday night, Support Coach Butler.
Many of those in attendance were players. They each signed a petition that had been pased around school on Monday.
(Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN)
Butler did not organize the meeting and was not present.
"I put this thing in motion and I'm not going to stop until we succeed," Robin said. "(Coach Butler) has got to be the best things that has happened to Cloverdale in years."
The support group plans to bring a large presence to the Cloverdale School Board meeting on Jan. 14 at 7 p.m.
"Coach Butler is not part of this," Don said. "The football family that man has started is here for our coach."
Those in attendance (nearly 80 people total) included 25 current or future Cloverdale football players.
They praised Butler for his ability as a role model, and to teach them not only about football, but about life.
"He's not just trying to better you as a football player, but he's trying to better you as a man," senior Dustin Cummings said.
Junior Cody Stout said Butler's passion helped fuel the team, even while they were struggling to get wins.
"I just think he believes in everybody," Stout said. "He has heart for everybody."
Parents agreed.
Butler has gained the trust of many parents by being open and available to them.
Each post-game speech is on the field, with parents and other community members encouraged to gather around.
This is not new to the community, but the first question Butler always asks to the players is, "Did you have fun?"
The parents at the gathering also said Butler has done a good job keeping the team polite and disciplined.
To some, those things aren't enough.
Butler's teams have a 4-18 record in his two years, and were just 1-10 this season.
As a school, Cloverdale has not had a winning season since finishing 7-3 in 1996.
A Cloverdale School Board member, who wished to remain anonymous, said Butler is a good man and that the decision was not football related.
"I want people to know there are two sides to every story," the board member said.
The board member said Butler's contract is not being renewed because of an unspecified issue related to his "teaching performance," and that Butler and the school's administrators "mutually agreed that something had to be done."
"We're not firing anybody unjustly," the board member said. "We're not firing anybody at all. We're just not renewing his contract."
Butler has been at Cloverdale for two years and is a non-tenured faculty member. All coaches must have their contracts renewed each year.
The coach did not comment on his contract, or the idea that the decision was mutual, but said he is grateful for the community support.
"I've always been in awe of the passion that people in our community have regarding athletics here in Cloverdale," Butler said. "It's one of the things that drew me here."
Butler had interest from other coaching positions at different school when he became the head coach at Cloverdale for the 2011 season.
With word leaking of the possibility of Butler's contract not being renewed, at least one other area coach has said he would welcome Butler as a prominent assistant.
The players had a petition signed by more than 100 Cloverdale High School students (more than one-quarter of the high school enrollment) that want Butler to be retained.
Adding an additional layer, the Cloverdale players in attendance said they would not play at all next year if the head coach is anyone but Butler.
"Basically everyone" has said that, junior Wade Warren said.
If he is indeed not retained, Butler said he hopes the players reconsider that decision.
"Whatever the reason, I would hate to see a kid give up an opportunity to play football because of this type of situation," he said. "To those kids considering not playing because I possibly may not be the head coach, I hope you would reconsider and remember how hard you have worked to get where you are right now.
"Play for yourselves, play for each other, play for your parents, or just play to play. You're the luckiest people on the face of the earth to strap it on and play the greatest game ever invented."
15 fourth-quarter free throws secure Tiger Cubs win over Northview
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Greencastle senior Rayleigh Amis fights through contact to make a layup with four minutes left in the fourth quarter.
(Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN) [Order this photo]
After beating Edgewood on Dec. 1, Greencastle girls' basketball coach Bradley Key said his team could be poised for a big run.
Following a 45-39 win over Northview on Tuesday, the Tiger Cubs have now won four of their last five games.
The Knights committed seven team fouls in the third quarter, putting GHS in the bonus for the remainder of the game.
The Tiger Cubs took advantage, sinking 15-of-19 free throws in the fourth quarter.
"Free throws are a funny thing," Key said. "There's some games you come in shooting 46 percent, and others you're shooting in the 70s."
Sophomore Callan Taylor led the Tiger Cubs with a game-high 21 points. She made nine of her 10 free throws in the fourth quarter.
"Tonight our key players got to the line," Key said. "Callan played a great game."
The Tiger Cubs entered the game planning to take away Northview sophomore Mikayla Rowan.
GHS senior Rayleigh Amis did just that, keeping Rowan to just 11 points.
"I'm proud of how Rayleigh Amis played," Key said. "That was kind of our goal -- to keep her under 12. That's her average.
Sophomore Kenzi Kumpf tried to respond for the Knights, scoring 10 points in the second half, but the team could not overcome the free throw disparity.
"Northview hangs their hat on defense," Key said. "Listening to some of the things their coach has said in the paper -- their offense hasn't been working like he wants it to, but they're a good defensive team."
GHS committed only 10 fouls in the game, and the Knights made just six-of-10 free throws.
The Tiger Cubs (7-5) struggled in their last game, a 49-46 win at Rockville last Thursday.
Key said the team went through a tough practice on Saturday and said he was happy the team responded.
"We had a tough Saturday practice; one they probably won't forget for a while," Key said. "It was a good game. It was a fun, team win."
GHS has nearly two weeks off until its next game, an afternoon contest against Owen Valley on Saturday, Dec. 29 at 12:30.
At Greencastle
Northview 6 11 6 16 -- 39
Greencastle 8 11 9 17 -- 45
Individual scoring
Northview: Kumpf 12, Rowan 11, Smith 9, Weddle 5, Hughes 2, Halfhill 0, Girton 0, Fagg 0.
Greencastle: Taylor 21, Lenihan 10, Basile 6, Amis 6, Earl 2, Covert 0, T Stoltey 0, D Stoltey 0.
Turnovers
Northview 14, Greencastle 21
Clovers lose track of Tri-West
Monday, December 17, 2012
Cloverdale senior Brody Pfaff soars past Tri-West's Austin Musial after a pump fake.
(Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN) [Order this photo]
LIZTON -- The Saturday night luck ran out for the Cloverdale boys' basketball team against Tri-West this week.
The Clovers entered the game with a 2-0 Saturday-night record, but lost to the Bruins 74-35.
CHS coach Pat Rady was short on words following the loss.
"We've got to be more ready to start a game," Rady said. "We have to play 32 minutes, but you can't have 14 turnovers in one half (as CHS did in the first)."
The defense of the Clovers was porous in the early going. The Bruins took advantage by driving straight to the rim, making eight-of-nine two-point shots in the first quarter.
Tri-West shot 64 percent in the first half (18-for-28).
Cloverdale didn't shoot badly (nine-for-22, 41 percent), but the team's 13 first-half turnovers were too much to overcome.
Six players finished with nine or more points for the balanced Tri-West attack, led by sophomore Trevor Waite's 15.
The Clovers trailed 46-21 at the break, nearly insurmountable for the CHS players, Rady said.
"We're not a team that has skill enough that we can come from behind," he said. "You've got to be able to have patience, slow the ball down, and make them play defense.
"When we tried that, we'd throw it away, we'd make a bad pass. And we missed some shots.
"If we could hit some of the open shots that we missed, that would help. We missed some shots that you've got to hit."
CHS upped the pace in the third, trying to shoot its way back into the game, but the team could only keep pace.
Junior Kedrick Collet, Cloverdale's most consistent shooter and scorer so far this year, was called for an intentional foul late in the quarter after he pushed a Bruins player.
With Collet on the bench for the rest of the game, Cloverdale lost its offensive rhythm, making only one-of-eight shots for the remainder of the game.
Sophomore Brantson Scott was the lone brightspot for Cloverdale, scoring a game-high 20 points and hauling in eight rebounds.
Senior Nick Cupp had seven boards and two blocks.
Brody Pfaff, a senior that missed the team's first five games due to an injury, also had two blocks.
Cloverdale doesn't have long to figure out solutions to the ongoing three-game skid.
The team returns to action Tuesday at Eastern Greene.
"Eastern Greene is probably one of the better teams we play," Rady said. "We've got one night (of practice) to work on some things. We can't panic. We've got to keep working."
At Tri-West Hendricks
Cloverdale -- 11 10 8 6 -- 35
Tri-West -- 28 18 21 7 -- 74
Individual scoring
Cloverdale: Scott 6-10, 7-11, 20; Dorman 2-7, 0-0, 5; Pfaff, 1-6, 2-7, 4; Collet 1-4, 1-2, 3; Schroer 1-9, 0-0, 2; Cupp 1-2, 0-0, 2; Cummings 0-1, 0-0, 0; Hughes 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Tri-West: Waite 3-5, 7-8, 15; Hendershot 5-7, 1-1, 12; Burks 5-10, 0-0, 10; Gadberry 4-6, 2-2, 10; Tucker 5-7, 0-0, 10; Musial 4-10, 1-2, 9; Phelps 1-1, 3-4, 5; Lynn 1-2, 0-0, 2; Miller 0-4, 1-2, 1; Frecker 0-4, 0-1, 0; Miller 0-1, 0-0, 0.
Team scoring (three-point)
Cloverdale 12-38 (2-14), 9-19, 35; Tri-West 27-56 (5-15), 17-20, 74.
Rebounds (offensive)
Cloverdale 30 (10), Tri-West 37 (12).
Turnovers
Cloverdale 20, Tri-West 11.
Pacers beat Grizzlies for fifth-straight home win
Monday, December 31, 2012
Pacers guard D.J. Augustin drives to the hoop against Memphis' Mike Conley.
(Courtesy photo)
INDIANAPOLIS -- The Pacers beat Memphis in an afternoon game on Monday, 88-83. They were without starting point guard George Hill, who missed the game with an injury.
D.J. Augustin, removed from the playing rotation a few weeks ago for rookie point guard Ben Hasbrough, stepped into the void in Hill's absence.
A former top-ten draft pick by Charlotte, Augustin has struggled to find a rhythm since joining the Pacers (18-13) as a free agent last summer.
He entered the game averaging just 3.1 points, on 26 percent shooting, and 2.3 assists per game.
Augustin, his fifth year out of Texas, spent the last two seasons starting for the Bobcats and seemed to find his groove by moving back into that role. He made four of the Pacers' 12 three-pointers, including a dagger late that put Indiana up six with two minutes left.
He also sank four-of-four free throws down the stretch to help seal the win.
"I was out there longer so the shots were able to come to me instead of me trying to force shots in limited minutes," Augustin said. "(Starting) makes a big difference. You come out loose and ready and prepared for the game. But when you come off the bench, you've got to be ready also."
Augustin added a season-high six assists.
Paul George continued his recent success, scoring a team-high 21 points. He also held Grizzlies star forward Rudy Gay to just three-of-17 shooting.
Roy Hibbert, coming off a zero-point, one-rebound catastrophe against Atlanta on Saturday, responded against Memphis.
The Grizzlies (19-9) attacked Hibbert early with Zach Randolph posting up, but they failed to feed the post consistently.
Randolph finished with 21 points and 15 rebounds.
Hibbert finished with four big blocks, including one of Gay that would have closed the gap to three with 1:51 remaining.
Indiana hosts the Wizards for the second time this season on Wednesday at 7 p.m.
At Indiana
Grizzlies 19 22 26 16 -- 83
Pacers 19 19 22 28 -- 88
Individual scoring
Grizzlies: Randolph 7-18, 7-8, 21; Gasol 6-10, 1-1, 13; Gay 3-17, 5-8, 11; Allen 5-8, 1-2, 11; Conley 3-9, 2-2, 9; Ellington 2-4, 0-0, 6; Arthur 3-6, 0-0, 6; Speights 2-6, 1-2, 5; Bayless 0-4, 1-1, 1.
Pacers: George 7-16, 3-4, 21; Augustin 4-9, 5-6, 17; West 3-6, 7-8, 13; Stephenson 3-7, 2-2, 10; Hibbert 3-11, 3-4, 9; T Hansbrough 3-6, 0-0, 6; B Hansbrough 2-5, 0-0, 6; Green 2-5, 0-0, 4; Mahinmi 1-5, 0-0, 2; Young 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Team scoring (three-pointers)
Grizzlies 31-82 (3-11), 18-24, 83; Pacers 28-70 (12-25), 20-24, 88.
Rebounds (offensive)
Grizzlies 44 (18); Pacers 38 (11).
Turnovers
Grizzlies 16; Pacers 18.
Top-ranked Tigers win Hasbrook championship against Rockford
Monday, December 31, 2012
Members of the 2012 All-Hasbrook Tournament team (from left) Erin Ryczek, Kate Walker, Kat Molloy, Alex Gasaway and former players Ann Hall, Sarah McKay, Lindsey Rush, Erin Miller and Dana Ferguson.Not pictured are Spalding senior Kelly Harrod and Rose-Hulman freshman Addie Johnson.
(Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN) [Order this photo]
Saturday's win over Rose-Hulman was just a warm-up for the DePauw women's basketball team as they feasted on Rockford College in the Hasbrook Tournament championship game Sunday, winning 73-43.
Senior point guard Kate Walker was named tournament MVP, having averaged 10.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists in just 18 minutes per game.
"It's nice to be awarded that, especially at the Hasie Tournament," Walker said. "I know this is going to sound corny, but Hasie (former DePauw guard Amy Hasbrook) ... coach talks so highly about her. So being the MVP of that tournament is kind of a big deal.
"In my head, what coach has described Hasie as is the hard-worker, the person who doesn't necessarily get the most points, but puts their whole heart on the court."
The Tigers dominated from the start, jumping out to a 30-4 lead before allowing the Regents their first field goal with 5:18 left in the first half.
After spending most of game Saturday in a 2-3 zone defense, DPU switched back to their customary man-to-man scheme for the final.
"(Zone defense) is something new that we've added in the last three or four years," Tigers head coach Kris Huffman said. "It helps us when we go against teams with a 6'2" center, because we're undersized ... We're just making sure that we're prepared to play anybody, so it's something that we continue to work on."
Height on the front line wasn't a problem against Rockford and the tenacious defense of DePauw kept the Regents out of the paint.
"I always prefer man," Walker said. "I've played man my whole life. I never played zone until I came to DePauw, and even then we don't play it all that often."
The Tigers held a 41-15 lead at halftime, but only a slight 17-16 rebounding advantage.
"We always want to focus on rebounding," Huffman said. "Especially with this being the Hasbrook Tournament, and that was something that she did so well. We talked this week about making sure that this was something that we owned this weekend. We tried to own the glass."
The Tigers hauled in 21 rebounds, including 14 offensive rebounds, in the second half.
With the game well in hand, starters moved aside early after the break, allowing DPU's second unit to carry them the rest of the way.
Senior Kathleen Molloy was the games leading scorer, finishing with a career-high 15 points, making five-of-nine shots (four-of-five threes).
"I knew I was shooting kind of well, but I didn't know it was my career-high," Molloy, whose bio on the team website lists her praying for Hasbrook to get ready for each game, said.
Molloy and junior Alex Gasaway joined Walker on the all-tournament team.
DePauw plays again Friday when the team hosts conference-rival Allegheny at 6 p.m. The men's game follows.
DePauw senior point guard Kate Walker lines up for a runner over Rockford junior Destiny Chaney. Walker was named 2012 Amy Hasbrook Tournament MVP.
(Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN) [Order this photo]
At DePauw
Rockford 15 28 -- 43
DePauw 41 32 -- 73
Individual scoring
Rockford: Ryczek 6-14, 2-2, 17; Nichols 3-6, 2-3, 8; Bjerning 2-4, 0-0, 4; Chaney 1-5, 2-4, 4; Woods 1-5, 0-0, 3; Scott 1-2, 0-0, 3; Lengjak 1-6, 0-0, 2; Lawler 1-5, 0-0, 2; Johnson 0-5, 0-0, 0; Fowler 0-0, 0-0, 0.
DePauw: Molloy 5-9, 1-2, 15; Abendroth 4-4, 0-0, 10; Walker 3-5, 2-2, 9; Gasaway 4-7, 0-0, 9; Trees 2-6, 2-2, 6; Pearson 2-4, 1-2, 5; Ross 2-5, 1-2, 5; McGinnis 2-2, 0-0, 4; Skordos 1-2, 0-0, 3; Stephens 1-4, 1-2, 3; Ondik 1-4, 0-0, 2; Keller 1-4, 0-0, 2; Francis 0-0, 0-0, 0; Stoner 0-2, 0-0, 0; McDonagh 0-2, 0-0, 0; Hacker 0-1, 0-0, 0; Lukemeyer 0-1, 0-0, 0; Frost 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Team scoring (three-pointers)
Rockford 16-52 (7-14), 4-6, 43; DePauw 28-62 (9-19), 8-12, 73.
Rebounds (offensive)
Rockford 33 (16); DePauw 38 (18).
Turnovers
Rockford 22; DePauw 10.
Cougars place third at Speedway girls' basketball tourney
Monday, December 31, 2012
North Putnam junior point guard Bethany Wiatt rips the ball away from Arlington freshman Briella Tomlinson (33), recording one of her game-high nine steals. (Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN )[Order this photo]
SPEEDWAY -- Two teams entered the consolation game at the 2012 Speedway girls' basketball tournament looking to snap a burdensome losing streak.
North Putnam was able to do just that, beating Indianapolis Arlington (0-8) 67-36.
The Cougars (2-10) entered the game with a five-game losing streak. The Golden Knights made headlines a few weeks ago after suffering a 103-2 loss.
"Arlington played hard for 32 minutes," NPHS coach Curtis Lawrence said. "We let (the players) know (after the first game against Western Boone) that there are some things that we can improve on, and we were able to do that against Arlington."
NPHS began the game in attack mode, hoping out to a 13-5 lead and experimenting with full court ball pressure for the first time this season.
When it worked, the Cougars were able to get easy steals and layups. There were also signs of inexperience that allowed the Knights to leak out to the outside and race to the rim.
The Cougars led by only one (13-12) after the first quarter.
Eventually, they figured out how to use press.
NPHS closed the first half on a 16-3 run.
"We felt that, if we could apply a little bit of pressure to them, we would be able to create turnovers," Lawrence said, "which would lead to some easy baskets, which is something we haven't been able to do."
Junior point guard Bethany Wiatt seemed the most comfortable with applying full court pressure. She finished with nine steals, 11 points and three assists.
Senior Sam Lucas was the game's high-scorer, putting in 17 and adding 11 rebounds for the Cougars.
Senior Cayla Kientz added nine points, and sophomore Morgan Smith had eight.
NPHS is in the midst of its most winnable stretch of the season
with games next week against Fountain Central and Eminence.
Lawrence is hoping the new defensive strategy will help keep the momentum going.
"We really haven't played a team yet that I thought the press would be beneficial to us," he said. "When we get behind in a game, we don't have the makeup that is going be able to get us back in the game against the teams that we've played so far. We've got some teams coming up ... that I think our press is going to be beneficial to us."
The Cougars lost Saturday's opening game to Western Boone 65-18.
At Speedway
Game 1
North Putnam 5 6 2 5 -- 18
Western Boone 19 13 14 19 -- 65
Individual scoring
North Putnam: Asbell 1-5, 2-5, 4; Kientz 2-7, 0-1, 4; Wiatt 1-2, 0-1, 2; Lucas 1-4, 0-0, 2; Land 1-2, 0-0, 2; Mindiola 1-1, 0-0, 2; Smith 0-8, 1-2, 1; Clodfelter 0-2, 1-2, 1; Aynes 0-2, 0-0, 0; Pitcock 0-0, 0-0, 0; Reeves 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Western Boone: Harrison 6-16, 3-3, 15; Ramey 6-11, 0-1, 12; Climer 4-6, 0-0, 9; Vanderpool 3-8, 2-2, 8; Henderson 2-7, 1-5, 5; Mitchell 2-8, 0-0, 4; Miller 2-7, 0-0, 4; Marsh 2-11, 0-0, 4; Hole 1-1, 0-0, 2.
Team scoring (three-pointers)
NP 7-33 (0-4), 4-11, 18; WB 28-76 (1-7), 6-13, 65.
Rebounds (offensive)
NP 28 (5); WB 54 (30).
Turnovers
NP 34; WB 13.
Game 2
Indianapolis Arlington 12 3 8 13 -- 36
North Putnam 13 16 18 20 -- 67
Individual scoring
Indianapolis Arlington: Hogue 5-23, 1-2, 13; Tomlinson 4-8, 0-1, 9; Rupert 3-4, 1-1, 7; Davis 1-3, 0-0, 2; Turman 1-7, 0-0, 2; Watson 1-5, 0-0, 2; Hogens 0-1, 0-0, 0; White 0-0, 0-0, 0; Harvey 0-0, 0-0, 0.
North Putnam: Lucas 5-13, 7-10, 17; Kientz 4-6, 3-4, 11; Wiatt 3-8, 5-6, 11; Smith 2-12, 5-10, 9; Asbell 3-8, 1-4, 7; Land 2-6, 0-0, 4; Aynes 2-7, 0-0, 4; Mindiola 1-1, 0-0, 2; Clodfelter 0-3, 0-0, 0; Pitcock 0-2, 0-2, 0; Reeves 0-1, 0-0, 0.
Team scoring (three-pointers)
IA 16-52 (3-15), 2-5, 36; NP 23-66 (0-6), 21-37, 67.
Rebounds (offensive)
IA 42 (7); NP 49 (18).
Turnovers
IA 38, NP 17.
Clovers place 4th at Clinton Prairie Tournament
Sunday, December 30, 2012
Cloverdale senior Sydney Shrum drives in for a layup against Clinton Prairie senior Stephanie Schrock. Shrum made her shot and was fouled.
(Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN) [Order this photo]
FRANKFORT -- The Cloverdale girls' basketball team came out flat after a 10-day layoff, finishing in fourth place at Friday's Clinton Prairie Tournament after losses to the hosts and Hagerstown.
The Clovers played some of their best basketball of the season in the second half of game one against Clinton Prairie, but it wasn't enough to overcome the 22-point halftime deficit as the Gophers won 48-36.
Cloverdale was outrebounded 22-7 in the first half, and turned the ball over 13 times.
The team also made just three-of-20 shots before the break.
The Clovers emerged from halftime with energy, playing almost four minutes before getting a turnover in the third quarter.
As Cloverdale head coach Matthew Langdon dipped into his more inexperienced bench to save his starters energy for game two, the play got a little sloppier, but the still cut into the lead.
In the end, lack of scoring threats with too little time to make up the difference.
"We came out slow in the first game," Langdon said. "In the second half we played good man-to-man and we wanted to ball more ... I hoped we could bring that energy to the second game. (I knew) if we play like that, we have a chance (against Hagerstown)."
It wasn't to be. The team came out flat again, scoring just five first-quarter points. They failed to make a dent the rest of the game and the Tigers secured a 39-27 win.
Hagerstown junior Hayley Rogers scored 18 points in the win.
Senior Amillia Nally, the Clovers most consistent player on Friday, scored 10 points.
Cloverdale was allowed Hagerstown to attempt nearly twice as many field goals (48-26) during the course of the game.
The Clovers defense that has been pressuring opponents into turnovers all year let the team down. The Tigers had just eight in the game, and two in the second half.
"Our offense feeds off our defense," Langdon said. "We didn't do what we need to do."
Langdon said he was disappointed with the effort, but he hopes it was a product of the long layoff and not a sign of things to come.
In addition to the big break, the Clovers also expanded their rotation. Normally the team only gives seven players significant minutes, but Langdon said he realized he is going to need to find a way to keep his starters fresh as the postseason tournament approaches.
"I'm trying to get the starters more time out (of the game)," he said. "If we're going to be a pressing team the whole game, we're going to need to get our starters more of a break."
Cloverdale will carry a five-game losing streak with it when the team hosts South Vermillion on Jan. 3.
Notes: Eastern won the tournament championship game against Clinton Prairie, 59-43 ... Sophomore Bailee Stevens missed the tournament as she recovers from an injury, but she is expected to return in the Clovers next game ... Cloverdale (4-9) had a .500 record before the recent skid.
Cloverdale senior Amillia Nally splits through Hagerstown defenders to get to the basket for a layup.
(Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN) [Order this photo]
At Clinton Prairie
Game 1
Cloverdale 5 2 13 16 -- 36
Clinton Prairie 13 16 11 8 -- 48
Individual scoring
Cloverdale: Nally 4-12, 3-5, 9; Gruener 2-10, 3-4, 7; Shrum 3-4, 0-1, 6; Skiles 1-5, 1-2, 4; Walters 1-3, 1-3, 3; Wellington 1-1, 0-0, 3; Dorsett 0-0, 1-2, 1; Clark 0-3, 0-0, 0; Hamm 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Clinton Prairie: Hanna 3-9, 7-8, 14; Douglass 6-13, 1-2, 13; Clark 4-6, 1-4, 9; Schrock 1-3, 2-2, 4; Schoonveld 2-2, 0-0, 4; Pearson 1-1, 0-0, 3; Dunham 0-0, 1-2, 1; Wines 0-1, 0-0, 0; Sabens 0-0, 0-0, 0; Humrickhouse 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Team shooting (three-pointers)
Cloverdale 12-39 (3-12), 9-17, 36; Clinton Prairie 17-35 (2-4), 12-18, 48.
Rebounds (offensive)
Cloverdale 16 (6), Clinton Prairie 33 (9).
Turnovers
Cloverdale 20, Clinton Prairie 24.
Game 2
Hagerstown 8 12 9 10 -- 39
Cloverdale 5 8 5 9 -- 27
Individual scoring
Hagerstown: H Rogers 9-16, 0-0, 18; C Rogers 3-9, 1-2, 9; O Robinson 2-4, 1-2, 5; M Houck 2-8, 0-0, 4; S Houck 1-1, 0-0, 2; Brown 0-2, 1-2, 1; Arnold 0-3, 0-0, 0; Willis 0-2, 0-0, 0; Caudill 0-3, 0-0, 0; J Robinson 0-0, 0-0, 0; Matanich 0-0, 0-0, 0; Hannon 0-0, 0-0, 0; O Houck 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Cloverdale: Nally 4-7, 2-3, 10; Shrum 1-3, 5-6, 7; Clark 2-2, 0-0, 4; Gruener 1-7, 0-0, 2; Walters 1-2, 0-0, 2; Dorsett 1-2, 0-0, 2; Skiles 0-3, 0-0, 0; Wellington 0-0, 0-0, 0; Hamm 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Team shooting (three-pointers)
Hagerstown 17-48 (2-7), 3-6, 39; Cloverdale 10-26 (0-2), 7-9; 27.
Rebounds (offensive)
Hagerstown 22 (11), Cloverdale 23 (5).
Turnovers
Hagerstown 8, Cloverdale 22.
No. 1 Tigers find legs in Hasbrook semi
Saturday, December 29, 2012
DePauw junior Alex Gasaway drives in for a layup over Rose-Hulman freshman Addie Johnson and junior Kelsey Ploof (50). [Order this photo]
The DePauw University women's basketball team defeated Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology 79-36 on Saturday in the second game of the 2012 Amy Hasbrook Memorial Tournament.
The Tigers are ranked No. 1 in NCAA Division III and showed why with a convincing victory over the Engineers.
It was the Tigers first game in 10 days. The team is coming off a tournament win in Puerto Rico and a break due to the holidays.
DPU head coach Kris Huffman was concerned about her team's condition with the long layoff and, with a cancelled practice on Wednesday, she implemented a new strategy.
The Tigers platooned full five-player units every four minutes.
The starting five of senior Kate Walker, junior Ali Ross, sophomore Savannah Trees, junior Alex Gasaway and senior Ellie Pearson got the team off to a hot 6-for-11 start and a 14-5 lead before sitting down.
"It is fun, but I would say (coach Huffman) probably won't do that again," Ross said. "I liked it, but I also like getting to intermix with the other players."
After allowing six unanswered points by Rose-Hulman, the second unit of sophomores Emma Ondik and Lauren Abendroth, juniors Alison Stephens and Erin McGinnis and senior Kathleen Molloy started to get in sync.
Stephens (12) and Molloy (10) both finished the game in double-digit scoring.
"Coach did it to make sure that we had fresh legs constantly," Walker said. "I usually play with that set of five a lot, so it's not something that I wasn't used to."
The starters returned and expanded the lead to 34-11 with 5:59 left in the half, continuing a 20-0 run.
"We haven't done that this year," Huffman said. "We have some depth, but we usually don't platoon it ... It wasn't totally planned, but it's how it worked out."
The fresh legs allowed the hosts to keep Rose-Hullman off balance, and DePauw exploited it inside.
Gasaway scored 10 of her game-high 17 points in the first half.
DPU continued the platoon strategy in second half and the players got into an even better rhythm.
The Tigers had extra focus for their opponent, Walker said, because they're playing in memory of former DPU star Amy Hasbrook.
"We always learn a lot about Hasie," Walker said. "Coach has always held her up on a pedestal, saying how great she is and how good of a rebounder she is, so it's always a goal during the Hasie Tournament to get as many rebounds as possible and play your heart out.
"No matter what, I always feel like it's playing your heart out for her."
DPU out-rebounded Rose-Hulman by a convincing 40-27 margin.
"Amy was a special player for us," Huffman said. "We may sometimes talk about certain teams of a given year, but (for individual players) Hasie probably stands out. She was a special player ... and to know that we don't have her with us anymore probably brings it to light.
"She's a great example for us to keep her name and her memory alive."
Hasbrook graduated from DePauw in 2000 and died in a house fire in Indianapolis in 2002.
The Tigers face Rockford College (2-9) in the tournament final on Sunday at 5 p.m.
At DePauw
Rose-Hulman 21 15 -- 36
DePauw 40 39 -- 79
Individual scoring
Rose-Hulman: Johnson 4-10, 0-0, 8; Williams 2-4, 3-3, 8; Ploof 2-4, 3-4, 7; Evers 2-7, 1-1, 6; Morris 2-6, 1-2, 5; Gilliam 1-2, 0-0, 2; Cain 0-4, 0-2, 0; Ottone 0-0, 0-0, 0; Gibbs 0-1, 0-0, 0; Dalton 0-0, 0-0, 0; Fuhs 0-0, 0-0, 0; Barnes 0-0, 0-0, 0.
DePauw: Gasaway 7-11, 2-3, 16; Walker 5-11, 2-2, 12; Stephens 4-8, 2-2, 12; Molloy 4-6, 1-2, 10; Ross 4-9, 0-0, 9; Trees 2-4, 1-1, 5; Pearson 1-5, 2-3, 4; Sarkisian 2-2, 0-0, 4; Abendroth 1-5, 0-0, 3; Stoner 1-1, 0-0, 2; Hacker 1-2, 0-2, 2; Ondik 0-2, 0-0, 0; Skordos 0-1, 0-0, 0; McDonagh 0-2, 0-0, 0; Lukemeyer 0-1, 0-0, 0; McGinnis 0-0, 0-0, 0; Keller 0-1, 0-0, 0; Frost 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Team scoring (three-pointers)
RHIT 13-38 (2-14), 8-12, 36; DPU 32-71 (5-14), 10-15, 79.
Rebounds (offensive)
RHIT 27 (3); DPU 40 (18).
Turnovers
RHIT 27; DPU 8.
Tiger Cubs vacation comes to halt against Danville
Saturday, December 29, 2012
Greencastle sophomore Brody Bollman drives in for a layup, fending off Danville defender B'ster Detty.
(Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN) [Order this photo]
The young Greencastle boys' basketball team continues to take steps toward improving, but they're not ready yet and that showed against Danville in the 71-49 loss on Friday at McAnally.
The Tiger Cubs (1-6) played their first game in 13 days and, despite the loss, changes were evident.
"I do think we're seeing improvement as a team, even though the scoreboard may not show it," GHS head coach Troy Greenlee said. "You hate to say you're satisfied with losing a game like this, but as we are, we have to do that. We have to look at where we are and where we were and compare.
"I think we're getting better."
GHS began the game struggling against the fast and aggressive Danville (8-1) defense.
The Warriors converted their first six shots to open the game, mostly fast break layups coming off turnovers.
Danville senior Ian Asher led the early attack, scoring 12 of his game-high 21 points in the first half.
The Tiger Cubs guards began to figure out the pressure, in the second quarter, but Danville found scoring just as easy in their half-court offense.
"They're a really good team and we knew they were a really good team," Greenlee said. "They're such a tough team to guard because they have the perimeter shooters, they can drive the ball well and they have just enough post presence to make it hard."
Greencastle came out sharp after halftime before surrendering a 9-0 run to end the third quarter.
Danville fed senior Jackson Stone in the post throughout the half and the shorter GHS front line couldn't prevent him from getting the ball deep under the hoop for easy lay-ins.
Stone finished with 17 points.
As the Warriors continued to get easy shots, the Tiger Cubs continued to shoot from the outside.
It was only after fouls began to pile up for Danville that GHS started to get into a rhythm.
The Warriors were called for 14 fouls in the second half, and the Cubs made seven-of-11 free throws in the fourth, but by then it was too little, too late.
"We knew it would be a tough game for us if we didn't do the things we talked about before the game, like taking care of the ball," Greenlee said. "We're not where we want to be, but I think we're taking some steps forward."
Freshman Ryan Coble and senior Nick Gilliam each scored seven points to lead the Tiger Cubs.
GHS hosts Speedway on Friday, Jan. 3 at 7:30 p.m.
At Greencastle
Danville 17 19 19 16 -- 71
Greencastle 5 18 12 14 -- 49
Individual scoring
Danville: Asher 8-14, 3-3, 21; Stone 8-9, 1-3, 17; Motes 4-8, 0-0, 10; Just 3-4, 3-4, 9; Amore 3-4, 1-2, 8; Detty 1-2, 2-2, 4; Ross 0-1, 2-2, 2; Collier 1-1, 0-0, 2; Shipley 0-1, 0-0, 0; Weir 0-1, 0-2, 0; Anderson 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Greencastle: Coble 3-6, 1-2, 7; Gilliam 2-7, 2-3, 7; Winslow 3-9, 0-0, 6; Gerard 2-6, 1-2, 6; Mitchell 1-2, 3-5, 5; Foxx 1-3, 2-3, 4; Christy 1-3, 0-0, 3; Bollman 1-6, 1-1, 3; King 1-2, 0-0, 3; Hughes 1-2, 0-0, 3.
Team scoring (three-pointers)
Danville 28-45 (5-12), 10-16, 71; Greencastle 16-45 (7-17), 10-17, 49.
Rebounds (offensive)
Danville 30 (7), Greencastle 28 (12)
Turnovers
Danville 15, Greencastle 21
DePauw brings Bill Lynch back as head football coach
Friday, December 21, 2012
Bill Lynch
DePauw University announced on Thursday it has hired Bill Lynch as the next head football coach.
Lynch was previously the Tigers' head coach for the 2004 season and he will take over on Jan. 2, 2013.
"I wasn't really looking, but when the DePauw situation came up, that really got me thinking about it because I had such a great experience while I was there in 2004," Lynch told the Banner Graphic. "They want to be successful, and they want to be successful in the right way."
Lynch left DePauw with an 8-2 record in just one season as head coach to become offensive coordinator for Indiana University.
He was faced with the difficult task of replacing his good friend, Terry Hoeppner, as head coach of the Hoosiers when Hoep-pner passed away in June 2007.
Lynch spent four seasons as head coach at IU, reaching a bowl game in his first season and compiling a 19-30 record.
After being fired following the 2010 season, Lynch became the associate athletic director for development at his alma mater, Butler.
His duties included working closely with the football team there. He also has three sons who coach college football.
"I haven't been away from football, I just haven't been on the sideline coaching it," Lynch said. "I've got the same passion and energy that I always have."
DePauw athletic director Stevie Baker-Watson said Thursday that hiring Lynch was the completion of a lengthy process.
"It was something that we've really been working on since Coach Long was fired in September," Baker-Watson said. "The whole process I wanted to complete by the holidays."
Robby Long was fired on Sept. 16, just two weeks into the season, for failing to "take corrective actions in a timely manner" regarding administrative issues under his control.
Long had been DePauw's head coach since August 2009.
The Tigers have had five different coaches since Nick Mourouzis retired after the 2003 season, with Long's three-plus years being the longest span.
Choosing Lynch among the candidates seems to signal that DePauw was looking for a long-term commitment more than an up-and-coming hire.
"He was looking for a landing spot, like I was when I came here," Mourouzis said. "This will give us stability."
Lynch, who still owns a house in Putnam County, said DePauw will likely be the final stop of his coaching career.
"We've been very fortunate, my wife and I, to be able to raise our kids in Indiana," Lynch said. "To be able to end it here is really great for us from a family situation."
DPU sorted through more than 130 applicants, narrowing the field to 40 in the top category, Baker-Watson said.
Ten received phone interviews, and the top four -- Lynch, Monmouth College head coach Steve Bell, DPU graduate and Army running backs coach Tucker Waugh and Dartmouth college special teams coordinator Chris Wilkerson -- were brought in last week for interviews.
Baker-Watson said she has received a tremendous amount of feedback from alumni and community members during the coaching search.
Although the school initially planned to keep the hiring process in-house, she decided it would be best to open it up to a hiring firm to keep the search more transparent.
As the field of candidates narrowed, Baker-Watson said she discussed candidates with people close to the DePauw program that were familiar with them.
After announcing the final four, it was a chance for those people to "hit send, again," Baker-Watson said, and share their final thoughts.
This included Mour-ouzis, who sat in on the final interviews.
"He's the best (candidate) for the situation that we have right now," Mourouzis said. "He's proven leadership. He knows all the coaches and has great respect for all the high school coaches in Indiana and the Midwest.
"Success in Division III all comes down to recruiting. I think that he can recruit a lot of good athletes for us here at DePauw."
Baker-Watson added that although the search came as a result of what she called "terrible circumstances" -- firing the previous head coach in the middle of the season -- it was a good opportunity to get feedback from alumni and reset the football program.
DePauw finished the 2012 season with a 2-8 record, losing the Monon Bell Classic for the fourth straight year.
Defensive coordinator Scott Srnka was named interim head coach after Long was let go, but his future and the rest of the staff is uncertain.
Baker-Watson said she would leave that up to Lynch.
"I knew I needed to hire a leader of the program," she said, "and the rest would work itself out."
Getting the coaching staff settled is priorty No. 1 for Lynch when he starts next month.
"I look forward to meeting them," he said. "The first thing is getting to know the staff that are there, and then it's very important to meet and get to know the players that are in the program right now."
DPU students began their winter break last Friday and will not return to class until Jan. 28, giving Lynch nearly a month on the job to recruit current and future players.
He conceded that he hasn't had a chance to watch the team play in recent years, but he is looking to forward to getting started with recruiting, and that starts with the players he has on campus.
"That's what this time of year is all about," Lynch said. "It's a process. First, getting to know (players) in a one-on-one basis and then you start to develop relationships.
"That's what starts building a team."
Lynch has a 100-97-3 career record as a head coach.
Besides DPU and IU, he has also been the head coach of Ball State University (1995-2002) and his alma mater, Butler (1985-1989).
Ball State was recognized by the American Football Coaches Association for outstanding graduation rates from 2000-02.
Lynch has also been an assistant coach at Northern Illinois and the United States Foot-ball League's Orlando Renegades.
Cloverdale's fight for coach Butler a worthwhile cause
Friday, December 21, 2012
I've never been coached by John Butler, and I've not sat in his classroom, but I have learned from him.
He has of way of speaking, about football, and about his kids, that always teaches.
When emotions are high after a game, he's deliberate with his words. He makes sure everyone understands -- always.
He's not telling, he's showing.
As the Cloverdale football team struggled through a winless regular season, Butler stayed positive, upbeat.
There were rumors swirling around -- as early as week three -- that his job could be in jeopardy.
He heard them. The players and parents heard them.
Butler kept it going.
The season started with Cloverdale having its biggest roster in the school's recent history.
By the end of week four, the team had lost 17 of 22 starters to season- or career-ending injury, and nine more of the key subs.
They finished the regular season 0-9, and the sectional quarterfinal game began when Riverton Parke returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown.
Most 16- and 17-year-old kids would get down on themselves.
"My football team -- my staff and my kids -- have literally moved on from the first nine weeks of the season," Butler said after the RPHS game.
On their first drive, the Clovers went for it on fourth down from their own their own 32-yard line.
They picked up the first down. On the next play, junior Wade Warren took the ball 58 yards for a score.
"We bought in to what coach is saying," Warren said Tuesday.
How do you get a group of kids to buy in when all they've known that season is losing? When they walk down the hall wearing jerseys on Friday and other students laugh at them?
"You've got to have faith," senior Dustin Cummings said. "And he believes in us."
Cloverdale won that game. Instead of being down on themselves, the kids played their best football -- physically and mentally -- of the year.
Most of the players and parents love him. It's impossible to get through an interview with Butler and not be interrupted several times by parents and players coming up to shake his hand and thank him.
"I'll get you when we get back," he always says, not wanting to be rude and make the reporter wait. If he shakes one hand, he'll have to shake them all.
After his team lost to Attica in the sectional semifinal game, an emotional Butler spoke to his players and "the football family" about the program; about their commitment.
"When I came here, priority No. 1 was to change the football culture and the way the kids approach work, and they've done it," Butler said. "At this point, it's just a matter of in-school recruiting and getting those kids to buy in to the work ethic that the rest of them show.
"If we can do that, then we'll continue to gradually grow."
Butler told his seniors after that game that they're a part of the program until they walk across the stage and get their diplomas.
After the gathering, it appears many parents are hoping Butler will still be the coach when that happens.
In second stint at DePauw, Lynch now ready to stay
Friday, December 21, 2012
New DePauw head coach stalks the sidelines during his first stint with the Tigers in 2004.
(Courtesy photo/DePauw University)
When Bill Lynch begins his second stint as the head football coach of DePauw University on Jan. 2, it will be under much different circumstance than the last time.
Lynch first coached the team in 2004, replacing legendary DPU head coach Nick Mourouzis.
Coach Nick served as head coach for 23 seasons before stepping down, and the school hadn't known much change.
Beginning with Lynch, the Tigers have had five coaches in the nine years since.
Lynch hadn't planned to make his stay short, but when he got a call from his good friend inviting him to join the staff at Indiana University, it was too much to turn down.
"That was a very unique situation, in that a very good friend of mine, Terry Hoeppner, (called)," Lynch said. "We had kind of grown up together in the coaching profession and always competed against each other.
"We always talked about, if we ever had a chance to work together on the same staff, that would be great."
That opportunity came when Hoeppner took the IU job. He brought with him his young wide receiver's coach, Billy Lynch.
"To be able to go work with Terry, and also to be able to work with my son, it was just a unique, unique situation. That was a different time," Lynch said. "My wife and I are in a different place now with our kids all raised. We had two kids in college at the time. That was the main thing.
"It was a hard decision because I really enjoyed DePauw and had a great experience there."
Lynch won eight games in his one year at DPU, then joined his friend at IU.
After two seasons, Hoeppner became too ill to coach.
Lynch was named the interim head coach just days before Hoeppner died in June 2007.
He lasted four seasons before being let go, then became an associate athletic director at his Alma Mater, Butler.
Billy moved on, too. He's now the wide receivers coach at Rice University.
Lynch's other two sons -- Joey and Kevin, who were in college last time Lynch was DePauw's coach -- have gotten college jobs, too.
Joey is now the tight ends coach at Ball State, and Kevin is the wide receivers coach at the University of Indianapolis.
His sons have kept Lynch close to the game, calling him regularly to talk football, and when the DePauw job came up, Lynch got the hunger to return.
"All along, I've missed coaching," he said. "I've got three sons that are college football coaches. They'd be calling every night, talking about this and talking about that.
"When this opportunity came, I was excited to get involved in it. I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to coach."
Lynch said he's leaving a great situation at Butler, but he believes DPU will be an even better one.
"I really had a special time when I was there before," Lynch said. "I'm really excited about the new leadership. Dr. Casey (DPU president Brian W. Casey) and (athletic director) Steve Baker-Watson; their vision of the future and where they want to go. It's an exciting time."
Lynch graduated from a private liberal arts college himself and said he thinks that atmosphere is a better fit for him now than ever before.
Casey and Baker-Watson share similar goals to Lynch -- having quality student-athletes that are active on campus and in the classroom -- which helps as they try to accomplish another goal, competing at the highest level on the football field.
"They (DPU administrators) want to be successful and they want to be successful in the right way," Lynch said. "That's certainly right in line with my priorities, and I think it's a great fit.
"There's a commitment in that athletics is a very important aspect of the university. I think that's important as a coach, and certainly football is one of those sports that has an impact on campus."
North Putnam swimmers enter break with split against North Montgomery
Thursday, December 20, 2012
ROACHDALE -- The North Putnam boys' swim team continued its recent hot streak with a 115-67 win over North Montgomery on Wednesday.
The two squads each won their respective county championship last season and bragging rights were on the line.
Dane Gray bested his own school record with a 58.72 second finish in the 100-yard backstroke.
Gray picked up another win in the 200 individual medley.
"I'm really proud of Dane's swim, considering he spend four days in the hospital and missed two weeks of training. He's starting to swim like we want him to," NPHS head coach Tony Gray said. "We don't have anyone that's close to any other record right now, but I think we can approach the 100 fly and the breaststroke record by the end of the year."
The girls' team didn't fare quite as well, losing 119-45.
Sophomore Elizabeth Alford had wins in the 50- and 100-yard freestyle.
Samantha Freije, who first learned to swim just six weeks ago, had a strong 100 free and shaved 12 seconds off her personal best time in the 200 free, coach Gray said.
"With the small (roster), it's difficult for (the girls) to compete and win meets," he said. "As long as they keep working hard and have fun, and swim as a team, it's going to be a success for them."
Senior Joe Lehr got a win for the boys team in the 500 free. Michael Noble also stood out, coach Gray said, finishing strong in his first attempt at the marathon event.
"We're swimming a little bit better now," coach Gray said. "The kids got a little bit of rest this week, so the times are starting to drop the way we hoped they would."
The Cougars host a dual meet against Danville on Dec. 27 at 11 a.m.
At North Putnam
Boys' final -- North Putnam 115, North Montgomery 67
Girls' final -- North Montgomery 119, North Putnam 45
Cougars wrestling team comes through against Rockville
Thursday, December 20, 2012
ROACHDALE -- The young North Putnam wrestling team is starting to shape into form. The crew fought to a 60-12 win over Rockville on Wednesday.
Trevor Bingman started out the night with a first round pin at 160 pounds.
After a few forfeits Buck Buchanan picked up where his teammate left off, getting a pin just 26 seconds into the first round.
"The guys had a good effort tonight," NPHS coach Bucky Kramer said. "Overall it was a great win for us. The kids came out and wrestled hard."
Putnam County champion Dean Kleiber dropped to 120 pounds for the first time this year and wasted no time, scoring two takedowns in the first round before scoring a pin fall at 1:33.
Kleiber's drop forced Josh Coulter to move up to 126, and he responded with a second-round win. Coulter fought past a near fall in the first, gave up position to start the second, then fought on to get a pin at 3:12.
"We're still making mistakes. We've got to get better," Kramer said. "You just keep teaching. You show them what they're doing wrong and at one point they'll start to realize, 'OK, this is what I'm doing.'"
The Cougars have 10 days off until their next match, the Twin Lakes Invitational at Monticello on Dec. 29 at 9 a.m.
"We wanted to get a tournament over the holiday, which we haven't had in a long time," Kramer said. "There's going to be some pretty solid squads up there."
At North Putnam
North Putnam 60, Rockville 12
106 -- Straziscar, NP, forfeit , NP
113 -- Mazur, NP, forfeit
120 -- Kleiber, NP, fall, 1:33
126 -- Coulter, NP, fall, 3:12
132 -- Mills, NP, fall, 1:55
138 -- Winings, NP, forfeit
145 -- Attkisson, NP, forfeit
160 -- Bingman, NP, fall, 1:56
170 -- Scobee, NP, forfeit
195 -- Earl, R, forfeit
220 -- Buchanan, NP, fall, 0:26
285 -- Davis, NP, forfeit
Players, parents gather in support of CHS coach
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Don and Robin Bassett (above, left) speak at Support Coach Butler, an effort to save the job of Cloverdale head football coach John Butler.
(Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN) [Order this photo]
CLOVERDALE -- Although no decision has been finalized, word leaked to parents last weekend that the contract of Cloverdale football coach John Butler would not be renewed for next year.
The popular coach and teacher completed his second football season in October with a loss in the sectional semifinal for the second straight year.
Don and Robin Bassett, parents of a junior player on the football team, organized a gathering on Monday night, Support Coach Butler.
Many of those in attendance were players. They each signed a petition that had been pased around school on Monday.
(Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN)
Butler did not organize the meeting and was not present.
"I put this thing in motion and I'm not going to stop until we succeed," Robin said. "(Coach Butler) has got to be the best things that has happened to Cloverdale in years."
The support group plans to bring a large presence to the Cloverdale School Board meeting on Jan. 14 at 7 p.m.
"Coach Butler is not part of this," Don said. "The football family that man has started is here for our coach."
Those in attendance (nearly 80 people total) included 25 current or future Cloverdale football players.
They praised Butler for his ability as a role model, and to teach them not only about football, but about life.
"He's not just trying to better you as a football player, but he's trying to better you as a man," senior Dustin Cummings said.
Junior Cody Stout said Butler's passion helped fuel the team, even while they were struggling to get wins.
"I just think he believes in everybody," Stout said. "He has heart for everybody."
Parents agreed.
Butler has gained the trust of many parents by being open and available to them.
Each post-game speech is on the field, with parents and other community members encouraged to gather around.
This is not new to the community, but the first question Butler always asks to the players is, "Did you have fun?"
The parents at the gathering also said Butler has done a good job keeping the team polite and disciplined.
To some, those things aren't enough.
Butler's teams have a 4-18 record in his two years, and were just 1-10 this season.
As a school, Cloverdale has not had a winning season since finishing 7-3 in 1996.
A Cloverdale School Board member, who wished to remain anonymous, said Butler is a good man and that the decision was not football related.
"I want people to know there are two sides to every story," the board member said.
The board member said Butler's contract is not being renewed because of an unspecified issue related to his "teaching performance," and that Butler and the school's administrators "mutually agreed that something had to be done."
"We're not firing anybody unjustly," the board member said. "We're not firing anybody at all. We're just not renewing his contract."
Butler has been at Cloverdale for two years and is a non-tenured faculty member. All coaches must have their contracts renewed each year.
The coach did not comment on his contract, or the idea that the decision was mutual, but said he is grateful for the community support.
"I've always been in awe of the passion that people in our community have regarding athletics here in Cloverdale," Butler said. "It's one of the things that drew me here."
Butler had interest from other coaching positions at different school when he became the head coach at Cloverdale for the 2011 season.
With word leaking of the possibility of Butler's contract not being renewed, at least one other area coach has said he would welcome Butler as a prominent assistant.
The players had a petition signed by more than 100 Cloverdale High School students (more than one-quarter of the high school enrollment) that want Butler to be retained.
Adding an additional layer, the Cloverdale players in attendance said they would not play at all next year if the head coach is anyone but Butler.
"Basically everyone" has said that, junior Wade Warren said.
If he is indeed not retained, Butler said he hopes the players reconsider that decision.
"Whatever the reason, I would hate to see a kid give up an opportunity to play football because of this type of situation," he said. "To those kids considering not playing because I possibly may not be the head coach, I hope you would reconsider and remember how hard you have worked to get where you are right now.
"Play for yourselves, play for each other, play for your parents, or just play to play. You're the luckiest people on the face of the earth to strap it on and play the greatest game ever invented."
15 fourth-quarter free throws secure Tiger Cubs win over Northview
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Greencastle senior Rayleigh Amis fights through contact to make a layup with four minutes left in the fourth quarter.
(Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN) [Order this photo]
After beating Edgewood on Dec. 1, Greencastle girls' basketball coach Bradley Key said his team could be poised for a big run.
Following a 45-39 win over Northview on Tuesday, the Tiger Cubs have now won four of their last five games.
The Knights committed seven team fouls in the third quarter, putting GHS in the bonus for the remainder of the game.
The Tiger Cubs took advantage, sinking 15-of-19 free throws in the fourth quarter.
"Free throws are a funny thing," Key said. "There's some games you come in shooting 46 percent, and others you're shooting in the 70s."
Sophomore Callan Taylor led the Tiger Cubs with a game-high 21 points. She made nine of her 10 free throws in the fourth quarter.
"Tonight our key players got to the line," Key said. "Callan played a great game."
The Tiger Cubs entered the game planning to take away Northview sophomore Mikayla Rowan.
GHS senior Rayleigh Amis did just that, keeping Rowan to just 11 points.
"I'm proud of how Rayleigh Amis played," Key said. "That was kind of our goal -- to keep her under 12. That's her average.
Sophomore Kenzi Kumpf tried to respond for the Knights, scoring 10 points in the second half, but the team could not overcome the free throw disparity.
"Northview hangs their hat on defense," Key said. "Listening to some of the things their coach has said in the paper -- their offense hasn't been working like he wants it to, but they're a good defensive team."
GHS committed only 10 fouls in the game, and the Knights made just six-of-10 free throws.
The Tiger Cubs (7-5) struggled in their last game, a 49-46 win at Rockville last Thursday.
Key said the team went through a tough practice on Saturday and said he was happy the team responded.
"We had a tough Saturday practice; one they probably won't forget for a while," Key said. "It was a good game. It was a fun, team win."
GHS has nearly two weeks off until its next game, an afternoon contest against Owen Valley on Saturday, Dec. 29 at 12:30.
At Greencastle
Northview 6 11 6 16 -- 39
Greencastle 8 11 9 17 -- 45
Individual scoring
Northview: Kumpf 12, Rowan 11, Smith 9, Weddle 5, Hughes 2, Halfhill 0, Girton 0, Fagg 0.
Greencastle: Taylor 21, Lenihan 10, Basile 6, Amis 6, Earl 2, Covert 0, T Stoltey 0, D Stoltey 0.
Turnovers
Northview 14, Greencastle 21
Pacers beat Grizzlies for fifth-straight home win
Monday, December 31, 2012
Pacers guard D.J. Augustin drives to the hoop against Memphis' Mike Conley.
(Courtesy photo)
INDIANAPOLIS -- The Pacers beat Memphis in an afternoon game on Monday, 88-83. They were without starting point guard George Hill, who missed the game with an injury.
D.J. Augustin, removed from the playing rotation a few weeks ago for rookie point guard Ben Hasbrough, stepped into the void in Hill's absence.
A former top-ten draft pick by Charlotte, Augustin has struggled to find a rhythm since joining the Pacers (18-13) as a free agent last summer.
He entered the game averaging just 3.1 points, on 26 percent shooting, and 2.3 assists per game.
Augustin, his fifth year out of Texas, spent the last two seasons starting for the Bobcats and seemed to find his groove by moving back into that role. He made four of the Pacers' 12 three-pointers, including a dagger late that put Indiana up six with two minutes left.
He also sank four-of-four free throws down the stretch to help seal the win.
"I was out there longer so the shots were able to come to me instead of me trying to force shots in limited minutes," Augustin said. "(Starting) makes a big difference. You come out loose and ready and prepared for the game. But when you come off the bench, you've got to be ready also."
Augustin added a season-high six assists.
Paul George continued his recent success, scoring a team-high 21 points. He also held Grizzlies star forward Rudy Gay to just three-of-17 shooting.
Roy Hibbert, coming off a zero-point, one-rebound catastrophe against Atlanta on Saturday, responded against Memphis.
The Grizzlies (19-9) attacked Hibbert early with Zach Randolph posting up, but they failed to feed the post consistently.
Randolph finished with 21 points and 15 rebounds.
Hibbert finished with four big blocks, including one of Gay that would have closed the gap to three with 1:51 remaining.
Indiana hosts the Wizards for the second time this season on Wednesday at 7 p.m.
At Indiana
Grizzlies 19 22 26 16 -- 83
Pacers 19 19 22 28 -- 88
Individual scoring
Grizzlies: Randolph 7-18, 7-8, 21; Gasol 6-10, 1-1, 13; Gay 3-17, 5-8, 11; Allen 5-8, 1-2, 11; Conley 3-9, 2-2, 9; Ellington 2-4, 0-0, 6; Arthur 3-6, 0-0, 6; Speights 2-6, 1-2, 5; Bayless 0-4, 1-1, 1.
Pacers: George 7-16, 3-4, 21; Augustin 4-9, 5-6, 17; West 3-6, 7-8, 13; Stephenson 3-7, 2-2, 10; Hibbert 3-11, 3-4, 9; T Hansbrough 3-6, 0-0, 6; B Hansbrough 2-5, 0-0, 6; Green 2-5, 0-0, 4; Mahinmi 1-5, 0-0, 2; Young 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Team scoring (three-pointers)
Grizzlies 31-82 (3-11), 18-24, 83; Pacers 28-70 (12-25), 20-24, 88.
Rebounds (offensive)
Grizzlies 44 (18); Pacers 38 (11).
Turnovers
Grizzlies 16; Pacers 18.
Top-ranked Tigers win Hasbrook championship against Rockford
Monday, December 31, 2012
Members of the 2012 All-Hasbrook Tournament team (from left) Erin Ryczek, Kate Walker, Kat Molloy, Alex Gasaway and former players Ann Hall, Sarah McKay, Lindsey Rush, Erin Miller and Dana Ferguson.Not pictured are Spalding senior Kelly Harrod and Rose-Hulman freshman Addie Johnson.
(Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN) [Order this photo]
Saturday's win over Rose-Hulman was just a warm-up for the DePauw women's basketball team as they feasted on Rockford College in the Hasbrook Tournament championship game Sunday, winning 73-43.
Senior point guard Kate Walker was named tournament MVP, having averaged 10.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists in just 18 minutes per game.
"It's nice to be awarded that, especially at the Hasie Tournament," Walker said. "I know this is going to sound corny, but Hasie (former DePauw guard Amy Hasbrook) ... coach talks so highly about her. So being the MVP of that tournament is kind of a big deal.
"In my head, what coach has described Hasie as is the hard-worker, the person who doesn't necessarily get the most points, but puts their whole heart on the court."
The Tigers dominated from the start, jumping out to a 30-4 lead before allowing the Regents their first field goal with 5:18 left in the first half.
After spending most of game Saturday in a 2-3 zone defense, DPU switched back to their customary man-to-man scheme for the final.
"(Zone defense) is something new that we've added in the last three or four years," Tigers head coach Kris Huffman said. "It helps us when we go against teams with a 6'2" center, because we're undersized ... We're just making sure that we're prepared to play anybody, so it's something that we continue to work on."
Height on the front line wasn't a problem against Rockford and the tenacious defense of DePauw kept the Regents out of the paint.
"I always prefer man," Walker said. "I've played man my whole life. I never played zone until I came to DePauw, and even then we don't play it all that often."
The Tigers held a 41-15 lead at halftime, but only a slight 17-16 rebounding advantage.
"We always want to focus on rebounding," Huffman said. "Especially with this being the Hasbrook Tournament, and that was something that she did so well. We talked this week about making sure that this was something that we owned this weekend. We tried to own the glass."
The Tigers hauled in 21 rebounds, including 14 offensive rebounds, in the second half.
With the game well in hand, starters moved aside early after the break, allowing DPU's second unit to carry them the rest of the way.
Senior Kathleen Molloy was the games leading scorer, finishing with a career-high 15 points, making five-of-nine shots (four-of-five threes).
"I knew I was shooting kind of well, but I didn't know it was my career-high," Molloy, whose bio on the team website lists her praying for Hasbrook to get ready for each game, said.
Molloy and junior Alex Gasaway joined Walker on the all-tournament team.
DePauw plays again Friday when the team hosts conference-rival Allegheny at 6 p.m. The men's game follows.
DePauw senior point guard Kate Walker lines up for a runner over Rockford junior Destiny Chaney. Walker was named 2012 Amy Hasbrook Tournament MVP.
(Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN) [Order this photo]
At DePauw
Rockford 15 28 -- 43
DePauw 41 32 -- 73
Individual scoring
Rockford: Ryczek 6-14, 2-2, 17; Nichols 3-6, 2-3, 8; Bjerning 2-4, 0-0, 4; Chaney 1-5, 2-4, 4; Woods 1-5, 0-0, 3; Scott 1-2, 0-0, 3; Lengjak 1-6, 0-0, 2; Lawler 1-5, 0-0, 2; Johnson 0-5, 0-0, 0; Fowler 0-0, 0-0, 0.
DePauw: Molloy 5-9, 1-2, 15; Abendroth 4-4, 0-0, 10; Walker 3-5, 2-2, 9; Gasaway 4-7, 0-0, 9; Trees 2-6, 2-2, 6; Pearson 2-4, 1-2, 5; Ross 2-5, 1-2, 5; McGinnis 2-2, 0-0, 4; Skordos 1-2, 0-0, 3; Stephens 1-4, 1-2, 3; Ondik 1-4, 0-0, 2; Keller 1-4, 0-0, 2; Francis 0-0, 0-0, 0; Stoner 0-2, 0-0, 0; McDonagh 0-2, 0-0, 0; Hacker 0-1, 0-0, 0; Lukemeyer 0-1, 0-0, 0; Frost 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Team scoring (three-pointers)
Rockford 16-52 (7-14), 4-6, 43; DePauw 28-62 (9-19), 8-12, 73.
Rebounds (offensive)
Rockford 33 (16); DePauw 38 (18).
Turnovers
Rockford 22; DePauw 10.
Cougars place third at Speedway girls' basketball tourney
Monday, December 31, 2012
North Putnam junior point guard Bethany Wiatt rips the ball away from Arlington freshman Briella Tomlinson (33), recording one of her game-high nine steals. (Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN )[Order this photo]
SPEEDWAY -- Two teams entered the consolation game at the 2012 Speedway girls' basketball tournament looking to snap a burdensome losing streak.
North Putnam was able to do just that, beating Indianapolis Arlington (0-8) 67-36.
The Cougars (2-10) entered the game with a five-game losing streak. The Golden Knights made headlines a few weeks ago after suffering a 103-2 loss.
"Arlington played hard for 32 minutes," NPHS coach Curtis Lawrence said. "We let (the players) know (after the first game against Western Boone) that there are some things that we can improve on, and we were able to do that against Arlington."
NPHS began the game in attack mode, hoping out to a 13-5 lead and experimenting with full court ball pressure for the first time this season.
When it worked, the Cougars were able to get easy steals and layups. There were also signs of inexperience that allowed the Knights to leak out to the outside and race to the rim.
The Cougars led by only one (13-12) after the first quarter.
Eventually, they figured out how to use press.
NPHS closed the first half on a 16-3 run.
"We felt that, if we could apply a little bit of pressure to them, we would be able to create turnovers," Lawrence said, "which would lead to some easy baskets, which is something we haven't been able to do."
Junior point guard Bethany Wiatt seemed the most comfortable with applying full court pressure. She finished with nine steals, 11 points and three assists.
Senior Sam Lucas was the game's high-scorer, putting in 17 and adding 11 rebounds for the Cougars.
Senior Cayla Kientz added nine points, and sophomore Morgan Smith had eight.
NPHS is in the midst of its most winnable stretch of the season
with games next week against Fountain Central and Eminence.
Lawrence is hoping the new defensive strategy will help keep the momentum going.
"We really haven't played a team yet that I thought the press would be beneficial to us," he said. "When we get behind in a game, we don't have the makeup that is going be able to get us back in the game against the teams that we've played so far. We've got some teams coming up ... that I think our press is going to be beneficial to us."
The Cougars lost Saturday's opening game to Western Boone 65-18.
At Speedway
Game 1
North Putnam 5 6 2 5 -- 18
Western Boone 19 13 14 19 -- 65
Individual scoring
North Putnam: Asbell 1-5, 2-5, 4; Kientz 2-7, 0-1, 4; Wiatt 1-2, 0-1, 2; Lucas 1-4, 0-0, 2; Land 1-2, 0-0, 2; Mindiola 1-1, 0-0, 2; Smith 0-8, 1-2, 1; Clodfelter 0-2, 1-2, 1; Aynes 0-2, 0-0, 0; Pitcock 0-0, 0-0, 0; Reeves 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Western Boone: Harrison 6-16, 3-3, 15; Ramey 6-11, 0-1, 12; Climer 4-6, 0-0, 9; Vanderpool 3-8, 2-2, 8; Henderson 2-7, 1-5, 5; Mitchell 2-8, 0-0, 4; Miller 2-7, 0-0, 4; Marsh 2-11, 0-0, 4; Hole 1-1, 0-0, 2.
Team scoring (three-pointers)
NP 7-33 (0-4), 4-11, 18; WB 28-76 (1-7), 6-13, 65.
Rebounds (offensive)
NP 28 (5); WB 54 (30).
Turnovers
NP 34; WB 13.
Game 2
Indianapolis Arlington 12 3 8 13 -- 36
North Putnam 13 16 18 20 -- 67
Individual scoring
Indianapolis Arlington: Hogue 5-23, 1-2, 13; Tomlinson 4-8, 0-1, 9; Rupert 3-4, 1-1, 7; Davis 1-3, 0-0, 2; Turman 1-7, 0-0, 2; Watson 1-5, 0-0, 2; Hogens 0-1, 0-0, 0; White 0-0, 0-0, 0; Harvey 0-0, 0-0, 0.
North Putnam: Lucas 5-13, 7-10, 17; Kientz 4-6, 3-4, 11; Wiatt 3-8, 5-6, 11; Smith 2-12, 5-10, 9; Asbell 3-8, 1-4, 7; Land 2-6, 0-0, 4; Aynes 2-7, 0-0, 4; Mindiola 1-1, 0-0, 2; Clodfelter 0-3, 0-0, 0; Pitcock 0-2, 0-2, 0; Reeves 0-1, 0-0, 0.
Team scoring (three-pointers)
IA 16-52 (3-15), 2-5, 36; NP 23-66 (0-6), 21-37, 67.
Rebounds (offensive)
IA 42 (7); NP 49 (18).
Turnovers
IA 38, NP 17.
Clovers place 4th at Clinton Prairie Tournament
Sunday, December 30, 2012
Cloverdale senior Sydney Shrum drives in for a layup against Clinton Prairie senior Stephanie Schrock. Shrum made her shot and was fouled.
(Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN) [Order this photo]
FRANKFORT -- The Cloverdale girls' basketball team came out flat after a 10-day layoff, finishing in fourth place at Friday's Clinton Prairie Tournament after losses to the hosts and Hagerstown.
The Clovers played some of their best basketball of the season in the second half of game one against Clinton Prairie, but it wasn't enough to overcome the 22-point halftime deficit as the Gophers won 48-36.
Cloverdale was outrebounded 22-7 in the first half, and turned the ball over 13 times.
The team also made just three-of-20 shots before the break.
The Clovers emerged from halftime with energy, playing almost four minutes before getting a turnover in the third quarter.
As Cloverdale head coach Matthew Langdon dipped into his more inexperienced bench to save his starters energy for game two, the play got a little sloppier, but the still cut into the lead.
In the end, lack of scoring threats with too little time to make up the difference.
"We came out slow in the first game," Langdon said. "In the second half we played good man-to-man and we wanted to ball more ... I hoped we could bring that energy to the second game. (I knew) if we play like that, we have a chance (against Hagerstown)."
It wasn't to be. The team came out flat again, scoring just five first-quarter points. They failed to make a dent the rest of the game and the Tigers secured a 39-27 win.
Hagerstown junior Hayley Rogers scored 18 points in the win.
Senior Amillia Nally, the Clovers most consistent player on Friday, scored 10 points.
Cloverdale was allowed Hagerstown to attempt nearly twice as many field goals (48-26) during the course of the game.
The Clovers defense that has been pressuring opponents into turnovers all year let the team down. The Tigers had just eight in the game, and two in the second half.
"Our offense feeds off our defense," Langdon said. "We didn't do what we need to do."
Langdon said he was disappointed with the effort, but he hopes it was a product of the long layoff and not a sign of things to come.
In addition to the big break, the Clovers also expanded their rotation. Normally the team only gives seven players significant minutes, but Langdon said he realized he is going to need to find a way to keep his starters fresh as the postseason tournament approaches.
"I'm trying to get the starters more time out (of the game)," he said. "If we're going to be a pressing team the whole game, we're going to need to get our starters more of a break."
Cloverdale will carry a five-game losing streak with it when the team hosts South Vermillion on Jan. 3.
Notes: Eastern won the tournament championship game against Clinton Prairie, 59-43 ... Sophomore Bailee Stevens missed the tournament as she recovers from an injury, but she is expected to return in the Clovers next game ... Cloverdale (4-9) had a .500 record before the recent skid.
Cloverdale senior Amillia Nally splits through Hagerstown defenders to get to the basket for a layup.
(Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN) [Order this photo]
At Clinton Prairie
Game 1
Cloverdale 5 2 13 16 -- 36
Clinton Prairie 13 16 11 8 -- 48
Individual scoring
Cloverdale: Nally 4-12, 3-5, 9; Gruener 2-10, 3-4, 7; Shrum 3-4, 0-1, 6; Skiles 1-5, 1-2, 4; Walters 1-3, 1-3, 3; Wellington 1-1, 0-0, 3; Dorsett 0-0, 1-2, 1; Clark 0-3, 0-0, 0; Hamm 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Clinton Prairie: Hanna 3-9, 7-8, 14; Douglass 6-13, 1-2, 13; Clark 4-6, 1-4, 9; Schrock 1-3, 2-2, 4; Schoonveld 2-2, 0-0, 4; Pearson 1-1, 0-0, 3; Dunham 0-0, 1-2, 1; Wines 0-1, 0-0, 0; Sabens 0-0, 0-0, 0; Humrickhouse 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Team shooting (three-pointers)
Cloverdale 12-39 (3-12), 9-17, 36; Clinton Prairie 17-35 (2-4), 12-18, 48.
Rebounds (offensive)
Cloverdale 16 (6), Clinton Prairie 33 (9).
Turnovers
Cloverdale 20, Clinton Prairie 24.
Game 2
Hagerstown 8 12 9 10 -- 39
Cloverdale 5 8 5 9 -- 27
Individual scoring
Hagerstown: H Rogers 9-16, 0-0, 18; C Rogers 3-9, 1-2, 9; O Robinson 2-4, 1-2, 5; M Houck 2-8, 0-0, 4; S Houck 1-1, 0-0, 2; Brown 0-2, 1-2, 1; Arnold 0-3, 0-0, 0; Willis 0-2, 0-0, 0; Caudill 0-3, 0-0, 0; J Robinson 0-0, 0-0, 0; Matanich 0-0, 0-0, 0; Hannon 0-0, 0-0, 0; O Houck 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Cloverdale: Nally 4-7, 2-3, 10; Shrum 1-3, 5-6, 7; Clark 2-2, 0-0, 4; Gruener 1-7, 0-0, 2; Walters 1-2, 0-0, 2; Dorsett 1-2, 0-0, 2; Skiles 0-3, 0-0, 0; Wellington 0-0, 0-0, 0; Hamm 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Team shooting (three-pointers)
Hagerstown 17-48 (2-7), 3-6, 39; Cloverdale 10-26 (0-2), 7-9; 27.
Rebounds (offensive)
Hagerstown 22 (11), Cloverdale 23 (5).
Turnovers
Hagerstown 8, Cloverdale 22.
No. 1 Tigers find legs in Hasbrook semi
Saturday, December 29, 2012
DePauw junior Alex Gasaway drives in for a layup over Rose-Hulman freshman Addie Johnson and junior Kelsey Ploof (50). [Order this photo]
The DePauw University women's basketball team defeated Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology 79-36 on Saturday in the second game of the 2012 Amy Hasbrook Memorial Tournament.
The Tigers are ranked No. 1 in NCAA Division III and showed why with a convincing victory over the Engineers.
It was the Tigers first game in 10 days. The team is coming off a tournament win in Puerto Rico and a break due to the holidays.
DPU head coach Kris Huffman was concerned about her team's condition with the long layoff and, with a cancelled practice on Wednesday, she implemented a new strategy.
The Tigers platooned full five-player units every four minutes.
The starting five of senior Kate Walker, junior Ali Ross, sophomore Savannah Trees, junior Alex Gasaway and senior Ellie Pearson got the team off to a hot 6-for-11 start and a 14-5 lead before sitting down.
"It is fun, but I would say (coach Huffman) probably won't do that again," Ross said. "I liked it, but I also like getting to intermix with the other players."
After allowing six unanswered points by Rose-Hulman, the second unit of sophomores Emma Ondik and Lauren Abendroth, juniors Alison Stephens and Erin McGinnis and senior Kathleen Molloy started to get in sync.
Stephens (12) and Molloy (10) both finished the game in double-digit scoring.
"Coach did it to make sure that we had fresh legs constantly," Walker said. "I usually play with that set of five a lot, so it's not something that I wasn't used to."
The starters returned and expanded the lead to 34-11 with 5:59 left in the half, continuing a 20-0 run.
"We haven't done that this year," Huffman said. "We have some depth, but we usually don't platoon it ... It wasn't totally planned, but it's how it worked out."
The fresh legs allowed the hosts to keep Rose-Hullman off balance, and DePauw exploited it inside.
Gasaway scored 10 of her game-high 17 points in the first half.
DPU continued the platoon strategy in second half and the players got into an even better rhythm.
The Tigers had extra focus for their opponent, Walker said, because they're playing in memory of former DPU star Amy Hasbrook.
"We always learn a lot about Hasie," Walker said. "Coach has always held her up on a pedestal, saying how great she is and how good of a rebounder she is, so it's always a goal during the Hasie Tournament to get as many rebounds as possible and play your heart out.
"No matter what, I always feel like it's playing your heart out for her."
DPU out-rebounded Rose-Hulman by a convincing 40-27 margin.
"Amy was a special player for us," Huffman said. "We may sometimes talk about certain teams of a given year, but (for individual players) Hasie probably stands out. She was a special player ... and to know that we don't have her with us anymore probably brings it to light.
"She's a great example for us to keep her name and her memory alive."
Hasbrook graduated from DePauw in 2000 and died in a house fire in Indianapolis in 2002.
The Tigers face Rockford College (2-9) in the tournament final on Sunday at 5 p.m.
At DePauw
Rose-Hulman 21 15 -- 36
DePauw 40 39 -- 79
Individual scoring
Rose-Hulman: Johnson 4-10, 0-0, 8; Williams 2-4, 3-3, 8; Ploof 2-4, 3-4, 7; Evers 2-7, 1-1, 6; Morris 2-6, 1-2, 5; Gilliam 1-2, 0-0, 2; Cain 0-4, 0-2, 0; Ottone 0-0, 0-0, 0; Gibbs 0-1, 0-0, 0; Dalton 0-0, 0-0, 0; Fuhs 0-0, 0-0, 0; Barnes 0-0, 0-0, 0.
DePauw: Gasaway 7-11, 2-3, 16; Walker 5-11, 2-2, 12; Stephens 4-8, 2-2, 12; Molloy 4-6, 1-2, 10; Ross 4-9, 0-0, 9; Trees 2-4, 1-1, 5; Pearson 1-5, 2-3, 4; Sarkisian 2-2, 0-0, 4; Abendroth 1-5, 0-0, 3; Stoner 1-1, 0-0, 2; Hacker 1-2, 0-2, 2; Ondik 0-2, 0-0, 0; Skordos 0-1, 0-0, 0; McDonagh 0-2, 0-0, 0; Lukemeyer 0-1, 0-0, 0; McGinnis 0-0, 0-0, 0; Keller 0-1, 0-0, 0; Frost 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Team scoring (three-pointers)
RHIT 13-38 (2-14), 8-12, 36; DPU 32-71 (5-14), 10-15, 79.
Rebounds (offensive)
RHIT 27 (3); DPU 40 (18).
Turnovers
RHIT 27; DPU 8.
Tiger Cubs vacation comes to halt against Danville
Saturday, December 29, 2012
Greencastle sophomore Brody Bollman drives in for a layup, fending off Danville defender B'ster Detty.
(Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN) [Order this photo]
The young Greencastle boys' basketball team continues to take steps toward improving, but they're not ready yet and that showed against Danville in the 71-49 loss on Friday at McAnally.
The Tiger Cubs (1-6) played their first game in 13 days and, despite the loss, changes were evident.
"I do think we're seeing improvement as a team, even though the scoreboard may not show it," GHS head coach Troy Greenlee said. "You hate to say you're satisfied with losing a game like this, but as we are, we have to do that. We have to look at where we are and where we were and compare.
"I think we're getting better."
GHS began the game struggling against the fast and aggressive Danville (8-1) defense.
The Warriors converted their first six shots to open the game, mostly fast break layups coming off turnovers.
Danville senior Ian Asher led the early attack, scoring 12 of his game-high 21 points in the first half.
The Tiger Cubs guards began to figure out the pressure, in the second quarter, but Danville found scoring just as easy in their half-court offense.
"They're a really good team and we knew they were a really good team," Greenlee said. "They're such a tough team to guard because they have the perimeter shooters, they can drive the ball well and they have just enough post presence to make it hard."
Greencastle came out sharp after halftime before surrendering a 9-0 run to end the third quarter.
Danville fed senior Jackson Stone in the post throughout the half and the shorter GHS front line couldn't prevent him from getting the ball deep under the hoop for easy lay-ins.
Stone finished with 17 points.
As the Warriors continued to get easy shots, the Tiger Cubs continued to shoot from the outside.
It was only after fouls began to pile up for Danville that GHS started to get into a rhythm.
The Warriors were called for 14 fouls in the second half, and the Cubs made seven-of-11 free throws in the fourth, but by then it was too little, too late.
"We knew it would be a tough game for us if we didn't do the things we talked about before the game, like taking care of the ball," Greenlee said. "We're not where we want to be, but I think we're taking some steps forward."
Freshman Ryan Coble and senior Nick Gilliam each scored seven points to lead the Tiger Cubs.
GHS hosts Speedway on Friday, Jan. 3 at 7:30 p.m.
At Greencastle
Danville 17 19 19 16 -- 71
Greencastle 5 18 12 14 -- 49
Individual scoring
Danville: Asher 8-14, 3-3, 21; Stone 8-9, 1-3, 17; Motes 4-8, 0-0, 10; Just 3-4, 3-4, 9; Amore 3-4, 1-2, 8; Detty 1-2, 2-2, 4; Ross 0-1, 2-2, 2; Collier 1-1, 0-0, 2; Shipley 0-1, 0-0, 0; Weir 0-1, 0-2, 0; Anderson 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Greencastle: Coble 3-6, 1-2, 7; Gilliam 2-7, 2-3, 7; Winslow 3-9, 0-0, 6; Gerard 2-6, 1-2, 6; Mitchell 1-2, 3-5, 5; Foxx 1-3, 2-3, 4; Christy 1-3, 0-0, 3; Bollman 1-6, 1-1, 3; King 1-2, 0-0, 3; Hughes 1-2, 0-0, 3.
Team scoring (three-pointers)
Danville 28-45 (5-12), 10-16, 71; Greencastle 16-45 (7-17), 10-17, 49.
Rebounds (offensive)
Danville 30 (7), Greencastle 28 (12)
Turnovers
Danville 15, Greencastle 21
DePauw brings Bill Lynch back as head football coach
Friday, December 21, 2012
Bill Lynch
DePauw University announced on Thursday it has hired Bill Lynch as the next head football coach.
Lynch was previously the Tigers' head coach for the 2004 season and he will take over on Jan. 2, 2013.
"I wasn't really looking, but when the DePauw situation came up, that really got me thinking about it because I had such a great experience while I was there in 2004," Lynch told the Banner Graphic. "They want to be successful, and they want to be successful in the right way."
Lynch left DePauw with an 8-2 record in just one season as head coach to become offensive coordinator for Indiana University.
He was faced with the difficult task of replacing his good friend, Terry Hoeppner, as head coach of the Hoosiers when Hoep-pner passed away in June 2007.
Lynch spent four seasons as head coach at IU, reaching a bowl game in his first season and compiling a 19-30 record.
After being fired following the 2010 season, Lynch became the associate athletic director for development at his alma mater, Butler.
His duties included working closely with the football team there. He also has three sons who coach college football.
"I haven't been away from football, I just haven't been on the sideline coaching it," Lynch said. "I've got the same passion and energy that I always have."
DePauw athletic director Stevie Baker-Watson said Thursday that hiring Lynch was the completion of a lengthy process.
"It was something that we've really been working on since Coach Long was fired in September," Baker-Watson said. "The whole process I wanted to complete by the holidays."
Robby Long was fired on Sept. 16, just two weeks into the season, for failing to "take corrective actions in a timely manner" regarding administrative issues under his control.
Long had been DePauw's head coach since August 2009.
The Tigers have had five different coaches since Nick Mourouzis retired after the 2003 season, with Long's three-plus years being the longest span.
Choosing Lynch among the candidates seems to signal that DePauw was looking for a long-term commitment more than an up-and-coming hire.
"He was looking for a landing spot, like I was when I came here," Mourouzis said. "This will give us stability."
Lynch, who still owns a house in Putnam County, said DePauw will likely be the final stop of his coaching career.
"We've been very fortunate, my wife and I, to be able to raise our kids in Indiana," Lynch said. "To be able to end it here is really great for us from a family situation."
DPU sorted through more than 130 applicants, narrowing the field to 40 in the top category, Baker-Watson said.
Ten received phone interviews, and the top four -- Lynch, Monmouth College head coach Steve Bell, DPU graduate and Army running backs coach Tucker Waugh and Dartmouth college special teams coordinator Chris Wilkerson -- were brought in last week for interviews.
Baker-Watson said she has received a tremendous amount of feedback from alumni and community members during the coaching search.
Although the school initially planned to keep the hiring process in-house, she decided it would be best to open it up to a hiring firm to keep the search more transparent.
As the field of candidates narrowed, Baker-Watson said she discussed candidates with people close to the DePauw program that were familiar with them.
After announcing the final four, it was a chance for those people to "hit send, again," Baker-Watson said, and share their final thoughts.
This included Mour-ouzis, who sat in on the final interviews.
"He's the best (candidate) for the situation that we have right now," Mourouzis said. "He's proven leadership. He knows all the coaches and has great respect for all the high school coaches in Indiana and the Midwest.
"Success in Division III all comes down to recruiting. I think that he can recruit a lot of good athletes for us here at DePauw."
Baker-Watson added that although the search came as a result of what she called "terrible circumstances" -- firing the previous head coach in the middle of the season -- it was a good opportunity to get feedback from alumni and reset the football program.
DePauw finished the 2012 season with a 2-8 record, losing the Monon Bell Classic for the fourth straight year.
Defensive coordinator Scott Srnka was named interim head coach after Long was let go, but his future and the rest of the staff is uncertain.
Baker-Watson said she would leave that up to Lynch.
"I knew I needed to hire a leader of the program," she said, "and the rest would work itself out."
Getting the coaching staff settled is priorty No. 1 for Lynch when he starts next month.
"I look forward to meeting them," he said. "The first thing is getting to know the staff that are there, and then it's very important to meet and get to know the players that are in the program right now."
DPU students began their winter break last Friday and will not return to class until Jan. 28, giving Lynch nearly a month on the job to recruit current and future players.
He conceded that he hasn't had a chance to watch the team play in recent years, but he is looking to forward to getting started with recruiting, and that starts with the players he has on campus.
"That's what this time of year is all about," Lynch said. "It's a process. First, getting to know (players) in a one-on-one basis and then you start to develop relationships.
"That's what starts building a team."
Lynch has a 100-97-3 career record as a head coach.
Besides DPU and IU, he has also been the head coach of Ball State University (1995-2002) and his alma mater, Butler (1985-1989).
Ball State was recognized by the American Football Coaches Association for outstanding graduation rates from 2000-02.
Lynch has also been an assistant coach at Northern Illinois and the United States Foot-ball League's Orlando Renegades.
Cloverdale's fight for coach Butler a worthwhile cause
Friday, December 21, 2012
I've never been coached by John Butler, and I've not sat in his classroom, but I have learned from him.
He has of way of speaking, about football, and about his kids, that always teaches.
When emotions are high after a game, he's deliberate with his words. He makes sure everyone understands -- always.
He's not telling, he's showing.
As the Cloverdale football team struggled through a winless regular season, Butler stayed positive, upbeat.
There were rumors swirling around -- as early as week three -- that his job could be in jeopardy.
He heard them. The players and parents heard them.
Butler kept it going.
The season started with Cloverdale having its biggest roster in the school's recent history.
By the end of week four, the team had lost 17 of 22 starters to season- or career-ending injury, and nine more of the key subs.
They finished the regular season 0-9, and the sectional quarterfinal game began when Riverton Parke returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown.
Most 16- and 17-year-old kids would get down on themselves.
"My football team -- my staff and my kids -- have literally moved on from the first nine weeks of the season," Butler said after the RPHS game.
On their first drive, the Clovers went for it on fourth down from their own their own 32-yard line.
They picked up the first down. On the next play, junior Wade Warren took the ball 58 yards for a score.
"We bought in to what coach is saying," Warren said Tuesday.
How do you get a group of kids to buy in when all they've known that season is losing? When they walk down the hall wearing jerseys on Friday and other students laugh at them?
"You've got to have faith," senior Dustin Cummings said. "And he believes in us."
Cloverdale won that game. Instead of being down on themselves, the kids played their best football -- physically and mentally -- of the year.
Most of the players and parents love him. It's impossible to get through an interview with Butler and not be interrupted several times by parents and players coming up to shake his hand and thank him.
"I'll get you when we get back," he always says, not wanting to be rude and make the reporter wait. If he shakes one hand, he'll have to shake them all.
After his team lost to Attica in the sectional semifinal game, an emotional Butler spoke to his players and "the football family" about the program; about their commitment.
"When I came here, priority No. 1 was to change the football culture and the way the kids approach work, and they've done it," Butler said. "At this point, it's just a matter of in-school recruiting and getting those kids to buy in to the work ethic that the rest of them show.
"If we can do that, then we'll continue to gradually grow."
Butler told his seniors after that game that they're a part of the program until they walk across the stage and get their diplomas.
After the gathering, it appears many parents are hoping Butler will still be the coach when that happens.
In second stint at DePauw, Lynch now ready to stay
Friday, December 21, 2012
New DePauw head coach stalks the sidelines during his first stint with the Tigers in 2004.
(Courtesy photo/DePauw University)
When Bill Lynch begins his second stint as the head football coach of DePauw University on Jan. 2, it will be under much different circumstance than the last time.
Lynch first coached the team in 2004, replacing legendary DPU head coach Nick Mourouzis.
Coach Nick served as head coach for 23 seasons before stepping down, and the school hadn't known much change.
Beginning with Lynch, the Tigers have had five coaches in the nine years since.
Lynch hadn't planned to make his stay short, but when he got a call from his good friend inviting him to join the staff at Indiana University, it was too much to turn down.
"That was a very unique situation, in that a very good friend of mine, Terry Hoeppner, (called)," Lynch said. "We had kind of grown up together in the coaching profession and always competed against each other.
"We always talked about, if we ever had a chance to work together on the same staff, that would be great."
That opportunity came when Hoeppner took the IU job. He brought with him his young wide receiver's coach, Billy Lynch.
"To be able to go work with Terry, and also to be able to work with my son, it was just a unique, unique situation. That was a different time," Lynch said. "My wife and I are in a different place now with our kids all raised. We had two kids in college at the time. That was the main thing.
"It was a hard decision because I really enjoyed DePauw and had a great experience there."
Lynch won eight games in his one year at DPU, then joined his friend at IU.
After two seasons, Hoeppner became too ill to coach.
Lynch was named the interim head coach just days before Hoeppner died in June 2007.
He lasted four seasons before being let go, then became an associate athletic director at his Alma Mater, Butler.
Billy moved on, too. He's now the wide receivers coach at Rice University.
Lynch's other two sons -- Joey and Kevin, who were in college last time Lynch was DePauw's coach -- have gotten college jobs, too.
Joey is now the tight ends coach at Ball State, and Kevin is the wide receivers coach at the University of Indianapolis.
His sons have kept Lynch close to the game, calling him regularly to talk football, and when the DePauw job came up, Lynch got the hunger to return.
"All along, I've missed coaching," he said. "I've got three sons that are college football coaches. They'd be calling every night, talking about this and talking about that.
"When this opportunity came, I was excited to get involved in it. I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to coach."
Lynch said he's leaving a great situation at Butler, but he believes DPU will be an even better one.
"I really had a special time when I was there before," Lynch said. "I'm really excited about the new leadership. Dr. Casey (DPU president Brian W. Casey) and (athletic director) Steve Baker-Watson; their vision of the future and where they want to go. It's an exciting time."
Lynch graduated from a private liberal arts college himself and said he thinks that atmosphere is a better fit for him now than ever before.
Casey and Baker-Watson share similar goals to Lynch -- having quality student-athletes that are active on campus and in the classroom -- which helps as they try to accomplish another goal, competing at the highest level on the football field.
"They (DPU administrators) want to be successful and they want to be successful in the right way," Lynch said. "That's certainly right in line with my priorities, and I think it's a great fit.
"There's a commitment in that athletics is a very important aspect of the university. I think that's important as a coach, and certainly football is one of those sports that has an impact on campus."
North Putnam swimmers enter break with split against North Montgomery
Thursday, December 20, 2012
ROACHDALE -- The North Putnam boys' swim team continued its recent hot streak with a 115-67 win over North Montgomery on Wednesday.
The two squads each won their respective county championship last season and bragging rights were on the line.
Dane Gray bested his own school record with a 58.72 second finish in the 100-yard backstroke.
Gray picked up another win in the 200 individual medley.
"I'm really proud of Dane's swim, considering he spend four days in the hospital and missed two weeks of training. He's starting to swim like we want him to," NPHS head coach Tony Gray said. "We don't have anyone that's close to any other record right now, but I think we can approach the 100 fly and the breaststroke record by the end of the year."
The girls' team didn't fare quite as well, losing 119-45.
Sophomore Elizabeth Alford had wins in the 50- and 100-yard freestyle.
Samantha Freije, who first learned to swim just six weeks ago, had a strong 100 free and shaved 12 seconds off her personal best time in the 200 free, coach Gray said.
"With the small (roster), it's difficult for (the girls) to compete and win meets," he said. "As long as they keep working hard and have fun, and swim as a team, it's going to be a success for them."
Senior Joe Lehr got a win for the boys team in the 500 free. Michael Noble also stood out, coach Gray said, finishing strong in his first attempt at the marathon event.
"We're swimming a little bit better now," coach Gray said. "The kids got a little bit of rest this week, so the times are starting to drop the way we hoped they would."
The Cougars host a dual meet against Danville on Dec. 27 at 11 a.m.
At North Putnam
Boys' final -- North Putnam 115, North Montgomery 67
Girls' final -- North Montgomery 119, North Putnam 45
Cougars wrestling team comes through against Rockville
Thursday, December 20, 2012
ROACHDALE -- The young North Putnam wrestling team is starting to shape into form. The crew fought to a 60-12 win over Rockville on Wednesday.
Trevor Bingman started out the night with a first round pin at 160 pounds.
After a few forfeits Buck Buchanan picked up where his teammate left off, getting a pin just 26 seconds into the first round.
"The guys had a good effort tonight," NPHS coach Bucky Kramer said. "Overall it was a great win for us. The kids came out and wrestled hard."
Putnam County champion Dean Kleiber dropped to 120 pounds for the first time this year and wasted no time, scoring two takedowns in the first round before scoring a pin fall at 1:33.
Kleiber's drop forced Josh Coulter to move up to 126, and he responded with a second-round win. Coulter fought past a near fall in the first, gave up position to start the second, then fought on to get a pin at 3:12.
"We're still making mistakes. We've got to get better," Kramer said. "You just keep teaching. You show them what they're doing wrong and at one point they'll start to realize, 'OK, this is what I'm doing.'"
The Cougars have 10 days off until their next match, the Twin Lakes Invitational at Monticello on Dec. 29 at 9 a.m.
"We wanted to get a tournament over the holiday, which we haven't had in a long time," Kramer said. "There's going to be some pretty solid squads up there."
At North Putnam
North Putnam 60, Rockville 12
106 -- Straziscar, NP, forfeit , NP
113 -- Mazur, NP, forfeit
120 -- Kleiber, NP, fall, 1:33
126 -- Coulter, NP, fall, 3:12
132 -- Mills, NP, fall, 1:55
138 -- Winings, NP, forfeit
145 -- Attkisson, NP, forfeit
160 -- Bingman, NP, fall, 1:56
170 -- Scobee, NP, forfeit
195 -- Earl, R, forfeit
220 -- Buchanan, NP, fall, 0:26
285 -- Davis, NP, forfeit
Players, parents gather in support of CHS coach
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Don and Robin Bassett (above, left) speak at Support Coach Butler, an effort to save the job of Cloverdale head football coach John Butler.
(Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN) [Order this photo]
CLOVERDALE -- Although no decision has been finalized, word leaked to parents last weekend that the contract of Cloverdale football coach John Butler would not be renewed for next year.
The popular coach and teacher completed his second football season in October with a loss in the sectional semifinal for the second straight year.
Don and Robin Bassett, parents of a junior player on the football team, organized a gathering on Monday night, Support Coach Butler.
Many of those in attendance were players. They each signed a petition that had been pased around school on Monday.
(Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN)
Butler did not organize the meeting and was not present.
"I put this thing in motion and I'm not going to stop until we succeed," Robin said. "(Coach Butler) has got to be the best things that has happened to Cloverdale in years."
The support group plans to bring a large presence to the Cloverdale School Board meeting on Jan. 14 at 7 p.m.
"Coach Butler is not part of this," Don said. "The football family that man has started is here for our coach."
Those in attendance (nearly 80 people total) included 25 current or future Cloverdale football players.
They praised Butler for his ability as a role model, and to teach them not only about football, but about life.
"He's not just trying to better you as a football player, but he's trying to better you as a man," senior Dustin Cummings said.
Junior Cody Stout said Butler's passion helped fuel the team, even while they were struggling to get wins.
"I just think he believes in everybody," Stout said. "He has heart for everybody."
Parents agreed.
Butler has gained the trust of many parents by being open and available to them.
Each post-game speech is on the field, with parents and other community members encouraged to gather around.
This is not new to the community, but the first question Butler always asks to the players is, "Did you have fun?"
The parents at the gathering also said Butler has done a good job keeping the team polite and disciplined.
To some, those things aren't enough.
Butler's teams have a 4-18 record in his two years, and were just 1-10 this season.
As a school, Cloverdale has not had a winning season since finishing 7-3 in 1996.
A Cloverdale School Board member, who wished to remain anonymous, said Butler is a good man and that the decision was not football related.
"I want people to know there are two sides to every story," the board member said.
The board member said Butler's contract is not being renewed because of an unspecified issue related to his "teaching performance," and that Butler and the school's administrators "mutually agreed that something had to be done."
"We're not firing anybody unjustly," the board member said. "We're not firing anybody at all. We're just not renewing his contract."
Butler has been at Cloverdale for two years and is a non-tenured faculty member. All coaches must have their contracts renewed each year.
The coach did not comment on his contract, or the idea that the decision was mutual, but said he is grateful for the community support.
"I've always been in awe of the passion that people in our community have regarding athletics here in Cloverdale," Butler said. "It's one of the things that drew me here."
Butler had interest from other coaching positions at different school when he became the head coach at Cloverdale for the 2011 season.
With word leaking of the possibility of Butler's contract not being renewed, at least one other area coach has said he would welcome Butler as a prominent assistant.
The players had a petition signed by more than 100 Cloverdale High School students (more than one-quarter of the high school enrollment) that want Butler to be retained.
Adding an additional layer, the Cloverdale players in attendance said they would not play at all next year if the head coach is anyone but Butler.
"Basically everyone" has said that, junior Wade Warren said.
If he is indeed not retained, Butler said he hopes the players reconsider that decision.
"Whatever the reason, I would hate to see a kid give up an opportunity to play football because of this type of situation," he said. "To those kids considering not playing because I possibly may not be the head coach, I hope you would reconsider and remember how hard you have worked to get where you are right now.
"Play for yourselves, play for each other, play for your parents, or just play to play. You're the luckiest people on the face of the earth to strap it on and play the greatest game ever invented."
Pacers beat Grizzlies for fifth-straight home win
Monday, December 31, 2012
Pacers guard D.J. Augustin drives to the hoop against Memphis' Mike Conley.
(Courtesy photo)
INDIANAPOLIS -- The Pacers beat Memphis in an afternoon game on Monday, 88-83. They were without starting point guard George Hill, who missed the game with an injury.
D.J. Augustin, removed from the playing rotation a few weeks ago for rookie point guard Ben Hasbrough, stepped into the void in Hill's absence.
A former top-ten draft pick by Charlotte, Augustin has struggled to find a rhythm since joining the Pacers (18-13) as a free agent last summer.
He entered the game averaging just 3.1 points, on 26 percent shooting, and 2.3 assists per game.
Augustin, his fifth year out of Texas, spent the last two seasons starting for the Bobcats and seemed to find his groove by moving back into that role. He made four of the Pacers' 12 three-pointers, including a dagger late that put Indiana up six with two minutes left.
He also sank four-of-four free throws down the stretch to help seal the win.
"I was out there longer so the shots were able to come to me instead of me trying to force shots in limited minutes," Augustin said. "(Starting) makes a big difference. You come out loose and ready and prepared for the game. But when you come off the bench, you've got to be ready also."
Augustin added a season-high six assists.
Paul George continued his recent success, scoring a team-high 21 points. He also held Grizzlies star forward Rudy Gay to just three-of-17 shooting.
Roy Hibbert, coming off a zero-point, one-rebound catastrophe against Atlanta on Saturday, responded against Memphis.
The Grizzlies (19-9) attacked Hibbert early with Zach Randolph posting up, but they failed to feed the post consistently.
Randolph finished with 21 points and 15 rebounds.
Hibbert finished with four big blocks, including one of Gay that would have closed the gap to three with 1:51 remaining.
Indiana hosts the Wizards for the second time this season on Wednesday at 7 p.m.
At Indiana
Grizzlies 19 22 26 16 -- 83
Pacers 19 19 22 28 -- 88
Individual scoring
Grizzlies: Randolph 7-18, 7-8, 21; Gasol 6-10, 1-1, 13; Gay 3-17, 5-8, 11; Allen 5-8, 1-2, 11; Conley 3-9, 2-2, 9; Ellington 2-4, 0-0, 6; Arthur 3-6, 0-0, 6; Speights 2-6, 1-2, 5; Bayless 0-4, 1-1, 1.
Pacers: George 7-16, 3-4, 21; Augustin 4-9, 5-6, 17; West 3-6, 7-8, 13; Stephenson 3-7, 2-2, 10; Hibbert 3-11, 3-4, 9; T Hansbrough 3-6, 0-0, 6; B Hansbrough 2-5, 0-0, 6; Green 2-5, 0-0, 4; Mahinmi 1-5, 0-0, 2; Young 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Team scoring (three-pointers)
Grizzlies 31-82 (3-11), 18-24, 83; Pacers 28-70 (12-25), 20-24, 88.
Rebounds (offensive)
Grizzlies 44 (18); Pacers 38 (11).
Turnovers
Grizzlies 16; Pacers 18.
Top-ranked Tigers win Hasbrook championship against Rockford
Monday, December 31, 2012
Members of the 2012 All-Hasbrook Tournament team (from left) Erin Ryczek, Kate Walker, Kat Molloy, Alex Gasaway and former players Ann Hall, Sarah McKay, Lindsey Rush, Erin Miller and Dana Ferguson.Not pictured are Spalding senior Kelly Harrod and Rose-Hulman freshman Addie Johnson.
(Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN) [Order this photo]
Saturday's win over Rose-Hulman was just a warm-up for the DePauw women's basketball team as they feasted on Rockford College in the Hasbrook Tournament championship game Sunday, winning 73-43.
Senior point guard Kate Walker was named tournament MVP, having averaged 10.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists in just 18 minutes per game.
"It's nice to be awarded that, especially at the Hasie Tournament," Walker said. "I know this is going to sound corny, but Hasie (former DePauw guard Amy Hasbrook) ... coach talks so highly about her. So being the MVP of that tournament is kind of a big deal.
"In my head, what coach has described Hasie as is the hard-worker, the person who doesn't necessarily get the most points, but puts their whole heart on the court."
The Tigers dominated from the start, jumping out to a 30-4 lead before allowing the Regents their first field goal with 5:18 left in the first half.
After spending most of game Saturday in a 2-3 zone defense, DPU switched back to their customary man-to-man scheme for the final.
"(Zone defense) is something new that we've added in the last three or four years," Tigers head coach Kris Huffman said. "It helps us when we go against teams with a 6'2" center, because we're undersized ... We're just making sure that we're prepared to play anybody, so it's something that we continue to work on."
Height on the front line wasn't a problem against Rockford and the tenacious defense of DePauw kept the Regents out of the paint.
"I always prefer man," Walker said. "I've played man my whole life. I never played zone until I came to DePauw, and even then we don't play it all that often."
The Tigers held a 41-15 lead at halftime, but only a slight 17-16 rebounding advantage.
"We always want to focus on rebounding," Huffman said. "Especially with this being the Hasbrook Tournament, and that was something that she did so well. We talked this week about making sure that this was something that we owned this weekend. We tried to own the glass."
The Tigers hauled in 21 rebounds, including 14 offensive rebounds, in the second half.
With the game well in hand, starters moved aside early after the break, allowing DPU's second unit to carry them the rest of the way.
Senior Kathleen Molloy was the games leading scorer, finishing with a career-high 15 points, making five-of-nine shots (four-of-five threes).
"I knew I was shooting kind of well, but I didn't know it was my career-high," Molloy, whose bio on the team website lists her praying for Hasbrook to get ready for each game, said.
Molloy and junior Alex Gasaway joined Walker on the all-tournament team.
DePauw plays again Friday when the team hosts conference-rival Allegheny at 6 p.m. The men's game follows.
DePauw senior point guard Kate Walker lines up for a runner over Rockford junior Destiny Chaney. Walker was named 2012 Amy Hasbrook Tournament MVP.
(Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN) [Order this photo]
At DePauw
Rockford 15 28 -- 43
DePauw 41 32 -- 73
Individual scoring
Rockford: Ryczek 6-14, 2-2, 17; Nichols 3-6, 2-3, 8; Bjerning 2-4, 0-0, 4; Chaney 1-5, 2-4, 4; Woods 1-5, 0-0, 3; Scott 1-2, 0-0, 3; Lengjak 1-6, 0-0, 2; Lawler 1-5, 0-0, 2; Johnson 0-5, 0-0, 0; Fowler 0-0, 0-0, 0.
DePauw: Molloy 5-9, 1-2, 15; Abendroth 4-4, 0-0, 10; Walker 3-5, 2-2, 9; Gasaway 4-7, 0-0, 9; Trees 2-6, 2-2, 6; Pearson 2-4, 1-2, 5; Ross 2-5, 1-2, 5; McGinnis 2-2, 0-0, 4; Skordos 1-2, 0-0, 3; Stephens 1-4, 1-2, 3; Ondik 1-4, 0-0, 2; Keller 1-4, 0-0, 2; Francis 0-0, 0-0, 0; Stoner 0-2, 0-0, 0; McDonagh 0-2, 0-0, 0; Hacker 0-1, 0-0, 0; Lukemeyer 0-1, 0-0, 0; Frost 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Team scoring (three-pointers)
Rockford 16-52 (7-14), 4-6, 43; DePauw 28-62 (9-19), 8-12, 73.
Rebounds (offensive)
Rockford 33 (16); DePauw 38 (18).
Turnovers
Rockford 22; DePauw 10.
Cougars place third at Speedway girls' basketball tourney
Monday, December 31, 2012
North Putnam junior point guard Bethany Wiatt rips the ball away from Arlington freshman Briella Tomlinson (33), recording one of her game-high nine steals. (Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN )[Order this photo]
SPEEDWAY -- Two teams entered the consolation game at the 2012 Speedway girls' basketball tournament looking to snap a burdensome losing streak.
North Putnam was able to do just that, beating Indianapolis Arlington (0-8) 67-36.
The Cougars (2-10) entered the game with a five-game losing streak. The Golden Knights made headlines a few weeks ago after suffering a 103-2 loss.
"Arlington played hard for 32 minutes," NPHS coach Curtis Lawrence said. "We let (the players) know (after the first game against Western Boone) that there are some things that we can improve on, and we were able to do that against Arlington."
NPHS began the game in attack mode, hoping out to a 13-5 lead and experimenting with full court ball pressure for the first time this season.
When it worked, the Cougars were able to get easy steals and layups. There were also signs of inexperience that allowed the Knights to leak out to the outside and race to the rim.
The Cougars led by only one (13-12) after the first quarter.
Eventually, they figured out how to use press.
NPHS closed the first half on a 16-3 run.
"We felt that, if we could apply a little bit of pressure to them, we would be able to create turnovers," Lawrence said, "which would lead to some easy baskets, which is something we haven't been able to do."
Junior point guard Bethany Wiatt seemed the most comfortable with applying full court pressure. She finished with nine steals, 11 points and three assists.
Senior Sam Lucas was the game's high-scorer, putting in 17 and adding 11 rebounds for the Cougars.
Senior Cayla Kientz added nine points, and sophomore Morgan Smith had eight.
NPHS is in the midst of its most winnable stretch of the season
with games next week against Fountain Central and Eminence.
Lawrence is hoping the new defensive strategy will help keep the momentum going.
"We really haven't played a team yet that I thought the press would be beneficial to us," he said. "When we get behind in a game, we don't have the makeup that is going be able to get us back in the game against the teams that we've played so far. We've got some teams coming up ... that I think our press is going to be beneficial to us."
The Cougars lost Saturday's opening game to Western Boone 65-18.
At Speedway
Game 1
North Putnam 5 6 2 5 -- 18
Western Boone 19 13 14 19 -- 65
Individual scoring
North Putnam: Asbell 1-5, 2-5, 4; Kientz 2-7, 0-1, 4; Wiatt 1-2, 0-1, 2; Lucas 1-4, 0-0, 2; Land 1-2, 0-0, 2; Mindiola 1-1, 0-0, 2; Smith 0-8, 1-2, 1; Clodfelter 0-2, 1-2, 1; Aynes 0-2, 0-0, 0; Pitcock 0-0, 0-0, 0; Reeves 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Western Boone: Harrison 6-16, 3-3, 15; Ramey 6-11, 0-1, 12; Climer 4-6, 0-0, 9; Vanderpool 3-8, 2-2, 8; Henderson 2-7, 1-5, 5; Mitchell 2-8, 0-0, 4; Miller 2-7, 0-0, 4; Marsh 2-11, 0-0, 4; Hole 1-1, 0-0, 2.
Team scoring (three-pointers)
NP 7-33 (0-4), 4-11, 18; WB 28-76 (1-7), 6-13, 65.
Rebounds (offensive)
NP 28 (5); WB 54 (30).
Turnovers
NP 34; WB 13.
Game 2
Indianapolis Arlington 12 3 8 13 -- 36
North Putnam 13 16 18 20 -- 67
Individual scoring
Indianapolis Arlington: Hogue 5-23, 1-2, 13; Tomlinson 4-8, 0-1, 9; Rupert 3-4, 1-1, 7; Davis 1-3, 0-0, 2; Turman 1-7, 0-0, 2; Watson 1-5, 0-0, 2; Hogens 0-1, 0-0, 0; White 0-0, 0-0, 0; Harvey 0-0, 0-0, 0.
North Putnam: Lucas 5-13, 7-10, 17; Kientz 4-6, 3-4, 11; Wiatt 3-8, 5-6, 11; Smith 2-12, 5-10, 9; Asbell 3-8, 1-4, 7; Land 2-6, 0-0, 4; Aynes 2-7, 0-0, 4; Mindiola 1-1, 0-0, 2; Clodfelter 0-3, 0-0, 0; Pitcock 0-2, 0-2, 0; Reeves 0-1, 0-0, 0.
Team scoring (three-pointers)
IA 16-52 (3-15), 2-5, 36; NP 23-66 (0-6), 21-37, 67.
Rebounds (offensive)
IA 42 (7); NP 49 (18).
Turnovers
IA 38, NP 17.
Clovers place 4th at Clinton Prairie Tournament
Sunday, December 30, 2012
Cloverdale senior Sydney Shrum drives in for a layup against Clinton Prairie senior Stephanie Schrock. Shrum made her shot and was fouled.
(Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN) [Order this photo]
FRANKFORT -- The Cloverdale girls' basketball team came out flat after a 10-day layoff, finishing in fourth place at Friday's Clinton Prairie Tournament after losses to the hosts and Hagerstown.
The Clovers played some of their best basketball of the season in the second half of game one against Clinton Prairie, but it wasn't enough to overcome the 22-point halftime deficit as the Gophers won 48-36.
Cloverdale was outrebounded 22-7 in the first half, and turned the ball over 13 times.
The team also made just three-of-20 shots before the break.
The Clovers emerged from halftime with energy, playing almost four minutes before getting a turnover in the third quarter.
As Cloverdale head coach Matthew Langdon dipped into his more inexperienced bench to save his starters energy for game two, the play got a little sloppier, but the still cut into the lead.
In the end, lack of scoring threats with too little time to make up the difference.
"We came out slow in the first game," Langdon said. "In the second half we played good man-to-man and we wanted to ball more ... I hoped we could bring that energy to the second game. (I knew) if we play like that, we have a chance (against Hagerstown)."
It wasn't to be. The team came out flat again, scoring just five first-quarter points. They failed to make a dent the rest of the game and the Tigers secured a 39-27 win.
Hagerstown junior Hayley Rogers scored 18 points in the win.
Senior Amillia Nally, the Clovers most consistent player on Friday, scored 10 points.
Cloverdale was allowed Hagerstown to attempt nearly twice as many field goals (48-26) during the course of the game.
The Clovers defense that has been pressuring opponents into turnovers all year let the team down. The Tigers had just eight in the game, and two in the second half.
"Our offense feeds off our defense," Langdon said. "We didn't do what we need to do."
Langdon said he was disappointed with the effort, but he hopes it was a product of the long layoff and not a sign of things to come.
In addition to the big break, the Clovers also expanded their rotation. Normally the team only gives seven players significant minutes, but Langdon said he realized he is going to need to find a way to keep his starters fresh as the postseason tournament approaches.
"I'm trying to get the starters more time out (of the game)," he said. "If we're going to be a pressing team the whole game, we're going to need to get our starters more of a break."
Cloverdale will carry a five-game losing streak with it when the team hosts South Vermillion on Jan. 3.
Notes: Eastern won the tournament championship game against Clinton Prairie, 59-43 ... Sophomore Bailee Stevens missed the tournament as she recovers from an injury, but she is expected to return in the Clovers next game ... Cloverdale (4-9) had a .500 record before the recent skid.
Cloverdale senior Amillia Nally splits through Hagerstown defenders to get to the basket for a layup.
(Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN) [Order this photo]
At Clinton Prairie
Game 1
Cloverdale 5 2 13 16 -- 36
Clinton Prairie 13 16 11 8 -- 48
Individual scoring
Cloverdale: Nally 4-12, 3-5, 9; Gruener 2-10, 3-4, 7; Shrum 3-4, 0-1, 6; Skiles 1-5, 1-2, 4; Walters 1-3, 1-3, 3; Wellington 1-1, 0-0, 3; Dorsett 0-0, 1-2, 1; Clark 0-3, 0-0, 0; Hamm 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Clinton Prairie: Hanna 3-9, 7-8, 14; Douglass 6-13, 1-2, 13; Clark 4-6, 1-4, 9; Schrock 1-3, 2-2, 4; Schoonveld 2-2, 0-0, 4; Pearson 1-1, 0-0, 3; Dunham 0-0, 1-2, 1; Wines 0-1, 0-0, 0; Sabens 0-0, 0-0, 0; Humrickhouse 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Team shooting (three-pointers)
Cloverdale 12-39 (3-12), 9-17, 36; Clinton Prairie 17-35 (2-4), 12-18, 48.
Rebounds (offensive)
Cloverdale 16 (6), Clinton Prairie 33 (9).
Turnovers
Cloverdale 20, Clinton Prairie 24.
Game 2
Hagerstown 8 12 9 10 -- 39
Cloverdale 5 8 5 9 -- 27
Individual scoring
Hagerstown: H Rogers 9-16, 0-0, 18; C Rogers 3-9, 1-2, 9; O Robinson 2-4, 1-2, 5; M Houck 2-8, 0-0, 4; S Houck 1-1, 0-0, 2; Brown 0-2, 1-2, 1; Arnold 0-3, 0-0, 0; Willis 0-2, 0-0, 0; Caudill 0-3, 0-0, 0; J Robinson 0-0, 0-0, 0; Matanich 0-0, 0-0, 0; Hannon 0-0, 0-0, 0; O Houck 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Cloverdale: Nally 4-7, 2-3, 10; Shrum 1-3, 5-6, 7; Clark 2-2, 0-0, 4; Gruener 1-7, 0-0, 2; Walters 1-2, 0-0, 2; Dorsett 1-2, 0-0, 2; Skiles 0-3, 0-0, 0; Wellington 0-0, 0-0, 0; Hamm 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Team shooting (three-pointers)
Hagerstown 17-48 (2-7), 3-6, 39; Cloverdale 10-26 (0-2), 7-9; 27.
Rebounds (offensive)
Hagerstown 22 (11), Cloverdale 23 (5).
Turnovers
Hagerstown 8, Cloverdale 22.
No. 1 Tigers find legs in Hasbrook semi
Saturday, December 29, 2012
DePauw junior Alex Gasaway drives in for a layup over Rose-Hulman freshman Addie Johnson and junior Kelsey Ploof (50). [Order this photo]
The DePauw University women's basketball team defeated Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology 79-36 on Saturday in the second game of the 2012 Amy Hasbrook Memorial Tournament.
The Tigers are ranked No. 1 in NCAA Division III and showed why with a convincing victory over the Engineers.
It was the Tigers first game in 10 days. The team is coming off a tournament win in Puerto Rico and a break due to the holidays.
DPU head coach Kris Huffman was concerned about her team's condition with the long layoff and, with a cancelled practice on Wednesday, she implemented a new strategy.
The Tigers platooned full five-player units every four minutes.
The starting five of senior Kate Walker, junior Ali Ross, sophomore Savannah Trees, junior Alex Gasaway and senior Ellie Pearson got the team off to a hot 6-for-11 start and a 14-5 lead before sitting down.
"It is fun, but I would say (coach Huffman) probably won't do that again," Ross said. "I liked it, but I also like getting to intermix with the other players."
After allowing six unanswered points by Rose-Hulman, the second unit of sophomores Emma Ondik and Lauren Abendroth, juniors Alison Stephens and Erin McGinnis and senior Kathleen Molloy started to get in sync.
Stephens (12) and Molloy (10) both finished the game in double-digit scoring.
"Coach did it to make sure that we had fresh legs constantly," Walker said. "I usually play with that set of five a lot, so it's not something that I wasn't used to."
The starters returned and expanded the lead to 34-11 with 5:59 left in the half, continuing a 20-0 run.
"We haven't done that this year," Huffman said. "We have some depth, but we usually don't platoon it ... It wasn't totally planned, but it's how it worked out."
The fresh legs allowed the hosts to keep Rose-Hullman off balance, and DePauw exploited it inside.
Gasaway scored 10 of her game-high 17 points in the first half.
DPU continued the platoon strategy in second half and the players got into an even better rhythm.
The Tigers had extra focus for their opponent, Walker said, because they're playing in memory of former DPU star Amy Hasbrook.
"We always learn a lot about Hasie," Walker said. "Coach has always held her up on a pedestal, saying how great she is and how good of a rebounder she is, so it's always a goal during the Hasie Tournament to get as many rebounds as possible and play your heart out.
"No matter what, I always feel like it's playing your heart out for her."
DPU out-rebounded Rose-Hulman by a convincing 40-27 margin.
"Amy was a special player for us," Huffman said. "We may sometimes talk about certain teams of a given year, but (for individual players) Hasie probably stands out. She was a special player ... and to know that we don't have her with us anymore probably brings it to light.
"She's a great example for us to keep her name and her memory alive."
Hasbrook graduated from DePauw in 2000 and died in a house fire in Indianapolis in 2002.
The Tigers face Rockford College (2-9) in the tournament final on Sunday at 5 p.m.
At DePauw
Rose-Hulman 21 15 -- 36
DePauw 40 39 -- 79
Individual scoring
Rose-Hulman: Johnson 4-10, 0-0, 8; Williams 2-4, 3-3, 8; Ploof 2-4, 3-4, 7; Evers 2-7, 1-1, 6; Morris 2-6, 1-2, 5; Gilliam 1-2, 0-0, 2; Cain 0-4, 0-2, 0; Ottone 0-0, 0-0, 0; Gibbs 0-1, 0-0, 0; Dalton 0-0, 0-0, 0; Fuhs 0-0, 0-0, 0; Barnes 0-0, 0-0, 0.
DePauw: Gasaway 7-11, 2-3, 16; Walker 5-11, 2-2, 12; Stephens 4-8, 2-2, 12; Molloy 4-6, 1-2, 10; Ross 4-9, 0-0, 9; Trees 2-4, 1-1, 5; Pearson 1-5, 2-3, 4; Sarkisian 2-2, 0-0, 4; Abendroth 1-5, 0-0, 3; Stoner 1-1, 0-0, 2; Hacker 1-2, 0-2, 2; Ondik 0-2, 0-0, 0; Skordos 0-1, 0-0, 0; McDonagh 0-2, 0-0, 0; Lukemeyer 0-1, 0-0, 0; McGinnis 0-0, 0-0, 0; Keller 0-1, 0-0, 0; Frost 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Team scoring (three-pointers)
RHIT 13-38 (2-14), 8-12, 36; DPU 32-71 (5-14), 10-15, 79.
Rebounds (offensive)
RHIT 27 (3); DPU 40 (18).
Turnovers
RHIT 27; DPU 8.
Tiger Cubs vacation comes to halt against Danville
Saturday, December 29, 2012
Greencastle sophomore Brody Bollman drives in for a layup, fending off Danville defender B'ster Detty.
(Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN) [Order this photo]
The young Greencastle boys' basketball team continues to take steps toward improving, but they're not ready yet and that showed against Danville in the 71-49 loss on Friday at McAnally.
The Tiger Cubs (1-6) played their first game in 13 days and, despite the loss, changes were evident.
"I do think we're seeing improvement as a team, even though the scoreboard may not show it," GHS head coach Troy Greenlee said. "You hate to say you're satisfied with losing a game like this, but as we are, we have to do that. We have to look at where we are and where we were and compare.
"I think we're getting better."
GHS began the game struggling against the fast and aggressive Danville (8-1) defense.
The Warriors converted their first six shots to open the game, mostly fast break layups coming off turnovers.
Danville senior Ian Asher led the early attack, scoring 12 of his game-high 21 points in the first half.
The Tiger Cubs guards began to figure out the pressure, in the second quarter, but Danville found scoring just as easy in their half-court offense.
"They're a really good team and we knew they were a really good team," Greenlee said. "They're such a tough team to guard because they have the perimeter shooters, they can drive the ball well and they have just enough post presence to make it hard."
Greencastle came out sharp after halftime before surrendering a 9-0 run to end the third quarter.
Danville fed senior Jackson Stone in the post throughout the half and the shorter GHS front line couldn't prevent him from getting the ball deep under the hoop for easy lay-ins.
Stone finished with 17 points.
As the Warriors continued to get easy shots, the Tiger Cubs continued to shoot from the outside.
It was only after fouls began to pile up for Danville that GHS started to get into a rhythm.
The Warriors were called for 14 fouls in the second half, and the Cubs made seven-of-11 free throws in the fourth, but by then it was too little, too late.
"We knew it would be a tough game for us if we didn't do the things we talked about before the game, like taking care of the ball," Greenlee said. "We're not where we want to be, but I think we're taking some steps forward."
Freshman Ryan Coble and senior Nick Gilliam each scored seven points to lead the Tiger Cubs.
GHS hosts Speedway on Friday, Jan. 3 at 7:30 p.m.
At Greencastle
Danville 17 19 19 16 -- 71
Greencastle 5 18 12 14 -- 49
Individual scoring
Danville: Asher 8-14, 3-3, 21; Stone 8-9, 1-3, 17; Motes 4-8, 0-0, 10; Just 3-4, 3-4, 9; Amore 3-4, 1-2, 8; Detty 1-2, 2-2, 4; Ross 0-1, 2-2, 2; Collier 1-1, 0-0, 2; Shipley 0-1, 0-0, 0; Weir 0-1, 0-2, 0; Anderson 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Greencastle: Coble 3-6, 1-2, 7; Gilliam 2-7, 2-3, 7; Winslow 3-9, 0-0, 6; Gerard 2-6, 1-2, 6; Mitchell 1-2, 3-5, 5; Foxx 1-3, 2-3, 4; Christy 1-3, 0-0, 3; Bollman 1-6, 1-1, 3; King 1-2, 0-0, 3; Hughes 1-2, 0-0, 3.
Team scoring (three-pointers)
Danville 28-45 (5-12), 10-16, 71; Greencastle 16-45 (7-17), 10-17, 49.
Rebounds (offensive)
Danville 30 (7), Greencastle 28 (12)
Turnovers
Danville 15, Greencastle 21
DePauw brings Bill Lynch back as head football coach
Friday, December 21, 2012
Bill Lynch
DePauw University announced on Thursday it has hired Bill Lynch as the next head football coach.
Lynch was previously the Tigers' head coach for the 2004 season and he will take over on Jan. 2, 2013.
"I wasn't really looking, but when the DePauw situation came up, that really got me thinking about it because I had such a great experience while I was there in 2004," Lynch told the Banner Graphic. "They want to be successful, and they want to be successful in the right way."
Lynch left DePauw with an 8-2 record in just one season as head coach to become offensive coordinator for Indiana University.
He was faced with the difficult task of replacing his good friend, Terry Hoeppner, as head coach of the Hoosiers when Hoep-pner passed away in June 2007.
Lynch spent four seasons as head coach at IU, reaching a bowl game in his first season and compiling a 19-30 record.
After being fired following the 2010 season, Lynch became the associate athletic director for development at his alma mater, Butler.
His duties included working closely with the football team there. He also has three sons who coach college football.
"I haven't been away from football, I just haven't been on the sideline coaching it," Lynch said. "I've got the same passion and energy that I always have."
DePauw athletic director Stevie Baker-Watson said Thursday that hiring Lynch was the completion of a lengthy process.
"It was something that we've really been working on since Coach Long was fired in September," Baker-Watson said. "The whole process I wanted to complete by the holidays."
Robby Long was fired on Sept. 16, just two weeks into the season, for failing to "take corrective actions in a timely manner" regarding administrative issues under his control.
Long had been DePauw's head coach since August 2009.
The Tigers have had five different coaches since Nick Mourouzis retired after the 2003 season, with Long's three-plus years being the longest span.
Choosing Lynch among the candidates seems to signal that DePauw was looking for a long-term commitment more than an up-and-coming hire.
"He was looking for a landing spot, like I was when I came here," Mourouzis said. "This will give us stability."
Lynch, who still owns a house in Putnam County, said DePauw will likely be the final stop of his coaching career.
"We've been very fortunate, my wife and I, to be able to raise our kids in Indiana," Lynch said. "To be able to end it here is really great for us from a family situation."
DPU sorted through more than 130 applicants, narrowing the field to 40 in the top category, Baker-Watson said.
Ten received phone interviews, and the top four -- Lynch, Monmouth College head coach Steve Bell, DPU graduate and Army running backs coach Tucker Waugh and Dartmouth college special teams coordinator Chris Wilkerson -- were brought in last week for interviews.
Baker-Watson said she has received a tremendous amount of feedback from alumni and community members during the coaching search.
Although the school initially planned to keep the hiring process in-house, she decided it would be best to open it up to a hiring firm to keep the search more transparent.
As the field of candidates narrowed, Baker-Watson said she discussed candidates with people close to the DePauw program that were familiar with them.
After announcing the final four, it was a chance for those people to "hit send, again," Baker-Watson said, and share their final thoughts.
This included Mour-ouzis, who sat in on the final interviews.
"He's the best (candidate) for the situation that we have right now," Mourouzis said. "He's proven leadership. He knows all the coaches and has great respect for all the high school coaches in Indiana and the Midwest.
"Success in Division III all comes down to recruiting. I think that he can recruit a lot of good athletes for us here at DePauw."
Baker-Watson added that although the search came as a result of what she called "terrible circumstances" -- firing the previous head coach in the middle of the season -- it was a good opportunity to get feedback from alumni and reset the football program.
DePauw finished the 2012 season with a 2-8 record, losing the Monon Bell Classic for the fourth straight year.
Defensive coordinator Scott Srnka was named interim head coach after Long was let go, but his future and the rest of the staff is uncertain.
Baker-Watson said she would leave that up to Lynch.
"I knew I needed to hire a leader of the program," she said, "and the rest would work itself out."
Getting the coaching staff settled is priorty No. 1 for Lynch when he starts next month.
"I look forward to meeting them," he said. "The first thing is getting to know the staff that are there, and then it's very important to meet and get to know the players that are in the program right now."
DPU students began their winter break last Friday and will not return to class until Jan. 28, giving Lynch nearly a month on the job to recruit current and future players.
He conceded that he hasn't had a chance to watch the team play in recent years, but he is looking to forward to getting started with recruiting, and that starts with the players he has on campus.
"That's what this time of year is all about," Lynch said. "It's a process. First, getting to know (players) in a one-on-one basis and then you start to develop relationships.
"That's what starts building a team."
Lynch has a 100-97-3 career record as a head coach.
Besides DPU and IU, he has also been the head coach of Ball State University (1995-2002) and his alma mater, Butler (1985-1989).
Ball State was recognized by the American Football Coaches Association for outstanding graduation rates from 2000-02.
Lynch has also been an assistant coach at Northern Illinois and the United States Foot-ball League's Orlando Renegades.
Cloverdale's fight for coach Butler a worthwhile cause
Friday, December 21, 2012
I've never been coached by John Butler, and I've not sat in his classroom, but I have learned from him.
He has of way of speaking, about football, and about his kids, that always teaches.
When emotions are high after a game, he's deliberate with his words. He makes sure everyone understands -- always.
He's not telling, he's showing.
As the Cloverdale football team struggled through a winless regular season, Butler stayed positive, upbeat.
There were rumors swirling around -- as early as week three -- that his job could be in jeopardy.
He heard them. The players and parents heard them.
Butler kept it going.
The season started with Cloverdale having its biggest roster in the school's recent history.
By the end of week four, the team had lost 17 of 22 starters to season- or career-ending injury, and nine more of the key subs.
They finished the regular season 0-9, and the sectional quarterfinal game began when Riverton Parke returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown.
Most 16- and 17-year-old kids would get down on themselves.
"My football team -- my staff and my kids -- have literally moved on from the first nine weeks of the season," Butler said after the RPHS game.
On their first drive, the Clovers went for it on fourth down from their own their own 32-yard line.
They picked up the first down. On the next play, junior Wade Warren took the ball 58 yards for a score.
"We bought in to what coach is saying," Warren said Tuesday.
How do you get a group of kids to buy in when all they've known that season is losing? When they walk down the hall wearing jerseys on Friday and other students laugh at them?
"You've got to have faith," senior Dustin Cummings said. "And he believes in us."
Cloverdale won that game. Instead of being down on themselves, the kids played their best football -- physically and mentally -- of the year.
Most of the players and parents love him. It's impossible to get through an interview with Butler and not be interrupted several times by parents and players coming up to shake his hand and thank him.
"I'll get you when we get back," he always says, not wanting to be rude and make the reporter wait. If he shakes one hand, he'll have to shake them all.
After his team lost to Attica in the sectional semifinal game, an emotional Butler spoke to his players and "the football family" about the program; about their commitment.
"When I came here, priority No. 1 was to change the football culture and the way the kids approach work, and they've done it," Butler said. "At this point, it's just a matter of in-school recruiting and getting those kids to buy in to the work ethic that the rest of them show.
"If we can do that, then we'll continue to gradually grow."
Butler told his seniors after that game that they're a part of the program until they walk across the stage and get their diplomas.
After the gathering, it appears many parents are hoping Butler will still be the coach when that happens.
In second stint at DePauw, Lynch now ready to stay
Friday, December 21, 2012
New DePauw head coach stalks the sidelines during his first stint with the Tigers in 2004.
(Courtesy photo/DePauw University)
When Bill Lynch begins his second stint as the head football coach of DePauw University on Jan. 2, it will be under much different circumstance than the last time.
Lynch first coached the team in 2004, replacing legendary DPU head coach Nick Mourouzis.
Coach Nick served as head coach for 23 seasons before stepping down, and the school hadn't known much change.
Beginning with Lynch, the Tigers have had five coaches in the nine years since.
Lynch hadn't planned to make his stay short, but when he got a call from his good friend inviting him to join the staff at Indiana University, it was too much to turn down.
"That was a very unique situation, in that a very good friend of mine, Terry Hoeppner, (called)," Lynch said. "We had kind of grown up together in the coaching profession and always competed against each other.
"We always talked about, if we ever had a chance to work together on the same staff, that would be great."
That opportunity came when Hoeppner took the IU job. He brought with him his young wide receiver's coach, Billy Lynch.
"To be able to go work with Terry, and also to be able to work with my son, it was just a unique, unique situation. That was a different time," Lynch said. "My wife and I are in a different place now with our kids all raised. We had two kids in college at the time. That was the main thing.
"It was a hard decision because I really enjoyed DePauw and had a great experience there."
Lynch won eight games in his one year at DPU, then joined his friend at IU.
After two seasons, Hoeppner became too ill to coach.
Lynch was named the interim head coach just days before Hoeppner died in June 2007.
He lasted four seasons before being let go, then became an associate athletic director at his Alma Mater, Butler.
Billy moved on, too. He's now the wide receivers coach at Rice University.
Lynch's other two sons -- Joey and Kevin, who were in college last time Lynch was DePauw's coach -- have gotten college jobs, too.
Joey is now the tight ends coach at Ball State, and Kevin is the wide receivers coach at the University of Indianapolis.
His sons have kept Lynch close to the game, calling him regularly to talk football, and when the DePauw job came up, Lynch got the hunger to return.
"All along, I've missed coaching," he said. "I've got three sons that are college football coaches. They'd be calling every night, talking about this and talking about that.
"When this opportunity came, I was excited to get involved in it. I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to coach."
Lynch said he's leaving a great situation at Butler, but he believes DPU will be an even better one.
"I really had a special time when I was there before," Lynch said. "I'm really excited about the new leadership. Dr. Casey (DPU president Brian W. Casey) and (athletic director) Steve Baker-Watson; their vision of the future and where they want to go. It's an exciting time."
Lynch graduated from a private liberal arts college himself and said he thinks that atmosphere is a better fit for him now than ever before.
Casey and Baker-Watson share similar goals to Lynch -- having quality student-athletes that are active on campus and in the classroom -- which helps as they try to accomplish another goal, competing at the highest level on the football field.
"They (DPU administrators) want to be successful and they want to be successful in the right way," Lynch said. "That's certainly right in line with my priorities, and I think it's a great fit.
"There's a commitment in that athletics is a very important aspect of the university. I think that's important as a coach, and certainly football is one of those sports that has an impact on campus."
North Putnam swimmers enter break with split against North Montgomery
Thursday, December 20, 2012
ROACHDALE -- The North Putnam boys' swim team continued its recent hot streak with a 115-67 win over North Montgomery on Wednesday.
The two squads each won their respective county championship last season and bragging rights were on the line.
Dane Gray bested his own school record with a 58.72 second finish in the 100-yard backstroke.
Gray picked up another win in the 200 individual medley.
"I'm really proud of Dane's swim, considering he spend four days in the hospital and missed two weeks of training. He's starting to swim like we want him to," NPHS head coach Tony Gray said. "We don't have anyone that's close to any other record right now, but I think we can approach the 100 fly and the breaststroke record by the end of the year."
The girls' team didn't fare quite as well, losing 119-45.
Sophomore Elizabeth Alford had wins in the 50- and 100-yard freestyle.
Samantha Freije, who first learned to swim just six weeks ago, had a strong 100 free and shaved 12 seconds off her personal best time in the 200 free, coach Gray said.
"With the small (roster), it's difficult for (the girls) to compete and win meets," he said. "As long as they keep working hard and have fun, and swim as a team, it's going to be a success for them."
Senior Joe Lehr got a win for the boys team in the 500 free. Michael Noble also stood out, coach Gray said, finishing strong in his first attempt at the marathon event.
"We're swimming a little bit better now," coach Gray said. "The kids got a little bit of rest this week, so the times are starting to drop the way we hoped they would."
The Cougars host a dual meet against Danville on Dec. 27 at 11 a.m.
At North Putnam
Boys' final -- North Putnam 115, North Montgomery 67
Girls' final -- North Montgomery 119, North Putnam 45
Cougars wrestling team comes through against Rockville
Thursday, December 20, 2012
ROACHDALE -- The young North Putnam wrestling team is starting to shape into form. The crew fought to a 60-12 win over Rockville on Wednesday.
Trevor Bingman started out the night with a first round pin at 160 pounds.
After a few forfeits Buck Buchanan picked up where his teammate left off, getting a pin just 26 seconds into the first round.
"The guys had a good effort tonight," NPHS coach Bucky Kramer said. "Overall it was a great win for us. The kids came out and wrestled hard."
Putnam County champion Dean Kleiber dropped to 120 pounds for the first time this year and wasted no time, scoring two takedowns in the first round before scoring a pin fall at 1:33.
Kleiber's drop forced Josh Coulter to move up to 126, and he responded with a second-round win. Coulter fought past a near fall in the first, gave up position to start the second, then fought on to get a pin at 3:12.
"We're still making mistakes. We've got to get better," Kramer said. "You just keep teaching. You show them what they're doing wrong and at one point they'll start to realize, 'OK, this is what I'm doing.'"
The Cougars have 10 days off until their next match, the Twin Lakes Invitational at Monticello on Dec. 29 at 9 a.m.
"We wanted to get a tournament over the holiday, which we haven't had in a long time," Kramer said. "There's going to be some pretty solid squads up there."
At North Putnam
North Putnam 60, Rockville 12
106 -- Straziscar, NP, forfeit , NP
113 -- Mazur, NP, forfeit
120 -- Kleiber, NP, fall, 1:33
126 -- Coulter, NP, fall, 3:12
132 -- Mills, NP, fall, 1:55
138 -- Winings, NP, forfeit
145 -- Attkisson, NP, forfeit
160 -- Bingman, NP, fall, 1:56
170 -- Scobee, NP, forfeit
195 -- Earl, R, forfeit
220 -- Buchanan, NP, fall, 0:26
285 -- Davis, NP, forfeit
Pacers beat Grizzlies for fifth-straight home win
Monday, December 31, 2012
Pacers guard D.J. Augustin drives to the hoop against Memphis' Mike Conley.
(Courtesy photo)
INDIANAPOLIS -- The Pacers beat Memphis in an afternoon game on Monday, 88-83. They were without starting point guard George Hill, who missed the game with an injury.
D.J. Augustin, removed from the playing rotation a few weeks ago for rookie point guard Ben Hasbrough, stepped into the void in Hill's absence.
A former top-ten draft pick by Charlotte, Augustin has struggled to find a rhythm since joining the Pacers (18-13) as a free agent last summer.
He entered the game averaging just 3.1 points, on 26 percent shooting, and 2.3 assists per game.
Augustin, his fifth year out of Texas, spent the last two seasons starting for the Bobcats and seemed to find his groove by moving back into that role. He made four of the Pacers' 12 three-pointers, including a dagger late that put Indiana up six with two minutes left.
He also sank four-of-four free throws down the stretch to help seal the win.
"I was out there longer so the shots were able to come to me instead of me trying to force shots in limited minutes," Augustin said. "(Starting) makes a big difference. You come out loose and ready and prepared for the game. But when you come off the bench, you've got to be ready also."
Augustin added a season-high six assists.
Paul George continued his recent success, scoring a team-high 21 points. He also held Grizzlies star forward Rudy Gay to just three-of-17 shooting.
Roy Hibbert, coming off a zero-point, one-rebound catastrophe against Atlanta on Saturday, responded against Memphis.
The Grizzlies (19-9) attacked Hibbert early with Zach Randolph posting up, but they failed to feed the post consistently.
Randolph finished with 21 points and 15 rebounds.
Hibbert finished with four big blocks, including one of Gay that would have closed the gap to three with 1:51 remaining.
Indiana hosts the Wizards for the second time this season on Wednesday at 7 p.m.
At Indiana
Grizzlies 19 22 26 16 -- 83
Pacers 19 19 22 28 -- 88
Individual scoring
Grizzlies: Randolph 7-18, 7-8, 21; Gasol 6-10, 1-1, 13; Gay 3-17, 5-8, 11; Allen 5-8, 1-2, 11; Conley 3-9, 2-2, 9; Ellington 2-4, 0-0, 6; Arthur 3-6, 0-0, 6; Speights 2-6, 1-2, 5; Bayless 0-4, 1-1, 1.
Pacers: George 7-16, 3-4, 21; Augustin 4-9, 5-6, 17; West 3-6, 7-8, 13; Stephenson 3-7, 2-2, 10; Hibbert 3-11, 3-4, 9; T Hansbrough 3-6, 0-0, 6; B Hansbrough 2-5, 0-0, 6; Green 2-5, 0-0, 4; Mahinmi 1-5, 0-0, 2; Young 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Team scoring (three-pointers)
Grizzlies 31-82 (3-11), 18-24, 83; Pacers 28-70 (12-25), 20-24, 88.
Rebounds (offensive)
Grizzlies 44 (18); Pacers 38 (11).
Turnovers
Grizzlies 16; Pacers 18.
Top-ranked Tigers win Hasbrook championship against Rockford
Monday, December 31, 2012
Members of the 2012 All-Hasbrook Tournament team (from left) Erin Ryczek, Kate Walker, Kat Molloy, Alex Gasaway and former players Ann Hall, Sarah McKay, Lindsey Rush, Erin Miller and Dana Ferguson.Not pictured are Spalding senior Kelly Harrod and Rose-Hulman freshman Addie Johnson.
(Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN) [Order this photo]
Saturday's win over Rose-Hulman was just a warm-up for the DePauw women's basketball team as they feasted on Rockford College in the Hasbrook Tournament championship game Sunday, winning 73-43.
Senior point guard Kate Walker was named tournament MVP, having averaged 10.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists in just 18 minutes per game.
"It's nice to be awarded that, especially at the Hasie Tournament," Walker said. "I know this is going to sound corny, but Hasie (former DePauw guard Amy Hasbrook) ... coach talks so highly about her. So being the MVP of that tournament is kind of a big deal.
"In my head, what coach has described Hasie as is the hard-worker, the person who doesn't necessarily get the most points, but puts their whole heart on the court."
The Tigers dominated from the start, jumping out to a 30-4 lead before allowing the Regents their first field goal with 5:18 left in the first half.
After spending most of game Saturday in a 2-3 zone defense, DPU switched back to their customary man-to-man scheme for the final.
"(Zone defense) is something new that we've added in the last three or four years," Tigers head coach Kris Huffman said. "It helps us when we go against teams with a 6'2" center, because we're undersized ... We're just making sure that we're prepared to play anybody, so it's something that we continue to work on."
Height on the front line wasn't a problem against Rockford and the tenacious defense of DePauw kept the Regents out of the paint.
"I always prefer man," Walker said. "I've played man my whole life. I never played zone until I came to DePauw, and even then we don't play it all that often."
The Tigers held a 41-15 lead at halftime, but only a slight 17-16 rebounding advantage.
"We always want to focus on rebounding," Huffman said. "Especially with this being the Hasbrook Tournament, and that was something that she did so well. We talked this week about making sure that this was something that we owned this weekend. We tried to own the glass."
The Tigers hauled in 21 rebounds, including 14 offensive rebounds, in the second half.
With the game well in hand, starters moved aside early after the break, allowing DPU's second unit to carry them the rest of the way.
Senior Kathleen Molloy was the games leading scorer, finishing with a career-high 15 points, making five-of-nine shots (four-of-five threes).
"I knew I was shooting kind of well, but I didn't know it was my career-high," Molloy, whose bio on the team website lists her praying for Hasbrook to get ready for each game, said.
Molloy and junior Alex Gasaway joined Walker on the all-tournament team.
DePauw plays again Friday when the team hosts conference-rival Allegheny at 6 p.m. The men's game follows.
DePauw senior point guard Kate Walker lines up for a runner over Rockford junior Destiny Chaney. Walker was named 2012 Amy Hasbrook Tournament MVP.
(Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN) [Order this photo]
At DePauw
Rockford 15 28 -- 43
DePauw 41 32 -- 73
Individual scoring
Rockford: Ryczek 6-14, 2-2, 17; Nichols 3-6, 2-3, 8; Bjerning 2-4, 0-0, 4; Chaney 1-5, 2-4, 4; Woods 1-5, 0-0, 3; Scott 1-2, 0-0, 3; Lengjak 1-6, 0-0, 2; Lawler 1-5, 0-0, 2; Johnson 0-5, 0-0, 0; Fowler 0-0, 0-0, 0.
DePauw: Molloy 5-9, 1-2, 15; Abendroth 4-4, 0-0, 10; Walker 3-5, 2-2, 9; Gasaway 4-7, 0-0, 9; Trees 2-6, 2-2, 6; Pearson 2-4, 1-2, 5; Ross 2-5, 1-2, 5; McGinnis 2-2, 0-0, 4; Skordos 1-2, 0-0, 3; Stephens 1-4, 1-2, 3; Ondik 1-4, 0-0, 2; Keller 1-4, 0-0, 2; Francis 0-0, 0-0, 0; Stoner 0-2, 0-0, 0; McDonagh 0-2, 0-0, 0; Hacker 0-1, 0-0, 0; Lukemeyer 0-1, 0-0, 0; Frost 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Team scoring (three-pointers)
Rockford 16-52 (7-14), 4-6, 43; DePauw 28-62 (9-19), 8-12, 73.
Rebounds (offensive)
Rockford 33 (16); DePauw 38 (18).
Turnovers
Rockford 22; DePauw 10.
Cougars place third at Speedway girls' basketball tourney
Monday, December 31, 2012
North Putnam junior point guard Bethany Wiatt rips the ball away from Arlington freshman Briella Tomlinson (33), recording one of her game-high nine steals. (Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN )[Order this photo]
SPEEDWAY -- Two teams entered the consolation game at the 2012 Speedway girls' basketball tournament looking to snap a burdensome losing streak.
North Putnam was able to do just that, beating Indianapolis Arlington (0-8) 67-36.
The Cougars (2-10) entered the game with a five-game losing streak. The Golden Knights made headlines a few weeks ago after suffering a 103-2 loss.
"Arlington played hard for 32 minutes," NPHS coach Curtis Lawrence said. "We let (the players) know (after the first game against Western Boone) that there are some things that we can improve on, and we were able to do that against Arlington."
NPHS began the game in attack mode, hoping out to a 13-5 lead and experimenting with full court ball pressure for the first time this season.
When it worked, the Cougars were able to get easy steals and layups. There were also signs of inexperience that allowed the Knights to leak out to the outside and race to the rim.
The Cougars led by only one (13-12) after the first quarter.
Eventually, they figured out how to use press.
NPHS closed the first half on a 16-3 run.
"We felt that, if we could apply a little bit of pressure to them, we would be able to create turnovers," Lawrence said, "which would lead to some easy baskets, which is something we haven't been able to do."
Junior point guard Bethany Wiatt seemed the most comfortable with applying full court pressure. She finished with nine steals, 11 points and three assists.
Senior Sam Lucas was the game's high-scorer, putting in 17 and adding 11 rebounds for the Cougars.
Senior Cayla Kientz added nine points, and sophomore Morgan Smith had eight.
NPHS is in the midst of its most winnable stretch of the season
with games next week against Fountain Central and Eminence.
Lawrence is hoping the new defensive strategy will help keep the momentum going.
"We really haven't played a team yet that I thought the press would be beneficial to us," he said. "When we get behind in a game, we don't have the makeup that is going be able to get us back in the game against the teams that we've played so far. We've got some teams coming up ... that I think our press is going to be beneficial to us."
The Cougars lost Saturday's opening game to Western Boone 65-18.
At Speedway
Game 1
North Putnam 5 6 2 5 -- 18
Western Boone 19 13 14 19 -- 65
Individual scoring
North Putnam: Asbell 1-5, 2-5, 4; Kientz 2-7, 0-1, 4; Wiatt 1-2, 0-1, 2; Lucas 1-4, 0-0, 2; Land 1-2, 0-0, 2; Mindiola 1-1, 0-0, 2; Smith 0-8, 1-2, 1; Clodfelter 0-2, 1-2, 1; Aynes 0-2, 0-0, 0; Pitcock 0-0, 0-0, 0; Reeves 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Western Boone: Harrison 6-16, 3-3, 15; Ramey 6-11, 0-1, 12; Climer 4-6, 0-0, 9; Vanderpool 3-8, 2-2, 8; Henderson 2-7, 1-5, 5; Mitchell 2-8, 0-0, 4; Miller 2-7, 0-0, 4; Marsh 2-11, 0-0, 4; Hole 1-1, 0-0, 2.
Team scoring (three-pointers)
NP 7-33 (0-4), 4-11, 18; WB 28-76 (1-7), 6-13, 65.
Rebounds (offensive)
NP 28 (5); WB 54 (30).
Turnovers
NP 34; WB 13.
Game 2
Indianapolis Arlington 12 3 8 13 -- 36
North Putnam 13 16 18 20 -- 67
Individual scoring
Indianapolis Arlington: Hogue 5-23, 1-2, 13; Tomlinson 4-8, 0-1, 9; Rupert 3-4, 1-1, 7; Davis 1-3, 0-0, 2; Turman 1-7, 0-0, 2; Watson 1-5, 0-0, 2; Hogens 0-1, 0-0, 0; White 0-0, 0-0, 0; Harvey 0-0, 0-0, 0.
North Putnam: Lucas 5-13, 7-10, 17; Kientz 4-6, 3-4, 11; Wiatt 3-8, 5-6, 11; Smith 2-12, 5-10, 9; Asbell 3-8, 1-4, 7; Land 2-6, 0-0, 4; Aynes 2-7, 0-0, 4; Mindiola 1-1, 0-0, 2; Clodfelter 0-3, 0-0, 0; Pitcock 0-2, 0-2, 0; Reeves 0-1, 0-0, 0.
Team scoring (three-pointers)
IA 16-52 (3-15), 2-5, 36; NP 23-66 (0-6), 21-37, 67.
Rebounds (offensive)
IA 42 (7); NP 49 (18).
Turnovers
IA 38, NP 17.
Clovers place 4th at Clinton Prairie Tournament
Sunday, December 30, 2012
Cloverdale senior Sydney Shrum drives in for a layup against Clinton Prairie senior Stephanie Schrock. Shrum made her shot and was fouled.
(Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN) [Order this photo]
FRANKFORT -- The Cloverdale girls' basketball team came out flat after a 10-day layoff, finishing in fourth place at Friday's Clinton Prairie Tournament after losses to the hosts and Hagerstown.
The Clovers played some of their best basketball of the season in the second half of game one against Clinton Prairie, but it wasn't enough to overcome the 22-point halftime deficit as the Gophers won 48-36.
Cloverdale was outrebounded 22-7 in the first half, and turned the ball over 13 times.
The team also made just three-of-20 shots before the break.
The Clovers emerged from halftime with energy, playing almost four minutes before getting a turnover in the third quarter.
As Cloverdale head coach Matthew Langdon dipped into his more inexperienced bench to save his starters energy for game two, the play got a little sloppier, but the still cut into the lead.
In the end, lack of scoring threats with too little time to make up the difference.
"We came out slow in the first game," Langdon said. "In the second half we played good man-to-man and we wanted to ball more ... I hoped we could bring that energy to the second game. (I knew) if we play like that, we have a chance (against Hagerstown)."
It wasn't to be. The team came out flat again, scoring just five first-quarter points. They failed to make a dent the rest of the game and the Tigers secured a 39-27 win.
Hagerstown junior Hayley Rogers scored 18 points in the win.
Senior Amillia Nally, the Clovers most consistent player on Friday, scored 10 points.
Cloverdale was allowed Hagerstown to attempt nearly twice as many field goals (48-26) during the course of the game.
The Clovers defense that has been pressuring opponents into turnovers all year let the team down. The Tigers had just eight in the game, and two in the second half.
"Our offense feeds off our defense," Langdon said. "We didn't do what we need to do."
Langdon said he was disappointed with the effort, but he hopes it was a product of the long layoff and not a sign of things to come.
In addition to the big break, the Clovers also expanded their rotation. Normally the team only gives seven players significant minutes, but Langdon said he realized he is going to need to find a way to keep his starters fresh as the postseason tournament approaches.
"I'm trying to get the starters more time out (of the game)," he said. "If we're going to be a pressing team the whole game, we're going to need to get our starters more of a break."
Cloverdale will carry a five-game losing streak with it when the team hosts South Vermillion on Jan. 3.
Notes: Eastern won the tournament championship game against Clinton Prairie, 59-43 ... Sophomore Bailee Stevens missed the tournament as she recovers from an injury, but she is expected to return in the Clovers next game ... Cloverdale (4-9) had a .500 record before the recent skid.
Cloverdale senior Amillia Nally splits through Hagerstown defenders to get to the basket for a layup.
(Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN) [Order this photo]
At Clinton Prairie
Game 1
Cloverdale 5 2 13 16 -- 36
Clinton Prairie 13 16 11 8 -- 48
Individual scoring
Cloverdale: Nally 4-12, 3-5, 9; Gruener 2-10, 3-4, 7; Shrum 3-4, 0-1, 6; Skiles 1-5, 1-2, 4; Walters 1-3, 1-3, 3; Wellington 1-1, 0-0, 3; Dorsett 0-0, 1-2, 1; Clark 0-3, 0-0, 0; Hamm 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Clinton Prairie: Hanna 3-9, 7-8, 14; Douglass 6-13, 1-2, 13; Clark 4-6, 1-4, 9; Schrock 1-3, 2-2, 4; Schoonveld 2-2, 0-0, 4; Pearson 1-1, 0-0, 3; Dunham 0-0, 1-2, 1; Wines 0-1, 0-0, 0; Sabens 0-0, 0-0, 0; Humrickhouse 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Team shooting (three-pointers)
Cloverdale 12-39 (3-12), 9-17, 36; Clinton Prairie 17-35 (2-4), 12-18, 48.
Rebounds (offensive)
Cloverdale 16 (6), Clinton Prairie 33 (9).
Turnovers
Cloverdale 20, Clinton Prairie 24.
Game 2
Hagerstown 8 12 9 10 -- 39
Cloverdale 5 8 5 9 -- 27
Individual scoring
Hagerstown: H Rogers 9-16, 0-0, 18; C Rogers 3-9, 1-2, 9; O Robinson 2-4, 1-2, 5; M Houck 2-8, 0-0, 4; S Houck 1-1, 0-0, 2; Brown 0-2, 1-2, 1; Arnold 0-3, 0-0, 0; Willis 0-2, 0-0, 0; Caudill 0-3, 0-0, 0; J Robinson 0-0, 0-0, 0; Matanich 0-0, 0-0, 0; Hannon 0-0, 0-0, 0; O Houck 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Cloverdale: Nally 4-7, 2-3, 10; Shrum 1-3, 5-6, 7; Clark 2-2, 0-0, 4; Gruener 1-7, 0-0, 2; Walters 1-2, 0-0, 2; Dorsett 1-2, 0-0, 2; Skiles 0-3, 0-0, 0; Wellington 0-0, 0-0, 0; Hamm 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Team shooting (three-pointers)
Hagerstown 17-48 (2-7), 3-6, 39; Cloverdale 10-26 (0-2), 7-9; 27.
Rebounds (offensive)
Hagerstown 22 (11), Cloverdale 23 (5).
Turnovers
Hagerstown 8, Cloverdale 22.
No. 1 Tigers find legs in Hasbrook semi
Saturday, December 29, 2012
DePauw junior Alex Gasaway drives in for a layup over Rose-Hulman freshman Addie Johnson and junior Kelsey Ploof (50). [Order this photo]
The DePauw University women's basketball team defeated Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology 79-36 on Saturday in the second game of the 2012 Amy Hasbrook Memorial Tournament.
The Tigers are ranked No. 1 in NCAA Division III and showed why with a convincing victory over the Engineers.
It was the Tigers first game in 10 days. The team is coming off a tournament win in Puerto Rico and a break due to the holidays.
DPU head coach Kris Huffman was concerned about her team's condition with the long layoff and, with a cancelled practice on Wednesday, she implemented a new strategy.
The Tigers platooned full five-player units every four minutes.
The starting five of senior Kate Walker, junior Ali Ross, sophomore Savannah Trees, junior Alex Gasaway and senior Ellie Pearson got the team off to a hot 6-for-11 start and a 14-5 lead before sitting down.
"It is fun, but I would say (coach Huffman) probably won't do that again," Ross said. "I liked it, but I also like getting to intermix with the other players."
After allowing six unanswered points by Rose-Hulman, the second unit of sophomores Emma Ondik and Lauren Abendroth, juniors Alison Stephens and Erin McGinnis and senior Kathleen Molloy started to get in sync.
Stephens (12) and Molloy (10) both finished the game in double-digit scoring.
"Coach did it to make sure that we had fresh legs constantly," Walker said. "I usually play with that set of five a lot, so it's not something that I wasn't used to."
The starters returned and expanded the lead to 34-11 with 5:59 left in the half, continuing a 20-0 run.
"We haven't done that this year," Huffman said. "We have some depth, but we usually don't platoon it ... It wasn't totally planned, but it's how it worked out."
The fresh legs allowed the hosts to keep Rose-Hullman off balance, and DePauw exploited it inside.
Gasaway scored 10 of her game-high 17 points in the first half.
DPU continued the platoon strategy in second half and the players got into an even better rhythm.
The Tigers had extra focus for their opponent, Walker said, because they're playing in memory of former DPU star Amy Hasbrook.
"We always learn a lot about Hasie," Walker said. "Coach has always held her up on a pedestal, saying how great she is and how good of a rebounder she is, so it's always a goal during the Hasie Tournament to get as many rebounds as possible and play your heart out.
"No matter what, I always feel like it's playing your heart out for her."
DPU out-rebounded Rose-Hulman by a convincing 40-27 margin.
"Amy was a special player for us," Huffman said. "We may sometimes talk about certain teams of a given year, but (for individual players) Hasie probably stands out. She was a special player ... and to know that we don't have her with us anymore probably brings it to light.
"She's a great example for us to keep her name and her memory alive."
Hasbrook graduated from DePauw in 2000 and died in a house fire in Indianapolis in 2002.
The Tigers face Rockford College (2-9) in the tournament final on Sunday at 5 p.m.
At DePauw
Rose-Hulman 21 15 -- 36
DePauw 40 39 -- 79
Individual scoring
Rose-Hulman: Johnson 4-10, 0-0, 8; Williams 2-4, 3-3, 8; Ploof 2-4, 3-4, 7; Evers 2-7, 1-1, 6; Morris 2-6, 1-2, 5; Gilliam 1-2, 0-0, 2; Cain 0-4, 0-2, 0; Ottone 0-0, 0-0, 0; Gibbs 0-1, 0-0, 0; Dalton 0-0, 0-0, 0; Fuhs 0-0, 0-0, 0; Barnes 0-0, 0-0, 0.
DePauw: Gasaway 7-11, 2-3, 16; Walker 5-11, 2-2, 12; Stephens 4-8, 2-2, 12; Molloy 4-6, 1-2, 10; Ross 4-9, 0-0, 9; Trees 2-4, 1-1, 5; Pearson 1-5, 2-3, 4; Sarkisian 2-2, 0-0, 4; Abendroth 1-5, 0-0, 3; Stoner 1-1, 0-0, 2; Hacker 1-2, 0-2, 2; Ondik 0-2, 0-0, 0; Skordos 0-1, 0-0, 0; McDonagh 0-2, 0-0, 0; Lukemeyer 0-1, 0-0, 0; McGinnis 0-0, 0-0, 0; Keller 0-1, 0-0, 0; Frost 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Team scoring (three-pointers)
RHIT 13-38 (2-14), 8-12, 36; DPU 32-71 (5-14), 10-15, 79.
Rebounds (offensive)
RHIT 27 (3); DPU 40 (18).
Turnovers
RHIT 27; DPU 8.
Tiger Cubs vacation comes to halt against Danville
Saturday, December 29, 2012
Greencastle sophomore Brody Bollman drives in for a layup, fending off Danville defender B'ster Detty.
(Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN) [Order this photo]
The young Greencastle boys' basketball team continues to take steps toward improving, but they're not ready yet and that showed against Danville in the 71-49 loss on Friday at McAnally.
The Tiger Cubs (1-6) played their first game in 13 days and, despite the loss, changes were evident.
"I do think we're seeing improvement as a team, even though the scoreboard may not show it," GHS head coach Troy Greenlee said. "You hate to say you're satisfied with losing a game like this, but as we are, we have to do that. We have to look at where we are and where we were and compare.
"I think we're getting better."
GHS began the game struggling against the fast and aggressive Danville (8-1) defense.
The Warriors converted their first six shots to open the game, mostly fast break layups coming off turnovers.
Danville senior Ian Asher led the early attack, scoring 12 of his game-high 21 points in the first half.
The Tiger Cubs guards began to figure out the pressure, in the second quarter, but Danville found scoring just as easy in their half-court offense.
"They're a really good team and we knew they were a really good team," Greenlee said. "They're such a tough team to guard because they have the perimeter shooters, they can drive the ball well and they have just enough post presence to make it hard."
Greencastle came out sharp after halftime before surrendering a 9-0 run to end the third quarter.
Danville fed senior Jackson Stone in the post throughout the half and the shorter GHS front line couldn't prevent him from getting the ball deep under the hoop for easy lay-ins.
Stone finished with 17 points.
As the Warriors continued to get easy shots, the Tiger Cubs continued to shoot from the outside.
It was only after fouls began to pile up for Danville that GHS started to get into a rhythm.
The Warriors were called for 14 fouls in the second half, and the Cubs made seven-of-11 free throws in the fourth, but by then it was too little, too late.
"We knew it would be a tough game for us if we didn't do the things we talked about before the game, like taking care of the ball," Greenlee said. "We're not where we want to be, but I think we're taking some steps forward."
Freshman Ryan Coble and senior Nick Gilliam each scored seven points to lead the Tiger Cubs.
GHS hosts Speedway on Friday, Jan. 3 at 7:30 p.m.
At Greencastle
Danville 17 19 19 16 -- 71
Greencastle 5 18 12 14 -- 49
Individual scoring
Danville: Asher 8-14, 3-3, 21; Stone 8-9, 1-3, 17; Motes 4-8, 0-0, 10; Just 3-4, 3-4, 9; Amore 3-4, 1-2, 8; Detty 1-2, 2-2, 4; Ross 0-1, 2-2, 2; Collier 1-1, 0-0, 2; Shipley 0-1, 0-0, 0; Weir 0-1, 0-2, 0; Anderson 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Greencastle: Coble 3-6, 1-2, 7; Gilliam 2-7, 2-3, 7; Winslow 3-9, 0-0, 6; Gerard 2-6, 1-2, 6; Mitchell 1-2, 3-5, 5; Foxx 1-3, 2-3, 4; Christy 1-3, 0-0, 3; Bollman 1-6, 1-1, 3; King 1-2, 0-0, 3; Hughes 1-2, 0-0, 3.
Team scoring (three-pointers)
Danville 28-45 (5-12), 10-16, 71; Greencastle 16-45 (7-17), 10-17, 49.
Rebounds (offensive)
Danville 30 (7), Greencastle 28 (12)
Turnovers
Danville 15, Greencastle 21
DePauw brings Bill Lynch back as head football coach
Friday, December 21, 2012
Bill Lynch
DePauw University announced on Thursday it has hired Bill Lynch as the next head football coach.
Lynch was previously the Tigers' head coach for the 2004 season and he will take over on Jan. 2, 2013.
"I wasn't really looking, but when the DePauw situation came up, that really got me thinking about it because I had such a great experience while I was there in 2004," Lynch told the Banner Graphic. "They want to be successful, and they want to be successful in the right way."
Lynch left DePauw with an 8-2 record in just one season as head coach to become offensive coordinator for Indiana University.
He was faced with the difficult task of replacing his good friend, Terry Hoeppner, as head coach of the Hoosiers when Hoep-pner passed away in June 2007.
Lynch spent four seasons as head coach at IU, reaching a bowl game in his first season and compiling a 19-30 record.
After being fired following the 2010 season, Lynch became the associate athletic director for development at his alma mater, Butler.
His duties included working closely with the football team there. He also has three sons who coach college football.
"I haven't been away from football, I just haven't been on the sideline coaching it," Lynch said. "I've got the same passion and energy that I always have."
DePauw athletic director Stevie Baker-Watson said Thursday that hiring Lynch was the completion of a lengthy process.
"It was something that we've really been working on since Coach Long was fired in September," Baker-Watson said. "The whole process I wanted to complete by the holidays."
Robby Long was fired on Sept. 16, just two weeks into the season, for failing to "take corrective actions in a timely manner" regarding administrative issues under his control.
Long had been DePauw's head coach since August 2009.
The Tigers have had five different coaches since Nick Mourouzis retired after the 2003 season, with Long's three-plus years being the longest span.
Choosing Lynch among the candidates seems to signal that DePauw was looking for a long-term commitment more than an up-and-coming hire.
"He was looking for a landing spot, like I was when I came here," Mourouzis said. "This will give us stability."
Lynch, who still owns a house in Putnam County, said DePauw will likely be the final stop of his coaching career.
"We've been very fortunate, my wife and I, to be able to raise our kids in Indiana," Lynch said. "To be able to end it here is really great for us from a family situation."
DPU sorted through more than 130 applicants, narrowing the field to 40 in the top category, Baker-Watson said.
Ten received phone interviews, and the top four -- Lynch, Monmouth College head coach Steve Bell, DPU graduate and Army running backs coach Tucker Waugh and Dartmouth college special teams coordinator Chris Wilkerson -- were brought in last week for interviews.
Baker-Watson said she has received a tremendous amount of feedback from alumni and community members during the coaching search.
Although the school initially planned to keep the hiring process in-house, she decided it would be best to open it up to a hiring firm to keep the search more transparent.
As the field of candidates narrowed, Baker-Watson said she discussed candidates with people close to the DePauw program that were familiar with them.
After announcing the final four, it was a chance for those people to "hit send, again," Baker-Watson said, and share their final thoughts.
This included Mour-ouzis, who sat in on the final interviews.
"He's the best (candidate) for the situation that we have right now," Mourouzis said. "He's proven leadership. He knows all the coaches and has great respect for all the high school coaches in Indiana and the Midwest.
"Success in Division III all comes down to recruiting. I think that he can recruit a lot of good athletes for us here at DePauw."
Baker-Watson added that although the search came as a result of what she called "terrible circumstances" -- firing the previous head coach in the middle of the season -- it was a good opportunity to get feedback from alumni and reset the football program.
DePauw finished the 2012 season with a 2-8 record, losing the Monon Bell Classic for the fourth straight year.
Defensive coordinator Scott Srnka was named interim head coach after Long was let go, but his future and the rest of the staff is uncertain.
Baker-Watson said she would leave that up to Lynch.
"I knew I needed to hire a leader of the program," she said, "and the rest would work itself out."
Getting the coaching staff settled is priorty No. 1 for Lynch when he starts next month.
"I look forward to meeting them," he said. "The first thing is getting to know the staff that are there, and then it's very important to meet and get to know the players that are in the program right now."
DPU students began their winter break last Friday and will not return to class until Jan. 28, giving Lynch nearly a month on the job to recruit current and future players.
He conceded that he hasn't had a chance to watch the team play in recent years, but he is looking to forward to getting started with recruiting, and that starts with the players he has on campus.
"That's what this time of year is all about," Lynch said. "It's a process. First, getting to know (players) in a one-on-one basis and then you start to develop relationships.
"That's what starts building a team."
Lynch has a 100-97-3 career record as a head coach.
Besides DPU and IU, he has also been the head coach of Ball State University (1995-2002) and his alma mater, Butler (1985-1989).
Ball State was recognized by the American Football Coaches Association for outstanding graduation rates from 2000-02.
Lynch has also been an assistant coach at Northern Illinois and the United States Foot-ball League's Orlando Renegades.
Cloverdale's fight for coach Butler a worthwhile cause
Friday, December 21, 2012
I've never been coached by John Butler, and I've not sat in his classroom, but I have learned from him.
He has of way of speaking, about football, and about his kids, that always teaches.
When emotions are high after a game, he's deliberate with his words. He makes sure everyone understands -- always.
He's not telling, he's showing.
As the Cloverdale football team struggled through a winless regular season, Butler stayed positive, upbeat.
There were rumors swirling around -- as early as week three -- that his job could be in jeopardy.
He heard them. The players and parents heard them.
Butler kept it going.
The season started with Cloverdale having its biggest roster in the school's recent history.
By the end of week four, the team had lost 17 of 22 starters to season- or career-ending injury, and nine more of the key subs.
They finished the regular season 0-9, and the sectional quarterfinal game began when Riverton Parke returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown.
Most 16- and 17-year-old kids would get down on themselves.
"My football team -- my staff and my kids -- have literally moved on from the first nine weeks of the season," Butler said after the RPHS game.
On their first drive, the Clovers went for it on fourth down from their own their own 32-yard line.
They picked up the first down. On the next play, junior Wade Warren took the ball 58 yards for a score.
"We bought in to what coach is saying," Warren said Tuesday.
How do you get a group of kids to buy in when all they've known that season is losing? When they walk down the hall wearing jerseys on Friday and other students laugh at them?
"You've got to have faith," senior Dustin Cummings said. "And he believes in us."
Cloverdale won that game. Instead of being down on themselves, the kids played their best football -- physically and mentally -- of the year.
Most of the players and parents love him. It's impossible to get through an interview with Butler and not be interrupted several times by parents and players coming up to shake his hand and thank him.
"I'll get you when we get back," he always says, not wanting to be rude and make the reporter wait. If he shakes one hand, he'll have to shake them all.
After his team lost to Attica in the sectional semifinal game, an emotional Butler spoke to his players and "the football family" about the program; about their commitment.
"When I came here, priority No. 1 was to change the football culture and the way the kids approach work, and they've done it," Butler said. "At this point, it's just a matter of in-school recruiting and getting those kids to buy in to the work ethic that the rest of them show.
"If we can do that, then we'll continue to gradually grow."
Butler told his seniors after that game that they're a part of the program until they walk across the stage and get their diplomas.
After the gathering, it appears many parents are hoping Butler will still be the coach when that happens.
In second stint at DePauw, Lynch now ready to stay
Friday, December 21, 2012
New DePauw head coach stalks the sidelines during his first stint with the Tigers in 2004.
(Courtesy photo/DePauw University)
When Bill Lynch begins his second stint as the head football coach of DePauw University on Jan. 2, it will be under much different circumstance than the last time.
Lynch first coached the team in 2004, replacing legendary DPU head coach Nick Mourouzis.
Coach Nick served as head coach for 23 seasons before stepping down, and the school hadn't known much change.
Beginning with Lynch, the Tigers have had five coaches in the nine years since.
Lynch hadn't planned to make his stay short, but when he got a call from his good friend inviting him to join the staff at Indiana University, it was too much to turn down.
"That was a very unique situation, in that a very good friend of mine, Terry Hoeppner, (called)," Lynch said. "We had kind of grown up together in the coaching profession and always competed against each other.
"We always talked about, if we ever had a chance to work together on the same staff, that would be great."
That opportunity came when Hoeppner took the IU job. He brought with him his young wide receiver's coach, Billy Lynch.
"To be able to go work with Terry, and also to be able to work with my son, it was just a unique, unique situation. That was a different time," Lynch said. "My wife and I are in a different place now with our kids all raised. We had two kids in college at the time. That was the main thing.
"It was a hard decision because I really enjoyed DePauw and had a great experience there."
Lynch won eight games in his one year at DPU, then joined his friend at IU.
After two seasons, Hoeppner became too ill to coach.
Lynch was named the interim head coach just days before Hoeppner died in June 2007.
He lasted four seasons before being let go, then became an associate athletic director at his Alma Mater, Butler.
Billy moved on, too. He's now the wide receivers coach at Rice University.
Lynch's other two sons -- Joey and Kevin, who were in college last time Lynch was DePauw's coach -- have gotten college jobs, too.
Joey is now the tight ends coach at Ball State, and Kevin is the wide receivers coach at the University of Indianapolis.
His sons have kept Lynch close to the game, calling him regularly to talk football, and when the DePauw job came up, Lynch got the hunger to return.
"All along, I've missed coaching," he said. "I've got three sons that are college football coaches. They'd be calling every night, talking about this and talking about that.
"When this opportunity came, I was excited to get involved in it. I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to coach."
Lynch said he's leaving a great situation at Butler, but he believes DPU will be an even better one.
"I really had a special time when I was there before," Lynch said. "I'm really excited about the new leadership. Dr. Casey (DPU president Brian W. Casey) and (athletic director) Steve Baker-Watson; their vision of the future and where they want to go. It's an exciting time."
Lynch graduated from a private liberal arts college himself and said he thinks that atmosphere is a better fit for him now than ever before.
Casey and Baker-Watson share similar goals to Lynch -- having quality student-athletes that are active on campus and in the classroom -- which helps as they try to accomplish another goal, competing at the highest level on the football field.
"They (DPU administrators) want to be successful and they want to be successful in the right way," Lynch said. "That's certainly right in line with my priorities, and I think it's a great fit.
"There's a commitment in that athletics is a very important aspect of the university. I think that's important as a coach, and certainly football is one of those sports that has an impact on campus."
North Putnam swimmers enter break with split against North Montgomery
Thursday, December 20, 2012
ROACHDALE -- The North Putnam boys' swim team continued its recent hot streak with a 115-67 win over North Montgomery on Wednesday.
The two squads each won their respective county championship last season and bragging rights were on the line.
Dane Gray bested his own school record with a 58.72 second finish in the 100-yard backstroke.
Gray picked up another win in the 200 individual medley.
"I'm really proud of Dane's swim, considering he spend four days in the hospital and missed two weeks of training. He's starting to swim like we want him to," NPHS head coach Tony Gray said. "We don't have anyone that's close to any other record right now, but I think we can approach the 100 fly and the breaststroke record by the end of the year."
The girls' team didn't fare quite as well, losing 119-45.
Sophomore Elizabeth Alford had wins in the 50- and 100-yard freestyle.
Samantha Freije, who first learned to swim just six weeks ago, had a strong 100 free and shaved 12 seconds off her personal best time in the 200 free, coach Gray said.
"With the small (roster), it's difficult for (the girls) to compete and win meets," he said. "As long as they keep working hard and have fun, and swim as a team, it's going to be a success for them."
Senior Joe Lehr got a win for the boys team in the 500 free. Michael Noble also stood out, coach Gray said, finishing strong in his first attempt at the marathon event.
"We're swimming a little bit better now," coach Gray said. "The kids got a little bit of rest this week, so the times are starting to drop the way we hoped they would."
The Cougars host a dual meet against Danville on Dec. 27 at 11 a.m.
At North Putnam
Boys' final -- North Putnam 115, North Montgomery 67
Girls' final -- North Montgomery 119, North Putnam 45
Pacers beat Grizzlies for fifth-straight home win
Monday, December 31, 2012
Pacers guard D.J. Augustin drives to the hoop against Memphis' Mike Conley.
(Courtesy photo)
INDIANAPOLIS -- The Pacers beat Memphis in an afternoon game on Monday, 88-83. They were without starting point guard George Hill, who missed the game with an injury.
D.J. Augustin, removed from the playing rotation a few weeks ago for rookie point guard Ben Hasbrough, stepped into the void in Hill's absence.
A former top-ten draft pick by Charlotte, Augustin has struggled to find a rhythm since joining the Pacers (18-13) as a free agent last summer.
He entered the game averaging just 3.1 points, on 26 percent shooting, and 2.3 assists per game.
Augustin, his fifth year out of Texas, spent the last two seasons starting for the Bobcats and seemed to find his groove by moving back into that role. He made four of the Pacers' 12 three-pointers, including a dagger late that put Indiana up six with two minutes left.
He also sank four-of-four free throws down the stretch to help seal the win.
"I was out there longer so the shots were able to come to me instead of me trying to force shots in limited minutes," Augustin said. "(Starting) makes a big difference. You come out loose and ready and prepared for the game. But when you come off the bench, you've got to be ready also."
Augustin added a season-high six assists.
Paul George continued his recent success, scoring a team-high 21 points. He also held Grizzlies star forward Rudy Gay to just three-of-17 shooting.
Roy Hibbert, coming off a zero-point, one-rebound catastrophe against Atlanta on Saturday, responded against Memphis.
The Grizzlies (19-9) attacked Hibbert early with Zach Randolph posting up, but they failed to feed the post consistently.
Randolph finished with 21 points and 15 rebounds.
Hibbert finished with four big blocks, including one of Gay that would have closed the gap to three with 1:51 remaining.
Indiana hosts the Wizards for the second time this season on Wednesday at 7 p.m.
At Indiana
Grizzlies 19 22 26 16 -- 83
Pacers 19 19 22 28 -- 88
Individual scoring
Grizzlies: Randolph 7-18, 7-8, 21; Gasol 6-10, 1-1, 13; Gay 3-17, 5-8, 11; Allen 5-8, 1-2, 11; Conley 3-9, 2-2, 9; Ellington 2-4, 0-0, 6; Arthur 3-6, 0-0, 6; Speights 2-6, 1-2, 5; Bayless 0-4, 1-1, 1.
Pacers: George 7-16, 3-4, 21; Augustin 4-9, 5-6, 17; West 3-6, 7-8, 13; Stephenson 3-7, 2-2, 10; Hibbert 3-11, 3-4, 9; T Hansbrough 3-6, 0-0, 6; B Hansbrough 2-5, 0-0, 6; Green 2-5, 0-0, 4; Mahinmi 1-5, 0-0, 2; Young 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Team scoring (three-pointers)
Grizzlies 31-82 (3-11), 18-24, 83; Pacers 28-70 (12-25), 20-24, 88.
Rebounds (offensive)
Grizzlies 44 (18); Pacers 38 (11).
Turnovers
Grizzlies 16; Pacers 18.
Top-ranked Tigers win Hasbrook championship against Rockford
Monday, December 31, 2012
Members of the 2012 All-Hasbrook Tournament team (from left) Erin Ryczek, Kate Walker, Kat Molloy, Alex Gasaway and former players Ann Hall, Sarah McKay, Lindsey Rush, Erin Miller and Dana Ferguson.Not pictured are Spalding senior Kelly Harrod and Rose-Hulman freshman Addie Johnson.
(Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN) [Order this photo]
Saturday's win over Rose-Hulman was just a warm-up for the DePauw women's basketball team as they feasted on Rockford College in the Hasbrook Tournament championship game Sunday, winning 73-43.
Senior point guard Kate Walker was named tournament MVP, having averaged 10.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists in just 18 minutes per game.
"It's nice to be awarded that, especially at the Hasie Tournament," Walker said. "I know this is going to sound corny, but Hasie (former DePauw guard Amy Hasbrook) ... coach talks so highly about her. So being the MVP of that tournament is kind of a big deal.
"In my head, what coach has described Hasie as is the hard-worker, the person who doesn't necessarily get the most points, but puts their whole heart on the court."
The Tigers dominated from the start, jumping out to a 30-4 lead before allowing the Regents their first field goal with 5:18 left in the first half.
After spending most of game Saturday in a 2-3 zone defense, DPU switched back to their customary man-to-man scheme for the final.
"(Zone defense) is something new that we've added in the last three or four years," Tigers head coach Kris Huffman said. "It helps us when we go against teams with a 6'2" center, because we're undersized ... We're just making sure that we're prepared to play anybody, so it's something that we continue to work on."
Height on the front line wasn't a problem against Rockford and the tenacious defense of DePauw kept the Regents out of the paint.
"I always prefer man," Walker said. "I've played man my whole life. I never played zone until I came to DePauw, and even then we don't play it all that often."
The Tigers held a 41-15 lead at halftime, but only a slight 17-16 rebounding advantage.
"We always want to focus on rebounding," Huffman said. "Especially with this being the Hasbrook Tournament, and that was something that she did so well. We talked this week about making sure that this was something that we owned this weekend. We tried to own the glass."
The Tigers hauled in 21 rebounds, including 14 offensive rebounds, in the second half.
With the game well in hand, starters moved aside early after the break, allowing DPU's second unit to carry them the rest of the way.
Senior Kathleen Molloy was the games leading scorer, finishing with a career-high 15 points, making five-of-nine shots (four-of-five threes).
"I knew I was shooting kind of well, but I didn't know it was my career-high," Molloy, whose bio on the team website lists her praying for Hasbrook to get ready for each game, said.
Molloy and junior Alex Gasaway joined Walker on the all-tournament team.
DePauw plays again Friday when the team hosts conference-rival Allegheny at 6 p.m. The men's game follows.
DePauw senior point guard Kate Walker lines up for a runner over Rockford junior Destiny Chaney. Walker was named 2012 Amy Hasbrook Tournament MVP.
(Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN) [Order this photo]
At DePauw
Rockford 15 28 -- 43
DePauw 41 32 -- 73
Individual scoring
Rockford: Ryczek 6-14, 2-2, 17; Nichols 3-6, 2-3, 8; Bjerning 2-4, 0-0, 4; Chaney 1-5, 2-4, 4; Woods 1-5, 0-0, 3; Scott 1-2, 0-0, 3; Lengjak 1-6, 0-0, 2; Lawler 1-5, 0-0, 2; Johnson 0-5, 0-0, 0; Fowler 0-0, 0-0, 0.
DePauw: Molloy 5-9, 1-2, 15; Abendroth 4-4, 0-0, 10; Walker 3-5, 2-2, 9; Gasaway 4-7, 0-0, 9; Trees 2-6, 2-2, 6; Pearson 2-4, 1-2, 5; Ross 2-5, 1-2, 5; McGinnis 2-2, 0-0, 4; Skordos 1-2, 0-0, 3; Stephens 1-4, 1-2, 3; Ondik 1-4, 0-0, 2; Keller 1-4, 0-0, 2; Francis 0-0, 0-0, 0; Stoner 0-2, 0-0, 0; McDonagh 0-2, 0-0, 0; Hacker 0-1, 0-0, 0; Lukemeyer 0-1, 0-0, 0; Frost 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Team scoring (three-pointers)
Rockford 16-52 (7-14), 4-6, 43; DePauw 28-62 (9-19), 8-12, 73.
Rebounds (offensive)
Rockford 33 (16); DePauw 38 (18).
Turnovers
Rockford 22; DePauw 10.
Cougars place third at Speedway girls' basketball tourney
Monday, December 31, 2012
North Putnam junior point guard Bethany Wiatt rips the ball away from Arlington freshman Briella Tomlinson (33), recording one of her game-high nine steals. (Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN )[Order this photo]
SPEEDWAY -- Two teams entered the consolation game at the 2012 Speedway girls' basketball tournament looking to snap a burdensome losing streak.
North Putnam was able to do just that, beating Indianapolis Arlington (0-8) 67-36.
The Cougars (2-10) entered the game with a five-game losing streak. The Golden Knights made headlines a few weeks ago after suffering a 103-2 loss.
"Arlington played hard for 32 minutes," NPHS coach Curtis Lawrence said. "We let (the players) know (after the first game against Western Boone) that there are some things that we can improve on, and we were able to do that against Arlington."
NPHS began the game in attack mode, hoping out to a 13-5 lead and experimenting with full court ball pressure for the first time this season.
When it worked, the Cougars were able to get easy steals and layups. There were also signs of inexperience that allowed the Knights to leak out to the outside and race to the rim.
The Cougars led by only one (13-12) after the first quarter.
Eventually, they figured out how to use press.
NPHS closed the first half on a 16-3 run.
"We felt that, if we could apply a little bit of pressure to them, we would be able to create turnovers," Lawrence said, "which would lead to some easy baskets, which is something we haven't been able to do."
Junior point guard Bethany Wiatt seemed the most comfortable with applying full court pressure. She finished with nine steals, 11 points and three assists.
Senior Sam Lucas was the game's high-scorer, putting in 17 and adding 11 rebounds for the Cougars.
Senior Cayla Kientz added nine points, and sophomore Morgan Smith had eight.
NPHS is in the midst of its most winnable stretch of the season
with games next week against Fountain Central and Eminence.
Lawrence is hoping the new defensive strategy will help keep the momentum going.
"We really haven't played a team yet that I thought the press would be beneficial to us," he said. "When we get behind in a game, we don't have the makeup that is going be able to get us back in the game against the teams that we've played so far. We've got some teams coming up ... that I think our press is going to be beneficial to us."
The Cougars lost Saturday's opening game to Western Boone 65-18.
At Speedway
Game 1
North Putnam 5 6 2 5 -- 18
Western Boone 19 13 14 19 -- 65
Individual scoring
North Putnam: Asbell 1-5, 2-5, 4; Kientz 2-7, 0-1, 4; Wiatt 1-2, 0-1, 2; Lucas 1-4, 0-0, 2; Land 1-2, 0-0, 2; Mindiola 1-1, 0-0, 2; Smith 0-8, 1-2, 1; Clodfelter 0-2, 1-2, 1; Aynes 0-2, 0-0, 0; Pitcock 0-0, 0-0, 0; Reeves 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Western Boone: Harrison 6-16, 3-3, 15; Ramey 6-11, 0-1, 12; Climer 4-6, 0-0, 9; Vanderpool 3-8, 2-2, 8; Henderson 2-7, 1-5, 5; Mitchell 2-8, 0-0, 4; Miller 2-7, 0-0, 4; Marsh 2-11, 0-0, 4; Hole 1-1, 0-0, 2.
Team scoring (three-pointers)
NP 7-33 (0-4), 4-11, 18; WB 28-76 (1-7), 6-13, 65.
Rebounds (offensive)
NP 28 (5); WB 54 (30).
Turnovers
NP 34; WB 13.
Game 2
Indianapolis Arlington 12 3 8 13 -- 36
North Putnam 13 16 18 20 -- 67
Individual scoring
Indianapolis Arlington: Hogue 5-23, 1-2, 13; Tomlinson 4-8, 0-1, 9; Rupert 3-4, 1-1, 7; Davis 1-3, 0-0, 2; Turman 1-7, 0-0, 2; Watson 1-5, 0-0, 2; Hogens 0-1, 0-0, 0; White 0-0, 0-0, 0; Harvey 0-0, 0-0, 0.
North Putnam: Lucas 5-13, 7-10, 17; Kientz 4-6, 3-4, 11; Wiatt 3-8, 5-6, 11; Smith 2-12, 5-10, 9; Asbell 3-8, 1-4, 7; Land 2-6, 0-0, 4; Aynes 2-7, 0-0, 4; Mindiola 1-1, 0-0, 2; Clodfelter 0-3, 0-0, 0; Pitcock 0-2, 0-2, 0; Reeves 0-1, 0-0, 0.
Team scoring (three-pointers)
IA 16-52 (3-15), 2-5, 36; NP 23-66 (0-6), 21-37, 67.
Rebounds (offensive)
IA 42 (7); NP 49 (18).
Turnovers
IA 38, NP 17.
Clovers place 4th at Clinton Prairie Tournament
Sunday, December 30, 2012
Cloverdale senior Sydney Shrum drives in for a layup against Clinton Prairie senior Stephanie Schrock. Shrum made her shot and was fouled.
(Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN) [Order this photo]
FRANKFORT -- The Cloverdale girls' basketball team came out flat after a 10-day layoff, finishing in fourth place at Friday's Clinton Prairie Tournament after losses to the hosts and Hagerstown.
The Clovers played some of their best basketball of the season in the second half of game one against Clinton Prairie, but it wasn't enough to overcome the 22-point halftime deficit as the Gophers won 48-36.
Cloverdale was outrebounded 22-7 in the first half, and turned the ball over 13 times.
The team also made just three-of-20 shots before the break.
The Clovers emerged from halftime with energy, playing almost four minutes before getting a turnover in the third quarter.
As Cloverdale head coach Matthew Langdon dipped into his more inexperienced bench to save his starters energy for game two, the play got a little sloppier, but the still cut into the lead.
In the end, lack of scoring threats with too little time to make up the difference.
"We came out slow in the first game," Langdon said. "In the second half we played good man-to-man and we wanted to ball more ... I hoped we could bring that energy to the second game. (I knew) if we play like that, we have a chance (against Hagerstown)."
It wasn't to be. The team came out flat again, scoring just five first-quarter points. They failed to make a dent the rest of the game and the Tigers secured a 39-27 win.
Hagerstown junior Hayley Rogers scored 18 points in the win.
Senior Amillia Nally, the Clovers most consistent player on Friday, scored 10 points.
Cloverdale was allowed Hagerstown to attempt nearly twice as many field goals (48-26) during the course of the game.
The Clovers defense that has been pressuring opponents into turnovers all year let the team down. The Tigers had just eight in the game, and two in the second half.
"Our offense feeds off our defense," Langdon said. "We didn't do what we need to do."
Langdon said he was disappointed with the effort, but he hopes it was a product of the long layoff and not a sign of things to come.
In addition to the big break, the Clovers also expanded their rotation. Normally the team only gives seven players significant minutes, but Langdon said he realized he is going to need to find a way to keep his starters fresh as the postseason tournament approaches.
"I'm trying to get the starters more time out (of the game)," he said. "If we're going to be a pressing team the whole game, we're going to need to get our starters more of a break."
Cloverdale will carry a five-game losing streak with it when the team hosts South Vermillion on Jan. 3.
Notes: Eastern won the tournament championship game against Clinton Prairie, 59-43 ... Sophomore Bailee Stevens missed the tournament as she recovers from an injury, but she is expected to return in the Clovers next game ... Cloverdale (4-9) had a .500 record before the recent skid.
Cloverdale senior Amillia Nally splits through Hagerstown defenders to get to the basket for a layup.
(Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN) [Order this photo]
At Clinton Prairie
Game 1
Cloverdale 5 2 13 16 -- 36
Clinton Prairie 13 16 11 8 -- 48
Individual scoring
Cloverdale: Nally 4-12, 3-5, 9; Gruener 2-10, 3-4, 7; Shrum 3-4, 0-1, 6; Skiles 1-5, 1-2, 4; Walters 1-3, 1-3, 3; Wellington 1-1, 0-0, 3; Dorsett 0-0, 1-2, 1; Clark 0-3, 0-0, 0; Hamm 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Clinton Prairie: Hanna 3-9, 7-8, 14; Douglass 6-13, 1-2, 13; Clark 4-6, 1-4, 9; Schrock 1-3, 2-2, 4; Schoonveld 2-2, 0-0, 4; Pearson 1-1, 0-0, 3; Dunham 0-0, 1-2, 1; Wines 0-1, 0-0, 0; Sabens 0-0, 0-0, 0; Humrickhouse 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Team shooting (three-pointers)
Cloverdale 12-39 (3-12), 9-17, 36; Clinton Prairie 17-35 (2-4), 12-18, 48.
Rebounds (offensive)
Cloverdale 16 (6), Clinton Prairie 33 (9).
Turnovers
Cloverdale 20, Clinton Prairie 24.
Game 2
Hagerstown 8 12 9 10 -- 39
Cloverdale 5 8 5 9 -- 27
Individual scoring
Hagerstown: H Rogers 9-16, 0-0, 18; C Rogers 3-9, 1-2, 9; O Robinson 2-4, 1-2, 5; M Houck 2-8, 0-0, 4; S Houck 1-1, 0-0, 2; Brown 0-2, 1-2, 1; Arnold 0-3, 0-0, 0; Willis 0-2, 0-0, 0; Caudill 0-3, 0-0, 0; J Robinson 0-0, 0-0, 0; Matanich 0-0, 0-0, 0; Hannon 0-0, 0-0, 0; O Houck 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Cloverdale: Nally 4-7, 2-3, 10; Shrum 1-3, 5-6, 7; Clark 2-2, 0-0, 4; Gruener 1-7, 0-0, 2; Walters 1-2, 0-0, 2; Dorsett 1-2, 0-0, 2; Skiles 0-3, 0-0, 0; Wellington 0-0, 0-0, 0; Hamm 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Team shooting (three-pointers)
Hagerstown 17-48 (2-7), 3-6, 39; Cloverdale 10-26 (0-2), 7-9; 27.
Rebounds (offensive)
Hagerstown 22 (11), Cloverdale 23 (5).
Turnovers
Hagerstown 8, Cloverdale 22.
No. 1 Tigers find legs in Hasbrook semi
Saturday, December 29, 2012
DePauw junior Alex Gasaway drives in for a layup over Rose-Hulman freshman Addie Johnson and junior Kelsey Ploof (50). [Order this photo]
The DePauw University women's basketball team defeated Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology 79-36 on Saturday in the second game of the 2012 Amy Hasbrook Memorial Tournament.
The Tigers are ranked No. 1 in NCAA Division III and showed why with a convincing victory over the Engineers.
It was the Tigers first game in 10 days. The team is coming off a tournament win in Puerto Rico and a break due to the holidays.
DPU head coach Kris Huffman was concerned about her team's condition with the long layoff and, with a cancelled practice on Wednesday, she implemented a new strategy.
The Tigers platooned full five-player units every four minutes.
The starting five of senior Kate Walker, junior Ali Ross, sophomore Savannah Trees, junior Alex Gasaway and senior Ellie Pearson got the team off to a hot 6-for-11 start and a 14-5 lead before sitting down.
"It is fun, but I would say (coach Huffman) probably won't do that again," Ross said. "I liked it, but I also like getting to intermix with the other players."
After allowing six unanswered points by Rose-Hulman, the second unit of sophomores Emma Ondik and Lauren Abendroth, juniors Alison Stephens and Erin McGinnis and senior Kathleen Molloy started to get in sync.
Stephens (12) and Molloy (10) both finished the game in double-digit scoring.
"Coach did it to make sure that we had fresh legs constantly," Walker said. "I usually play with that set of five a lot, so it's not something that I wasn't used to."
The starters returned and expanded the lead to 34-11 with 5:59 left in the half, continuing a 20-0 run.
"We haven't done that this year," Huffman said. "We have some depth, but we usually don't platoon it ... It wasn't totally planned, but it's how it worked out."
The fresh legs allowed the hosts to keep Rose-Hullman off balance, and DePauw exploited it inside.
Gasaway scored 10 of her game-high 17 points in the first half.
DPU continued the platoon strategy in second half and the players got into an even better rhythm.
The Tigers had extra focus for their opponent, Walker said, because they're playing in memory of former DPU star Amy Hasbrook.
"We always learn a lot about Hasie," Walker said. "Coach has always held her up on a pedestal, saying how great she is and how good of a rebounder she is, so it's always a goal during the Hasie Tournament to get as many rebounds as possible and play your heart out.
"No matter what, I always feel like it's playing your heart out for her."
DPU out-rebounded Rose-Hulman by a convincing 40-27 margin.
"Amy was a special player for us," Huffman said. "We may sometimes talk about certain teams of a given year, but (for individual players) Hasie probably stands out. She was a special player ... and to know that we don't have her with us anymore probably brings it to light.
"She's a great example for us to keep her name and her memory alive."
Hasbrook graduated from DePauw in 2000 and died in a house fire in Indianapolis in 2002.
The Tigers face Rockford College (2-9) in the tournament final on Sunday at 5 p.m.
At DePauw
Rose-Hulman 21 15 -- 36
DePauw 40 39 -- 79
Individual scoring
Rose-Hulman: Johnson 4-10, 0-0, 8; Williams 2-4, 3-3, 8; Ploof 2-4, 3-4, 7; Evers 2-7, 1-1, 6; Morris 2-6, 1-2, 5; Gilliam 1-2, 0-0, 2; Cain 0-4, 0-2, 0; Ottone 0-0, 0-0, 0; Gibbs 0-1, 0-0, 0; Dalton 0-0, 0-0, 0; Fuhs 0-0, 0-0, 0; Barnes 0-0, 0-0, 0.
DePauw: Gasaway 7-11, 2-3, 16; Walker 5-11, 2-2, 12; Stephens 4-8, 2-2, 12; Molloy 4-6, 1-2, 10; Ross 4-9, 0-0, 9; Trees 2-4, 1-1, 5; Pearson 1-5, 2-3, 4; Sarkisian 2-2, 0-0, 4; Abendroth 1-5, 0-0, 3; Stoner 1-1, 0-0, 2; Hacker 1-2, 0-2, 2; Ondik 0-2, 0-0, 0; Skordos 0-1, 0-0, 0; McDonagh 0-2, 0-0, 0; Lukemeyer 0-1, 0-0, 0; McGinnis 0-0, 0-0, 0; Keller 0-1, 0-0, 0; Frost 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Team scoring (three-pointers)
RHIT 13-38 (2-14), 8-12, 36; DPU 32-71 (5-14), 10-15, 79.
Rebounds (offensive)
RHIT 27 (3); DPU 40 (18).
Turnovers
RHIT 27; DPU 8.
Tiger Cubs vacation comes to halt against Danville
Saturday, December 29, 2012
Greencastle sophomore Brody Bollman drives in for a layup, fending off Danville defender B'ster Detty.
(Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN) [Order this photo]
The young Greencastle boys' basketball team continues to take steps toward improving, but they're not ready yet and that showed against Danville in the 71-49 loss on Friday at McAnally.
The Tiger Cubs (1-6) played their first game in 13 days and, despite the loss, changes were evident.
"I do think we're seeing improvement as a team, even though the scoreboard may not show it," GHS head coach Troy Greenlee said. "You hate to say you're satisfied with losing a game like this, but as we are, we have to do that. We have to look at where we are and where we were and compare.
"I think we're getting better."
GHS began the game struggling against the fast and aggressive Danville (8-1) defense.
The Warriors converted their first six shots to open the game, mostly fast break layups coming off turnovers.
Danville senior Ian Asher led the early attack, scoring 12 of his game-high 21 points in the first half.
The Tiger Cubs guards began to figure out the pressure, in the second quarter, but Danville found scoring just as easy in their half-court offense.
"They're a really good team and we knew they were a really good team," Greenlee said. "They're such a tough team to guard because they have the perimeter shooters, they can drive the ball well and they have just enough post presence to make it hard."
Greencastle came out sharp after halftime before surrendering a 9-0 run to end the third quarter.
Danville fed senior Jackson Stone in the post throughout the half and the shorter GHS front line couldn't prevent him from getting the ball deep under the hoop for easy lay-ins.
Stone finished with 17 points.
As the Warriors continued to get easy shots, the Tiger Cubs continued to shoot from the outside.
It was only after fouls began to pile up for Danville that GHS started to get into a rhythm.
The Warriors were called for 14 fouls in the second half, and the Cubs made seven-of-11 free throws in the fourth, but by then it was too little, too late.
"We knew it would be a tough game for us if we didn't do the things we talked about before the game, like taking care of the ball," Greenlee said. "We're not where we want to be, but I think we're taking some steps forward."
Freshman Ryan Coble and senior Nick Gilliam each scored seven points to lead the Tiger Cubs.
GHS hosts Speedway on Friday, Jan. 3 at 7:30 p.m.
At Greencastle
Danville 17 19 19 16 -- 71
Greencastle 5 18 12 14 -- 49
Individual scoring
Danville: Asher 8-14, 3-3, 21; Stone 8-9, 1-3, 17; Motes 4-8, 0-0, 10; Just 3-4, 3-4, 9; Amore 3-4, 1-2, 8; Detty 1-2, 2-2, 4; Ross 0-1, 2-2, 2; Collier 1-1, 0-0, 2; Shipley 0-1, 0-0, 0; Weir 0-1, 0-2, 0; Anderson 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Greencastle: Coble 3-6, 1-2, 7; Gilliam 2-7, 2-3, 7; Winslow 3-9, 0-0, 6; Gerard 2-6, 1-2, 6; Mitchell 1-2, 3-5, 5; Foxx 1-3, 2-3, 4; Christy 1-3, 0-0, 3; Bollman 1-6, 1-1, 3; King 1-2, 0-0, 3; Hughes 1-2, 0-0, 3.
Team scoring (three-pointers)
Danville 28-45 (5-12), 10-16, 71; Greencastle 16-45 (7-17), 10-17, 49.
Rebounds (offensive)
Danville 30 (7), Greencastle 28 (12)
Turnovers
Danville 15, Greencastle 21
DePauw brings Bill Lynch back as head football coach
Friday, December 21, 2012
Bill Lynch
DePauw University announced on Thursday it has hired Bill Lynch as the next head football coach.
Lynch was previously the Tigers' head coach for the 2004 season and he will take over on Jan. 2, 2013.
"I wasn't really looking, but when the DePauw situation came up, that really got me thinking about it because I had such a great experience while I was there in 2004," Lynch told the Banner Graphic. "They want to be successful, and they want to be successful in the right way."
Lynch left DePauw with an 8-2 record in just one season as head coach to become offensive coordinator for Indiana University.
He was faced with the difficult task of replacing his good friend, Terry Hoeppner, as head coach of the Hoosiers when Hoep-pner passed away in June 2007.
Lynch spent four seasons as head coach at IU, reaching a bowl game in his first season and compiling a 19-30 record.
After being fired following the 2010 season, Lynch became the associate athletic director for development at his alma mater, Butler.
His duties included working closely with the football team there. He also has three sons who coach college football.
"I haven't been away from football, I just haven't been on the sideline coaching it," Lynch said. "I've got the same passion and energy that I always have."
DePauw athletic director Stevie Baker-Watson said Thursday that hiring Lynch was the completion of a lengthy process.
"It was something that we've really been working on since Coach Long was fired in September," Baker-Watson said. "The whole process I wanted to complete by the holidays."
Robby Long was fired on Sept. 16, just two weeks into the season, for failing to "take corrective actions in a timely manner" regarding administrative issues under his control.
Long had been DePauw's head coach since August 2009.
The Tigers have had five different coaches since Nick Mourouzis retired after the 2003 season, with Long's three-plus years being the longest span.
Choosing Lynch among the candidates seems to signal that DePauw was looking for a long-term commitment more than an up-and-coming hire.
"He was looking for a landing spot, like I was when I came here," Mourouzis said. "This will give us stability."
Lynch, who still owns a house in Putnam County, said DePauw will likely be the final stop of his coaching career.
"We've been very fortunate, my wife and I, to be able to raise our kids in Indiana," Lynch said. "To be able to end it here is really great for us from a family situation."
DPU sorted through more than 130 applicants, narrowing the field to 40 in the top category, Baker-Watson said.
Ten received phone interviews, and the top four -- Lynch, Monmouth College head coach Steve Bell, DPU graduate and Army running backs coach Tucker Waugh and Dartmouth college special teams coordinator Chris Wilkerson -- were brought in last week for interviews.
Baker-Watson said she has received a tremendous amount of feedback from alumni and community members during the coaching search.
Although the school initially planned to keep the hiring process in-house, she decided it would be best to open it up to a hiring firm to keep the search more transparent.
As the field of candidates narrowed, Baker-Watson said she discussed candidates with people close to the DePauw program that were familiar with them.
After announcing the final four, it was a chance for those people to "hit send, again," Baker-Watson said, and share their final thoughts.
This included Mour-ouzis, who sat in on the final interviews.
"He's the best (candidate) for the situation that we have right now," Mourouzis said. "He's proven leadership. He knows all the coaches and has great respect for all the high school coaches in Indiana and the Midwest.
"Success in Division III all comes down to recruiting. I think that he can recruit a lot of good athletes for us here at DePauw."
Baker-Watson added that although the search came as a result of what she called "terrible circumstances" -- firing the previous head coach in the middle of the season -- it was a good opportunity to get feedback from alumni and reset the football program.
DePauw finished the 2012 season with a 2-8 record, losing the Monon Bell Classic for the fourth straight year.
Defensive coordinator Scott Srnka was named interim head coach after Long was let go, but his future and the rest of the staff is uncertain.
Baker-Watson said she would leave that up to Lynch.
"I knew I needed to hire a leader of the program," she said, "and the rest would work itself out."
Getting the coaching staff settled is priorty No. 1 for Lynch when he starts next month.
"I look forward to meeting them," he said. "The first thing is getting to know the staff that are there, and then it's very important to meet and get to know the players that are in the program right now."
DPU students began their winter break last Friday and will not return to class until Jan. 28, giving Lynch nearly a month on the job to recruit current and future players.
He conceded that he hasn't had a chance to watch the team play in recent years, but he is looking to forward to getting started with recruiting, and that starts with the players he has on campus.
"That's what this time of year is all about," Lynch said. "It's a process. First, getting to know (players) in a one-on-one basis and then you start to develop relationships.
"That's what starts building a team."
Lynch has a 100-97-3 career record as a head coach.
Besides DPU and IU, he has also been the head coach of Ball State University (1995-2002) and his alma mater, Butler (1985-1989).
Ball State was recognized by the American Football Coaches Association for outstanding graduation rates from 2000-02.
Lynch has also been an assistant coach at Northern Illinois and the United States Foot-ball League's Orlando Renegades.
Cloverdale's fight for coach Butler a worthwhile cause
Friday, December 21, 2012
I've never been coached by John Butler, and I've not sat in his classroom, but I have learned from him.
He has of way of speaking, about football, and about his kids, that always teaches.
When emotions are high after a game, he's deliberate with his words. He makes sure everyone understands -- always.
He's not telling, he's showing.
As the Cloverdale football team struggled through a winless regular season, Butler stayed positive, upbeat.
There were rumors swirling around -- as early as week three -- that his job could be in jeopardy.
He heard them. The players and parents heard them.
Butler kept it going.
The season started with Cloverdale having its biggest roster in the school's recent history.
By the end of week four, the team had lost 17 of 22 starters to season- or career-ending injury, and nine more of the key subs.
They finished the regular season 0-9, and the sectional quarterfinal game began when Riverton Parke returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown.
Most 16- and 17-year-old kids would get down on themselves.
"My football team -- my staff and my kids -- have literally moved on from the first nine weeks of the season," Butler said after the RPHS game.
On their first drive, the Clovers went for it on fourth down from their own their own 32-yard line.
They picked up the first down. On the next play, junior Wade Warren took the ball 58 yards for a score.
"We bought in to what coach is saying," Warren said Tuesday.
How do you get a group of kids to buy in when all they've known that season is losing? When they walk down the hall wearing jerseys on Friday and other students laugh at them?
"You've got to have faith," senior Dustin Cummings said. "And he believes in us."
Cloverdale won that game. Instead of being down on themselves, the kids played their best football -- physically and mentally -- of the year.
Most of the players and parents love him. It's impossible to get through an interview with Butler and not be interrupted several times by parents and players coming up to shake his hand and thank him.
"I'll get you when we get back," he always says, not wanting to be rude and make the reporter wait. If he shakes one hand, he'll have to shake them all.
After his team lost to Attica in the sectional semifinal game, an emotional Butler spoke to his players and "the football family" about the program; about their commitment.
"When I came here, priority No. 1 was to change the football culture and the way the kids approach work, and they've done it," Butler said. "At this point, it's just a matter of in-school recruiting and getting those kids to buy in to the work ethic that the rest of them show.
"If we can do that, then we'll continue to gradually grow."
Butler told his seniors after that game that they're a part of the program until they walk across the stage and get their diplomas.
After the gathering, it appears many parents are hoping Butler will still be the coach when that happens.
In second stint at DePauw, Lynch now ready to stay
Friday, December 21, 2012
New DePauw head coach stalks the sidelines during his first stint with the Tigers in 2004.
(Courtesy photo/DePauw University)
When Bill Lynch begins his second stint as the head football coach of DePauw University on Jan. 2, it will be under much different circumstance than the last time.
Lynch first coached the team in 2004, replacing legendary DPU head coach Nick Mourouzis.
Coach Nick served as head coach for 23 seasons before stepping down, and the school hadn't known much change.
Beginning with Lynch, the Tigers have had five coaches in the nine years since.
Lynch hadn't planned to make his stay short, but when he got a call from his good friend inviting him to join the staff at Indiana University, it was too much to turn down.
"That was a very unique situation, in that a very good friend of mine, Terry Hoeppner, (called)," Lynch said. "We had kind of grown up together in the coaching profession and always competed against each other.
"We always talked about, if we ever had a chance to work together on the same staff, that would be great."
That opportunity came when Hoeppner took the IU job. He brought with him his young wide receiver's coach, Billy Lynch.
"To be able to go work with Terry, and also to be able to work with my son, it was just a unique, unique situation. That was a different time," Lynch said. "My wife and I are in a different place now with our kids all raised. We had two kids in college at the time. That was the main thing.
"It was a hard decision because I really enjoyed DePauw and had a great experience there."
Lynch won eight games in his one year at DPU, then joined his friend at IU.
After two seasons, Hoeppner became too ill to coach.
Lynch was named the interim head coach just days before Hoeppner died in June 2007.
He lasted four seasons before being let go, then became an associate athletic director at his Alma Mater, Butler.
Billy moved on, too. He's now the wide receivers coach at Rice University.
Lynch's other two sons -- Joey and Kevin, who were in college last time Lynch was DePauw's coach -- have gotten college jobs, too.
Joey is now the tight ends coach at Ball State, and Kevin is the wide receivers coach at the University of Indianapolis.
His sons have kept Lynch close to the game, calling him regularly to talk football, and when the DePauw job came up, Lynch got the hunger to return.
"All along, I've missed coaching," he said. "I've got three sons that are college football coaches. They'd be calling every night, talking about this and talking about that.
"When this opportunity came, I was excited to get involved in it. I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to coach."
Lynch said he's leaving a great situation at Butler, but he believes DPU will be an even better one.
"I really had a special time when I was there before," Lynch said. "I'm really excited about the new leadership. Dr. Casey (DPU president Brian W. Casey) and (athletic director) Steve Baker-Watson; their vision of the future and where they want to go. It's an exciting time."
Lynch graduated from a private liberal arts college himself and said he thinks that atmosphere is a better fit for him now than ever before.
Casey and Baker-Watson share similar goals to Lynch -- having quality student-athletes that are active on campus and in the classroom -- which helps as they try to accomplish another goal, competing at the highest level on the football field.
"They (DPU administrators) want to be successful and they want to be successful in the right way," Lynch said. "That's certainly right in line with my priorities, and I think it's a great fit.
"There's a commitment in that athletics is a very important aspect of the university. I think that's important as a coach, and certainly football is one of those sports that has an impact on campus."
Pacers beat Grizzlies for fifth-straight home win
Monday, December 31, 2012
Pacers guard D.J. Augustin drives to the hoop against Memphis' Mike Conley.
(Courtesy photo)
INDIANAPOLIS -- The Pacers beat Memphis in an afternoon game on Monday, 88-83. They were without starting point guard George Hill, who missed the game with an injury.
D.J. Augustin, removed from the playing rotation a few weeks ago for rookie point guard Ben Hasbrough, stepped into the void in Hill's absence.
A former top-ten draft pick by Charlotte, Augustin has struggled to find a rhythm since joining the Pacers (18-13) as a free agent last summer.
He entered the game averaging just 3.1 points, on 26 percent shooting, and 2.3 assists per game.
Augustin, his fifth year out of Texas, spent the last two seasons starting for the Bobcats and seemed to find his groove by moving back into that role. He made four of the Pacers' 12 three-pointers, including a dagger late that put Indiana up six with two minutes left.
He also sank four-of-four free throws down the stretch to help seal the win.
"I was out there longer so the shots were able to come to me instead of me trying to force shots in limited minutes," Augustin said. "(Starting) makes a big difference. You come out loose and ready and prepared for the game. But when you come off the bench, you've got to be ready also."
Augustin added a season-high six assists.
Paul George continued his recent success, scoring a team-high 21 points. He also held Grizzlies star forward Rudy Gay to just three-of-17 shooting.
Roy Hibbert, coming off a zero-point, one-rebound catastrophe against Atlanta on Saturday, responded against Memphis.
The Grizzlies (19-9) attacked Hibbert early with Zach Randolph posting up, but they failed to feed the post consistently.
Randolph finished with 21 points and 15 rebounds.
Hibbert finished with four big blocks, including one of Gay that would have closed the gap to three with 1:51 remaining.
Indiana hosts the Wizards for the second time this season on Wednesday at 7 p.m.
At Indiana
Grizzlies 19 22 26 16 -- 83
Pacers 19 19 22 28 -- 88
Individual scoring
Grizzlies: Randolph 7-18, 7-8, 21; Gasol 6-10, 1-1, 13; Gay 3-17, 5-8, 11; Allen 5-8, 1-2, 11; Conley 3-9, 2-2, 9; Ellington 2-4, 0-0, 6; Arthur 3-6, 0-0, 6; Speights 2-6, 1-2, 5; Bayless 0-4, 1-1, 1.
Pacers: George 7-16, 3-4, 21; Augustin 4-9, 5-6, 17; West 3-6, 7-8, 13; Stephenson 3-7, 2-2, 10; Hibbert 3-11, 3-4, 9; T Hansbrough 3-6, 0-0, 6; B Hansbrough 2-5, 0-0, 6; Green 2-5, 0-0, 4; Mahinmi 1-5, 0-0, 2; Young 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Team scoring (three-pointers)
Grizzlies 31-82 (3-11), 18-24, 83; Pacers 28-70 (12-25), 20-24, 88.
Rebounds (offensive)
Grizzlies 44 (18); Pacers 38 (11).
Turnovers
Grizzlies 16; Pacers 18.
Top-ranked Tigers win Hasbrook championship against Rockford
Monday, December 31, 2012
Members of the 2012 All-Hasbrook Tournament team (from left) Erin Ryczek, Kate Walker, Kat Molloy, Alex Gasaway and former players Ann Hall, Sarah McKay, Lindsey Rush, Erin Miller and Dana Ferguson.Not pictured are Spalding senior Kelly Harrod and Rose-Hulman freshman Addie Johnson.
(Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN) [Order this photo]
Saturday's win over Rose-Hulman was just a warm-up for the DePauw women's basketball team as they feasted on Rockford College in the Hasbrook Tournament championship game Sunday, winning 73-43.
Senior point guard Kate Walker was named tournament MVP, having averaged 10.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists in just 18 minutes per game.
"It's nice to be awarded that, especially at the Hasie Tournament," Walker said. "I know this is going to sound corny, but Hasie (former DePauw guard Amy Hasbrook) ... coach talks so highly about her. So being the MVP of that tournament is kind of a big deal.
"In my head, what coach has described Hasie as is the hard-worker, the person who doesn't necessarily get the most points, but puts their whole heart on the court."
The Tigers dominated from the start, jumping out to a 30-4 lead before allowing the Regents their first field goal with 5:18 left in the first half.
After spending most of game Saturday in a 2-3 zone defense, DPU switched back to their customary man-to-man scheme for the final.
"(Zone defense) is something new that we've added in the last three or four years," Tigers head coach Kris Huffman said. "It helps us when we go against teams with a 6'2" center, because we're undersized ... We're just making sure that we're prepared to play anybody, so it's something that we continue to work on."
Height on the front line wasn't a problem against Rockford and the tenacious defense of DePauw kept the Regents out of the paint.
"I always prefer man," Walker said. "I've played man my whole life. I never played zone until I came to DePauw, and even then we don't play it all that often."
The Tigers held a 41-15 lead at halftime, but only a slight 17-16 rebounding advantage.
"We always want to focus on rebounding," Huffman said. "Especially with this being the Hasbrook Tournament, and that was something that she did so well. We talked this week about making sure that this was something that we owned this weekend. We tried to own the glass."
The Tigers hauled in 21 rebounds, including 14 offensive rebounds, in the second half.
With the game well in hand, starters moved aside early after the break, allowing DPU's second unit to carry them the rest of the way.
Senior Kathleen Molloy was the games leading scorer, finishing with a career-high 15 points, making five-of-nine shots (four-of-five threes).
"I knew I was shooting kind of well, but I didn't know it was my career-high," Molloy, whose bio on the team website lists her praying for Hasbrook to get ready for each game, said.
Molloy and junior Alex Gasaway joined Walker on the all-tournament team.
DePauw plays again Friday when the team hosts conference-rival Allegheny at 6 p.m. The men's game follows.
DePauw senior point guard Kate Walker lines up for a runner over Rockford junior Destiny Chaney. Walker was named 2012 Amy Hasbrook Tournament MVP.
(Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN) [Order this photo]
At DePauw
Rockford 15 28 -- 43
DePauw 41 32 -- 73
Individual scoring
Rockford: Ryczek 6-14, 2-2, 17; Nichols 3-6, 2-3, 8; Bjerning 2-4, 0-0, 4; Chaney 1-5, 2-4, 4; Woods 1-5, 0-0, 3; Scott 1-2, 0-0, 3; Lengjak 1-6, 0-0, 2; Lawler 1-5, 0-0, 2; Johnson 0-5, 0-0, 0; Fowler 0-0, 0-0, 0.
DePauw: Molloy 5-9, 1-2, 15; Abendroth 4-4, 0-0, 10; Walker 3-5, 2-2, 9; Gasaway 4-7, 0-0, 9; Trees 2-6, 2-2, 6; Pearson 2-4, 1-2, 5; Ross 2-5, 1-2, 5; McGinnis 2-2, 0-0, 4; Skordos 1-2, 0-0, 3; Stephens 1-4, 1-2, 3; Ondik 1-4, 0-0, 2; Keller 1-4, 0-0, 2; Francis 0-0, 0-0, 0; Stoner 0-2, 0-0, 0; McDonagh 0-2, 0-0, 0; Hacker 0-1, 0-0, 0; Lukemeyer 0-1, 0-0, 0; Frost 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Team scoring (three-pointers)
Rockford 16-52 (7-14), 4-6, 43; DePauw 28-62 (9-19), 8-12, 73.
Rebounds (offensive)
Rockford 33 (16); DePauw 38 (18).
Turnovers
Rockford 22; DePauw 10.
Cougars place third at Speedway girls' basketball tourney
Monday, December 31, 2012
North Putnam junior point guard Bethany Wiatt rips the ball away from Arlington freshman Briella Tomlinson (33), recording one of her game-high nine steals. (Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN )[Order this photo]
SPEEDWAY -- Two teams entered the consolation game at the 2012 Speedway girls' basketball tournament looking to snap a burdensome losing streak.
North Putnam was able to do just that, beating Indianapolis Arlington (0-8) 67-36.
The Cougars (2-10) entered the game with a five-game losing streak. The Golden Knights made headlines a few weeks ago after suffering a 103-2 loss.
"Arlington played hard for 32 minutes," NPHS coach Curtis Lawrence said. "We let (the players) know (after the first game against Western Boone) that there are some things that we can improve on, and we were able to do that against Arlington."
NPHS began the game in attack mode, hoping out to a 13-5 lead and experimenting with full court ball pressure for the first time this season.
When it worked, the Cougars were able to get easy steals and layups. There were also signs of inexperience that allowed the Knights to leak out to the outside and race to the rim.
The Cougars led by only one (13-12) after the first quarter.
Eventually, they figured out how to use press.
NPHS closed the first half on a 16-3 run.
"We felt that, if we could apply a little bit of pressure to them, we would be able to create turnovers," Lawrence said, "which would lead to some easy baskets, which is something we haven't been able to do."
Junior point guard Bethany Wiatt seemed the most comfortable with applying full court pressure. She finished with nine steals, 11 points and three assists.
Senior Sam Lucas was the game's high-scorer, putting in 17 and adding 11 rebounds for the Cougars.
Senior Cayla Kientz added nine points, and sophomore Morgan Smith had eight.
NPHS is in the midst of its most winnable stretch of the season
with games next week against Fountain Central and Eminence.
Lawrence is hoping the new defensive strategy will help keep the momentum going.
"We really haven't played a team yet that I thought the press would be beneficial to us," he said. "When we get behind in a game, we don't have the makeup that is going be able to get us back in the game against the teams that we've played so far. We've got some teams coming up ... that I think our press is going to be beneficial to us."
The Cougars lost Saturday's opening game to Western Boone 65-18.
At Speedway
Game 1
North Putnam 5 6 2 5 -- 18
Western Boone 19 13 14 19 -- 65
Individual scoring
North Putnam: Asbell 1-5, 2-5, 4; Kientz 2-7, 0-1, 4; Wiatt 1-2, 0-1, 2; Lucas 1-4, 0-0, 2; Land 1-2, 0-0, 2; Mindiola 1-1, 0-0, 2; Smith 0-8, 1-2, 1; Clodfelter 0-2, 1-2, 1; Aynes 0-2, 0-0, 0; Pitcock 0-0, 0-0, 0; Reeves 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Western Boone: Harrison 6-16, 3-3, 15; Ramey 6-11, 0-1, 12; Climer 4-6, 0-0, 9; Vanderpool 3-8, 2-2, 8; Henderson 2-7, 1-5, 5; Mitchell 2-8, 0-0, 4; Miller 2-7, 0-0, 4; Marsh 2-11, 0-0, 4; Hole 1-1, 0-0, 2.
Team scoring (three-pointers)
NP 7-33 (0-4), 4-11, 18; WB 28-76 (1-7), 6-13, 65.
Rebounds (offensive)
NP 28 (5); WB 54 (30).
Turnovers
NP 34; WB 13.
Game 2
Indianapolis Arlington 12 3 8 13 -- 36
North Putnam 13 16 18 20 -- 67
Individual scoring
Indianapolis Arlington: Hogue 5-23, 1-2, 13; Tomlinson 4-8, 0-1, 9; Rupert 3-4, 1-1, 7; Davis 1-3, 0-0, 2; Turman 1-7, 0-0, 2; Watson 1-5, 0-0, 2; Hogens 0-1, 0-0, 0; White 0-0, 0-0, 0; Harvey 0-0, 0-0, 0.
North Putnam: Lucas 5-13, 7-10, 17; Kientz 4-6, 3-4, 11; Wiatt 3-8, 5-6, 11; Smith 2-12, 5-10, 9; Asbell 3-8, 1-4, 7; Land 2-6, 0-0, 4; Aynes 2-7, 0-0, 4; Mindiola 1-1, 0-0, 2; Clodfelter 0-3, 0-0, 0; Pitcock 0-2, 0-2, 0; Reeves 0-1, 0-0, 0.
Team scoring (three-pointers)
IA 16-52 (3-15), 2-5, 36; NP 23-66 (0-6), 21-37, 67.
Rebounds (offensive)
IA 42 (7); NP 49 (18).
Turnovers
IA 38, NP 17.
Clovers place 4th at Clinton Prairie Tournament
Sunday, December 30, 2012
Cloverdale senior Sydney Shrum drives in for a layup against Clinton Prairie senior Stephanie Schrock. Shrum made her shot and was fouled.
(Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN) [Order this photo]
FRANKFORT -- The Cloverdale girls' basketball team came out flat after a 10-day layoff, finishing in fourth place at Friday's Clinton Prairie Tournament after losses to the hosts and Hagerstown.
The Clovers played some of their best basketball of the season in the second half of game one against Clinton Prairie, but it wasn't enough to overcome the 22-point halftime deficit as the Gophers won 48-36.
Cloverdale was outrebounded 22-7 in the first half, and turned the ball over 13 times.
The team also made just three-of-20 shots before the break.
The Clovers emerged from halftime with energy, playing almost four minutes before getting a turnover in the third quarter.
As Cloverdale head coach Matthew Langdon dipped into his more inexperienced bench to save his starters energy for game two, the play got a little sloppier, but the still cut into the lead.
In the end, lack of scoring threats with too little time to make up the difference.
"We came out slow in the first game," Langdon said. "In the second half we played good man-to-man and we wanted to ball more ... I hoped we could bring that energy to the second game. (I knew) if we play like that, we have a chance (against Hagerstown)."
It wasn't to be. The team came out flat again, scoring just five first-quarter points. They failed to make a dent the rest of the game and the Tigers secured a 39-27 win.
Hagerstown junior Hayley Rogers scored 18 points in the win.
Senior Amillia Nally, the Clovers most consistent player on Friday, scored 10 points.
Cloverdale was allowed Hagerstown to attempt nearly twice as many field goals (48-26) during the course of the game.
The Clovers defense that has been pressuring opponents into turnovers all year let the team down. The Tigers had just eight in the game, and two in the second half.
"Our offense feeds off our defense," Langdon said. "We didn't do what we need to do."
Langdon said he was disappointed with the effort, but he hopes it was a product of the long layoff and not a sign of things to come.
In addition to the big break, the Clovers also expanded their rotation. Normally the team only gives seven players significant minutes, but Langdon said he realized he is going to need to find a way to keep his starters fresh as the postseason tournament approaches.
"I'm trying to get the starters more time out (of the game)," he said. "If we're going to be a pressing team the whole game, we're going to need to get our starters more of a break."
Cloverdale will carry a five-game losing streak with it when the team hosts South Vermillion on Jan. 3.
Notes: Eastern won the tournament championship game against Clinton Prairie, 59-43 ... Sophomore Bailee Stevens missed the tournament as she recovers from an injury, but she is expected to return in the Clovers next game ... Cloverdale (4-9) had a .500 record before the recent skid.
Cloverdale senior Amillia Nally splits through Hagerstown defenders to get to the basket for a layup.
(Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN) [Order this photo]
At Clinton Prairie
Game 1
Cloverdale 5 2 13 16 -- 36
Clinton Prairie 13 16 11 8 -- 48
Individual scoring
Cloverdale: Nally 4-12, 3-5, 9; Gruener 2-10, 3-4, 7; Shrum 3-4, 0-1, 6; Skiles 1-5, 1-2, 4; Walters 1-3, 1-3, 3; Wellington 1-1, 0-0, 3; Dorsett 0-0, 1-2, 1; Clark 0-3, 0-0, 0; Hamm 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Clinton Prairie: Hanna 3-9, 7-8, 14; Douglass 6-13, 1-2, 13; Clark 4-6, 1-4, 9; Schrock 1-3, 2-2, 4; Schoonveld 2-2, 0-0, 4; Pearson 1-1, 0-0, 3; Dunham 0-0, 1-2, 1; Wines 0-1, 0-0, 0; Sabens 0-0, 0-0, 0; Humrickhouse 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Team shooting (three-pointers)
Cloverdale 12-39 (3-12), 9-17, 36; Clinton Prairie 17-35 (2-4), 12-18, 48.
Rebounds (offensive)
Cloverdale 16 (6), Clinton Prairie 33 (9).
Turnovers
Cloverdale 20, Clinton Prairie 24.
Game 2
Hagerstown 8 12 9 10 -- 39
Cloverdale 5 8 5 9 -- 27
Individual scoring
Hagerstown: H Rogers 9-16, 0-0, 18; C Rogers 3-9, 1-2, 9; O Robinson 2-4, 1-2, 5; M Houck 2-8, 0-0, 4; S Houck 1-1, 0-0, 2; Brown 0-2, 1-2, 1; Arnold 0-3, 0-0, 0; Willis 0-2, 0-0, 0; Caudill 0-3, 0-0, 0; J Robinson 0-0, 0-0, 0; Matanich 0-0, 0-0, 0; Hannon 0-0, 0-0, 0; O Houck 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Cloverdale: Nally 4-7, 2-3, 10; Shrum 1-3, 5-6, 7; Clark 2-2, 0-0, 4; Gruener 1-7, 0-0, 2; Walters 1-2, 0-0, 2; Dorsett 1-2, 0-0, 2; Skiles 0-3, 0-0, 0; Wellington 0-0, 0-0, 0; Hamm 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Team shooting (three-pointers)
Hagerstown 17-48 (2-7), 3-6, 39; Cloverdale 10-26 (0-2), 7-9; 27.
Rebounds (offensive)
Hagerstown 22 (11), Cloverdale 23 (5).
Turnovers
Hagerstown 8, Cloverdale 22.
No. 1 Tigers find legs in Hasbrook semi
Saturday, December 29, 2012
DePauw junior Alex Gasaway drives in for a layup over Rose-Hulman freshman Addie Johnson and junior Kelsey Ploof (50). [Order this photo]
The DePauw University women's basketball team defeated Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology 79-36 on Saturday in the second game of the 2012 Amy Hasbrook Memorial Tournament.
The Tigers are ranked No. 1 in NCAA Division III and showed why with a convincing victory over the Engineers.
It was the Tigers first game in 10 days. The team is coming off a tournament win in Puerto Rico and a break due to the holidays.
DPU head coach Kris Huffman was concerned about her team's condition with the long layoff and, with a cancelled practice on Wednesday, she implemented a new strategy.
The Tigers platooned full five-player units every four minutes.
The starting five of senior Kate Walker, junior Ali Ross, sophomore Savannah Trees, junior Alex Gasaway and senior Ellie Pearson got the team off to a hot 6-for-11 start and a 14-5 lead before sitting down.
"It is fun, but I would say (coach Huffman) probably won't do that again," Ross said. "I liked it, but I also like getting to intermix with the other players."
After allowing six unanswered points by Rose-Hulman, the second unit of sophomores Emma Ondik and Lauren Abendroth, juniors Alison Stephens and Erin McGinnis and senior Kathleen Molloy started to get in sync.
Stephens (12) and Molloy (10) both finished the game in double-digit scoring.
"Coach did it to make sure that we had fresh legs constantly," Walker said. "I usually play with that set of five a lot, so it's not something that I wasn't used to."
The starters returned and expanded the lead to 34-11 with 5:59 left in the half, continuing a 20-0 run.
"We haven't done that this year," Huffman said. "We have some depth, but we usually don't platoon it ... It wasn't totally planned, but it's how it worked out."
The fresh legs allowed the hosts to keep Rose-Hullman off balance, and DePauw exploited it inside.
Gasaway scored 10 of her game-high 17 points in the first half.
DPU continued the platoon strategy in second half and the players got into an even better rhythm.
The Tigers had extra focus for their opponent, Walker said, because they're playing in memory of former DPU star Amy Hasbrook.
"We always learn a lot about Hasie," Walker said. "Coach has always held her up on a pedestal, saying how great she is and how good of a rebounder she is, so it's always a goal during the Hasie Tournament to get as many rebounds as possible and play your heart out.
"No matter what, I always feel like it's playing your heart out for her."
DPU out-rebounded Rose-Hulman by a convincing 40-27 margin.
"Amy was a special player for us," Huffman said. "We may sometimes talk about certain teams of a given year, but (for individual players) Hasie probably stands out. She was a special player ... and to know that we don't have her with us anymore probably brings it to light.
"She's a great example for us to keep her name and her memory alive."
Hasbrook graduated from DePauw in 2000 and died in a house fire in Indianapolis in 2002.
The Tigers face Rockford College (2-9) in the tournament final on Sunday at 5 p.m.
At DePauw
Rose-Hulman 21 15 -- 36
DePauw 40 39 -- 79
Individual scoring
Rose-Hulman: Johnson 4-10, 0-0, 8; Williams 2-4, 3-3, 8; Ploof 2-4, 3-4, 7; Evers 2-7, 1-1, 6; Morris 2-6, 1-2, 5; Gilliam 1-2, 0-0, 2; Cain 0-4, 0-2, 0; Ottone 0-0, 0-0, 0; Gibbs 0-1, 0-0, 0; Dalton 0-0, 0-0, 0; Fuhs 0-0, 0-0, 0; Barnes 0-0, 0-0, 0.
DePauw: Gasaway 7-11, 2-3, 16; Walker 5-11, 2-2, 12; Stephens 4-8, 2-2, 12; Molloy 4-6, 1-2, 10; Ross 4-9, 0-0, 9; Trees 2-4, 1-1, 5; Pearson 1-5, 2-3, 4; Sarkisian 2-2, 0-0, 4; Abendroth 1-5, 0-0, 3; Stoner 1-1, 0-0, 2; Hacker 1-2, 0-2, 2; Ondik 0-2, 0-0, 0; Skordos 0-1, 0-0, 0; McDonagh 0-2, 0-0, 0; Lukemeyer 0-1, 0-0, 0; McGinnis 0-0, 0-0, 0; Keller 0-1, 0-0, 0; Frost 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Team scoring (three-pointers)
RHIT 13-38 (2-14), 8-12, 36; DPU 32-71 (5-14), 10-15, 79.
Rebounds (offensive)
RHIT 27 (3); DPU 40 (18).
Turnovers
RHIT 27; DPU 8.
Tiger Cubs vacation comes to halt against Danville
Saturday, December 29, 2012
Greencastle sophomore Brody Bollman drives in for a layup, fending off Danville defender B'ster Detty.
(Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN) [Order this photo]
The young Greencastle boys' basketball team continues to take steps toward improving, but they're not ready yet and that showed against Danville in the 71-49 loss on Friday at McAnally.
The Tiger Cubs (1-6) played their first game in 13 days and, despite the loss, changes were evident.
"I do think we're seeing improvement as a team, even though the scoreboard may not show it," GHS head coach Troy Greenlee said. "You hate to say you're satisfied with losing a game like this, but as we are, we have to do that. We have to look at where we are and where we were and compare.
"I think we're getting better."
GHS began the game struggling against the fast and aggressive Danville (8-1) defense.
The Warriors converted their first six shots to open the game, mostly fast break layups coming off turnovers.
Danville senior Ian Asher led the early attack, scoring 12 of his game-high 21 points in the first half.
The Tiger Cubs guards began to figure out the pressure, in the second quarter, but Danville found scoring just as easy in their half-court offense.
"They're a really good team and we knew they were a really good team," Greenlee said. "They're such a tough team to guard because they have the perimeter shooters, they can drive the ball well and they have just enough post presence to make it hard."
Greencastle came out sharp after halftime before surrendering a 9-0 run to end the third quarter.
Danville fed senior Jackson Stone in the post throughout the half and the shorter GHS front line couldn't prevent him from getting the ball deep under the hoop for easy lay-ins.
Stone finished with 17 points.
As the Warriors continued to get easy shots, the Tiger Cubs continued to shoot from the outside.
It was only after fouls began to pile up for Danville that GHS started to get into a rhythm.
The Warriors were called for 14 fouls in the second half, and the Cubs made seven-of-11 free throws in the fourth, but by then it was too little, too late.
"We knew it would be a tough game for us if we didn't do the things we talked about before the game, like taking care of the ball," Greenlee said. "We're not where we want to be, but I think we're taking some steps forward."
Freshman Ryan Coble and senior Nick Gilliam each scored seven points to lead the Tiger Cubs.
GHS hosts Speedway on Friday, Jan. 3 at 7:30 p.m.
At Greencastle
Danville 17 19 19 16 -- 71
Greencastle 5 18 12 14 -- 49
Individual scoring
Danville: Asher 8-14, 3-3, 21; Stone 8-9, 1-3, 17; Motes 4-8, 0-0, 10; Just 3-4, 3-4, 9; Amore 3-4, 1-2, 8; Detty 1-2, 2-2, 4; Ross 0-1, 2-2, 2; Collier 1-1, 0-0, 2; Shipley 0-1, 0-0, 0; Weir 0-1, 0-2, 0; Anderson 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Greencastle: Coble 3-6, 1-2, 7; Gilliam 2-7, 2-3, 7; Winslow 3-9, 0-0, 6; Gerard 2-6, 1-2, 6; Mitchell 1-2, 3-5, 5; Foxx 1-3, 2-3, 4; Christy 1-3, 0-0, 3; Bollman 1-6, 1-1, 3; King 1-2, 0-0, 3; Hughes 1-2, 0-0, 3.
Team scoring (three-pointers)
Danville 28-45 (5-12), 10-16, 71; Greencastle 16-45 (7-17), 10-17, 49.
Rebounds (offensive)
Danville 30 (7), Greencastle 28 (12)
Turnovers
Danville 15, Greencastle 21
DePauw brings Bill Lynch back as head football coach
Friday, December 21, 2012
Bill Lynch
DePauw University announced on Thursday it has hired Bill Lynch as the next head football coach.
Lynch was previously the Tigers' head coach for the 2004 season and he will take over on Jan. 2, 2013.
"I wasn't really looking, but when the DePauw situation came up, that really got me thinking about it because I had such a great experience while I was there in 2004," Lynch told the Banner Graphic. "They want to be successful, and they want to be successful in the right way."
Lynch left DePauw with an 8-2 record in just one season as head coach to become offensive coordinator for Indiana University.
He was faced with the difficult task of replacing his good friend, Terry Hoeppner, as head coach of the Hoosiers when Hoep-pner passed away in June 2007.
Lynch spent four seasons as head coach at IU, reaching a bowl game in his first season and compiling a 19-30 record.
After being fired following the 2010 season, Lynch became the associate athletic director for development at his alma mater, Butler.
His duties included working closely with the football team there. He also has three sons who coach college football.
"I haven't been away from football, I just haven't been on the sideline coaching it," Lynch said. "I've got the same passion and energy that I always have."
DePauw athletic director Stevie Baker-Watson said Thursday that hiring Lynch was the completion of a lengthy process.
"It was something that we've really been working on since Coach Long was fired in September," Baker-Watson said. "The whole process I wanted to complete by the holidays."
Robby Long was fired on Sept. 16, just two weeks into the season, for failing to "take corrective actions in a timely manner" regarding administrative issues under his control.
Long had been DePauw's head coach since August 2009.
The Tigers have had five different coaches since Nick Mourouzis retired after the 2003 season, with Long's three-plus years being the longest span.
Choosing Lynch among the candidates seems to signal that DePauw was looking for a long-term commitment more than an up-and-coming hire.
"He was looking for a landing spot, like I was when I came here," Mourouzis said. "This will give us stability."
Lynch, who still owns a house in Putnam County, said DePauw will likely be the final stop of his coaching career.
"We've been very fortunate, my wife and I, to be able to raise our kids in Indiana," Lynch said. "To be able to end it here is really great for us from a family situation."
DPU sorted through more than 130 applicants, narrowing the field to 40 in the top category, Baker-Watson said.
Ten received phone interviews, and the top four -- Lynch, Monmouth College head coach Steve Bell, DPU graduate and Army running backs coach Tucker Waugh and Dartmouth college special teams coordinator Chris Wilkerson -- were brought in last week for interviews.
Baker-Watson said she has received a tremendous amount of feedback from alumni and community members during the coaching search.
Although the school initially planned to keep the hiring process in-house, she decided it would be best to open it up to a hiring firm to keep the search more transparent.
As the field of candidates narrowed, Baker-Watson said she discussed candidates with people close to the DePauw program that were familiar with them.
After announcing the final four, it was a chance for those people to "hit send, again," Baker-Watson said, and share their final thoughts.
This included Mour-ouzis, who sat in on the final interviews.
"He's the best (candidate) for the situation that we have right now," Mourouzis said. "He's proven leadership. He knows all the coaches and has great respect for all the high school coaches in Indiana and the Midwest.
"Success in Division III all comes down to recruiting. I think that he can recruit a lot of good athletes for us here at DePauw."
Baker-Watson added that although the search came as a result of what she called "terrible circumstances" -- firing the previous head coach in the middle of the season -- it was a good opportunity to get feedback from alumni and reset the football program.
DePauw finished the 2012 season with a 2-8 record, losing the Monon Bell Classic for the fourth straight year.
Defensive coordinator Scott Srnka was named interim head coach after Long was let go, but his future and the rest of the staff is uncertain.
Baker-Watson said she would leave that up to Lynch.
"I knew I needed to hire a leader of the program," she said, "and the rest would work itself out."
Getting the coaching staff settled is priorty No. 1 for Lynch when he starts next month.
"I look forward to meeting them," he said. "The first thing is getting to know the staff that are there, and then it's very important to meet and get to know the players that are in the program right now."
DPU students began their winter break last Friday and will not return to class until Jan. 28, giving Lynch nearly a month on the job to recruit current and future players.
He conceded that he hasn't had a chance to watch the team play in recent years, but he is looking to forward to getting started with recruiting, and that starts with the players he has on campus.
"That's what this time of year is all about," Lynch said. "It's a process. First, getting to know (players) in a one-on-one basis and then you start to develop relationships.
"That's what starts building a team."
Lynch has a 100-97-3 career record as a head coach.
Besides DPU and IU, he has also been the head coach of Ball State University (1995-2002) and his alma mater, Butler (1985-1989).
Ball State was recognized by the American Football Coaches Association for outstanding graduation rates from 2000-02.
Lynch has also been an assistant coach at Northern Illinois and the United States Foot-ball League's Orlando Renegades.
Cloverdale's fight for coach Butler a worthwhile cause
Friday, December 21, 2012
I've never been coached by John Butler, and I've not sat in his classroom, but I have learned from him.
He has of way of speaking, about football, and about his kids, that always teaches.
When emotions are high after a game, he's deliberate with his words. He makes sure everyone understands -- always.
He's not telling, he's showing.
As the Cloverdale football team struggled through a winless regular season, Butler stayed positive, upbeat.
There were rumors swirling around -- as early as week three -- that his job could be in jeopardy.
He heard them. The players and parents heard them.
Butler kept it going.
The season started with Cloverdale having its biggest roster in the school's recent history.
By the end of week four, the team had lost 17 of 22 starters to season- or career-ending injury, and nine more of the key subs.
They finished the regular season 0-9, and the sectional quarterfinal game began when Riverton Parke returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown.
Most 16- and 17-year-old kids would get down on themselves.
"My football team -- my staff and my kids -- have literally moved on from the first nine weeks of the season," Butler said after the RPHS game.
On their first drive, the Clovers went for it on fourth down from their own their own 32-yard line.
They picked up the first down. On the next play, junior Wade Warren took the ball 58 yards for a score.
"We bought in to what coach is saying," Warren said Tuesday.
How do you get a group of kids to buy in when all they've known that season is losing? When they walk down the hall wearing jerseys on Friday and other students laugh at them?
"You've got to have faith," senior Dustin Cummings said. "And he believes in us."
Cloverdale won that game. Instead of being down on themselves, the kids played their best football -- physically and mentally -- of the year.
Most of the players and parents love him. It's impossible to get through an interview with Butler and not be interrupted several times by parents and players coming up to shake his hand and thank him.
"I'll get you when we get back," he always says, not wanting to be rude and make the reporter wait. If he shakes one hand, he'll have to shake them all.
After his team lost to Attica in the sectional semifinal game, an emotional Butler spoke to his players and "the football family" about the program; about their commitment.
"When I came here, priority No. 1 was to change the football culture and the way the kids approach work, and they've done it," Butler said. "At this point, it's just a matter of in-school recruiting and getting those kids to buy in to the work ethic that the rest of them show.
"If we can do that, then we'll continue to gradually grow."
Butler told his seniors after that game that they're a part of the program until they walk across the stage and get their diplomas.
After the gathering, it appears many parents are hoping Butler will still be the coach when that happens.
Pacers beat Grizzlies for fifth-straight home win
Monday, December 31, 2012
Pacers guard D.J. Augustin drives to the hoop against Memphis' Mike Conley.
(Courtesy photo)
INDIANAPOLIS -- The Pacers beat Memphis in an afternoon game on Monday, 88-83. They were without starting point guard George Hill, who missed the game with an injury.
D.J. Augustin, removed from the playing rotation a few weeks ago for rookie point guard Ben Hasbrough, stepped into the void in Hill's absence.
A former top-ten draft pick by Charlotte, Augustin has struggled to find a rhythm since joining the Pacers (18-13) as a free agent last summer.
He entered the game averaging just 3.1 points, on 26 percent shooting, and 2.3 assists per game.
Augustin, his fifth year out of Texas, spent the last two seasons starting for the Bobcats and seemed to find his groove by moving back into that role. He made four of the Pacers' 12 three-pointers, including a dagger late that put Indiana up six with two minutes left.
He also sank four-of-four free throws down the stretch to help seal the win.
"I was out there longer so the shots were able to come to me instead of me trying to force shots in limited minutes," Augustin said. "(Starting) makes a big difference. You come out loose and ready and prepared for the game. But when you come off the bench, you've got to be ready also."
Augustin added a season-high six assists.
Paul George continued his recent success, scoring a team-high 21 points. He also held Grizzlies star forward Rudy Gay to just three-of-17 shooting.
Roy Hibbert, coming off a zero-point, one-rebound catastrophe against Atlanta on Saturday, responded against Memphis.
The Grizzlies (19-9) attacked Hibbert early with Zach Randolph posting up, but they failed to feed the post consistently.
Randolph finished with 21 points and 15 rebounds.
Hibbert finished with four big blocks, including one of Gay that would have closed the gap to three with 1:51 remaining.
Indiana hosts the Wizards for the second time this season on Wednesday at 7 p.m.
At Indiana
Grizzlies 19 22 26 16 -- 83
Pacers 19 19 22 28 -- 88
Individual scoring
Grizzlies: Randolph 7-18, 7-8, 21; Gasol 6-10, 1-1, 13; Gay 3-17, 5-8, 11; Allen 5-8, 1-2, 11; Conley 3-9, 2-2, 9; Ellington 2-4, 0-0, 6; Arthur 3-6, 0-0, 6; Speights 2-6, 1-2, 5; Bayless 0-4, 1-1, 1.
Pacers: George 7-16, 3-4, 21; Augustin 4-9, 5-6, 17; West 3-6, 7-8, 13; Stephenson 3-7, 2-2, 10; Hibbert 3-11, 3-4, 9; T Hansbrough 3-6, 0-0, 6; B Hansbrough 2-5, 0-0, 6; Green 2-5, 0-0, 4; Mahinmi 1-5, 0-0, 2; Young 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Team scoring (three-pointers)
Grizzlies 31-82 (3-11), 18-24, 83; Pacers 28-70 (12-25), 20-24, 88.
Rebounds (offensive)
Grizzlies 44 (18); Pacers 38 (11).
Turnovers
Grizzlies 16; Pacers 18.
Top-ranked Tigers win Hasbrook championship against Rockford
Monday, December 31, 2012
Members of the 2012 All-Hasbrook Tournament team (from left) Erin Ryczek, Kate Walker, Kat Molloy, Alex Gasaway and former players Ann Hall, Sarah McKay, Lindsey Rush, Erin Miller and Dana Ferguson.Not pictured are Spalding senior Kelly Harrod and Rose-Hulman freshman Addie Johnson.
(Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN) [Order this photo]
Saturday's win over Rose-Hulman was just a warm-up for the DePauw women's basketball team as they feasted on Rockford College in the Hasbrook Tournament championship game Sunday, winning 73-43.
Senior point guard Kate Walker was named tournament MVP, having averaged 10.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists in just 18 minutes per game.
"It's nice to be awarded that, especially at the Hasie Tournament," Walker said. "I know this is going to sound corny, but Hasie (former DePauw guard Amy Hasbrook) ... coach talks so highly about her. So being the MVP of that tournament is kind of a big deal.
"In my head, what coach has described Hasie as is the hard-worker, the person who doesn't necessarily get the most points, but puts their whole heart on the court."
The Tigers dominated from the start, jumping out to a 30-4 lead before allowing the Regents their first field goal with 5:18 left in the first half.
After spending most of game Saturday in a 2-3 zone defense, DPU switched back to their customary man-to-man scheme for the final.
"(Zone defense) is something new that we've added in the last three or four years," Tigers head coach Kris Huffman said. "It helps us when we go against teams with a 6'2" center, because we're undersized ... We're just making sure that we're prepared to play anybody, so it's something that we continue to work on."
Height on the front line wasn't a problem against Rockford and the tenacious defense of DePauw kept the Regents out of the paint.
"I always prefer man," Walker said. "I've played man my whole life. I never played zone until I came to DePauw, and even then we don't play it all that often."
The Tigers held a 41-15 lead at halftime, but only a slight 17-16 rebounding advantage.
"We always want to focus on rebounding," Huffman said. "Especially with this being the Hasbrook Tournament, and that was something that she did so well. We talked this week about making sure that this was something that we owned this weekend. We tried to own the glass."
The Tigers hauled in 21 rebounds, including 14 offensive rebounds, in the second half.
With the game well in hand, starters moved aside early after the break, allowing DPU's second unit to carry them the rest of the way.
Senior Kathleen Molloy was the games leading scorer, finishing with a career-high 15 points, making five-of-nine shots (four-of-five threes).
"I knew I was shooting kind of well, but I didn't know it was my career-high," Molloy, whose bio on the team website lists her praying for Hasbrook to get ready for each game, said.
Molloy and junior Alex Gasaway joined Walker on the all-tournament team.
DePauw plays again Friday when the team hosts conference-rival Allegheny at 6 p.m. The men's game follows.
DePauw senior point guard Kate Walker lines up for a runner over Rockford junior Destiny Chaney. Walker was named 2012 Amy Hasbrook Tournament MVP.
(Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN) [Order this photo]
At DePauw
Rockford 15 28 -- 43
DePauw 41 32 -- 73
Individual scoring
Rockford: Ryczek 6-14, 2-2, 17; Nichols 3-6, 2-3, 8; Bjerning 2-4, 0-0, 4; Chaney 1-5, 2-4, 4; Woods 1-5, 0-0, 3; Scott 1-2, 0-0, 3; Lengjak 1-6, 0-0, 2; Lawler 1-5, 0-0, 2; Johnson 0-5, 0-0, 0; Fowler 0-0, 0-0, 0.
DePauw: Molloy 5-9, 1-2, 15; Abendroth 4-4, 0-0, 10; Walker 3-5, 2-2, 9; Gasaway 4-7, 0-0, 9; Trees 2-6, 2-2, 6; Pearson 2-4, 1-2, 5; Ross 2-5, 1-2, 5; McGinnis 2-2, 0-0, 4; Skordos 1-2, 0-0, 3; Stephens 1-4, 1-2, 3; Ondik 1-4, 0-0, 2; Keller 1-4, 0-0, 2; Francis 0-0, 0-0, 0; Stoner 0-2, 0-0, 0; McDonagh 0-2, 0-0, 0; Hacker 0-1, 0-0, 0; Lukemeyer 0-1, 0-0, 0; Frost 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Team scoring (three-pointers)
Rockford 16-52 (7-14), 4-6, 43; DePauw 28-62 (9-19), 8-12, 73.
Rebounds (offensive)
Rockford 33 (16); DePauw 38 (18).
Turnovers
Rockford 22; DePauw 10.
Cougars place third at Speedway girls' basketball tourney
Monday, December 31, 2012
North Putnam junior point guard Bethany Wiatt rips the ball away from Arlington freshman Briella Tomlinson (33), recording one of her game-high nine steals. (Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN )[Order this photo]
SPEEDWAY -- Two teams entered the consolation game at the 2012 Speedway girls' basketball tournament looking to snap a burdensome losing streak.
North Putnam was able to do just that, beating Indianapolis Arlington (0-8) 67-36.
The Cougars (2-10) entered the game with a five-game losing streak. The Golden Knights made headlines a few weeks ago after suffering a 103-2 loss.
"Arlington played hard for 32 minutes," NPHS coach Curtis Lawrence said. "We let (the players) know (after the first game against Western Boone) that there are some things that we can improve on, and we were able to do that against Arlington."
NPHS began the game in attack mode, hoping out to a 13-5 lead and experimenting with full court ball pressure for the first time this season.
When it worked, the Cougars were able to get easy steals and layups. There were also signs of inexperience that allowed the Knights to leak out to the outside and race to the rim.
The Cougars led by only one (13-12) after the first quarter.
Eventually, they figured out how to use press.
NPHS closed the first half on a 16-3 run.
"We felt that, if we could apply a little bit of pressure to them, we would be able to create turnovers," Lawrence said, "which would lead to some easy baskets, which is something we haven't been able to do."
Junior point guard Bethany Wiatt seemed the most comfortable with applying full court pressure. She finished with nine steals, 11 points and three assists.
Senior Sam Lucas was the game's high-scorer, putting in 17 and adding 11 rebounds for the Cougars.
Senior Cayla Kientz added nine points, and sophomore Morgan Smith had eight.
NPHS is in the midst of its most winnable stretch of the season
with games next week against Fountain Central and Eminence.
Lawrence is hoping the new defensive strategy will help keep the momentum going.
"We really haven't played a team yet that I thought the press would be beneficial to us," he said. "When we get behind in a game, we don't have the makeup that is going be able to get us back in the game against the teams that we've played so far. We've got some teams coming up ... that I think our press is going to be beneficial to us."
The Cougars lost Saturday's opening game to Western Boone 65-18.
At Speedway
Game 1
North Putnam 5 6 2 5 -- 18
Western Boone 19 13 14 19 -- 65
Individual scoring
North Putnam: Asbell 1-5, 2-5, 4; Kientz 2-7, 0-1, 4; Wiatt 1-2, 0-1, 2; Lucas 1-4, 0-0, 2; Land 1-2, 0-0, 2; Mindiola 1-1, 0-0, 2; Smith 0-8, 1-2, 1; Clodfelter 0-2, 1-2, 1; Aynes 0-2, 0-0, 0; Pitcock 0-0, 0-0, 0; Reeves 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Western Boone: Harrison 6-16, 3-3, 15; Ramey 6-11, 0-1, 12; Climer 4-6, 0-0, 9; Vanderpool 3-8, 2-2, 8; Henderson 2-7, 1-5, 5; Mitchell 2-8, 0-0, 4; Miller 2-7, 0-0, 4; Marsh 2-11, 0-0, 4; Hole 1-1, 0-0, 2.
Team scoring (three-pointers)
NP 7-33 (0-4), 4-11, 18; WB 28-76 (1-7), 6-13, 65.
Rebounds (offensive)
NP 28 (5); WB 54 (30).
Turnovers
NP 34; WB 13.
Game 2
Indianapolis Arlington 12 3 8 13 -- 36
North Putnam 13 16 18 20 -- 67
Individual scoring
Indianapolis Arlington: Hogue 5-23, 1-2, 13; Tomlinson 4-8, 0-1, 9; Rupert 3-4, 1-1, 7; Davis 1-3, 0-0, 2; Turman 1-7, 0-0, 2; Watson 1-5, 0-0, 2; Hogens 0-1, 0-0, 0; White 0-0, 0-0, 0; Harvey 0-0, 0-0, 0.
North Putnam: Lucas 5-13, 7-10, 17; Kientz 4-6, 3-4, 11; Wiatt 3-8, 5-6, 11; Smith 2-12, 5-10, 9; Asbell 3-8, 1-4, 7; Land 2-6, 0-0, 4; Aynes 2-7, 0-0, 4; Mindiola 1-1, 0-0, 2; Clodfelter 0-3, 0-0, 0; Pitcock 0-2, 0-2, 0; Reeves 0-1, 0-0, 0.
Team scoring (three-pointers)
IA 16-52 (3-15), 2-5, 36; NP 23-66 (0-6), 21-37, 67.
Rebounds (offensive)
IA 42 (7); NP 49 (18).
Turnovers
IA 38, NP 17.
Clovers place 4th at Clinton Prairie Tournament
Sunday, December 30, 2012
Cloverdale senior Sydney Shrum drives in for a layup against Clinton Prairie senior Stephanie Schrock. Shrum made her shot and was fouled.
(Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN) [Order this photo]
FRANKFORT -- The Cloverdale girls' basketball team came out flat after a 10-day layoff, finishing in fourth place at Friday's Clinton Prairie Tournament after losses to the hosts and Hagerstown.
The Clovers played some of their best basketball of the season in the second half of game one against Clinton Prairie, but it wasn't enough to overcome the 22-point halftime deficit as the Gophers won 48-36.
Cloverdale was outrebounded 22-7 in the first half, and turned the ball over 13 times.
The team also made just three-of-20 shots before the break.
The Clovers emerged from halftime with energy, playing almost four minutes before getting a turnover in the third quarter.
As Cloverdale head coach Matthew Langdon dipped into his more inexperienced bench to save his starters energy for game two, the play got a little sloppier, but the still cut into the lead.
In the end, lack of scoring threats with too little time to make up the difference.
"We came out slow in the first game," Langdon said. "In the second half we played good man-to-man and we wanted to ball more ... I hoped we could bring that energy to the second game. (I knew) if we play like that, we have a chance (against Hagerstown)."
It wasn't to be. The team came out flat again, scoring just five first-quarter points. They failed to make a dent the rest of the game and the Tigers secured a 39-27 win.
Hagerstown junior Hayley Rogers scored 18 points in the win.
Senior Amillia Nally, the Clovers most consistent player on Friday, scored 10 points.
Cloverdale was allowed Hagerstown to attempt nearly twice as many field goals (48-26) during the course of the game.
The Clovers defense that has been pressuring opponents into turnovers all year let the team down. The Tigers had just eight in the game, and two in the second half.
"Our offense feeds off our defense," Langdon said. "We didn't do what we need to do."
Langdon said he was disappointed with the effort, but he hopes it was a product of the long layoff and not a sign of things to come.
In addition to the big break, the Clovers also expanded their rotation. Normally the team only gives seven players significant minutes, but Langdon said he realized he is going to need to find a way to keep his starters fresh as the postseason tournament approaches.
"I'm trying to get the starters more time out (of the game)," he said. "If we're going to be a pressing team the whole game, we're going to need to get our starters more of a break."
Cloverdale will carry a five-game losing streak with it when the team hosts South Vermillion on Jan. 3.
Notes: Eastern won the tournament championship game against Clinton Prairie, 59-43 ... Sophomore Bailee Stevens missed the tournament as she recovers from an injury, but she is expected to return in the Clovers next game ... Cloverdale (4-9) had a .500 record before the recent skid.
Cloverdale senior Amillia Nally splits through Hagerstown defenders to get to the basket for a layup.
(Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN) [Order this photo]
At Clinton Prairie
Game 1
Cloverdale 5 2 13 16 -- 36
Clinton Prairie 13 16 11 8 -- 48
Individual scoring
Cloverdale: Nally 4-12, 3-5, 9; Gruener 2-10, 3-4, 7; Shrum 3-4, 0-1, 6; Skiles 1-5, 1-2, 4; Walters 1-3, 1-3, 3; Wellington 1-1, 0-0, 3; Dorsett 0-0, 1-2, 1; Clark 0-3, 0-0, 0; Hamm 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Clinton Prairie: Hanna 3-9, 7-8, 14; Douglass 6-13, 1-2, 13; Clark 4-6, 1-4, 9; Schrock 1-3, 2-2, 4; Schoonveld 2-2, 0-0, 4; Pearson 1-1, 0-0, 3; Dunham 0-0, 1-2, 1; Wines 0-1, 0-0, 0; Sabens 0-0, 0-0, 0; Humrickhouse 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Team shooting (three-pointers)
Cloverdale 12-39 (3-12), 9-17, 36; Clinton Prairie 17-35 (2-4), 12-18, 48.
Rebounds (offensive)
Cloverdale 16 (6), Clinton Prairie 33 (9).
Turnovers
Cloverdale 20, Clinton Prairie 24.
Game 2
Hagerstown 8 12 9 10 -- 39
Cloverdale 5 8 5 9 -- 27
Individual scoring
Hagerstown: H Rogers 9-16, 0-0, 18; C Rogers 3-9, 1-2, 9; O Robinson 2-4, 1-2, 5; M Houck 2-8, 0-0, 4; S Houck 1-1, 0-0, 2; Brown 0-2, 1-2, 1; Arnold 0-3, 0-0, 0; Willis 0-2, 0-0, 0; Caudill 0-3, 0-0, 0; J Robinson 0-0, 0-0, 0; Matanich 0-0, 0-0, 0; Hannon 0-0, 0-0, 0; O Houck 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Cloverdale: Nally 4-7, 2-3, 10; Shrum 1-3, 5-6, 7; Clark 2-2, 0-0, 4; Gruener 1-7, 0-0, 2; Walters 1-2, 0-0, 2; Dorsett 1-2, 0-0, 2; Skiles 0-3, 0-0, 0; Wellington 0-0, 0-0, 0; Hamm 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Team shooting (three-pointers)
Hagerstown 17-48 (2-7), 3-6, 39; Cloverdale 10-26 (0-2), 7-9; 27.
Rebounds (offensive)
Hagerstown 22 (11), Cloverdale 23 (5).
Turnovers
Hagerstown 8, Cloverdale 22.
No. 1 Tigers find legs in Hasbrook semi
Saturday, December 29, 2012
DePauw junior Alex Gasaway drives in for a layup over Rose-Hulman freshman Addie Johnson and junior Kelsey Ploof (50). [Order this photo]
The DePauw University women's basketball team defeated Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology 79-36 on Saturday in the second game of the 2012 Amy Hasbrook Memorial Tournament.
The Tigers are ranked No. 1 in NCAA Division III and showed why with a convincing victory over the Engineers.
It was the Tigers first game in 10 days. The team is coming off a tournament win in Puerto Rico and a break due to the holidays.
DPU head coach Kris Huffman was concerned about her team's condition with the long layoff and, with a cancelled practice on Wednesday, she implemented a new strategy.
The Tigers platooned full five-player units every four minutes.
The starting five of senior Kate Walker, junior Ali Ross, sophomore Savannah Trees, junior Alex Gasaway and senior Ellie Pearson got the team off to a hot 6-for-11 start and a 14-5 lead before sitting down.
"It is fun, but I would say (coach Huffman) probably won't do that again," Ross said. "I liked it, but I also like getting to intermix with the other players."
After allowing six unanswered points by Rose-Hulman, the second unit of sophomores Emma Ondik and Lauren Abendroth, juniors Alison Stephens and Erin McGinnis and senior Kathleen Molloy started to get in sync.
Stephens (12) and Molloy (10) both finished the game in double-digit scoring.
"Coach did it to make sure that we had fresh legs constantly," Walker said. "I usually play with that set of five a lot, so it's not something that I wasn't used to."
The starters returned and expanded the lead to 34-11 with 5:59 left in the half, continuing a 20-0 run.
"We haven't done that this year," Huffman said. "We have some depth, but we usually don't platoon it ... It wasn't totally planned, but it's how it worked out."
The fresh legs allowed the hosts to keep Rose-Hullman off balance, and DePauw exploited it inside.
Gasaway scored 10 of her game-high 17 points in the first half.
DPU continued the platoon strategy in second half and the players got into an even better rhythm.
The Tigers had extra focus for their opponent, Walker said, because they're playing in memory of former DPU star Amy Hasbrook.
"We always learn a lot about Hasie," Walker said. "Coach has always held her up on a pedestal, saying how great she is and how good of a rebounder she is, so it's always a goal during the Hasie Tournament to get as many rebounds as possible and play your heart out.
"No matter what, I always feel like it's playing your heart out for her."
DPU out-rebounded Rose-Hulman by a convincing 40-27 margin.
"Amy was a special player for us," Huffman said. "We may sometimes talk about certain teams of a given year, but (for individual players) Hasie probably stands out. She was a special player ... and to know that we don't have her with us anymore probably brings it to light.
"She's a great example for us to keep her name and her memory alive."
Hasbrook graduated from DePauw in 2000 and died in a house fire in Indianapolis in 2002.
The Tigers face Rockford College (2-9) in the tournament final on Sunday at 5 p.m.
At DePauw
Rose-Hulman 21 15 -- 36
DePauw 40 39 -- 79
Individual scoring
Rose-Hulman: Johnson 4-10, 0-0, 8; Williams 2-4, 3-3, 8; Ploof 2-4, 3-4, 7; Evers 2-7, 1-1, 6; Morris 2-6, 1-2, 5; Gilliam 1-2, 0-0, 2; Cain 0-4, 0-2, 0; Ottone 0-0, 0-0, 0; Gibbs 0-1, 0-0, 0; Dalton 0-0, 0-0, 0; Fuhs 0-0, 0-0, 0; Barnes 0-0, 0-0, 0.
DePauw: Gasaway 7-11, 2-3, 16; Walker 5-11, 2-2, 12; Stephens 4-8, 2-2, 12; Molloy 4-6, 1-2, 10; Ross 4-9, 0-0, 9; Trees 2-4, 1-1, 5; Pearson 1-5, 2-3, 4; Sarkisian 2-2, 0-0, 4; Abendroth 1-5, 0-0, 3; Stoner 1-1, 0-0, 2; Hacker 1-2, 0-2, 2; Ondik 0-2, 0-0, 0; Skordos 0-1, 0-0, 0; McDonagh 0-2, 0-0, 0; Lukemeyer 0-1, 0-0, 0; McGinnis 0-0, 0-0, 0; Keller 0-1, 0-0, 0; Frost 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Team scoring (three-pointers)
RHIT 13-38 (2-14), 8-12, 36; DPU 32-71 (5-14), 10-15, 79.
Rebounds (offensive)
RHIT 27 (3); DPU 40 (18).
Turnovers
RHIT 27; DPU 8.
Tiger Cubs vacation comes to halt against Danville
Saturday, December 29, 2012
Greencastle sophomore Brody Bollman drives in for a layup, fending off Danville defender B'ster Detty.
(Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN) [Order this photo]
The young Greencastle boys' basketball team continues to take steps toward improving, but they're not ready yet and that showed against Danville in the 71-49 loss on Friday at McAnally.
The Tiger Cubs (1-6) played their first game in 13 days and, despite the loss, changes were evident.
"I do think we're seeing improvement as a team, even though the scoreboard may not show it," GHS head coach Troy Greenlee said. "You hate to say you're satisfied with losing a game like this, but as we are, we have to do that. We have to look at where we are and where we were and compare.
"I think we're getting better."
GHS began the game struggling against the fast and aggressive Danville (8-1) defense.
The Warriors converted their first six shots to open the game, mostly fast break layups coming off turnovers.
Danville senior Ian Asher led the early attack, scoring 12 of his game-high 21 points in the first half.
The Tiger Cubs guards began to figure out the pressure, in the second quarter, but Danville found scoring just as easy in their half-court offense.
"They're a really good team and we knew they were a really good team," Greenlee said. "They're such a tough team to guard because they have the perimeter shooters, they can drive the ball well and they have just enough post presence to make it hard."
Greencastle came out sharp after halftime before surrendering a 9-0 run to end the third quarter.
Danville fed senior Jackson Stone in the post throughout the half and the shorter GHS front line couldn't prevent him from getting the ball deep under the hoop for easy lay-ins.
Stone finished with 17 points.
As the Warriors continued to get easy shots, the Tiger Cubs continued to shoot from the outside.
It was only after fouls began to pile up for Danville that GHS started to get into a rhythm.
The Warriors were called for 14 fouls in the second half, and the Cubs made seven-of-11 free throws in the fourth, but by then it was too little, too late.
"We knew it would be a tough game for us if we didn't do the things we talked about before the game, like taking care of the ball," Greenlee said. "We're not where we want to be, but I think we're taking some steps forward."
Freshman Ryan Coble and senior Nick Gilliam each scored seven points to lead the Tiger Cubs.
GHS hosts Speedway on Friday, Jan. 3 at 7:30 p.m.
At Greencastle
Danville 17 19 19 16 -- 71
Greencastle 5 18 12 14 -- 49
Individual scoring
Danville: Asher 8-14, 3-3, 21; Stone 8-9, 1-3, 17; Motes 4-8, 0-0, 10; Just 3-4, 3-4, 9; Amore 3-4, 1-2, 8; Detty 1-2, 2-2, 4; Ross 0-1, 2-2, 2; Collier 1-1, 0-0, 2; Shipley 0-1, 0-0, 0; Weir 0-1, 0-2, 0; Anderson 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Greencastle: Coble 3-6, 1-2, 7; Gilliam 2-7, 2-3, 7; Winslow 3-9, 0-0, 6; Gerard 2-6, 1-2, 6; Mitchell 1-2, 3-5, 5; Foxx 1-3, 2-3, 4; Christy 1-3, 0-0, 3; Bollman 1-6, 1-1, 3; King 1-2, 0-0, 3; Hughes 1-2, 0-0, 3.
Team scoring (three-pointers)
Danville 28-45 (5-12), 10-16, 71; Greencastle 16-45 (7-17), 10-17, 49.
Rebounds (offensive)
Danville 30 (7), Greencastle 28 (12)
Turnovers
Danville 15, Greencastle 21
DePauw brings Bill Lynch back as head football coach
Friday, December 21, 2012
Bill Lynch
DePauw University announced on Thursday it has hired Bill Lynch as the next head football coach.
Lynch was previously the Tigers' head coach for the 2004 season and he will take over on Jan. 2, 2013.
"I wasn't really looking, but when the DePauw situation came up, that really got me thinking about it because I had such a great experience while I was there in 2004," Lynch told the Banner Graphic. "They want to be successful, and they want to be successful in the right way."
Lynch left DePauw with an 8-2 record in just one season as head coach to become offensive coordinator for Indiana University.
He was faced with the difficult task of replacing his good friend, Terry Hoeppner, as head coach of the Hoosiers when Hoep-pner passed away in June 2007.
Lynch spent four seasons as head coach at IU, reaching a bowl game in his first season and compiling a 19-30 record.
After being fired following the 2010 season, Lynch became the associate athletic director for development at his alma mater, Butler.
His duties included working closely with the football team there. He also has three sons who coach college football.
"I haven't been away from football, I just haven't been on the sideline coaching it," Lynch said. "I've got the same passion and energy that I always have."
DePauw athletic director Stevie Baker-Watson said Thursday that hiring Lynch was the completion of a lengthy process.
"It was something that we've really been working on since Coach Long was fired in September," Baker-Watson said. "The whole process I wanted to complete by the holidays."
Robby Long was fired on Sept. 16, just two weeks into the season, for failing to "take corrective actions in a timely manner" regarding administrative issues under his control.
Long had been DePauw's head coach since August 2009.
The Tigers have had five different coaches since Nick Mourouzis retired after the 2003 season, with Long's three-plus years being the longest span.
Choosing Lynch among the candidates seems to signal that DePauw was looking for a long-term commitment more than an up-and-coming hire.
"He was looking for a landing spot, like I was when I came here," Mourouzis said. "This will give us stability."
Lynch, who still owns a house in Putnam County, said DePauw will likely be the final stop of his coaching career.
"We've been very fortunate, my wife and I, to be able to raise our kids in Indiana," Lynch said. "To be able to end it here is really great for us from a family situation."
DPU sorted through more than 130 applicants, narrowing the field to 40 in the top category, Baker-Watson said.
Ten received phone interviews, and the top four -- Lynch, Monmouth College head coach Steve Bell, DPU graduate and Army running backs coach Tucker Waugh and Dartmouth college special teams coordinator Chris Wilkerson -- were brought in last week for interviews.
Baker-Watson said she has received a tremendous amount of feedback from alumni and community members during the coaching search.
Although the school initially planned to keep the hiring process in-house, she decided it would be best to open it up to a hiring firm to keep the search more transparent.
As the field of candidates narrowed, Baker-Watson said she discussed candidates with people close to the DePauw program that were familiar with them.
After announcing the final four, it was a chance for those people to "hit send, again," Baker-Watson said, and share their final thoughts.
This included Mour-ouzis, who sat in on the final interviews.
"He's the best (candidate) for the situation that we have right now," Mourouzis said. "He's proven leadership. He knows all the coaches and has great respect for all the high school coaches in Indiana and the Midwest.
"Success in Division III all comes down to recruiting. I think that he can recruit a lot of good athletes for us here at DePauw."
Baker-Watson added that although the search came as a result of what she called "terrible circumstances" -- firing the previous head coach in the middle of the season -- it was a good opportunity to get feedback from alumni and reset the football program.
DePauw finished the 2012 season with a 2-8 record, losing the Monon Bell Classic for the fourth straight year.
Defensive coordinator Scott Srnka was named interim head coach after Long was let go, but his future and the rest of the staff is uncertain.
Baker-Watson said she would leave that up to Lynch.
"I knew I needed to hire a leader of the program," she said, "and the rest would work itself out."
Getting the coaching staff settled is priorty No. 1 for Lynch when he starts next month.
"I look forward to meeting them," he said. "The first thing is getting to know the staff that are there, and then it's very important to meet and get to know the players that are in the program right now."
DPU students began their winter break last Friday and will not return to class until Jan. 28, giving Lynch nearly a month on the job to recruit current and future players.
He conceded that he hasn't had a chance to watch the team play in recent years, but he is looking to forward to getting started with recruiting, and that starts with the players he has on campus.
"That's what this time of year is all about," Lynch said. "It's a process. First, getting to know (players) in a one-on-one basis and then you start to develop relationships.
"That's what starts building a team."
Lynch has a 100-97-3 career record as a head coach.
Besides DPU and IU, he has also been the head coach of Ball State University (1995-2002) and his alma mater, Butler (1985-1989).
Ball State was recognized by the American Football Coaches Association for outstanding graduation rates from 2000-02.
Lynch has also been an assistant coach at Northern Illinois and the United States Foot-ball League's Orlando Renegades.
Pacers beat Grizzlies for fifth-straight home win
Monday, December 31, 2012
Pacers guard D.J. Augustin drives to the hoop against Memphis' Mike Conley.
(Courtesy photo)
INDIANAPOLIS -- The Pacers beat Memphis in an afternoon game on Monday, 88-83. They were without starting point guard George Hill, who missed the game with an injury.
D.J. Augustin, removed from the playing rotation a few weeks ago for rookie point guard Ben Hasbrough, stepped into the void in Hill's absence.
A former top-ten draft pick by Charlotte, Augustin has struggled to find a rhythm since joining the Pacers (18-13) as a free agent last summer.
He entered the game averaging just 3.1 points, on 26 percent shooting, and 2.3 assists per game.
Augustin, his fifth year out of Texas, spent the last two seasons starting for the Bobcats and seemed to find his groove by moving back into that role. He made four of the Pacers' 12 three-pointers, including a dagger late that put Indiana up six with two minutes left.
He also sank four-of-four free throws down the stretch to help seal the win.
"I was out there longer so the shots were able to come to me instead of me trying to force shots in limited minutes," Augustin said. "(Starting) makes a big difference. You come out loose and ready and prepared for the game. But when you come off the bench, you've got to be ready also."
Augustin added a season-high six assists.
Paul George continued his recent success, scoring a team-high 21 points. He also held Grizzlies star forward Rudy Gay to just three-of-17 shooting.
Roy Hibbert, coming off a zero-point, one-rebound catastrophe against Atlanta on Saturday, responded against Memphis.
The Grizzlies (19-9) attacked Hibbert early with Zach Randolph posting up, but they failed to feed the post consistently.
Randolph finished with 21 points and 15 rebounds.
Hibbert finished with four big blocks, including one of Gay that would have closed the gap to three with 1:51 remaining.
Indiana hosts the Wizards for the second time this season on Wednesday at 7 p.m.
At Indiana
Grizzlies 19 22 26 16 -- 83
Pacers 19 19 22 28 -- 88
Individual scoring
Grizzlies: Randolph 7-18, 7-8, 21; Gasol 6-10, 1-1, 13; Gay 3-17, 5-8, 11; Allen 5-8, 1-2, 11; Conley 3-9, 2-2, 9; Ellington 2-4, 0-0, 6; Arthur 3-6, 0-0, 6; Speights 2-6, 1-2, 5; Bayless 0-4, 1-1, 1.
Pacers: George 7-16, 3-4, 21; Augustin 4-9, 5-6, 17; West 3-6, 7-8, 13; Stephenson 3-7, 2-2, 10; Hibbert 3-11, 3-4, 9; T Hansbrough 3-6, 0-0, 6; B Hansbrough 2-5, 0-0, 6; Green 2-5, 0-0, 4; Mahinmi 1-5, 0-0, 2; Young 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Team scoring (three-pointers)
Grizzlies 31-82 (3-11), 18-24, 83; Pacers 28-70 (12-25), 20-24, 88.
Rebounds (offensive)
Grizzlies 44 (18); Pacers 38 (11).
Turnovers
Grizzlies 16; Pacers 18.
Top-ranked Tigers win Hasbrook championship against Rockford
Monday, December 31, 2012
Members of the 2012 All-Hasbrook Tournament team (from left) Erin Ryczek, Kate Walker, Kat Molloy, Alex Gasaway and former players Ann Hall, Sarah McKay, Lindsey Rush, Erin Miller and Dana Ferguson.Not pictured are Spalding senior Kelly Harrod and Rose-Hulman freshman Addie Johnson.
(Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN) [Order this photo]
Saturday's win over Rose-Hulman was just a warm-up for the DePauw women's basketball team as they feasted on Rockford College in the Hasbrook Tournament championship game Sunday, winning 73-43.
Senior point guard Kate Walker was named tournament MVP, having averaged 10.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists in just 18 minutes per game.
"It's nice to be awarded that, especially at the Hasie Tournament," Walker said. "I know this is going to sound corny, but Hasie (former DePauw guard Amy Hasbrook) ... coach talks so highly about her. So being the MVP of that tournament is kind of a big deal.
"In my head, what coach has described Hasie as is the hard-worker, the person who doesn't necessarily get the most points, but puts their whole heart on the court."
The Tigers dominated from the start, jumping out to a 30-4 lead before allowing the Regents their first field goal with 5:18 left in the first half.
After spending most of game Saturday in a 2-3 zone defense, DPU switched back to their customary man-to-man scheme for the final.
"(Zone defense) is something new that we've added in the last three or four years," Tigers head coach Kris Huffman said. "It helps us when we go against teams with a 6'2" center, because we're undersized ... We're just making sure that we're prepared to play anybody, so it's something that we continue to work on."
Height on the front line wasn't a problem against Rockford and the tenacious defense of DePauw kept the Regents out of the paint.
"I always prefer man," Walker said. "I've played man my whole life. I never played zone until I came to DePauw, and even then we don't play it all that often."
The Tigers held a 41-15 lead at halftime, but only a slight 17-16 rebounding advantage.
"We always want to focus on rebounding," Huffman said. "Especially with this being the Hasbrook Tournament, and that was something that she did so well. We talked this week about making sure that this was something that we owned this weekend. We tried to own the glass."
The Tigers hauled in 21 rebounds, including 14 offensive rebounds, in the second half.
With the game well in hand, starters moved aside early after the break, allowing DPU's second unit to carry them the rest of the way.
Senior Kathleen Molloy was the games leading scorer, finishing with a career-high 15 points, making five-of-nine shots (four-of-five threes).
"I knew I was shooting kind of well, but I didn't know it was my career-high," Molloy, whose bio on the team website lists her praying for Hasbrook to get ready for each game, said.
Molloy and junior Alex Gasaway joined Walker on the all-tournament team.
DePauw plays again Friday when the team hosts conference-rival Allegheny at 6 p.m. The men's game follows.
DePauw senior point guard Kate Walker lines up for a runner over Rockford junior Destiny Chaney. Walker was named 2012 Amy Hasbrook Tournament MVP.
(Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN) [Order this photo]
At DePauw
Rockford 15 28 -- 43
DePauw 41 32 -- 73
Individual scoring
Rockford: Ryczek 6-14, 2-2, 17; Nichols 3-6, 2-3, 8; Bjerning 2-4, 0-0, 4; Chaney 1-5, 2-4, 4; Woods 1-5, 0-0, 3; Scott 1-2, 0-0, 3; Lengjak 1-6, 0-0, 2; Lawler 1-5, 0-0, 2; Johnson 0-5, 0-0, 0; Fowler 0-0, 0-0, 0.
DePauw: Molloy 5-9, 1-2, 15; Abendroth 4-4, 0-0, 10; Walker 3-5, 2-2, 9; Gasaway 4-7, 0-0, 9; Trees 2-6, 2-2, 6; Pearson 2-4, 1-2, 5; Ross 2-5, 1-2, 5; McGinnis 2-2, 0-0, 4; Skordos 1-2, 0-0, 3; Stephens 1-4, 1-2, 3; Ondik 1-4, 0-0, 2; Keller 1-4, 0-0, 2; Francis 0-0, 0-0, 0; Stoner 0-2, 0-0, 0; McDonagh 0-2, 0-0, 0; Hacker 0-1, 0-0, 0; Lukemeyer 0-1, 0-0, 0; Frost 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Team scoring (three-pointers)
Rockford 16-52 (7-14), 4-6, 43; DePauw 28-62 (9-19), 8-12, 73.
Rebounds (offensive)
Rockford 33 (16); DePauw 38 (18).
Turnovers
Rockford 22; DePauw 10.
Cougars place third at Speedway girls' basketball tourney
Monday, December 31, 2012
North Putnam junior point guard Bethany Wiatt rips the ball away from Arlington freshman Briella Tomlinson (33), recording one of her game-high nine steals. (Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN )[Order this photo]
SPEEDWAY -- Two teams entered the consolation game at the 2012 Speedway girls' basketball tournament looking to snap a burdensome losing streak.
North Putnam was able to do just that, beating Indianapolis Arlington (0-8) 67-36.
The Cougars (2-10) entered the game with a five-game losing streak. The Golden Knights made headlines a few weeks ago after suffering a 103-2 loss.
"Arlington played hard for 32 minutes," NPHS coach Curtis Lawrence said. "We let (the players) know (after the first game against Western Boone) that there are some things that we can improve on, and we were able to do that against Arlington."
NPHS began the game in attack mode, hoping out to a 13-5 lead and experimenting with full court ball pressure for the first time this season.
When it worked, the Cougars were able to get easy steals and layups. There were also signs of inexperience that allowed the Knights to leak out to the outside and race to the rim.
The Cougars led by only one (13-12) after the first quarter.
Eventually, they figured out how to use press.
NPHS closed the first half on a 16-3 run.
"We felt that, if we could apply a little bit of pressure to them, we would be able to create turnovers," Lawrence said, "which would lead to some easy baskets, which is something we haven't been able to do."
Junior point guard Bethany Wiatt seemed the most comfortable with applying full court pressure. She finished with nine steals, 11 points and three assists.
Senior Sam Lucas was the game's high-scorer, putting in 17 and adding 11 rebounds for the Cougars.
Senior Cayla Kientz added nine points, and sophomore Morgan Smith had eight.
NPHS is in the midst of its most winnable stretch of the season
with games next week against Fountain Central and Eminence.
Lawrence is hoping the new defensive strategy will help keep the momentum going.
"We really haven't played a team yet that I thought the press would be beneficial to us," he said. "When we get behind in a game, we don't have the makeup that is going be able to get us back in the game against the teams that we've played so far. We've got some teams coming up ... that I think our press is going to be beneficial to us."
The Cougars lost Saturday's opening game to Western Boone 65-18.
At Speedway
Game 1
North Putnam 5 6 2 5 -- 18
Western Boone 19 13 14 19 -- 65
Individual scoring
North Putnam: Asbell 1-5, 2-5, 4; Kientz 2-7, 0-1, 4; Wiatt 1-2, 0-1, 2; Lucas 1-4, 0-0, 2; Land 1-2, 0-0, 2; Mindiola 1-1, 0-0, 2; Smith 0-8, 1-2, 1; Clodfelter 0-2, 1-2, 1; Aynes 0-2, 0-0, 0; Pitcock 0-0, 0-0, 0; Reeves 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Western Boone: Harrison 6-16, 3-3, 15; Ramey 6-11, 0-1, 12; Climer 4-6, 0-0, 9; Vanderpool 3-8, 2-2, 8; Henderson 2-7, 1-5, 5; Mitchell 2-8, 0-0, 4; Miller 2-7, 0-0, 4; Marsh 2-11, 0-0, 4; Hole 1-1, 0-0, 2.
Team scoring (three-pointers)
NP 7-33 (0-4), 4-11, 18; WB 28-76 (1-7), 6-13, 65.
Rebounds (offensive)
NP 28 (5); WB 54 (30).
Turnovers
NP 34; WB 13.
Game 2
Indianapolis Arlington 12 3 8 13 -- 36
North Putnam 13 16 18 20 -- 67
Individual scoring
Indianapolis Arlington: Hogue 5-23, 1-2, 13; Tomlinson 4-8, 0-1, 9; Rupert 3-4, 1-1, 7; Davis 1-3, 0-0, 2; Turman 1-7, 0-0, 2; Watson 1-5, 0-0, 2; Hogens 0-1, 0-0, 0; White 0-0, 0-0, 0; Harvey 0-0, 0-0, 0.
North Putnam: Lucas 5-13, 7-10, 17; Kientz 4-6, 3-4, 11; Wiatt 3-8, 5-6, 11; Smith 2-12, 5-10, 9; Asbell 3-8, 1-4, 7; Land 2-6, 0-0, 4; Aynes 2-7, 0-0, 4; Mindiola 1-1, 0-0, 2; Clodfelter 0-3, 0-0, 0; Pitcock 0-2, 0-2, 0; Reeves 0-1, 0-0, 0.
Team scoring (three-pointers)
IA 16-52 (3-15), 2-5, 36; NP 23-66 (0-6), 21-37, 67.
Rebounds (offensive)
IA 42 (7); NP 49 (18).
Turnovers
IA 38, NP 17.
Clovers place 4th at Clinton Prairie Tournament
Sunday, December 30, 2012
Cloverdale senior Sydney Shrum drives in for a layup against Clinton Prairie senior Stephanie Schrock. Shrum made her shot and was fouled.
(Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN) [Order this photo]
FRANKFORT -- The Cloverdale girls' basketball team came out flat after a 10-day layoff, finishing in fourth place at Friday's Clinton Prairie Tournament after losses to the hosts and Hagerstown.
The Clovers played some of their best basketball of the season in the second half of game one against Clinton Prairie, but it wasn't enough to overcome the 22-point halftime deficit as the Gophers won 48-36.
Cloverdale was outrebounded 22-7 in the first half, and turned the ball over 13 times.
The team also made just three-of-20 shots before the break.
The Clovers emerged from halftime with energy, playing almost four minutes before getting a turnover in the third quarter.
As Cloverdale head coach Matthew Langdon dipped into his more inexperienced bench to save his starters energy for game two, the play got a little sloppier, but the still cut into the lead.
In the end, lack of scoring threats with too little time to make up the difference.
"We came out slow in the first game," Langdon said. "In the second half we played good man-to-man and we wanted to ball more ... I hoped we could bring that energy to the second game. (I knew) if we play like that, we have a chance (against Hagerstown)."
It wasn't to be. The team came out flat again, scoring just five first-quarter points. They failed to make a dent the rest of the game and the Tigers secured a 39-27 win.
Hagerstown junior Hayley Rogers scored 18 points in the win.
Senior Amillia Nally, the Clovers most consistent player on Friday, scored 10 points.
Cloverdale was allowed Hagerstown to attempt nearly twice as many field goals (48-26) during the course of the game.
The Clovers defense that has been pressuring opponents into turnovers all year let the team down. The Tigers had just eight in the game, and two in the second half.
"Our offense feeds off our defense," Langdon said. "We didn't do what we need to do."
Langdon said he was disappointed with the effort, but he hopes it was a product of the long layoff and not a sign of things to come.
In addition to the big break, the Clovers also expanded their rotation. Normally the team only gives seven players significant minutes, but Langdon said he realized he is going to need to find a way to keep his starters fresh as the postseason tournament approaches.
"I'm trying to get the starters more time out (of the game)," he said. "If we're going to be a pressing team the whole game, we're going to need to get our starters more of a break."
Cloverdale will carry a five-game losing streak with it when the team hosts South Vermillion on Jan. 3.
Notes: Eastern won the tournament championship game against Clinton Prairie, 59-43 ... Sophomore Bailee Stevens missed the tournament as she recovers from an injury, but she is expected to return in the Clovers next game ... Cloverdale (4-9) had a .500 record before the recent skid.
Cloverdale senior Amillia Nally splits through Hagerstown defenders to get to the basket for a layup.
(Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN) [Order this photo]
At Clinton Prairie
Game 1
Cloverdale 5 2 13 16 -- 36
Clinton Prairie 13 16 11 8 -- 48
Individual scoring
Cloverdale: Nally 4-12, 3-5, 9; Gruener 2-10, 3-4, 7; Shrum 3-4, 0-1, 6; Skiles 1-5, 1-2, 4; Walters 1-3, 1-3, 3; Wellington 1-1, 0-0, 3; Dorsett 0-0, 1-2, 1; Clark 0-3, 0-0, 0; Hamm 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Clinton Prairie: Hanna 3-9, 7-8, 14; Douglass 6-13, 1-2, 13; Clark 4-6, 1-4, 9; Schrock 1-3, 2-2, 4; Schoonveld 2-2, 0-0, 4; Pearson 1-1, 0-0, 3; Dunham 0-0, 1-2, 1; Wines 0-1, 0-0, 0; Sabens 0-0, 0-0, 0; Humrickhouse 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Team shooting (three-pointers)
Cloverdale 12-39 (3-12), 9-17, 36; Clinton Prairie 17-35 (2-4), 12-18, 48.
Rebounds (offensive)
Cloverdale 16 (6), Clinton Prairie 33 (9).
Turnovers
Cloverdale 20, Clinton Prairie 24.
Game 2
Hagerstown 8 12 9 10 -- 39
Cloverdale 5 8 5 9 -- 27
Individual scoring
Hagerstown: H Rogers 9-16, 0-0, 18; C Rogers 3-9, 1-2, 9; O Robinson 2-4, 1-2, 5; M Houck 2-8, 0-0, 4; S Houck 1-1, 0-0, 2; Brown 0-2, 1-2, 1; Arnold 0-3, 0-0, 0; Willis 0-2, 0-0, 0; Caudill 0-3, 0-0, 0; J Robinson 0-0, 0-0, 0; Matanich 0-0, 0-0, 0; Hannon 0-0, 0-0, 0; O Houck 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Cloverdale: Nally 4-7, 2-3, 10; Shrum 1-3, 5-6, 7; Clark 2-2, 0-0, 4; Gruener 1-7, 0-0, 2; Walters 1-2, 0-0, 2; Dorsett 1-2, 0-0, 2; Skiles 0-3, 0-0, 0; Wellington 0-0, 0-0, 0; Hamm 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Team shooting (three-pointers)
Hagerstown 17-48 (2-7), 3-6, 39; Cloverdale 10-26 (0-2), 7-9; 27.
Rebounds (offensive)
Hagerstown 22 (11), Cloverdale 23 (5).
Turnovers
Hagerstown 8, Cloverdale 22.
No. 1 Tigers find legs in Hasbrook semi
Saturday, December 29, 2012
DePauw junior Alex Gasaway drives in for a layup over Rose-Hulman freshman Addie Johnson and junior Kelsey Ploof (50). [Order this photo]
The DePauw University women's basketball team defeated Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology 79-36 on Saturday in the second game of the 2012 Amy Hasbrook Memorial Tournament.
The Tigers are ranked No. 1 in NCAA Division III and showed why with a convincing victory over the Engineers.
It was the Tigers first game in 10 days. The team is coming off a tournament win in Puerto Rico and a break due to the holidays.
DPU head coach Kris Huffman was concerned about her team's condition with the long layoff and, with a cancelled practice on Wednesday, she implemented a new strategy.
The Tigers platooned full five-player units every four minutes.
The starting five of senior Kate Walker, junior Ali Ross, sophomore Savannah Trees, junior Alex Gasaway and senior Ellie Pearson got the team off to a hot 6-for-11 start and a 14-5 lead before sitting down.
"It is fun, but I would say (coach Huffman) probably won't do that again," Ross said. "I liked it, but I also like getting to intermix with the other players."
After allowing six unanswered points by Rose-Hulman, the second unit of sophomores Emma Ondik and Lauren Abendroth, juniors Alison Stephens and Erin McGinnis and senior Kathleen Molloy started to get in sync.
Stephens (12) and Molloy (10) both finished the game in double-digit scoring.
"Coach did it to make sure that we had fresh legs constantly," Walker said. "I usually play with that set of five a lot, so it's not something that I wasn't used to."
The starters returned and expanded the lead to 34-11 with 5:59 left in the half, continuing a 20-0 run.
"We haven't done that this year," Huffman said. "We have some depth, but we usually don't platoon it ... It wasn't totally planned, but it's how it worked out."
The fresh legs allowed the hosts to keep Rose-Hullman off balance, and DePauw exploited it inside.
Gasaway scored 10 of her game-high 17 points in the first half.
DPU continued the platoon strategy in second half and the players got into an even better rhythm.
The Tigers had extra focus for their opponent, Walker said, because they're playing in memory of former DPU star Amy Hasbrook.
"We always learn a lot about Hasie," Walker said. "Coach has always held her up on a pedestal, saying how great she is and how good of a rebounder she is, so it's always a goal during the Hasie Tournament to get as many rebounds as possible and play your heart out.
"No matter what, I always feel like it's playing your heart out for her."
DPU out-rebounded Rose-Hulman by a convincing 40-27 margin.
"Amy was a special player for us," Huffman said. "We may sometimes talk about certain teams of a given year, but (for individual players) Hasie probably stands out. She was a special player ... and to know that we don't have her with us anymore probably brings it to light.
"She's a great example for us to keep her name and her memory alive."
Hasbrook graduated from DePauw in 2000 and died in a house fire in Indianapolis in 2002.
The Tigers face Rockford College (2-9) in the tournament final on Sunday at 5 p.m.
At DePauw
Rose-Hulman 21 15 -- 36
DePauw 40 39 -- 79
Individual scoring
Rose-Hulman: Johnson 4-10, 0-0, 8; Williams 2-4, 3-3, 8; Ploof 2-4, 3-4, 7; Evers 2-7, 1-1, 6; Morris 2-6, 1-2, 5; Gilliam 1-2, 0-0, 2; Cain 0-4, 0-2, 0; Ottone 0-0, 0-0, 0; Gibbs 0-1, 0-0, 0; Dalton 0-0, 0-0, 0; Fuhs 0-0, 0-0, 0; Barnes 0-0, 0-0, 0.
DePauw: Gasaway 7-11, 2-3, 16; Walker 5-11, 2-2, 12; Stephens 4-8, 2-2, 12; Molloy 4-6, 1-2, 10; Ross 4-9, 0-0, 9; Trees 2-4, 1-1, 5; Pearson 1-5, 2-3, 4; Sarkisian 2-2, 0-0, 4; Abendroth 1-5, 0-0, 3; Stoner 1-1, 0-0, 2; Hacker 1-2, 0-2, 2; Ondik 0-2, 0-0, 0; Skordos 0-1, 0-0, 0; McDonagh 0-2, 0-0, 0; Lukemeyer 0-1, 0-0, 0; McGinnis 0-0, 0-0, 0; Keller 0-1, 0-0, 0; Frost 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Team scoring (three-pointers)
RHIT 13-38 (2-14), 8-12, 36; DPU 32-71 (5-14), 10-15, 79.
Rebounds (offensive)
RHIT 27 (3); DPU 40 (18).
Turnovers
RHIT 27; DPU 8.
Tiger Cubs vacation comes to halt against Danville
Saturday, December 29, 2012
Greencastle sophomore Brody Bollman drives in for a layup, fending off Danville defender B'ster Detty.
(Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN) [Order this photo]
The young Greencastle boys' basketball team continues to take steps toward improving, but they're not ready yet and that showed against Danville in the 71-49 loss on Friday at McAnally.
The Tiger Cubs (1-6) played their first game in 13 days and, despite the loss, changes were evident.
"I do think we're seeing improvement as a team, even though the scoreboard may not show it," GHS head coach Troy Greenlee said. "You hate to say you're satisfied with losing a game like this, but as we are, we have to do that. We have to look at where we are and where we were and compare.
"I think we're getting better."
GHS began the game struggling against the fast and aggressive Danville (8-1) defense.
The Warriors converted their first six shots to open the game, mostly fast break layups coming off turnovers.
Danville senior Ian Asher led the early attack, scoring 12 of his game-high 21 points in the first half.
The Tiger Cubs guards began to figure out the pressure, in the second quarter, but Danville found scoring just as easy in their half-court offense.
"They're a really good team and we knew they were a really good team," Greenlee said. "They're such a tough team to guard because they have the perimeter shooters, they can drive the ball well and they have just enough post presence to make it hard."
Greencastle came out sharp after halftime before surrendering a 9-0 run to end the third quarter.
Danville fed senior Jackson Stone in the post throughout the half and the shorter GHS front line couldn't prevent him from getting the ball deep under the hoop for easy lay-ins.
Stone finished with 17 points.
As the Warriors continued to get easy shots, the Tiger Cubs continued to shoot from the outside.
It was only after fouls began to pile up for Danville that GHS started to get into a rhythm.
The Warriors were called for 14 fouls in the second half, and the Cubs made seven-of-11 free throws in the fourth, but by then it was too little, too late.
"We knew it would be a tough game for us if we didn't do the things we talked about before the game, like taking care of the ball," Greenlee said. "We're not where we want to be, but I think we're taking some steps forward."
Freshman Ryan Coble and senior Nick Gilliam each scored seven points to lead the Tiger Cubs.
GHS hosts Speedway on Friday, Jan. 3 at 7:30 p.m.
At Greencastle
Danville 17 19 19 16 -- 71
Greencastle 5 18 12 14 -- 49
Individual scoring
Danville: Asher 8-14, 3-3, 21; Stone 8-9, 1-3, 17; Motes 4-8, 0-0, 10; Just 3-4, 3-4, 9; Amore 3-4, 1-2, 8; Detty 1-2, 2-2, 4; Ross 0-1, 2-2, 2; Collier 1-1, 0-0, 2; Shipley 0-1, 0-0, 0; Weir 0-1, 0-2, 0; Anderson 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Greencastle: Coble 3-6, 1-2, 7; Gilliam 2-7, 2-3, 7; Winslow 3-9, 0-0, 6; Gerard 2-6, 1-2, 6; Mitchell 1-2, 3-5, 5; Foxx 1-3, 2-3, 4; Christy 1-3, 0-0, 3; Bollman 1-6, 1-1, 3; King 1-2, 0-0, 3; Hughes 1-2, 0-0, 3.
Team scoring (three-pointers)
Danville 28-45 (5-12), 10-16, 71; Greencastle 16-45 (7-17), 10-17, 49.
Rebounds (offensive)
Danville 30 (7), Greencastle 28 (12)
Turnovers
Danville 15, Greencastle 21
Pacers beat Grizzlies for fifth-straight home win
Monday, December 31, 2012
Pacers guard D.J. Augustin drives to the hoop against Memphis' Mike Conley.
(Courtesy photo)
INDIANAPOLIS -- The Pacers beat Memphis in an afternoon game on Monday, 88-83. They were without starting point guard George Hill, who missed the game with an injury.
D.J. Augustin, removed from the playing rotation a few weeks ago for rookie point guard Ben Hasbrough, stepped into the void in Hill's absence.
A former top-ten draft pick by Charlotte, Augustin has struggled to find a rhythm since joining the Pacers (18-13) as a free agent last summer.
He entered the game averaging just 3.1 points, on 26 percent shooting, and 2.3 assists per game.
Augustin, his fifth year out of Texas, spent the last two seasons starting for the Bobcats and seemed to find his groove by moving back into that role. He made four of the Pacers' 12 three-pointers, including a dagger late that put Indiana up six with two minutes left.
He also sank four-of-four free throws down the stretch to help seal the win.
"I was out there longer so the shots were able to come to me instead of me trying to force shots in limited minutes," Augustin said. "(Starting) makes a big difference. You come out loose and ready and prepared for the game. But when you come off the bench, you've got to be ready also."
Augustin added a season-high six assists.
Paul George continued his recent success, scoring a team-high 21 points. He also held Grizzlies star forward Rudy Gay to just three-of-17 shooting.
Roy Hibbert, coming off a zero-point, one-rebound catastrophe against Atlanta on Saturday, responded against Memphis.
The Grizzlies (19-9) attacked Hibbert early with Zach Randolph posting up, but they failed to feed the post consistently.
Randolph finished with 21 points and 15 rebounds.
Hibbert finished with four big blocks, including one of Gay that would have closed the gap to three with 1:51 remaining.
Indiana hosts the Wizards for the second time this season on Wednesday at 7 p.m.
At Indiana
Grizzlies 19 22 26 16 -- 83
Pacers 19 19 22 28 -- 88
Individual scoring
Grizzlies: Randolph 7-18, 7-8, 21; Gasol 6-10, 1-1, 13; Gay 3-17, 5-8, 11; Allen 5-8, 1-2, 11; Conley 3-9, 2-2, 9; Ellington 2-4, 0-0, 6; Arthur 3-6, 0-0, 6; Speights 2-6, 1-2, 5; Bayless 0-4, 1-1, 1.
Pacers: George 7-16, 3-4, 21; Augustin 4-9, 5-6, 17; West 3-6, 7-8, 13; Stephenson 3-7, 2-2, 10; Hibbert 3-11, 3-4, 9; T Hansbrough 3-6, 0-0, 6; B Hansbrough 2-5, 0-0, 6; Green 2-5, 0-0, 4; Mahinmi 1-5, 0-0, 2; Young 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Team scoring (three-pointers)
Grizzlies 31-82 (3-11), 18-24, 83; Pacers 28-70 (12-25), 20-24, 88.
Rebounds (offensive)
Grizzlies 44 (18); Pacers 38 (11).
Turnovers
Grizzlies 16; Pacers 18.
Top-ranked Tigers win Hasbrook championship against Rockford
Monday, December 31, 2012
Members of the 2012 All-Hasbrook Tournament team (from left) Erin Ryczek, Kate Walker, Kat Molloy, Alex Gasaway and former players Ann Hall, Sarah McKay, Lindsey Rush, Erin Miller and Dana Ferguson.Not pictured are Spalding senior Kelly Harrod and Rose-Hulman freshman Addie Johnson.
(Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN) [Order this photo]
Saturday's win over Rose-Hulman was just a warm-up for the DePauw women's basketball team as they feasted on Rockford College in the Hasbrook Tournament championship game Sunday, winning 73-43.
Senior point guard Kate Walker was named tournament MVP, having averaged 10.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists in just 18 minutes per game.
"It's nice to be awarded that, especially at the Hasie Tournament," Walker said. "I know this is going to sound corny, but Hasie (former DePauw guard Amy Hasbrook) ... coach talks so highly about her. So being the MVP of that tournament is kind of a big deal.
"In my head, what coach has described Hasie as is the hard-worker, the person who doesn't necessarily get the most points, but puts their whole heart on the court."
The Tigers dominated from the start, jumping out to a 30-4 lead before allowing the Regents their first field goal with 5:18 left in the first half.
After spending most of game Saturday in a 2-3 zone defense, DPU switched back to their customary man-to-man scheme for the final.
"(Zone defense) is something new that we've added in the last three or four years," Tigers head coach Kris Huffman said. "It helps us when we go against teams with a 6'2" center, because we're undersized ... We're just making sure that we're prepared to play anybody, so it's something that we continue to work on."
Height on the front line wasn't a problem against Rockford and the tenacious defense of DePauw kept the Regents out of the paint.
"I always prefer man," Walker said. "I've played man my whole life. I never played zone until I came to DePauw, and even then we don't play it all that often."
The Tigers held a 41-15 lead at halftime, but only a slight 17-16 rebounding advantage.
"We always want to focus on rebounding," Huffman said. "Especially with this being the Hasbrook Tournament, and that was something that she did so well. We talked this week about making sure that this was something that we owned this weekend. We tried to own the glass."
The Tigers hauled in 21 rebounds, including 14 offensive rebounds, in the second half.
With the game well in hand, starters moved aside early after the break, allowing DPU's second unit to carry them the rest of the way.
Senior Kathleen Molloy was the games leading scorer, finishing with a career-high 15 points, making five-of-nine shots (four-of-five threes).
"I knew I was shooting kind of well, but I didn't know it was my career-high," Molloy, whose bio on the team website lists her praying for Hasbrook to get ready for each game, said.
Molloy and junior Alex Gasaway joined Walker on the all-tournament team.
DePauw plays again Friday when the team hosts conference-rival Allegheny at 6 p.m. The men's game follows.
DePauw senior point guard Kate Walker lines up for a runner over Rockford junior Destiny Chaney. Walker was named 2012 Amy Hasbrook Tournament MVP.
(Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN) [Order this photo]
At DePauw
Rockford 15 28 -- 43
DePauw 41 32 -- 73
Individual scoring
Rockford: Ryczek 6-14, 2-2, 17; Nichols 3-6, 2-3, 8; Bjerning 2-4, 0-0, 4; Chaney 1-5, 2-4, 4; Woods 1-5, 0-0, 3; Scott 1-2, 0-0, 3; Lengjak 1-6, 0-0, 2; Lawler 1-5, 0-0, 2; Johnson 0-5, 0-0, 0; Fowler 0-0, 0-0, 0.
DePauw: Molloy 5-9, 1-2, 15; Abendroth 4-4, 0-0, 10; Walker 3-5, 2-2, 9; Gasaway 4-7, 0-0, 9; Trees 2-6, 2-2, 6; Pearson 2-4, 1-2, 5; Ross 2-5, 1-2, 5; McGinnis 2-2, 0-0, 4; Skordos 1-2, 0-0, 3; Stephens 1-4, 1-2, 3; Ondik 1-4, 0-0, 2; Keller 1-4, 0-0, 2; Francis 0-0, 0-0, 0; Stoner 0-2, 0-0, 0; McDonagh 0-2, 0-0, 0; Hacker 0-1, 0-0, 0; Lukemeyer 0-1, 0-0, 0; Frost 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Team scoring (three-pointers)
Rockford 16-52 (7-14), 4-6, 43; DePauw 28-62 (9-19), 8-12, 73.
Rebounds (offensive)
Rockford 33 (16); DePauw 38 (18).
Turnovers
Rockford 22; DePauw 10.
Cougars place third at Speedway girls' basketball tourney
Monday, December 31, 2012
North Putnam junior point guard Bethany Wiatt rips the ball away from Arlington freshman Briella Tomlinson (33), recording one of her game-high nine steals. (Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN )[Order this photo]
SPEEDWAY -- Two teams entered the consolation game at the 2012 Speedway girls' basketball tournament looking to snap a burdensome losing streak.
North Putnam was able to do just that, beating Indianapolis Arlington (0-8) 67-36.
The Cougars (2-10) entered the game with a five-game losing streak. The Golden Knights made headlines a few weeks ago after suffering a 103-2 loss.
"Arlington played hard for 32 minutes," NPHS coach Curtis Lawrence said. "We let (the players) know (after the first game against Western Boone) that there are some things that we can improve on, and we were able to do that against Arlington."
NPHS began the game in attack mode, hoping out to a 13-5 lead and experimenting with full court ball pressure for the first time this season.
When it worked, the Cougars were able to get easy steals and layups. There were also signs of inexperience that allowed the Knights to leak out to the outside and race to the rim.
The Cougars led by only one (13-12) after the first quarter.
Eventually, they figured out how to use press.
NPHS closed the first half on a 16-3 run.
"We felt that, if we could apply a little bit of pressure to them, we would be able to create turnovers," Lawrence said, "which would lead to some easy baskets, which is something we haven't been able to do."
Junior point guard Bethany Wiatt seemed the most comfortable with applying full court pressure. She finished with nine steals, 11 points and three assists.
Senior Sam Lucas was the game's high-scorer, putting in 17 and adding 11 rebounds for the Cougars.
Senior Cayla Kientz added nine points, and sophomore Morgan Smith had eight.
NPHS is in the midst of its most winnable stretch of the season
with games next week against Fountain Central and Eminence.
Lawrence is hoping the new defensive strategy will help keep the momentum going.
"We really haven't played a team yet that I thought the press would be beneficial to us," he said. "When we get behind in a game, we don't have the makeup that is going be able to get us back in the game against the teams that we've played so far. We've got some teams coming up ... that I think our press is going to be beneficial to us."
The Cougars lost Saturday's opening game to Western Boone 65-18.
At Speedway
Game 1
North Putnam 5 6 2 5 -- 18
Western Boone 19 13 14 19 -- 65
Individual scoring
North Putnam: Asbell 1-5, 2-5, 4; Kientz 2-7, 0-1, 4; Wiatt 1-2, 0-1, 2; Lucas 1-4, 0-0, 2; Land 1-2, 0-0, 2; Mindiola 1-1, 0-0, 2; Smith 0-8, 1-2, 1; Clodfelter 0-2, 1-2, 1; Aynes 0-2, 0-0, 0; Pitcock 0-0, 0-0, 0; Reeves 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Western Boone: Harrison 6-16, 3-3, 15; Ramey 6-11, 0-1, 12; Climer 4-6, 0-0, 9; Vanderpool 3-8, 2-2, 8; Henderson 2-7, 1-5, 5; Mitchell 2-8, 0-0, 4; Miller 2-7, 0-0, 4; Marsh 2-11, 0-0, 4; Hole 1-1, 0-0, 2.
Team scoring (three-pointers)
NP 7-33 (0-4), 4-11, 18; WB 28-76 (1-7), 6-13, 65.
Rebounds (offensive)
NP 28 (5); WB 54 (30).
Turnovers
NP 34; WB 13.
Game 2
Indianapolis Arlington 12 3 8 13 -- 36
North Putnam 13 16 18 20 -- 67
Individual scoring
Indianapolis Arlington: Hogue 5-23, 1-2, 13; Tomlinson 4-8, 0-1, 9; Rupert 3-4, 1-1, 7; Davis 1-3, 0-0, 2; Turman 1-7, 0-0, 2; Watson 1-5, 0-0, 2; Hogens 0-1, 0-0, 0; White 0-0, 0-0, 0; Harvey 0-0, 0-0, 0.
North Putnam: Lucas 5-13, 7-10, 17; Kientz 4-6, 3-4, 11; Wiatt 3-8, 5-6, 11; Smith 2-12, 5-10, 9; Asbell 3-8, 1-4, 7; Land 2-6, 0-0, 4; Aynes 2-7, 0-0, 4; Mindiola 1-1, 0-0, 2; Clodfelter 0-3, 0-0, 0; Pitcock 0-2, 0-2, 0; Reeves 0-1, 0-0, 0.
Team scoring (three-pointers)
IA 16-52 (3-15), 2-5, 36; NP 23-66 (0-6), 21-37, 67.
Rebounds (offensive)
IA 42 (7); NP 49 (18).
Turnovers
IA 38, NP 17.
Clovers place 4th at Clinton Prairie Tournament
Sunday, December 30, 2012
Cloverdale senior Sydney Shrum drives in for a layup against Clinton Prairie senior Stephanie Schrock. Shrum made her shot and was fouled.
(Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN) [Order this photo]
FRANKFORT -- The Cloverdale girls' basketball team came out flat after a 10-day layoff, finishing in fourth place at Friday's Clinton Prairie Tournament after losses to the hosts and Hagerstown.
The Clovers played some of their best basketball of the season in the second half of game one against Clinton Prairie, but it wasn't enough to overcome the 22-point halftime deficit as the Gophers won 48-36.
Cloverdale was outrebounded 22-7 in the first half, and turned the ball over 13 times.
The team also made just three-of-20 shots before the break.
The Clovers emerged from halftime with energy, playing almost four minutes before getting a turnover in the third quarter.
As Cloverdale head coach Matthew Langdon dipped into his more inexperienced bench to save his starters energy for game two, the play got a little sloppier, but the still cut into the lead.
In the end, lack of scoring threats with too little time to make up the difference.
"We came out slow in the first game," Langdon said. "In the second half we played good man-to-man and we wanted to ball more ... I hoped we could bring that energy to the second game. (I knew) if we play like that, we have a chance (against Hagerstown)."
It wasn't to be. The team came out flat again, scoring just five first-quarter points. They failed to make a dent the rest of the game and the Tigers secured a 39-27 win.
Hagerstown junior Hayley Rogers scored 18 points in the win.
Senior Amillia Nally, the Clovers most consistent player on Friday, scored 10 points.
Cloverdale was allowed Hagerstown to attempt nearly twice as many field goals (48-26) during the course of the game.
The Clovers defense that has been pressuring opponents into turnovers all year let the team down. The Tigers had just eight in the game, and two in the second half.
"Our offense feeds off our defense," Langdon said. "We didn't do what we need to do."
Langdon said he was disappointed with the effort, but he hopes it was a product of the long layoff and not a sign of things to come.
In addition to the big break, the Clovers also expanded their rotation. Normally the team only gives seven players significant minutes, but Langdon said he realized he is going to need to find a way to keep his starters fresh as the postseason tournament approaches.
"I'm trying to get the starters more time out (of the game)," he said. "If we're going to be a pressing team the whole game, we're going to need to get our starters more of a break."
Cloverdale will carry a five-game losing streak with it when the team hosts South Vermillion on Jan. 3.
Notes: Eastern won the tournament championship game against Clinton Prairie, 59-43 ... Sophomore Bailee Stevens missed the tournament as she recovers from an injury, but she is expected to return in the Clovers next game ... Cloverdale (4-9) had a .500 record before the recent skid.
Cloverdale senior Amillia Nally splits through Hagerstown defenders to get to the basket for a layup.
(Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN) [Order this photo]
At Clinton Prairie
Game 1
Cloverdale 5 2 13 16 -- 36
Clinton Prairie 13 16 11 8 -- 48
Individual scoring
Cloverdale: Nally 4-12, 3-5, 9; Gruener 2-10, 3-4, 7; Shrum 3-4, 0-1, 6; Skiles 1-5, 1-2, 4; Walters 1-3, 1-3, 3; Wellington 1-1, 0-0, 3; Dorsett 0-0, 1-2, 1; Clark 0-3, 0-0, 0; Hamm 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Clinton Prairie: Hanna 3-9, 7-8, 14; Douglass 6-13, 1-2, 13; Clark 4-6, 1-4, 9; Schrock 1-3, 2-2, 4; Schoonveld 2-2, 0-0, 4; Pearson 1-1, 0-0, 3; Dunham 0-0, 1-2, 1; Wines 0-1, 0-0, 0; Sabens 0-0, 0-0, 0; Humrickhouse 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Team shooting (three-pointers)
Cloverdale 12-39 (3-12), 9-17, 36; Clinton Prairie 17-35 (2-4), 12-18, 48.
Rebounds (offensive)
Cloverdale 16 (6), Clinton Prairie 33 (9).
Turnovers
Cloverdale 20, Clinton Prairie 24.
Game 2
Hagerstown 8 12 9 10 -- 39
Cloverdale 5 8 5 9 -- 27
Individual scoring
Hagerstown: H Rogers 9-16, 0-0, 18; C Rogers 3-9, 1-2, 9; O Robinson 2-4, 1-2, 5; M Houck 2-8, 0-0, 4; S Houck 1-1, 0-0, 2; Brown 0-2, 1-2, 1; Arnold 0-3, 0-0, 0; Willis 0-2, 0-0, 0; Caudill 0-3, 0-0, 0; J Robinson 0-0, 0-0, 0; Matanich 0-0, 0-0, 0; Hannon 0-0, 0-0, 0; O Houck 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Cloverdale: Nally 4-7, 2-3, 10; Shrum 1-3, 5-6, 7; Clark 2-2, 0-0, 4; Gruener 1-7, 0-0, 2; Walters 1-2, 0-0, 2; Dorsett 1-2, 0-0, 2; Skiles 0-3, 0-0, 0; Wellington 0-0, 0-0, 0; Hamm 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Team shooting (three-pointers)
Hagerstown 17-48 (2-7), 3-6, 39; Cloverdale 10-26 (0-2), 7-9; 27.
Rebounds (offensive)
Hagerstown 22 (11), Cloverdale 23 (5).
Turnovers
Hagerstown 8, Cloverdale 22.
No. 1 Tigers find legs in Hasbrook semi
Saturday, December 29, 2012
DePauw junior Alex Gasaway drives in for a layup over Rose-Hulman freshman Addie Johnson and junior Kelsey Ploof (50). [Order this photo]
The DePauw University women's basketball team defeated Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology 79-36 on Saturday in the second game of the 2012 Amy Hasbrook Memorial Tournament.
The Tigers are ranked No. 1 in NCAA Division III and showed why with a convincing victory over the Engineers.
It was the Tigers first game in 10 days. The team is coming off a tournament win in Puerto Rico and a break due to the holidays.
DPU head coach Kris Huffman was concerned about her team's condition with the long layoff and, with a cancelled practice on Wednesday, she implemented a new strategy.
The Tigers platooned full five-player units every four minutes.
The starting five of senior Kate Walker, junior Ali Ross, sophomore Savannah Trees, junior Alex Gasaway and senior Ellie Pearson got the team off to a hot 6-for-11 start and a 14-5 lead before sitting down.
"It is fun, but I would say (coach Huffman) probably won't do that again," Ross said. "I liked it, but I also like getting to intermix with the other players."
After allowing six unanswered points by Rose-Hulman, the second unit of sophomores Emma Ondik and Lauren Abendroth, juniors Alison Stephens and Erin McGinnis and senior Kathleen Molloy started to get in sync.
Stephens (12) and Molloy (10) both finished the game in double-digit scoring.
"Coach did it to make sure that we had fresh legs constantly," Walker said. "I usually play with that set of five a lot, so it's not something that I wasn't used to."
The starters returned and expanded the lead to 34-11 with 5:59 left in the half, continuing a 20-0 run.
"We haven't done that this year," Huffman said. "We have some depth, but we usually don't platoon it ... It wasn't totally planned, but it's how it worked out."
The fresh legs allowed the hosts to keep Rose-Hullman off balance, and DePauw exploited it inside.
Gasaway scored 10 of her game-high 17 points in the first half.
DPU continued the platoon strategy in second half and the players got into an even better rhythm.
The Tigers had extra focus for their opponent, Walker said, because they're playing in memory of former DPU star Amy Hasbrook.
"We always learn a lot about Hasie," Walker said. "Coach has always held her up on a pedestal, saying how great she is and how good of a rebounder she is, so it's always a goal during the Hasie Tournament to get as many rebounds as possible and play your heart out.
"No matter what, I always feel like it's playing your heart out for her."
DPU out-rebounded Rose-Hulman by a convincing 40-27 margin.
"Amy was a special player for us," Huffman said. "We may sometimes talk about certain teams of a given year, but (for individual players) Hasie probably stands out. She was a special player ... and to know that we don't have her with us anymore probably brings it to light.
"She's a great example for us to keep her name and her memory alive."
Hasbrook graduated from DePauw in 2000 and died in a house fire in Indianapolis in 2002.
The Tigers face Rockford College (2-9) in the tournament final on Sunday at 5 p.m.
At DePauw
Rose-Hulman 21 15 -- 36
DePauw 40 39 -- 79
Individual scoring
Rose-Hulman: Johnson 4-10, 0-0, 8; Williams 2-4, 3-3, 8; Ploof 2-4, 3-4, 7; Evers 2-7, 1-1, 6; Morris 2-6, 1-2, 5; Gilliam 1-2, 0-0, 2; Cain 0-4, 0-2, 0; Ottone 0-0, 0-0, 0; Gibbs 0-1, 0-0, 0; Dalton 0-0, 0-0, 0; Fuhs 0-0, 0-0, 0; Barnes 0-0, 0-0, 0.
DePauw: Gasaway 7-11, 2-3, 16; Walker 5-11, 2-2, 12; Stephens 4-8, 2-2, 12; Molloy 4-6, 1-2, 10; Ross 4-9, 0-0, 9; Trees 2-4, 1-1, 5; Pearson 1-5, 2-3, 4; Sarkisian 2-2, 0-0, 4; Abendroth 1-5, 0-0, 3; Stoner 1-1, 0-0, 2; Hacker 1-2, 0-2, 2; Ondik 0-2, 0-0, 0; Skordos 0-1, 0-0, 0; McDonagh 0-2, 0-0, 0; Lukemeyer 0-1, 0-0, 0; McGinnis 0-0, 0-0, 0; Keller 0-1, 0-0, 0; Frost 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Team scoring (three-pointers)
RHIT 13-38 (2-14), 8-12, 36; DPU 32-71 (5-14), 10-15, 79.
Rebounds (offensive)
RHIT 27 (3); DPU 40 (18).
Turnovers
RHIT 27; DPU 8.
Pacers beat Grizzlies for fifth-straight home win
Monday, December 31, 2012
Pacers guard D.J. Augustin drives to the hoop against Memphis' Mike Conley.
(Courtesy photo)
INDIANAPOLIS -- The Pacers beat Memphis in an afternoon game on Monday, 88-83. They were without starting point guard George Hill, who missed the game with an injury.
D.J. Augustin, removed from the playing rotation a few weeks ago for rookie point guard Ben Hasbrough, stepped into the void in Hill's absence.
A former top-ten draft pick by Charlotte, Augustin has struggled to find a rhythm since joining the Pacers (18-13) as a free agent last summer.
He entered the game averaging just 3.1 points, on 26 percent shooting, and 2.3 assists per game.
Augustin, his fifth year out of Texas, spent the last two seasons starting for the Bobcats and seemed to find his groove by moving back into that role. He made four of the Pacers' 12 three-pointers, including a dagger late that put Indiana up six with two minutes left.
He also sank four-of-four free throws down the stretch to help seal the win.
"I was out there longer so the shots were able to come to me instead of me trying to force shots in limited minutes," Augustin said. "(Starting) makes a big difference. You come out loose and ready and prepared for the game. But when you come off the bench, you've got to be ready also."
Augustin added a season-high six assists.
Paul George continued his recent success, scoring a team-high 21 points. He also held Grizzlies star forward Rudy Gay to just three-of-17 shooting.
Roy Hibbert, coming off a zero-point, one-rebound catastrophe against Atlanta on Saturday, responded against Memphis.
The Grizzlies (19-9) attacked Hibbert early with Zach Randolph posting up, but they failed to feed the post consistently.
Randolph finished with 21 points and 15 rebounds.
Hibbert finished with four big blocks, including one of Gay that would have closed the gap to three with 1:51 remaining.
Indiana hosts the Wizards for the second time this season on Wednesday at 7 p.m.
At Indiana
Grizzlies 19 22 26 16 -- 83
Pacers 19 19 22 28 -- 88
Individual scoring
Grizzlies: Randolph 7-18, 7-8, 21; Gasol 6-10, 1-1, 13; Gay 3-17, 5-8, 11; Allen 5-8, 1-2, 11; Conley 3-9, 2-2, 9; Ellington 2-4, 0-0, 6; Arthur 3-6, 0-0, 6; Speights 2-6, 1-2, 5; Bayless 0-4, 1-1, 1.
Pacers: George 7-16, 3-4, 21; Augustin 4-9, 5-6, 17; West 3-6, 7-8, 13; Stephenson 3-7, 2-2, 10; Hibbert 3-11, 3-4, 9; T Hansbrough 3-6, 0-0, 6; B Hansbrough 2-5, 0-0, 6; Green 2-5, 0-0, 4; Mahinmi 1-5, 0-0, 2; Young 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Team scoring (three-pointers)
Grizzlies 31-82 (3-11), 18-24, 83; Pacers 28-70 (12-25), 20-24, 88.
Rebounds (offensive)
Grizzlies 44 (18); Pacers 38 (11).
Turnovers
Grizzlies 16; Pacers 18.
Top-ranked Tigers win Hasbrook championship against Rockford
Monday, December 31, 2012
Members of the 2012 All-Hasbrook Tournament team (from left) Erin Ryczek, Kate Walker, Kat Molloy, Alex Gasaway and former players Ann Hall, Sarah McKay, Lindsey Rush, Erin Miller and Dana Ferguson.Not pictured are Spalding senior Kelly Harrod and Rose-Hulman freshman Addie Johnson.
(Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN) [Order this photo]
Saturday's win over Rose-Hulman was just a warm-up for the DePauw women's basketball team as they feasted on Rockford College in the Hasbrook Tournament championship game Sunday, winning 73-43.
Senior point guard Kate Walker was named tournament MVP, having averaged 10.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists in just 18 minutes per game.
"It's nice to be awarded that, especially at the Hasie Tournament," Walker said. "I know this is going to sound corny, but Hasie (former DePauw guard Amy Hasbrook) ... coach talks so highly about her. So being the MVP of that tournament is kind of a big deal.
"In my head, what coach has described Hasie as is the hard-worker, the person who doesn't necessarily get the most points, but puts their whole heart on the court."
The Tigers dominated from the start, jumping out to a 30-4 lead before allowing the Regents their first field goal with 5:18 left in the first half.
After spending most of game Saturday in a 2-3 zone defense, DPU switched back to their customary man-to-man scheme for the final.
"(Zone defense) is something new that we've added in the last three or four years," Tigers head coach Kris Huffman said. "It helps us when we go against teams with a 6'2" center, because we're undersized ... We're just making sure that we're prepared to play anybody, so it's something that we continue to work on."
Height on the front line wasn't a problem against Rockford and the tenacious defense of DePauw kept the Regents out of the paint.
"I always prefer man," Walker said. "I've played man my whole life. I never played zone until I came to DePauw, and even then we don't play it all that often."
The Tigers held a 41-15 lead at halftime, but only a slight 17-16 rebounding advantage.
"We always want to focus on rebounding," Huffman said. "Especially with this being the Hasbrook Tournament, and that was something that she did so well. We talked this week about making sure that this was something that we owned this weekend. We tried to own the glass."
The Tigers hauled in 21 rebounds, including 14 offensive rebounds, in the second half.
With the game well in hand, starters moved aside early after the break, allowing DPU's second unit to carry them the rest of the way.
Senior Kathleen Molloy was the games leading scorer, finishing with a career-high 15 points, making five-of-nine shots (four-of-five threes).
"I knew I was shooting kind of well, but I didn't know it was my career-high," Molloy, whose bio on the team website lists her praying for Hasbrook to get ready for each game, said.
Molloy and junior Alex Gasaway joined Walker on the all-tournament team.
DePauw plays again Friday when the team hosts conference-rival Allegheny at 6 p.m. The men's game follows.
DePauw senior point guard Kate Walker lines up for a runner over Rockford junior Destiny Chaney. Walker was named 2012 Amy Hasbrook Tournament MVP.
(Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN) [Order this photo]
At DePauw
Rockford 15 28 -- 43
DePauw 41 32 -- 73
Individual scoring
Rockford: Ryczek 6-14, 2-2, 17; Nichols 3-6, 2-3, 8; Bjerning 2-4, 0-0, 4; Chaney 1-5, 2-4, 4; Woods 1-5, 0-0, 3; Scott 1-2, 0-0, 3; Lengjak 1-6, 0-0, 2; Lawler 1-5, 0-0, 2; Johnson 0-5, 0-0, 0; Fowler 0-0, 0-0, 0.
DePauw: Molloy 5-9, 1-2, 15; Abendroth 4-4, 0-0, 10; Walker 3-5, 2-2, 9; Gasaway 4-7, 0-0, 9; Trees 2-6, 2-2, 6; Pearson 2-4, 1-2, 5; Ross 2-5, 1-2, 5; McGinnis 2-2, 0-0, 4; Skordos 1-2, 0-0, 3; Stephens 1-4, 1-2, 3; Ondik 1-4, 0-0, 2; Keller 1-4, 0-0, 2; Francis 0-0, 0-0, 0; Stoner 0-2, 0-0, 0; McDonagh 0-2, 0-0, 0; Hacker 0-1, 0-0, 0; Lukemeyer 0-1, 0-0, 0; Frost 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Team scoring (three-pointers)
Rockford 16-52 (7-14), 4-6, 43; DePauw 28-62 (9-19), 8-12, 73.
Rebounds (offensive)
Rockford 33 (16); DePauw 38 (18).
Turnovers
Rockford 22; DePauw 10.
Cougars place third at Speedway girls' basketball tourney
Monday, December 31, 2012
North Putnam junior point guard Bethany Wiatt rips the ball away from Arlington freshman Briella Tomlinson (33), recording one of her game-high nine steals. (Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN )[Order this photo]
SPEEDWAY -- Two teams entered the consolation game at the 2012 Speedway girls' basketball tournament looking to snap a burdensome losing streak.
North Putnam was able to do just that, beating Indianapolis Arlington (0-8) 67-36.
The Cougars (2-10) entered the game with a five-game losing streak. The Golden Knights made headlines a few weeks ago after suffering a 103-2 loss.
"Arlington played hard for 32 minutes," NPHS coach Curtis Lawrence said. "We let (the players) know (after the first game against Western Boone) that there are some things that we can improve on, and we were able to do that against Arlington."
NPHS began the game in attack mode, hoping out to a 13-5 lead and experimenting with full court ball pressure for the first time this season.
When it worked, the Cougars were able to get easy steals and layups. There were also signs of inexperience that allowed the Knights to leak out to the outside and race to the rim.
The Cougars led by only one (13-12) after the first quarter.
Eventually, they figured out how to use press.
NPHS closed the first half on a 16-3 run.
"We felt that, if we could apply a little bit of pressure to them, we would be able to create turnovers," Lawrence said, "which would lead to some easy baskets, which is something we haven't been able to do."
Junior point guard Bethany Wiatt seemed the most comfortable with applying full court pressure. She finished with nine steals, 11 points and three assists.
Senior Sam Lucas was the game's high-scorer, putting in 17 and adding 11 rebounds for the Cougars.
Senior Cayla Kientz added nine points, and sophomore Morgan Smith had eight.
NPHS is in the midst of its most winnable stretch of the season
with games next week against Fountain Central and Eminence.
Lawrence is hoping the new defensive strategy will help keep the momentum going.
"We really haven't played a team yet that I thought the press would be beneficial to us," he said. "When we get behind in a game, we don't have the makeup that is going be able to get us back in the game against the teams that we've played so far. We've got some teams coming up ... that I think our press is going to be beneficial to us."
The Cougars lost Saturday's opening game to Western Boone 65-18.
At Speedway
Game 1
North Putnam 5 6 2 5 -- 18
Western Boone 19 13 14 19 -- 65
Individual scoring
North Putnam: Asbell 1-5, 2-5, 4; Kientz 2-7, 0-1, 4; Wiatt 1-2, 0-1, 2; Lucas 1-4, 0-0, 2; Land 1-2, 0-0, 2; Mindiola 1-1, 0-0, 2; Smith 0-8, 1-2, 1; Clodfelter 0-2, 1-2, 1; Aynes 0-2, 0-0, 0; Pitcock 0-0, 0-0, 0; Reeves 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Western Boone: Harrison 6-16, 3-3, 15; Ramey 6-11, 0-1, 12; Climer 4-6, 0-0, 9; Vanderpool 3-8, 2-2, 8; Henderson 2-7, 1-5, 5; Mitchell 2-8, 0-0, 4; Miller 2-7, 0-0, 4; Marsh 2-11, 0-0, 4; Hole 1-1, 0-0, 2.
Team scoring (three-pointers)
NP 7-33 (0-4), 4-11, 18; WB 28-76 (1-7), 6-13, 65.
Rebounds (offensive)
NP 28 (5); WB 54 (30).
Turnovers
NP 34; WB 13.
Game 2
Indianapolis Arlington 12 3 8 13 -- 36
North Putnam 13 16 18 20 -- 67
Individual scoring
Indianapolis Arlington: Hogue 5-23, 1-2, 13; Tomlinson 4-8, 0-1, 9; Rupert 3-4, 1-1, 7; Davis 1-3, 0-0, 2; Turman 1-7, 0-0, 2; Watson 1-5, 0-0, 2; Hogens 0-1, 0-0, 0; White 0-0, 0-0, 0; Harvey 0-0, 0-0, 0.
North Putnam: Lucas 5-13, 7-10, 17; Kientz 4-6, 3-4, 11; Wiatt 3-8, 5-6, 11; Smith 2-12, 5-10, 9; Asbell 3-8, 1-4, 7; Land 2-6, 0-0, 4; Aynes 2-7, 0-0, 4; Mindiola 1-1, 0-0, 2; Clodfelter 0-3, 0-0, 0; Pitcock 0-2, 0-2, 0; Reeves 0-1, 0-0, 0.
Team scoring (three-pointers)
IA 16-52 (3-15), 2-5, 36; NP 23-66 (0-6), 21-37, 67.
Rebounds (offensive)
IA 42 (7); NP 49 (18).
Turnovers
IA 38, NP 17.
Clovers place 4th at Clinton Prairie Tournament
Sunday, December 30, 2012
Cloverdale senior Sydney Shrum drives in for a layup against Clinton Prairie senior Stephanie Schrock. Shrum made her shot and was fouled.
(Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN) [Order this photo]
FRANKFORT -- The Cloverdale girls' basketball team came out flat after a 10-day layoff, finishing in fourth place at Friday's Clinton Prairie Tournament after losses to the hosts and Hagerstown.
The Clovers played some of their best basketball of the season in the second half of game one against Clinton Prairie, but it wasn't enough to overcome the 22-point halftime deficit as the Gophers won 48-36.
Cloverdale was outrebounded 22-7 in the first half, and turned the ball over 13 times.
The team also made just three-of-20 shots before the break.
The Clovers emerged from halftime with energy, playing almost four minutes before getting a turnover in the third quarter.
As Cloverdale head coach Matthew Langdon dipped into his more inexperienced bench to save his starters energy for game two, the play got a little sloppier, but the still cut into the lead.
In the end, lack of scoring threats with too little time to make up the difference.
"We came out slow in the first game," Langdon said. "In the second half we played good man-to-man and we wanted to ball more ... I hoped we could bring that energy to the second game. (I knew) if we play like that, we have a chance (against Hagerstown)."
It wasn't to be. The team came out flat again, scoring just five first-quarter points. They failed to make a dent the rest of the game and the Tigers secured a 39-27 win.
Hagerstown junior Hayley Rogers scored 18 points in the win.
Senior Amillia Nally, the Clovers most consistent player on Friday, scored 10 points.
Cloverdale was allowed Hagerstown to attempt nearly twice as many field goals (48-26) during the course of the game.
The Clovers defense that has been pressuring opponents into turnovers all year let the team down. The Tigers had just eight in the game, and two in the second half.
"Our offense feeds off our defense," Langdon said. "We didn't do what we need to do."
Langdon said he was disappointed with the effort, but he hopes it was a product of the long layoff and not a sign of things to come.
In addition to the big break, the Clovers also expanded their rotation. Normally the team only gives seven players significant minutes, but Langdon said he realized he is going to need to find a way to keep his starters fresh as the postseason tournament approaches.
"I'm trying to get the starters more time out (of the game)," he said. "If we're going to be a pressing team the whole game, we're going to need to get our starters more of a break."
Cloverdale will carry a five-game losing streak with it when the team hosts South Vermillion on Jan. 3.
Notes: Eastern won the tournament championship game against Clinton Prairie, 59-43 ... Sophomore Bailee Stevens missed the tournament as she recovers from an injury, but she is expected to return in the Clovers next game ... Cloverdale (4-9) had a .500 record before the recent skid.
Cloverdale senior Amillia Nally splits through Hagerstown defenders to get to the basket for a layup.
(Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN) [Order this photo]
At Clinton Prairie
Game 1
Cloverdale 5 2 13 16 -- 36
Clinton Prairie 13 16 11 8 -- 48
Individual scoring
Cloverdale: Nally 4-12, 3-5, 9; Gruener 2-10, 3-4, 7; Shrum 3-4, 0-1, 6; Skiles 1-5, 1-2, 4; Walters 1-3, 1-3, 3; Wellington 1-1, 0-0, 3; Dorsett 0-0, 1-2, 1; Clark 0-3, 0-0, 0; Hamm 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Clinton Prairie: Hanna 3-9, 7-8, 14; Douglass 6-13, 1-2, 13; Clark 4-6, 1-4, 9; Schrock 1-3, 2-2, 4; Schoonveld 2-2, 0-0, 4; Pearson 1-1, 0-0, 3; Dunham 0-0, 1-2, 1; Wines 0-1, 0-0, 0; Sabens 0-0, 0-0, 0; Humrickhouse 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Team shooting (three-pointers)
Cloverdale 12-39 (3-12), 9-17, 36; Clinton Prairie 17-35 (2-4), 12-18, 48.
Rebounds (offensive)
Cloverdale 16 (6), Clinton Prairie 33 (9).
Turnovers
Cloverdale 20, Clinton Prairie 24.
Game 2
Hagerstown 8 12 9 10 -- 39
Cloverdale 5 8 5 9 -- 27
Individual scoring
Hagerstown: H Rogers 9-16, 0-0, 18; C Rogers 3-9, 1-2, 9; O Robinson 2-4, 1-2, 5; M Houck 2-8, 0-0, 4; S Houck 1-1, 0-0, 2; Brown 0-2, 1-2, 1; Arnold 0-3, 0-0, 0; Willis 0-2, 0-0, 0; Caudill 0-3, 0-0, 0; J Robinson 0-0, 0-0, 0; Matanich 0-0, 0-0, 0; Hannon 0-0, 0-0, 0; O Houck 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Cloverdale: Nally 4-7, 2-3, 10; Shrum 1-3, 5-6, 7; Clark 2-2, 0-0, 4; Gruener 1-7, 0-0, 2; Walters 1-2, 0-0, 2; Dorsett 1-2, 0-0, 2; Skiles 0-3, 0-0, 0; Wellington 0-0, 0-0, 0; Hamm 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Team shooting (three-pointers)
Hagerstown 17-48 (2-7), 3-6, 39; Cloverdale 10-26 (0-2), 7-9; 27.
Rebounds (offensive)
Hagerstown 22 (11), Cloverdale 23 (5).
Turnovers
Hagerstown 8, Cloverdale 22.
Pacers beat Grizzlies for fifth-straight home win
Monday, December 31, 2012
Pacers guard D.J. Augustin drives to the hoop against Memphis' Mike Conley.
(Courtesy photo)
INDIANAPOLIS -- The Pacers beat Memphis in an afternoon game on Monday, 88-83. They were without starting point guard George Hill, who missed the game with an injury.
D.J. Augustin, removed from the playing rotation a few weeks ago for rookie point guard Ben Hasbrough, stepped into the void in Hill's absence.
A former top-ten draft pick by Charlotte, Augustin has struggled to find a rhythm since joining the Pacers (18-13) as a free agent last summer.
He entered the game averaging just 3.1 points, on 26 percent shooting, and 2.3 assists per game.
Augustin, his fifth year out of Texas, spent the last two seasons starting for the Bobcats and seemed to find his groove by moving back into that role. He made four of the Pacers' 12 three-pointers, including a dagger late that put Indiana up six with two minutes left.
He also sank four-of-four free throws down the stretch to help seal the win.
"I was out there longer so the shots were able to come to me instead of me trying to force shots in limited minutes," Augustin said. "(Starting) makes a big difference. You come out loose and ready and prepared for the game. But when you come off the bench, you've got to be ready also."
Augustin added a season-high six assists.
Paul George continued his recent success, scoring a team-high 21 points. He also held Grizzlies star forward Rudy Gay to just three-of-17 shooting.
Roy Hibbert, coming off a zero-point, one-rebound catastrophe against Atlanta on Saturday, responded against Memphis.
The Grizzlies (19-9) attacked Hibbert early with Zach Randolph posting up, but they failed to feed the post consistently.
Randolph finished with 21 points and 15 rebounds.
Hibbert finished with four big blocks, including one of Gay that would have closed the gap to three with 1:51 remaining.
Indiana hosts the Wizards for the second time this season on Wednesday at 7 p.m.
At Indiana
Grizzlies 19 22 26 16 -- 83
Pacers 19 19 22 28 -- 88
Individual scoring
Grizzlies: Randolph 7-18, 7-8, 21; Gasol 6-10, 1-1, 13; Gay 3-17, 5-8, 11; Allen 5-8, 1-2, 11; Conley 3-9, 2-2, 9; Ellington 2-4, 0-0, 6; Arthur 3-6, 0-0, 6; Speights 2-6, 1-2, 5; Bayless 0-4, 1-1, 1.
Pacers: George 7-16, 3-4, 21; Augustin 4-9, 5-6, 17; West 3-6, 7-8, 13; Stephenson 3-7, 2-2, 10; Hibbert 3-11, 3-4, 9; T Hansbrough 3-6, 0-0, 6; B Hansbrough 2-5, 0-0, 6; Green 2-5, 0-0, 4; Mahinmi 1-5, 0-0, 2; Young 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Team scoring (three-pointers)
Grizzlies 31-82 (3-11), 18-24, 83; Pacers 28-70 (12-25), 20-24, 88.
Rebounds (offensive)
Grizzlies 44 (18); Pacers 38 (11).
Turnovers
Grizzlies 16; Pacers 18.
Top-ranked Tigers win Hasbrook championship against Rockford
Monday, December 31, 2012
Members of the 2012 All-Hasbrook Tournament team (from left) Erin Ryczek, Kate Walker, Kat Molloy, Alex Gasaway and former players Ann Hall, Sarah McKay, Lindsey Rush, Erin Miller and Dana Ferguson.Not pictured are Spalding senior Kelly Harrod and Rose-Hulman freshman Addie Johnson.
(Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN) [Order this photo]
Saturday's win over Rose-Hulman was just a warm-up for the DePauw women's basketball team as they feasted on Rockford College in the Hasbrook Tournament championship game Sunday, winning 73-43.
Senior point guard Kate Walker was named tournament MVP, having averaged 10.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists in just 18 minutes per game.
"It's nice to be awarded that, especially at the Hasie Tournament," Walker said. "I know this is going to sound corny, but Hasie (former DePauw guard Amy Hasbrook) ... coach talks so highly about her. So being the MVP of that tournament is kind of a big deal.
"In my head, what coach has described Hasie as is the hard-worker, the person who doesn't necessarily get the most points, but puts their whole heart on the court."
The Tigers dominated from the start, jumping out to a 30-4 lead before allowing the Regents their first field goal with 5:18 left in the first half.
After spending most of game Saturday in a 2-3 zone defense, DPU switched back to their customary man-to-man scheme for the final.
"(Zone defense) is something new that we've added in the last three or four years," Tigers head coach Kris Huffman said. "It helps us when we go against teams with a 6'2" center, because we're undersized ... We're just making sure that we're prepared to play anybody, so it's something that we continue to work on."
Height on the front line wasn't a problem against Rockford and the tenacious defense of DePauw kept the Regents out of the paint.
"I always prefer man," Walker said. "I've played man my whole life. I never played zone until I came to DePauw, and even then we don't play it all that often."
The Tigers held a 41-15 lead at halftime, but only a slight 17-16 rebounding advantage.
"We always want to focus on rebounding," Huffman said. "Especially with this being the Hasbrook Tournament, and that was something that she did so well. We talked this week about making sure that this was something that we owned this weekend. We tried to own the glass."
The Tigers hauled in 21 rebounds, including 14 offensive rebounds, in the second half.
With the game well in hand, starters moved aside early after the break, allowing DPU's second unit to carry them the rest of the way.
Senior Kathleen Molloy was the games leading scorer, finishing with a career-high 15 points, making five-of-nine shots (four-of-five threes).
"I knew I was shooting kind of well, but I didn't know it was my career-high," Molloy, whose bio on the team website lists her praying for Hasbrook to get ready for each game, said.
Molloy and junior Alex Gasaway joined Walker on the all-tournament team.
DePauw plays again Friday when the team hosts conference-rival Allegheny at 6 p.m. The men's game follows.
DePauw senior point guard Kate Walker lines up for a runner over Rockford junior Destiny Chaney. Walker was named 2012 Amy Hasbrook Tournament MVP.
(Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN) [Order this photo]
At DePauw
Rockford 15 28 -- 43
DePauw 41 32 -- 73
Individual scoring
Rockford: Ryczek 6-14, 2-2, 17; Nichols 3-6, 2-3, 8; Bjerning 2-4, 0-0, 4; Chaney 1-5, 2-4, 4; Woods 1-5, 0-0, 3; Scott 1-2, 0-0, 3; Lengjak 1-6, 0-0, 2; Lawler 1-5, 0-0, 2; Johnson 0-5, 0-0, 0; Fowler 0-0, 0-0, 0.
DePauw: Molloy 5-9, 1-2, 15; Abendroth 4-4, 0-0, 10; Walker 3-5, 2-2, 9; Gasaway 4-7, 0-0, 9; Trees 2-6, 2-2, 6; Pearson 2-4, 1-2, 5; Ross 2-5, 1-2, 5; McGinnis 2-2, 0-0, 4; Skordos 1-2, 0-0, 3; Stephens 1-4, 1-2, 3; Ondik 1-4, 0-0, 2; Keller 1-4, 0-0, 2; Francis 0-0, 0-0, 0; Stoner 0-2, 0-0, 0; McDonagh 0-2, 0-0, 0; Hacker 0-1, 0-0, 0; Lukemeyer 0-1, 0-0, 0; Frost 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Team scoring (three-pointers)
Rockford 16-52 (7-14), 4-6, 43; DePauw 28-62 (9-19), 8-12, 73.
Rebounds (offensive)
Rockford 33 (16); DePauw 38 (18).
Turnovers
Rockford 22; DePauw 10.
Cougars place third at Speedway girls' basketball tourney
Monday, December 31, 2012
North Putnam junior point guard Bethany Wiatt rips the ball away from Arlington freshman Briella Tomlinson (33), recording one of her game-high nine steals. (Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN )[Order this photo]
SPEEDWAY -- Two teams entered the consolation game at the 2012 Speedway girls' basketball tournament looking to snap a burdensome losing streak.
North Putnam was able to do just that, beating Indianapolis Arlington (0-8) 67-36.
The Cougars (2-10) entered the game with a five-game losing streak. The Golden Knights made headlines a few weeks ago after suffering a 103-2 loss.
"Arlington played hard for 32 minutes," NPHS coach Curtis Lawrence said. "We let (the players) know (after the first game against Western Boone) that there are some things that we can improve on, and we were able to do that against Arlington."
NPHS began the game in attack mode, hoping out to a 13-5 lead and experimenting with full court ball pressure for the first time this season.
When it worked, the Cougars were able to get easy steals and layups. There were also signs of inexperience that allowed the Knights to leak out to the outside and race to the rim.
The Cougars led by only one (13-12) after the first quarter.
Eventually, they figured out how to use press.
NPHS closed the first half on a 16-3 run.
"We felt that, if we could apply a little bit of pressure to them, we would be able to create turnovers," Lawrence said, "which would lead to some easy baskets, which is something we haven't been able to do."
Junior point guard Bethany Wiatt seemed the most comfortable with applying full court pressure. She finished with nine steals, 11 points and three assists.
Senior Sam Lucas was the game's high-scorer, putting in 17 and adding 11 rebounds for the Cougars.
Senior Cayla Kientz added nine points, and sophomore Morgan Smith had eight.
NPHS is in the midst of its most winnable stretch of the season
with games next week against Fountain Central and Eminence.
Lawrence is hoping the new defensive strategy will help keep the momentum going.
"We really haven't played a team yet that I thought the press would be beneficial to us," he said. "When we get behind in a game, we don't have the makeup that is going be able to get us back in the game against the teams that we've played so far. We've got some teams coming up ... that I think our press is going to be beneficial to us."
The Cougars lost Saturday's opening game to Western Boone 65-18.
At Speedway
Game 1
North Putnam 5 6 2 5 -- 18
Western Boone 19 13 14 19 -- 65
Individual scoring
North Putnam: Asbell 1-5, 2-5, 4; Kientz 2-7, 0-1, 4; Wiatt 1-2, 0-1, 2; Lucas 1-4, 0-0, 2; Land 1-2, 0-0, 2; Mindiola 1-1, 0-0, 2; Smith 0-8, 1-2, 1; Clodfelter 0-2, 1-2, 1; Aynes 0-2, 0-0, 0; Pitcock 0-0, 0-0, 0; Reeves 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Western Boone: Harrison 6-16, 3-3, 15; Ramey 6-11, 0-1, 12; Climer 4-6, 0-0, 9; Vanderpool 3-8, 2-2, 8; Henderson 2-7, 1-5, 5; Mitchell 2-8, 0-0, 4; Miller 2-7, 0-0, 4; Marsh 2-11, 0-0, 4; Hole 1-1, 0-0, 2.
Team scoring (three-pointers)
NP 7-33 (0-4), 4-11, 18; WB 28-76 (1-7), 6-13, 65.
Rebounds (offensive)
NP 28 (5); WB 54 (30).
Turnovers
NP 34; WB 13.
Game 2
Indianapolis Arlington 12 3 8 13 -- 36
North Putnam 13 16 18 20 -- 67
Individual scoring
Indianapolis Arlington: Hogue 5-23, 1-2, 13; Tomlinson 4-8, 0-1, 9; Rupert 3-4, 1-1, 7; Davis 1-3, 0-0, 2; Turman 1-7, 0-0, 2; Watson 1-5, 0-0, 2; Hogens 0-1, 0-0, 0; White 0-0, 0-0, 0; Harvey 0-0, 0-0, 0.
North Putnam: Lucas 5-13, 7-10, 17; Kientz 4-6, 3-4, 11; Wiatt 3-8, 5-6, 11; Smith 2-12, 5-10, 9; Asbell 3-8, 1-4, 7; Land 2-6, 0-0, 4; Aynes 2-7, 0-0, 4; Mindiola 1-1, 0-0, 2; Clodfelter 0-3, 0-0, 0; Pitcock 0-2, 0-2, 0; Reeves 0-1, 0-0, 0.
Team scoring (three-pointers)
IA 16-52 (3-15), 2-5, 36; NP 23-66 (0-6), 21-37, 67.
Rebounds (offensive)
IA 42 (7); NP 49 (18).
Turnovers
IA 38, NP 17.
Pacers beat Grizzlies for fifth-straight home win
Monday, December 31, 2012
Pacers guard D.J. Augustin drives to the hoop against Memphis' Mike Conley.
(Courtesy photo)
INDIANAPOLIS -- The Pacers beat Memphis in an afternoon game on Monday, 88-83. They were without starting point guard George Hill, who missed the game with an injury.
D.J. Augustin, removed from the playing rotation a few weeks ago for rookie point guard Ben Hasbrough, stepped into the void in Hill's absence.
A former top-ten draft pick by Charlotte, Augustin has struggled to find a rhythm since joining the Pacers (18-13) as a free agent last summer.
He entered the game averaging just 3.1 points, on 26 percent shooting, and 2.3 assists per game.
Augustin, his fifth year out of Texas, spent the last two seasons starting for the Bobcats and seemed to find his groove by moving back into that role. He made four of the Pacers' 12 three-pointers, including a dagger late that put Indiana up six with two minutes left.
He also sank four-of-four free throws down the stretch to help seal the win.
"I was out there longer so the shots were able to come to me instead of me trying to force shots in limited minutes," Augustin said. "(Starting) makes a big difference. You come out loose and ready and prepared for the game. But when you come off the bench, you've got to be ready also."
Augustin added a season-high six assists.
Paul George continued his recent success, scoring a team-high 21 points. He also held Grizzlies star forward Rudy Gay to just three-of-17 shooting.
Roy Hibbert, coming off a zero-point, one-rebound catastrophe against Atlanta on Saturday, responded against Memphis.
The Grizzlies (19-9) attacked Hibbert early with Zach Randolph posting up, but they failed to feed the post consistently.
Randolph finished with 21 points and 15 rebounds.
Hibbert finished with four big blocks, including one of Gay that would have closed the gap to three with 1:51 remaining.
Indiana hosts the Wizards for the second time this season on Wednesday at 7 p.m.
At Indiana
Grizzlies 19 22 26 16 -- 83
Pacers 19 19 22 28 -- 88
Individual scoring
Grizzlies: Randolph 7-18, 7-8, 21; Gasol 6-10, 1-1, 13; Gay 3-17, 5-8, 11; Allen 5-8, 1-2, 11; Conley 3-9, 2-2, 9; Ellington 2-4, 0-0, 6; Arthur 3-6, 0-0, 6; Speights 2-6, 1-2, 5; Bayless 0-4, 1-1, 1.
Pacers: George 7-16, 3-4, 21; Augustin 4-9, 5-6, 17; West 3-6, 7-8, 13; Stephenson 3-7, 2-2, 10; Hibbert 3-11, 3-4, 9; T Hansbrough 3-6, 0-0, 6; B Hansbrough 2-5, 0-0, 6; Green 2-5, 0-0, 4; Mahinmi 1-5, 0-0, 2; Young 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Team scoring (three-pointers)
Grizzlies 31-82 (3-11), 18-24, 83; Pacers 28-70 (12-25), 20-24, 88.
Rebounds (offensive)
Grizzlies 44 (18); Pacers 38 (11).
Turnovers
Grizzlies 16; Pacers 18.
Top-ranked Tigers win Hasbrook championship against Rockford
Monday, December 31, 2012
Members of the 2012 All-Hasbrook Tournament team (from left) Erin Ryczek, Kate Walker, Kat Molloy, Alex Gasaway and former players Ann Hall, Sarah McKay, Lindsey Rush, Erin Miller and Dana Ferguson.Not pictured are Spalding senior Kelly Harrod and Rose-Hulman freshman Addie Johnson.
(Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN) [Order this photo]
Saturday's win over Rose-Hulman was just a warm-up for the DePauw women's basketball team as they feasted on Rockford College in the Hasbrook Tournament championship game Sunday, winning 73-43.
Senior point guard Kate Walker was named tournament MVP, having averaged 10.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists in just 18 minutes per game.
"It's nice to be awarded that, especially at the Hasie Tournament," Walker said. "I know this is going to sound corny, but Hasie (former DePauw guard Amy Hasbrook) ... coach talks so highly about her. So being the MVP of that tournament is kind of a big deal.
"In my head, what coach has described Hasie as is the hard-worker, the person who doesn't necessarily get the most points, but puts their whole heart on the court."
The Tigers dominated from the start, jumping out to a 30-4 lead before allowing the Regents their first field goal with 5:18 left in the first half.
After spending most of game Saturday in a 2-3 zone defense, DPU switched back to their customary man-to-man scheme for the final.
"(Zone defense) is something new that we've added in the last three or four years," Tigers head coach Kris Huffman said. "It helps us when we go against teams with a 6'2" center, because we're undersized ... We're just making sure that we're prepared to play anybody, so it's something that we continue to work on."
Height on the front line wasn't a problem against Rockford and the tenacious defense of DePauw kept the Regents out of the paint.
"I always prefer man," Walker said. "I've played man my whole life. I never played zone until I came to DePauw, and even then we don't play it all that often."
The Tigers held a 41-15 lead at halftime, but only a slight 17-16 rebounding advantage.
"We always want to focus on rebounding," Huffman said. "Especially with this being the Hasbrook Tournament, and that was something that she did so well. We talked this week about making sure that this was something that we owned this weekend. We tried to own the glass."
The Tigers hauled in 21 rebounds, including 14 offensive rebounds, in the second half.
With the game well in hand, starters moved aside early after the break, allowing DPU's second unit to carry them the rest of the way.
Senior Kathleen Molloy was the games leading scorer, finishing with a career-high 15 points, making five-of-nine shots (four-of-five threes).
"I knew I was shooting kind of well, but I didn't know it was my career-high," Molloy, whose bio on the team website lists her praying for Hasbrook to get ready for each game, said.
Molloy and junior Alex Gasaway joined Walker on the all-tournament team.
DePauw plays again Friday when the team hosts conference-rival Allegheny at 6 p.m. The men's game follows.
DePauw senior point guard Kate Walker lines up for a runner over Rockford junior Destiny Chaney. Walker was named 2012 Amy Hasbrook Tournament MVP.
(Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN) [Order this photo]
At DePauw
Rockford 15 28 -- 43
DePauw 41 32 -- 73
Individual scoring
Rockford: Ryczek 6-14, 2-2, 17; Nichols 3-6, 2-3, 8; Bjerning 2-4, 0-0, 4; Chaney 1-5, 2-4, 4; Woods 1-5, 0-0, 3; Scott 1-2, 0-0, 3; Lengjak 1-6, 0-0, 2; Lawler 1-5, 0-0, 2; Johnson 0-5, 0-0, 0; Fowler 0-0, 0-0, 0.
DePauw: Molloy 5-9, 1-2, 15; Abendroth 4-4, 0-0, 10; Walker 3-5, 2-2, 9; Gasaway 4-7, 0-0, 9; Trees 2-6, 2-2, 6; Pearson 2-4, 1-2, 5; Ross 2-5, 1-2, 5; McGinnis 2-2, 0-0, 4; Skordos 1-2, 0-0, 3; Stephens 1-4, 1-2, 3; Ondik 1-4, 0-0, 2; Keller 1-4, 0-0, 2; Francis 0-0, 0-0, 0; Stoner 0-2, 0-0, 0; McDonagh 0-2, 0-0, 0; Hacker 0-1, 0-0, 0; Lukemeyer 0-1, 0-0, 0; Frost 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Team scoring (three-pointers)
Rockford 16-52 (7-14), 4-6, 43; DePauw 28-62 (9-19), 8-12, 73.
Rebounds (offensive)
Rockford 33 (16); DePauw 38 (18).
Turnovers
Rockford 22; DePauw 10.
Pacers beat Grizzlies for fifth-straight home win
Monday, December 31, 2012
Pacers guard D.J. Augustin drives to the hoop against Memphis' Mike Conley.
(Courtesy photo)
INDIANAPOLIS -- The Pacers beat Memphis in an afternoon game on Monday, 88-83. They were without starting point guard George Hill, who missed the game with an injury.
D.J. Augustin, removed from the playing rotation a few weeks ago for rookie point guard Ben Hasbrough, stepped into the void in Hill's absence.
A former top-ten draft pick by Charlotte, Augustin has struggled to find a rhythm since joining the Pacers (18-13) as a free agent last summer.
He entered the game averaging just 3.1 points, on 26 percent shooting, and 2.3 assists per game.
Augustin, his fifth year out of Texas, spent the last two seasons starting for the Bobcats and seemed to find his groove by moving back into that role. He made four of the Pacers' 12 three-pointers, including a dagger late that put Indiana up six with two minutes left.
He also sank four-of-four free throws down the stretch to help seal the win.
"I was out there longer so the shots were able to come to me instead of me trying to force shots in limited minutes," Augustin said. "(Starting) makes a big difference. You come out loose and ready and prepared for the game. But when you come off the bench, you've got to be ready also."
Augustin added a season-high six assists.
Paul George continued his recent success, scoring a team-high 21 points. He also held Grizzlies star forward Rudy Gay to just three-of-17 shooting.
Roy Hibbert, coming off a zero-point, one-rebound catastrophe against Atlanta on Saturday, responded against Memphis.
The Grizzlies (19-9) attacked Hibbert early with Zach Randolph posting up, but they failed to feed the post consistently.
Randolph finished with 21 points and 15 rebounds.
Hibbert finished with four big blocks, including one of Gay that would have closed the gap to three with 1:51 remaining.
Indiana hosts the Wizards for the second time this season on Wednesday at 7 p.m.
At Indiana
Grizzlies 19 22 26 16 -- 83
Pacers 19 19 22 28 -- 88
Individual scoring
Grizzlies: Randolph 7-18, 7-8, 21; Gasol 6-10, 1-1, 13; Gay 3-17, 5-8, 11; Allen 5-8, 1-2, 11; Conley 3-9, 2-2, 9; Ellington 2-4, 0-0, 6; Arthur 3-6, 0-0, 6; Speights 2-6, 1-2, 5; Bayless 0-4, 1-1, 1.
Pacers: George 7-16, 3-4, 21; Augustin 4-9, 5-6, 17; West 3-6, 7-8, 13; Stephenson 3-7, 2-2, 10; Hibbert 3-11, 3-4, 9; T Hansbrough 3-6, 0-0, 6; B Hansbrough 2-5, 0-0, 6; Green 2-5, 0-0, 4; Mahinmi 1-5, 0-0, 2; Young 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Team scoring (three-pointers)
Grizzlies 31-82 (3-11), 18-24, 83; Pacers 28-70 (12-25), 20-24, 88.
Rebounds (offensive)
Grizzlies 44 (18); Pacers 38 (11).
Turnovers
Grizzlies 16; Pacers 18.
Pacers beat Grizzlies for fifth-straight home win
Pacers guard D.J. Augustin drives to the hoop against Memphis' Mike Conley.
(Courtesy photo)
(Courtesy photo)
D.J. Augustin, removed from the playing rotation a few weeks ago for rookie point guard Ben Hasbrough, stepped into the void in Hill's absence.
A former top-ten draft pick by Charlotte, Augustin has struggled to find a rhythm since joining the Pacers (18-13) as a free agent last summer.
He entered the game averaging just 3.1 points, on 26 percent shooting, and 2.3 assists per game.
Augustin, his fifth year out of Texas, spent the last two seasons starting for the Bobcats and seemed to find his groove by moving back into that role. He made four of the Pacers' 12 three-pointers, including a dagger late that put Indiana up six with two minutes left.
He also sank four-of-four free throws down the stretch to help seal the win.
"I was out there longer so the shots were able to come to me instead of me trying to force shots in limited minutes," Augustin said. "(Starting) makes a big difference. You come out loose and ready and prepared for the game. But when you come off the bench, you've got to be ready also."
Augustin added a season-high six assists.
Paul George continued his recent success, scoring a team-high 21 points. He also held Grizzlies star forward Rudy Gay to just three-of-17 shooting.
Roy Hibbert, coming off a zero-point, one-rebound catastrophe against Atlanta on Saturday, responded against Memphis.
The Grizzlies (19-9) attacked Hibbert early with Zach Randolph posting up, but they failed to feed the post consistently.
Randolph finished with 21 points and 15 rebounds.
Hibbert finished with four big blocks, including one of Gay that would have closed the gap to three with 1:51 remaining.
Indiana hosts the Wizards for the second time this season on Wednesday at 7 p.m.
At Indiana
Grizzlies 19 22 26 16 -- 83
Pacers 19 19 22 28 -- 88
Individual scoring
Grizzlies: Randolph 7-18, 7-8, 21; Gasol 6-10, 1-1, 13; Gay 3-17, 5-8, 11; Allen 5-8, 1-2, 11; Conley 3-9, 2-2, 9; Ellington 2-4, 0-0, 6; Arthur 3-6, 0-0, 6; Speights 2-6, 1-2, 5; Bayless 0-4, 1-1, 1.
Pacers: George 7-16, 3-4, 21; Augustin 4-9, 5-6, 17; West 3-6, 7-8, 13; Stephenson 3-7, 2-2, 10; Hibbert 3-11, 3-4, 9; T Hansbrough 3-6, 0-0, 6; B Hansbrough 2-5, 0-0, 6; Green 2-5, 0-0, 4; Mahinmi 1-5, 0-0, 2; Young 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Team scoring (three-pointers)
Grizzlies 31-82 (3-11), 18-24, 83; Pacers 28-70 (12-25), 20-24, 88.
Rebounds (offensive)
Grizzlies 44 (18); Pacers 38 (11).
Turnovers
Grizzlies 16; Pacers 18.
Top-ranked Tigers win Hasbrook championship against Rockford
Members of the 2012 All-Hasbrook Tournament team (from left) Erin Ryczek, Kate Walker, Kat Molloy, Alex Gasaway and former players Ann Hall, Sarah McKay, Lindsey Rush, Erin Miller and Dana Ferguson.Not pictured are Spalding senior Kelly Harrod and Rose-Hulman freshman Addie Johnson.
(Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN) [Order this photo]
(Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN) [Order this photo]
Senior point guard Kate Walker was named tournament MVP, having averaged 10.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists in just 18 minutes per game.
"It's nice to be awarded that, especially at the Hasie Tournament," Walker said. "I know this is going to sound corny, but Hasie (former DePauw guard Amy Hasbrook) ... coach talks so highly about her. So being the MVP of that tournament is kind of a big deal.
"In my head, what coach has described Hasie as is the hard-worker, the person who doesn't necessarily get the most points, but puts their whole heart on the court."
The Tigers dominated from the start, jumping out to a 30-4 lead before allowing the Regents their first field goal with 5:18 left in the first half.
After spending most of game Saturday in a 2-3 zone defense, DPU switched back to their customary man-to-man scheme for the final.
"(Zone defense) is something new that we've added in the last three or four years," Tigers head coach Kris Huffman said. "It helps us when we go against teams with a 6'2" center, because we're undersized ... We're just making sure that we're prepared to play anybody, so it's something that we continue to work on."
Height on the front line wasn't a problem against Rockford and the tenacious defense of DePauw kept the Regents out of the paint.
"I always prefer man," Walker said. "I've played man my whole life. I never played zone until I came to DePauw, and even then we don't play it all that often."
The Tigers held a 41-15 lead at halftime, but only a slight 17-16 rebounding advantage.
"We always want to focus on rebounding," Huffman said. "Especially with this being the Hasbrook Tournament, and that was something that she did so well. We talked this week about making sure that this was something that we owned this weekend. We tried to own the glass."
The Tigers hauled in 21 rebounds, including 14 offensive rebounds, in the second half.
With the game well in hand, starters moved aside early after the break, allowing DPU's second unit to carry them the rest of the way.
Senior Kathleen Molloy was the games leading scorer, finishing with a career-high 15 points, making five-of-nine shots (four-of-five threes).
"I knew I was shooting kind of well, but I didn't know it was my career-high," Molloy, whose bio on the team website lists her praying for Hasbrook to get ready for each game, said.
Molloy and junior Alex Gasaway joined Walker on the all-tournament team.
DePauw plays again Friday when the team hosts conference-rival Allegheny at 6 p.m. The men's game follows.
DePauw senior point guard Kate Walker lines up for a runner over Rockford junior Destiny Chaney. Walker was named 2012 Amy Hasbrook Tournament MVP.
(Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN) [Order this photo]
(Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN) [Order this photo]
At DePauw
Rockford 15 28 -- 43
DePauw 41 32 -- 73
Individual scoring
Rockford: Ryczek 6-14, 2-2, 17; Nichols 3-6, 2-3, 8; Bjerning 2-4, 0-0, 4; Chaney 1-5, 2-4, 4; Woods 1-5, 0-0, 3; Scott 1-2, 0-0, 3; Lengjak 1-6, 0-0, 2; Lawler 1-5, 0-0, 2; Johnson 0-5, 0-0, 0; Fowler 0-0, 0-0, 0.
DePauw: Molloy 5-9, 1-2, 15; Abendroth 4-4, 0-0, 10; Walker 3-5, 2-2, 9; Gasaway 4-7, 0-0, 9; Trees 2-6, 2-2, 6; Pearson 2-4, 1-2, 5; Ross 2-5, 1-2, 5; McGinnis 2-2, 0-0, 4; Skordos 1-2, 0-0, 3; Stephens 1-4, 1-2, 3; Ondik 1-4, 0-0, 2; Keller 1-4, 0-0, 2; Francis 0-0, 0-0, 0; Stoner 0-2, 0-0, 0; McDonagh 0-2, 0-0, 0; Hacker 0-1, 0-0, 0; Lukemeyer 0-1, 0-0, 0; Frost 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Team scoring (three-pointers)
Rockford 16-52 (7-14), 4-6, 43; DePauw 28-62 (9-19), 8-12, 73.
Rebounds (offensive)
Rockford 33 (16); DePauw 38 (18).
Turnovers
Rockford 22; DePauw 10.
Cougars place third at Speedway girls' basketball tourney
North Putnam junior point guard Bethany Wiatt rips the ball away from Arlington freshman Briella Tomlinson (33), recording one of her game-high nine steals. (Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN )[Order this photo]
North Putnam was able to do just that, beating Indianapolis Arlington (0-8) 67-36.
The Cougars (2-10) entered the game with a five-game losing streak. The Golden Knights made headlines a few weeks ago after suffering a 103-2 loss.
"Arlington played hard for 32 minutes," NPHS coach Curtis Lawrence said. "We let (the players) know (after the first game against Western Boone) that there are some things that we can improve on, and we were able to do that against Arlington."
NPHS began the game in attack mode, hoping out to a 13-5 lead and experimenting with full court ball pressure for the first time this season.
When it worked, the Cougars were able to get easy steals and layups. There were also signs of inexperience that allowed the Knights to leak out to the outside and race to the rim.
The Cougars led by only one (13-12) after the first quarter.
Eventually, they figured out how to use press.
NPHS closed the first half on a 16-3 run.
"We felt that, if we could apply a little bit of pressure to them, we would be able to create turnovers," Lawrence said, "which would lead to some easy baskets, which is something we haven't been able to do."
Junior point guard Bethany Wiatt seemed the most comfortable with applying full court pressure. She finished with nine steals, 11 points and three assists.
Senior Sam Lucas was the game's high-scorer, putting in 17 and adding 11 rebounds for the Cougars.
Senior Cayla Kientz added nine points, and sophomore Morgan Smith had eight.
NPHS is in the midst of its most winnable stretch of the season
with games next week against Fountain Central and Eminence.
Lawrence is hoping the new defensive strategy will help keep the momentum going.
"We really haven't played a team yet that I thought the press would be beneficial to us," he said. "When we get behind in a game, we don't have the makeup that is going be able to get us back in the game against the teams that we've played so far. We've got some teams coming up ... that I think our press is going to be beneficial to us."
The Cougars lost Saturday's opening game to Western Boone 65-18.
At Speedway
Game 1
North Putnam 5 6 2 5 -- 18
Western Boone 19 13 14 19 -- 65
Individual scoring
North Putnam: Asbell 1-5, 2-5, 4; Kientz 2-7, 0-1, 4; Wiatt 1-2, 0-1, 2; Lucas 1-4, 0-0, 2; Land 1-2, 0-0, 2; Mindiola 1-1, 0-0, 2; Smith 0-8, 1-2, 1; Clodfelter 0-2, 1-2, 1; Aynes 0-2, 0-0, 0; Pitcock 0-0, 0-0, 0; Reeves 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Western Boone: Harrison 6-16, 3-3, 15; Ramey 6-11, 0-1, 12; Climer 4-6, 0-0, 9; Vanderpool 3-8, 2-2, 8; Henderson 2-7, 1-5, 5; Mitchell 2-8, 0-0, 4; Miller 2-7, 0-0, 4; Marsh 2-11, 0-0, 4; Hole 1-1, 0-0, 2.
Team scoring (three-pointers)
NP 7-33 (0-4), 4-11, 18; WB 28-76 (1-7), 6-13, 65.
Rebounds (offensive)
NP 28 (5); WB 54 (30).
Turnovers
NP 34; WB 13.
Game 2
Indianapolis Arlington 12 3 8 13 -- 36
North Putnam 13 16 18 20 -- 67
Individual scoring
Indianapolis Arlington: Hogue 5-23, 1-2, 13; Tomlinson 4-8, 0-1, 9; Rupert 3-4, 1-1, 7; Davis 1-3, 0-0, 2; Turman 1-7, 0-0, 2; Watson 1-5, 0-0, 2; Hogens 0-1, 0-0, 0; White 0-0, 0-0, 0; Harvey 0-0, 0-0, 0.
North Putnam: Lucas 5-13, 7-10, 17; Kientz 4-6, 3-4, 11; Wiatt 3-8, 5-6, 11; Smith 2-12, 5-10, 9; Asbell 3-8, 1-4, 7; Land 2-6, 0-0, 4; Aynes 2-7, 0-0, 4; Mindiola 1-1, 0-0, 2; Clodfelter 0-3, 0-0, 0; Pitcock 0-2, 0-2, 0; Reeves 0-1, 0-0, 0.
Team scoring (three-pointers)
IA 16-52 (3-15), 2-5, 36; NP 23-66 (0-6), 21-37, 67.
Rebounds (offensive)
IA 42 (7); NP 49 (18).
Turnovers
IA 38, NP 17.
Clovers place 4th at Clinton Prairie Tournament
Cloverdale senior Sydney Shrum drives in for a layup against Clinton Prairie senior Stephanie Schrock. Shrum made her shot and was fouled.
(Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN) [Order this photo]
(Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN) [Order this photo]
The Clovers played some of their best basketball of the season in the second half of game one against Clinton Prairie, but it wasn't enough to overcome the 22-point halftime deficit as the Gophers won 48-36.
Cloverdale was outrebounded 22-7 in the first half, and turned the ball over 13 times.
The team also made just three-of-20 shots before the break.
The Clovers emerged from halftime with energy, playing almost four minutes before getting a turnover in the third quarter.
As Cloverdale head coach Matthew Langdon dipped into his more inexperienced bench to save his starters energy for game two, the play got a little sloppier, but the still cut into the lead.
In the end, lack of scoring threats with too little time to make up the difference.
"We came out slow in the first game," Langdon said. "In the second half we played good man-to-man and we wanted to ball more ... I hoped we could bring that energy to the second game. (I knew) if we play like that, we have a chance (against Hagerstown)."
It wasn't to be. The team came out flat again, scoring just five first-quarter points. They failed to make a dent the rest of the game and the Tigers secured a 39-27 win.
Hagerstown junior Hayley Rogers scored 18 points in the win.
Senior Amillia Nally, the Clovers most consistent player on Friday, scored 10 points.
Cloverdale was allowed Hagerstown to attempt nearly twice as many field goals (48-26) during the course of the game.
The Clovers defense that has been pressuring opponents into turnovers all year let the team down. The Tigers had just eight in the game, and two in the second half.
"Our offense feeds off our defense," Langdon said. "We didn't do what we need to do."
Langdon said he was disappointed with the effort, but he hopes it was a product of the long layoff and not a sign of things to come.
In addition to the big break, the Clovers also expanded their rotation. Normally the team only gives seven players significant minutes, but Langdon said he realized he is going to need to find a way to keep his starters fresh as the postseason tournament approaches.
"I'm trying to get the starters more time out (of the game)," he said. "If we're going to be a pressing team the whole game, we're going to need to get our starters more of a break."
Cloverdale will carry a five-game losing streak with it when the team hosts South Vermillion on Jan. 3.
Notes: Eastern won the tournament championship game against Clinton Prairie, 59-43 ... Sophomore Bailee Stevens missed the tournament as she recovers from an injury, but she is expected to return in the Clovers next game ... Cloverdale (4-9) had a .500 record before the recent skid.
Cloverdale senior Amillia Nally splits through Hagerstown defenders to get to the basket for a layup.
(Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN) [Order this photo]
(Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN) [Order this photo]
At Clinton Prairie
Game 1
Cloverdale 5 2 13 16 -- 36
Clinton Prairie 13 16 11 8 -- 48
Individual scoring
Cloverdale: Nally 4-12, 3-5, 9; Gruener 2-10, 3-4, 7; Shrum 3-4, 0-1, 6; Skiles 1-5, 1-2, 4; Walters 1-3, 1-3, 3; Wellington 1-1, 0-0, 3; Dorsett 0-0, 1-2, 1; Clark 0-3, 0-0, 0; Hamm 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Clinton Prairie: Hanna 3-9, 7-8, 14; Douglass 6-13, 1-2, 13; Clark 4-6, 1-4, 9; Schrock 1-3, 2-2, 4; Schoonveld 2-2, 0-0, 4; Pearson 1-1, 0-0, 3; Dunham 0-0, 1-2, 1; Wines 0-1, 0-0, 0; Sabens 0-0, 0-0, 0; Humrickhouse 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Team shooting (three-pointers)
Cloverdale 12-39 (3-12), 9-17, 36; Clinton Prairie 17-35 (2-4), 12-18, 48.
Rebounds (offensive)
Cloverdale 16 (6), Clinton Prairie 33 (9).
Turnovers
Cloverdale 20, Clinton Prairie 24.
Game 2
Hagerstown 8 12 9 10 -- 39
Cloverdale 5 8 5 9 -- 27
Individual scoring
Hagerstown: H Rogers 9-16, 0-0, 18; C Rogers 3-9, 1-2, 9; O Robinson 2-4, 1-2, 5; M Houck 2-8, 0-0, 4; S Houck 1-1, 0-0, 2; Brown 0-2, 1-2, 1; Arnold 0-3, 0-0, 0; Willis 0-2, 0-0, 0; Caudill 0-3, 0-0, 0; J Robinson 0-0, 0-0, 0; Matanich 0-0, 0-0, 0; Hannon 0-0, 0-0, 0; O Houck 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Cloverdale: Nally 4-7, 2-3, 10; Shrum 1-3, 5-6, 7; Clark 2-2, 0-0, 4; Gruener 1-7, 0-0, 2; Walters 1-2, 0-0, 2; Dorsett 1-2, 0-0, 2; Skiles 0-3, 0-0, 0; Wellington 0-0, 0-0, 0; Hamm 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Team shooting (three-pointers)
Hagerstown 17-48 (2-7), 3-6, 39; Cloverdale 10-26 (0-2), 7-9; 27.
Rebounds (offensive)
Hagerstown 22 (11), Cloverdale 23 (5).
Turnovers
Hagerstown 8, Cloverdale 22.
No. 1 Tigers find legs in Hasbrook semi
DePauw junior Alex Gasaway drives in for a layup over Rose-Hulman freshman Addie Johnson and junior Kelsey Ploof (50). [Order this photo]
The Tigers are ranked No. 1 in NCAA Division III and showed why with a convincing victory over the Engineers.
It was the Tigers first game in 10 days. The team is coming off a tournament win in Puerto Rico and a break due to the holidays.
DPU head coach Kris Huffman was concerned about her team's condition with the long layoff and, with a cancelled practice on Wednesday, she implemented a new strategy.
The Tigers platooned full five-player units every four minutes.
The starting five of senior Kate Walker, junior Ali Ross, sophomore Savannah Trees, junior Alex Gasaway and senior Ellie Pearson got the team off to a hot 6-for-11 start and a 14-5 lead before sitting down.
"It is fun, but I would say (coach Huffman) probably won't do that again," Ross said. "I liked it, but I also like getting to intermix with the other players."
After allowing six unanswered points by Rose-Hulman, the second unit of sophomores Emma Ondik and Lauren Abendroth, juniors Alison Stephens and Erin McGinnis and senior Kathleen Molloy started to get in sync.
Stephens (12) and Molloy (10) both finished the game in double-digit scoring.
"Coach did it to make sure that we had fresh legs constantly," Walker said. "I usually play with that set of five a lot, so it's not something that I wasn't used to."
The starters returned and expanded the lead to 34-11 with 5:59 left in the half, continuing a 20-0 run.
"We haven't done that this year," Huffman said. "We have some depth, but we usually don't platoon it ... It wasn't totally planned, but it's how it worked out."
The fresh legs allowed the hosts to keep Rose-Hullman off balance, and DePauw exploited it inside.
Gasaway scored 10 of her game-high 17 points in the first half.
DPU continued the platoon strategy in second half and the players got into an even better rhythm.
The Tigers had extra focus for their opponent, Walker said, because they're playing in memory of former DPU star Amy Hasbrook.
"We always learn a lot about Hasie," Walker said. "Coach has always held her up on a pedestal, saying how great she is and how good of a rebounder she is, so it's always a goal during the Hasie Tournament to get as many rebounds as possible and play your heart out.
"No matter what, I always feel like it's playing your heart out for her."
DPU out-rebounded Rose-Hulman by a convincing 40-27 margin.
"Amy was a special player for us," Huffman said. "We may sometimes talk about certain teams of a given year, but (for individual players) Hasie probably stands out. She was a special player ... and to know that we don't have her with us anymore probably brings it to light.
"She's a great example for us to keep her name and her memory alive."
Hasbrook graduated from DePauw in 2000 and died in a house fire in Indianapolis in 2002.
The Tigers face Rockford College (2-9) in the tournament final on Sunday at 5 p.m.
At DePauw
Rose-Hulman 21 15 -- 36
DePauw 40 39 -- 79
Individual scoring
Rose-Hulman: Johnson 4-10, 0-0, 8; Williams 2-4, 3-3, 8; Ploof 2-4, 3-4, 7; Evers 2-7, 1-1, 6; Morris 2-6, 1-2, 5; Gilliam 1-2, 0-0, 2; Cain 0-4, 0-2, 0; Ottone 0-0, 0-0, 0; Gibbs 0-1, 0-0, 0; Dalton 0-0, 0-0, 0; Fuhs 0-0, 0-0, 0; Barnes 0-0, 0-0, 0.
DePauw: Gasaway 7-11, 2-3, 16; Walker 5-11, 2-2, 12; Stephens 4-8, 2-2, 12; Molloy 4-6, 1-2, 10; Ross 4-9, 0-0, 9; Trees 2-4, 1-1, 5; Pearson 1-5, 2-3, 4; Sarkisian 2-2, 0-0, 4; Abendroth 1-5, 0-0, 3; Stoner 1-1, 0-0, 2; Hacker 1-2, 0-2, 2; Ondik 0-2, 0-0, 0; Skordos 0-1, 0-0, 0; McDonagh 0-2, 0-0, 0; Lukemeyer 0-1, 0-0, 0; McGinnis 0-0, 0-0, 0; Keller 0-1, 0-0, 0; Frost 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Team scoring (three-pointers)
RHIT 13-38 (2-14), 8-12, 36; DPU 32-71 (5-14), 10-15, 79.
Rebounds (offensive)
RHIT 27 (3); DPU 40 (18).
Turnovers
RHIT 27; DPU 8.
Tiger Cubs vacation comes to halt against Danville
Greencastle sophomore Brody Bollman drives in for a layup, fending off Danville defender B'ster Detty.
(Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN) [Order this photo]
(Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN) [Order this photo]
The Tiger Cubs (1-6) played their first game in 13 days and, despite the loss, changes were evident.
"I do think we're seeing improvement as a team, even though the scoreboard may not show it," GHS head coach Troy Greenlee said. "You hate to say you're satisfied with losing a game like this, but as we are, we have to do that. We have to look at where we are and where we were and compare.
"I think we're getting better."
GHS began the game struggling against the fast and aggressive Danville (8-1) defense.
The Warriors converted their first six shots to open the game, mostly fast break layups coming off turnovers.
Danville senior Ian Asher led the early attack, scoring 12 of his game-high 21 points in the first half.
The Tiger Cubs guards began to figure out the pressure, in the second quarter, but Danville found scoring just as easy in their half-court offense.
"They're a really good team and we knew they were a really good team," Greenlee said. "They're such a tough team to guard because they have the perimeter shooters, they can drive the ball well and they have just enough post presence to make it hard."
Greencastle came out sharp after halftime before surrendering a 9-0 run to end the third quarter.
Danville fed senior Jackson Stone in the post throughout the half and the shorter GHS front line couldn't prevent him from getting the ball deep under the hoop for easy lay-ins.
Stone finished with 17 points.
As the Warriors continued to get easy shots, the Tiger Cubs continued to shoot from the outside.
It was only after fouls began to pile up for Danville that GHS started to get into a rhythm.
The Warriors were called for 14 fouls in the second half, and the Cubs made seven-of-11 free throws in the fourth, but by then it was too little, too late.
"We knew it would be a tough game for us if we didn't do the things we talked about before the game, like taking care of the ball," Greenlee said. "We're not where we want to be, but I think we're taking some steps forward."
Freshman Ryan Coble and senior Nick Gilliam each scored seven points to lead the Tiger Cubs.
GHS hosts Speedway on Friday, Jan. 3 at 7:30 p.m.
At Greencastle
Danville 17 19 19 16 -- 71
Greencastle 5 18 12 14 -- 49
Individual scoring
Danville: Asher 8-14, 3-3, 21; Stone 8-9, 1-3, 17; Motes 4-8, 0-0, 10; Just 3-4, 3-4, 9; Amore 3-4, 1-2, 8; Detty 1-2, 2-2, 4; Ross 0-1, 2-2, 2; Collier 1-1, 0-0, 2; Shipley 0-1, 0-0, 0; Weir 0-1, 0-2, 0; Anderson 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Greencastle: Coble 3-6, 1-2, 7; Gilliam 2-7, 2-3, 7; Winslow 3-9, 0-0, 6; Gerard 2-6, 1-2, 6; Mitchell 1-2, 3-5, 5; Foxx 1-3, 2-3, 4; Christy 1-3, 0-0, 3; Bollman 1-6, 1-1, 3; King 1-2, 0-0, 3; Hughes 1-2, 0-0, 3.
Team scoring (three-pointers)
Danville 28-45 (5-12), 10-16, 71; Greencastle 16-45 (7-17), 10-17, 49.
Rebounds (offensive)
Danville 30 (7), Greencastle 28 (12)
Turnovers
Danville 15, Greencastle 21
DePauw brings Bill Lynch back as head football coach
Bill Lynch
Lynch was previously the Tigers' head coach for the 2004 season and he will take over on Jan. 2, 2013.
"I wasn't really looking, but when the DePauw situation came up, that really got me thinking about it because I had such a great experience while I was there in 2004," Lynch told the Banner Graphic. "They want to be successful, and they want to be successful in the right way."
Lynch left DePauw with an 8-2 record in just one season as head coach to become offensive coordinator for Indiana University.
He was faced with the difficult task of replacing his good friend, Terry Hoeppner, as head coach of the Hoosiers when Hoep-pner passed away in June 2007.
Lynch spent four seasons as head coach at IU, reaching a bowl game in his first season and compiling a 19-30 record.
After being fired following the 2010 season, Lynch became the associate athletic director for development at his alma mater, Butler.
His duties included working closely with the football team there. He also has three sons who coach college football.
"I haven't been away from football, I just haven't been on the sideline coaching it," Lynch said. "I've got the same passion and energy that I always have."
DePauw athletic director Stevie Baker-Watson said Thursday that hiring Lynch was the completion of a lengthy process.
"It was something that we've really been working on since Coach Long was fired in September," Baker-Watson said. "The whole process I wanted to complete by the holidays."
Robby Long was fired on Sept. 16, just two weeks into the season, for failing to "take corrective actions in a timely manner" regarding administrative issues under his control.
Long had been DePauw's head coach since August 2009.
The Tigers have had five different coaches since Nick Mourouzis retired after the 2003 season, with Long's three-plus years being the longest span.
Choosing Lynch among the candidates seems to signal that DePauw was looking for a long-term commitment more than an up-and-coming hire.
"He was looking for a landing spot, like I was when I came here," Mourouzis said. "This will give us stability."
Lynch, who still owns a house in Putnam County, said DePauw will likely be the final stop of his coaching career.
"We've been very fortunate, my wife and I, to be able to raise our kids in Indiana," Lynch said. "To be able to end it here is really great for us from a family situation."
DPU sorted through more than 130 applicants, narrowing the field to 40 in the top category, Baker-Watson said.
Ten received phone interviews, and the top four -- Lynch, Monmouth College head coach Steve Bell, DPU graduate and Army running backs coach Tucker Waugh and Dartmouth college special teams coordinator Chris Wilkerson -- were brought in last week for interviews.
Baker-Watson said she has received a tremendous amount of feedback from alumni and community members during the coaching search.
Although the school initially planned to keep the hiring process in-house, she decided it would be best to open it up to a hiring firm to keep the search more transparent.
As the field of candidates narrowed, Baker-Watson said she discussed candidates with people close to the DePauw program that were familiar with them.
After announcing the final four, it was a chance for those people to "hit send, again," Baker-Watson said, and share their final thoughts.
This included Mour-ouzis, who sat in on the final interviews.
"He's the best (candidate) for the situation that we have right now," Mourouzis said. "He's proven leadership. He knows all the coaches and has great respect for all the high school coaches in Indiana and the Midwest.
"Success in Division III all comes down to recruiting. I think that he can recruit a lot of good athletes for us here at DePauw."
Baker-Watson added that although the search came as a result of what she called "terrible circumstances" -- firing the previous head coach in the middle of the season -- it was a good opportunity to get feedback from alumni and reset the football program.
DePauw finished the 2012 season with a 2-8 record, losing the Monon Bell Classic for the fourth straight year.
Defensive coordinator Scott Srnka was named interim head coach after Long was let go, but his future and the rest of the staff is uncertain.
Baker-Watson said she would leave that up to Lynch.
"I knew I needed to hire a leader of the program," she said, "and the rest would work itself out."
Getting the coaching staff settled is priorty No. 1 for Lynch when he starts next month.
"I look forward to meeting them," he said. "The first thing is getting to know the staff that are there, and then it's very important to meet and get to know the players that are in the program right now."
DPU students began their winter break last Friday and will not return to class until Jan. 28, giving Lynch nearly a month on the job to recruit current and future players.
He conceded that he hasn't had a chance to watch the team play in recent years, but he is looking to forward to getting started with recruiting, and that starts with the players he has on campus.
"That's what this time of year is all about," Lynch said. "It's a process. First, getting to know (players) in a one-on-one basis and then you start to develop relationships.
"That's what starts building a team."
Lynch has a 100-97-3 career record as a head coach.
Besides DPU and IU, he has also been the head coach of Ball State University (1995-2002) and his alma mater, Butler (1985-1989).
Ball State was recognized by the American Football Coaches Association for outstanding graduation rates from 2000-02.
Lynch has also been an assistant coach at Northern Illinois and the United States Foot-ball League's Orlando Renegades.
Cloverdale's fight for coach Butler a worthwhile cause
He has of way of speaking, about football, and about his kids, that always teaches.
When emotions are high after a game, he's deliberate with his words. He makes sure everyone understands -- always.
He's not telling, he's showing.
As the Cloverdale football team struggled through a winless regular season, Butler stayed positive, upbeat.
There were rumors swirling around -- as early as week three -- that his job could be in jeopardy.
He heard them. The players and parents heard them.
Butler kept it going.
The season started with Cloverdale having its biggest roster in the school's recent history.
By the end of week four, the team had lost 17 of 22 starters to season- or career-ending injury, and nine more of the key subs.
They finished the regular season 0-9, and the sectional quarterfinal game began when Riverton Parke returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown.
Most 16- and 17-year-old kids would get down on themselves.
"My football team -- my staff and my kids -- have literally moved on from the first nine weeks of the season," Butler said after the RPHS game.
On their first drive, the Clovers went for it on fourth down from their own their own 32-yard line.
They picked up the first down. On the next play, junior Wade Warren took the ball 58 yards for a score.
"We bought in to what coach is saying," Warren said Tuesday.
How do you get a group of kids to buy in when all they've known that season is losing? When they walk down the hall wearing jerseys on Friday and other students laugh at them?
"You've got to have faith," senior Dustin Cummings said. "And he believes in us."
Cloverdale won that game. Instead of being down on themselves, the kids played their best football -- physically and mentally -- of the year.
Most of the players and parents love him. It's impossible to get through an interview with Butler and not be interrupted several times by parents and players coming up to shake his hand and thank him.
"I'll get you when we get back," he always says, not wanting to be rude and make the reporter wait. If he shakes one hand, he'll have to shake them all.
After his team lost to Attica in the sectional semifinal game, an emotional Butler spoke to his players and "the football family" about the program; about their commitment.
"When I came here, priority No. 1 was to change the football culture and the way the kids approach work, and they've done it," Butler said. "At this point, it's just a matter of in-school recruiting and getting those kids to buy in to the work ethic that the rest of them show.
"If we can do that, then we'll continue to gradually grow."
Butler told his seniors after that game that they're a part of the program until they walk across the stage and get their diplomas.
After the gathering, it appears many parents are hoping Butler will still be the coach when that happens.
In second stint at DePauw, Lynch now ready to stay
New DePauw head coach stalks the sidelines during his first stint with the Tigers in 2004.
(Courtesy photo/DePauw University)
(Courtesy photo/DePauw University)
Lynch first coached the team in 2004, replacing legendary DPU head coach Nick Mourouzis.
Coach Nick served as head coach for 23 seasons before stepping down, and the school hadn't known much change.
Beginning with Lynch, the Tigers have had five coaches in the nine years since.
Lynch hadn't planned to make his stay short, but when he got a call from his good friend inviting him to join the staff at Indiana University, it was too much to turn down.
"That was a very unique situation, in that a very good friend of mine, Terry Hoeppner, (called)," Lynch said. "We had kind of grown up together in the coaching profession and always competed against each other.
"We always talked about, if we ever had a chance to work together on the same staff, that would be great."
That opportunity came when Hoeppner took the IU job. He brought with him his young wide receiver's coach, Billy Lynch.
"To be able to go work with Terry, and also to be able to work with my son, it was just a unique, unique situation. That was a different time," Lynch said. "My wife and I are in a different place now with our kids all raised. We had two kids in college at the time. That was the main thing.
"It was a hard decision because I really enjoyed DePauw and had a great experience there."
Lynch won eight games in his one year at DPU, then joined his friend at IU.
After two seasons, Hoeppner became too ill to coach.
Lynch was named the interim head coach just days before Hoeppner died in June 2007.
He lasted four seasons before being let go, then became an associate athletic director at his Alma Mater, Butler.
Billy moved on, too. He's now the wide receivers coach at Rice University.
Lynch's other two sons -- Joey and Kevin, who were in college last time Lynch was DePauw's coach -- have gotten college jobs, too.
Joey is now the tight ends coach at Ball State, and Kevin is the wide receivers coach at the University of Indianapolis.
His sons have kept Lynch close to the game, calling him regularly to talk football, and when the DePauw job came up, Lynch got the hunger to return.
"All along, I've missed coaching," he said. "I've got three sons that are college football coaches. They'd be calling every night, talking about this and talking about that.
"When this opportunity came, I was excited to get involved in it. I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to coach."
Lynch said he's leaving a great situation at Butler, but he believes DPU will be an even better one.
"I really had a special time when I was there before," Lynch said. "I'm really excited about the new leadership. Dr. Casey (DPU president Brian W. Casey) and (athletic director) Steve Baker-Watson; their vision of the future and where they want to go. It's an exciting time."
Lynch graduated from a private liberal arts college himself and said he thinks that atmosphere is a better fit for him now than ever before.
Casey and Baker-Watson share similar goals to Lynch -- having quality student-athletes that are active on campus and in the classroom -- which helps as they try to accomplish another goal, competing at the highest level on the football field.
"They (DPU administrators) want to be successful and they want to be successful in the right way," Lynch said. "That's certainly right in line with my priorities, and I think it's a great fit.
"There's a commitment in that athletics is a very important aspect of the university. I think that's important as a coach, and certainly football is one of those sports that has an impact on campus."
North Putnam swimmers enter break with split against North Montgomery
The two squads each won their respective county championship last season and bragging rights were on the line.
Dane Gray bested his own school record with a 58.72 second finish in the 100-yard backstroke.
Gray picked up another win in the 200 individual medley.
"I'm really proud of Dane's swim, considering he spend four days in the hospital and missed two weeks of training. He's starting to swim like we want him to," NPHS head coach Tony Gray said. "We don't have anyone that's close to any other record right now, but I think we can approach the 100 fly and the breaststroke record by the end of the year."
The girls' team didn't fare quite as well, losing 119-45.
Sophomore Elizabeth Alford had wins in the 50- and 100-yard freestyle.
Samantha Freije, who first learned to swim just six weeks ago, had a strong 100 free and shaved 12 seconds off her personal best time in the 200 free, coach Gray said.
"With the small (roster), it's difficult for (the girls) to compete and win meets," he said. "As long as they keep working hard and have fun, and swim as a team, it's going to be a success for them."
Senior Joe Lehr got a win for the boys team in the 500 free. Michael Noble also stood out, coach Gray said, finishing strong in his first attempt at the marathon event.
"We're swimming a little bit better now," coach Gray said. "The kids got a little bit of rest this week, so the times are starting to drop the way we hoped they would."
The Cougars host a dual meet against Danville on Dec. 27 at 11 a.m.
At North Putnam
Boys' final -- North Putnam 115, North Montgomery 67
Girls' final -- North Montgomery 119, North Putnam 45
Cougars wrestling team comes through against Rockville
Trevor Bingman started out the night with a first round pin at 160 pounds.
After a few forfeits Buck Buchanan picked up where his teammate left off, getting a pin just 26 seconds into the first round.
"The guys had a good effort tonight," NPHS coach Bucky Kramer said. "Overall it was a great win for us. The kids came out and wrestled hard."
Putnam County champion Dean Kleiber dropped to 120 pounds for the first time this year and wasted no time, scoring two takedowns in the first round before scoring a pin fall at 1:33.
Kleiber's drop forced Josh Coulter to move up to 126, and he responded with a second-round win. Coulter fought past a near fall in the first, gave up position to start the second, then fought on to get a pin at 3:12.
"We're still making mistakes. We've got to get better," Kramer said. "You just keep teaching. You show them what they're doing wrong and at one point they'll start to realize, 'OK, this is what I'm doing.'"
The Cougars have 10 days off until their next match, the Twin Lakes Invitational at Monticello on Dec. 29 at 9 a.m.
"We wanted to get a tournament over the holiday, which we haven't had in a long time," Kramer said. "There's going to be some pretty solid squads up there."
At North Putnam
North Putnam 60, Rockville 12
106 -- Straziscar, NP, forfeit , NP
113 -- Mazur, NP, forfeit
120 -- Kleiber, NP, fall, 1:33
126 -- Coulter, NP, fall, 3:12
132 -- Mills, NP, fall, 1:55
138 -- Winings, NP, forfeit
145 -- Attkisson, NP, forfeit
160 -- Bingman, NP, fall, 1:56
170 -- Scobee, NP, forfeit
195 -- Earl, R, forfeit
220 -- Buchanan, NP, fall, 0:26
285 -- Davis, NP, forfeit
Players, parents gather in support of CHS coach
Don and Robin Bassett (above, left) speak at Support Coach Butler, an effort to save the job of Cloverdale head football coach John Butler.
(Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN) [Order this photo]
(Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN) [Order this photo]
The popular coach and teacher completed his second football season in October with a loss in the sectional semifinal for the second straight year.
Don and Robin Bassett, parents of a junior player on the football team, organized a gathering on Monday night, Support Coach Butler.
Many of those in attendance were players. They each signed a petition that had been pased around school on Monday.
(Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN)
(Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN)
"I put this thing in motion and I'm not going to stop until we succeed," Robin said. "(Coach Butler) has got to be the best things that has happened to Cloverdale in years."
The support group plans to bring a large presence to the Cloverdale School Board meeting on Jan. 14 at 7 p.m.
"Coach Butler is not part of this," Don said. "The football family that man has started is here for our coach."
Those in attendance (nearly 80 people total) included 25 current or future Cloverdale football players.
They praised Butler for his ability as a role model, and to teach them not only about football, but about life.
"He's not just trying to better you as a football player, but he's trying to better you as a man," senior Dustin Cummings said.
Junior Cody Stout said Butler's passion helped fuel the team, even while they were struggling to get wins.
"I just think he believes in everybody," Stout said. "He has heart for everybody."
Parents agreed.
Butler has gained the trust of many parents by being open and available to them.
Each post-game speech is on the field, with parents and other community members encouraged to gather around.
This is not new to the community, but the first question Butler always asks to the players is, "Did you have fun?"
The parents at the gathering also said Butler has done a good job keeping the team polite and disciplined.
To some, those things aren't enough.
Butler's teams have a 4-18 record in his two years, and were just 1-10 this season.
As a school, Cloverdale has not had a winning season since finishing 7-3 in 1996.
A Cloverdale School Board member, who wished to remain anonymous, said Butler is a good man and that the decision was not football related.
"I want people to know there are two sides to every story," the board member said.
The board member said Butler's contract is not being renewed because of an unspecified issue related to his "teaching performance," and that Butler and the school's administrators "mutually agreed that something had to be done."
"We're not firing anybody unjustly," the board member said. "We're not firing anybody at all. We're just not renewing his contract."
Butler has been at Cloverdale for two years and is a non-tenured faculty member. All coaches must have their contracts renewed each year.
The coach did not comment on his contract, or the idea that the decision was mutual, but said he is grateful for the community support.
"I've always been in awe of the passion that people in our community have regarding athletics here in Cloverdale," Butler said. "It's one of the things that drew me here."
Butler had interest from other coaching positions at different school when he became the head coach at Cloverdale for the 2011 season.
With word leaking of the possibility of Butler's contract not being renewed, at least one other area coach has said he would welcome Butler as a prominent assistant.
The players had a petition signed by more than 100 Cloverdale High School students (more than one-quarter of the high school enrollment) that want Butler to be retained.
Adding an additional layer, the Cloverdale players in attendance said they would not play at all next year if the head coach is anyone but Butler.
"Basically everyone" has said that, junior Wade Warren said.
If he is indeed not retained, Butler said he hopes the players reconsider that decision.
"Whatever the reason, I would hate to see a kid give up an opportunity to play football because of this type of situation," he said. "To those kids considering not playing because I possibly may not be the head coach, I hope you would reconsider and remember how hard you have worked to get where you are right now.
"Play for yourselves, play for each other, play for your parents, or just play to play. You're the luckiest people on the face of the earth to strap it on and play the greatest game ever invented."
15 fourth-quarter free throws secure Tiger Cubs win over Northview
Greencastle senior Rayleigh Amis fights through contact to make a layup with four minutes left in the fourth quarter.
(Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN) [Order this photo]
(Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN) [Order this photo]
Following a 45-39 win over Northview on Tuesday, the Tiger Cubs have now won four of their last five games.
The Knights committed seven team fouls in the third quarter, putting GHS in the bonus for the remainder of the game.
The Tiger Cubs took advantage, sinking 15-of-19 free throws in the fourth quarter.
"Free throws are a funny thing," Key said. "There's some games you come in shooting 46 percent, and others you're shooting in the 70s."
Sophomore Callan Taylor led the Tiger Cubs with a game-high 21 points. She made nine of her 10 free throws in the fourth quarter.
"Tonight our key players got to the line," Key said. "Callan played a great game."
The Tiger Cubs entered the game planning to take away Northview sophomore Mikayla Rowan.
GHS senior Rayleigh Amis did just that, keeping Rowan to just 11 points.
"I'm proud of how Rayleigh Amis played," Key said. "That was kind of our goal -- to keep her under 12. That's her average.
Sophomore Kenzi Kumpf tried to respond for the Knights, scoring 10 points in the second half, but the team could not overcome the free throw disparity.
"Northview hangs their hat on defense," Key said. "Listening to some of the things their coach has said in the paper -- their offense hasn't been working like he wants it to, but they're a good defensive team."
GHS committed only 10 fouls in the game, and the Knights made just six-of-10 free throws.
The Tiger Cubs (7-5) struggled in their last game, a 49-46 win at Rockville last Thursday.
Key said the team went through a tough practice on Saturday and said he was happy the team responded.
"We had a tough Saturday practice; one they probably won't forget for a while," Key said. "It was a good game. It was a fun, team win."
GHS has nearly two weeks off until its next game, an afternoon contest against Owen Valley on Saturday, Dec. 29 at 12:30.
At Greencastle
Northview 6 11 6 16 -- 39
Greencastle 8 11 9 17 -- 45
Individual scoring
Northview: Kumpf 12, Rowan 11, Smith 9, Weddle 5, Hughes 2, Halfhill 0, Girton 0, Fagg 0.
Greencastle: Taylor 21, Lenihan 10, Basile 6, Amis 6, Earl 2, Covert 0, T Stoltey 0, D Stoltey 0.
Turnovers
Northview 14, Greencastle 21
Clovers lose track of Tri-West
Cloverdale senior Brody Pfaff soars past Tri-West's Austin Musial after a pump fake.
(Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN) [Order this photo]
(Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN) [Order this photo]
The Clovers entered the game with a 2-0 Saturday-night record, but lost to the Bruins 74-35.
CHS coach Pat Rady was short on words following the loss.
"We've got to be more ready to start a game," Rady said. "We have to play 32 minutes, but you can't have 14 turnovers in one half (as CHS did in the first)."
The defense of the Clovers was porous in the early going. The Bruins took advantage by driving straight to the rim, making eight-of-nine two-point shots in the first quarter.
Tri-West shot 64 percent in the first half (18-for-28).
Cloverdale didn't shoot badly (nine-for-22, 41 percent), but the team's 13 first-half turnovers were too much to overcome.
Six players finished with nine or more points for the balanced Tri-West attack, led by sophomore Trevor Waite's 15.
The Clovers trailed 46-21 at the break, nearly insurmountable for the CHS players, Rady said.
"We're not a team that has skill enough that we can come from behind," he said. "You've got to be able to have patience, slow the ball down, and make them play defense.
"When we tried that, we'd throw it away, we'd make a bad pass. And we missed some shots.
"If we could hit some of the open shots that we missed, that would help. We missed some shots that you've got to hit."
CHS upped the pace in the third, trying to shoot its way back into the game, but the team could only keep pace.
Junior Kedrick Collet, Cloverdale's most consistent shooter and scorer so far this year, was called for an intentional foul late in the quarter after he pushed a Bruins player.
With Collet on the bench for the rest of the game, Cloverdale lost its offensive rhythm, making only one-of-eight shots for the remainder of the game.
Sophomore Brantson Scott was the lone brightspot for Cloverdale, scoring a game-high 20 points and hauling in eight rebounds.
Senior Nick Cupp had seven boards and two blocks.
Brody Pfaff, a senior that missed the team's first five games due to an injury, also had two blocks.
Cloverdale doesn't have long to figure out solutions to the ongoing three-game skid.
The team returns to action Tuesday at Eastern Greene.
"Eastern Greene is probably one of the better teams we play," Rady said. "We've got one night (of practice) to work on some things. We can't panic. We've got to keep working."
At Tri-West Hendricks
Cloverdale -- 11 10 8 6 -- 35
Tri-West -- 28 18 21 7 -- 74
Individual scoring
Cloverdale: Scott 6-10, 7-11, 20; Dorman 2-7, 0-0, 5; Pfaff, 1-6, 2-7, 4; Collet 1-4, 1-2, 3; Schroer 1-9, 0-0, 2; Cupp 1-2, 0-0, 2; Cummings 0-1, 0-0, 0; Hughes 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Tri-West: Waite 3-5, 7-8, 15; Hendershot 5-7, 1-1, 12; Burks 5-10, 0-0, 10; Gadberry 4-6, 2-2, 10; Tucker 5-7, 0-0, 10; Musial 4-10, 1-2, 9; Phelps 1-1, 3-4, 5; Lynn 1-2, 0-0, 2; Miller 0-4, 1-2, 1; Frecker 0-4, 0-1, 0; Miller 0-1, 0-0, 0.
Team scoring (three-point)
Cloverdale 12-38 (2-14), 9-19, 35; Tri-West 27-56 (5-15), 17-20, 74.
Rebounds (offensive)
Cloverdale 30 (10), Tri-West 37 (12).
Turnovers
Cloverdale 20, Tri-West 11.
Host Tiger Cubs win holiday invite
Greencastle's Blaine Fenwick finishes a pin fall against his Sullivan opponent, earning a key six points for the Tiger Cubs.
(Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN) [Order this photo]
(Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN) [Order this photo]
GHS hosted the event and finished with a 4-0 team record, topping South Vermillion (3-1), Sullivan (2-2), Covington (1-3) and Monrovia (0-4).
The tournament culminated with Greencastle and Sullivan squaring off.
With one weight class left, the teams were tied at 33.
A Sullivan win meant a three-way tie for first place.
Greencastle's strongest wrestlers compete at higher weight classes, but 2012 Putnam County champion Ryley Cook wasted no time, pinning his Golden Arrows opponent in just 39 seconds.
"That was a good way to end it. That was surprising," GHS coach Matt McComish said. "This is our only Saturday tournament we host with multiple teams here. It's a big deal to the guys. It's nice to get all the fans in here."
GHS had six class champions: Cameron Hinton (120), Riley Boswell (145), Aaron Langdon (160), Carter Lewis (170), Hunter Smith (180) and Jordan Froderman (285).
McComish also said 138-pound Nick Pingleton stood out. He finished 3-1, the first time he's failed to win the tournament in his four years.
Blaine Fenwick, taken to a hospital after suffering injuries to his neck at Thursday's county tournament, also competed on Saturday and said he is feeling better.
The hospital visit was precautionary, he said, and the injuries were to muscles around his neck.
Each match was tougher than the last for the Tiger Cubs' team as a whole.
Greencastle opened with a 47-23 win against Covington, then a 48-30 win over Monrovia.
After a rotation off, Greencastle faced then-perfect South Vermillion. The Tiger Cubs won 52-24. The 39-33 win over Sullivan completed the team's sweep.
"It's good to get a win today," McComish said. "South Vermillion's got a good team. (Fifth-place) Monrovia's got a lot of talent."
Greencastle hosts Avon on Tuesday at 6 p.m.
At Greencastle
Greencastle Holiday Tournament
1. Greencastle (4-0), 2. South Vermillion (3-1), 3. Sullivan (2-2), 4. Covington (1-3), 5. Monrovia (0-4)
Class winners
106 -- Charles Capps, Monrovia
113 -- Tanner Bishop, SVHS
120 -- Cameron Hinton, GHS
126 -- Cory Orndorff, Sullivan
132 -- Nick Byrd, Sullivan
138 -- Colt Thompson, Sullivan
145 -- Riley Boswell, GHS
152 -- Clay Sichting, Monrovia
160 -- Aaron Langdon, GHS
170 -- Carter Lewis, GHS
182 -- Hunter Smith, GHS
195 -- Karson Allen, Covington
220 -- Dalton Hardy, Covington
285 -- Jordan Froderman, GHS
Cougars can't stop Cadets in second half, lose 62-37
NPHS senior Jake Haste spins for a jumpshot against Cascade. Haste finished with a team-high 13 points in the loss on Friday night.
(Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN)[Order this photo]
(Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN)[Order this photo]
Cadet senior Hayden Suter had a game-high 27 points, pouring in 20 in the first half alone.
The Cougars battled until halftime but allowed a 9-0 run to start the third quarter that was the beginning of the end.
"We always talk going into halftime: the first three minutes are going to be key coming out in the third quarter," NPHS coach Nathan Martindale said. "We've just got to find our offensive identity. We're not moving the ball. We're not cutting. We're not doing the things that we need to do on the offensive end and we've just got to get better at it."
North Putnam's two bigs, seniors Jake Haste and Jameson Brewer, dominated the ball in the first half -- Haste in the paint and Brewer from the perimeter -- but the pair was matched by Cascade's Daljot Bajwa.
Bajwa was scoreless in the half but pulled in six rebounds and blocked two of his game-high six shots.
"He's got some spring; he's got some rebounding ability to him," Martindale said.
Haste scored 10 points on five-of-nine shooting in the opening half, helping the Cougars trail by only three at the break, but the rest of the team couldn't find the basket.
The rest of the team made only six-of-22 shots.
In the first half, the NPHS defense was able to make up for the offensive shortcomings, particularly when pressing.
"We wanted to press them the whole game, and when we did that we were successful," Martindale said. "But even when we got turnovers, we weren't able to convert of them.
That changed in the second half.
NPHS made only three-of-24 shots.
Bajwa kept the Cougars away from the paint and the perimeter players forced ill-advised attempts until the game got out of hand.
He finished with 17 rebounds; more than Haste and Brewer combined (15).
"We shot 25 percent from the field, and that's not going to win you any ball games," Martindale said. "We were just stale out there. We've got to do a better job offensively of doing things because when you shoot 13 out of 50 from the field, you're not going to win very many ballgames."
The Cougars don't get long to find their rhythm as the team returns to action tonight at Riverton Parke at 7:30 p.m.
At North Putnam
Cascade -- 15 13 16 18 -- 62
North Putnam -- 10 15 7 5 -- 37
Individual scoring
Cascade: Suter 10-17, 1-2, 27; Bobadilla 4-11, 4-6, 12; Bajwa 2-7, 1-1, 5; Canaday 2-6, 0-0, 4; Hart 2-3, 0-0, 4; Butler 2-3, 0-0, 4; Stephenson 1-1, 2-3, 4; C Smith 1-2, 0-0, 2; Hyten 0-0, 0-0, 0; Drury 0-0, 0-0, 0; Comer 0-0, 0-0, 0; Hostetler 0-0, 0-0, 0; Parsons 0-0, 0-0, 0; D Smith 0-0, 0-0, 0.
North Putnam: Haste 6-12, 1-3, 13; Nauert 2-12, 6-6, 11; Green 4-13, 0-3, 9; Brewer 1-11, 1-2, 3; Hazelgrove 0-1, 1-2, 1; Beaman 0-0, 0-0, 0; Flynn 0-4, 0-0, 0; Bonifacius 0-0, 0-0, 0; Riggen 0-2, 0-0, 0; Herrmann 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Team scoring (3pt)
Cascade 24-47 (6-9), 8-12, 62; North Putnam 13-55 (2-16), 9-17, 27.
Rebounds (offensive)
Cascade 39 (8), North Putnam 29 (10).
Turnovers
Cascade 25, North Putnam 19.
North Putnam's strong defense not enough
Cougars junior Bethany Wiatt drives past Cascade's Katy Copsey for a layup. Wiatt tied for the team lead with five points.
(Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN)[Order this photo]
(Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN)[Order this photo]
Cascade (7-2, 2-1) was held to just 26 percent shooting for the game. The North Putnam zone kept them out of the paint and forced tough shots.
"We played awesome defensively," NPHS coach Curtis Lawrence said. "We played so well defensively. The kids are excited about the way they played defensively. I can't be any happier with the effort that they put in tonight."
The Cougars (1-9, 0-1) started a taller lineup than they have in recent games, with senior Cassie Aynes starting at center next to forwards Sam Lucas and Cayla Kientz.
The front court kept Cascade out, but also seemed to block the NPHS guards from getting into the lane on offense.
Lucas, a senior, tried to space the floor with three-point shots, but she was unable to connect in her four long-range attempts.
She wasn't the only one to struggle.
As well as the Cougars played defensively, they shot just as poorly on the offensive end.
NPHS was only seven-of-41 in the game from the field.
"We've struggle all season shooting, regardless of what lineup I put in," Lawrence said. "If we hit half the (good) shots that we took tonight, that game is ours."
The Cougars were led in scoring by junior guard Bethany Wiatt and sophomore Morgan Smith, each with five.
Wiatt is often more of a distributor on offense and Smith, growing into a roll on the team, alternates between deferring to teammates and playing aggressively.
Senior Brandyce Sallee led the Cadets with 11 points.
With the CHS bigs getting cancelled out by Lucas and Aynes, Sallee also got in the paint and pulled in a game-high 14 rebounds.
The Cougars have two weeks off until they play in the Speedway Classic on Dec. 27.
With the team's defense starting to come together, Lawrence said he will focus on scoring in the interim.
"We've got all next week off," Lawrence said, "so we're going to get a lot of shots up next week."
At North Putnam
Cascade -- 8 10 10 14 -- 42
North Putnam -- 1 6 6 10 -- 23
Individual scoring
Cascade: Sallee 2-15, 6-6, 11; Gaddis 3-9, 2-2, 9; Smallwood 3-5, 0-0, 8; Stein 3-10, 2-7, 8; M Smith 1-6, 2-4, 5; K Smith 1-2, 0-0, 0; Copsey 0-1, 0-0, 0; Tomblin 0-0, 0-0, 0; Bell 0-0, 0-0, 0.
North Putnam: Wiatt 1-5, 3-4, 5; Smith 1-7, 3-4, 5; Aynes 2-5, 0-0, 4; Asbell 0-10, 2-3, 2; Kientz 1-6, 0-0, 2; Lucas 1-8, 0-1, 2; Land 1-1, 0-0, 2.
Team scoring (3pt)
Cascade 13-50 (5-18), 11-18, 42; North Putnam 7-41 (0-11), 9-14, 23.
Rebounds (offensive)
Cascade 39 (10), North Putnam 33 (7).
Turnovers
Cascade 12, North Putnam 18.
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