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Bremen's Slowdown Stalls Tippecanoe Valley

BREMEN - Tippecanoe Valley has set or tied school records in back-to-back games, but Friday's mark against Bremen was probably one the Vikings would have liked to have done without. One game after shooting the best field-goal percentage in school history at Wabash, Tippecanoe Valley tied the school record for fewest points in a game with a 49-33 loss to the Lions. That score tied the record set in last year's sectional championship game, ironically a 33-32 win over Columbia City. Valley is 5-11 overall, while No.5 Bremen improved to 15-3. "We expected them to play real well," Valley coach Gregg Sciarra said."They're a real good team.We didn't play with a whole lot of intensity at times.We would get one shot and out." This game was one of time, and which team controlled it. • Valley didn't score in the first 6:23, and by the time Brandon Eaton got a three-pointer to roll, the visitors trailed 11-3.
MATT PERRY, Times-Union Sports Correspondent- | July 28, 2016

Second Title Is Sweet For Valley

PLYMOUTHÊ-ÊThe first time is sweet, but the second time is sweeter - just ask the Tippecanoe Valley girls basketball team, which won the Plymouth Sectional by defeating the host Pilgrims 56-41 Saturday night. "This time it's better because I think we are ready to do more," said Viking junior Rebekah Parker."Last year was our first, but now we want more." "It feels a lot better this year," said Valley senior Sherise Denny."We really wanted to beat Plymouth again, we wanted to get them.It just feels great." And Denny had good reason to feel great.She caught fire in the first half, hitting 5 of 6 baskets, including a perfect 4 of 4 three-pointers. The Vikings struck early as Parker scored the first basket of the game.However, Plymouth fired back to tie the score at 2-all. Enter Denny.
JEN GIBSON, Times-Union Sports Editor- | July 28, 2016

Madison, Washington Win Elementary Championships

Hoosier Hysteria was in full swing at the elementary championship Tuesday evening at the Tiger Den. Madison won the boys title, while the girls title was grabbed by Washington.The parking lot was packed, and fans jammed the lower levels. The Madison boys completed an undefeated season with a fly-paper defense and a powerful scoring tandem in Michael Wienhorst and Michael Moore.In the tournament, the Cardinals made their way to the finals by defeating Washington in game one, 30-16.In the next game, Madison defeated Claypool 42-39.Then Silver Lake fell to the Cardinals by a 38-23 score. Eisenhower showed the strength of a solid basketball program in that both the girls team and the boys team appeared in the finals.Ê However, the championship was a "father/daughter sweep" for coach Jerry Ryman of Madison and his daughter, Nicole Ryman, who coached the girls' champs of Washington.
Jim Brenneman, Times-Union Sports Correspondent- | July 28, 2016

Warriors Upset No. 2 Braves

DECATUR - No matter how hard they tried, they couldn't make the smiles go away, not for a second. Then there were the tears.Doggone it, they came at times too. But on this night, the wrestlers were willing to let their smiles sparkle, willing to let the tears of joy flow. After all, they earned a trip to the March 1 state finals. Wawasee, ranked No.12 with a 13-3 record, stunned No.2 20-0 Bellmont 31-30 in Wednesday's semistate wrestling match.High school wrestlers being high school guys, they wanted to look tough for their team picture afterward.High school guys don't smile for pictures, don't you know.But this was no time for stone faces. "All year, our kids believed they were going to be in the state finals," Wawasee coach Scott DeHart said."We're at Bellmont.We're wrestling Goliath in the lion's den, and here we are, little David, 13-3 Wawasee.
Jeff Holsinger, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Warriors Beat East Noble 55-52 For Third Win Of Season

SYRACUSE -ÊAll Wawasee head coach Robb Berger has asked from his 2-10 Warriors all season long is that they come out every day to work hard and play hard.Up until this point, he hasn't seen much of these two things.Heading into Saturday night's game against heavily favored East Noble, it would definitely take four hard-fought quarters for a chance to upset the Knights. After four hard-fought and well-played quarters, the Warriors finally fulfilled what their coach was looking for all along, a well-played game and a huge 55-52 win over a talented opponent.
Craig Helfrich, Times-Union Sports Writer- | July 28, 2016

Valley Ends Whitko's Season

AKRON -ÊWhen Tippecanoe Valley played Whitko in the regular season, the Vikings narrowly escaped with a 59-57 overtime win. The first game of the Tippecanoe Valley Sectional was a different story as Valley won 52-40. After several ties in the first quarter, the Vikings took a 13-11 lead heading into the second.Monica Sands hit two free throws early in the second to tie the score at 13, but that was as close as the Wildcats got. Lynette Wilcox and Rebekah Parker hit baskets to increase the lead to 18-13, but Sands hit a shot to cut the lead back down to three, 18-15.A three-pointer and a free throw by Sherise Denney and two more free throws by Wilcox made the advantage 24-15. Sands, who was Whitko's only scorer in the second quarter, finished the frame with two free throws and a put-back basket to make the score 24-19 at the half.
Jen Gibson, Times-Union Sports Writer- | July 28, 2016

Warsaw Sends 2 Wrestlers To State

Four area wrestlers qualified for the state finals after placing in the top four at the New Haven Semistate in Fort Wayne. Joey Navarro (275 pounds) and Anthony Boley (103) will represent the Warsaw Tigers, while Jesse Espinoza (112) and Nick Roelandts (119) will make the trip for the NorthWood Panthers. The top four wrestlers in each weight class from the four semi-state competitions qualify for the state championship competition.Ê This is the sweet 16 of Indiana high school wrestling, a sport without the class system.Ê Wrestlers from small schools have an equal chance at the "Big Dance." In wrestling, a small athlete has an opportunity to be the best in his weight class.ÊThere are 14 weight classes from 103 up to 275 pounds. Warsaw's qualifiers are from opposite ends of the weight-class spectrum. Boley, a sophomore, qualified for the semistate as a regional runner-up.At the Fort Wayne Semistate, Boley took fourth place.
Jim Brenneman, Times-Union Sports Correspondent- | July 28, 2016

Manchester Squires Rout Wabash In First Round

WABASH -ÊAfter a sluggish first half, the Manchester Squires woke up and outscored the Wabash Apaches by 16 points to earn a 69-51 victory and advance in the Northfield sectional. As expected, Manchester started the first quarter by taking a quick 3-0 lead after Sherri Wagoner netted a three pointer. But the Wabash team came back to score seven straight points to take a 7-3 lead with 5:42 left in the first stanza.By the end of the quarter, Wabash was ahead 13-9 after Nikki Randas scored 6 of her 8 first quarter points in the final three minutes of the frame. Manchester woke up in the second and took its first lead since the initial basket of the game with 5:45 remaining in the second frame after Jessica Hicks sank two free throws. The lead teetered back and forth for the last five minutes of the first half, and Manchester went to the locker room with a slim 29-27 lead.
Jen Gibson, Times-Union Sports Writer- | July 28, 2016

Manchester Girls Fall In Regional Thriller

BERNE - South Adams High School was the scene for the 2A South Adams Regional.The Manchester Squires took on the Taylor Titans in Saturday's second semifinal game. Taylor was ranked third in the state and Manchester seventh coming into the game.The Titans held off the Squires 42-41 to advance to the final game against Fort Wayne Harding. First quarter action started in a typical state playoff fashion, as both teams traded baskets to keep matters close.The Titans started with a full-court press to force the Squires into six early turnovers. With the score tied at 11-11 with 2:05 left in the first quarter, Manchester's Sarah Purdy was called for an offensive foul as she drove to the basket.Neither team scored until less than a minute left in the first. Taylor's Brianne Weeks hit a three-pointer to go up 14-11.Denae Beavers then stole a Squire pass and scored on a lay up as time ran out to complete a 5-0 run.The Titans led at the end of the period 16-11.
Cliff Tanner, Times-Union Sports Correspondent- | July 28, 2016

Squires Capture Sectional In Overtime Thriller

NORTH MANCHESTER - Last year Manchester coach Mark Underwood and his Squire team went 4-17, which ended with a first round sectional loss to North Miami 35-20.What a difference a year makes.Manchester has gone from cellar dwellers to sectional champs and did so in exciting fashion with a 57-49 overtime win over Wabash on Saturday night.Valentines Day left the Apaches broken hearted as they fell to Manchester for the third time this season.
Daniel Riordan, TImes-Union Sports Correspondent- | July 28, 2016

Warsaw Sends 2 Wrestlers To State

Warsaw wrestling coach Tony Boley has a simple equation to get to the state finals -Êwin five matches. "In the sectional you have to win just one match, your first one, to advance," said Boley."In the regional you have to win your first match and one of the next two because the top four advance.That's three must-win matches. "In the semistate, you must win your first two if you are not the regional champion.That's five matches.Once you get into the sectional, you are just five wins away from state.It's pretty simple." Two Warsaw wrestlers, Kyle Boley and Kris Hueber, followed Boley's advice and will compete in the state finals beginning tonight. While both wrestlers are making their first trip to compete at the state level, their experiences will be different. For Hueber, a senior, this is his first trip to the state meet as a competitor.However, he did visit Conseco Fieldhouse last year when he went down as Joey Navarro's wrestling partner.
Jen Gibson, Times-Union Sports Writer- | July 28, 2016

Valley Gets Big Win Over Triton On Senior Night

AKRON -ÊGoing into Friday night's game with 5-12 Triton, 15-3 Tippecanoe Valley was the favorite.The Vikings did not disappoint as they defeated the Trojans 73-38. Triton took the lead early in the first quarter as Todd Blackford drained a three-pointer to put Triton on the board first. Trey Eaton hit a free throw to make the score 3-1, but Blackford increased Triton's lead to five after hitting another shot from behind the arc. However, Triton's lead did not last long.Senior Blaine Hartzler hit a trey, and Eaton sank a basket to tie the score at 6-all. Blackford restored Triton's lead by hitting two free throws and a basket to give the Trojan's a four-point advantage. But the quarter belonged to Valley from there.The Vikings outscored the Trojans 13-4 in the final 2:44 of the first to take a 19-14 advantage into the second frame. Then Valley's stifling defense kicked in.
JEN GIBSON, Times-Union Sports Editor- | July 28, 2016

Panthers Rely On Proven Postseason Experience

NAPPANEE -ÊThe NorthWood girls basketball team is hoping that experience will help lift them over a strong South Bend Washington team in the regional game Saturday. "Washington is tall, athletic and quick," said NorthWood coach Steve Neff."Obviously at 19-2 they've had a good year. "But they haven't won a sectional in a while, and the sectional is at our place.Hopefully they will be the nervous ones." NorthWood will look to Amy Zercher and Natalie Will to lead the team in the regional against South Bend Washington.It's a responsibility the two seniors do not take lightly. "This one (regional) is different because it is my last one," said Zercher."There's a little more riding on this one because I won't have another chance to come back.
Jen Gibson, Times-Union Sports Writer- | July 28, 2016

The Internet Can Be A Wonderful Thing

I can't believe how easy it is to find stuff out these days. Back in the "good old days," before the Internet, if I had a need for some obscure, esoteric tidbit of information, it was a struggle. If I wanted to know the origin of the Donald Trump "Apprentice" admonishment, "You're fired," I had to go to the library or at least call the library reference desk. Now, I simply type "you're fired," in the "exact phrase" line of a Google search and "origin" in the "must contain the word" line. This takes me - in precisely 0.65 seconds - to answerbag.com, which happily tells me: "The verb sense of 'sack, dismiss' is first recorded 1885 in American English, probably from a play on the two meanings of discharge - 'to dismiss from a position,' and 'to fire a gun.'" There you have it.
GARY GERARD, Times-Union Managing Editor- | July 28, 2016

Four Local Wrestlers Advance To State Finals

Five area wrestlers have qualified for the state finals at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.Warsaw's representatives are Anthony Boley (103) and Joey Navarro (275), who's ranked No.1 in the state.Ê NorthWood sends Jesse Espinoza (112), ranked at No.9, and Nick Roelandts (119). The state championship involves 224 wrestlers, 16 from each of the fourteen weight classes.These wrestlers have advanced to the finals after placing in the top four at semistate competitions. Pairing in the state competition is based on how a wrestler finished at the semistate.Those who placed fourth will meet first-place finishers, while third-place finishers take on runners-up. This year the event brings together 127 seniors, 64 juniors, 24 sophomores and nine freshmen.
Jim Brenneman, Times-Union Sports Correspondent- | July 28, 2016

The Day The Internet Breaks

I knew it.I knew it was too good to be true. Just the other night I was sitting in front of a computer monitor at home, marveling at the unparalleled availability of information on the World Wide Web. You can find anything there.I mean anything. We planned a short vacation in the Smokies on the Web.I've shopped for computers, water skis, musical equipment, train tickets and cars on the Web.I track my UPS packages on the Web.I look at Intellicast radar sites on the Web to outguess the talking head weather guy on TV. I check the value of my very paltry stock portfolio on the Web.I found out how to grow big pumpkins for my mom.I download lyrics and guitar tablature for songs I want to learn. I download shareware versions of games for the kids.I do research for this column.I look at newspapers from all over the country.It's unbelievable.And all for $14.95 a month.
GARY GERARD, Times-Union Managing Editor- | July 28, 2016

Anti-Gunners Armed With Twisted Facts

I have always been an advocate of the right of law-abiding citizens to own firearms. I don't consider myself a gun nut, although some of my liberal friends probably think of me that way.I don't always agree with the National Rifle Association, and I'm not necessarily against every piece of gun legislation that comes out of Washington. The Brady Bill, for example, calls for a waiting period to allow background checks on prospective gun owners.The idea is to keep guns out of the hands of convicted felons.That's OK by me. It's probably not all that effective because I doubt most convicted felons waltz into gunshops and try to buy guns, but generally, a background check on prospective gun buyers doesn't bother me. But one thing that does bother me is the way anti-gun folks twist the truth - that's a nice way of saying "lie" - when they talk about gun issues.
GARY GERARD, Times-Union Managing Editor- | July 28, 2016

Wawasee Boys Win Swim Sectional

SYRACUSE - The University of Notre Dame's football team won one for the Gipper.Wawasee High School's boys swim team won one for Roger. Swimming without head coach Roger Karns, who was with his family after the passing of his father, the Warriors won the Wawasee Sectional Saturday and dedicated it to their coach. The sectional title was the fifth in the past six years for Wawasee, which fell to rival Warsaw by seven points a year ago. The Tigers finished Saturday, trailing the Warriors 364-339. "You hate to lose, but after hearing about that, it was good for them to win for Roger," said Warsaw coach Terry Aukeman."They're a very strong team and a good group of kids." Following Wawasee and Warsaw on the scoreboard were Culver Academies (182), Plymouth (98), Knox (91), Manchester (83), Columbia City (65), Rochester (62), Tippecanoe Valley (50), Northfield (9) and Fairfield (8).
Dale Hubler, Times-Union Sports Editor- | July 28, 2016

Class Basketball Fight Is Back

All Al Rhodes would like to see happen is to just let the people speak. The Warsaw High School boys' basketball coach and president of the Indiana High School Basketball Coaches Association has long been an opponent of the class basketball tournament and he feels the people of Indiana have the chance to do what the IHSAA and principals of the state schools could not do - derail class basketball. A bill authored by state Rep.Lawrence Buell would suspend the class basketball tournament for two years and then allow a public referendum to get the opinions of the majority of the state populace. The bill is in the rules committee and the vote will be taken Feb.6 to try to get the bill into the full house. "People who wrote the bill felt like the people of Indiana were bypassed in the decision-making process," Rhodes said."They would like the IHSAA to hold up changing the tournament until there is a public referendum.
Greg Jones, Times-Union Sports Editor- | July 28, 2016

On The Court...Thursday

Tipoff: 8 p.m.at Indianapolis Coaches: Al Rhodes (Warsaw); Doug Mitchell (N.Central) Records: North Central 17-3: Warsaw 16-3 Last game: Warsaw 58, Gary Wirt 34; Kokomo 68, North Central 66 MATCHUPS: In a very rare Thursday game, the Tigers will make the long trek to Indianapolis to face the Panthers.North Central is loaded with talent with guards Jason Gardner, Marcus May and move-in Huggy Dye, along with big man David DePrez inside.The Panthers spent a few weeks at the No.1 spot in the state before getting beat at Marion and falling from their perch.
Warsaw At No. 9 North Central- | July 28, 2016
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