Eagles nipped in overtime

By TERRY LIDY

The NCHS Eagle lost another tough road decision last Friday falling to the Paris Tigers 66-58 in overtime at Ernie Eveland Gym.

With both teams starting slowly, the score was knotted at 8 after the first quarter. The Tigers moved ahead outscoring the Eagles 16-13 in the second period to take a 24-21 lead into the half. The Eagles whittled a little into the Paris lead with a 13-12 edge in the third period.

Down 36-34, the Eagles had their best quarter in the fourth as they outscored their host 17-15 to force a four-minute overtime as each team had 51. However, Paris blitzed Newton with 15 overtime points to seal the Eagles' fate and dropping them to 10-8 for the season and 2-6 in the Apollo.

Eagles tough on the Bulldogs

By TERRY LIDY

After last Friday's poor showing at home against Salem, the NCHS Eagles were eager to prove that they were capable of playing four solid quarters. Last Tuesday at The Enlow Center, the Eagles played one of their better games of the season and dismantled the St. Anthony Bulldogs 54-39.

"We were very disappointed after Friday's 50-38 loss to Salem," said Eagle Coach Doug Mammoser. "We didn't finish that game. Our main goal against St. Anthony was to play for four quarters. We wanted to put pressure on their passers and take away their high-low game. We also wanted to know where James Jansen and Taylor Worman were at," he added. Worman led the Bulldogs with 17, while the Eagles held Jansen to 5 points.

The Eagles built up an early lead thanks to Peyton Wyatt and Japheth Bear who each canned a three to give Newton a 6-0 advantage.

Senior righthander Amber Shedelbower of the NCHS Lady Eagles has signed to pitch softball next year for the Wabash Valley Lady Warriors.

Shedelbower, who will study health business at Wabash Valley, chose the school in Mount Carmel because it felt right. "It felt like home and they have a great softball program," said Shedelbower who has been instrumental in guiding the Lady Eagles to successful Apollo titles.

"We have scouted Amber for some time," said Wabash Valley Head Coach Paul Schnarre. "We are impressed with her durability and mental toughness. We are counting on Amber to be a contributor to our program immediately. Amber is the first of seven signings that we will conduct over the next several days," he added.

Eagles split Apollo games

By TERRY LIDY

It was a week in contrast, an exciting Tuesday night thriller and a disappointing Friday performance resulting in a 44-42 victory over Olney and a 50-38 defeat against Salem at the NCHS gym.

Tuesday, the Eagles led all the way, but not with some anxious moments. Led by Jake Pilman and Japheth Bear, the Eagles took a 10-1 first quarter lead holding Olney without a basket. Pilman meanwhile scored six points in the period. His 15 footer and Bear's layup gave the Eagles a quick 10-1 edge.

The Tigers finally found the range and clawed their way back in at 10-8 on a Michael Fehrenbacher three-point play and a basket and a pair of three throws by Brandon Berry. The Eagles responded with a 6-0 run before Olney scored to make it 16-10.

Eagles-Hearts battle to the end

By TERRY LIDY

In the final of three games played last Saturday due to postponements, the Effingham Hearts used a fourth quarter rally to post a hard fought 59-51 Apollo win at the NCHS gym.

After Chad Green scored the games' first basket on a rebound, the Eagles pushed ahead 5-2 as Japheth Bear drilled a three and drove the baseline for a reverse layup. The lead eventually reached 5 later when Peyton Wyatt nailed a three to give the Eagles an 11-6 edge. Later Jake Pilman converted a pair of foul shots and Bear scored inside on a Pilman assist as the Hearts stayed in contention and closed to within one as the quarter ended with a pair of Chase Green free throws.

Jerry Howze scored on the first Eagle possession to start the second quarter. Later a three point play by Brian Emmerich upped the edge to 20-15 at the 6:27 mark. The five point lead for Newton was the largest of the quarter. Effingham scored the next two buckets as Chad Green and Cody McCollum scored to make it 22-21. Japheth Bear answered with a hoop, but Jeremy Wohltman scored to pull the Hearts within one at 24-23 with 3:33 left. Jake Pilman next gave the Eagles a 26-23 edge with a basket. The final score of the half was by McCollum who fired in a long three to even the score at 26 at the intermission.

Eagles capture Dieterich title, Mammoser gets 200th

By TERRY LIDY

After the #3 seeded NCHS Eagles knocked off #2 Dieterich 64-52 in semi final action last Tuesday and #4 North Clay upset #1 Red Hill 50-36, earlier in the evening, it set up a championship match between the Eagles at 7-3 and the undefeated North Clay Cardinals at 8-0 last Wednesday. When the evening was finished, the Eagles not only prevailed before a full house at the DHS Gym 60-50, but also handed Eagle mentor Doug Mammoser his 200th career victory at the annual Dieterich Holiday Tournament.

The Eagles started slowly as they tried to figure out the 2-3 Cardinal zone. The Eagles led 1-0 on a Brian Emmerich foul shot. However, the Cardinals scored the next 5 points as Colton Bailey nailed a three and Perry Pearson scored. Taylor Kerner then scored the Eagles first basket at the 5:19 mark with a shot along the baseline. Andrew Grahn then countered with a jump shot and Peyton Wyatt got in scorebook with a 15-footer as the Eagles trailed 7-5. A Bryan Harrington free throw made it 8-5 after which Japheth Bear scored in the lane to cut the deficit to one point. However, Pearson scored again to make it 10-7. A Jake Pilman field goal in the paint made it 10-9 with 1:30 left. With 38 seconds remaining Alex Frohning converted two free throws to give the Eagles an 11-10 edge. After a North Clay miss, the Eagles played for the last shot of the period. Peyton Wyatt came through with a long three-pointer to give the Eagles a 14-10 advantage.