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.

Eagles stop Arcola 69-55

By TERRY LIDY

After the Arcola Purple Riders blitzed the Eagle defense with 22 first quarter points, it looked rather bleak as the Eagles appeared sluggish in their first action after the Christmas break in the annual Dieterich Holiday Tournament on Monday. Instead, the Eagles of Doug Mammoser tightened up their defensive effort as they held Arcola with only 4-second quarter points to take a hard fought 31-26 halftime edge.

Arcola started fast and built as much as a six-point lead at 10-4 early in the opening period. The Eagles fought back and eventually tied it at 12 on an Alex Frohning basket and two Peyton Wyatt free throws with 2:54 left. Jake Pilman next gave Newton their first lead with a rebound shot at the 2:23 mark. However, Arcola scored the next seven points, all by Jon James Jenkins as Arcola led 19-14.

The NCHS Student Council recently hosted an intramural Dodgeball tournament at NCHS.  Eight teams of four boys and two girls participated.

Eagles hang tough with Robinson

By TERRY LIDY

In preparation for the Friday match up with Robinson, Eagle Coach Doug Mammoser felt that all the pressure would be on the Maroons. "We will go play and see what will happen at Robinson."

The end result was a Robinson win, but not after the Eagles controlled the tempo of the game for most of the night. The difference was a fourth quarter surge as the Maroons ambushed the Eagles 25-9 in the final eight minutes to post a 60-39 Apollo win to lead the conference at 4-0.

Eagles over Mt. Zion

By TERRY LIDY

"It was a nice win for us after a couple of tough road losses," said Eagle coach Doug Mammoser after his Eagles derailed the Mt. Zion Braves 57-40 in the home opener at the friendly confines of the newly renovated NCHS gym. "Mt. Zion has given us a lot of trouble in the past, but the kids played a good game led by Jake Pilman and Peyton Wyatt. Wyatt did a good job with the ball and penetrating their defense. Pilman was a force inside and on the boards all night."

the Eagles led all the way as Japheth Bear drilled a pair of early treys to jump start the offense. After the Braves closed to 6-4 on a basket by Ryan Hartman, Jake Pilman was fouled inside. With 4:44 left, Pilman converted both tosses to double Mt. Zion at 8-4. A three-pointer by Joey Babich made it 8-7.

Eagles drop Apollo opener

By TERRY LIDY

After the NCHS Eagles led for most of the game in the Apollo opener last Friday at B.E. Gum Gym in Salem, the Wildcats rallied to post a 65-55 win.

"It got away from us in the fourth quarter and we had no answer for Zeke Light," said Doug Mammoser. "For the most part, we played a good game but we need to finish strong."

Eagles win Cumberland Tourney

By TERRY LIDY

For the second time in three years, the NCHS Eagles of Coach Doug Mammoser won the annual Cumberland Thanksgiving Tournament last Saturday with a 52-49 victory over the host Pirates to finish the tourney at 4-0.

The Eagles opened their season last Monday with a 57-44 victory over St. Elmo. On Tuesday, they blasted Martinsville 80-36. Playing for the third straight day, the Eagles belted Beecher City 65-46 to set up the Saturday showdown with Cumberland.

In the other game last Monday, Martinsville nipped Beecher City 66-64. On Tuesday, Cumberland stopped Beecher City 55-44. On Wednesday, Cumberland downed St. Elmo 63-46. On Friday, St. Elmo defeated Beecher City 78-63 and Cumberland doubled Martinsville 66-33.

Lady Eagles drop home opener

By TERRY LIDY

There were plenty of first game jitters as the NCHS Lady Eagles and the St. Anthony Bulldogs kicked off the 2009-10 season last Thursday at the NCHS gym.

Pictured above are Haley Woods, daughter of Jerry and Donna Woods of Newton, and Chelsey Probst, daughter of Jerry and Elaine Probst of Wheeler.

Three Eagles make All Apollo

By TERRY LIDY

The NCHS Eagles placed three players on the All Apollo football team recently.

Eagles in Cross Country Sectional

By TERRY LIDY

In the Class 1A IHSA St. Teresa Cross Country Sectional last Saturday at Hickory Point Golf Course in Decatur, none of the four competing Eagles qualified for the state finals at Peoria's Detwiler Park.