Eagles win home finale on Senior Night
By TERRY LIDY
After hitting a low water mark last Wednesday at Olney, the NCHS Eagles rallied with a comeback victory last Friday on Senior Night 56-45 over the Paris Tigers.
Paris came out on fire taking a 17-11 first quarter edge with crisp passing and good execution. The Tigers scored the game's first two baskets after which Japheth Bear got the Eagles on the board with a three-point play at the 6:07 mark. Still trailing, the Eagles twice again moved to within one at 10-9 after a pair of Bear foul shots with 2:20 left and 12-11 at the 1:22 mark on two Taylor Kerner free throws. However, Paris scored the final five points, the last three coming on a Dalton Temples three-pointer at the buzzer.
Paris continued to dominate in the second quarter as baskets by Zack Henn pushed Paris ahead 22-13 forcing an Eagle timeout with 6:20 left in the half. The Eagles only basket was by Brian Emmerich during the early going of the period. Paris eventually added three more baskets to more than double the Eagles at 28-13. Jake Pilman broke the spell with a free throw with 2:43 left as the Eagles trailed 28-14. However, after Paris scored again to make it 30-14, the Eagles showed some promise leaving them with some momentum by scoring the final six points of the half to trail by 10 at the intermission 30-20. Jake Pilman converted a foul shot and Peyton Wyatt canned a long three-pointer and a pair of charity tosses to give the Eagles some hope at the half despite 59% shooting by Paris.
"We talked at the half about going out with a loss or turning it around," said Doug Mammoser. We played much better defense giving them only one shot in the second half. We also knocked down some shots as we fed on the defensive pressure."
The Eagles looked like a completely different team after intermission limiting Paris to 11 third quarter points and practically blanked the Tigers in the fourth with 4 points.
Still Paris led 41-32 after three-quarters as the Eagles outscored the Tigers 12-11. After Paris scored the first basket of the quarter by Zack Henn, the Eagles scored on baskets by Jake Pilman and a three by Japheth Bear to close to within 7 at the 5:57 mark at 32-25. Henn and Pilman traded baskets later. Then Paris scored the next four points to take a 38-27 edge. Jake Pilman broke the spell with a pair of foul shots as Josh Griffin and Zack Henn were in foul trouble for Paris.
Still the Tigers closed out the quarter with a three-pointer by Dalton Temples. Meanwhile, the Eagles got a Taylor Kerner free throw and a Jake Pilman basket to make the quarter end 41-32 in favor of Paris. The Eagles scored the final three-points of the third quarter and continued the streak into the final stanza. First Jake Pilman, who had one of his finest games of the season, scored on a field goal and a foul shot with 7:45 left. Pilman ended making 10 of 13 for the night from the line. Next Alex Frohning converted another free throw at the 7:22 mark as the Eagles edged closer at 41-36. Even a missed break away slam dunk attempt by Zack Henn of Paris added to the shutout as the Eagles moved closer on a Peyton Wyatt drive and two foul shots by Jerry Howze with 5:30 left.
Down by only one at 41-40, the Eagles took the lead for the first time with 4:32 left as Jake Pilman continued his foul line magic giving the Eagles a 42-41 edge. After a Paris turnover, Peyton Wyatt nailed a long three from the right corner at the 3:44 mark to give Newton a 45-41 cushion. Seconds later, Brian Emmerich also drained a trifecta from the same corner as the Eagles had built a 48-41 advantage with 3:16 remaining.
The Eagles had tallied 19 straight points after trailing 41-29 late in the third period.
Paris broke the string at the 3:08 mark when Dalton Temples converted a pair of free throws. Following a Newton timeout at 2:47, the Eagles made it 51-43 as Peyton Wyatt stayed hot with another three. With Paris unable to score and forced to foul to stop the clock, the Eagles finished off the Tigers with free throws by Japheth Bear and Jake Pilman. Up 56-43, Coach Doug Mammoser was able to pull his seniors and starters for the last time before a standing ovation by the orange and blue loyalty.
Performing for the last time were seniors Jerry Howze, Marc Brandenburg, Alex Frohning, Japheth Bear and Jake Pilman who offered so much in the Eagles 5-9 finish in the Apollo and 13-12 record heading into the Flora Regional.
It turned out to be a great night after the junior varsity won the preliminary game 43-41 in overtime as A.J. Hyatt scored on a driving layup at the buzzer. Dylan Casey led the Eagles, who finished 8-10 for the season, with 13 points. A.J. Hyatt and Derek Casey each scored 8. Mitch Mammoser and Dylan Davidson added 5 each to the attack. Austin Blair and Elijah Knepper rounded out the scoring with a basket each.
In the varsity game, the Eagles made 13 baskets including 5 from behind the arc. They were a good 25 of 32 from the line, which spelled the difference. Paris scored 19 baskets including 3 from behind the arc. They converted 4 of 5 foul shots with Zach Henn leading with 13.
Jake Pilman led the Eagles with 18. Peyton Wyatt and Japheth Bear were also in double figures with 13 and 12 respectively. Brian Emmerich added 7 points, while Taylor Kerner scored 3 and Jerry Howze tallied 2. Alex Frohning converted a free throw for the Eagles in their home finale. The outcome was a big turn around after last Wednesday's 49-36 loss to Olney at Ron Herrin Gym. The thirty-six Eagle points were the low-output this year. Actually Olney has held nine different opponents to under 40 points this year in posting an 18-9 record overall and 7-6 in the Apollo.
The Eagles built an early lead at 8-2 before Olney went on a 9-0 run to take an 11-8 edge. The Tigers stretched the advantage to 25-15 at the half. Japheth Bear led the Eagles with three first half baskets, while Alex Frohning added a hoop. Olney was led by Mitch Schonert with 11 points and Brandon Berry with 6.
Down by 10, the Eagle fortune didn't improve in the third quarter as they were held to a basket and a free throw by Alex Frohning. At the same time, Olney collected only 9 points of their own as Brandon Berry led with 6 with Olney taking a 34-18 cushion into the final eight minutes.
Here the Eagles began to find the range as they equaled their three-quarter's output with 18 points. However, after closing to within seven, the Tigers outdistanced the Eagles with a barrage of free throws. Olney ended making 20 of 28, while the Eagles were a meager 3 of 5. Brandon Berg led Olney with 21 points including 9 of 11 from the line and 7 of 9 in the final period.
The Eagles ended up making 16 baskets including a three-pointer for 43%. Olney made only 14 baskets including a three shot for 50% as the Eagles held the Tigers to only 28 shots.
Japheth Bear led the Eagles with 10 points making four baskets and two free throws. Alex Frohning added four baskets and a free toss for 9 points. Jake Pilman scored four field goals for 8 points. Scott Jansen had a three-pointer and a regular goal for 5 points. Peyton Wyatt scored two baskets for 4 points in the low scoring affair. Jerry Howze, Brian Emmerich and Taylor Kerner also saw action for Doug Mammoser's Eagles.
Actually no one was a loser last Wednesday in the make up game after Tuesday's postponement due to the weather. Wednesday was Hoops for Hope Pack the Place Pink Night as the Olney Tigers raised awareness for breast cancer and other cancers by introducing survivors from both towns at halftime.
Up next for the Eagles is the 2A regional at Flora where the #4 Eagles tangle with #5 Lawrenceville. The winner meets #1 Robinson. Also in the regional are #2 Olney and #3 Flora. The regional title is on Friday at 7:30 as all games start at that time at Flora's Conley Gym.
Last Friday, Robinson won the Apollo with a 13-1 record with an 80-28 belting of Mt. Zion. Effingham drilled Charleston 69-40 to finish at 12-2. Charleston is 3-10. Olney stopped Salem 53-41 to finish at 8-6, while Salem is 8-5. The Eagles finish at 5-9, while Paris is 5-8 and Mt. Zion 0-13 in conference play.
The Jasper Co. Jr. High Eagle's boys' basketball teams were introduced prior to the start of the Paris-Newton game on Senior Night.
Seventh graders along with Coach Brad Harris introduced included Mike Carr, Cody Dhom, Kyle Dhom, Wyatt Geier, Trenton Gonzalez, Cody McCoy, Lucas Ochs, Chris Pitcher, Blake Probst, Bryan Spitzer and Preston Street.
Eighth graders along with Coach Andy Underwood introduced included Caleb Chesnut, Noah Dart, Zack Fugate, Jacob Lidy, Gunner Pickens, Derek Rice, Tanner Shull, Lane Simpson, Ryan St. Clair, Tyler St. Clair, Allen Taylor, Kyle Woods and Corey Workman.
Eagles win regional opener
By TERRY LIDY
The NCHS Eagles, after a slow start, put together three solid quarters Monday in 2A regional action at Flora to belt the Lawrenceville Indians 68-45.
Scoring only eight points in the first quarter and trailing 11-8, the Eagles exploded for 22-second quarter points to take a 30-27 edge into the half. Peyton Wyatt, who led the Eagles with 24 points, scored 7 points in the first period and 6 in the second hitting three from downtown. Japheth Bear came alive in the second quarter with 8 points, while Jerry Howze, Brian Emmerich, Taylor Kerner and Jake Pilman each added baskets in the second period.
In the third quarter, the Eagles continued to sizzle with a 25-point output to enjoy a 55-36 advantage after three periods to survive for yet another day.
In the pivotal quarter, Peyton Wyatt and Japheth Bear led with 6 points each as Wyatt canned two more threes and Bear drilled three baskets. Brian Emmerich and Jake Pilman each tossed in two hoops. Alex Frohning added 3 points and Taylor Kerner scored a basket as the Eagles connected for eleven field goals in the quarter.
Up by 19, the Eagles continued to score in the final stanza with a 13-9 edge over the Indians. The Eagle defense held the Indians to only 18 second half points to help secure the victory, the Eagles' 14th for the season.
In the final eight minutes, the Eagles got 5 points from Taylor Kerner and three pointers from Peyton Wyatt and freshman Dylan Davidson. Jake Pilman converted a pair of foul shots as the Eagles prevailed 68-45.
Lawrenceville scored 16 baskets including two from behind the arc. They converted 11 of 17 foul shots. The Eagles drilled 27 field goals including seven from back of the arc. They added 7 of 11 foul shots. Peyton Wyatt paced the Eagles with 24 points, making six of the seven Newton three pointers. Japheth Bear tossed in 14 points. Taylor Kerner gave the Eagles 9 points coming off the bench. Jake Pilman scored 8, while Brian Emmerich added 6. Alex Frohning and Dylan Davidson each tossed in 3. Jerry Howze had a basket and Scott Jansen converted a free throw as nine Eagles dented the scoring column and a return match with #1 seeded Robinson.
A.J. Hyatt, Dylan and Derek Casey also saw action for the 14-12 Eagles. "This guarantees us an above .500 season, which is important," said Eagle Mentor Doug Mammoser.
The regional continues through Friday with #2 Olney meeting #3 Flora. That winner will play the Newton-Robinson winner on Friday at 7:30 in Conley Gym for the title and trip to the St. Anthony Sectional.
