By Bubba Harnist
Staff Writer
INDIANAPOLIS â??? South Central (Elizabeth) coach Randall Schoen was
quick to the point after his teamâ??s 54-43 win over fifth-ranked Attica Feb. 25
in Class A semistate action at Southport.
quick to the point after his teamâ??s 54-43 win over fifth-ranked Attica Feb. 25
in Class A semistate action at Southport.
â??Last year
(losing to Northeast Dubois in the regional semifinal) we let one slip away,
and we werenâ??t going to let that happen again this year,â? Schoen said. â??I do
think that how close we got last year really set the tone for us this year.â?
(losing to Northeast Dubois in the regional semifinal) we let one slip away,
and we werenâ??t going to let that happen again this year,â? Schoen said. â??I do
think that how close we got last year really set the tone for us this year.â?
The win
advances No. 15 South Central to the state finals March 4 at Conseco Fieldhouse,
where the Rebels will do battle with No. 13 Lafayette Central Catholic.
advances No. 15 South Central to the state finals March 4 at Conseco Fieldhouse,
where the Rebels will do battle with No. 13 Lafayette Central Catholic.
Things
didnâ??t start off so well for the Rebels as they committed turnovers on their
first two possessions and finished with eight in the first quarter. Amazingly, though,
South Central led after the first quarter, 15-12.
didnâ??t start off so well for the Rebels as they committed turnovers on their
first two possessions and finished with eight in the first quarter. Amazingly, though,
South Central led after the first quarter, 15-12.
Schoen
pondered the slow start, saying it was good and bad.
pondered the slow start, saying it was good and bad.
â??It was
good in that it didnâ??t put us in a hole,â? he said. â??But it was bad in that itâ??s
not good to start like we did.â?
good in that it didnâ??t put us in a hole,â? he said. â??But it was bad in that itâ??s
not good to start like we did.â?
Attica sophomore Brittany Rayburn dominated the opening period with
10 of her teamâ??s 12 points. Meanwhile, South Central sophomore Brittany Schoen
scored 11 of her teamâ??s 15 points, including a jumper with 25 seconds to go and
a 3-pointer with 5 seconds left.
10 of her teamâ??s 12 points. Meanwhile, South Central sophomore Brittany Schoen
scored 11 of her teamâ??s 15 points, including a jumper with 25 seconds to go and
a 3-pointer with 5 seconds left.
The 5-0
South Central run that ended the quarter extended to 7-0 in the second when
junior Karen Deaton hit a jumper, giving South Central a 17-12 lead. Attica battled back, though, tying the game at 17 after a
free throw from Rayburn with 5:34 before the half.
South Central run that ended the quarter extended to 7-0 in the second when
junior Karen Deaton hit a jumper, giving South Central a 17-12 lead. Attica battled back, though, tying the game at 17 after a
free throw from Rayburn with 5:34 before the half.
At that
point, Rayburn had 15 of her teamâ??s 17 points.
point, Rayburn had 15 of her teamâ??s 17 points.
Attica continued the momentum, gaining a 24-19 lead after an
offensive rebound and bucket from senior Suzanne Shirley. From there, South
Central tried to get even the rest of the quarter by turning the defense up a
notch. Forcing turnovers on Atticaâ??s final
three possessions of the half, South Central was able to tie the game at 25
heading into the locker room.
offensive rebound and bucket from senior Suzanne Shirley. From there, South
Central tried to get even the rest of the quarter by turning the defense up a
notch. Forcing turnovers on Atticaâ??s final
three possessions of the half, South Central was able to tie the game at 25
heading into the locker room.
The third
quarter was the difference in the game. South Central came out hot while holding
Attica at bay, and a 10-2 run to start the
half gave the Rebels a 35-27 lead. Atticaâ??s only points in the run came on a basket
by Rayburn with 6:22 left as Attica went another
3:25 without scoring.
quarter was the difference in the game. South Central came out hot while holding
Attica at bay, and a 10-2 run to start the
half gave the Rebels a 35-27 lead. Atticaâ??s only points in the run came on a basket
by Rayburn with 6:22 left as Attica went another
3:25 without scoring.
Though Attica cut the margin down to four at 35-31 with 2:30
left in the third, South Central pushed it to back to seven, 38-31, at the end
of the quarter after a bucket from senior Jenna Kingsley and a free throw from
Sarah Yelch.
left in the third, South Central pushed it to back to seven, 38-31, at the end
of the quarter after a bucket from senior Jenna Kingsley and a free throw from
Sarah Yelch.
Schoen hit
a 3-pointer 41 seconds in to the fourth, sending the South Central fans into a
frenzy and giving her team an 11-point lead at 42-31. But Attica
refused to go away, battling back with each possession until the Red Ramblers
got it to four points once more at 47-43 with 1:49 remaining following two free
throws from Rayburn.
a 3-pointer 41 seconds in to the fourth, sending the South Central fans into a
frenzy and giving her team an 11-point lead at 42-31. But Attica
refused to go away, battling back with each possession until the Red Ramblers
got it to four points once more at 47-43 with 1:49 remaining following two free
throws from Rayburn.
Those
would be Atticaâ??s last points.
would be Atticaâ??s last points.
South
Central deposited the biggest basket of the game when junior Kaela Orwick got
behind the Attica press and was left wide open
downcourt for a layup, giving the Rebels a 49-43 lead. After a huge Attica turnover on the ensuing possession, Schoen hit two
free throws with only 1:23 left. South Central would hit three more free throws,
and the game was over.
Central deposited the biggest basket of the game when junior Kaela Orwick got
behind the Attica press and was left wide open
downcourt for a layup, giving the Rebels a 49-43 lead. After a huge Attica turnover on the ensuing possession, Schoen hit two
free throws with only 1:23 left. South Central would hit three more free throws,
and the game was over.
With the
loss, Attica finishes the season 23-3. Rayburn
led all scorers with 28 points, a feat not lost on coach Schoen.
loss, Attica finishes the season 23-3. Rayburn
led all scorers with 28 points, a feat not lost on coach Schoen.
â??She is a
great player — you canâ??t really stop her,â? he said. â??We tried to throw two
people at her and maybe neutralize her a little.
great player — you canâ??t really stop her,â? he said. â??We tried to throw two
people at her and maybe neutralize her a little.
â??We wanted
to shut down DeeAnn (Rayburn) and hope that Brittany doesnâ??t go off.â?
to shut down DeeAnn (Rayburn) and hope that Brittany doesnâ??t go off.â?
The
strategery worked, for the most part. Only three other Red Ramblers scored: sophomore
Kylie Troike (seven), senior Suzanne Shirley (five), and senior Rayburn (three).
strategery worked, for the most part. Only three other Red Ramblers scored: sophomore
Kylie Troike (seven), senior Suzanne Shirley (five), and senior Rayburn (three).
South Central,
on the other hand, put eight players in the scoring column, led by Schoenâ??s 25
points.
on the other hand, put eight players in the scoring column, led by Schoenâ??s 25
points.
â??I thought
they did real well,â? coach Schoen said of his bench. â??We had contributions all
the way down.â?
they did real well,â? coach Schoen said of his bench. â??We had contributions all
the way down.â?
South
Central improves to 23-5 and will make the trip back to Central Indiana next
week to Conseco and the huge tilt with Lafayette Central Catholic for the Class
A state championship. Thatâ??s next week, though.
Central improves to 23-5 and will make the trip back to Central Indiana next
week to Conseco and the huge tilt with Lafayette Central Catholic for the Class
A state championship. Thatâ??s next week, though.
For now, coach
Schoen wants to soak up this semistate title as much as possible.
Schoen wants to soak up this semistate title as much as possible.
â??We are
going to celebrate today and tomorrow,â? he said. â??We will worry about the state
championship game on Monday.â?
going to celebrate today and tomorrow,â? he said. â??We will worry about the state
championship game on Monday.â?
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