(Versailles, IN) – Connersville used a 20–6 second-quarter surge and a blistering shooting night from senior Hunter Allen to pull away for a 64–51 road win over South Ripley on Friday night.
The game was tied 11–11 after one quarter, but Connersville seized control in the second with crisp execution against South Ripley’s pressure and a defense that consistently took away clean looks. Allen did most of the damage, finishing with 28 points after scoring 18 before halftime, while connecting on five 3-pointers.
South Ripley’s comeback effort in the second half was sparked by Drew Volz, who scored 14 points, and Blake Gunter, who added 11, trimming the deficit to 11 in the fourth quarter. Each time the Raiders threatened, Connersville answered by breaking the press for layups and converting at the free-throw line.
Connersville received balanced scoring behind Allen, with Jay McMullen scoring 12 points and Chase Corder adding 10. Maddox Reese finished with 5, while Logan Young scored 4 and Grady Simpkins added 3.
For South Ripley, Bryson Sipples scored 8, Dylan Jesse had 6, and Mason Bascom and Landon Werner chipped in 5 points apiece.
South Ripley doesn’t have long to dwell on the loss, heading back out Saturday evening for a road trip to Lawrenceburg. Connersville is right back at it as well, traveling to Centerville Saturday night as the Spartans keep rolling through a busy stretch of their schedule.