Get ready to go racing for the first time in ’24! It rained a lot in Florida Sunday, so much that it became impossible to run the Great American Race, the Daytona 500, for the 66th time. So, the yearly NASCAR season opener is now set for late this afternoon. The Motor Racing Network broadcast begins at 4:00, the actual race starting moments later. Although they’re driving 200+ miles an hour, it’ll still take a while to complete the event, so Coaches’ Corner, that normally airs at 6 Monday night, will be back next week. Join us for the Daytona 500, starting at 4:00 this afternoon, on the Sports Voice, 103.9 FM, WRBI.
We had plenty of high school basketball to tell you about over the weekend. In the girls’ semi-state, Jac-Cen-Del’s Eagles were there for a second straight year, but up against the Lanesville Eagles, who eliminated them last year and went on to win the state Class 1A championship. Lanesville dispatched JCD 62-40 Saturday morning, and North Central had a narrow, exciting win over Wood Memorial 54-53, but then Lanesville showed their strength in overwhelming North Central 68-33. So Lanesville, which has only lost 3 games over 2 seasons, is back in the title game next Saturday, seeking a second straight championship against Marquette Catholic. Jac-Cen-Del finishes Coach Scott Smith’s final season with an excellent record of 21 wins, only 6 losses.
Boys’ regular-season basketball games continued over the weekend, and are winding down this week on the way to their sectionals. Saturday’s scores included Greensburg beating South Ripley 54-42, East Central topping Shelbyville 58-51, Hauser all over Milan 73-42, and Oldenburg Academy winning 44-38 over Rushville. Switzerland County visits Jac-Cen-Del tonight, and a game postponed by Friday’s snow, South Decatur at Batesville, will be played tonight, as well.
It was boys’ sectional swim meet time Saturday at Columbus North. South Ripley tells us its 400-yard relay team set a new school record of 3:58.53, and Evan Eaglin posted 2 new individual records with 23.62 seconds in the 50-yard freestyle and 52.82 in the 100 free. Team-wise, the Raiders came in 13th… South Dearborn ran 11th, Batesville 10th, Oldenburg Academy 8th, Milan 7th, Greensburg 6th, and East Central 4th. Bloomington South and North stroked to the top 2 spots in the sectional, each with more than 400 team points– no other squad got above 300.
But those team standings don’t necessarily tell the whole story– Congrats are due to Oldenburg’s Nash King. He’s only a freshman, yet qualified for next week’s state meet in the 500-yard freestyle, with a time of 4:42.42. Nash will be the fastest-seeded freshman in the event.
Men’s college basketball Sunday saw Ohio State shocking 2nd-ranked Purdue, 73-69 in the Big 10, and Northwestern got by the Hoosiers, 76-72.