Both of our local girls basketball teams, East Central and South Ripley, went into Saturday’s regional semifinals as underdogs and, unfortunately, the favorites won both.
In WRBI’s first regional broadcast from 4A Columbus North, 11th ranked East Central fell to No. 2 Franklin 78-65. The Grizzly Cubs, who led the state in offensive scoring average this season at 68 points a game, had lost just once all season, a two-point overtime defeat to sixth-rated Westfeld in the Hall of Fame Classic.
Franklin led the EIAC champs at every stop: 15-8, 33-20 and 55-36. The Trojans went on a 14-3 run in the fourth to get within seven but eventually lost by 13.
East Central’s Josie Trabel had 31 points, 10 rebounds and three steals. Laney Baker put in 15 while Hope Fox finished with 13 points and eight boards. Julia Tiemann only scored four but also contributed six assists, five caroms and three swipes.
Franklin was led by Ashlyn Traylor and Kuryn Brunson with 32 and 27 points respectively. The Cubs, with the state’s highest scoring offense (68 points per game) outshot the Trojans 52 to 39 percent from the floor.
The Grizzly Cubs went on to beat No. 3 Bedford North Lawrence 58-52 to improve to 26-1 and earn a second-straight appearance in the South Semi-State. East Central closes out the season at 22-5.
Our second regional broadcast was from 2A Crawford County. North Knox ended South Ripley’s 11-game winning streak with a 42-26 victory in the semifinals.
The Warriors defense dictated pace and took the Raiders out of its deliberate offense.
North Knox led 13-11 at the end of the first quarter and 24-19 at halftime.
The Warriors Alex McKinley led the Blue Chip Conference runners-up with eight points and Reegan Hammelman had six. Katelynn Samples had eight first-half points for the Ohio River Valley champs.
The game turned decidedly in favor of North Knox in the third when the Warriors held the Raiders to one point and only two field goal attempts. It was 34-20 after three and North Knox went on to win by 16.
McKinley, a very quick and aggressive freshman, led all scorers with 13 points. Another Warrior freshman Brynna Collins tallied eight points. Senior Gracie Poe netted seven.
Samples’ eight points carried over to game’s end. Ripley senior Gracie Gunter ended with six.
North Knox forced 17 turnovers while committing just 11. The Warriors also did a better job scoring off their opponent’s miscues.
The Raiders finish the 21-22 campaign with an 18-9 record. North Knox lost in the regional finals, 46-39 to Forest Park, to close their season at 21-7.
We thank ADs Brian Lewis of Columbus North and Christopher Broughton of Crawford County for the accommodations and hospitality. We thank coaches Kevin Moore of East Central, Josh Sabol of Franklin, Matt McNew of South Ripley and Steve Meurer of North Knox for their information.