(Versailles, IN) – South Ripley used a dominant second half and a big senior-night performance from Kaia Rinear to pull away from Jac-Cen-Del Friday night, defeating the Lady Eagles 65–48 in an ORVC girls basketball matchup at South Ripley High School.
The win closes the regular season for the Lady Raiders at 16–7 overall and 5–1 in the ORVC, guaranteeing at least a share of the conference championship with one night left in league play.
After trailing 15–13 at the end of the first quarter, South Ripley began to turn the game with defensive pressure, second-chance points, and balanced scoring. The Raiders outscored Jac-Cen-Del 15–9 in the second quarter to take a 28–24 halftime lead, then broke the game open after the break.
Rinear led the charge, finishing with 19 points and 15 rebounds for a double-double on senior night. She controlled the paint offensively and cleaned the glass at both ends as South Ripley steadily built separation.
Junior Ellie Combs provided a major perimeter spark, scoring 17 points while knocking down timely three-pointers that repeatedly punished Jac-Cen-Del’s zone defense. Sophomore Evelyn Kelly added 11 points, including several mid-range jumpers and transition finishes that kept momentum on the Raiders’ side.
South Ripley’s depth and offensive rebounding proved decisive. The Raiders collected 17 offensive boards and finished with 32 rebounds, repeatedly extending possessions and wearing down the Eagles. A 19–9 third quarter stretched the margin to 47–33, and the Raiders pushed the lead as high as 20 points early in the fourth.
Jac-Cen-Del showed resilience, briefly trimming the deficit behind inside play from Brinley Simon and perimeter shooting from Brooklyn Simon, but South Ripley answered each push with timely buckets and steady execution.
Brinley Simon led the Lady Eagles with 13 points, while Brooklyn Simon finished with 11 and Tinley Enneking added 10. Laney Narwold scored 6, Kaitlynn Shadday had 5, and Josie Allen added 3. Jac-Cen-Del struggled to overcome 28 turnovers, many forced by South Ripley’s pressure and active hands.
All four South Ripley seniors — Rinear, Aubrey Werner, Emily Parks, and Sam Curl — were honored before the game and each saw action during the victory, capping senior night with a conference-clinching result.
Jac-Cen-Del falls to 6–15 and will close its regular season Saturday before hosting sectional play next week. South Ripley turns its attention to Class 2A Sectional 45, opening Tuesday night against Brownstown Central at Austin.