by Gary Andrews

The Manchester boys’ basketball team locked up a runner up finish in the TRC Saturday with a 49-46 win over Rochester. The Squires finished the conference with a 6-1 record.

The Squires trailed 11-10 after the first stop, getting five buckets with three coming from Chase Fierstos. Braydon Sewell and Clayton Petrie each had a bucket.

The Squires would play the Zebras to a 9-9 tie in the second, hitting three shots from behind the arch. Clayton Petrie got two of the three's with Claudell Dickantone getting the other. Manchester trailed 20-19 at the half.

By Bill Barrows
Now that the IHSAA Girls’ Sectional is in the rear view mirror, the number of game dates decreases, but that doesn’t make it any less intense. There are two solid weeks of boys’ high school action before we focus on the postseason. The Boys’ Sectional draw will be held at the IHSAA offices in Indianapolis on Sunday, Feb. 23.
     This week, on Tuesday, Northfield travels to Maconaquah, while Southwood heads in the opposite direction, playing at Adams Central. Wabash will be the lone team at home as they host Eastbrook.
     Friday, Wabash takes to the road, heading north to play in Warsaw at Lakeland Christian Academy while Manchester travels to Columbia City. The lone in-county contest will be a big one as Northfield hosts Southwood in an important TRC match-up. Rick Harness and I will be on hand to cover the action at about 7:15 p.m. on Wabash WebTV.

The Manchester 7th Grade Lady Squires competed in the Tippecanoe Valley Invitational Tournament on Saturday.  In the first game of the day, the Lady Squires defeated Triton 17-10. 

Emma West led the scoring with 5 points.

by Gary Andrews

The Wabash boys’ basketball team took on potential sectional opponent Lewis Cass Saturday afternoon, with the Kings running away from the Apaches 73-53.

The first quarter looked promising for the Apaches as they led 6-4 after buckets from Grant Sailors and Kodi Clemons. Cass would score four straight to take an 8-6 lead, but Wabash would find their hot hand in Grant Sailors would hit back to back to give Wabash a 10-8 lead. Wabash would build their lead to 14-11 on buckets from Sailors and Christian Hall and led 16-13 after two Roger Davis free throws. The Kings would then score 6 straight and led Wabash 19-16 after one.

by Gary Andrews

The Southwood boys basketball team was hosting Tippecanoe Valley Saturday afternoon, needing a win against the Vikings and one against Northfield next week to clinch a share of the TRC title. Valley spoiled the Knights run at a title, defeating Southwood 76-62 to clinch the TRC with a 7-0 record.

The Knights were pumped and came out on fire in the first, putting up 21 points to lead the first quarter before Valley clamped down on defense, out scoring Southwood 13-7 in the second to lead the Knights 29-28 at the half.

By Gary Andrews

The #4 Wabash Lady Apaches were taking on #8 Oak Hill for the Northfield sectional title Saturday. Wabash was in search of their 6th straight title, while Oak Hill was looking for their 5th title under head coach Todd Law. With a smothering defense and the offense clicking on all cylinders the Lady Apaches pulled away for a 54-35 repeat.

Lyndsie Thomas would get the first bucket of the game before Oak Hill answered with buckets from Toni Lautzenheiser and Sammi Metzger to lead 4-2. Kyleigh Hampton would then hit, followed by another Thomas bucket to give Wabash the lead back at 6-4. Abby Scott would then connect for the Lady Eagles to knot the score at 6. Like a heavyweight boxing match it was punch and counter punch as Sarah Puckett hit and was answered by Lautzenheiser. Tied at 8, Thomas would find the bucket for the third time in the quarter, then the quarter ended on a Claire Cromer three to give Wabash a 13-8 lead after one.

by Gary Andrews

The Northfield boys traveled to Oak Hill Thursday to take on the Golden Eagles, falling a point short in a 40-39 heart breaking loss.

In the first quarter the Norse put themselves in good position to have a good night, leading 15-14 after the first stop. Noah Shear got things going with a three pointer to put the Norse up 3-0 and led 5-4 after a Jon Richardson bucket. Tanner Wilcox would then hit back to back top put Northfield up 9-4 before Oak Hill made a move. Two free throws by Isaac Beaty started an 8-0 run by the Eagles to take the lead 12-9. Shear, feeling the groove from behind the arch would then hit two more to give Northfield the lead back at 15-12 before an Eagle bucket made it 15-14 after one.

by Gary Andrews

The Manchester boys played a Saturday afternoon game against Whitko Saturday, getting past the Wildcats 50-42.

Manchester couldn’t shake the struggling Wildcats in the first half as the game was tied at 13 after the first quarter. The Squires hit five buckets in the quarter, with three coming from behind the arch. Claudell Dickantone drained to from long range, with Clayton Petrie getting the other. Phoenix Goad also had a bucket for Manchester.