A balanced offensive effort that saw seven different Greenwood Christian players get two hits led the Cougars to a 15-5 victory Thursday at Morristown in the season opener for both teams.

Cole Muhlhauser was one of those seven Cougars with two hits and he scored two runs and drove in five to lead Greenwood Christian.

The Cougars struck first with six runs in the top of the third inning but Morristown countered with five runs in the bottom half of the inning.

A three-run fourth and a five-run sixth sealed the win.

Four different Greenwood Christian pitchers allowed just one hit but walked 11 Yellow Jackets.

Morristown returns to action Monday against Tri.

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Eighteen players have been selected for the IndyStar Indiana boys Junior All-Stars for 2023, All-Stars games director Mike Broughton announced Friday.

   Those selected to the six-player Core Group are Jack Benter of Brownstown Central, Flory Bidunga of Kokomo, Kanon Catchings of Brownsburg, Micah Davis of Franklin Community, Tyler Parrish of Chesterton and K.J. Windham of Ben Davis.

   In addition to the core group, six players each were voted to squads labeled Red Group and Blue Group. 

The Red Group players are Sabien Cain of University, Camron Casky of Pike, Josiah Dunham of Evansville Christian, Taray Howell of Evansville Bosse, Ron Rutland III of Indianapolis Attucks and Justin Sims of Chesterton.

The Blue Group players are Isaac Andrews of Wapahani, Trey Buchanan of Westfield, Aaron Fine of Noblesville, Brauntae Johnson of Fort Wayne North, Jaelyn Johnson of Portage and Jevon Lewis Jr. of Fort Wayne Wayne.

Aaron Wolfe of Class 3A state champion NorthWood will be head coach for the 2023 boys' Junior All-Stars. He will be assisted by J.B. Neill of Bloomfield. Both coaches were voted IBCA district Coaches of the Year.

Wolfe is 281-110 in 16 seasons at NorthWood, including a 28-2 record this past season. He previously was an assistant coach for the 2016 Indiana All-Stars. Neill has a 208-115 ledger in 13 seasons as a boys’ varsity head coach. That total includes a 24-4 finish this past season and a 74-30 aggregate in four seasons at Bloomfield. He also went 75-54 in six seasons as the girls' head coach at Eastern Greene.

The Junior All-Stars will play one game against the Kentucky Junior All-Stars on June 4 at Jeffersonville High School. The Junior All-Stars also will play one game against the Indiana All-Star senior girls on June 7 at a site to be announced.

Both games will be doubleheaders with the 2023 Indiana girls' Junior All-Stars, whose rosters were announced on March 8. 

The boys Junior All-Stars head coach will be Zach Newby of Class 2A state runner-up Lapel. He will be assisted by Brodie Garber of Class 3A state champion Fairfield. Newby has led Lapel to an 82-42 record in five seasons, including a 22-8 finish in 2022-23. Garber is 180-89 in 11 seasons at Fairfield, including a 28-2 record this past season. Both coaches also were 2023 IBCA district Coaches of the Year.

The boys' players listed as Core Group players each will play in two games. The players listed in the Red and Blue groups each will play in one game, the Red Group on June 4 against the Kentucky Juniors and the Blue Group on June 7 against the Indiana Seniors. 

The Indiana senior All-Stars will play the Kentucky senior All-Stars on June 9 at the Owensboro Sportscenter in Owensboro, Ky. The Indiana senior All-Stars will play Kentucky's seniors again on June 10 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

The June 10 date also will include the inaugural IndyStar Indiana All-Star "Futures Games." The Futures Games will be a girls-boys doubleheader at Gainbridge Fieldhouse with Indiana-only squads of juniors, sophomores and freshmen in a North vs. South format. The girls' Futures Games rosters were announced on Feb. 16. The boys' Futures Games rosters were announced on March 21.

The 2023 Indiana boys' Junior All-Star team was selected through a process that allows all IBCA-member head coaches to nominate players through the IBCA all-state process. The IBCA 20-member Indiana Basketball Coaches Association all-state committee reviewed and voted on players for the 2023 IBCA/Franciscan Health boys' All-State teams that were released March 22.

The 20 all-state committee members also provided input to a six-person IBCA subcommittee appointed by IBCA executive director Marty Johnson and chaired by Brandon Bradley of Kankakee Valley. Bradley, Broughton plus coaches Don Carlisle of Ben Davis, Mark Rohrer of Gibson Southern, Marc Urban of Chesterton and all-state committee chairman David Wood, former coach at West Lafayette, finalized the selections for the 2023 boys' Junior All-Stars.

The Indiana Junior All-Star program was founded in 1996 by former Indiana All-Star games director Patrick Aikman. In most years, 18 players have been chosen to the Junior All-Stars. In five years (2005, 2006, 2007, 2018 and 2019), 24 players were chosen to the Junior All-Stars. In 2021, just 12 players were chosen to the Junior All-Stars.

In games from 1996 through 2022 (with no games in 2020 because of COVID-19), the Indiana Senior girls lead the Indiana Junior girls 41-10 and the Indiana Senior boys lead the Indiana Junior boys 41-10. In five years of games against the Kentucky Juniors, the Indiana Junior girls lead 10-1 and the Indiana Junior boys lead 7-4. Games against the Kentucky Juniors previously have been played in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2018, 2019 and 2022.

A list of those chosen as 2023 boys' Junior All-Stars follows.

2023 IndyStar Indiana Boys Junior All-Stars

BOYS CORE GROUP (playing on June 4 and June 7)

   Name, Ht., Pos., PPG, High School, College Choice

   Jack Benter, 6-5, G, 28.7, Brownstown Central, Purdue

   Flory Bidunga, 6-10, F, 20.2, Kokomo, undecided

   Kanon Catchings, 6-8, F, 17.5, Brownsburg, Purdue

   Micah Davis, 6-2, G, 17.3, Franklin Community, undecided

   Tyler Parrish, 6-3, G, 20.7, Chesterton, undecided

   K.J. Windham, 6-3, G, 8.6, Ben Davis, undecided

BOYS RED GROUP (playing on June 4 vs. Kentucky Juniors)

   Name, Ht., Pos., PPG, High School, College Choice

   Sabien Cain, 6-3, G, 20.4, University, undecided

   Camron Casky, 6-4, G, 13.8, Pike, undecided

   Josiah Dunham, 6-1, G, 24.6, Evansville Christian, undecided

   Taray Howell, 5-8, G, 23.2, Evansville Bosse, undecided

   Ron Rutland III, 6-2, G, 18.0, Indianapolis Attucks, undecided

   Justin Sims, 6-6, F, 16.5, Chesterton, undecided

BOYS BLUE GROUP (playing on June 7 vs. Indiana Seniors)

   Name, Ht., Pos., PPG, High School, College Choice

   Isaac Andrews, 6-1, G, 18.1, Wapahani, undecided

   Trey Buchanan, 6-0, G, 14.3, Westfield, undecided

   Aaron Fine, 6-3, G, 13.8, Noblesville, undecided

   Brauntae Johnson, 6-4, G, 20.8, Fort Wayne North, undecided

   Jaelyn Johnson, 6-7, F, 10.7, Portage, undecided

   Jevon Lewis Jr., 5-10, G, 16.6, Fort Wayne Wayne, undecided

2023 IndyStar Indiana All-Star key dates

June 4 — Indiana Juniors vs. Kentucky Juniors at Jeffersonville (2315 Allison Ln. Jeffersonville, Ind.) — girls, 2 p.m.; boys, to follow; admission, $10 per person at the door (adults, school-aged students; pre-school children are free).

June 7 — Junior-Senior All-Star game at TBA (address TBA) — girls, 6 p.m.; boys, to follow; admission, $10 per person at the door (adults, school-aged students; pre-school children are free).

June 9 — Indiana at Owensboro Sportscenter (1215 Hickman Ave., Owensboro, Ky.) — girls, 5:30 p.m. CDT (6:30 p.m. EDT); boys, to follow, about 7:30 p.m. CDT (8:30 p.m. EDT). Ticket information, TBA.

June 10 — Futures Games and Indiana vs. Kentucky at Gainbridge Fieldhouse (125 S. Pennsylvania St., Indianapolis, Ind.) — Futures Games, girls, noon; boys, 2 p.m.; Senior girls, 5 p.m.; Senior boys, to follow (about 7:30 p.m.).

Tickets go on sale on April 15.

Two Shelbyville High School graduates playing college softball in Kentucky had a vocal cheer group in the stands Wednesday when they met on the diamond.

Louisville softball traveled to John Cropp Stadium in Lexington, Kentucky Wednesday for a mid-week contest with No. 16 Kentucky.

Shelbyville graduate Hannah File was in the starting lineup for Louisville while fellow Golden Bear Karissa Hamilton appeared later in the game for Kentucky.

Members of the Shelbyville softball program traveled to Lexington to watch the Division I softball game that aired on ESPNU.

File, Louisville’s starting first baseman in her final year of eligibility, went 0-for-4 against Kentucky in what ended as a 7-4 loss.

Hamilton, the reigning Indiana Miss Softball, pinch hit in the fifth inning and reached first base on a fielder’s choice.

After the game, File and Hamilton visited with the Golden Bears (photo).

File had a pair of home runs in a weekend sweep of North Carolina State that improved the Cardinals to 22-9 overall and 7-2 in the ACC standings. File had four hits in the three-game series and drove in three runs.

Hamilton had two hits, including a double, in a weekend series against No. 24 Texas A&M.

The Wildcats are 21-7-1 after ending Louisville’s seven-game win streak.

Here is a look at other Shelby County graduates competing at the collegiate level.

Brooke Lipperd

The Shelbyville graduate had a double and drove in a run Sunday in Franklin College’s 11-0 win over Eureka in its final non-conference game of the season.

With the win, Franklin improved to 14-4.

TeAnn Bringle

The Shelbyville graduate went 1-for-4 at the plate with a RBI Saturday in Indiana State’s 8-5 win at Drake.

The Sycamores swept the Missouri Valley Conference series to improve to 17-12 overall and 6-0 against MVC foes.

Bringle had a walk, a double and a RBI in Friday’s 3-1 win.

Katie Mathies

The Shelbyville graduate had a double for DePauw Wednesday in a 3-0 loss at No. 4 Texas Lutheran.

DePauw was swept in the doubleheader, dropping the opener 7-0. The Tigers are 4-13 this season.

Abby Eberhardt

The Triton Central graduate went 1-for-4 for Manchester University Friday in an 11-7 win over Elmhurst in Clermont, Florida.

Manchester won six of 10 games on its Florida trip to improve to 8-4.

The Spartans were swept in their home opener Wednesday by Adrian, 7-0 and 3-1.

Layton Stieneker

The Shelbyville graduate scored a pair of wins on March 23 for Franklin College in a 5-4 win at Maryville College.

Stieneker was victorious at No. 6 singles, 6-1, 6-4, over Kaleb Burke. Stieneker teamed with Dustin Garrison to secure an 8-5 win at No. 1 doubles over Jonathan Crane and Jackson Meyer.

On Wednesday, DePauw swept Franklin, 9-0.

Stieneker and Garrison were defeated 8-2 at No. 1 doubles and Stieneker lost a No. 6 singles match, 6-1, 6-1 to Grayson Zylstra.

Cory Taylor

The Shelbyville graduate had a walk, a stolen base and scored a run Tuesday in Eastern Michigan’s 7-5 win at Oakland in Rochester, Michigan. The win improved the Eagles to 11-10 this season.

Ball State swept a Mid-American Conference series over the weekend at Eastern Michigan. Taylor had two hits, four walks and two stolen bases in the MAC series.

Damon Lux

The Shelbyville graduate went 1-for-4 Tuesday in Duke’s 7-3 win at Liberty that improved the Blue Devils to 16-9 this season.

On Friday, Lux had two hits including a solo home run, a walk and scored three runs in Duke’s 8-5 win at No. 15 North Carolina.

The Tarheels won the series opener Thursday, 6-3. Lux had a hit, a walk, a stolen base and scored a run.

North Carolina secured the series victory Saturday with a 5-3 win in Chapel Hill.

Kina Schultz

The Shelbyville graduate finished sixth in the 100-meter hurdles (18.23 seconds), seventh in the 400 hurdles (1:21.93) and was part of Muskingum’s runner-up 400 relay team that clocked 52.03 at the Amy Adams Invitational Saturday in New Concord, Ohio.

Schultz also helped Muskingum to a sixth-place finish in the 1,600 relay (4:45.44).

Hanover Invitational

Four Shelby County graduates competed outdoors for the first time Saturday at Hanover.

Zaleeya Martin, a Shelbyville graduate, won the long jump for Hanover with a best attempt of 4.70 meters.

Martin also placed second in the 100 (12.81) and the 200 (27.28).

Shelbyville graduate Jill Anspaugh finished fourth in the 1,500 (5:25.61) and 16^th in the 800 (2:49.68) for Franklin College.

Southwestern graduate Alison Muck had a trio of top-three finishes for Franklin.

Muck was runner-up in the 100 hurdles (16.62) and third in the high jump (1.50 meters). She also was part of Franklin’s runner-up finish in the 400 relay (55.26).

Waldron graduate Madalyn Hudnall finished third in the javelin (33.19 meters) and fourth in the high jump (1.40 meters) for Mount St. Joseph.

Hudnall also placed seventh in the shot put (10.45 meters) and 11^th in the hammer throw (32.20 meters).

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A transfer and a freshman helped Shelbyville dominate Hauser Wednesday in a season-opening 17-1 victory in Hope.

Eli Sheppard, a junior transfer from Waldron, had three hits and drove in six runs to lead the Shelbyville offensive attack.

Freshman Aiden Smith pitched four scoreless innings and struck out nine in his high school debut.

The Golden Bears scored five runs in the top of the first inning and extended the lead to 8-0 after two innings. A nine-run third put the game out of reach.

Brock Kuhn had two hits and scored four runs for Shelbyville, who had just seven hits total against the Jets but took advantage of 14 walks and three players hit by a pitch.

Owen McIntyre took the loss for the Jets, allowing the first eight runs of the contest. Zayne McCanlis and Sam Louden also saw time on the mound.

Hauser’s four hits in the loss came from Holden Pittman and Stryker Gill.

The Golden Bears host East Central Friday for their home opener at Barnett Field.

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Shelbyville High School’s boys volleyball program made its varsity debut Tuesday at William L. Garrett Gymnasium.

Heritage Christian defeated the Golden Bears, 25-9, 25-14, 25-21 in the program debut at Shelbyville.

Heritage Christian improved to 1-4 this season.

The Golden Bears have 10 matches scheduled for the 2023 season. Shelbyville travels to Beech Grove for its next match April 4.

The Golden Bears return to Garrett Gymnasium on April 7 to face Blue River Valley.

In another prep event Tuesday:

Boys track

Westfield 113.5, Shelbyville 35, Sheridan 18.5

At Westfield, Shelbyville produced a quartet of top-three finishes in its first outdoor meet of the season.

Blake Hughes placed third in the 400 meters (55.56 seconds).

Ethan Lambert finished runner-up in the discus with a best throw of 131 feet, five inches.

Kylan Callahan’s best leap of 19-2.75 was good enough for second place in the long jump.

Logan Page finished third in the high jump (5-4).

Shelbyville’s Keagan Turner and Connor Zobel finished fifth and sixth, respectively, in the pole vault. They are Shelbyville’s first pole vaulters since the 2019 season.

Girls track

Westfield 108, Sheridan 29.5, Shelbyville 20.5

At Westfield, Shelbyville junior Hannah Wright finished third in the 3,200 with a time of 13:23.82.

Addison Stout placed third in the discus (65-1).

Shelbyville will host Franklin and East Central on April 4 at McKeand Stadium.

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Shelbyville softball coach Mark Hensley is tasked with setting high expectations for a talented squad coming off the program’s first-ever semistate appearance in 2022.

“That’s the hardest part with this, to make sure that they aren’t satisfied,” said Hensley. “Making it that far in the tournament and losing to the No. 1 team in the nation, there is no shame in that.

“Then, just making sure that they understand that even with that senior class last year gone and losing Miss Softball that this can still be a really good team. They have to remember that and not just be satisfied with having a good year last year and making sure they realize we can still win a lot of games.”

Win No. 1 came Tuesday in the season opener against Seymour. The Golden Bears, ranked No. 12 in the state coaches poll, scored in all six innings and pitchers Cheyenne Eads and Hailey Pogue combined on a two-hitter over six innings in a 10-0 victory over the Owls (0-1).

How does Shelbyville replace the loss of Karissa Hamilton (.526 batting average, 11 home runs, 39 RBIs), Indiana’s Miss Softball in 2022? With another Miss Softball candidate in senior shortstop Kylee Edwards.

For more on Edwards signing with Mississippi State, go to https://shelbycountypost.com/sports/661695

Edwards (.538, 17 doubles, 43 runs scored in 2022), a Mississippi State commit, made her senior season debut a memorable one with two hits, including a home run.

“She wants everybody to know she is pretty confident she is the best player in the state,” said Hensley. “She is trying to show that to everybody.”

Edwards (photo, right) locks down the leadoff spot in the Golden Bears’ lineup and is protected by another strong top half of the batting order.

“She has a lot of confidence because of the girls coming up behind her,” said Hensley. “With her batting leadoff, she knows if she gets on she is going to score.”

Great teams have great pitchers and Shelbyville has a pair in Eads, a junior who won 14 games last season, and senior Hailey Pogue (6-1 in 2022), who will play collegiately at the University of Indianapolis.

“Chey was fantastic today. I know she was a little bit mad at me for bringing her out in the fourth inning with the lead,” said Hensley. “We’ve got two No. 1s. Cheyenne was absolutely dealing tonight and it was tough to yank her out after only four innings because we wanted Hailey to get three innings.

“Hailey doesn’t always start our games (pitching) but there are about 150 teams in the state that would take her in a heartbeat and she would be their No. 1. It’s a good problem for us to have as to who is going to pitch because both can come out and really neutralize a team.”

For more on Pogue committing to the University of Indianapolis, go to https://shelbycountypost.com/sports/662753

Pogue (photo, left), who hit .333 with 10 doubles and 28 RBIs in 2022, produced several clutch hits during the record-setting season that propelled the Golden Bears within one win of a state championship game appearance. For a program that has consistently featured Division I-level talent over recent years, Hensley believes Pogue does not get enough attention for all her contributions at the plate.

“She is one of those that doesn’t get a lot of the notoriety, doesn’t get front page press from a lot of people and kind of slides under the radar but as far as coming through clutch, for the last couple of years she has probably had some of the biggest clutch hits that we’ve had in a season,” said Hensley.

Her final season opener as a Golden Bear included three hits – a double, a triple and a home run that resulted in three runs batted in.

“I don’t think she minds being under the radar a little bit,” said Hensley. “She keeps having games like that people will notice.”

Addison Stieneker made the Hoosier Heritage Conference’s All-Conference team as a freshman, hitting .422 with 11 doubles and 35 RBIs and will be counted on to follow-up her first season with another strong campaign.

“Addie is feeling a little bit of pressure,” said Hensley. “She had a couple at bats today where she was trying to do a little too much and swinging at pitches she normally doesn’t swing at. She has to realize she has worked really, really hard in the offseason and lived in the weight room the entire offseason and gotten really, really strong. She has developed into an absolute stud. Tonight, I think she was trying to do a little too much. She will settle down and be just fine. I’m not worried about her.”

Eads (.308, seven doubles in 2022) slides up in the batting order this season and will be a key defensive presence in the infield when she is not pitching.

While the infield in nearly intact from last season, sophomore Kali Laycock inherits the starting catcher’s role from Hamilton, the outfield is entirely new.

The program was bolstered by the return of senior Abby Brenner, who ran track in 2022. She went 1-for-4 Tuesday against Seymour and will fill one of the starting outfield roles this season.

“She got on a couple of times and made a couple of plays in centerfield. She was one we really missed last year,” said Hensley. “I’m glad she didn’t like track near as much and wanted to come back out this year. It has been a big help and she looked good today for her first game in two years.”

Senior Riley Maulden has battled injuries in the past but is back healthy and will be counted on to fill an outfield position this season.

Addysyn Wettrick, a junior, was another player in contention for outfield time but a hand injury is limiting her early this season.

Sophomore Destiney Johnson had four hits and three RBIs Tuesday playing both infield and outfield for the Golden Bears.

Rounding out the roster will be sophomore Aaliyah White and freshmen Sydney Brown, Hailey Maulden and Makinah Noel.

Shelbyville finished 24-6 and captured sectional and regional titles in 2022. The Golden Bears defeated Bedford North Lawrence, 4-3, in the semistate semifinal game before falling to Roncalli, 7-1, in the semistate championship game. Roncalli went on to capture its second-straight state championship.

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The 2023 Raymond James Hall of Fame Classic will feature a star-studded field in New Castle.

The prestigious event will celebrate its 40^th year of girls basketball games on Dec. 29 and the 49^th annual boys tournament will follow on Dec. 30 at the New Castle Fieldhouse.

Selecting from the best teams in the state, the girls tournament has included 20 teams that went on to win a state championship that season.

The 2023 girls field features Columbia City taking on Indian Creek and Lake Central battling Jennings County in semifinal contests.

Columbia City finished 20-3 and has its entire team returning in 2023-2024. The Lady Eagles were led by Addison Baxter (19.8 ppg) and Kyndra Sheets (15.2 ppg).

Coming off a 27-2 season, Indian Creek return a talented roster for the 2023-2024 season.

A pair of juniors led the way for Indian Creek. Lauren Foster averaged 18.6 points, 3.2 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game. Faith Wiseman, a six-foot, four-inch center committed to Indiana University, averaged 16.1 points and 9.4 rebounds per game last season.

Lake Central has no seniors graduating from a 23-6 regional championship team. No player averaged over 10 ppg last season but five players averaged at least 7 ppg. Expected to return are Aniyah Bishop (9.7 ppg, 6.2 rpg), Riley Malausnic (9.4 ppg) and Ayla Krygier (8.4 ppg).

Jennings County will look to improve on a 16-6 season with a roster that includes its top junior scorer and a major contributing freshman.

Leading the Panthers this past season were junior Julian Woodard (22.8 ppg, 12.5 rpg) and freshman Mollie Ernstes (12 ppg).

The boys tournament has featured 19 teams that have gone on to win a state championship, including the 2023 Class 3A and Class 4A state champs.

In the 2023 semifinal games, Kokomo, this year’s 4A state runner-up, will meet Crispus Attucks in the first semifinal. The second pairing has Brownstown Central facing Brownsburg.

Kokomo will graduate four seniors from a team that finished 24-5 but will return 6-10 junior Flory Bidunga, ranked as the No. 3 player in the country. Bidunga averaged 20.2 ppg and 13.8 rpg for the Wildkats.

Crispus Attucks returns a majority of its roster from an 18-8 campaign.

Ron Rutland III led Attucks averaging 18 ppg. Also returning will be Dezmon Briscoe (15.6 ppg) and Deandre Lott-Hancock (8.3 ppg, 4.9 rpg).

This will be Crispus Attucks first appearance in the Hall of Fame Classic.

Brownstown Central returns all but three players from a 24-5 squad that won a regional title. The Braves feature 6-5 Purdue commit Jack Benter (30 ppg, 7 rpg).

Brownsburg finished 22-5 and lost in the semistate to eventual state champion Ben Davis this past season. The Bulldogs return eight juniors, three sophomores and a freshman including Purdue commit Kanon Catchings (17.5 ppg, 5 rpg).

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Shelbyville softball, a Final Four team in 2022, opens the season Tuesday ranked No. 12 in the Softball Coaches Association of Indiana’s preseason poll.

Roncalli, the two-time defending state champion, is ranked No. 1 in Class 4A ahead of Center Grove, Bedford North Lawrence, Mooresville, Lake Central, Penn, New Palestine, Pendleton Heights, Columbus North and Harrison (West Lafayette).

Castle is No. 11 ahead of Shelbyville, who lost to Roncalli in the 4A south semistate championship game last season.

The Golden Bears open the 2023 season Tuesday at home against Seymour.

Tri-West Hendricks is No. 1 in the 3A poll followed by Leo, Corydon Central, Yorktown, Kankakee Valley, Pike Central, Franklin County, New Prairie, Gibson Southern and Hanover Central.

The top team in 2A is Eastside. North Posey is No. 2 followed by North Newton, South Vermillion, Madison-Grant, Eastern Hancock, Hauser, Whitko, Eastern (Greentown) and Boone Grove.

Tecumseh is preseason No. 1 in Class A ahead of Rossville, North Miami, Caston, Cowan, Clay City, Rising Sun, Barr-Reeve, West Central and Riverton Parke.

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Triton Central senior Isaac Morgan has been named All-Conference by the Indiana Crossroads Conference.

Morgan (photo, jersey No. 30) led TC in scoring at 15.6 points per game and also collected 3.5 rebounds and 3.6 assists during a 17-win season.

Morgan was one of 12 players selected to the All-ICC boys basketball squad.

Also honored were Beech Grove’s Jeremiah Alexander (12.6 ppg, 4.2 rpg), Jeremiah Tate (12.3 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 3.4 apg), Cam Brown (9 ppg, 4.7 rpg) and Jaleel Edwards (10 ppg, 2.9 rpg), Indianapolis Ritter’s Mikial Miller (12.7 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 4.3 apg) and Beneiam Smith (13.5 ppg, 4.5 rpg), Indianapolis Lutheran’s L.J. Ward (13.1 ppg, 3.7 apg, 3.7 spg) and Durray Smith (12.2 ppg), Speedway’s Nate Matelic (19 ppg, 5.1 rpg), and Indianapolis Scecina’s Keaton Thibo (15 ppg) and Kaleb Milan (10.9 ppg).

Beech Grove won the ICC title with a perfect 7-0 record. The Hornets finished the season at 17-7.

Lutheran (19-7, 5-2 ICC) and Ritter (11-13, 5-2) were runners-up ahead of Scecina (18-7, 4-3), Triton Central (17-7, 3-4), Cascade (7-17, 2-5), Speedway (4-19, 2-5) and Monrovia (6-18, 0-7).

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Waldron’s Lucas Mitchell and Triton Central’s Eli Sego were honored by the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association with Honorable Mention All-State status.

Mitchell, a senior named to the senior all-state honorable mention squad, averaged 19.7 points and 7.7 rebounds for the Mohawks this past season. He surpassed 1,000 career points late in the season and finished as Waldron’s sixth all-time leading scorer.

Sego (photo, left), a freshman selected as underclass honorable mention all-state, averaged 12.2 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.8 assists for Triton Central in his inaugural season.

The IBCA also released its 15 seniors and 15 underclass boys basketball players selected as IBCA/Franciscan Health “Supreme 15” All-State.

The Supreme 15 seniors are Xavier Booker (Cathedral), Markus Burton (Penn), Myles Colvin (Heritage Christian), Zane Doughty (Ben Davis), Joey Hart (Linton-Stockton), Logan Imes (Zionsville), Mason Jones (Valparaiso), A.J. Lux (Crown Point), Sam Orme (Carmel), Ian Raasch (NorthWood), JaQualon Roberts (Bloomington North), Sheridan Sharp (Ben Davis), Jaron Tibbs (Cathedral), Brandon Trilli (Munster) and Ashton Williamson (Gary 21^st Century).

The Supreme 15 underclassmen are Isaac Andrews (Wapahani), Jack Benter (Brownstown Central), Flory Bidunga (Kokomo), Dezmon Briscoe (Crispus Attucks), Sabien Cain (University), Kanon Catchings (Brownsburg), Jalen Harrison (Fishers), Brauntae Johnson (Fort Wayne North), Carter Kent (Jennings County), Chase Konieczny (South Bend St. Joseph), Tyler Parrish (Chesterton), Kellen Pickett (Fort Wayne Blackhawk Christian), Azavier Robinson (Lawrence North), Justin Sims (Chesterton) and Trent Sisley (Heritage Hills).

Other notable honorees were New Palestine’s Ian Stephens (Large School All-State Senior), Eastern Hancock’s Jacob and Silas Spaulding (Small School All-State Seniors), Franklin’s Micah Davis (Large School All-State Underclassman) and Greenfield-Central’s Braylon Mullins (Large School All-State Underclassman).

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The Indiana High School Athletic Association is considering a new classification proposal that would drastically alter Shelbyville’s postseason route.

The Indiana Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association has delivered a four-class proposal with fixed classifications that would drop Shelbyville from a 4A school to a 3A school.

The new proposal reduces the gap in the largest class, keeps schools in the same class for all four-class sports, and ensure schools will not move to a higher class without an increase in enrollment.

The proposal would not eliminate the IHSAA’s “success factor” program that bumps schools to a higher class based on postseason success at its current class.

The fixed four-class alignment would fill Class 4A with schools with 1,400 students or more; 3A with enrollment figures between 600 and 1,399; 2A between 325-599; and Class A schools with 324 students or less.

Depending on sport, Shelbyville is between the smallest 10 to 15 schools in Class 4A. Other than softball, Shelbyville has not won a sectional championship in basketball, baseball, soccer or volleyball in more than a decade.

Shelbyville is currently classified based on 1,133 students. The most recent basketball sectional pairings had the Golden Bears competing against Columbus North (2,219 students), Whiteland (2,021), Franklin (1,571), Columbus East (1,534) and East Central (1,269).

Potential 3A postseason opponents would be East Central, Greenwood (1,193), New Palestine (1,167), Roncalli (1,081), Connersville (981), Beech Grove (968), New Castle (875), Greensburg (716), Batesville (711) and Rushville (660).

The new proposal would assign 68 schools to 4A and between 99 and 117 schools in the other three classes based on participation levels in each sport.

Triton Central, with 462 students, would be in the upper half of the number of schools in 2A. Morristown (189), Southwestern (176) and Waldron (161) would remain in Class A.

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TeAnn Bringle went 1-for-3 with a run scored Tuesday in Indiana State’s 6-2 win at Purdue. The win was the first for the Sycamores over Purdue since 2018.

In game two of the doubleheader, the Shelbyville graduate had a double and scored a run in a 9-2 loss.

Indiana State won its home opener Sunday over Illinois Chicago, 13-0. Bringle went 1-for-2 with a walk and two runs scored in the Missouri Valley Conference contest.

The Sycamores swept a doubleheader Monday, 9-1 and 12-2.

Indiana State is 14-12 this season.

Here is a look at other Shelby County graduates competing at the collegiate level.

Madalyn Hudnall

The Waldron graduate placed 19^th in the women’s shot put competition for Mount St. Joseph University Friday in the Emory Spring Break Classic in Atlanta, Georgia.

Hudnall’s best throw went 33 feet, 11.25 inches.

Abby Eberhardt

The Triton Central graduate had a pinch-hit double Tuesday for Manchester University’s softball program in a 6-3 loss to Gustavus Adolphus in Clermont, Florida.

Manchester opened Tuesday with an 8-7 win over Middlebury.

On Monday, the Spartans opened the day with an 11-6 loss to Bowdoin before securing an 8-0 victory over Lawrence. Eberhardt went 1-for-3 at the plate.

Manchester is 5-3 this season.

Damon Lux

The Shelbyville graduate had a double, a walk and was hit by a pitch in Duke’s 19-3 win Tuesday over Towson.

Duke won a three-game series at Clemson with a doubleheader split Saturday and an 11-8 win Sunday. Lux delivered a three-run home run Sunday in Duke’s 5-run ninth inning to secure the ACC victory.

Lux went 2-for-5 in game two Saturday that Clemson won 14-9.

Duke is 13-7 this season.

Cory Taylor

The Shelbyville graduate had a walk and scored a run Tuesday in Eastern Michigan’s 9-7 loss at Butler.

On Sunday, Taylor had a two-run home run, his fourth of the season, in Eastern Michigan’s 14-3 win over Western Michigan in Bowling Green, Kentucky.

The three-game series was moved to Bowling Green due to inclement weather in Michigan. Taylor went 1-for-3 with a triple, a walk and two stolen bases Saturday in a 5-4 loss in game one.

Eastern Michigan is 10-7.

Katie Mathies

The Shelbyville graduate was 1-for-3 with a double Sunday in DePauw’s 2-0 loss to Transylvania in the Transylvania Pioneer Classic.

The Tigers are 14-9.

On Saturday, Mathies finished 1-for-3 with a double and a run scored in a 10-5 loss to Defiance.

Morgan Stieneker

The Shelbyville graduate went 1-for-1 with a stolen base, a run scored and a RBI Friday for IUPUC in a 10-2 win over Dallas Christian.

Earlier Friday, Stieneker had two hits in a 13-4 loss to Concordia (Michigan).

IUPUC is 5-16.

Hannah File

The Shelbyville graduate had two hits, a walk and scored two runs Tuesday in Louisville’s 10-1 win at Eastern Kentucky.

The Cardinals swept Pittsburgh over the weekend to improve to 4-2 in ACC games. File had a two-run home run Friday in a 12-2 victory.

File finished 1-for-4 with two RBIs Sunday in a 9-6 win.

Louisville is 19-9.

Layton Stieneker

Marian defeated Franklin College 8-1 Tuesday.

Stieneker, a Shelbyville graduate, lost a No. 4 singles match to Jake Giles, 6-0, 6-0.

At No. 1 doubles, Stieneker and Dustin Garrison lost 8-3 to Giles and Shadi Al Tori.

On Saturday, Adrian College defeated Franklin, 6-3.

Stieneker was defeated at No. 5 singles, 6-4, 6-3 by Zachary Perry. Stieneker and Garrison suffered an 8-1 loss to Brandon Falk and Luke Holowinski.

Franklin College is 3-8.

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One last look at the Shelby County girls basketball season finalizes the statistical leaderboard for the 2022-2023 school year.

Shelbyville senior Kylee Edwards (photo, left, with Shelbyville head coach Becca Hoefler) not only set several program records, she also led all scorers at the five Shelby County high schools by averaging 19.5 points per game.

Edwards’ teammate, junior Ava Wilson, was second at 18 ppg. Wilson was followed by Morristown senior Raegan Kleine (12.8 ppg), Triton Central senior Lizzie Graham (12.8 ppg), and Triton Central freshman Maryrose Felling (12.7 ppg) and Morristown sophomore Danika Rutledge (12.7 ppg).

Edwards, standing five feet, seven inches tall, also was Shelby County’s top rebounder at 8.1 rpg. Also in the top five were Triton Central junior Brooklyn Bailey (7.9 rpg), Rutledge (7.2 rpg), Southwestern senior McKinley Correll (6.6 rpg), Waldron senior Josee Larrison (6.6 rpg) and Southwestern sophomore Tanna Tatlock (6.6 rpg).

Triton Central senior Hallie Schweitzer (photo) dished out 110 assists this past season to top that category at 5 apg. Correll was second at 2.9 apg followed by Kleine (2.8 apg), Larrison (2.6 apg) and Felling (2.2 apg).

Kleine finished with more thefts than anyone in the county. The senior averaged 3.7 steals per game. Wilson (3.4 spg) and Edwards (3.3 spg) were close behind with Waldron junior Alyssa Benson (3 spg) and Correll (2.9 spg) completing the top five.

With 25 blocks this season, Correll (photo) topped the blocks category at 1.1 bpg. Edwards (1 bpg) and Waldron sophomore Alivia Fischer (1 bpg) were the only other players to average at least one block per game.

Bailey finished with the top shooting percentage at 55.6%. Completing the top five were Schweitzer (50.3%), Rutledge (50%), Graham (42.7%) and Waldron freshman Emerson Lindsey (40.3%).

Graham sank 54 three-pointers, tops in Shelby County, and had the top percentage at 42.2%. Also shooting well from the arc this past season were Waldron senior Cendall Sheaffer (36.8%), Schweitzer (32.3%), Benson (29.5%) and Edwards (28.8%).

Graham also had the top free-throw shooting percentage at 85.4%. She was followed in the top five by Triton Central junior Hailey Harris (77.8%), Rutledge (74.2%), Bailey (71.1%) and Felling (70.8%).

Triton Central finished with the most wins at 18-5. Head coach Bryan Graham is now 299-65 in 15 seasons in Fairland. He will be an assistant coach for the Indiana All-Stars when they face the Kentucky All-Stars in June.

Shelbyville opened the season 7-0 and finished 15-9, the program’s first winning season since 2016. Head coach Becca Hoefler is 38-56 in four seasons with the Golden Bears.

Morristown finished 13-11 – the program’s third straight season above .500 – for head coach Rachel Kleine, who is 78-56 in six seasons with the Yellow Jackets.

Southwestern started the season with 10 consecutive losses but rebounded to a 6-17 record. West is 18-28 in his two seasons at Southwestern and 40-99 after six seasons as a head coach which included a four-year run at Shelbyville.

Waldron went 5-18 in head coach Ilea Shipp’s first season.

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Hannah File delivered a three-run home run Friday for Louisville in a 9-6 loss at No. 15 Duke.

File, a Shelbyville graduate, had hits in all three games of the ACC series at Duke.

She went 1-for-3 Saturday in game one of a doubleheader that Duke won, 5-3.

She had two hits, was hit by a pitch, scored three runs and drove in a run in game two – a Louisville 13-9 win, its third win over a top-25 ranked program this season.

Louisville closed out its North Carolina road trip Tuesday with a 10-2 loss at Charlotte to drop to 15-9 this season.

Here is a look at other Shelby County graduates competing at the collegiate level.

Layton Stieneker

The Shelbyville graduate teamed with Dustin Garrison to win a No. 1 doubles match for Franklin College Sunday at Manchester. Stieneker and Garrison defeated Austin Arnold and Reece Romer, 8-3.

Stieneker topped Manchester’s Brennan Beachy, 6-4, 6-1, at No. 3 singles which helped Franklin secure an 8-1 victory.

On Saturday, Hanover defeated Franklin College, 8-1.

Stieneker was defeated at No. 3 singles, 6-0, 6-2 by Nicolas Coronado and lost 8-7 (4-0) at No. 1 doubles with Garrison to Coronado and Jedrek Brodzki.

TeAnn Bringle

The Shelbyville graduate went 1-for-2 at the plate with a double, a run scored and a run batted in Sunday for Indiana State in a 3-0- win over Pittsburgh in the University of Memphis Tournament.

The Sycamores (8-11) finished 1-4 in Memphis.

Pittsburgh defeated ISU, 2-1, Friday. The Sycamores followed that with a 10-9 loss to Memphis. Bringle had a walk and a run-scoring sacrifice fly in that loss.

Bringle had a double in three plate appearances Saturday in Indiana State’s 6-1 loss to North Alabama, who also defeated the Sycamores Sunday, 3-0.

Katie Mathies

The Shelbyville graduate went 1-for-4 Saturday with a RBI for DePauw in a 13-6 loss at Washington University in St. Louis.

The Tigers lost to Wartburg Sunday, 11-6, then defeated Washington, 5-2, to set their record at 4-6 this season.

Cory Taylor

The Shelbyville graduate had two home runs for Eastern Michigan in a three-game series at Akron.

Eastern Michigan won the series opener Friday, 8-7. Taylor went 1-for-4 with a home run and two runs scored.

On Saturday, Taylor homered again and had three RBIs in an 8-3 victory.

Akron prevailed Sunday, 6-5. Taylor had two hits including a double and a walk.

Eastern Michigan is 8-5 this season.

Damon Lux

The Shelbyville graduate finished 2-for-5 with a double, a run scored and two RBIs Friday for Duke in an 8-6 loss to No. 5 Wake Forest.

The two teams split a doubleheader Saturday with Duke winning game one, 8-1, and the Demon Deacons rebounding for a 5-3 win in game two.

Duke is 10-6 (1-2 ACC).

Karissa Hamilton

The Shelbyville graduate had a pinch-hit single Sunday for Kentucky in a 5-0 victory at Missouri. The Wildcats swept the weekend series to improve to 16-5-1 this season.

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The 2023 Indiana All-Stars squad has been announced one day after Zionsville’s Laila Hull was named Indiana Miss Basketball.

Penn’s Kristi Ulrich was previously named head coach of the 2023 All-Stars with Triton Central’s Bryan Graham and Garrett’s Bob Lapadot to serve as assistant coaches.

Hull was chosen Miss Basketball after averaging 22 points and eight rebounds at Zionsville her senior season. She is the girls basketball program’s career rebounding leader and will play college basketball at the University of North Carolina.

Also named Indiana All-Stars were:

• Pioneer’s Ashlynn Brooke – the Ball State commit averaged 24 points, six assists and five steals this season. She holds Pioneer’s career records for assists and steals and is No. 2 in career points.
• Hamilton Southeastern’s Olivia Brown – The Akron-bound point guard averaged 6.9 points and 7.5 assists her senior year. She leaves HSE as the program’s career leader in assists and steals.
• Ben Davis’ Cristen Carter – The six-foot, three-inch Miami of Ohio commit set a school record with 355 rebounds this season. She also averaged 18.6 ppg.
• Hobart’s Asia Donald – The Indiana State commit averaged a double-double this past season at 26.7 ppg and 10.9 rpg.
• Cathedral’s Layla Gold – The Valparaiso commit averaged 22 points and nine rebounds her senior season.
• South Bend Washington’s Rashunda Jones – Committed to Purdue, Jones averaged 19.7 points, 3.8 rebounds and 4.6 assists for a team that was ranked No. 1 all season.
• Northwestern’s McKenna Layden – Also committed to Purdue, Layden averaged 21.6 ppg and topped 1,600 career points at Northwestern.
• Hamilton Southeastern’s Riley Makalusky – The Butler commit finished her career as HSE’s sixth-leading scorer after averaging 20 ppg in her final season.
• Bedford North Lawrence’s Karsyn Norman – The Butler commit led the Stars to the Class 4A state championship while averaging 15 ppg.
• South Bend Washington’s Amiyah Reynolds – The Maryland commit suffered an injury late in the regular season that will not allow her to play in this year’s all-star series. She averaged 15.2 points and 8.1 rebounds before the injury.
• Columbus East’s Saige Stahl – The Indiana State commit averaged career bests in points (26 ppg) and rebounds (9.9 rpg) this season.
• Forest Park’s Amber Tretter – The Miami of Ohio commit led the Rangers to their second straight Class 2A state championship this season. She averaged 15.8 points and nine rebounds per game.

The Indiana All-Stars will play a girls-boys doubleheader against the Kentucky All-Stars in Owensboro, Ky., on June 9 followed by a doubleheader on June 10 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

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If 112 years of state high school basketball tournaments have proven anything, it’s that unbelievable moments and legacies can’t possibly be in short supply.

This being Indiana, they aren’t.

Now, thanks to Hoosier Historia, residents can vote for the top moments, players and deafening postseason environments that through the generations have gradually constructed our collective passion for high school hoops that is recognized globally.

Hoosier Historia is one of the many elements associated with Indianapolis hosting the 2024 NBA All-Star game next February.

Votes can be cast on pacers.com/HoosierHistoria.

The website offers a total of 50 selections; the final 24 will be made into the type of eye-catching artwork to be on display once the All-Star game gets closer. This is being done through a partnership with the Indy Arts Council and the Capital Improvement Board.

“Fans are going to pick out what 24 stories turn to art. It’s significant because these are things that are going to be on display All-Star weekend,” said Danny Lopez, Vice President of External Affairs and Corporate Communications at Pacers Sports & Entertainment. “After All-Star Weekend, they’ll live in the convention center, or some of them will go back to their own hometowns.

“This is something that in a state like ours, it seemed like a logical way to get people excited about what’s to come, and what that weekend will look like visually.”

The 50 options were selected by the 15-person Hoosier Historia Subcommittee comprised of former coaches, referees, players and longtime journalists, the latter having spent decades covering the boys and girls tournaments.

The final 24 selections will be announced on March 24, prior to the IHSAA Boys Basketball State Finals at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

At that point, the Indy Arts Council will solicit concepts from artists across Indiana who will paint their interpretations of these players, places and moments on six-foot tall basketball sculptures to be displayed in downtown Indianapolis.

Maybe it’s the Milan Miracle that gets your vote, or the legendary game that wouldn’t end (Swayzee’s nine-overtime victory over Liberty Center). Then again, the filming of “Hoosiers” or the Damon-led Bedford North Lawrence Stars winning state in front of 41,046 spectators inside the now-extinct Hoosier Dome are more your preference.

The state’s legendary high school gymnasiums are also included, deservedly so. Also among the options is the state’s controversial transition from a one-class system to four classes, a process that, in many ways, divided supporters of the sport in the middle- and late 1990s.

Add it all together, and it’s uniquely Indiana.

“I thought it was great that the (Indiana) Pacers started this,” said Matt Martin, Executive Director of the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame. “I thought it was real neat to focus on high school basketball. It’s what makes Indiana … Indiana. Nobody has the basketball we do, and it starts at the high school level.

“And the stories seem to continue. They live on because that connection is always there.”

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With his college commitment now complete, Grant Kessler can focus on creating a memorable senior baseball season at Morristown.

“I’m feeling pretty good about it,” said Kessler. “Baseball season is coming up.”

On Friday at Morristown, Kessler signed his letter of intent to play baseball at Mount St. Joseph University in Cincinnati, Ohio. Before that happens, he has some specific goals in mind for his final season as a Yellow Jacket.

“It would be nice to bring home a county championship and get a sectional championship this year,” said Kessler. “I think we have a pretty good chance to win the sectional this year.”

Morristown last captured a sectional championship in 2008.

In 2022, the Yellow Jackets finished 12-12 with just one senior on the roster. Kessler went 2-1 with a 1.67 earned run average. In 46 innings, he allowed 25 hits and struck out 102 of 185 batters he faced. His biggest performance came early in the season when he struck out 20 North Decatur hitters in one game.

“I am really excited for the baseball season,” said Kessler. “I want to have more strikeouts this year. I would like to throw a no-hitter. That would be pretty cool. And get 21 strikeouts in a game.”

Kessler, a left-handed starting pitcher, took serious looks at the baseball programs at DePauw University and Manchester University but settled on Mount St. Joseph for several reasons.

“The school has a good 4-and-1 program in Business where my fifth year I can get my master’s degree in Business,” he said. “The school is really cool. The classes and dorms are all connected in a square so you don’t have to walk outside. And the weight room has the same machines that I use at the YMCA in Shelbyville.”

There also is the Centennial Fieldhouse and Austin E. Knowlton Fitness Center that opened on campus on Feb. 1, 2021. The state-of-the-art facility provides indoor practice space for many MSJ athletic teams, is the site of the baseball program’s lockerroom, and the fitness center is available for the entire student body.

For more on Kessler's 2022 success, https://shelbycountypost.com/sports/629836

The change of scenery will prove challenging admits Kessler but there will be familiar faces in the baseball program, including a travel baseball teammate that is committed to the Lions.

“I will have people I know and it’s not that far away,” he said.

While baseball is his top priority for the near future, eventually he will have to decide what career track he wants to take with his degrees.

“I don’t have much of a plan right now but I want to stay in the sports world,” he said. “ I really like basketball and football too.”

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The final road to Gainbridge Fieldhouse is now set as the 32 remaining teams in the IHSAA Boys Basketball State Tournament learned their opponents and the location of their semistate games Sunday afternoon.

For the first time in the boys tournament history, the Indiana High School Athletic Association drew the semistate pairings live mid-tournament in a special show streamed on IHSAAtv.org.

Semistate games are scheduled for Saturday at eight different sites with two semifinal games during the day and the championship game in the evening. The winners will advance to their respective state championship games at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in downtown Indianapolis on March 25.

The North host sites are Michigan City, Elkhart, Logansport and Lafayette Jefferson. The South host sites are New Castle, Seymour, Southport and Washington.

In Class 4A at the Wolves Den in Michigan City, Fort Wayne Wayne (21-4) opens against No. 5 Kokomo (22-4). The second semifinal pits No. 2 Penn (27-1) against No. 3 Hammond Central (26-1).

In the South semistate at New Castle, No. 8 Brownsburg (21-4) drew No. 9 Jennings County (24-2) while No. 1 Ben Davis (30-0) follows against Bloomington North (19-5).

At Elkhart in the 3A semistate, Delta (18-9) takes on Glenn (17-10) in the first game with No. 1 NorthWood (25-2) following against Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger (13-13).

At Lloyd Scott Gymnasium in Seymour, No. 11 Scottsburg (21-5) begins the 3A semistate against No. 6 North Daviess (24-5), the reigning Class 2A state champion. In the second semifinal, No. 12 Guerin Catholic (18-8) faces No. 14 Beech Grove (17-6), the defending 3A state champ.

At the Berry Bowl in Logansport, the 2A semistate begins with No. 7 Gary 21^st Century (21-5) against No. 3 Fort Wayne Blackhawk Christian (24-3). The second semifinal pits No. 2 Wapahani (25-1) against Lewis Cass (19-7).

At Southport, No. 5 Brownstown Central (23-4) opens against Indianapolis Scecina (18-6). The second 2A semifinal features Parke Heritage (19-9) and No. 1 Linton-Stockton (27-1).

The Marion Crawley Center at Lafayette Jefferson is the host site for a Class A semistate. The opener has Southwood (13-12) against No. 2 Fountain Central (23-4) while No. 10 Marquette Catholic (20-7) follows against Kouts (17-9).

And in the Class A semistate at the Hatchet House in Washington, No. 8 Indianapolis Lutheran (17-7) battles No. 4 Loogootee (20-7) in the first semifinal. Jac-Cen-Del (18-9) follows against Rock Creek (11-14).

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Charlie Rife collected his first collegiate home run Tuesday in Bellarmine’s 18-8 loss at Northern Kentucky University in Highland Heights, Kentucky.

The Shelbyville graduate was the starting catcher Tuesday for Bellarmine and went 2-for-2 at the plate with two runs scored and a run batted in.

The loss dropped Bellarmine to 5-7 this season.

The Knights start a 4-game series Thursday at Indiana University.

Here is a look at other Shelby County graduates competing at the collegiate level.

Karissa Hamilton

The Shelbyville graduate had two hits, both triples, for the University of Kentucky at the Oklahoma Tournament in Norman, Oklahoma.

The Wildcats (12-5-1) lost twice to No. 1 ranked Oklahoma but secured 7-1 and 11-0 wins over the University of Illinois Chicago.

Damon Lux

The Shelbyville graduate had a double, a walk and was hit by a pitch Tuesday in Duke’s 5-0 win over Appalachian State in Durham, North Carolina.

Duke lost a 3-game series opener Friday to Princeton, 7-3. Lux went 1-for-3 with a RBI.

On Saturday, the Blue Devils bounced back for a 21-2 victory then closed out the series with a 12-5 win Sunday. Lux had two walks and scored a run in the series finale.

The Blue Devils are 9-3 and host Northeastern today.

Cory Taylor

The Shelbyville graduate finished 2-for-3 with two walks, a stolen base, three runs scored and a RBI Sunday in Eastern Michigan’s 11-6 win over Towson in 11 innings.

Eastern Michigan swept the 4-game series played at Schuerholz Park in Towson, Maryland. Taylor had seven hits and four RBIs to get the Eagles back above .500 at 6-4.

Katie Mathies

The Shelbyville graduate went 1-for-3 with a double Saturday in DePauw’s 3-2 loss to Randolph-Macon College to close out the Grand Slam Triangle Classic in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Mathies had two hits and two RBIs Friday in DePauw’s 8-5 win over Susquehanna University. She followed that with two more hits in an 8-5 loss to No. 25 Piedmont University.

DePauw opened play Saturday with a 6-5 loss to Birmingham-Southern College.

The Tigers are 3-4 this season.

Morgan Stieneker

The Shelbyville graduate went 2-for-4 with a double, a stolen base and two runs scored for IUPUC in a 4-3 win Sunday at Viterbo.

Stieneker had a 4-hit performance Monday with three RBIs in a 5-1 win at Brescia that improved IUPUC to 3-8 in its inaugural season.

Oakland City swept a doubleheader Tuesday against IUPUC, 3-0 and 6-2, to drop the Crimson Pride to 3-10. Stieneker had a hit and a walk in the twinbill.

Hannah File

The Shelbyville graduate had a pair of walks Sunday for Louisville in a 2-0 win over Northern Kentucky.

The Cardinals are 14-6 this season.

Michael Fox

The Shelbyville graduate finished 14^th in the 1-mile run for Manchester University in the Polar Bear Final Qualifier in Ada, Ohio. Fox crossed the finish line in 4:59.60.

Layton Stieneker

The Shelbyville graduate won a No. 3 singles match and a No. 1 doubles match for Franklin College Saturday in a 9-0 win over Kaskaskia College in Centralia, Illinois.

Stieneker defeated Brendan Phillips, 6-3, 7-5, then teamed with Dustin Garrison to top Tejas Zala and Pierce Farmer, 8-5.

Franklin returned to the tennis courts Saturday and lost 9-0 to Greenville University. Stieneker was defeated at No. 4 singles, 6-0, 6-2, and, with Garrison, was swept at No. 1 doubles, 8-0.

Riley Stephens

The Triton Central graduate had one rebound for Samford Thursday in a 63-47 loss to East Tennessee State University in the Southern Conference Tournament in Asheville, North Carolina.

Samford finished the season 13-17.

Hayden Langkabel

The Morristown graduate closed out his Marian University career with three points, one rebound and one assist Tuesday in a 79-75 loss to the University of Rio Grande (Ohio) in the NAIA Tournament First Round in Oskaloosa, Iowa.

Marian finished the season 21-10.

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Shelbyville senior Ollie Sandman was one of 12 boys basketball players to earn an All-Conference designation from the Hoosier Heritage Conference.

Sandman, who became the 10^th Golden Bear to join the 1,000 career points club this season, averaged 16.9 ppg and 3.6 rpg for a Shelbyville squad that finished 10-14.

The DePauw University commit finished his Shelbyville career with 1,036 points – the eighth best total in boys basketball program history. He also finished with 199 career three-pointers made – a program record.

Also named All-HHC were Delta juniors Jackson Wors (14.3 ppg, 4.1 rpg) and D’Amare Hood (13.3 ppg, 4.6 rpg), Greenfield-Central senior Dylan Moles (20.4 ppg, 5.1 apg) and sophomore Braylon Mullins (16.9 ppg, 5.2 rpg), Mount Vernon freshmen Luke Ertel (12.7 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 4.4 apg) and Julien Smith (13.2 ppg, 3.7 rpg), New Castle senior Gavin Welch (15.8 ppg, 4.8 rpg), New Palestine seniors Ian Stephens (15.2 ppg, 7.9 rpg) and Blaine Nunnally (17.5 ppg, 5.2 apg), Pendleton Heights junior Josiah Gustin (13.3 ppg, 7.6 rpg), and Yorktown senior A.J. Dunn (18.2 ppg, 4.7 rpg).

New Palestine’s Trent Whitaker and Greenfield-Central’s Luke Meredith were selected HHC Co-Coaches of the Year.

Whitaker led New Palestine (23-2) to the HHC championship with a 7-0 record.

Meredith and Greenfield-Central (21-2) finished runner-up at 6-1.

Mount Vernon (16-9, 5-2 HHC) was third ahead of Yorktown (14-9, 4-3), Delta (17-9, 3-4), New Castle (14-12, 2-5), Shelbyville (10-14, 1-6) and Pendleton Heights (8-17, 0-7).

New Palestine and Delta captured sectional championships Saturday and will compete in regional championship games later this week.

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Shelbyville senior Kylee Edwards and junior Ava Wilson were recently selected All-Conference by the Hoosier Heritage Conference.

Edwards (main photo), Shelbyville’s career-scoring leader, averaged 19.5 points and 8.1 rebounds for the Golden Bears in her final season. She will graduate with the most career points (1,563), rebounds (573) and blocked shots (67) in program history and is third all-time in assists (196) and second in steals (275). She also has the program record for points in a game (45).

Wilson averaged 18 ppg and 5.4 rpg to help Shelbyville to a 15-9 season. After three seasons with the Golden Bears, she has 742 career points, putting her on track to become the seventh 1,000-point career scorer during her senior year.

Edwards and Wilson (photo above) were two of 12 girls named All-HHC.

Also honored were Greenfield-Central sophomore Chaney Brown (14.3 ppg, 6 rpg) and senior Aryana Hibbard (9.8 ppg, 3.3 rpg), Mount Vernon senior Khloe Patterson (7.5 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 3.8 apg) and juniors Ellery Minch (16.4 ppg, 5.3 rpg) and Easton Wampler (6.8 ppg, 2.6 rpg), New Castle junior Emma Hart (17.7 ppg, 3.7 rpg), New Palestine senior Isabella Gizzi (23.7 ppg, 5.8 rpg), Pendleton Heights senior Whitney Warfel (14.8 ppg, 6.4 rpg) and sophomore Kaycie Warfel (20.2 ppg, 4.5 rpg), and Yorktown senior Amari Wright (15 ppg, 4.7 rpg).

Mount Vernon head coach Julie Shelton was named HHC Coach of the Year after leading the Marauders (19-7) to the conference championship with a 7-0 mark.

Pendleton Heights was HHC runner-up at 15-10 (6-1 HHC), finishing ahead of Greenfield-Central (14-10, 5-2), Yorktown (11-12, 4-3), New Palestine (13-12, 3-4), Shelbyville (15-9, 2-5), Delta (6-16, 1-6) and New Castle (0-23, 0-7).

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The Indiana Crossroads Conference (ICC) has announced the addition of Covenant Christian High School beginning with the 2024-2025 school year.

The Warriors addition will follow the departure of Cascade High School for the Western Indiana Conference after the 2023-2024 school year.

“The ICC is pleased to welcome Covenant Christian as a new member, feeling confident they will accept the task of meeting the goals of the conference,” according to a media release from the ICC. “The ICC strives for excellence in well-rounded academic and athletic programs. Its membership promotes a friendly understanding in all interschool relations while affirming the belief in growth through academic and athletic challenges. The ICC looks forward to continuing to be focused on making decisions that ensure its members an education-based, student-focused and competitive environment.”

The ICC currently consists of Beech Grove, Cascade, Indianapolis Cardinal Ritter, Indianapolis Lutheran, Monrovia, Indianapolis Scecina, Speedway and Triton Central.

Covenant Christian finished 8-4 after the 2022 football season. The Warriors, competing in Class A, lost to eventual state champion Lutheran, 56-0, in the sectional championship game.

Covenant Christian’s girls basketball team went 7-16 this season. The Warriors’ last sectional championship came in 2020.

The boys basketball program finished 14-10 and lost to Park Tudor in its sectional opener. The Warriors’ last sectional title came in 2021.

Covenant Christian has athletic teams competing in cross country, football, tennis, soccer, volleyball, golf, swimming, baseball, softball, and track and field.

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CHARLOTTESVILLE – Indianapolis Scecina used a 22-point second quarter to build a double-digit lead on Triton Central that proved to be enough to secure the Class 2A, Sectional 42 championship Saturday night at Eastern Hancock High School, 57-45.

Triton Central controlled the first quarter and built a 16-12 lead but David Mendez, Keaton Thibo and Mason Beriault connected on four consecutive three-pointers in the second quarter to give the Crusaders a 34-23 lead at halftime.

The Tigers bounced back with a strong third quarter that cut the deficit down to two points but never regained the lead. TC went 0-for-11 from the 3-point line in the fourth quarter and Scecina got inspired play from reserves Seth Trimble-Sunderland and Madden Beriault, who combined for 13 points over the final eight minutes that sealed the victory.

“We lost a couple of guys in transition which is something we don’t normally do,” said Triton Central head coach Kyle Ballard, now 48-46 in four seasons in Fairland, of Scecina’s two 10-0 runs in the second quarter. “We were still getting good looks and we had a couple of turnovers back-to-back.”

Scecina (17-6) will face Park Tudor (16-8), a 40-37 winner over 2A No. 5 University Saturday night, in the regional championship game at 1 p.m. Saturday at Greenfield-Central High School.

Thibo and Mendez each scored 13 points to lead Scecina, who captured its first sectional championship since 2018. Madden Beriault finished with 10 points – all in the fourth quarter.

Silas Blair topped Triton Central (17-7) with 20 points and seven rebounds. No other Tiger scored in double figures on a night when the team shot just 35% from the field (17 of 48) and 21% from the arc (6 of 29).

“We are really excited about where his game has come and where it can go in the next couple of years,” said Ballard of the sophomore.

Isaac Morgan finished with nine points and four assists in his final game at Triton Central. Fellow seniors Luke Faust and Cooper Baugh each scored two points.

Indianapolis Scecina 57, Triton Central 45

SC – Thibo 4-11 2-2 13, Porter 2-4 0-0 4, Mendez 5-9 1-3 13, Mas. Beriault 2-4 0-0 5, Milan 1-4 3-5 5, Trimble-Sunderland 2-5 1-2 5, Mad. Beriault 2-2 6-9 10, Florence 0-0 0-0 0, Young 0-0 0-0 0, Brown 0-0 0-0 0, Lowery 0-0 2-2 2. Totals: 18-39 15-23 57.

TC – Faust 1-9 0-0 2, Sego 2-3 0-0 5, Stuckey 2-5 2-2 7, Morgan 4-12 1-3 9, Blair 7-16 2-2 20, Crouse 0-2 0-0 0, Baugh 1-1 0-0 2, Kemper 0-0 0-0 0, Goul 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 17-48 5-7 45.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

SC (17-6)  12  22    5  18  --  57

TC (17-7)  16    7  12  10  --  45

Three-point field goals: SC 6-14 (Thibo 3-5, Mendez 2-6, Mas. Beriault 1-3), TC 6-29 (Faust 0-7, Sego 1-1, Stuckey 1-4, Morgan 0-5, Blair 4-10, Crouse 0-2). Rebounds: SC 23 (Thibo 2, Porter 4, Mendez 4, Mas. Beriault 4, Milan 4, Trimble-Sunderland 2, Mad. Beriault 3), TC 21 (Faust 4, Sego 4, Stuckey 3, Morgan 3, Blair 7). Assists: SC 8 (Thibo 2, Porter 2, Mendez 1, Mas. Beriault 1, Milan 2), TC 8 (Faust 1, Sego 1, Stuckey 2, Morgan 4). Steals: SC 1 (Mendez 1), TC 2 (Sego 1, Morgan 1). Blocks: TC 1 (Blair 1). Total fouls: SC 12, TC 18. Fouled out: Blair (TC). Turnovers: SC 8, TC 6.

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COLUMBUS – Scoring lulls hindered Shelbyville all season.

Being shutout for nearly five minutes to start the third quarter Friday once again put the Golden Bears in chase mode. And time ran out on their season.

Whiteland built a double-digit lead at the pivotal moment of the third quarter then hit just enough free throws in the game’s final minute to secure a 47-45 victory over Shelbyville in a Class 4A, Sectional 14 semifinal game at Columbus North High School.

“Our boys fought all the way to the end,” said Shelbyville head coach John Hartnett Jr. “We got down by 10 points and eventually fought all the way back and had a chance to shoot the last shot and go up by one if we hit the big 3.”

Ollie Sandman’s sixth three-pointer of his record-setting career got Shelbyville within 45-44 with 53 seconds left.

Austin Willoughby hit one of two free throws to give the Warriors a 46-44 lead but put the ball back in Sandman’s hands. The senior searched and searched for an open look before Hartnett called timeout with 18.7 seconds to go.

Caden Claxton got an open look at a 3-pointer but the ball caromed high off the rim and over the backboard.

Shelbyville (10-14) immediately fouled Gavin Stubbe, who hit one of two free throws for a 3-point lead and 4.5 seconds on the clock.

Whiteland quickly fouled Sandman (main photo) before he could get momentum up court. Sandman made the first free throw then launched the ball at the front of the rim on his second attempt for a potential rebound and score as time expired. Instead, the ball ricocheted past him and Whiteland’s Wyatt McLaughlin gathered it in and ran out the clock.

Sandman finished with a game-high 22 points that pushed him past Brian Asher (1,024 points) and Tony Martin (1,028) for eighth all-time in Golden Bear history at 1,036 points.

Sandman also holds the program record for career made 3s at 199.

McLaughlin, who had 29 points in Whiteland’s Dec. 10 victory at Garrett Gymnasium in Shelbyville, was ineffective Friday after suffering an ankle injury earlier in the week.

Willoughby carried the Warriors (10-14) early, scoring 10 first-half points that helped Whiteland take a 22-19 lead into halftime.

A 7-0 run sparked by Jazz Banwait’s 3 extended the Warriors’ lead to 29-19.

“It’s always usually a quarter that beats us and that’s what it has been the past four to five games,” said Hartnett. “We have a bad stretch or a bad third quarter coming out and then we always have to play catch up or fight back in it. We made a couple of bonehead defensive mistakes and then we had some turnovers that hurt us. It’s all those little things that add up at the end.”

A Sandman 3 and scores by Damon Badgley and Jackson Parker pulled Shelbyville within 32-26 after three quarters.

D.J. Helm hit a 3 to open the fourth-quarter scoring and Whiteland kept hitting tough shots to keep the Golden Bears at bay.

Banwait scored four straight points and Whiteland led 43-36 with 2:13 left in the quarter.

The Warriors squandered several victories throughout the season with sub 60% shooting from the free-throw line. But Ethan Edwards calmly sank a pair of free throws with 1:22 left for a 45-39 lead.

Luke Brinkman sank a pair of free throws for Shelbyville ahead of Sandman’s final 3 that cut the lead to 45-44.

Willoughby led Whiteland with 14 points. Banwait had 10 points and three assists. Brayden Roy grabbed a game-high 14 rebounds.

No other Golden Bear scored in double digits Friday. Badgley finished with nine points.

“Losing some of these guys, Jackson Parker, Ollie Sandman, Aidan Asher, Riley Fortune, they mean so much to our program,” said Hartnett. “They have gone through our program all the way from the ground up and left a mark on this program. They have it steered in the right direction. I am very proud of them. I am proud of all the young guys that stepped up this year. This is something Shelbyville should be proud of.”

Whiteland returns to Columbus North tonight to face the host Bull Dogs (16-8), a 60-54 overtime winner over Columbus East (2-20) in Friday’s second semifinal game.

Steve Bush photos

Whiteland 47, Shelbyville 45

WH – Helm 1-2 0-0 3, Banwait 3-9 2-3 10, McLaughlin 0-2 0-0 0, Roy 3-8 0-1 6, Willoughby 6-8 2-8 14, Edwards 1-3 2-2 5, Stubbe 2-6 2-4 6, Perkins 1-2 0-0 3, Gillespie 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 17-40 8-18 47.

SH – Sandman 7-17 2-5 22, Brinkman 0-2 4-5 4, Parker 2-4 0-0 4, Claxton 0-8 2-2 2, Lambert 1-3 0-0 2, Badgley 4-8 0-0 9, Asher 1-2 0-0 2. Totals: 15-44 8-11 45.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

WH (10-14)  6  16  10  15  --  47

SH (10-14)    4  15    7  19  --  45

Three-point field goals: WH 5-15 (Helm 1-1, Banwait 2-6, McLaughlin 0-1, Willoughby 0-1, Edwards 1-3, Stubbe 0-2, Perkins 1-1), SH 7-20 (Sandman 6-11, Brinkman 0-1, Claxton 0-4, Badgley 1-4). Rebounds: WH 32 (Helm 2, Banwait 1, McLaughlin 2, Roy 14, Willoughby 3, Edwards 4, Stubbe 4, Perkins 2), SH 19 (Sandman 3, Brinkman 5, Parker 3, Claxton 2, Lambert 3, Badgley 1, Asher 2). Assists: WH 11 (Helm 1, Banwait 3, Roy 2, Willoughby 1, Edwards 1, Stubbe 2, Perkins 1), SH 7 (Brinkman 3, Parker 1, Asher 3). Steals: WH 4 (Helm 1, Roy 1, Willoughby 2), SH 4 (Sandman 2, Brinkman 2). Blocks: WH 3 (Helm 2, Willoughby 1), SH 2 (Parker 2). Total fouls: WH 16, SH 16. Turnovers: WH 13, SH 9.

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Triton Central built a 48-26 halftime lead and cruised by Indianapolis Riverside, 78-45, Friday in a Class 2A, Sectional 42 semifinal game win at Eastern Hancock High School.

Isaac Morgan scored a game-high 22 points and Luke Faust had 20 to improve the Tigers to 17-6. Eli Sego finished with 13 points and Max Crouse had 11.

Major Davis led the Argonauts (9-11) with 12 points. Gerald Pope had 11.

In the second semifinal game Friday, Indianapolis Scecina defeated 2A No. 13 Eastern Hancock (55-40).

Triton Central will face Scecina (16-6) in the championship game tonight at 7 p.m. at Eastern Hancock. The Crusaders defeated the Tigers, 50-42, on Jan. 27 in an Indiana Crossroads Conference contest.

In other prep events Friday:

Boys Basketball

Jac-Cen-Del 44, Waldron 42

Jac-Cen-Del hit a pair of free throws with 6.3 seconds left to seal the Class A, Sectional 60 semifinal win over Waldron.

A steal and score, with an added free throw, by Lucas Shaw put the Mohawks up 41-40. The Eagles scored at the other end to take a one-point lead inside the final minute.

Max Jones was fouled and hit one of two free throws for Waldron to tie the game at 42-all and set up the final sequence that resulted in a pair of game-winning free throws.

Shaw, Lucas Mitchell and Bryce Yarling each had 10 points for Waldron (12-12).

Yarling, a senior, will graduate as Waldron’s second all-time leading scorer with 1,258 points. Mitchell, also a senior, closed out his career with 1,064 points.

With the win, Jac-Cen-Del (16-9) returns to Edinburgh High School tonight to face Oldenburg Academy (7-15) in the sectional championship game. The Twisters defeated South Decatur, 52-51, in the first semifinal game Friday.

Gymnastics

Franklin Central Regional

Morristown senior Oakleigh Goedde’s career came to an end.

Goedde placed 11^th in the vault, 14^th on the balance beam, 24^th on floor exercise and 27^th on the uneven bars. Her all-around score of 32.125 left her 16^th overall.

The top six finishers in each event qualified for the state championship meet at Ball State University on March 11.

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EDINBURGH – In its first meeting with Morristown this season, Waldron built a 12-point halftime lead but struggled to finish only to survive at the final buzzer and escape with the Mid-Hoosier Conference win.

On Wednesday in the second quarterfinal game of the Class A, Sectional 60 tournament at Edinburgh High School, Waldron again gained a double-digit lead by halftime on the pesky Yellow Jackets. This time, the Mohawks better handled a third-quarter charge and shut down any thoughts of a come-from-behind victory.

Lucas Shaw and Max Jones combined for 31 points to get Waldron a 58-39 win and a spot in Friday’s semifinals where it will face Jac-Cen-Del (15-9).

 “We may have gotten a little too comfortable there,” said Waldron head coach Beau Scott of the Morristown rally. “I thought we did a good job of not really losing control of the pace and scoring a couple of timely buckets to keep them at bay.”

A Max Jones score in the lane opened the second-half scoring and upped Waldron’s lead to 26-5. The Yellow Jackets responded with a 10-4 run to cut the lead to 30-15.

“I am incredibly proud of the fight our guys had in the second half,” said Morristown head coach Cory Kreiger. “We scored 15 points in the third quarter and 19 in the fourth quarter. It’s just unfortunate we couldn’t get it going a little bit earlier and rise to the occasion.”

Jones had nine of his 15 points in the quarter and immediately halted Morristown’s momentum with a made free throw and another score in the lane. The Yellow Jackets never got closer than 17 points the rest of the way.

“I think our best games of the year are when we are balanced and when the ball is moving,” said Scott. “I thought Max played awesome. He was flying around and getting offensive rebounds. His energy was great.”

Jameson Palmer led Morristown (1-22) with 17 points. Cade Mahin finished with 13 points – all in the second half. Colin Kieninger had four points and a game-high nine rebounds.

Palmer, Chase Theobald and Kamdyn Gaines proved to be strong leaders within the program for a first-year coach.

“We are going to miss Jameson, Chase and Kam, our three seniors. They have done a great job this year and done everything I could have asked of them as far as a leadership stand point and showing up to work every day despite not having the year we all anticipated,” said Kreiger.”

Lucas Mitchell, Waldron’s leading scorer at 20.5 ppg, stayed within the framework of the Mohawks’ game plan and finished with 10 points, six rebounds, four steals and five blocks.

Waldron (12-11) shot 47% from the field (23 of 49) and hit 9 of 12 free throws.

Morristown was 14 of 35 (40%) from the field but struggled at the free-throw line, hitting just 7 of 18 (39%).

The first semifinal game Friday at Edinburgh features South Decatur (13-11) and Oldenburg Academy (6-15).

Waldron 58, Morristown 39

MT – Palmer 5-10 3-6 17, Rinzel 1-1 3-4 5, Theobald 0-3 0-0 0, Hawk 0-4 0-0 0, Kieninger 2-6 0-2 4, Mahin 6-9 1-4 13, Gaines 0-1 0-2 0, McMichael 0-0 0-0 0, Merritt 0-0 0-0 0, Snyder 0-1 0-0 0. Totals: 14-35 7-18 39.

WA – Mitchell 4-8 1-1 10, Yarling 2-10 1-2 5, Shaw 7-11 2-3 16, M. Jones 5-7 5-6 15, Settles 2-7 0-0 5, Miller 1-1 0-0 2, Bennett 1-4 0-0 2, Lindsay 0-1 0-0 0, S. Jones 0-0 0-0 0, Larrison 0-0 0-0 0, Douglas 1-1 0-0 3, Adkins 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 23-49 9-12 58.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

MT (1-22)       5    0   15  19  --  39

WA (12-11)  12  12  18  16  --  58

Three-point field goals: MT 4-11 (Palmer 4-6, Hawk 0-4, Snyder 0-1), WA 3-11 (Mitchell 1-2, Yarling 0-3, Shaw 0-1, M. Jones 0-1, Settles 1-2, Bennett 0-1, Douglas 1-1). Rebounds: MT 21 (Palmer 4, Rinzel 1, Hawk 1, Kieninger 9, Mahin 4, Gaines 2), WA 23 (Mitchell 6, Yarling 1, Shaw 2, M. Jones 5, Settles 4, Bennett 2, Lindsay 2, Douglas 1). Assists: MT 6 (Rinzel 3, Theobald 1, Hawk 1, Kieninger 1), WA 12 (Mitchell 1, Yarling 5, Shaw 3, M. Jones 1, Miller 1, Lindsay 1). Steals: MT 4 (Palmer 1, Theobald 1, Hawk 1, Mahin 1), WA 9 (Mitchell 4, Yarling 4, Shaw 1). Blocks: MT 3 (Kieninger 2, Mahin 1), WA 5 (Mitchell 5). Total fouls: MT 18, WA 11. Turnovers: MT 11, WA 16.

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EDINBURGH – For Southwestern to upset Jac-Cen-Del in the Class A, Sectional 60 quarterfinal round Wednesday at Edinburgh, its offense had to be madly efficient. What the Spartans found was the maddening length of the Eagles defense.

Jac-Cen-Del forced Southwestern into 26 turnovers that led to 20 more shot attempts and many more scoring opportunities in a 66-40 victory.

The Eagles (15-9) will face Waldron (12-11) Friday in the second semifinal game at the Edinburgh Sectional.

Matt Dickman led Jac-Cen-Del with 21 points, seven rebounds, two steals and three blocked shots. Devin Grieshop was equally disruptive, scoring 17 points, grabbing seven rebounds, getting six assists and four steals.

“Their length and athleticism is off the charts,” said Southwestern head coach Chris Ingels. “We don’t see that often enough.”

While 10 different Jac-Cen-Del players scored, all 40 of Southwestern’s points came from its starting five. Ben Kahler finished with 12 points and five rebounds. Conner Jewell had nine points and eight rebounds. Carter Snepp had seven and Matthew Clements and Jonah DeArmitt each had six.

Clements, Jewell and DeArmitt played their final game in a Southwestern jersey. The Spartans ended their first season under Ingels’ direction at 4-19.

“Our guys battled and competed all night long,” said Ingels. “That is a testament to our seniors who led us throughout the year. They never wanted to give up and kept fighting.”

The Spartans needed a strong start Wednesday but did not get it. Five turnovers and just seven shot attempts left Southwestern trailing 16-4 at the end of the first quarter.

“A lot of it was our offense. We didn’t give our defense time to set up because we were turning it over or missing a quick shot which led to some transition for them,” said Ingels. “We also wanted to get into a zone following makes and man after misses, and offensively we let ourselves down and dug a hole.”

For a team only averaging 42 ppg, being down double digits to a 14-win team was not ideal.

Four different Spartans scored in the second quarter which kept them within reach at halftime, trailing 31-15.

Dickman, a rangy six-foot, five-inch wing, scored 10 of his game-high 21 points in the third quarter while the Spartans committed 10 turnovers.

Southwestern shot 46% from the field and outrebounded the Eagles, 30-24, but did not have a free-throw attempt in the game.

“I enjoy our kids. I like our attitudes and personalities. We are going to get better and there are better days ahead,” said Ingels.

Jac-Cen-Del 66, Southwestern 40

SW – Kahler 6-9 0-0 12, Ma. Clements 3-9 0-0 6, Snepp 3-5 0-0 7, Jewell 3-9 0-0 9, DeArmitt 3-5 0-0 6, Stone 0-0 0-0 0, Mi. Clements 0-1 0-0 0, Cooley 0-1 0-0 0, Barlow 0-1 0-0 0, Oliver 0-0 0-0 0, Dennison 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 18-39 0-0 40.

JCD – Kohlman 1-4 0-0 2, Grieshop 6-12 4-6 17, Drockelman 0-7 0-0 0, Dickman 7-12 3-4 21, Dwenger 2-4 1-3 6, Newhart 3-5 0-0 6, Groth 1-9 0-0 2, Comer 2-3 0-0 6, Co. White 1-1 0-0 2, Ca. White 0-0 0-0 0, Borgman 0-1 2-2 2, Brook 1-1 0-0 2. Totals: 24-59 13-18 66.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

SW (4-19)    4  11  14  11  --  40

JCD (15-9)  16  15  20  15  --  66

Three-point field goals: SW 4-11 (Snepp 1-2, Jewell 3-7, Mi. Clements 0-1, Barlow 0-1), JCD 5-28 (Kohlman 0-2, Grieshop 1-4, Drockelman 0-6, Dickman 1-5, Dwenger 1-1, Newhart 0-1, Groth 0-5, Comer 2-3, Borgman 0-1). Rebounds: SW 30 (Kahler 5, Ma. Clements 6, Snepp 3, Jewell 8, DeArmitt 5, Stone 1, Cooley 1, Oliver 1), JCD 24 (Kohlman 3, Grieshop 7, Dickman 7, Dwenger 2, Newhart 1, Groth 1, Comer 1, Co. White 1, Ca. White 1). Assists: SW 7 (Kahler 1, Ma. Clements 1, Snepp 1, Jewell 1, DeArmitt 2, Stone 1), JCD 12 (Grieshop 6, Drockelman 1, Dickman 1, Dwenger 1, Newhart 1, Comer 1, Borgman 1). Steals: SW 2 (Ma. Clements 1, DeArmitt 1), JCD 10 (Grieshop 4, Dickman 2, Groth 2, Ca. White 1, Borgman 1). Blocks: SW 3 (Ma. Clements 1, Snepp 2), JCD 4 (Drockelman 1, Dickman 3). Total fouls: SW 12, JCD 10. Turnovers: SW 26, JCD 4.

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Shelbyville graduate Morgan Stieneker collected the first hit in softball program history for Indiana University Purdue University Columbus (IUPUC) on Feb. 19. Five days later, she helped the Crimson Pride notch the program’s first victory.

Stieneker went 1-for-2 at the plate with two walks, a run scored and a run batted in for IUPUC in an 8-6 win over Calumet on Feb. 24.

On Feb. 19 at Kentucky Christian, Stieneker produced a single in her first career at bat for IUPUC, a first-year program, in a 5-3 loss.

Stieneker, who played two seasons at Olney Central College before arriving in Columbus, has five hits this season for IUPUC (1-6).

Here is a look at other Shelby County graduates competing at the collegiate level.

Charlie Rife

The Shelbyville graduate made his collegiate debut Sunday going 1-for-2 with a walk, hit by pitch and run scored for Bellarmine in an 18-5 loss at the University of Southern Indiana.

The Knights are 5-2 this season.

Kina Schultz

The Shelbyville graduate placed 12^th in the 200 meters (27.88 seconds), eighth in the 55-meter hurdles (9.07) and eighth in the 800 relay for Muskingum Friday and Saturday in the Ohio Athletic Conference Indoor Track and Field Championship in Berea, Ohio.

Karissa Hamilton

The Shelbyville graduate had two hits, including a double, with a run scored and a run batted in Saturday for Kentucky in a 3-0 win over University of California Riverside at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic in Palm Springs, Calif.

Earlier Saturday, Hamilton had a hit and a run scored in Kentucky’s 9-3 loss to Northwestern.

Kentucky (10-3-1) travels to Norman, Oklahoma for Friday and Saturday games against No. 1 Oklahoma and University of Illinois Chicago.

Damon Lux

The Shelbyville graduate went 6-for-12 with six runs scored and 12 RBIs in Duke baseball’s weekend sweep of Baylor at Durham Bulls Athletic Park in Durham, North Carolina.

Lux had two hits, two RBIs, a walk and three runs scored Friday in a 20-1 victory.

On Saturday, Lux drove in six runs, stole two bases and had a walk and hit by pitch in the Blue Devils’ 22-3 win.

Duke completed the sweep Sunday, 10-3. Lux was again hit by a pitch and had a hit and a stolen base.

Duke defeated No. 9 East Carolina, 9-0, Tuesday to improve to 6-2 this season. Lux had two walks and a run scored.

Cory Taylor

The Shelbyville graduate went 1-for-3 with his first home run of the season for Eastern Michigan in a 5-3 loss Sunday at the University of Evansville.

Taylor went 2-for-3 Saturday with a walk, a stolen base and two runs scored in Eastern Michigan’s 9-7 loss to Evansville.

Eastern Michigan won the series opener Friday, 5-2. Taylor had a single and a stolen base.

Katie Mathies

The Shelbyville graduate had a RBI-double Saturday for DePauw softball in its season-opening win over Hope College, 10-9 in eight innings at the Fontbonne Tournament in Edwardsville, Illinois.

The Tigers defeated Central College, 5-4 in eight innings Saturday and lost to Franklin College Sunday, 4-2.

TeAnn Bringle

The Shelbyville graduate had two doubles, three hits total and four RBIs Saturday in Indiana State’s 10-1 win over Kennesaw State at the Easton Bama Bash in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

The Sycamores (5-5) finished 2-3 at Rhoads Stadium in Alabama.

Indiana State split two games Friday, losing to Southeastern Louisiana 1-0 before defeating Kennesaw State 1-0 in 10 innings.

The Sycamores first faced Alabama Saturday and were defeated 14-4. Bringle went 0-for-3.

Indiana State closed out the invitational Sunday with a 6-2 loss to Southeastern Louisiana.

Hannah File

The Shelbyville graduate finished with nine hits in five games for Louisville at the Knights Classic in Orlando, Florida.

Louisville opened Friday with a 4-3 loss to the University of Central Florida (UCF). File had two hits and a run scored.

On Saturday, the Cardinals defeated Columbia, 8-2, and Bradley, 8-0. File had two hits and a run scored against Columbia and one hit against Bradley.

File smashed a game-winning solo home run in the sixth inning Sunday to get Louisville a 4-3 win over Purdue.

File helped Louisville defeat UCF 15-5 Sunday. She had three hits, including a double, and two runs scored.

Louisville improved to 11-4 this season.

Elizabeth Kemper

The Triton Central graduate finished 19^th overall for Taylor University’s women’s golf program at the Showdown at Legends in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

Kemper shot rounds of 87, 79 and 86 over the two-day event Monday and Tuesday at the Legends Resort-Parkland golf course.

Taylor, ranked No. 12, finished third in the team standings behind top-20 ranked teams from the University of Northwestern Ohio and the University of the Cumberlands.

Chandler Martin

The Shelbyville graduate finished sixth in the high jump for the University of Indianapolis at the Great Lakes Valley Conference Indoor Championships, hosted by UIndy.

Martin cleared six feet, 1.25 inches.

Austin Perry

The Shelbyville graduate lost a No. 6 singles match to Bethel’s Wes Troyer Monday, 6-0, 6-1.

Bethel defeated Perry and Rose-Hulman, 7-0, in a match played in Orlando, Florida.

Brooke Lipperd

The Shelbyville graduate made her collegiate debut Saturday for Franklin College softball. She was inserted as a pinch runner in the seventh inning and scored in Franklin’s 6-5 win over the University of the Ozarks.

Lipperd went 0-for-1 in Franklin’s 9-1 win over Monmouth College.

Franklin added wins Sunday over Carroll University (2-1) and DePauw (4-2) to start the season 4-0.

Taylor Heath

The Triton Central graduate scored a career-high 30 points Friday in Hanover’s Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) Tournament semifinal win over Mount St. Joseph, 72-52. Heath also had two rebounds and four assists.

No. 2 Transylvania defeated Hanover Saturday in the HCAC Tournament championship game, 85-58. Heath had 11 points, four rebounds and four assists.

Heath was named to the All-Tournament Team.

Kyle Crim

The Morristown graduate had three points, one rebound and four assists Friday for Hanover in a 72-63 loss at Anderson in the HCAC Tournament.

Hanover finished the season 17-10.

Hayden Langkabel

The Morristown graduate finished with five points, three rebounds, four steals and two assists Saturday in Marian’s 96-90 overtime loss at Grace in the Crossroads League Tournament semifinals.

Marian is 21-9 this season.

Rylie Stephens

The Triton Central graduate had three points and three rebounds Saturday in Samford’s 62-45 loss at Furman.

The Bulldogs finished the regular season at 13-16.

Maya Chandler

The Triton Central graduate had 18 points, three rebounds, one assist and one steal Wednesday afternoon in Loyola’s 58-57 loss to Duquesne in the Atlantic 10 Conference Championship tournament in Wilmington, Delaware.

The Ramblers’ season ended with a 6-24 record.

Tenleigh Phelps

The Triton Central graduate had three points and two assists Saturday for Youngstown State in a 65-51 win at Robert Morris.

The Penguins are 19-10 heading into the postseason tournament.

HCAC Indoor Track and Field Championships

Hosted by Mount St. Joseph University in Cincinnati, Ohio, several Shelby County graduates competed in various events.

Zaleeya Martin

The Shelbyville graduate set a new 60 meters event record at 7.73 seconds while winning the race for Hanover College. The former record was 7.87 set in 2014.

Martin also placed fourth in the 200 meters (27.27), fifth in the long jump (16 feet, three inches) and was part of two Hanover relay teams that finished third.

Jill Anspaugh

The Shelbyville graduate was part of Franklin College’s winning distance medley relay team. The quartet of Anspaugh, Angelina Gregory, Lex Desenberg and Mallory Watson crossed the finish in 13:42.6.

Anspaugh also placed seventh in the one-mile run (6:00.45) and fourth in the 3,000 meters (11:46.34).

Madalyn Hudnall

The Waldron graduate set a new Mount St. Joseph indoor record in the shot put. Hudnall’s best throw of 37-5 put her in fifth place overall.

Hudnall also finished fourth in the high jump with a new personal best of 4-9.75 and 15^th in the weight throw (36-10.5).

Alison Muck

The Southwestern graduate finished second in the 60-meter hurdles (9.50), fifth in the high jump (4-9.75) and 10^th in the 200 (28.58) for Franklin College.

Muck also was part of Franklin’s sixth-place finishing relay team in the 800 relay.

Taylor Tatlock

The Southwestern graduate placed seventh in the weight throw (43-6) for Franklin College.

Michael Fox

The Shelbyville graduate finished 15^th in the 5,000 (16:49.49) for Manchester University.

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Triton Central senior Lizzie Graham has been selected as one of Hoosier Basketball Magazine’s Top 60 senior girls basketball players for the 2022-2023 season.

More than 1,400 seniors statewide were considered based on statistical evaluation, game observation and statewide research during the season and throughout the state tournament to determine Hoosier Basketball Magazine’s Top 60.

With the selection, Graham will participate in the 42^nd Annual Top 60 Senior Workout Sunday at Beech Grove High School. Half of the top 60 girls, primarily from northern and southern Indiana, will participate in the first workout session from 1 to 3 p.m. The remaining players, primarily from central Indiana, will compete during the second session from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.

Graham averaged a team-high 12.8 points per game for Triton Central, who finished 18-5. She also averaged 3.7 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game. Graham is committed to play basketball at Indiana University South Bend.

The Top 60 Senior Workout includes the state’s top three scorers – Hobart’s Asia Donald (26.7 ppg), Columbus East’s Saige Stahl (26 ppg) and Greencastle’s Gloria Brewer (25.5 ppg).

There are seven players that participated in the 2023 IHSAA State Finals, including four state champions – Bedford North Lawrence’s Karsyn Norman, Fairfield’s Brea Garber, Forest Park’s Amber Tretter and Lanesville’s Linzie Wernert.

Former state champion coach DeeAnn Ramey (North Central-Marion) will direct both sessions. Other coaches working the sessions will be Pioneer’s Jeff Brooke, Tri’s Ethan Cook, Northwestern’s Kathie Layden, Warren Central’s Stacy Mitchell and Beech Grove’s Amy Selk.

Other notable player selections were Blue River Valley’s Maci Chamberlin, New Palestine’s Isabella Gizzi, Roncalli’s Sydney Horton, Franklin’s Kyndell Jochim, Tri’s Bailey Parham, Cascade’s Abby Parsons and Eastern Hancock’s Grace Stapleton.

Both workout sessions are open to the public. Admission is $8 per adult and $5 for students.

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Shelby Lasure lost her passion for volleyball but an invitation to return to club volleyball offered the sport a second chance.

“I got talked into going back to club volleyball and I fell back in love with (the sport),” said Lasure. “Ever since then, I’ve really wanted to go play in college.”

Lasure made that dream a reality Friday in the Golden Bear Room at Shelbyville High School. The senior made her commitment official to play volleyball at Anderson University.

“It’s a great place. I love the environment. I love the people there,” she said. “They were very welcoming and the campus is beautiful.”

Lasure seriously considered four other schools but all were out of state. Knowing her family would be close by played a big part in the decision. She will major in Biology with graduate school in her future to become a genetic counselor.

“I fell in love with (genetics) in middle school when I was introduced to it in Biology class,” she said. “My sister has a genetic heart condition. That happened and I got to experience what these genetic counselors do in their everyday job. That’s what I want to do. I have that personal connection now.”

Lasure led Shelbyville in kills (237) her senior year and was second in service aces (31) and third in digs (195). A solid, steady presence for Shelbyville, she hopes to continue that role at Anderson.

“They particularly picked me as an outside hitter but I have been working on my defensive specialist (skills) and back row work to be an all-around player,” said Lasure.

With her club team, Team Indiana, Lasure plays all-around as an outside hitter and middle back.

On Friday, Lasure had a large group of friends and family present for her signing ceremony.

“It’s liberating. It’s a great feeling,” she said after it was over. “I’m set and I know what I’m doing. Now, I just have to wait for the day when it all comes true.”

Lasure is looking forward to playing with dedicated volleyball athletes at the next level.

“5-26 wasn’t exactly the senior season I was expecting,” said Lasure of Shelbyville’s 2022 season. “Getting to go forward and experience (the game) with a new team, they all want to be on the court and it’s not just for the fun of it. I think that will be different in terms of the anatomy of the team because some people here (at Shelbyville) just play volleyball for fun and that’s a good reason to play.

“But if you are going to college it’s because you want to be there. You want to be on the court.”

Two years ago, Lasure had no idea what her future looked like in terms of athletics or academics. Now, she has a plan in place that starts with being a freshman at Anderson.

“No. Not really but it’s a new challenge,” said Lasure when asked if she was ready to be a freshman. “It’s a new way to see life, to see it in a different way than I’ve been able to experience it before.”

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COLUMBUS – Too many wins have slipped away from Shelbyville playing the way it was playing Tuesday in its Class 4A, Sectional 14 opener against East Central.

The Golden Bears could get an open 3-point shot on nearly every possession. By the end of three quarters Tuesday, Shelbyville was shooting 28% (7 of 25) from the arc. And the team had not attempted a free throw.

The result was a 31-27 deficit going into the fourth quarter against a team it defeated earlier in the season. Something had to change or the season was about to be over.

The Golden Bears scored 14 points in the fourth quarter with none coming from behind the 3-point line. That was good enough to get them into overtime where they made 10-of-12 free-throw attempts to seal a 54-47 victory.

“I thought early we tried to shoot too many 3s and our guys have to realize we are a 3-point shooting team but if we’re not hitting them and giving up things on defense, we have to find other ways to score. We have to find other ways to attack,” said Shelbyville head coach John Hartnett Jr. “We have to get to the basket and get to the free-throw line. We have good free throw shooters and we need to realize that and get in the paint a little bit more.”

Jackson Parker (photo) slashed to the rim twice with success to open the fourth quarter. Caden Claxton followed with strong drives to the rim that resulted in three free throws. And a Damon Badgley foray into the lane resulted in one of two made free throws that tied the game at 35-all.

Shelbyville got the lead on a baseline drive and reverse layin from Luke Brinkman. Ollie Sandman followed with a baseline jumper to make it 39-36 but East Central was not done.

Dylan Maxwell hit a 3 from the wing to tie the game and Carson Pieczonka scored on an alley-oop to give the Trojans a 41-39 lead with 1:33 left.

Sandman quickly hit another baseline jumper to tie the game at 41-41 and the Golden Bears had a chance to win at the end of regulation but Claxton left a contested shot short at the buzzer.

Ethan Lambert hit a pair of free throws to open the overtime scoring. East Central’s Cole Wheat matched that effort at the other end.

Badgley followed with Shelbyville’s only made 3 in the fourth quarter and overtime and jumpstarted a 10-0 run that sealed the win.

“With these guys, it’s all about confidence … being confident in yourself and being confident in your teammates,” said Hartnett. “Everybody here feels very confident in every single one of their teammates.

“Ethan Lambert stepping up to the (free throw) line, and he’s been struggling, and knocks down two big ones. Luke Brinkman hit some big 3s tonight and hits that reverse layup. And Jackson Parker playing his butt off defensively and using his athleticism … then making some athletic moves to the basket. The guys did what they had to do tonight to win the game. They found a way to win.”

Brinkman hit 5 of 6 free throws inside the final two minutes and finished with 13 points.

Claxton added a pair of free throws in the run and had a team-high 14 points.

Badgley (photo) finished with nine points, five rebounds and four blocked shots.

Sandman and Parker each had eight points. Sandman pulled down a team-high seven rebounds.

Maxwell led East Central (7-16) with 16 points, eight rebounds and five assists. Rhys Hofer had 11 points and Wheat finished with 10.

With the win, Shelbyville advanced to face Whiteland (9-14) Friday in the first semifinal game at Columbus North. The Warriors defeated the Golden Bears 72-65 on Dec. 10 at Garrett Gymnasium. The 65 points was Shelbyville’s highest offensive output of the season.

“We are excited for this matchup,” said Hartnett (photo). “We know we can hang around. We know we can defeat them. We will come out and play as hard as we can and survive and advance.”

Columbus North (15-8) defeated Franklin (10-14), 40-38, in the second quarterfinal game Tuesday and will take on Columbus East (2-19) in the second game Friday.

Notes: The sectional game win was the 250^th postseason victory for the program. … With eight points, Sandman pushed her career total to 1,014 points. The senior is 10 points from tying Brian Asher for ninth on the Shelbyville career scoring list. … With the win, Shelbyville secured its first double-digit wins season since 2018-2019 (14-11). … The sectional game victory was the first for Hartnett in his fourth season with the Golden Bears.

Steve Bush photos

Shelbyville 54, East Central 47, OT

SH – Sandman 3-10 1-2 8, Brinkman 3-9 5-6 13, Parker 4-5 0-1 8, Claxton 3-10 5-6 14, Asher 0-2 0-0 0, Badgley 3-13 1-2 9, Lambert 0-2 2-2 2. Totals: 16-51 14-19 54.

EC – Pieczonka 2-14 2-4 7, Maxwell 5-8 4-6 16, R. Hofer 3-9 2-4 11, Wheat 3-6 3-4 10, Kuhn 0-5 0-1 0, Richter 1-1 0-0 3, P. Hofer 0-0 0-0 0, Sehlhorst 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 14-43 11-19 47.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

SH (10-13)  11    8    8  14  13  --  54

EC (7-16)       7  13  11  10    6  --  47

Three-point field goals: SH 8-31 (Sandman 1-8, Brinkman 2-7, Claxton 3-6, Asher 0-2, Badgley 2-8), EC 8-21 (Pieczonka 1-5, Maxwell 2-3, R. Hofer 3-7, Wheat 1-1, Kuhn 0-4, Richter 1-1). Rebounds: SH 27 (Sandman 7, Brinkman 4, Parker 2, Claxton 3, Asher 1, Badgley 5, Lambert 5), EC 29 (Pieczonka 4, Maxwell 8, R. Hofer 3, Wheat 6, Kuhn 5, Richter 3). Assists: SH 5 (Brinkman 1, Parker 1, Claxton 2, Badgley 1), EC 12 (Pieczonka 2, Maxwell 6, R. Hofer 3, Kuhn 1). Steals: SH 4 (Sandman 2, Brinkman 1, Asher 1). Blocks: SH 6 (Sandman 1, Asher 1, Badgley 4), EC 2 (Wheat 2). Total fouls: SH 14, EC 20. Fouled out: Parker (SH), Pieczonka, Wheat (EC). Turnovers: SH 5, EC 10.

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