Local Sports Headlines: February 7, 2022

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Indiana Women’s Basketball Holds Off Purdue 64-57 For Season Sweep  
5th Ranked Indiana Hoosiers Women’s Basketball had to hold off their archrivals Purdue Boilermakers 64-57 Sunday afternoon before the 5th largest crowd in Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall History of 7,891. Indiana has won 7 straight in the series dating back to 2019.  The Hoosiers have won 9 in a row against Purdue at home dating back to 2013. Purdue last won in Bloomington 82-60 on January 19, 2012. Indiana is 16-3 on the season and 8-1 in the Big Ten. Purdue falls to 13-10 overall and 4-8 in the Big Ten.

The Hoosiers started the game down 4-0 before the Hoosiers got on the board with jumper from Nicole Cardano-Hillary with 7:17 left in the first quarter. Purdue led 10-9 with 4:02 to go in the first quarter before Aleksa Gulbe layup put the Hoosiers on top 11-10 with 4:01 left in the first quarter. The Hoosiers and Boilers were tied 18-18 with 7:48 to go before Halftime. Aleska Gulbe hit two free throws to make 20-18 with 7:30 left, Purdue tied at 20-20 when Abbey Ellis hit two free throws with 7:17 left before halftime. Indiana took the lead with 6:08 left in the 2nd quarter when Grace Berger hit two free throws to make 22-20 and the Hoosiers never trailed or tied the rest of the ball game.  Indiana led 34-24 at halftime and Purdue outscored Indiana 33-30 in the 2nd half.

Nicole Cardano-Hillary led the Hoosiers with 19 Points, 7 Rebounds and 2 Steals. Grace Berger added 17 points, 6 Rebounds, 5 Assists, and 2 steals. Aleska Gulbe celebrated a birthday on Saturday had 11 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 blocks. Chloe Moore McNeil scored 11 points and pulled down 10 rebounds for her first career double-double. Moore McNeil played 28 minutes off the bench to give the Hoosiers the spark. Grace Waggoner had a rebound and steal in 7 minutes of action and Kaitlin Peterson played 1 minute and had a foul. Kiarndra Browne celebrated her birthday Sunday by scoring 4 points, 4 rebounds and getting a steal in 10 minutes of action. Ali Patberg struggled in 38 minutes just scoring 2 points on 1-8 shooting from the field. The 7th year senior pulled down 5 rebounds and had an assist and a steal. Indiana was 24-62 from the field for 38%, 4-11 from three-point range for 36% and 12-16 from the free throw line for 75%. Indiana pulled down 40 rebounds, 9 rssists, 8 steals, and 2 blocks. The Hoosiers committed 12 turnovers, with 7 of those going to Cardano-Hillary.

Purdue was led by Janae Terry with 14 points and 7 rebounds. Brooke Moore scored 13 points off the bench including 3 of the 4 three pointers the Boilers made in the entire game with Jayla Smith getting the other. Abbey Ellis added 13 points and many of the Hoosier faithful in the stands thought Ellis got away with several travel calls. Ellis transferred to Purdue in off season from Cal Poly and is originally from Australia and has been a starter from day one since arriving in West Lafayette with the energy she provides. Cassidy Hardin who is a good three-point shooter was limited to 2 points. Madison Layden was held scoreless after 0-7 day from the field and 0-2 from downtown. Layden had 6 rebounds, an assist and block.  Purdue was 23-60 from the field for 38 percent, 4-14 from three-point range for 28 percent and a perfect 7-7 from the line for 100 percent as the Hoosiers committed just 7 fouls the entire game to 20 for the Boilermakers. Purdue had 38 rebounds, 9 blocks, 8 steals, 7 assists, and committed 18 turnovers.

Indiana is back in action Wednesday night at Illinois at 8pm as this game was moved up a day originally scheduled for this Thursday so the Hoosiers could reschedule a home game with Michigan State for this Saturday afternoon February 12th at 3 PM. The Hoosiers and Spartans were originally to play January 19th but that was postponed due to COVID-19 protocols within the Hoosiers program.  

Indiana Men’s Basketball falls at home to Illinois
The Illinois Fighting Illini used a 40-21 2nd half run to pull away from the Indiana Hoosiers Men’s Basketball team 74-57 in Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall Saturday afternoon. Indiana led 36-34 at half but the Illini got 7 foot All American Kofi Cockburn going as he finished with 17 points. Cockburn scored just 5 points the first half but he was able to overpower the Hoosier defenders to dominate inside. Cockburn was 6-13 from the field and 5-9 from the free throw line. The Kingston Jamaica native pulled down 8 rebounds, 2 steals along with an assist and a block. Trent Frazier led the Illini with 23 points on 8-11 shooting, 3-6 from the three-point line and 4-4 at the free throw line. Alfonso Plummer added 14 points as Illinois improves 17-5 overall and sits in first place in the Big Ten with a 10-2 record.  The Illini were 23-48 for 48 percent from the field, 10-23 from the free throw line for 43 percent and 18-26 from the free throw line for 69 percent. Illinois had 30 rebounds, 13 assists, 5 steals, 5 blocks, and committed 10 turnovers.

Indiana was led by Race Thompson with 13 points and 6 rebounds. Xavier Johnson added 12 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists. Trayce Jackson-Davis picked up 2 early fouls and sat most of the first half. Jackson-Davis played 23 minutes on 3-9 shooting from the field scoring 6 points, pulling down 6 rebounds, and an assist. Parker Stewart, Trey Galloway and Tamar Bates all scored 6 points apiece. Jordan Geronimo, Michael Durr and Khirstian Lander each scored 2 points, and Miller Kopp never attempted a shot although he contributed 2 rebounds, an assist, and a steal. Indiana was 20-56 from the field for 35%, 3-13 from the three-point line for 23%, and 14-18 from the free throw line for 77%. Indiana had 33 rebounds, 11 assists, 10 turnovers, 4 steals, and 3 blocks.

The game was tied 10 times and had lead changes for the Illini dominated the rest of the way. Indiana is 16-6 overall and 7-5 in the Big Ten. The Hoosiers will travel to Northwestern Tuesday for a 9om showdown with the Wildcats. This will be a homecoming for Miller Kopp who played for Northwestern for the last three seasons before transferring to Indiana for his final two seasons.  

Edgewood Girls Basketball to get on the court for girls sectionals
The winter storm that dumped several inches of snow on Indiana last week played havoc with Girls Basketball Sectionals all over Indiana. In Class 3A Edgewood 18-4 will finally get to play South Vermillion 6-16 this evening at 7:30pm at Northview HS in Brazil Indiana in the first round. The Games were to be played Wednesday have been postponed three times due weather and travel issues for the teams. Brown County 3-19 will play Northview 19-4 at 6pm with the winners playing tomorrow night in the semifinals at 7:30 PM. Brownstown Central 14-11 who beat Owen Valley 46-30 last Tuesday Night will play West Vigo 10-13 at 6 PM Tomorrow night. The Championship game is scheduled for Wednesday Night at 7pm.

In Class 4A at Bloomington North. East Central beat Bloomington South 71-45 Saturday Night ending the Panthers season at 5-19. East Central 21-4 will face Columbus East 19-3 on Tuesday night at 7pm in the Championship Game. Columbus East beat Martinsville 70-48 in the first semifinal to set up the Championship matchup.

In Class 1A at Clay City, North Central Farmersburg dominated Lighthouse Christian 68-11 Saturday Afternoon. The Lady Lions end the season, one filled with obstacles due to a very thin roster, injury, and illness, at 6-13.  Bloomfield 10-11 will take on Clay City 3-20 tonight at 6 PM in the first semifinal followed by North Central 18-6 taking on White River Valley 7-15 at 7:30pm. White River Valley beat Eminence 50-41 Saturday Afternoon. The Championship game is tomorrow night at 7pm

In Boys High School Basketball Shakamak beat Lighthouse Christian 74-54. The Lions are 12-6 on the season and Lakers improve 8-9. Lighthouse Christian hosts Shoals tomorrow night at 7:30pm.

Bloomington South finishes 2nd In wrestling regionals
Bloomington South finished 2nd in the Wrestling Regional at Bloomington South Saturday Afternoon. Floyd Central won the Regional with 122 points followed by the Panthers with 106.5. Edgewood was 7th with 36 points, and Bloomington North was 15th with 18 points. Monroe County Claimed 3 Individual Regional Titles as Delaney Ruhlman-152 and Nicolas Castellucioo-145 won the individual title for Bloomington South at 145 Pounds and Cash Turner won the individual title for Edgewood at 138 Pounds. Bloomington South advanced 7 total wrestlers to the Semi State Ethan Roudebush-2nd place 132 Evan Roudebush-2nd 138 Cameron Meier-3rd place 106 Aiden Reynolds 3rd place 160 and Aiden Aker 4th place 285 all advance by finishing in the top 4.

Chase Hostetler finished 2nd place at 170 pounds and will represent Bloomington North at the Semi State. Edgewood’s Colton Hubbell finished second place at 195 pounds and will join Turner representing Edgewood in the Semi State on Saturday. The Semi State will be held this Saturday at the Ford Center in Evansville at 9am. The top 4 in Each weight class advance to the State Finals in Indianapolis February 18th-19th.

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