BOYS BASKETBALL
Piston defense helps Crusaders rally
MEDORA — In the first half of Saturday night’s game, Medora burned the Columbus Christian defense with several 3-pointers on its way to a 30-22 lead.
So when the Crusaders rallied to take the lead early in the fourth quarter, coach Kevin Roth went to the Piston defense — a 1-3-1 zone with movement — to keep the point guard from driving and dishing to the perimeter.
The move paid off. Columbus Christian held the Hornets to three points in the final period and rallied for a 51-42 win.
“They were hurting us with ball penetration and kicking and hitting 3s,” Roth said. “I said they’re not going to stay that hot from 3-point range. As long as we have that lead, we’re going to go to that Piston defense.”
Lain Isley led the Crusaders (14-3) with 13 points. Adriane Polley, who battled foul trouble, and Logan Roth each added 10.
“I said we’re going to continue to work to get the ball inside, and they came out with a zone,” Kevin Roth said. “So we’re able to hit in the short corner, and Adriane was able to get some (three-point plays), and we got their forwards in foul trouble.”
Falcons down Panthers
INDIANAPOLIS — Jennings County outscored Perry Meridian 38-29 in the second half but couldn’t overcome an 18-point halftime deficit in a 72-63 loss at Perry Meridian.
Tyler Vogel led the Panthers (4-4) with 23 points and 10 rebounds. Nick AmRhein added 18 points on six 3-pointers.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Hornets top Crusaders
MEDORA — Medora held Columbus Christian to two points in the fourth quarter to hold on for a 41-36 win.
Emily Muck led the Crusaders (2-11) with 21 points before fouling out in the final period.
“We fought hard,” Columbus Christian coach Jennifer Hardin said. “We had some sick ones, and we ran out of gas at the end. It was a much better effort tonight, though, than what we’ve seen lately.”
WRESTLING
Jennings drops three
FORT WAYNE — Jennings County lost all three of its matches in the IHSWCA Team Duals. The Panthers fell to Warren Central 53-6 and Avon 43-21 in their pool, then lost to Hamilton Southeastern 36-27.
Brownsburg beat Warren Central for the Class 3A title.
Cole Chandler was the only Panther to go undefeated, posting a 3-0 record at 160 pounds. Brooks Wathen (138), Andrew Herrin (152) and Brendan Sutton (285) all went 2-1. Nick South went 1-1 at 126 and 1-0 at 132, and Christian Redmond went 1-0 at 195 and 1-1 at 220.
