When longtime Hauser boys basketball coach Bob Nobbe became sidelined with eye problems during conditioning, the Jets players sought divine intervention.
First, they prayed for Nobbe’s healthy return to coaching. But when Nobbe, who is back teaching, resigned as coach two weeks ago, they simply prayed for his health.
What started out as a post-practice prayer turned into pregame and postgame prayers. Beginning with the season opener, the Jets have prayed in a circle surrounding the middle of the court.
Senior forward Pete Trotter leads the prayers.
“The day we all found out (about Nobbe’s condition) during conditioning, we talked about it at the end of practice, and I thought, ‘We should probably pray for him. He’s going through some trouble right now,'” Trotter said. “It started solely with coach Nobbe and turned into a regular thing after practice.”
The Hauser players are joined in the prayer circle by coaches and most of the faculty and students who are at the games.
The Jets also invite the opposing teams to join them. So far, Trotter said he hasn’t had a negative response.
“We’re just thankful to be out there, and we make sure we give thanks about the opportunity to go out there and play the sport that we love,” Trotter said.
East seeks wrestling title
The Columbus East wrestlers will be a heavy favorite to defend their sectional wrestling title Saturday at Jennings County.
The 19th-ranked Olympians have No. 1 seeds in six of the 14 weight classes — Cayden Rooks (120 pounds), Graham Rooks (126), Dawson Combest (132), Jake Schoenegge (138), Andy Davidson (152) and Austin Sheckles (220). Austin Wilson (160) and Lane Goode (182) are No. 2 seeds; while Jeremy Clark (106), Corban Pollitt (145) and Dalton Anderson (285) are No. 3 seeds and Joey Gordon (113) is a No. 4 seed.
Columbus North is led by a trio of No. 1 seeds in Andrew Chapman (170), Brigham Kleinhenz (182) and Josh Larson (195). Bradley Gutierrez (220) is a No. 3 seed, and Morgan Smith (106) is a No. 4 seed.
Jennings’ Victor Antunez (113), Brooks Wathen (145), Zane Beineke (160) and Brendan Sutton (285) are No. 1 seeds. Dalton Craig (126) is a No. 2 seed, while Rusty Vaughn (138) and Sam Woolf (182) are No. 3 seeds and Jacoby Trotter (152), James Jump (195) are No. 4 seeds.
Brown County’s David Tucker is seeded No. 1 at 106. Evan Bullock (145) is a No. 2 seed, while Job Lawson (120) and Baylee Mosier (220) are No. 4 seeds.
Wrestling begins at 9 a.m. Saturday. The top four in each weight class advance to the Feb. 4 Jeffersonville Regional.
Conference swimming set
The Columbus East and Columbus North boys swimmers will compete in their conference meets this weekend.
East and Jennings County will be in the Hoosier Hills Conference meet at Jennings County Middle School. Diving begins at 9 a.m., and the swimming starts at 1 p.m.
North will compete in the Conference Indiana meet at Terre Haute South. Diving is at 9 a.m., followed by swimming at 1 p.m.
Bull Dog ties record
Columbus North senior Maliah Howard-Bass tied a school record Tuesday with six 3-pointers in a 66-56 senior-night win against Whiteland.
Howard-Bass had previously tied the single-game school-record with six 3-pointers last year against Jennings County. Tayler Goodall hit six 3s in a game four times between 2013-14, while Karen McCaa did it twice between 1988-89 and Caroline Sanders achieved the feat in 2008.
Entering tonight’s regular-season finale at Roncalli with 1,285 points, Howard-Bass is only six behind third-place Goodall and second-place Tina Bolte on the Bull Dogs’ all-time scoring list. Ali Patberg is the all-time leader with 2,026.
East-NA tickets on sale
Columbus East is making plans for an anticipated large crowd and possible sellout for its Feb. 4 boys basketball game against New Albany. The junior varsity game will be at 12:30 p.m., with the varsity game to follow at around 2 p.m.
Tickets are on sale in the East athletics office. Season athletics pass holders and BCSC employees must come into the athletics office and pick up a ticket to be guaranteed admittance if the game is sold out. Season pass holders must provide a pass for each family member requesting a ticket.
Tickets are $5. If young children take up a seat, they will need a ticket, regardless of age. For $10, East fans can get a ticket, T-shirt and $5 Subway card.
New Albany is the defending Class 4A state champion and features one of the nation’s top players and recruits in junior Romeo Langford.
