EARLY RISERS

First impressions count for a lot. On Super Saturday, they were everything.

The Richards Elementary School girls and the Southside Elementary School boys came out and owned the first quarters of their respective championship games, then carried that momentum throughout on the way to lopsided victories at Columbus North’s Memorial Gymnasium.

In the girls final, Koryn Greiwe scored 18 points and spearheaded an early blitzkrieg as the Raiders rolled past Southside, 41-20. On the boys side, the Mustangs scored the game’s first 16 points and never looked back in a 38-18 triumph against Parkside.

Richards’ championship was its second in a row. Southside claimed its 14th boys crown overall and its first since 2012.

Greiwe dominated the girls game from the jump, pouring in 12 points and assisting on the Raiders’ other two field goals during a game-opening 21-4 burst.

Southside made a little push late in the first half to close the deficit to 23-11, but the Raiders outscored the Mustangs 12-2 in the third quarter to put the game away.

“We were confident if we played as a team, we would win,” Greiwe said. “So that’s what we did, and that’s how it turned out.”

Alivia Steinkoenig and Katy Jordan added seven and six points, respectively, for Richards, which had eight different players get into the scoring column. Audrey Geisige led Southside with six points.

The outcome wasn’t a surprise to Raiders coach Richard Macy, who has been working with the current group of sixth-graders since they were eight years old.

“They were shooting for an undefeated season and a back-to-back, and that’s where they set their goals at the beginning of the season,” he said.

There was similarly little drama in the boys championship. Putback baskets by Tucker Smith and Cooper Horn gave Southside a 5-0 lead a little more than a minute in, and after Harry Major beat the first-quarter buzzer with a bank shot from just inside the 3-point line, the Mustangs had a 16-0 cushion.

Major, who finished with 10 points, just missed a 3-pointer at the end of the half as well, but his team still went into the break with a comfortable 24-4 cushion.

“The second one I was expecting to go in, but not the first one,” said Major, who became the fourth member of his family to win a Super Saturday title.

Southside led 36-8 after three quarters before Parkside made the final score a bit closer with a fourth-period surge.

Sam King, who led all scorers with 11 points and added five steals during the first half, credited the Mustangs’ suffocating defense with helping get the team off to a fast start.

Southside allowed a total of just 62 points during its four tournament games, holding each of its four opponents under 20 points.

“We worked hard at that in practice for the last couple of weeks,” King said. “Coach (Chris Bodart) has been on us about that.”

Seven different players got into the scoring column for each team. Isaac McCray led Parkside with seven points, all of those coming after halftime.

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Above and Beyond Award

Boys: Derek Heidemann (Clifty Creek), Ethan Staples (CSA-Fodrea), Emery Todd (CSA-Lincoln), Parker Smith (Mt. Healthy), Matthew Hager (Parkside), Chase Sams (Richards), Brody Kirkland (Rockcreek), Ethan Ianni (Schmitt), Ty Uphaus (Smith), Wil Littrell (Southside), Bryce Tekulve (Taylorsville)

Girls: McKenna Hacker (Clifty Creek), Jessyka Brown (CSA-Fodrea), Sydney Greene (CSA-Lincoln), Harleigh Lowe (Mt. Healthy), Reagan Ables (Parkside), Koryn Greiwe (Richards), Olivia Shoaf (Rockcreek), Emma Bennett (Schmitt), Zoe Barnsfather (Smith), Carly Harshbarger (Southside), Peyton Bryant (Taylorsville)

Cheer Award

Samantha Ramirez (Clifty Creek), Alyson Lackey (CSA-Fodrea), Jenna Boewe (CSA-Lincoln), Emma Campbell (Mt. Healthy), Macy Euler (Parkside), Emma Martin (Richards), Rylee Davidson (Rockcreek), Brooklynn Lortz (Schmitt), Gwyn Ho (Smith), Savannah Wells (Southside), Grace Haley (Taylorsville)

Dance Award

Sierra Spencer (Parkside)

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Girls

First round

Parkside 19, Taylorsville 9

Southside 32, Rockcreek 29

CSA-Fodrea 33, Clifty Creek 13

 Quarterfinals

Parkside 33, CSA-Lincoln 8

Richards 34, Mt. Healthy 9

Southside 29, Schmitt 12

Smith 27, CSA-Fodrea 18

Semifinals

Richards 34, Parkside 14

Southside 29, Smith 4

Championship

Richards 41, Southside 20

Boys

First round

Parkside 48, Taylorsville 24

Southside 37, Rockcreek 16

Clifty Creek 42, CSA-Fodrea 32

Quarterfinals

Parkside 32, CSA-Lincoln 15

Mt. Healthy 32, Richards 31

Southside 39, Schmitt 14

Clifty Creek 37, Smith 27

Semifinals

Parkside 29, Mt. Healthy 26

Southside 56, Clifty Creek 14

Championship

Southside 38, Parkside 18

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