When Rising Sun and Switzerland County meet in their annual rivalry game you can expect a hard fought battle for bragging rights.
What many rivalries don’t include is the cheerleaders joining in a combined cheer and the fans donating $1800 for Riley’s Hospital, where Switzerland County freshman Colton Schirmer (son of former Shiner Beth Peters Schirmer) was treated for injuries during football.
The Pacers raised more money than the Shiners but after 32 minutes of hard nosed Rising Sun came out on top 62 to 55 to win the Ruler of the River trophy.
The win means the trophy will remain in Rising Sun (Lady Shiners won earlier this year) until the boys teams meet again on Jan. 19th at Rising Sun. The girls will determine where the trophy resides until next season when they have a rematch on Tuesday, Jan. 23rd in Vevay.
The game was tied three times and was tied at 14 after one quarter following a Wes Rider steal led to a Jacob Bovard 3-pointer.tied at 20 all.
Senior Brent Turner put Rising Sun ahead 20- 18. Kaleb Harrell’s 3-pointer gave the Pacers the lead. Jason McClellan scored and Nick Koons hit a 3-pointer to start a 9-0 Shiner run. Koons’ 3-pointer came with an assist from Jacob Bovard. After a pair of Brent Turner free throws, Bovard followed with a 3-pointer as Koons returns the favor.
Austin South cut the deficit to 32 to 25 at the half.
The Pacers third quarter offense went through Tyler Konkle and Kyle Whitham (both saddled with first half fouls). The Pacers came back to tie the game at 36 but a Koons 3-pointer and Trenton Gridley basket pushed the lead back to five, 41 to 36.
Austin South tied the game at 43 before Pflum put the Shiners ahead 45 to 43 after three.
Damion Breeck’s 3-pointer and senior Justin Chatham two free throws gave the Pacers their final lead at 48 to 47
Free throws by McClellan and Pflum put the Shiners ahead to stay with 5:05 remaining. Breeck tied the game at 53. Pflum’s 3 pointer put RS up 56 to 53 and closed out the game at the free throw line and a 9-2 run.
Brent Turner led the Shiners with his third double double in four games with 15 points and 11 rebounds. Pflum had 14 points including two 3-pointers on four for nine from the field. Koons added 13 with three 3-pointers and 4-for-7 from the field along with six rebounds.
Bovard was the fourth Shiner in double figures with 12 points including a pair of 3-pointers. McClellan six points with two rebounds, two steals and two assists. Gridley added two points.
Rising Sun finished 14-for-38 from the field plus 7-for-12 from behind the arc. They were 13-for-14 at the free throw line including 10-for-10 in the final quarter.
Breeck and South shared game high honors with 15 points. Both had 3-poointers. Whitham and Konkle had eight each with Harrell adding five and two each by Cade Rider and Chatham
The Pacers were17-for-38 but just 3-for-1o behind the arc. They were 12-for-20 from the line.
Rising Sun travels to New Washington Friday and return home to host Oldenburg Academy Saturday. Switzerland County is at Trinity Lutheran Friday.