Sports

After jumping out to an early lead in Tuesday night’s ORVC contest versus Jac-Cen-Del, the Switzerland County Lady Pacer varsity basketball team struggled to find offensive consistency, and after staging a frantic rally to retake the lead in the final minute of the game; the Lady Pacers just couldn’t hang on, as a late three-pointer by Emily Einhaus led to a 52-49 victory for the Lady Eagles.

It was nip and tuck for more than three quarters Saturday night in the Sectional championship game between the Switzerland County Lady Pacers and the Southwestern Lady Rebels, but Switzerland County missed some critical freethrows in the closing minutes and Southwestern made some key baskets and claimed the Sectional crown by a final score of 48-43.

Switzerland County was a heavy favorite to advance to the Sectional championship game going into Friday night’s semifinal game against Milan; and after the Lady Indians stayed close over the first eight minutes of play; Switzerland County steadily pulled away after that point, cruising to a 52-27 victory.

Junior Ben Hickman was nearly unstoppable last Thursday night in Switzerland County’s battle with Lawrenceburg, but in the end his 25-point, 12-rebound effort wasn’t enough to overcome the Tigers, who won in overtime by a final score of 63-62.

Lady Pacer coach Wayne Ellegood called his team “relaxed”. For the Shawe Lady Hilltoppers, last Thursday night’s regular season finale against Switzerland County was anything but soothing, as the Lady Pacers jumped out fast and hard, dismantling Shawe by a final score of 82-21.

During Switzerland County’s recent four game winning streak, Pacer coach David Todd has been pleased with how his squad has adopted a team-oriented approach to its games.

The Ohio River Valley Conference has announced its “Players of the Week” and “Top Performers: for the week of January 31st through February 5th.

The Switzerland County Lady Pacers finished their first season with an overall record of 14-7. Tomorrow (Friday) night at Southwestern High School, Coach Wayne Ellegood and his troops will take the floor against the Milan Lady Indians to begin the second season.

South Ripley’s state-ranked girls basketball team held its Senior Night festivities last Thursday night, but in the end it would be a Switzerland County senior who would light up the high school gym and fuel the Lady Pacers to a 52-51 overtime victory.

It was a game that was supposed to highlight this year’s Switzerland County Homecoming; but even though Homecoming has been moved and the game was played Tuesday night, the Pacers’ conference victory over Rising Sun could prove to be a watershed moment in the development of Coach David Todd’s team.