Raider boys clip Bulldogs in thriller
Class 2A No. 11 South Ripley and Batesville went toe-to-toe and shot for shot last Monday afternoon and in the end it was free throws down the stretch that allowed the Raiders a thrilling 78-74 win over the Bulldogs at the “Dog Pound.”
The game was a rematch of last year’s Ripley County Tournament Championship won by the Bulldogs. Batesville had won four-straight over the Raiders entering last Monday.
South Ripley was able to drive to the bucket at-will and Batesville’s 11 3-pointers highlighted this year’s regular season clash. After a 23-23 tie ended the first quarter, the green and white finally got some breathing room and led 40-33 at halftime but the Bulldogs roared back to life with five triples and 24 points total in the third frame to once again knot up the game.
A tie still stood with just seconds remaining until the Raiders caught a break with seven ticks on the clock and Blaine Ward was sent to the line after a foul on Batesville’s Cade Kaiser. Ward sank both free throws and the ensuing possession saw South Ripley steal an inbounds pass at halfcourt, prompting another Bulldog foul and putting Ward at the line again to drill two more freebies that sealed the victory.
South Ripley was 13-of-14 from the free throw line in the fourth quarter and 20-of-24 for the game. Batesville went to the line just five times on the day and connected on three free throws.
The Bulldogs had no answer for either Cole Henry or Ward. Henry’s 23 points in the first half gave way to 34 points which led all scorers and Ward’s 14 points in the second half and 6-of-6 free throw clip in the fourth quarter put an exclamation mark on 23 points. Sophomore Drew Volz helped lift South Ripley with 12 points, six of which came in the final eight minutes. He was 4-of-4 from the free throw line inside that stretch.
Batesville had four players in double figures, led by Brayden Maple with 17 points, 13 of which came in the first half. Cade Kaiser added 14 points with 10 of those coming in the final two quarters, James Hughes put up 11 second half points en route to 13 and Trenten Luers hit four 3-pointers and scored 12 points.
The Bulldogs (3-3) hosted the Batesville Invitational last Friday and are now looking ahead to next week’s Ripley County Tournament, as is South Ripley (8-0) after they competed in the Southridge Invitational this past weekend.
MONDAY’S BOYS BASKETBALL GAME
at Batesville
CLASS 2A NO. 11 SOUTH RIPLEY 78, BATESVILLE 74
SR – 23. 17. 17. 21. – 78
BV – 23. 10. 24. 17. – 74
SR (8-0) – Cole Henry 34, Blaine Ward 23, Drew Volz 12, Chancie Volz 5, Landon Werner 2, Bryson Sipples 2.
BV (3-3) – Brayden Maple 17, Cade Kaiser 14, James Hughes 13, Trenten Luers 12, Kamryn Holcomb 9, Cayden Drake 9, Ethan Schneider 0.
3-Point Goals – SR 2 (Ward 1, Henry 1), BV 11 (Luers 4, Holcomb 3, Maple 1, Drake 1, Kaiser 1, Hughes 1). Total Fouls – SR 12, BV 19. Free Throws – SR 20-24, BV 3-5. Fouled Out – None.
