Scoring surge sends SR past JCD

PHOTO COURTESY OF LORI SAMPLES

South Ripley maintained its possession of the Ripley Publishing Company Pride Trophy on Tuesday, defeating Jac-Cen-Del in the team’s regular season finale.

Four players reached career milestones and South Ripley put up 70-plus points for a second time this season as the Lady Raiders charged past Jac-Cen-Del 74-51 on Tuesday night in an Ohio River Valley Conference rivalry matchup in Osgood.

The game served as the regular season finale for South Ripley who also maintained possession of the Ripley Publishing Company Pride Trophy.

Despite another solid late season performance on offense for Jac-Cen-Del it was the Lady Raiders who continued its hot streak on the same end and very quickly built up a double-digit lead in the first half. That advantage stayed intact and allowed South Ripley its third-straight win, giving them a puncher’s chance still as part of the Ohio River Valley Conference championship race.

The Lady Raiders end the year 5-1 in the ORVC. Shawe Memorial is 5-0 and can clinch the title outright tonight with a win over Rising Sun. Jac-Cen-Del is currently 2-3 with a game left and can finish as high as third place in the standings.

A career-high 28 points for South Ripley’s Kaiya Rinear pushed her to 900 career points and sophomore Claire Samples reached 200 career rebounds while also netting 15 points. Senior Lexi Franklin added 10 points and notched her 100th career assist and Aubrey Werner now sits at 200 points and 100 rebounds after another solid outing. Jac-Cen-Del was led by Kelsey Borgman’s 15 points and both Brooklyn Simon and Cheyenne Cullen joined her in double figures with 10 points apiece.

Jac-Cen-Del (7-14) closes out its regular season tonight at home against Southwestern (Hanover).

South Ripley now sits at 13-9 and is off until Friday’s semifinal round of the Class 2A Sectional 45 Tournament at home, facing either Southwestern or Switzerland County.