Where are the Thunderbirds? and other matters The leaves are falling fast, legions of turkeys are about to be slaughtered, the girls’ sneakers are squeaking on the courts, Shakamak having already played five games, the boys are about ready to battle over the orange sphere. Today you can read about 11 of the 12 basketball teams we cover in our winter tab. We have pictures, rosters, and stories about the 2017-18 basketball season which will kick into high gear after Thanksgiving. The one team not covered in the tab is -- surprise! surprise! -- the Eastern boys. Due to their wonderful football season, the Thunderbirds have not yet practiced and have postponed their first few games. When the T-Birds resolve their trek through the football post-season, we will bring you a preview and a team picture of the Thunderbird basketball team. If the Thunderbirds defeat Indianapolis Lutheran tonight, and we most certainly hope they do, we will publish a special section about the team in next Wednesday’s paper. Eastern has certainly enjoyed a spectacular season to date. Not only is the team unbeaten with its second sectional and first regional title, but several players have recorded praiseworthy accomplishments. Quarterback Caleb Hamilton has generated more than two miles of offense. The senior has gained 2,154 yards with his feet and has passed for 1,574 more. In his first varsity season, wide receiver Ethan Helton has emerged as the team’s leading receiver with 31 receptions for 593 yards and nine touchdowns. I would be very surprised if his 93-yard TD reception against Fountain Central last Friday in the regional did not set a new school record for longest play. Andy Drummond set a new school record for the longest field goal with a 40-yarder against North Daviess in the first round of the sectional. Not only is Drummond reliable on the point-after conversions -- he’s made 74 of 84 -- but he does well on the kickoffs. I’ve noticed that Eastern’s foes usually get the oblate spheroid around the 15. Drummond is averaging 45.5 yards per kickoff with a long of 60 yards and one touchback. Zach Terry has more than 100 tackles for the season. He’s made 21 solos and assisted in 85 others for 106, 8.8 per game. Levi Southern is one away from hitting the century mark as he has 32 solos and 67 assists. One more interception, and he has four this season, and senior safety Jackson Rogers sets the new school record for interceptions. The Thunderbirds venture to Indianapolis Lutheran (11-2) at 7;30 p.m. Maybe these players and others can add to their achievements. Tonight’s game marks the second straight year a county has faced the Saints in a semistate. Last year, the Linton Miners clobbered Indianapolis Lutheran 43-18. It appears both games may share something besides a common opponent. Last year’s semistate was played on a rainy night, and the field could have been called the Roy Williams Quagmire because of downpours on the days before. The Weather Channel says there is a 90 percent chance that rain will fail in Indy tonight so this game could be another played in weather more suitable for ducks. I hope I don’t melt. Journalists and coaches filled the press box last Friday to see the Thunderbirds take the regional 42-19. There were enough electronics in the room to power the FSS Enterprise. We monitored other games while we were watching Eastern, especially in the fourth quarter when only a miracle would save Fountain Central from defeat. I kept track of the Indianapolis Lutheran-Indianapolis Arlington score (a 50-15 win for the Saints). Several of my colleagues were monitoring Indiana’s season opener with Indiana State. Man, did the Hoosiers blow chunks. 90-69. It’s going to be a long winter in Bloomington.