T-birds set to challenge for conference title

For the second straight game, Eastern Greene will take on a defending sectional champion when the T-Birds challenge Southwestern Indiana Athletic Conference leading North Daviess in the two teams' season finale in Elnora.

Last weekend, Eastern Greene took out Shakamak, 60-37, to put them in a position where if they win against North Daviess, the T-Birds, along with Linton and Shakamak, all will have a piece of the SWIAC title.

Shakamak and Linton are sitting at 5-2 in the conference, while North Daviess is at 5-1 and Eastern Greene is at 4-2.

Eastern Greene coach Andy Igel says his team success starts with his two senior leaders, Trent Chitwood and Jeremy Stanger.

"My two seniors are great kids and have done anything we've asked of them," he said. "They're great role models and to see them in this position at the end of the season -- to go play for a conference championship -- is a great feeling for me because they've committed their free time to me and this basketball program. They lead this team, not just in scoring, but also their actions and their intensity, effort, and focus on the court. That's why Friday's game is big."

Chitwood is third in total scoring of the area players with 291 points, trailing only Cody LaFever  (292) of White River Valley and Billy Newton (306) of Shakamak.

Newton leads the area in scoring, just like he has all season, with an average of 16.1 points per game.

LaFever has a slight edge in scoring over Chitwood, with LaFever scoring at 14.6 points per game, while Chitwood is sitting at 14.55.

Coach Igel says that with the IHSAA sectional tournament just around the corner, this is an exciting time to be a player and fan of Indiana high school basketball.

"These kids have set some high goals," said Igel. "As we move down the row, we keep meeting them. We said we wanted to get the GCI (Greene County Invitational) and we got it. We said we wanted to keep the keg, and we got it. We said we wanted a piece of the conference and we're in a position to do that, so we've got to go out and do that."

North Daviess is sitting at 14-6 on the season and winner of five straight games.

When facing the challenge of the Cougars, a team will have to contend with 6-7 Dwain Jolliff in the middle. The Thunderbirds may look to challenge Jolliff with their own 6-7 middle man, junior Ben Arthur, who is averaging 5-8 points per game.

Also for North Daviess will be 5-7 sophomore Lucus Swartzentruber, 6-0 junior Aaron Harbstreit, as well as 5-9 senior Ty Sipes and 6-4 senior Garrett Byrer.

"We'll have to play extremely well," noted Igel. "We'll need this kind of effort, (referring to the T-Birds' win over Shakamak), again, and then some and our guys know that.

"For years, I don't know if anyone realizes this, but this has been for the conference championship. This game has decided who wins it or not. Two years ago they beat us by 20 and last year we beat them by 20. I look for a dogfight. An absolute dog fight. Brent (Dalrymple) does a great job and has taken that program from one that's struggling to one that's really going up hill."

The next win for coach Igel will be number 170 at Eastern Greene and 214 overall. Coach Igel says his team is playing its best basketball now and he's hoping to continue the momentum en route toward a third straight sectional title.

"We're 12-8, but more importantly I think we're playing our best basketball," he said. "I was worried about that after the South Knox game and the first half of the Edgewood game, but we came back in the second half and played very well. I thought (the Shakamak game) was a complete game. I could probably take five possessions out and we were really good."

Game time Friday is 8 p.m. at North Daviess. Eastern Greene will open the North Knox sectional Tuesday against the host Warriors at 6:30 p.m.

* After an 18 day lay off, the Bloomfield Cardinals lost on Tuesday night for the fourth straight game this season with a home loss against Bloomington North.

On Friday, the Cardinals will host the No. 6 Barr-Reeve Vikings after they disposed of White River Valley on Tuesday, 59-19, to improve their record to 16-3.

The Cardinals have lost 10 of 12 games since opening the Pizza Hut Wabash Valley Classic with a loss to Owen Valley.

In that stretch, only wins from Crawfordsville and Shoals have kept the Cardinals' slide from being worse.

Byron Royal is leading Bloomfield in scoring at 8.7 points per game, followed by Derrick Held at 7.6.

Tip off Friday is schedule for 6:30 p.m.

* Because of their game being canceled last weekend against Eminence, the Shakamak Lakers will host their Tri-River Conference rivals tonight beginning with two JV quarters at 6 p.m.

"(Eminence) is an improved team," said Shakamak coach Ernie Maesch. "They have several guys back from last year and they get up and down the floor really quick and capable of putting a lot of points on the board, so we're going to have to do a good job defensively."

The win would put the Lakers at 3-2 and tied with Clay City for third in the TRC. A win for the Eels would be their second in conference this season.

The Lakers are coming off one of their worst defeats of the season at Eastern Greene, 60-37.

Billy Newton is Shakamak's leader in scoring with 16.1. Ethan Stanifer is second at 9.3, followed by Steven McNabb (8.5) and Justin Cox at 7.1.

Shakamak will also play Friday night at home against Owen Valley. The Patriots are 14-7 this season. Coach Maesch admits it's a tough game to play because Owen Valley always has quality players and it's the final game before sectional begins.

"They're one of the better teams in the Wabash Valley," Maesch acknowledged. "I saw them play over Christmas a couple times and they have probably one of the best back courts in the area. We're going to have our hand's full. We're just going to try and take that game one possession at a time and try to get better for the sectional. Hopefully in the last couple minutes of the game, we can be in a position where we can win it."

The Lakers will play the only Tuesday game at the WRV sectional against Clay City beginning at 7 p.m.