IHSAA Tourneys in Full Swing
The football tournament got underway this Friday with four Circle City Conference teams in action. Bishop Chatard handled the Northwest Space Pioneers 62-6. They will face Broad Ripple in what will be the last game their neighbors ever play. Heritage Christian traveled to Milan to face the #4 ranked Indians. The Eagles were in control for most of the contest but turnovers prevented them from putting any distance between themselves and their hosts. Ultimately, big plays by Milan’s Jed Minnich were the difference in Milan earning a 28-14 victory. Heritage Christian finishes the year with a record of 6-4.
Our Event of the Week was the rematch of the Brebeuf Braves and Guerin Catholic Golden Eagles contest from Week Seven. Neither team was able to gain the upper-hand in the first quarter, battling to a scoreless tie. Jacob Pressler made the first big play of the game when he blocked a Golden Eagles punt attempt into their endzone. The Braves’ recovery resulted in the game’s first score. Guerin responded with their best drive of the night to that point, but fumbled the ball at the Brebeuf 29. The Braves responded with a 13 play, 71 yard drive of their own. Isaiah Martin punched it in from the one to put the Braves up 14-0. After forcing Brebeuf to punt to open the second half, Guerin Catholic was intercepted by Dillon Howell on their first play. Howell turned it into 6 more points. Trailing 21-0, Luke Keller and Thomas Kaser drove their squad down the field for their first score. Keller hit Jake Labus from six yards out. That would be the final score of the night. Brebeuf advances with a 21-6 victory. Up next for the Braves will be the Blackford Bruins on the road. Guerin Catholic finishes the year with a 6-4 mark.
Roncalli had the week off. They will face Cathedral at Tech on Friday.
Saturday featured Volleyball Regionals and Cross Country and Girls Soccer Semi-States. Both of the Roncalli and Heritage Christian volleyball teams fell to their competition in the first round, 3-1. Roncalli lost to Avon (eventual winners of the Regional). Heritage Christian fell to Hagerstown (lost to Covenant Christian). Brebeuf defeated Danville in the morning and faced Northview in the Finals. After jumping out to a 2-0 lead, things took a surprising turn. Northview came back to win sets three and four to force a fifth game. The fifth game was hotly contested, but the Braves emerged victorious with a 15-12 win. They will next face Silver Creek at either Columbus East or Jasper.
The Conference had several runners racing at Shelbyville this morning in the Cross Country Semi-States. The Brebeuf Braves Girls team continued their unbeaten streak, winning the Semi-State title. Katherine Modrall led her squad, coming in 3rd overall. Katie Minton, Ellie Schroeder, and Paige Schemanske ran well, but failed to qualify. Quinn Gallagher turned in the best time of the Circle City Conference boys. He will be joined next week by Brebeuf’s Christian Stevens and Jack Kovach and Roncalli’s Nick Perkins. The State Championships will be held at LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course at the Wabash Valley Sports Center in Terre Haute. The boys will race at 1:00, followed by the girls at 1:45.
The Bishop Chatard Trojans traveled south to face Evansville Memorial in the 2A Girls Soccer Semi-State. This marked the first time the Trojans had reached the Semi-State in five years. MaxPreps had the Tigers ranked as the fourth best team in the nation. They made a pretty strong case for themselves, defeating Chatard 7-0. The Trojans finished the year with a record of 17-5, Sectional and Regional Championships, and the program’s first victory over rival Cathedral in 15 years.
Guerin Catholic’s Girls team also traveled south. They had a date with Columbus North at Lawrenceburg. Goals from Elle Vuotto (2), Cassidy Lindley, and Kelsie Smith powered the Golden Eagles to a 4-1 victory. They will face Penn at the Bud and Jackie Sellick Bowl at Butler University on Friday at 8.
