January 15, 2004

SPORTS

Lady ’Dogs win again

The YSHS girls basketball team showed resolve last week, winning its only game, 65–46, at Xenia Christian on Thursday. The Lady Bulldogs improved to 7–3 overall and 3–1 in the Metro Buckeye league.

The Lady Bulldogs ended the first quarter of Thursday’s game tied with Xenia 11–11 and leading 27–21 at the half, but took control in the second half with a 38-point outburst.

Evin Wimberly scored a game-high 29 points, hitting on 11 out of 16 from the field and seven of eight from the free-throw line. She also had 8 assists and 7 steals.

Freshmen Carly Bailey and Alisha Lucas stepped up their games and scored 10 and 2 points, respectively. Bailey also grabbed 10 rebounds. Megan Burrick scored 6 points and had 5 steals, Tricia McLinden had 8 points and 7 rebounds and Sarah Finn scored 4 points and grabbed 6 boards.

Coach Shirley Cummins was so excited after the win that she called the players to congratulate them on an excellent team effort.

“When they are in their game they’re exhilarating to watch,” Cummins said. “Evin Wimberly is amazing. I’ve never seen anyone take a ball to the basket, get mugged, contort their body the way she does and still finish.”

McKinney girls report

The McKinney School girls basketball team began the new year by splitting a pair of games in Cedarville on Thursday, then losing two games to Troy Christian on Saturday. The team is now 3-1 in seventh-grade games, and 2-4 in eighth-grade games.

The seventh grade team beat Cedarville 14–13, but Cedarville won the eighth-grade contest in overtime, 29–27. Tenia Scarver scored a season-high 17 points. Troy Christian defeated the eighth grade McKinney team, 34–18, and the seventh-grade team, 42–10.

Fifth-grade report

The fifth-grade basketball team opened its season with two losses, 22–18 to Southeastern and 25–23 to East Clinton. Stephanie Scott led the fifth-graders with 14 and 21 points, respectively.

Bulldogs grab 2 big wins

The YSHS boys basketball team outran, overpowered and outscored Middletown Christian, 96–62, last Friday, then turned around the next night and beat Summit Country Day, 86–64, at home.

The Bulldogs are 6–2 overall and 3–0 in the Metro Buckeye Conference, as they edge toward the middle of the season.

On Saturday, Summit Country Day won the jump ball and took a 4 point lead in the first few minutes, but the mirage ended as the Bulldogs threw their full-court press in full-throttle to force several turnovers.

Dustin Rudegeair scored 21 in the first half, while Jordan Skinner grabbed 14 rebounds.

The Silver Knights, relying on 3-pointers and picking, could not solve the Bulldog press and found themselves down 72–45 by the end of the third quarter.

Aaron Cobb contributed 14 points in the second half, scoring on several crowd-pleasing finger rolls and slam dunks. He also grabbed a season-high 10 rebounds.

Issa Walker, Anthony Matheny, David Boyer and Brad Benning-Clark brought fresh energy to the game and helped each other squeeze in a basket before the clock stopped.

Friday’s game was more of the same, except the Bulldogs had the added advantage of size and experience over the relatively new team at Middletown Christian. The Bulldogs scored 30 points in the second to build a 49–24 lead at the half, and then scored another 30 points in the fourth quarter.

Rudegeair scored 24 points to go along with 10 rebounds, while Skinner grabbed a career-high 21 boards. Skinner was named Greene County player of the week last week in the Dayton Daily News.

Over the last three games, the Bulldogs have averaged a Miami Valley best of 89.6 points per game, and they are one game ahead of the second-place team in the MBC, Jefferson (6–5, 3–1), whom the Dogs play tomorrow (Friday).

Sixth-grade report

The sixth-grade boys basketball team beat Southeastern, 33–26, last Saturday and then quashed East Clinton 31–18 the following day.

Swim team report

The YSHS swim teams competed last Friday at the Shawnee High School Invitational along with 10 other teams. Although official results were unavailable at press time, both teams performed extremely well. The boys team placed fifth overall, and while the girls team did not score because none of the swimmers finished among the top six, they all swam their fastest times of the season.

“A good week of practice made a big difference, and we’re looking forward to the Clark County Meet this weekend,” coach Dave Wishart said.

Official results will be reported next week in the News.

Coaches ask alums for support

The Lady Bulldogs basketball team issued a challenge this week to all Yellow Springs alumni to support the girls and boys basketball teams.

Coach Shirley Cummins said, “How many classmates can you find or pull out of the house? The Bulldogs are coached by two of our own, Shirley Austin Cummins (class of 1976) and Brad Newsome (class of 1985). If you would like to watch exciting, exhilarating, fast-paced basketball, turn off the TV and come watch your future alumni go for the MBC titles and further.”

The complete YSHS winter sports schedule is available on the Web at www.ysnews.com/sports/schedule.html. Important upcoming basketball games, some of which may decide the Metro Buckeye Conference, include Saturday, Jan. 24, when the girls play Jefferson, and Tuesday, Jan. 20, when the boys play Xenia Christian and Friday, Feb. 13, versus Jefferson.