December 7, 2006

sports

Bulldog Sports RoundUp

Lady Bulldogs topple Ridgeville
The Lady Bulldogs basketball team began conference play on Monday, Dec. 4, with its first win of the season, defeating Ridgeville Christian 52–44. The win puts Yellow Springs at 1–3 in the year.

Sophomore Jessica Kellar paced the ’Dogs with 20 points, followed by Carly Bailey with 14 points and nine rebounds. Ashanta Robinson filled up the stat column with 13 points, seven rebounds, four assists and seven steals. Alisha Lucas added 3 points, and freshman Marlee Layh scored her first varsity points. Ryder Comstock defended Ridgeville standout Danielle Best most of the game, contributing four blocked shots, five assists and four steals.

Coach Paul Comstock attributed the win to an aggressive press that turned the game around in the second quarter. “We’ve been wanting to press and trap, and we finally have enough healthy bodies to play the kind of basketball we need to play,” Comstock said. “The Lady ’Dogs have dressed more than eight players only once this year, with injuries and the flu forcing the team to play a slower pace than they would like.”

Prior to the beginning of conference play, the Lady ’Dogs lost their first three games. Greenon pasted Yellow Springs 56–23 in the opening game on Nov. 25. Comstock led the home team with 8 points. The Lady ’Dogs lost to Division 1 foe Belmont 45–44 on Nov. 28, coming up just short after a furious fourth quarter rally. Bailey, Lucas, and Robinson scored 9 each, while Comstock had 8 and Kellar had 5.

With only six healthy players, the Bulldogs were defeated at Cedarville 46–34 on Nov. 30. The game was close until Cedarville pulled away from an exhausted Yellow Springs team in the final five minutes. Robinson, the game’s high scorer with 18 points, sat out most of the fourth quarter with leg cramps.

Boys hoops loses to Emmanuel
The Yellow Springs High School boys basketball team lost 61–55 to Emmanuel Christian in the season opener on Friday, Dec. 1. The game was a challenge for a young Bulldog team with few returning players. They were outscored by the Lions in the second quarter 19–6, and though the Bulldogs managed to cut the lead to 3 several times in the second half, foul trouble for two starters forced Yellow Springs to rely heavily on non-starting players. Emmanuel shot 35 free throws, while the Bulldogs shot 20.

Players Ian Wimberly, Emilio Garcia, Ryan Newsome, Joe Fugate, Andrew Ferguson and Andy Peters sustained the team through the end of the game.

Of the team’s leaders, Kilan Brown had 17 points and seven rebounds, Kevin Sikes-Gilbert had 12 points, Raphael Allen collected 9, Fugate had 4 points and four rebounds, Newsome had 6 points and five rebounds, and Garcia had 6 points.

Coach Brad Newsome said he felt hopeful that the team would improve throughout the season.

“We have to take better care of the basketball, not foul so much, and close on our offensive opportunities,” he said.

Youth Baseball Major League 2007 schedule

Yellow Springs Youth Baseball Major Leagues has announced its summer schedule for 2007. Sign-ups/try-outs will be held May 5 and 12. The draft will be held on Sunday, May 13. Spring training and clinics will start May 14 and the season will begin June 9. The season runs eight weeks with playoffs July 28–29. There will be a trip to Dayton for a Dragons game July 18. Organizers are looking for adult coaches, umpires, grounds crew, food vendors, etc. Call Bob Morrison at 767-1703 for details or to volunteer.

Team salutes past champs

ABOVE: Bryan High 1945 Bulldogs basketball team, front row: Dick Anderson, Dick Cordell, Kenneth “Buster” Hamilton, co-captain; Douglas Jansen, mascot; John Funderburg, coach; Jim Ark, Jim Birtle, co-captain; Don Amon. Back: Harold Henrichsen, manager; Carl Knoedel, Bernard Hamilton, Ken Lawson, Harry Morgan. BELOW: 1972 YSHS Varsity Basketball Team Bulldogs, front row: Don Caesar, manager; Alan Freeman, Mike Malone, Mr. Coles, coach, Ed Bryant, Dean Washington, Tony Burrer, manager. second row: George Temple, Gary Hosket, Phil Newsome, Brent Newsome, Vincent Mitchell, David Sparks. Back Row: Rick Johnson, stats; Steve Brown, Ken Durgans, Dan Keys, Alton Brisbane, Kevin Jackson, Joe Holly, manager.

The Yellow Springs High School boys basketball team will host a series of commemoration events throughout the upcoming season to honor past district championship basketball teams from Yellow Springs and Bryan High Schools.

The 1966 and 1972 championship teams will be honored during the boys home game against Troy Christian on Friday, Dec. 22. During the game against Middletown Christian on Friday, Jan. 5, there will be a scoreboard dedication and a tribute to former YSHS basketball player Anthony Smith. The 1945 championship team will be honored during the game against Carlisle on Saturday, Jan. 13. The game against Carlisle will also be the first annual Bryan High alumni night, and all alumni are invited to attend the game free of charge.

Players, coaches and family members of the teams to be recognized are asked to contact YSHS boys basketball coach Brad Newsome by e-mail, newsome3397@sbcglobal.net, or by calling the high school at 767-7224.