January 25, 2007

sports

Ashanta’ Robinson goes up for a shot from the key in the first half of the game Yellow Springs won 64–47 against Dayton Christian on Monday, Jan. 22.

Bulldog Sports Roundup

Lady ’Dogs surge ahead
The Lady Bulldog basketball team brought their winning streak to six with last week’s wins over Cincinnati Christian, Ridgeville Christian and Dayton Christian. The team is now 8–6 overall.

Yellow Springs took Cincinnati 38–37 at home on Saturday, Jan. 20, in the last second of the game on a driving layup from Jessica Kellar. Cincinnati had gone ahead with five seconds left, but the Lady ’Dogs called their last timeout and regrouped. Ryder Comstock threw a 40-foot inbound pass over the half-court line, where Kellar gathered it in on a dead run and flew to the basket for her winning shot.

Carly Bailey was the team’s high scorer with 18 points, followed by Ashanta’ -Robinson with 12.

On Thursday, Jan. 18, playing without injured lead scorer Robinson, the Bulldogs put away an overmatched Ridgeville team 51–27. Highlights for the Lady ’Dogs included 10 assists by senior Alicia Lucas, and the first points of hard-working freshman Salomé García-Halpin’s career. Bailey was again the high scorer with 22 points, followed by Kellar with 16.

Yellow Springs beat a six-woman Dayton Christian team 64–47 at home on Monday, Jan. 22, leading the first three quarters by about five points and then pulling away in the final period. Robinson took credit for 21 points, followed by Bailey with 16, Kellar with 12, Comstock with 9 and Marlee Layh with 4 points.

Coach Paul Comstock credited the hard work of his players, singling out the passing of Robinson and Lucas, as well as the superb all-round play of senior standout Carly Bailey. He also praised the improving defensive effort of the team, especially that of Comstock, who “defends the opponents’ leading scorer every game and is one of the best defensive players in the conference.”

Boys ball fights off lag
It’s been a tough couple of weeks for the Bulldog boys basketball team, which played hard games against Jefferson and Ridgeville Christian but lost the fight. The ’Dogs slid to 2–8 for the season, 2–6 in the Metro Buckeye Conference.

The Bulldogs lost against Jefferson 64–56 on Friday, Jan. 12, keeping the faith in last-minute comebacks alive until the very end. Behind 31–23 at halftime, Yellow Springs found its spring and began to chip away at the lead in the third quarter. With the jolt off a driving basket followed by a 3-point shot from Kilan Brown, the Bulldogs cut the Broncos’ lead to 36–33. But Jefferson steamed ahead in the final quarter to close out the victory. Antonio Woodard put in 10 points for the ’Dogs.

On Jan. 13 Yellow Springs lost 77–39 to Carlisle, whose two top scorers managed over 20 points each for their team. Brown led the Bulldogs with 16 points.

On Jan. 16 Yellow Springs lost 71–58 against Miami Valley. The Bulldogs came out strong with an 18–17 lead at the end of the first quarter, but they lost speed in the second period and never regained their standing. The Rams had the game’s two top scorers. Brown netted 18 for Yellow Springs, including 3 three-pointers. Kevin Sikes-Gilbert had 14 points while Jerrico Stubblefield had 12.

Yellow Springs lost to Ridgeville Christian 43–36 on Friday, Jan. 19. The Bulldogs lagged behind by as much as 12 points in the first half, before holding the Lions to 4 in the third quarter and outscoring them 19–14 in the fourth quarter. But even the strong defense and shooting contributions from team high-scorer Brown with 14 points and players Sikes-Gilbert, Ian Wimberly, Raphael Allen, Stubblefield, Evan Firestone and Ryan Newsome, could not hold back the Lions’ top scorer with 21 points.

Swimmers claim PRs
Individual performers on the YSHS swimming teams had a strong showing at the Shawnee High School Invitational last Friday, Jan. 19. In the girls competition, Miriam Barcus swam her fastest time of the season in the 500 freestyle, dropping 11 seconds to place sixth and score a point for the Bulldogs. She also placed ninth in the 200 freestyle. Barbara Jewell swam an outstanding 100 freestyle, placing ninth, then followed with an eighth-place finish in the 100 breaststroke.

In the boys competition, Jake Kintner and John Michael Malone tied in the 50 freestyle, both swimming their best times of the season, placing 31st out of 44 swimmers. Malone then swam a strong 100 freestyle, and Kintner placed 11th in the 100 breaststroke.

Swimming timers needed Saturday

The Yellow Springs swim team needs volunteers to help time athletes at the Yellow Springs Invitational at Wittenberg University this Friday, Jan. 27.

Timers are asked to be on the pool deck at 7 p.m. for the meet, which begins at 8 p.m.

For more information call Dave Wishart at 767-1415.

Youth basketball league to begin

Recreational youth basketball league play will begin Saturday, Jan. 27, and continue through March 17, at the Bryan Community Center gym. All third- through sixth-grade girls and boys are invited.

The league’s focus is on learning basic basketball skills and sportsmanship. The purpose of the registration is to assess players’ skills and assign them to teams. Coaches then contact players’ families to let them know the time of their first meeting. Children will play 90 minutes each Saturday, beginning at 9 or 10:30 a.m.

For more information or to volunteer assistance, call Lynn Hardman at 767-8433.

Aquatic Club to sponsor swim clinic

The Yellow Springs Aquatic Club, which sponsors the Sea Dogs swim team, will sponsor a winter swim clinic on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 3:15–4:15 p.m., at the Antioch pool, beginning Jan. 23.

Any child up to 12 years old who can swim a full length of the pool without assistance is eligible. Enrollment is limited to the first 25 swimmers who preregister.

The eight-week clinic costs $60 for one child per family and $50 for the second child of each family. Scholarships are available for those who can demonstrate need. To reserve a space, call Cheryl Meyer at 767-7574.

Reduced-price admission tickets

Thanks to the generosity of a group of local residents interested in boosting spectators at school sports events, students in Yellow Springs Schools grades 1–12 are eligible to purchase reduced-price presale tickets to basketball games this season. Each presale ticket will cost $1 and may be used for any home basketball game. Students will still pay regular admission prices at the door if they choose not to buy presale tickets.

Presale tickets may be purchased individually or in bulk and may only be used by Yellow Springs students. Tickets will be available at 8:45 a.m. and 3:25 p.m. most week days from the athletic director. The program will be in effect for an undetermined length of time.