Marauders win sectional 77-32

Mt. Vernon showed why it's the second-ranked team in Class 3A tonight, outscoring Chatard 77-32 in the sectional championship game at Arlington High School.

The Marauders were suffocating on defense, forcing several steals & deflections and turning them into fast-break points.

MV trailed 5-4 early, but then went on a sizeable run that never seemed to stop. The Marauders finished the first quarter with a 15-2 spurt that put them up 19-7 after one, then started the second on a 12-2 run that saw the lead pushed to 31-9.

Sophomore forward Erica Moore had 18 of her game-high 24 points in the first half, and when she scored her 24th point, she had as many as the opposing team.

Jessica Brown then had a big second half, scoring 13 of her 19 points as MV extended a 39-16 halftime lead and turned it into a 59-24 edge by the end of the third quarter. MV scored at least 18 points in each quarter, and held Chatard to single-digits in each.

Four Marauders scored in double-figures, as Makenzi Reasor added 11 points and Rachel Houck 10.

The Marauders are now 20-5 on the season, and have won county, conference and sectional championships. They'll play in the Lebanon regional next week, facing the host Tigers in the 10 a.m. first semifinal. Lebanon beat No. 8 Western Boone 68-61 in the sectional title game at WeBo. The second semifinal will feature Tri-West and No. 10 Edgewood. TW beat Indian Creek 75-70 in OT at Beech Grove, while Edgewood beat Brown County 56-48 at Owen Valley. The championship game will be at 7 p.m.

All of the Marauders' games the rest of the tournament will be LIVE at HancockCountySports.com the rest of the way!

Girls sectional week: Change in MV's sectional

It's girls basketball sectional week, and all four Hancock County schools will be in action Tuesday night as things begin.

We will begin our broadcasts in the semifinal round. Follow us on Twitter for live updates from Tuesday's first-round games.

There has been one schedule change in the Arlington sectional, as the Mt. Vernon Marauders will play Brebeuf at 7 p.m. Tuesday, rather than the originally-scheduled 6 p.m.

Arlington -- which was scheduled to play Chatard in the second game that evening -- will have to forfeit its game because of a lack of available players, due to suspensions from its final regular-season game. So, the start time of the Marauders' game was pushed back an hour as it will be the only game played at Arlington that night. The winner will face Howe on Friday.

For the first time in history, the four Hancock County schools will be divided amongst four sectionals. So, here are the pairings.

Class 4A sectional at Greenfield-Central
Tuesday, Feb. 7
Pendleton Hts. (14-7) vs. Greenfield-C. (13-7), 6 p.m.
Anderson (16-5) vs. Connersville (14-7), 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 10

Richmond (13-7) vs. PH/G-C winner, 6 p.m.
New Castle (5-15) vs. Anderson/Connersville winner, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 11
Championship, 7:30 p.m.
Winner goes to: Decatur Central regional (pairings: winners at Ben Davis vs. Warren Central; winners at Terre Haute North vs. Greenfield-Central). Regional games 2/18 at 10/12, championship at 7

Class 4A sectional at Franklin
Tuesday, Feb. 7
Franklin Central (11-9) vs. Center Grove (8-12), 6 p.m.
New Palestine (10-10) vs. Whiteland (6-15), 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 10

Greenwood (18-2) vs. FC/CG winner, 6 p.m.
Franklin (11-9) vs. NP/Whiteland winner, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 11
Championship, 7:30 p.m.
Winner goes to: Bedford North Lawrence regional (pairings: winners at Evansville Central vs. Seymour; winners at Franklin vs. Columbus North). Regional games 2/18 at 10/12, championship at 8


Class 3A sectional at Arlington
Tuesday, Feb. 7
Brebeuf (7-13) vs. #2 Mt. Vernon (17-5), 7 p.m.
Chatard (9-12) advances via forfeit over Arlington (1-18)
Friday, Feb. 10
Howe (5-14) vs. Brebeuf/MV winner, 6 p.m.
Guerin Catholic (16-7) vs. Chatard (9-12), 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 11
Championship, 7 p.m.
Winner goes to: Lebanon regional (pairings: winners at Western Boone vs. Arlington; winners at Owen Valley vs. Beech Grove). Regional games 2/18 at 10/12, championship at 7

Class 2A sectional at Cambridge City Lincoln
Tuesday, Feb. 7
Eastern Hancock (12-8) vs. Hagerstown (19-2), 7 p.m.
Wednesday, Feb. 8
Centerville (14-6) vs. Cambridge City Lincoln (8-11), 6 p.m.
Knightstown (14-6) vs. Union County (4-16), 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 10
Northeastern (7-12) vs. EH-Hagerstown winner, 6 p.m.
Wednesday winners, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 11
Championship, 7:30 p.m.
Winner goes to: Speedway regional (pairings: winners at Attucks vs. Broad Ripple; winners at Cascade vs. Cambridge City Lincoln). Regional games 2/18 at 10/12, championship 8

Marauders fall in regional final

Mt. Vernon's dream season came to an end on the Marauders' home floor Saturday night at the hands of an underrated, but very strong Roncalli squad 52-36.

Roncalli was led by freshman Elizabeth Bowers, who scored 19 points and helped key a 23-7 stretch in the middle quarters that turned a 10-all tie into a 33-17 lead for the Rebels midway through the third. Roncalli started the second half with a 14-2 spurt, and then fended off every Marauder advance from there.

Freshman guard Kelli Kirkhoff scored 13 points and was the team's floor general. Bridget Perry, the Rebels' leading scorer and a sophomore, had 11. Coco Clark -- the veteran of the starting five as a junior -- scored nine, while Katie Brewer controlled the glass. Roncalli starts three six-footers, and it showed, as the Rebels blocked several Marauder shots.

MV was led by 10 points from Kayla Negley and nine from Jessica Brown. Rachel Houck added eight points, including two 3s in the third quarter to help dent into the Rebels' lead. But the Marauders just didn't have enough to come all the way back.

The Marauders' season ends with a 21-2 mark, the HHC, Hancock County and Hamilton Heights sectional championships. They deserved every accolade they got -- but just ran into a strong team on Saturday night.

After knocking off #2, Roncalli will face #1 Evansville Memorial in next week's semistate.

In boys basketball -- yes, there were a couple of local boys games tonight -- Eastern Hancock rolled past Tri 84-60. The Royals are now 15-3 heading into the season's final week.

Marauders advance

Mt. Vernon beats Lebanon 51-36 in the semifinal game today to advance to tonight's regional final. MV and Lebanon were tied 24-24 after a close first half, but the Marauders got six quick points from Makenzi Reasor and clamped down their defense in the second half. MV started the second half on a 12-0 run and held Lebanon without a field goal for the first 11 minutes of the second half.

Typical balanced effort for MV: Rachel Houck scored 11 points, Reasor had 10, Jessica Brown had nine including a big 3 right at the end of the third quarter, Anna Olson had eight, plus a zillion rebounds and deflections, Kayla Negley scored seven plus added some phenomenal defense.

Lexi Reese had 11 first-half points for Lebanon. MV held the Tigers' top two scorers -- Harvard-bound Alison Curtis and younger sister Katie Curtis -- in single digits, and with two total field goals between them. They had been averaging 29 ppg coming into the game.

MV will play Roncalli (18-5) in tonight's regional championship game at 7:40 p.m. Roncalli won today's afternoon game 59-38 over Madison, leading from wire-to-wire. Sophomore guard Bridget Perry scored 22 points for Roncalli to lead all scorers. It should be a close, interesting matchup between two strong teams with big inside presence. Join Andrew & Chris at 7:40 p.m. for the play-by-play.

LISTEN LIVE LINK!

Girls basketball regional preview

The Mt. Vernon Marauders are set for the girls basketball regional, and so are we.

The schedule from Mt. Vernon for Saturday:
10 a.m.: Madison (14-9) vs. Roncalli (17-5)
11:30 a.m.: No. 2 Mt. Vernon (20-1) vs. Lebanon (20-3)
8 p.m.: Championship
CLICK TO LISTEN TO MT. VERNON'S GAMES LIVE!
Andrew & Chris will be online live at approximately 11:20 a.m. in the morning, and should the Marauders win, at 7:40 p.m. Saturday night.

Team previews
GAME 2
#2 Mt. Vernon Marauders (20-1)
Coach: Julie Shelton (13th year at MV, 196-91, sectional champs in 2003, 2005, 2011).
Sagarin ranking: #2 3A, #6 statewide
Record vs: 3A teams: 9-0. Vs. teams still in tourney: 2-0 (beat 4A Pendleton Heights & 3A Yorktown).
The road here: Beat #9 Rushville 61-56, #5 Hamilton Heights 77-69.
Notes

• Marauders beat two ranked teams in the sectional to win its first since 2005.
  
• Hoosier Heritage Conference champs with 7-0 league record. One of three HHC teams to win their sectionals this year -- joining Pendleton Heights & Yorktown. This is the second straight year HHC teams won all three sectionals in which conference teams compete.
  
• MV had several streaks going. Streak of 35 straight regular-season wins was snapped by North Central in the regular season finale. MV has won 16 consecutive home games, and won the only regional it has played on its home floor in 2005. MV is 38-4 the last two seasons, and was ranked No. 1 for much of the year.
• MV rallied from double-digit second-half deficit to beat Hamilton Heights in the sectional title game, led by 8-of-10 FT shooting from Jessica Brown, who scored 17 points. Six-foot freshman post Erica Moore had 19 and 11 boards and sophomore Rachel Houck (15 points, 5 3s) and senior Kayla Negley (14 points, 7 assists) also had big nights.
• Against Rushville, Brown hit 11 free throws to help seal that game. Negley and Indiana State recruit Makenzi Reasor both scored 12.
• In sectional, Brown scored 17.5 ppg and hit 19-of-28 from the line. Negley averaged 13 points, 5.5 assists and 5.0 rebounds in the sectional.
• Only one player averaging in double-figures (Brown, 14.4 ppg), but Reasor, Negley, Houck and Moore all average between 7.6 and 9.1 ppg.
  

Lebanon Tigers (20-3)
Coach: Dave Ferrell (2nd year, 30-15)
Sagarin ranking: #17 3A, #71 statewide
Record vs: 3A teams: 13-0. Vs. teams still in tourney: 0-0
The road here: Beat Southmont 73-36, Danville 69-38 and North Montgomery 39-37.
Notes

• Won Sagamore Conference title with perfect 7-0 mark.
  
• 10-game turnaround from last year, when the Tigers went 10-12.
• 12-game winning streak is one of state's longest. Perfect in 2011 -- last loss was to Cathedral on Dec. 27.
• Led by guard Alison Curtis, a Harvard recruit who has scored in double-figures in 19 of the Tigers' 23 games. Averaged 16.7 ppg in sectional, 16.4 ppg for the season. Had 22 against Danville, 19 against Southmont in sectional.
  
• In the sectional final against North Montgomery, Lexi Reese scored 13 points and Katie Curtis -- Alison's younger sister -- scored 11. Reese is the team's third-leading scorer at 9.3 ppg.
  
• Katie Curtis is the assist person. Had career high 15 helpers (and 15 points) against Southmont in the sectional opener. She is the second-leading scorer at 12.4 ppg and averages a shade under six assists per game.
  

GAME 1
Madison Cubs (14-9)
Coach: Tony Harl (2nd year at Madison, 23-20; 5th overall, 62-53. Won sectional in 2007 & 2008 at Carroll (Allen) ).
Sagarin ranking: #23 3A, #99 statewide
Record vs: 3A teams: 7-2. Vs. teams still in tourney: 2-4 (lost to 4A Jeffersonville, Columbus East & Mooresville and 2A Brownstown; beat 3A Silver Creek & 2A South Ripley).
The road here: Beat South Dearborn 68-43; Greensburg 48-38 and Scottsburg 65-63.
Notes

• Madison's nine losses are the most of any team remaining in the tourney.
  
• Madison is one of three Hoosier Hills Conference teams remaining in the tourney, joining Columbus East and Jeffersonville. The smallest school in the Hoosier Hills, Madison finished 2-5 in league play.
• Has won six straight games.
  
• Outscored Scottsburg 25-7 over the final seven and a half minutes to erase 16-point deficit and win the sectional title game. Senior Kayla Luellen scored 17 points, including three FTs in final minute to win the game. Junior guard Mandy Stoll scored 19 points and junior forward Nayla Lunsford 16 in that game.

Roncalli Rebels (17-5)
Coach: Sara Riedeman (3rd year, 49-20)
Sagarin ranking: #6 3A, #37 statewide
Record vs: 3A teams: 7-0. Vs. teams still in tourney: 1-0 (def. 2A Covenant Christian)
The road here: Beat Beech Grove 44-30, Howe 77-24, Chatard 45-28.
Notes

• Roncalli has won three straight sectionals, seeking 1st regional title in class era.
  
• The Rebels are rolling, having won eight straight games by an average score of 57-36. In the sectional, they allowed only 27.3 ppg.
• Roncalli has lots of balance -- in the sectional, six different players scored in double-figures. The Rebels also have a lot of size, with five players 5-10 or taller.
  
• Junior guard Coco Clark had 16 points & 8 boards in the sectional title win over Chatard. Elizabeth Bowers had two double-figures games in the sectional, scoring 10 against Chatard and 14 against Howe. Katie Brewer had 15 points/8 boards to lead the Rebels in the opening game against Beech Grove.
  
• Leading scorer is 6-2 guard Bridget Perry, who scored in double figures every game but one during the regular season, with a high of 29.
  
• Bowers, a 6-foot freshman, was the leading scorer in the sectional, scoring 9.3 ppg and hitting 13 of her 16 FG attempts.
  

MV common opponents
vs. Lebanon
Southport: Leb 60-52 Nov. 12; MV 55-33 Jan. 4
Noblesville: Leb 61-56 Nov. 19; MV 43-37 Jan. 8
vs. Roncalli
Southport: Ron 59-56 Jan. 25; MV 55-33 Jan. 4
vs. Madison
no common opponents