Boys basketball: Chargers slow Pacers in 81-58 home win

Dec. 27—GREENSBURG — With three players scoring in double figures, North Decatur rolled to an 81-58 victory over visiting Switzerland County.

The Chargers improve to 6-2 heading into Thursday's game against NorthWood (3-2) in the Bob Wettig Tournament at Richmond. The Pacers fall to 4-3 on the season.

North set the tone early, outscoring Switzerland County 22-10 in the first quarter. Chase Youngman scored eight points in the opening eight minutes with a pair of 3-pointers. Kaden Muckerheide and Brady Mauer both hit a bomb and had five points each in the quarter. Mason Morris and Owen Eldridge both added a bucket for North.

North added three points to the lead in the second quarter and held a 38-23 lead at the half. Cooper Parmer and Eldridge both scored five points in the quarter. Muckerheide added three points and Logan O'Dell hit a 3-pointer in the quarter.

North put the game away in the third quarter, outscoring the Pacers 25-9 for a 63-32 lead heading to the fourth quarter. North made five 3-pointers in the quarter — two by Youngman, two by O'Dell and one by Mauer.

North was outscored in the fourth quarter, but the early lead was too damaging. Muckerheide led the Chargers with seven points in the final quarter.

For the Chargers, Muckerheide (19 points), Youngman (17 points) and Eldridge (13 points) were all in double figures. Parmer and O'Dell both scored nine points. Mauer finished with eight points and Morris had six points.

Rushville

MIDDLETOWN — Rushville traveled to Shenandoah for the annual Raider Christmas Classic. The Lions opened the tournament with a loss to Evansville Day.

Rushville fell behind 17-2 at the end of the first quarter. Keegan Bowles had the lone bucket for the Lions.

The Lions outscored Day 16-10 in the second quarter and trailed 27-18 at the half. Nick Jarman had six points in the quarter for Rushville.

Day took a 40-24 lead after three quarters. Bowles and Owen Zachery both had three points for Rushville.

Rushville outscored Day 11-4 in the final quarter, but it was not enough as the Lions fell by nine points, 44-35.

Bowles led the Lions with 12 points to go with four rebounds, two assists and one steal. Jarman added eight points, five rebounds, two assists and one steal. Quentin Cain had five points to go with team-highs in rebounds with six and assists with three. Zachery added four points, three rebounds and one assist. Chase Woolf had three points, one rebound, two assists and one steal. Clayton Chase scored three points. Isaac Schelle finished with two rebounds. Danny Corn had one rebound.

In the second game, the Lions led after three quarters, but fell to Blackford 38-36.

The Bruins led 8-4 after the first quarter. Jarman and Zy Adams both had two points for Rushville. In the second quarter, Rushville outscored Blackford 13-6 to lead 17-14 at the half. Bowles scored five points and Corn had four in the quarter for the Lions.

The Lions added to the lead in the third and led 28-24 heading to the fourth quarter. Jarman and Zachery both had three points in the quarter.

Blackford rallied in the fourth, outscoring the Lions 14-8 to steal the 38-36 victory.

For the Lions, Jarman scored nine points followed by Bowles seven, Zachery five, Corn five, Adrian Apodaca four, Woolf four and Adams two. Jarman had a team-high six rebounds. Woolf, Bowles and Chase all grabbed four rebounds. Woolf added two assists.

In the final game, the Lions knocked off North Knox 47-44.

The Lions led 11-6 after the first eight minutes. Woolf scored five points to lead Rushville. The Lions led 20-13 at the half. Rushville hit seven free throws in the second quarter — three by Zachery and two by Schelle and Woolf. Apodaca added a bucket.

In the third, both teams scored eight points as Rushville led 28-21 heading to the fourth quarter. Bowles had five points in the third quarter for Rushville.

The Lions held off the Bruins in the fourth. Blackford outscored the Lions 23-19, but Rushville knocked down 11 free throws in the final eight minutes to seal the victory.

Bowles led the Lions with 18 points followed by Jarman 13, Woolf seven, Zachery five, Schelle two and Apodaca two. Bowles had a team-high six rebounds. Corn and Jarman both pulled down five rebounds. Zachery dished out two assists.

Rushville hosts Union County Saturday.

South Decatur

EDINBURGH — South Decatur opened the Edinburgh Tournament Wednesday against Austin. The Eagles outscored the Cougars 39-19 in the middle quarter en route to the 68-48 victory.

The game was even at 11-11 after the first quarter. Drake Scaggs led the Cougars with five points in the opening eight minutes.

Austin outscored the Cougars 13-4 in the second quarter and 26-15 in the third quarter to take a commanding 50-30 lead heading to the fourth quarter.

South was scheduled to play the loser of Bordon and Hauser Wednesday evening.

Contact Aaron Kirchoff at aaron.kirchoff@greensburgdailynews.com