LOCAL ROUNDUP: Rodriguez named new football coach at North Vermillion

Jan. 12—CAYUGA, Ind. — North Vermillion football took a step into the future on Friday.

The North Vermillion School Board voted 7-0 to bring in Andrew Rodriguez as the new head football coach.

Rodriguez comes from Lafayette Harrison High School, where he was the Raiders' defensive coordinator for the last three seasons. Harrison went 25-4 during that span and his defense gave up roughly 15 points per game during that span. Harrison ranked No. 5 in the AP and the IFCA and the defense was the top-ranked in Class 5A and ninth in the entire state.

Rodriguez also has had stints in Lafayette Jefferson, South Newton, Olivet College, Elmhurst College and Trine University.

He takes over for longtime coach Brian Crabtree, who retired after this past season.

PREP BOYS BASKETBALL

Danville game postponed

DANVILLE — The Danville boys basketball team's game with Normal West on Friday has been postponed.

Because of weather in the Bloomington-Normal area that is scheduled to come through, the game will be moved to Wednesday, Jan. 24 with the JV game at 5:30 p.m. and the varsity game starting at 7 p.m.

Westville 56, First Baptist 41

WESTVILLE — The Westville boys basketball team got some action in before the Vermilion County Tournament on Thursday, beating First Baptist 56-41.

Drew Wichtowski had 32 points to lead the Tigers, who was down 29-28 at halftime, but outscored the Knights 28-12 in the second half. Easton Barney had 11 points, Cameron Steinbaugh had four and Matthew Darling added three.

Jeremiah Watson had 13 points to lead the Knights, while Eli Epling had 12, Josiah Watson had nine and Jaivon Nelson added seven.

The Tigers will play Salt Fork on Saturday in the Vermilion County Tournament. Wichtowski is at 979 points for his career and can reach that today.

At Westville

Westville 56, First Baptist 41

First Baptist (41) — Jeremiah Watson 4 2-2 13, Jaivon Nelson 3 0-1 7, Eli Epling 5 0-0 12, Nevin Harris 0 0-0 0, Josiah Davis 0 0-0 0, Josiah Watson 4 0-0 9, Remington Rebert 0 0-0 0. Totals: 16 2-3 41.

Westville (56) — Easton Barney 4 3-6 11, Aiden Skinner 1 0-0 2, Cameron Steinbaugh 1 2-6 4, Drew Wichtowski 11 8-10 32, Cade Schaumburg 1 0-0 2, Matthew Darling 1 1-3 4, Tyler Miller 1 0-0 2. Totals: 20 14-25 56.

First Baptist;12;17;3;9;—; 41

Westville;19;9;15;13 ;— ;56

3-point field goals — First Baptist 7 (Jeremiah Watson 3, Epling 2, Nelson, Josiah Watson); Westville 2 (Wichtowski 2). Total fouls — First Baptist 23, Westville 9. Fouled out — Davis. Technical fouls — none.

Hoopeston Area 86, Urbana Uni. 38

HOOPESTON — The Hoopeston Area boys basketball team tuned up for the Vermilion County Tournament on Thursday with a 86-38 win over Urbana University.

Kendrick Sigerill had 23 points with eight rebounds for the Cornjerkers, while Mason Rush had 16 points and four assists, Ethan Steiner had 11 points, four rebounds and three assists, Wyatt Eisenmann had 11 points, seven rebounds and three steals, Owen Root had eight points and five assists and Trenton Montez had six points, six assists and four steals.

The Cornjerkers start tournament play on Saturday against Armstrong-Potomac.

Oakwood 68, Hoopeston Area 52

HOOPESTON — The Oakwood boys basketball team took a big lead and held onto it for a 68-52 win over Hoopeston Area on Wednesday.

Cort Vermilion had 22 points with five 3-pointers for the Comets, who had a 20-4 first quarter lead, while Jackson Dudley had 15 points, Brody Taflinger had 13 points, Carsen Dudley scored nine and Bryson McDaniel added six.

Owen Root had 20 points to lead the Cornjerkers, while Mason Rush had 11 points, Trenton Montez had 10 and Wyatt Eisenmann added five points.

At Hoopeston

Oakwood 68, Hoopeston Area 52

Oakwood (68) — Brody Taflinger 4 4-4 13, Bryson McDaniel 3 0-0 6, Brandt Hobick 0 0-0 0, Cort Vermilion 8 1-2 22, Carsen Dudley 3 0-0 9, Jackson Dudley 5 2-4 15, Alec Harrison 1 1-4 3. Totals: 24 8-14 68.

Hoopeston Area (52) — Wyatt Eisenmann 2 1-4 5, Dylan Judy 0 0-0 0, Owen Root 8 4-7 20, Trenton Montez 4 1-2 10, Mason Rush 3 2-2 11, Kendrick Sigerill 1 2-6 4, Ethan Steiner 0 2-2 2. Totals: 18 12-23 52.

Oakwood;20;17;10;21;—; 68

Hoopeston;4;20;9;19 ;— ;52

3-point field goals — Oakwood 12 (Vermillion 5, Carsen Dudley 3, Jackson Dudley 3, Taflinger); Hoopeston Area 4 (Rush 3, Montez). Total fouls — Oakwood 15, Hoopeston Area 18. Fouled out — Rush, Sigerill. Technical fouls — none.

PREP GIRLS BASKETBALL

Bloomington 64, Danville 21

BLOOMINGTON — The Danville girls basketball team was no match for Bloomington on Thursday, losing 65-21 in Big 12 action.

Gabby Huerta led the Vikings with four points, while Ashanti Conaway and Jyah Parker each had three points.

The Vikings are scheduled to play on Sunday at the MLK Shootout in Chicago.

Salt Fork 59, Westville 11

CATLIN — The Salt Fork girls basketball team got ready for defense of its Vermilion County title on Thursday with a 59-11 win over Westville.

Alexa Jamison had 18 points to lead the Storm and had 11 of those points in the first quarter as Salt Fork built a 23-3 lead, while Macie Russell had 11 points with seven in the second quarter as the Storm went out to a 47-7 halftime lead.

Brycie Hrid had 10 points, while Sailor Pacot had eight and Bracie Hird added six.

Gwen Bennett had four points to lead the Tigers, while Hadley Jones, Aubrie Jenkins and Daylin Zaayer each had two points.

At Catlin

Salt Fork 59, Westville 11

Westville (11) — Laney Gondzur 0 1-2 1, Jazmyn Bennett 0 0-0 0, McKynze Carico 0 0-0 0, Hadley Jones 1 0-0 2, Gwen Bennett 1 1-4 4, Madison Duke 0 0-00 0, Aubrie Jenkins 1 0-2 2, Daylin Zaayer 1 0-0 2. Totals: 4 2-8 11.

Salt Fork (59) — Macie Russell 3 5-7 11, Brycie Hird 5 0-0 10, Ella Cary 0 0-0 0, Bracie Hird 2 0-0 6, Alexa Jamison 7 2-2 18, Taylor Remole 1 0-0 2, Sailor Pacot 4 0-0 8, Raina Conner 1 1-3 3, Miley Pierce 0 0-0 0, Anna McCollum 0 0-0 0, Brianna Filicsky 0 0-0 0, Morgan Russell 0 0-0 0, Brylee Filicsky 0 1-2 1, Rhaelyn Flak 0 0-0 0, Hailey Walraven 0 0-0 0. Totals: 23 9-14 59.

Westville;3;4;4;0;—; 11

Salt Fork;23;24;8;4 ;— ;59

3-point field goals — Westville 1(Gwen Bennett); Salt Fork 4 (Bracie Hird 2, Jamison 2). Total fouls — Westville 12, Salt Fork 10. Fouled out — None Technical fouls — none.

Geo-RF 36, Oakwood 18

FITHIAN — The Georgetown-Ridge Farm girls basketball team took things over in the second half and went on to a 36-18 win over Oakwood on Thursday.

The Buffaloes were only up 17-15, but held the Comets to only three points in the second half.

Kendall Roberts and Madi Spesard each had 11 points for Geo-RF, while Sierra and Savana Cunningham each had four points.

Jaydah Arrowsmith and Nikita Taylor each had seven points to lead Oakwood.

At Fithian

Georgetown-Ridge Farm 36, Oakwood 18

Geo-RF (36) — Kendall Roberts 3 4-7 11, Milee Ellis 1 0-0 2, Savana Cunningham 1 2-4 4, Sierra Cunningham 1 2-3 4, Sydney Spesard 1 0-0 2, Paris Pope 0 0-0 0, Madi Spesard 4 0-0 11, Addi Spesard 1 0-0 2, Jaiden Stelzer 0 0-0 0, Madalyn Willis 0 0-0 0. Totals: 12 8-14 36.

Oakwood (18) — Taylor Smoot 0 0-0 0, Rylee Wright 0 0-0 0, Jaydah Arrowsmith 2 1-2 7, Nikita Taylor 2 3-6 7, Luci Morris 0 0-0 0, Bella Bradford 1 0-0 2, Gracie Hanner 1 0-2 2, Mayci Martin 0 0-0 0, Hannah Glass 0 0-0 0, Emma Koontz 0 0-0 0. Totals: 6 4-10 18.

Geo-RF;7;10;6;13;—; 36

Oakwood;8;7;3;0 ;— ;18

3-point field goals — Geo-RF 4 (Madi Spesard 3, Roberts); Oakwood 2 (Arrowsmith 2). Total fouls — Geo-RF 13, Oakwood 11. Fouled out — None. Technical fouls — none.

Watseka 66, BHRA 16

WATSEKA — The Bismarck-Henning/Rossville-Alvin girls basketball team hit the road to play at Watseka on Thursday.

The Blue Devils could not keep up with the Warriors and lost 66-16.

Marleigh Schmit had nine points for BHRA, while Beth McMahon had three points.

Haven Meyer had 14 points to lead Watseka, while Ava Swartz had 13 and Megan Martin added 11.

Seeger 36, Covington 23

WILLIAMSPORT, Ind. — The Seeger girls basketball team had strong first and third quarters as it beat Covington 36-23 on Thursday.

Cadence White and Caleigh Purcell each had 10 points to lead the Patriots, who scored 11 points in the first and 17 in the third, while Rylea Wetz had nine points and Hannah Frodge added four points.

Sydni Crain had eight points for the Trojans, while Lily Hacquet and Emma Holycross each had six points.

The Patriots will play North Montgomery on Tuesday, while Covington will take on Crawfordsville on Tuesday.

At Williamsport, Ind.

Seeger 36, Covington 23

Covington (23) — Alex Sutherlin 1 1-2 3, Emma Holycross 2 1-2 6, Lily Hacquet 3 0-1 6, Sydni Crain 4 0-0 8, Gabby Lewis 0 0-0 0, Peyton Brown 0 0-4 0, Rylee Drollinger 0 0-0 0. Totals: 10 2-9 23.

Seeger (36) — Cadence White 4 2-4 10, Allie Johnson 0 0-0 0, Kalli Peterson 0 0-0 0, Addie Shrader 1 0-0 3, Caleigh Purcell 4 2-3 10, Hannah Frodge 2 0-2 4, Rylea Wetz 4 1-3 9, Kelsey Johnson 0 0-0 0, Vivienne Middleton 0 0-0 0. Totals: 15 5-12 36.

Covington;5;4;10;4;—; 23

Seeger;11;3;17;5 ;— ;36

3-point field goals — Covington 1 (Holycross); Seeger 1 (Shrader). Total fouls — Covington 9, Seeger 9. Fouled out — None. Technical fouls — none.

Shakamak 48, N. Vermillion 34

SHAKAMAK — The Falcons could not keep up with Shakamak on Thursday.

Braxtyn Dunham had 18 points to lead North Vermilion, while Lauren Ellis ha d seven and Kera Dunham added four.

The Falcons will play South Vermillion on Tuesday.

PREP SWIMMING

Fountain Central splits with Lafayette Jeff

VEEDERSBURG, Ind. — The Fountain Central swim teams hosted Lafayette Jefferson on Thursday and the Mustangs came away with a split.

The girls team was able to win 92-91. Alydia Mellady won the 50-yard freestyle and 100 freestyle for Fountain Central, while Mary Rice won the 100 breaststroke, Josie Harshbarger won the 100 backstroke and Peyton Hocking won in diving.

In relays, the 200 medley team of Harshbarger, Mary Rice, Elise Webb and Mellady won along with the 200 freestyle team of Rice, Allie Dotson, Haley Webb and Mellady.

The boys team lost 118-54 with Eli Sowder winning the 500 freestyle.

Both teams will host Soutmont on Tuesday.