The visiting South Ripley Raiders visited the Eagles in Osgood, Indiana on Tuesday night. The preseason buzz around the Raiders is they are a top 10 team in 2A and junior Cole Henry is a potential junior all star come June. Jac-Cen-Del in the meantime is coming off back to back semi state appearances and looked to be in a mini rebuild this season.

The Raiders started the game in the first quarter by being 0-6 from three point range while the Eagles just slowly and surely ran their offense and capitalized on suspect perimeter defense. By halftime the Eagles made sure they weren't just going to roll over and let their county rivals take over leading by 9. The Raiders zone did nothing to cut into the Eagles lead. JCD Senior guard Caleb White got to the basket at will and ended with a game high 22 points.

South Ripley cut it to 3 by the end of the third but by that time Jac knew they could play with the Raiders and gained confidence. South Ripley junior guard, Blaine Ward started to take things into his own hands driving the lane and drawing fouls. Ward finished with 14. 6'7 junior Cole Henry got it going in the 4th quarter getting South Ripley within 1 but it never got any closer.

Henry finished the night with a team high 16 points with an Oakland City coach there to watch. Jac-Cen-Del took the win 49-46. Eagle Coach Clint Bowman is one of the better coaches in this area showing he has built a winning culture. JCD will be in the mix, if not favorites in their 1A sectional.

For the Raiders they were left with lots of questions afterwards and the Versailles crowd had a long 5 minute drive back home. South Ripley is back in action on Saturday at Rising Sun while Jac-Cen-Del plays Batesville next.

 

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