Southridge Raiders (5-5) vs Christian Academy of Indiana (6-4)

This was the first game of the Baird Winter Classic hosted by the Southridge Raiders in beautiful Memorial Gym.  In a game that was very evenly matched and it was Southridge that rode the late game momentum to the win.

Neither team shot well in the first half but it was 6'8" Senior Bailey Conrad who put the CAI Warriors on his back and walked into the locker room with a 19 to 14 lead.  Conrad scored at will from all over the court and had 15 in the half.  Southridge Junior sensation Colson Montgomery continued to struggle shooting the ball and ended the half with 1 point.

What ever Head Coach Mark Roher said to the Raiders in the locker room at half worked.  Montgomery and Senior Garret Vogerl came out in the second half and dominated.  Montgomery finished the game with 20 (19 in the second half) and Voegerl finished with 15.

FIVE TAKE AWAYS:

1.  6'8" Bailey Conrad moves very well for a big.  He has a very smooth shooting motion and finished the game 4/5 from behind the arc.  He also has the ability to put the ball on the floor and get to the rim.  25 pts 4 reb
2. 6'5" Colson Montgomery of Southridge has a very short memory.  I have watched him in 4 games now and he has shot dreadfully, until today.  In the second half of the game he was 5/5 from 2 and 3/5 from 3.  That is what you want out of your floor leader and he delivered.  He can score from any where on the floor. 20 pts 10 reb
3. 6'0" Garret Voegrel was with out a doubt the best athlete on the floor.  Garrett finished 5th in the state in the high jump last year.  During today's game he took 3 dribbles on the baseline and punished the rim with authority.  He likes to take the ball to the hole and is not afraid of contact.  15 pts
4. Christian Academy of Indiana has limited options on the offensive end.  Outside of Conrad who had 25 only one player scored significantly and that was senior TJ Proctor with 10.  If CAI expects to make a deep tournament run they will have to get production from others.
5. Southridge is starting to turn a corner.  Montgomery and Voegerl are the main scorers for the Raiders with others starting to find rhythm and contribute at the right time.  South ridge got back to the basics and was able to find open players on the back cut for easy baskets.