Not a bad debut for Triton Central's Aidan Lindsey.

The transfer junior in his first appearance in a Tiger uniform connected on a free throw with 1.5 seconds remaining to give Triton Central a 42-41 win Saturday at Garrett Gym .

Johnny McCrory and Jason Parker had the call on GIANT fm Sports.

Lindsey led Triton Central (1-0) with 13 points on 5-for-8 from the field and 7 rebounds

Triton Central head coach Kyle Ballard on the Cagney's Pizza King Postgame.

Triton Central trailed by double figures much of the game before closing to within five in the third quarter, 29-24.  But the Golden Bears took a ten point lead, 36-26, into the fourth quarter.  TC outscored Shelbyville 16-5 in the final period to post the win.

Golden Bears head coach John Hartnett talks about the game and the loss of starting senior guard Jack Baker to a first quarter leg injury.

Triton Central snapped a five-game losing streak in the series with Shelbyville (1-1).

Just five wins last season for the Triton Central Tigers and first year coach Kyle Ballard.

Ballard's second season brings back last seasons's roster with an intent to improve on that win total.

Triton Central practiced Friday trying to shake off the Thanksgiving cobwebs before opening tonight at Shelbyville on GIANT fm Sports.

A four-year run for the Morristown boys basketball program that includes an 85-23 record, a sectional championship game appearance every year, two sectional titles and, of course, the 2018 1A state title.

There's anticipation for another big Morristown season.  Head coach Scott McClleland says his team is trying like everyone else to get around the pandemic impact.

Scoring

Kyle Crim, 15.9

Drake Moore, 14.0

Sawyer Jones, 5.1

Rebounds 

Kyle Crim, 6.1

Sawyer Jones, 3.5

Assists                     

Kyle Crim, 5.9

Drake Moore, 2.2

Steals 

Kyle Crim, 1.6

Sawyer Jones, 1.2

3-Pointers 

Drake Moore, 49

Kyle Crim, 36

The Butler men's basketball team has paused all activities following an initial positive coronavirus test result among its Tier 1 personnel, which includes student-athletes, coaches, and certain support staff.

The individual is not displaying symptoms and a confirmation test will be conducted. Those in close contact with the individual have been instructed to quarantine.

The positive test result was collected Wednesday night after the Bulldogs' season-opening win over Western Michigan.

Due to the positive test, Sunday's game against Eastern Illinois has been postponed. A makeup date has not yet been announced.

Shelbyville opened a 19-8 first quarter advantage in a season opening win at Rushville, 59-43.

It was the sixth straight season opening win for the Golden Bears over Rushville.

Shelbyville's intense man-to-man defense and trapping backcourt pressure turned over the Lions and sparked easy baskets as the Golden Bears built a 29-15 halftime lead.  The Bears (1-0) led by as many as 21 in the third period, 42-21.

Both teams were without key contributors.  Shelbyville senior point guard Mitch Yeend was out for the first game.  Yeend is expected to play against Triton Central Saturday.

Rushville (0-1) played without freshman guard Quentin Cain and leading returning scorer 6' 6" junior Alec Evans (16 ppg).

Game analysis, scoring and postgame comments from Golden Bear head coach John Hartnett iin the Cagney's Pizza King Postgame.

Edinburgh used a 16-2 third quarter to turn a 30-26 halftime deficit into a double digit lead and knocked off Southwestern Tuesday, 57-46.

The Spartans were without the team's top two returning scorers for the boys basketball opener.  Anick Hartsell (18.5 ppg) is recovering from a broken sternum.  Christian DeArmitt (9.0 ppg) is hoping to return for the team's next game.

Southwestern (0-1) led at halftime on the strength of six 3-pt FG's.  Then, the offense went quiet in the third.

Spartans head coach Brady Days.

Riley Snepp led Southwestern with 16 points and five rebounds.

Aiden Hartselll scored 15 for Southwestern.  Ethan Wendling added 10 points and eight rebounds.

Edinburgh was led by sophomore Caleb Dewey's double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds.  Travis Jones scored 11 to go with nine rebounds.

The Lancers shot 50% (21-of-42) from the field.

Southwestern will host Edinburgh on January 22.  That game will count toward the Mid-hoosier Conference standings.

The Spartans host Morristown in the Mid-Hoosier opener for both on Saturday.  

Edinburgh will host Indian Creek on Saturday.

Experience for second year coach Beau Scott as Mohawks look to improve on seven-win campaign last season.

Shelbyville boys basketball head coach John Hartnett took over in the middle of a season.  Then, a coronavirus pandemic ruined a summer and offseason.  

The former Golden Bear player now goes into his first full season as the head coach of his alma mater without the team's leading scorer and rebounder lost to graduation.  But eight seniors comprise the roster coming off an 8-15 record (2-8 under Hartnett) last season.

Shelbyville opens the season Wednesday at Rushville on GIANT fm Sports (96.5, 106.3, giant.fm) .

Returning statistical leaders

Scoring

Jack Baker, 6.8

TJ Sherwood, 6.6

Layton Stieneker, 6.1

Mitch Yeend, 5.7

Rebounds 

Luke Asher, 5.6

TJ Sherwood, 4.6

Mitch Yeend, 3.4

Jack Baker, 3.3

Assists                   

Mitch Yeend, 2.2

3-Pointers Made

Jack Baker, 41

Layton Stieneker, 38

Mitch Yeend, 14

Oliver Sandman, 14

Indiana Grand Racing & Casino completed its 18^th season of Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing Thursday, Nov. 18. The abbreviated 96-day season offered 92 days of combined Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing along with four days dedicated directly to the sprinters to set a new record of $198,960,722

Record numbers were posted throughout the season. The track recorded its highest single program handle on the Indiana Derby Wednesday, July 8 with a total of $5,979,952 wagered on the 12-race card. The Indiana Derby race alone garnered $1,026,395, which was a single race record for the track. The four-day race period also marked the best week ever in the 18-year history of racing for Indiana Grand with a total of $13,176,192 wagered.

Overall, the track saw an increase of 60.93 percent over 2019. A total of $198,960,722 was wagered from all sources in 2020 compared to $123,635,376 in 2019, which is 31 more percent handle with 26 less days in 2020.

Quarter Horse racing also saw a 17.33 percent increase in 2020. Total handle for Quarter Horse racing in 2020 was 20,143,348.30 compared to $17,168,338 in 2019 with two less all-Quarter Horse days held in 2020 compared to 2019. The track recorded its largest single card handle on an all-Quarter Horse day with $819,708.35 wagered on the Saturday, Aug. 8 program.

The final week of racing also established some records as a total of $3,869,898 was wagered on the final program of the year Thursday, Nov. 19, marking the largest handle on a non-Indiana Derby racing card in the history of the track. In all, a total of six days in 2020 showed handle in excess of $3 million. Only one card all season containing Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing did not eclipse $1 million in total handle, which was a shortened two-race day due to weather cancellation. The total of 91 days with handle in excess of $1 million is also a track record for Indiana Grand. 

“To get 96 racing days in during these unprecedented times is a real credit to the Indiana Horse Racing Commission (IHRC) staff, our horsemen and our very dedicated group of employees,” said Eric Halstrom, vice president and general manager of racing. “When you consider that we did all of that while breaking every handle record on the books makes the season a success by any measure.”

Racing dates for 2021 will be reviewed and expected to be approved by the IHRC at their monthly meeting in December. Indiana Grand hopes to return to its regular 120- racing season including six days dedicated to Quarter Horse racing.

Southwestern returns its top four scorers, top three rebounders and Shelby County's leading scorer Anick Hartsell with an intent to build on last season's 15 wins.

The Spartans open the season Tuesday at Edinburgh on GIANT fm Sports (96.5, 106.3, giant.fm and the new GIANT fm APP).

Brady Days says just getting to play is huge.

Scoring

Anick Hartsell, 18.5

Christian DeArmitt, 9.0

Ethan Wendling, 8.8

Aiden Hartsell, 8.3

Rebounds 

Christian DeArmitt, 5.9

Ethan Wendling, 3.6

Anick Hartsell, 3.2

Assists                 

Anick Hartsell, 3.4

Aiden Hartsell, 2.0

Steals

Anick Hartsell, 1.2

Aiden Hartsell, 1.0

3-pt FG

Anick Hartsell, 57

Ethan Wendling, 45

Aiden Hartsell, 15

Hayden Kermode has put together an illustrious football career at Triton Central. 

He's now ready to don different colors at Concordia University in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

A basketball fan could be blindfolded and know they are inside a gym.  The sounds:  ball bouncing on the hardwood, fans cheering, the squeak of shoes.  They are all familar. Especially, this time of year.

So is Dan Nelson's voice at Southwestern. 

Dan brings materials you might expect when he comes to a game.  You'll find rosters and stat sheets in his folder.  However, you'll also find the legal pad and (down to a nub) pencil he was given when he started working as the Spartans public address announcer 30 years ago.

The problem was different for the opponents in a Shelby County girls basketball matchup.  For one team, it was finishing the game.  For the other, it was getting it started.

With 5:05 left to go in the second quarter Shelbyville was fully in control of its Friday girls basketball game at Southwestern.  Leading 29-9, the Lady Golden Bears saw Southwestern cut the margin to 14 before a three-pointer at the buzzer by Megan Eads sent the Bears to the locker room with a 17-point lead, 37-20.

But it was a sign of things to come.  Southwestern used a 17-6 fourth quarter to narrow the gap to as close as five in the closing seconds before the Golden Bears held on for a 54-49 victory.

Shelbyville (1-2) head coach Becca Hoefler says her team is learning something it hasn’t had a lot of opportunity to practice.

Southwestern (2-2) head coach Garrett Krieg saw his team commit 19 turnovers.  Most of those led to the first half deficit.

Shelbyville shot 21-for-55 (38%) from the field but connected on 11 3’s.  Southwestern shot 37% from the field (16-for-43) but made up ground at the free throw line with a 13-for-19 showing.  Shelbyville was only 2-for-11 at the stripe.

Kylee Edwards led all scorers with 16 for Shelbyville.  Teammate Jaidyn Tackett was also in double figures with 13.  Madison Phares scored 9.

Southwestern got 12 points from Trinity Tatlock.  Maggie Correll and Lexi Wilkins added nine apiece.

The #9 Indiana Hoosiers square off with the third-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes Saturday afternoon in Columbus.

It is the first regular season top-ten matchup in Indiana history, and one that could determine the winner of the Big Ten’s East division.

Ohio State is favored by 20.5 points for Saturday’s showdown at The Horseshoe. The Buckeyes have beaten the Hoosiers in 25 straight games, which is the longest streak ever for one Big Ten school over another. Indiana last beat Ohio State in 1988, but 2020 has been a season of streak-breakers for Tom Allen’s team. So far this season, Indiana has earned its first victory over a top-ten team and beat Michigan for the first time since 1987.

The Hoosiers’ top-ten ranking is the program’s highest mark since 1967.

Indiana and Ohio State kick off Saturday at noon from Ohio Stadium with coverage on FOX. 

Bob Gaddis announced his intent to make the 2020 football season his last on the Columbus East sidelines.

The last 20 years of his 42-year coaching career have been spent with the Olympians.  Two state titles and 17 consecutive Hoosier Hills Conference titles are just part of the legacy.

At 330-143 all-time, Gaddis, 65, is the fourth winningest on the active coach list behind only Sheridan's Larry Wright, Russ Radtke at Knox and Mooresville's Mike Gillin.  His 330 wins is 6th all-time.

Gaddis spoke with GIANT fm Sports last week about the Reitz Bowl and his days as head coach at the Evansville high school ahead of Triton Central's regional appearance.

Southwestern gave new head coach Garrett Krieg quite the debut by connecting on 13-of-20 3's in a 92-39 blowout of South Decatur in the team’s season opener.

But then the offense struggled with a third quarter shutout in a 48-30 Mid-Hoosier loss at Waldron.

Since then, a bounce back win over Oldenburg has the Spartans at 2-1 for the new head coach.  Krieg replaces Noah Stuckey who moved to DeKalb after five years with the Spartans.

The normal problems of being the first year coach of a program has been compounded by the coronavirus pandemic.

The good news for Krieg is that a veteran roster may still be learning his game plans but they know each other.

5’9” senior Trinity Tatlock led the team in scoring at 11.6 last season.  5’7” junior Lily Kerber topped the rebounding stat sheet at 7.4 per game.  5’8” senior Lexi Wilkins is the school’s all-time leader in made three-pointers and connected on 44 while 5’8” senior Maggie Correll made 43% of her shots from behind the arc.

Southwestern’s roster features a number of athletes who share similar size and talents.

Southwestern is scheduled to host Shelbyville Friday.

Indiana Grand is heading into the homestretch of its abbreviated 96-day racing season in 2020. With three days of action left, four stakes will be highlighted beginning Tuesday, Nov. 17.

The 23^rd running of the $75,000 Miss Indiana Stakes and the 21^st running of the $75,000 Indiana Futurity are slated for races eight and nine, respectively, on the Tuesday card. Featured in the Miss Indiana Stakes is the standout freshman filly Hungarian Princess from the Kim Hammond barn. The Pataky Kid filly, owned and bred by Swifty Farms, is three for four in 2020 with two stakes wins. She will begin from post seven with Sammy Bermudez aboard at odds of 7-5.

To the outside of Hungarian Princess is Timeless Glory and Geena Lucille, second choice on the morning line. The Harry’s Holiday filly, trained by Anthony Granitz, steps into stakes action for the first time off an impressive maiden-breaking victory in early October. Owned by John Wallace and Granitz, Timeless Glory starts from post eight at odds of 7-2.

In the freshman colt and gelding ranks, Dillsboro Devil is favored in the Indiana Futurity. A son of Skylord, the John Langemeier-trained gelding is two for two, scoring the win in his last start in the Crown Ambassador Stakes. Marcelino Pedroza will ride from post 11 for Langemeier’s Spooky Hollow Racing Inc. at odds of 3-1.

Joining Dillsboro Devil as an early favorite in the Indiana Futurity is Hard Luck Justice from the other end of the gate in post two. The Harry’s Holiday gelding, owned by Joselyn Salazar and trained by Lonnie Hines, steps up into stakes action for the first time off a maiden breaking win Nov. 1. Sammy Bermudez has the call aboard Hard Luck Justice at odds of 7-2.

The older Indiana breds will be featured on the Wednesday, Nov. 18 racing card in the 24^th running of the $100,000 Frances Slocum Stakes and the 23^rd running of the $100,000 To Much Coffee, set as races eight and nine, respectively.

Piedi Bianchi gets the call as the early morning line favorite in the Frances Slocum at odds of 5-2 with Fernando De La Cruz aboard for trainer Cipriano Contreras. The five-year-old Overanalyze mare is among the state’s top five all-time leading female Thoroughbreds in earnings with just over $522,000 accumulated. She will begin from post 10 in the full field of 12.

Unbridled Beast, the three-year-old standout from the Randy Matthews Stable, will tackle the older horses in the To Much Coffee Stakes. The Unbridled Express gelding had won four in a row prior to his last start over a sloppy track in the Unreachable Star Stakes. Unbridled Beast begins from post nine with Indiana’s all-time leading jockey Rodney Prescott aboard at odds of 5-2.

The 2020 racing season will conclude Thursday, Nov. 19 with a 12-race card. The track is currently watching the progress of the Straight Fire Six (Jackpot Pick 6) which has a carryover of more than $92,000 heading into the Tuesday, Nov. 17 racing program. There is a mandatory payout for the wager if it goes untouched until Thursday’s racing program.

First post for the final week of racing is 2:05 p.m. Dates for the 2021 racing season at Indiana Grand will be announced in December.

Butler University announced Sunday that the Marion County Health Department has approved 25 percent capacity for Bulldogs home games at Hinkle Fieldhouse this season. With a capacity of 9,100, the historic venue will be able to host 2,275 fans.

Athletic director Barry Collier said in a letter the school will require face coverings, temperature checks, and will use specific entrances to limit congestion.

The Butler men’s basketball season opens November 25th at home against Western Michigan.

Butler is the only Big East school thus far to announce it will have fans at home games. The school will not offer any full season ticket packages, but existing season ticket holders will be able to purchase tickets in blocks of 2-4 games each. 

Shelbyville rallied back from a ten-point halftime deficit before Waldron held on for a 58-52 win in the 2020 season opener for both teams.

Seg 1

Seg 2

Seg 3

Seg 4

Leading a team in scoring. rebounding, assists, free throws made and attempted, and steals will get you noticed. 

Hanover College noticed Morristown's Kyle Crim who has chosen the school to continue his basketball career.

It's a "tradition unlike any other".  The Masters breaks tradition to be held in November due to the pandemic.

Blake Sandman stopped by The Morning Show to preview the weekend at Augusta.

The bane of Waldron’s recent existence has been Jac-Cen-Del. 

2020 ended when Jac-Cen-Del rallied in the 4^th quarter to defeat Waldron in the sectional championship, 40-36.

In 2019, the all-time classic, a five overtime thriller.  Waldron succumbed 67-61, again, in the championship game.

And, back to 2018, when Waldron reached the title game but was knocked out of the postseason by the Eagles, 50-35.

Even 2017 ended with a quarterfinal loss to Jac-Cen-Del in sectional play.

Well, more on the rivalry with Jac-Cen-Del another time (shameless plug:  they play in Osgood on December 8 on GIANT fm Sports).

A growing up process has been in play for the current crop of Mohawks under head coach Anthony Thomas who start the season ranked #11 in 1A.

Live everyone, the preseason has also meant dealing with Covid.

5’5” junior guard Megan Bogemann is the team’s leading returning scorer (10.1 ppg).  Bogemann has long range capabilities that were on display at Garrett Gym last season when she connected on a school record seven 3-pt FG’s.

Second leading scorer Bella Larrison, 5’9” junior (8.2 ppg), is back at a starting forward position.  Senior 5’4” guard Lauryn Thomas led the team in assists at 4.7.

Nichole Garner, 5’7” junior (6.8 ppg, 3.4 reb), was often a sparkplug off the bench for the Mohawks and finished third in scoring.  Thomas says expect more from her this season.

Many coaches have had family on their team.  It’s a different scenario with Waldron with four family members going to the same home.

Waldron finished 12-12 last season and the team’s point differential reflected that as the Mohawks averaged 43.3 ppg while giving up just 42.2 on the defensive end  If the Mohawks can elevate team shooting percentages over last year (35% FG, 25% 3-pt FG, and 53% FT) it could be a special season for the Mohawks in 2020-21.

Waldron opens the season Tuesday at home vs Shelbyville on GIANT fm Sports.

The deer firearms season is from Nov. 14-29.

The deer firearms license allows a hunter to take only one buck. Hunters can harvest an antlerless deer during the firearms season with a firearm if they possess a deer bundle license, bonus antlerless license, resident youth consolidated hunting and trapping license, or comprehensive lifetime hunting license.

Antlerless deer taken with a firearm during the firearms season would count toward the bonus antlerless quota, unless you are hunting in a deer reduction zone with the appropriate license and count the deer toward the deer reduction zone bag limit.

It’s a 2A basketball program that graduated a pair of Division I starters who combined for 35 points,13 rebounds, six assists and eight steals per game.  Then, the team learned it would be without its leading returning scorer and rebounder for part of the upcoming season due to an injury and offseason surgery.

And it’s still a team with aspirations of another deep postseason run.  That’s Triton Central.  Reload, not rebuild.

Head coach Bryan Graham.

The Lady Tigers won 26 consecutive games to start last season.  The lone loss brought the season to an end in the Jasper semistate, 48-43 to eventual 2A state champ Linton – Stockton.  It was one of only three times the Tigers were held under 50 points while averaging over 75 ppg for the season.

Lost to graduation are Maya Chandler, Rylie Stephens and Grace Crist.  Returning, hopefully in January, is Tenleigh Phelps, 6’0” senior (13.2 ppg, 6.4 reb, 59% FG).  Phelps is rehabbing from surgery.

Running the team from the point guard slot is junior Taylor Heath.  A ‘true’ point, Heath averaged 7.9 assists to go along ith eight ppg last season.  She may be asked to do, and score, more this season.

Senior 6’’0” center Bailey Stamper brings a veteran presence in the post.

There will be more minutes for players who appeared for the varsity last season.  Seniors Kenzie Ryle and Morgan Shilling along with sophomores Lizzie Graham, Maddy Brown, Jenna Cox, Hallie Schweitzer will be growing and learning on the job this season.

Triton Central has four consecutive 20 + win seasons.  Considering the Covid pandemic Graham says they’re fortunate right now to even have a season.

Triton Central is scheduled to open the season Thursday against the team whose season ended on the very same court as the Lady Tigers.  Greenwood Christian lost to Loogootee at the Jasper semistate ending a 23-6 season.

Triton Central is ranked second in the 2A preseason coaches’ poll.  Linton – Stockton sits atop that poll.  It’s certainly not impossible the two meet again in the south semistate.

Morristown’s volleyball season came to an unexpected end without playing in the sectional thanks to Covid-19 and contact tracing.  Trying to get healthy and organized for the upcoming girls basketball season has been hampered by the pandemic, also.

Morristown scrimmaged Shelbyville Saturday.  Head coach Rachel Kleine on what she's happy with right now.

Kleine admits there has been frustration.  Getting enough players available and trying to advance the preseason.

Senior Emma Theobald was a part of that volleyball team that was ruled out of the sectional due to Covid-19.  The 5’3" Theobald was second on the team in scoring (9.5 ppg) and made 28 3-pointers which was good for second on the team.  She is just one of the Yellow Jacket players trying to get back.

The Yellow Jackets lost two seniors to graduation, Maecy Coates and Bre Cooper.  Coates was third on the team in scoring (8.0 ppg) and first in rebounding (5.5). 

Morristown can find ways to get into a defense with dribble penetration with sisters Rylee Kleine, 5’7” senior, (9.9 ppg, 4.5 reb, 31 3-pt FG) and Raegan Kleine, 5’2” sophomore (6.0 ppg, 2.5 asts) . But, what happens then.

Morristown struggled at times last season on the offensive end while averaging just over 42 ppg.  Morristown failed to score at least 40 points in nine games last season.  But in the final six games Morristown never scored less than 45 (vs Jac-Cen-Del in sectional) and averaged 53.6 ppg.

Kleine says she hopes to have a Gracie Laster, 5'7" junior, available and healthy.

Morristown is scheduled to open the season at home vs Henryville in a one-day tournament on Saturday, November 7.  Cascade and Tri-Central will play in the other semifinal.

GIANT fm Sports high school basketball broadcasts can be heard on 96.5, 106.3, www.giant.fm and thru the new GIANT fm APP.

Times listed are approximate for on-air broadcast.

The schedule is subject to change.