If the second half of the current basketball season is as exciting for Jackson County high schools as the first half, fans of the Owls, Braves, Cougars, Tigers and Hornets are going to be in for some exciting finishes.
Freshmen have made huge impacts on their teams, especially at Trinity Lutheran and Medora.
While attending a soccer match at Trinity this fall, girls basketball coach Mike Lang commented, “You’re going to enjoy watching Bailey Tabeling play.”
Tabeling, a freshman, has gotten off to a fantastic start for the Cougars as she has scored in the 30s three times with a high game of 36 against Edinburgh. She netted 31 in her opening game of the season against Hauser and leads all county players, boys or girls, in scoring at 23.3 per game.
She has scored in the 20s five times, including three games in a row, against Orleans, Southwestern (Hanover) and Oldenburg Academy before Christmas, and is the only player in the county to score in double figures every game.
Mariah Cobb leads the Medora girls in scoring and has been in double figures six times with a high of 17 against Columbus Christian.
Hudson Norton has started throughout the season for the Trinity boys and is scoring at a 9.6 clip per game with a high of 14 against West Washington.
Shephard Earl has started for the Medora varsity and has scored in double figures twice this season.
Speaking of Christmas, I hope Santa brought county teams some shooters. The Brownstown Central and Medora boys haven’t had a player score in the 20s yet this season. Seymour has had one 20-point game from a player, Trinity two games and Crothersville four games.
No Medora girl has scored in the 20s, while Brownstown and Crothersville have had four 20-point games, Seymour six and Trinity 12.
Team scoring is down with Crothersville leading the boys teams at 65.5, Trinity is averaging 59.1 and the Owls, Braves and Hornets are all under 50.
The Trinity girls are averaging 62.1, Crothersville 56.4, Brownstown 53.9 and Seymour and Medora are below 50.
Newcomers have been a big help to the Crothersville boys and girls.
Junior Addy Cole played at Austin until this season, and senior Kaedon Bright transferred from Seymour.
Cole is averaging 14.7 points per game, while Bright is averaging 14.8.
Trinity coach Michael McBride seems to have the Cougars headed in the right direction after a slow start. The Cougars were also 1-5 before topping Switzerland County and Jac-Cen-Del last weekend.
McBride is in his first season coaching the Cougars.
Several county teams have struggled in close games.
The Seymour boys won their opener at Corydon, then lost five straight, including in overtime to Brownstown, Franklin and New Albany before beating Jennings County 44-42.
Brownstown is 1-3 in games decided by four or less points. The Braves topped the Owls 45-52 in overtime but lost on a buzzer-beater to Scottsburg and lost 45-42 to North Harrison and 60-56 to Mitchell at home Dec. 20 and 21.
The Crothersville boys lost 54-53 to New Washington last Saturday.
Brownstown girls lost in overtime to Silver Creek and beat Paoli 56-52 in the opening game of the season.
The Brownstown girls are tied for first in the Mid-Southern Conference with Silver Creek at 5-1, while Salem and North Harrison are both 4-1.
The Lanesville girls lead the Southern Athletic at 3-0, and Crothersville is 2-0.
Other county teams are in the middle of the pack or are in the lower half of their standings.