Coach Jim Shepherd watches as Donald Bennethum of the Jackson County Hurricanes prepares to pass the ball in to one of his teammates, Dylan Bridges (1) or Ethan Ellis, during games Sunday at Oolitic Middle School in Oolitic.
Zach Spicer | The Tribune
OOLITIC — Special Olympics Indiana Jackson County’s three three-on-three basketball teams were in action Sunday afternoon.
In games played at Oolitic Middle School in Oolitic, the Cyclones defeated the Lawrence County Rockets 20-12 and lost to the Monroe County Wildcats 20-18.
They led all the way in the first game. Then against the Wildcats, they fell behind 14-6 before three straight baskets by Billy Allman. After Monroe County scored, Allman and Dale Hickman scored on consecutive possessions to even the score at 16. The Wildcats made another basket before Allman evened it up at 18 with 9 minutes to go. Monroe County then swished a jumper to end the game.
Hickman led the Cyclones with 12 points in the first game, while Allman and Elijah Noble had four apiece. Allman led the team in the second game with 14 points, and Hickman had four. They are now 7-1 on the season.
The Hurricanes lost to the Lawrence County Galaxy 12-10 and defeated the Monroe County Bobcats 20-12.
Against the Bobcats, Dylan Bridges’ third field goal broke a 6-6 score, keeping the Hurricanes in front to stay.
Bridges scored six points in the first game, and Ethan Ellis and Donald Bennethum each had two. Bridges led with 10 in the win, while Bennethum had eight, and Ellis had two. They are now 3-5 on the season.
The Wildcats lost to the Lawrence County Galaxy 18-16 and the Lawrence County Moon Walkers 20-12.
Both games were competitive. Averie Brennan and Ellis scored on back-to-back possessions to pull ahead 8-6, but the Galaxy rallied to take the lead. Brennan’s fifth basket with 1:15 to go pulled her team within 18-16, but neither team scored again. Against the Moon Walkers, Amanda Hamm and Brennan each scored twice to lead 8-0, and the team later led 12-6 before Lawrence County scored the final 14 points of the game.
Brennan led in both games with 10 points and eight points, respectively, while Ellis had four and Hamm had two in the first game, and Hamm had four in the second game. They are now 2-5 on the season.
The Wildcats and Cyclones will be back in action Saturday in Shelbyville, while the Cyclones and Hurricanes will play in the sectional March 9 in Hope.
Balanced scoring keys Tornadoes’ win
BLOOMINGTON — The men’s five-on-five Jackson County Tornadoes traveled to Bloomington on Monday night for a game at Sherwood Oaks Christian Church.
The Tornadoes scored the first six points of the game and maintained the advantage for a 28-14 victory.
They led 16-4 at halftime before being outscored 8-2 in the third quarter.
Then they tallied the first eight points of the fourth quarter to increase their cushion.
Jackson County had a balanced effort with Josh Beals, Thomas Emly, A.J. Engel and Chaz Rothrick scoring six points apiece and James Knight and Todd Smith scoring two points each.
The Tornadoes are 5-2 on the season and will wrap up the regular season Saturday in a tournament in Shelbyville.