PREP ROUNDUP: Eagles to battle OV for sectional title

BRAZIL — South Putnam took another step toward defending its boys’ tennis sectional title on Thursday by defeating host Northview 4-1.

The Eagles, Western Indiana Conference champions and still undefeated in dual matches this year, will play Owen Valley for the third time this season in the finals at 10 a.m. today.

The Eagles got fairly easy wins from Thomas Fanning and Ty VanSickle in singles, but their doubles teams both had to fight through three sets to pick up wins.

“The final scores do not indicate how close the games are being played,” South Putnam coach Johnny Briones said. “Kudos to Northview and their coach; they have a young and talented team.”

Briones was proud of everyone’s performance on Thursday.

“One and two singles continue to play with confidence,” he said. “Garrett Heavin [No. 3 singles] struggled, but fought back in the second set; I can’t say enough about his effort. Our doubles kept it close by going three sets.

“I can’t say enough about everyone’s performance.”

South Putnam 4, Northview 1

Singles — 1. Thomas Fanning (SP) def. Owen Tipton (N) 6-2, 6-1; 2.Ty VanSickle (SP) def. Brevin Cooper (N) 6-4, 6-2; 3. Tyler Hess (N) def. Garrett Heavin (SP) 6-2, 6-4.

Doubles — 1. Austin Arnold-Tanner Pistelli (SP) def. Benjamin Goshen-Caleb Swearingen (N) 6-3, 1-6, 6-4; 2. Trey Long-Brandon Rector (SP) 6-3, 5-7, 6-4.

Volleyball

• Greencastle 3, North Putnam 0 — The Tiger Cubs defeated North Putnam 25-14, 25-19, 26-24 in Thursday night’s “Pink Out” match.

The team was led by Allison Stevens with 13 kills and only 1 hitting error. Jalyn Duff had 24 assists and Anna Zellers had nine assists.

“They did a nice job of working to run plays in transition,” GHS coach Maggie Walters said.

Lilly Meyer added 10 kills, and Jada Amis had seven. Defensively, Meyer led with 11 digs, and Mckenzie Woodall and Ivy Wright both added 10 digs.

Duff also recorded nine digs, and Allison Stevens had three blocks. The JV also defeated the Cougars 2-0.

Both teams play at McAnally Center Monday evening against Terre Haute South.

Soccer

• Greencastle 7, Monrovia 0 (girls) —The Lady Tiger Cubs used dominant passing and shots on goal to shut out the Bulldogs.

Earning goals for the evening were Erin Thomas (3), Emily Crowder (1), Kennedy Trigg (2) and Abbie Beauchamp (1).

Assists were made by Thomas (3), Crowder (2) and Trigg (1).

Goalie Claire Gillen had six saves for the team.

In other soccer:

• Terre Haute North 2, Greencastle 1 (boys) — Tiger Cub coach J.D. Sims thought his team played its best match of the season on Thursday in falling to the Patriots.

Terre Haute North went up by one goal in the second half, but Jacob Baker equalized the game with a well-timed header from the corner.

The Patriots pushed the final goal across to hold on for the win.

“Greencastle had its chances all night,” Sims said. “The game could have gone in the boys’ favor, but the ball never found itself in the back of the net. Greencastle will look to continue this strong run of form going into sectionals.”

• Greencastle 1. Edgewood 0 — The Cubs took fifth place in the WIC last week.

“Greencastle maintained most of the attack throughout the game but was not able to score on Edgewood in either half,” coach J.D. Sims noted.

Ivan Glotzbach scored the game winner in the second half of overtime to clinch the victory.