SPORTS
OCTOBER 24, 2012 • NORTHWEST PRESS • A9
Editor: Melanie Laughman, mlaughman@communitypress.com, 513-248-7573
HIGH SCHOOL | YOUTH | RECREATIONAL
NORTHWEST
PRESS
CommunityPress.com
TOURNAMENT HIGHLIGHTS By Nick Dudukovich ndudukovich@communitypress.com
The following are updates from this week’s tournament action.
District cross country
District cross country meets were held at Pinehill Crowin-Nixon Park in Mason Oct. 20. The following individuals advanced to regionals, which will be run at Troy High School Oct. 27. » La Salle: Jake McNamara, 16 » Colerain: Nathan Sizemore, 13, and Kirsten Seiler, 2. » McAuley: The Mohawks qualified as a team. McKenzie Pfeifer, 12; Natalie Lienhart, 13.
Girls tournament soccer
Colerain defenders make a diving grab to stop Lakota West QB Malik Grove from scoring Oct. 19. GREG LORING/FOR THE COMMUNITY PRESS
Offenses trapped in Colerain’s defensive Cage By Nick Dudukovich ndudukovich@communitypress.com
COLERAIN TWP. — Colerain High School plays its home football games at a stadium nicknamed “The Cage,” so it’s only fitting the Cardinals’ defense has trapped several opposing offenses into poor production this fall. The Cardinals allowed 44 points to Lakota West in week nine, but games like that have been the exception in 2012, not the rule. Entering week nine, the Cardinals’ defense owned three shutouts, while holding opponents to 15 or fewer points on three other occasions. Whatever questions emerged in the preseason after the Cardinals lost eight starters from last year to graduation are disappearing with ever snap. “People underestimated us from the beginning, but we had to show them…and with our record, obviously it shows our defense plays hard,” said Cardinals defensive back Dejuan Lang. Lang, along with senior defensive lineman Dae’Shaun Durham and junior linebacker Te-
Colerain defensive back DeJuan Lang, left, and Dae’Shaun Durham have been cornerstones of the Cardinals’ defense this fall. AMANDA DAVIDSON/THE COMMUNITY PRESS
gray Scales, were the lone returning starters from last year’s squad. Durham said the press had started to get into the team’s head after losing players such as Joe Bolden and Andre Jones to Division I college football. The 5-11, 265-pound lineman knew the unit could be good; he just didn’t know it would be this quickly “I always knew there was tal-
ent. I just didn’t think they were ready and they’ve proved me wrong and we came together as a team over the summer.” Durham has two sacks to go along with two forced fumbles, while Lang’s recorded two fumbles and picked off three passes. The secondary makes it difficult for the opposition to throw the ball, as the Cardinals are only allowing an average of 103 yards per game through the air.
Like Lang, junior Jalen Christian also has three picks, while junior Ryan Williamson is second in the GMC with five interceptions. Lang and Durham both said the Cardinals’ defense bonded over the summer as the coaching staff continually pushed the unit and an “us-versus-them” atmosphere was fostered. “The coaches knew all along we were pretty good. They just wanted us to work for it,” Durham said. As the regular season winds to a close, the Cardinals are in a prime position to make some playoff memories throughout November. In the Oct. 16 OHSAA state computer rankings, the Cardinals were ranked first in the Division I, Region 4. Both Lang and Durham are hopeful the Cardinals will be playing in the state’s championship game, Dec. 1. And they’re confident they’ve got the defense to do it. “I believe it’s the best defense in the state,” Lang said. “We work hard every day. We don’t take any days off.”
Bombers golf comes up short at districts By Tom Skeen tskeen@communitypress.com
St. Xavier's Joey Arcuri lines up his putt on the ninth green during the Division I Southwest District Golf Tournament at Weatherwax Golf Course in Middletown Thursday, Oct. 11. E.L. HUBBARD/FOR THE COMMUNITY PRESS
SPRINGFIELD TWP. — After making it to the state tournament eight years in a row, the St. Xavier Bombers golf team missed out in 2012 by seven strokes. As a team, they shot 320 at the district tournament Oct. 11 at Weatherwax Golf Course to finish fourth behind Mason (300), Centerville (309) and Moeller (313). “Obviously it was a very disappointing day for St. Xavier,” coach Alex Kepley said. “We made it to state eight straight years and that pressure starts to weigh on you to continue to achieve that.” The day didn’t start well for the Bombers as their five golfers were a combined 15-over-par through the first three holes. In fact, Adam Schupp was the only Bomber to shoot under 40 on the front nine at Weatherwax, which was played on the Woodside
Course. “That was the difference,” Kepley said. “We had a very good comeback on the back nine but unfortunately, it was a little too late.” The back nine was played on the Highlands Course and the five Bombers were a combined 12-over-par. “I think the combination of the two-hour frost delay and them being a little anxious getting out there,” Kepley said about the slow start. “After (the first three holes) they settled down. Districts are the most pressure-packed day of the year. It’s do or die out there. It goes on or it’s over.” The Bombers had a great regular season, including a Greater Catholic League South championship, but when you reach the postseason none of that matters. “It doesn’t matter how great you have been all season,” the back-to-back GCL South Coach of the Year said. “We have a
group of guys that played for us that won five statewide tournaments playing against all the best teams across the state. Unfortunately that doesn’t necessarily count for anything.” Seniors Joey Arcuri – who will play golf at Butler University next season - and Schupp led the Bombers with 78s, while freshman Kirran Magowan shot an 80. Senior Nick Paxson – who will play for the Dayton Flyers next year - and junior Brendan Keating both shot 84. With Magowan – who led the GCL in nine-hole scoring average – and Keating back next season, things are looking up for the Bombers. “We definitely have a nice pipeline,” Kepley said. “Many other schools have an equal pipeline, but we have a number of juniors that will be quite good as seniors next year. We have two freshman that have a very bright three years ahead of them playing varsity golf.”
» McAuley advanced by beating Harrison, 5-1, Oct. 16. They lost to Mercy 1-0 on Oct. 20 to end the season. » Colerain defeated Glen Este, 2-1, Oct. 16. Julia Flagge-Echols and Morgan Lindeman scored. They lost to Walnut Hills 3-0 Oct. 20 to end the season.
Boys tournament soccer
» La Salle beat Mount Healthy, 7-0, Oct. 15. CJ Seig and Jacob Wyle each scored two goals. The Lancers’ season ended with a 5-3 loss to Turpin Oct. 18.
Tournament volleyball
» Colerain beat Northwest, 3-1 in sectional play Oct. 15, but then lost to Lakota East Oct. 18. » Roger Bacon defeated Preble Shawnee, 3-0, Oct.18, then lost to Taylor Oct. 20 in the sectional finals at Mariemont. » McAuley defeated Little Miami Oct. 20 in three sets at home. They play Milford Oct. 22 after deadline for the sectional final.
Week 9 football
» Alfred “L.A.” Ramsby rushed for 230 yards and three touchdowns while also throwing for 158 yards and a score as Colerain beat Lakota West 57-44 Oct. 19. Senior defensive back Lonnell Brown returned an interception 77 yards for a touchdown. Colerain (9-0) hosts Oak Hills Oct. 26. » La Salle (4-5) dropped its fourth straight with a 48-21 loss to Columbus DeSales Oct. 19. The Lancers wrap the regular season at Elder Oct. 26. » Northwest quarterback Cory Roberson threw for two touchdowns and 202 yards but it wasn’t enough as Northwest fell to Harrison, 35-27, Oct. 19. The Knights (8-1) wrap up the regular season at Mount Healthy Oct. 26. » Roger Bacon lost to Badin 31-7 Oct. 19. The Spartans play Purcell Oct. 26. » St. Xavier lost to St. Ignatius 32-21. Nick Tensing was 21-for-34 passing for 237 yards but negative rushing yards brought the game’s total yards to 211. Scoring touchdowns were Ronnie Fricke, Robby Ries and Ryan Frey. The Bombers (5-4) play Louisville St. Xavier to wrap up regular season Oct. 26. » Mt. Healthy senior A.J. Pieratt rushed for 62 yards and a decisive fourth quarter touchdown Friday night as Edgewood won 14-10 and handed previously unbeaten Owls the first loss of the season. Senior fullback Matt Barger tacked on 83 rushing yards for the Cougars, who have won three of their past four games. Mount Healthy is No. 3 in The Enquirer Divisions II-VI area coaches’ poll. The Owls (8-1) will battle with Northwest at home for a Southwest Ohio Conference championships Oct. 26.
Correction
» Cam Horne was misidentified as Connor Horne in the Oct. 17 Press Preps Highlights. Cam scored a goal during Northwest’s 2-2 tie against Mount Healthy Oct. 11.