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By Nathaniel Smith, Editor

On Friday October 4, Coach Kevin Albertson and the Salem Lions Boys Tennis team traveled to Floyd Central after defeating the Eastern Musketeers 5-0 in the first round of the IHSAA Tennis Sectional Championship. Unfortunately this time, the Lions experienced the inverse of the Eastern match. Although they fought tooth and nail, it was not quite enough for the Lions to come out on top, and Floyd Central walked away from the courts with the Sectional Championship trophy after wrapping up the day at 5-0. Floyd Central will now travel to Jeffersonville to face off against Silver Creek on October 8 for the Regional Semifinals.

Next up for IHSAA is the Girls Volleyball Tournament Series. All three Washington County schools will be participating in the Sectional Championship on October 17 and 19. Click Here for more IHSAA volleyball information.

Photos by Nathaniel Smith.

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By Dennis Dunn, Writer

The IHSAA unveiled their 2024 volleyball sectional pairings on Sunday night, Oct. 6 and all three county schools found out their fate. Located at 1100 N. Eastern School Rd., New Pekin, the Eastern Musketeers will host Class 2A Sectional 46, while the Salem Lions will play at Eastern. West Washington will travel to 1000 Academy Dr., New Albany to play in the Class A Sectional 63 at Christian Academy of Indiana (CAI).

In Class 2A, Eastern is 19-4 and 5-3 in the Mid-Southern Conference, while Salem is 9-18 and 0-7 in the MSC. Eastern is 5-0 against sectional opponents with wins over Salem (2-0, 3-0) twice, Clarksville, Paoli and Mitchell (all 3-0 scores). Salem is 6-3 against sectional foes with two wins over Mitchell (2-0, 3-0), two wins over Crawford County (3-2, 2-0), and wins over Paoli and Clarksville (both 3-0). They lost to Eastern twice and Crawford County (2-0).

In the first match of the Eastern Sectional, Clarksville will battle Mitchell and Paoli will play Salem. Crawford County drew the bye and will play the winner of the Clarksville-Mitchell match, and Eastern drew the other bye and will play the Paoli-Salem winner.

In Class A Sectional 63 at CAI, Borden will open with the host school in the first match, while South Central will play New Washington in the second match. Henryville will play West Washington in match 3 and Lanesville will battle with Rock Creek Academy in match 4.

The Senators were 8-12 this year and 2-3 in the Patoka Lake Athletic Conference. However, they were 1-4 against sectional opponents this year. Their only win was over Henryville (3-1). They lost to Borden twice (2-0, 3-1), CAI (3-2) and Lanesville (3-0).

Class 2A Sectional 46 at Eastern

M1: Clarksville vs. Mitchell (10/17 - 6 p.m.)

M2: Paoli vs. Salem (10/17 - 7:30 p.m.)

M3: Crawford County vs. Winner of M1 (10/19 - 11 a.m.)

M4: Eastern vs. Winner of M2 (10/19 - 12:30 p.m.)

Championship: Winner of M3 vs. Winner of M4 (10/19 - 6 p.m.)

Class A Sectional 63 at Christian Academy of Indiana

M1: Borden vs. CAI (10/15 - 6 p.m.)

M2: South Central vs. New Washington (10/15 - 7 p.m.)

M3: Henryville vs. West Washington (10/17 - 6 p.m.)

M4: Lanesville vs. Rock Creek (10/17 - 7 p.m.)

M5: Winner of M1 vs. Winner of M2 (10/19 - 10 a.m.)

M6: Winner of M3 vs. Winner of M4 (10/19 - 11 a.m.)

Championship: Winner of M5 vs. Winner of M6 (10/19 - 6 p.m.)

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By Jerry Curry, Staff Writer

Most of us were first introduced to Caitlin Clark in the Women’s NCAA basketball championship. Her long shots fascinated us.

Although her Iowa team lost to LSU, Caitlin won national attention with her shots beyond the three-point circle. Also, her back behind passes and assists looked like magic.

She also gained a rivalry with Angel Reese, who would also turn professional and play for the Chicago Sky. Reese would taunt Clark in the NCAA game by pointing to her ring finger to indicate her past championship and putting her own hand in her own face.

Clark was the number one draft choice and joined the Indiana Fever team, where Reese was seventh choice. Clark seemed to let the jealousy roll off her shoulders.

Picking up technical fouls seem to be an unwanted talent by Clark, who had six—one more and she would have been suspended for one game. She also has been the recipient of many uncalled fragrant fouls.

Clark has been hit in the head, as well as just knocked down. The latest injury was a poke to the eye. The phase Double Doubles was coined when a player scores double digits in two of the five categories (assists, blocks, points, rebounds, and steals. An example of this would be scoring 10 points and getting 10 rebounds. Both players were in the running for Rookie of the Year, and both had double-doubles. It was a very tight race all season long and of course filled with controversy.

What would be the criteria in choosing the winner? The winner ultimately was Caitlin Clark. Her average season points were 19.2, 5.7 rebounds, and 8.4 assists per game. She broke 21 different records, including most points by a point guard in a season in WNBA history. Among the records was the most double-doubles by a rookie guard, the most points and assists by a rookie, and the first rookie to record two triple-doubles.

There is a big different between men’s NBA salaries and WNBA salaries, mostly due to attendance and TV time.

Thanks to the “Caitlin Clark Effect” and its impact, that is changing. After her team was eliminated from the playoffs, attendance dropped.

Clark is definitely a game changer. Viewship has increased, as well as media attention and brand collaboration. Ticket prices have also increased.
Instead of so much jealousy, and physical contact, support should be going her way.

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By Dennis Dunn, Writer

The IHSAA recently held the tennis sectional pairings on Monday night, September 30 and the Salem and Eastern boys tennis teams found out their fate. The Lions and Musketeers play for county, conference, and now can add sectional bragging rights to their repotoire.

The Lions and Musketeers will battle in the first match of the Floyd Central Sectional on Wednesday, Oct. 2. In the second match on Thursday, Oct. 3 will be the host Floyd Central going against Borden. The Highlanders come into sectional play as the heavy favorites to win their 38th straight sectional title. They have won a total of 40 sectionals. However, five teams have won more than the Highlanders (Munster 50, Columbus North 46, North Central (Indianapolis) 46, Jasper 43 and Homestead 42).

The championship match is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 4.

Sectional 15 at Floyd Central

Wednesday, Oct. 2

M1: Eastern vs. Salem

Thursday, Oct. 3

M2: Floyd Central vs. Borden

Friday, Oct. 4

Championship: M1 winner vs. M2 winner