Jasper Wildcats edge Southridge 48-40, advance to Sectional 31 final

The Jasper Wildcats beat the Southridge Raiders 48-40 in the Sectional 31 semifinal at the Hatchet House in Washington, advancing Jasper to the Sectional 31 championship scheduled Saturday. The victory came in a defensive, low-scoring affair on March 6 that kept Jasper’s season alive at 16-8.

Southridge’s lone lead came at 11-10 in the second quarter, but junior Parker Steckler tied the game with a 3-pointer to send everyone to halftime at 20-20. Jasper pushed the margin in the third quarter, building a 33-23 advantage, but the Raiders rallied late in the period; accounts vary on the exact surge, with one report saying Southridge went on a 6-0 run to trim Jasper’s lead to four points after three quarters while a photo caption in the same coverage describes a 9-0 run by the Raiders. The Wildcats held on in the fourth to finish 48-40 in regulation.

Photographs from the game capture Jasper senior Logan Day, wearing No. 5, preparing with fellow senior Kash Kendall, No. 35, before the semifinal, and show Southridge senior Camden Haywood, No. 14, threading a pass while Jasper sophomore Parker Erny, No. 25, defends. Steckler’s halftime 3 and Jasper’s third-quarter push proved to be the decisive sequences in a game without a lot of offensive fireworks.

The result keeps Jasper’s postseason run rolling after a 53-45 first-round win over Gibson Southern at the same Hatchet House. In that first-round game, Jasper connected on 17 of 35 shots from the floor, hit 5 of 12 three-pointers and made 14 of 17 free throws; Gibson Southern was 18 of 36 inside the arc, 4 of 16 from three and 5 of 9 from the line. Earlier this season Jasper also rallied from a double-digit third-quarter deficit for a 50-44 win at Huntingburg Memorial Gym on Dec. 19, showing the Wildcats’ ability to close tight games.

Southridge entered the semifinal with a reported 12-12 record after a midseason stretch that included a 38-36 loss to Evansville North on Feb. 7 that left the Raiders 8-9, followed by a four-game winning streak that ensured at least a .500 season, according to coach Ryan Haywood’s assessment in season coverage. The Raiders’ late run in the semifinal threatened to extend the season but ultimately fell short.

Jasper now moves on to play for the Sectional 31 title Saturday at the Hatchet House; opponent and tip time are to be announced. Fans can expect another tightly contested matchup as the Wildcats seek to advance deeper into the IHSAA state tournament.