BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Pioneer (12-1) at South Adams (10-3), 7:30 p.m. (Winner plays South Putnam-Milan winner in Class 1A state championship game) Pioneer had 71 offensive snaps last week in their 34-14 win over LaVille. All of them were runs. Fullback Noah VanMeter had 30 carries for 139 yards, left wingback Phillip McFatridge had 21 for 140, and right wingback Shiloh Rine had 20 for 182. The carry totals were season highs for all three and career highs for M

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Girls basketball Clinton Central 45, Pioneer 32 (Tuesday): Mia McKaig scored nine points, and Hannah Zeigler and Leah Zeigler scored seven points each for Pioneer in a loss to visiting Clinton Central Tuesday. Avery Haselby canned a pair of 3-pointers and scored six. Carly Davison scored 13 of her game-high 26 points in the second quarter. She went 6 for 6 from the foul line. Clinton Central led 20-18 at halftime and extended the lead to

Berry earns 100th win; Next up: at South Adams in the semistate BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Noah VanMeter J.J. Solano ROYAL CENTER — In small school football, there is always something more to give, Pioneer coach Adam Berry has said. You might be playing offense, defense and special teams, and you might be exhausted, but it’s about “digging deep,” according to Berry. “We talk about when you do

Pioneer 34, LaVille 14 Hoosier North Pioneer 34, LaVille 14 (1A) South Adams 25, North Miami 22 (1A) Indiana Northern State Conference Pioneer 34, LaVille 14 (1A) Knox 28, Angola 21 (3A) Class 1A north regionals Pioneer 34, LaVille 14 South Adams 25, North Miami 22 Class 2A north regionals Andrean 52, Southmont 32 Adams Central 42, Eastbrook 28 Class 3A north regionals Knox 28, Angola 21 Fort Wayne Luers 14, Twin Lakes 7 RTC football schedule – Nov. 21 North semistates 1A: Pi

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Micah Rans Phillip McFatridge LaVille (8-4) at Pioneer (11-1), 7:30 p.m. (Winner plays South Adams-North Miami winner in Class 1A semistate) The Pioneer football team’s recent past and its present might come full circle at The Panther Pit Friday when it meets with LaVille in a Class 1A regional. The last time these teams met in a postseason game, LaVille rolled to a 4

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Girls basketball Southwood 53, Pioneer 44 (Tuesday): Mia McKaig hit a pair of 3-pointers and scored 14 points, and Liz Kennell added 12 for Pioneer (0-2) in a loss to host Southwood Tuesday. Avery Haselby added six. Lois Layer made her season debut and scored two. Pioneer made just 12 of 23 free throws. Freshman Sophia Cline led Southwood with 18, who hung on after building a 51-32 lead after three quarters. Southwood 53, Pioneer 44 PIONE

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC ROYAL CENTER — What might have been an inspiring comeback victory turned into a heartbreaking loss for the Pioneer girls basketball team in its season opener at The Cage against Tri-County Saturday. Evalynn Ross scored nine of her game-high 15 points in the fourth quarter as the Lady Cavaliers pulled out a 33-29 win. Mia McKaig scored eight points, Hannah Zeigler had seven, Avery Haselby had six, and Liz Kennell had five for Pioneer, who

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Football The LaVille-Pioneer Class 1A regional football game scheduled for Friday will start at 7:30 p.m. at The Panther Pit. Tickets are $10. If Pioneer wins, they will play South Adams on the road or North Miami at home in the semistate.

Caston’s Warner, Culver’s Lute, Berndt also make first team BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Volleyball Aspen Moolenaar, Madyson Shaffer and Laylah Demond of Hoosier North volleyball champions Pioneer have been selected first-team All-Hoosier North in voting done by the conference’s coaches and released to the media. In addition, Caston’s Natalie Warner and Culver’s Hayden Lute and Ashlynn Berndt also made the first team. Pioneer’s Averi Layer and Lois Layer, Winamac’s G

Next up: vs. LaVille in a Class 1A regional BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC The Pioneer football team celebrates with the sectional trophy following their 45-14 win over host Carroll (Flora) in the Class 1A, Sectional 42 final Friday. Pioneer (11-1) will host LaVille (8-4) next Friday in a regional. FLORA — The Carroll football team remembered what Pioneer quarterback Micah Rans did to them in last year’s sectional. They appeared determined not to let that happen again.

Pioneer 45, Carroll 14 Three Rivers Conference Southmont 44, Lewis Cass 39 (2A, 34) Hoosier North Pioneer 45, Carroll 14 (1A, 42) North Miami 51, Fremont 7 (1A, 43) Indiana Northern State Conference Knox 48, Mishawaka Marian 18 (3A, 25) LaVille 49, West Central 6 (1A, 41) Class 2A, Sectional 36 Eastbrook 31, Eastern 28 Class 3A, Sectional 26 Angola 30, Garrett 28 Class 1A, Sectional 42 Pioneer 45, Carroll 14 Class 1A, Sectional 41 LaVille 49, West Central 6 RTC football sched

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Pioneer (10-1) at Carroll (Flora) (7-3), 7 p.m. (Winner plays West Central-LaVille winner in a Class 1A regional) Pioneer’s wing-T ground game continued unimpeded over its opponents when it routed previously undefeated Frontier 42-6 at the Panther Pit last week in a Class 1A, Sectional 42 semifinal. Pioneer did not complete a pass, but passing was not necessary on a night the Panthers ran for 415 yards on 11.2 yards per carry. Phillip McF

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Football Pioneer 42, Frontier 6 (Friday): Phillip McFatridge ran for 167 yards and two touchdowns on nine carries, and Shiloh Rine added 103 yards rushing for No. 5 Pioneer in a win over No. 3 Frontier Friday. Noah VanMeter added 93 yards and a score on 11 carries, and Micah Rans ran seven times for 40 yards and a touchdown. As a team, Pioneer did not complete a pass but ran for 415 yards on 11.2 yards per carry. Eli Guffey and Carter Miz

Eastbrook 42, Rochester 14 Pioneer 42, Frontier 6 Three Rivers Conference Eastbrook 42, Rochester 14 (2A, 36) Eastside 42, Manchester 3 (2A, 35) Lewis Cass 55, Seeger 14 (2A, 34) Twin Lakes 42, Peru 28 (3A, 27) North Miami 61, Southwood 30 (1A, 43) Hoosier North Pioneer 42, Frontier 6 (1A, 42) LaVille 24, North Judson 22 (1A, 41) North Miami 61, Southwood 30 (1A, 43) Fremont 28, Triton 19 (1A, 43) Indiana Northern State Conference Knox 50, Griffith 35 (3A, 25) Rensselaer 17,

Call for Justice?: Pioneer preparing to face Frontier’s star QB returning from injury BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Eastbrook (10-0) at Rochester (9-1), 7:30 p.m. (Winner plays Tipton-Eastern (Greentown) winner in Class 2A, Sectional 36 final) It is not often that the Rochester football team can watch highlights of their opponent’s next game on “The Pat McAfee Show” on YouTube and ESPN, but few football games have had the ending that Eastbrook’s 37-36 win in overtime

Girls: Caston’s Rogers runs 21:29 in sophomore finale BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Cross-country Dane Bowditch Kane Finke Hannah Rogers No Caston or Pioneer cross-country runners advanced from the Brownsburg regional to the IHSAA state finals Saturday. The top area boys runner was Pioneer junior Dane Bowditch, who placed 83rd in a field of 249 runners in 16:40. His time was a 48-second improvement on his

VanMeter stars as Pioneer blanks Caston; despite Rugg’s 2 TD catches, Winamac falls to Carroll; LaVille blanks Culver BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Grady Moriarty Wes Parker Football Angola 21, Tippecanoe Valley 6 (Friday): Hawk Hasselman accounted for 211 yards of total offense and scored all 21 points for Angola in a surprise win over visiting Valley in a Class 3A, Sectional 26 quarterfinal Fr

Rochester 44, Elwood 0 Angola 21, Tippecanoe Valley 6 Pioneer 35, Caston 0 Carroll 27, Winamac 14 LaVille 35, Culver 0 Three Rivers Conference Rochester 44, Elwood 0 (2A, 36) Tipton 48, Wabash 13 (2A, 36) Lewis Cass 55, North Montgomery 20 (2A, 34) Manchester 42, Prairie Heights 0 (2A, 35) Eastside 48, Whitko 0 (2A, 35) Peru 41, Northwestern 14 (3A, 27) Twin Lakes 36, Maconaquah 20 (3A, 27) North Miami 47, Northfield 6 (1A, 43) Hoosier North Pioneer 35, Caston 0 (1A, 42) Carr

Streaking Valley hopes to ‘hawk’ top Angola RB; Caston’s defense looks to contain Pioneer in rematch; both Winamac, Carroll reeling on offense going into sectional; LaVille hopes to flip ‘Schwitz’ vs. Culver BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Rochester (8-1) at Elwood (3-6), 7 p.m. (winner plays Eastbrook-Alexandria winner in the Class 2A, Sectional 36 semifinals) The Rochester football team rose to the challenge of previously undefeated Class 3A, No. 5 Maconaquah last wee

Boys: Pioneer’s Bowditch, Hines to join Caston’s Finke, Oaf at regionals BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Cross-country Both the Caston and Pioneer girls and boys cross-country teams had their seasons end at the Logansport sectional Saturday, but five Caston individuals and two Pioneer boys both advanced to this Saturday’s regional. In the girls meet, Caston finished seventh and Pioneer 10th among the 11 complete teams. Caston sophomore Hannah Rogers and seniors Camila H

Pioneer relies on strong first half to beat Judson for Hoosier North title; Winamac’s Rugg returns 2 kicks for TDs, but Caston pulls away; Culver rolls over S. Central BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Owen Omondi Wes Parker Football Tippecanoe Valley 31, Bremen 7 (Friday): Wes Parker ran for 93 yards and two touchdowns, and Hunter Paxton intercepted Bremen quarterback Jack Wildauer twice as the C

4 Caston boys, 2 girls make all-conference; Pioneer’s Bowditch, Hines, Argos’ Stackhouse also make all-conference BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Logan Fredel Avery Wegner Cross-country Teammates Logan Fredel and Nathan Pierzchalski went 1-2 and led the Winamac boys cross-country team to the Hoosier North title at Winamac Town Park Oct. 4. Caston was second and Pioneer was third. Argos had an inco

Class 2A, Sectional 38 at Wabash QUARTERFINALS Southwood def. Manchester, 25-15, 25-16, 25-12 (Tuesday) Oak Hill def. Lewis Cass, 25-14, 25-16, 25-15 (Thursday) Wabash def. Rochester, 25-19, 25-17, 25-17 (Thursday) SEMIFINALS (SATURDAY) Southwood def. Eastern (Greentown), 25-7, 25-11, 25-16 Oak Hill def. Wabash, 25-15, 15-25, 25-23, 20-25, 15-12 FINAL (SATURDAY): Southwood def. Oak Hill, 25-16, 25-15, 25-16 Class 3A, Sectional 20 at Wawasee QUARTERFINALS (THURSDAY) NorthWood

Rochester 48, Maconaquah 6 Tippecanoe Valley 31, Bremen 7 Caston 35, Winamac 13 Pioneer 36, North Judson 18 Culver 44, South Central 7 Three Rivers Conference Rochester 48, Maconaquah 6 Manchester 35, Peru 21 Northfield 62, Northwestern 55 (3 OTs) Lewis Cass 21, Southwood 13 Wabash 36, Whitko 35 Hoosier North Caston 35, Winamac 13 Pioneer 36, North Judson 18 Culver 44, South Central 7 Triton 27, North Miami 24 Indiana Northern State Conference Tippecanoe Valley 31, Bremen 7 J

Valley seeks 2nd place in INSC vs. Bremen; Caston hopes to break 3-game skid at Winamac; Is Pioneer the upstart in Hoosier North title showdown vs. Judson?; Culver seeks offensive solutions vs. winless S. Central BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Rochester’s Jabez Yarber Maconaquah (8-0, 7-0 Three Rivers Conference) at Rochester (7-1, 7-0), 7 p.m. The Class 2A, No. 11 Rochester offensive line shoved around Northwestern last week, averaging 15.9 yards per carry and rushing

Class 2A, Sectional 38 at Wabash QUARTERFINALS Southwood def. Manchester, 25-15, 25-16, 25-12 (Tuesday) Oak Hill def. Lewis Cass, 25-14, 25-16, 25-15 (Thursday) Wabash def. Rochester, 25-19, 25-17, 25-17 (Thursday) SEMIFINALS (SATURDAY) Eastern (Greentown) vs. Southwood, 11 a.m. Oak Hill vs. Wabash, 12:30 p.m. FINAL, 6 p.m. Class 3A, Sectional 20 at Wawasee QUARTERFINALS (THURSDAY) NorthWood def. Columbia City, 25-18, 25-10, 25-14 West Noble def. Fairfield, 25-15, 22-25, 25-1

Class 2A, Sectional 38 at Wabash QUARTERFINALS Southwood def. Manchester, 25-15, 25-16, 25-12 (Tuesday) Lewis Cass vs. Oak Hill, 6 p.m. Thursday Wabash vs. Rochester, 7:30 p.m. Thursday SEMIFINALS (SATURDAY) Eastern (Greentown) vs. Southwood, 11 a.m. Lewis Cass-Oak Hill winner vs. Wabash-Rochester winner, 12:30 p.m. FINAL, 6 p.m. Class 3A, Sectional 20 at Wawasee QUARTERFINALS (THURSDAY) Columbia City vs. NorthWood, 6 p.m.  West Noble vs. Fairfield, 7:30 p.m. SEMIFINALS (SATU

Judson shuts out Caston; Pioneer records 4th shutout vs. Triton; Culver blanked at NM; Wolford, Adriano go over 100 yards rushing as Winamac handles S. Central BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Grady Moriarty Owen Omondi Football Tippecanoe Valley 42, John Glenn 7 (Friday): Grady Moriarty threw a touchdown pass and ran for a touchdown in the first quarter, and Owen Omondi had a 62-yard touchdown run i

Class 2A, Sectional 38 at Wabash QUARTERFINALS Manchester vs. Southwood, 6 p.m. Tuesday Lewis Cass vs. Oak Hill, 6 p.m. Thursday Wabash vs. Rochester, 7:30 p.m. Thursday SEMIFINALS (SATURDAY) Eastern (Greentown) vs. Manchester-Southwood winner, 11 a.m. Lewis Cass-Oak Hill winner vs. Wabash-Rochester winner, 12:30 p.m. FINAL, 6 p.m. Class 3A, Sectional 20 at Wawasee QUARTERFINALS (THURSDAY) Columbia City vs. NorthWood, 6 p.m.  West Noble vs. Fairfield, 7:30 p.m. SEMIFINALS (SA

Pioneer draws Caston again; Culver to face former conference rival LaVille; Winamac to host familiar faces from Carroll BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC The Rochester and Tippecanoe Valley football teams will both make long drives for their sectional quarterfinal games, and rivals Pioneer and Caston will meet in the sectional for the second straight year, according to the IHSAA draw released Sunday. In addition, Culver will meet a former conference rival, and Winamac wil

Rochester 49, Northwestern 7 Tippecanoe Valley 42, John Glenn 7 North Judson 35, Caston 0 Pioneer 42, Triton 0 North Miami 37, Culver 0...

Valley hopes defense won’t show ‘Rust’ vs. Falcons; Caston hosts No. 3 N. Judson; Pioneer to try to contain Overmyer, Trojans; Culver to...

Valley, Winamac receive byes; Caston draws DeMotte Christian; Pioneer to face N. White; Culver gets rival Triton; Argos to meet N. Judson...

L. Mollenkopf has big game receiving, but Comets fall; Rans stars as Pioneer blanks Culver; Burgess, Rugg return kickoffs for TDs, but...

Rochester 51, Northfield 14 Tippecanoe Valley 38, Western 7 Triton 28, Caston 16 Pioneer 35, Culver 0 North Judson 56, Winamac 14 Three...

Valley seeks 3rd straight win against ‘physical’ Western defense; Caston, Triton offenses hope to bounce back after losses; after...

Winamac’s Wegner takes 17th in girls race BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Dane Bowditch ...

J. McCuen’s TD run in 4th quarter lifts Culver past Caston; Rine’s big night keeps Pioneer undefeated in Hoosier North; NM pulls away in...

Rochester 50, Peru 0 Tippecanoe Valley 33, Jimtown 0 Culver 12, Caston 7 Pioneer 49, South Central (Union Mills) 7 North Miami 44,...

Valley seeks more rushing success vs. Jimtown; Caston to host Culver on Homecoming; Pioneer to take on struggling Satellites; Winamac...

Pioneer’s McKaig shoots 82, advances to regional for 3rd straight year BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC The Rochester girls golf...

Bowyer scores 4 TDs as Caston routs S. Central; Rans has record-setting game in Pioneer’s win over NM; Triton pulls away in 4th to beat...

Rochester 34, Lewis Cass 0 Tippecanoe Valley 38, LaVille 28 Caston 46, South Central (Union Mills) 0 Pioneer 41, North Miami 22 Triton...

Valley to host defensive-minded LaVille; Caston to visit winless Satellites; Pioneer, NM ground-oriented attacks to clash; Winamac seeks...

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Girls golf Mia McKaig Pioneer 201, Lewis Cass 214 (Tuesday): Mia McKaig shot a 36 to help Pioneer...

Boys: Winamac’s Fredel 5th, Pioneer’s Bowditch 7th behind Western trio BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Allyson Calloway The...

McKaig takes medalist again with 36 BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Selena Johnson Girls golf Pioneer 196, North Miami 207...

Hanson also makes all-conference; Juby, Winamac’s Hines make honorable mention BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC The Pioneer girls...

Pioneer has 3 backs go over 100 yards, beats Caston; Winamac rallies in 2nd half, knocks off Culver BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC...

Rochester 56, Wabash 7 Knox 36, Tippecanoe Valley 21 Pioneer 45, Caston 13 Winamac 30, Culver 22 Three Rivers Conference Rochester 56,...