The Charlestown Varsity Girls and Boys Basketball teams squared up Wednesday evening in James Matthews Gymnasium for some old fashioned and neighborly rivalry double header basketball action.
The Lady Pirates improved to 4-2 on the young season by thrashing the Lady Mustangs 78-29; and led by Jacqueline Biscardi’s 20 game point high, including four treys. Not that Charlestown didn’t book balanced scoring, Samantha Matthews added 18 and Karston Watson another 17 as their offensive performances continue to excel. Gabbie Gagnon knocked down three three-pointers to accumulate all her scoring on the evening. The Lady Pirates led 17-2 after one and 34-15 at the break before cruising through a 44 point second half; mainly using a tough full court defense to force 27 host turnovers. The Lady Mustangs (3-3) were led in scoring by Madison Fields, who finished with nine. New Washington Girls Basketball Coach Kirsti Holloway was quoted in the News and Tribune’s coverage as “I’m just completely flabbergasted,”….. “Never in my wildest imagination did I expect an outcome like this.” The Lady Pirates host MSC foe Austin on the 29th of November.
The Pirates (1-1) dominated the Mustangs in the second of the double header, the majority of the game; but allowed the Mustangs to fight their way back into the game forcing overtime. Charlestown prevailed 60-49 after finding the basket again from the charity stripe in the extra period; including Brady Latham scoring six of his total nine of the evening on six huge free throws. Charlestown led by as many as eighteen at times, outscoring the host Mustangs 10-2 in the second frame. The Pirates were led in scoring by Max Mitchell’s 14 and got 12 from Bo Braunecker, and another 10 from Addison Logsdon. New Washington (0-1) was led in scoring by Hunter Miles, who finished with 13 points, including three treys. The Mustangs out rebounded the Pirates 32-31. The Pirates begin MSC play on Tuesday, November 28th at Silver Creek; who is 1-0 after a 38-34 win at Henryville earlier this week.
Charlestown High School Athletic Director Chad Gilbert was recently elected to the IHSAA Board of Directors Southern District Urban Seat. As part of the Executive Committee, Gilbert will take the place of Paul Neidig who was selected to become an Assistant Commissioner of the IHSAA earlier this year. In his fifth season as the Pirates’ Athletic Director, Gilbert has pioneered the development of new coaches and created a winning atmosphere inside the Athletic Department. While speaking about his recent election win, Gilbert commented, “I look forward to serving the student athletes in our state as a member of the IHSAA Board of Directors. I hope to find being a part of this Association fulfilling and ultimately one of the highlights of my career. I want to represent our entire district in a positive way.” Gilbert will take his seat on the board at the IHSAA Executive Meeting on January 11th, 2018.