Southwood Knights headed to State Finals

By Eric Christansen news@thepaperofwabash.com

The Southwood Knights are going to the State Finals.

The dream season continues for the Southwood boys basketball team after defeating two Class 1A top-10 teams Saturday, March 18, at the Lafayette Jefferson Semi-State.

The Knights topped No. 2 Fountain Central, 6357, in the semifinals Saturday morning and earned their spot at Indianapolis with a 64-56 victory over No. 10 Marquette Catholic.

Championship game

After an 0-5 start the season, and an 0-3 run two weeks before the IHSAA state tournament began, the Southwood Knights won their eighth consecutive game to advance to the State Finals by defeating Marquette Central, 64-56, in the championship game of the Lafayette Jefferson SemiState Saturday night, March 18.

In a game of ebbs and flows, the first-quarter was more of a feeling-out process.

Southwood wasn’t displaying its 3/4 quarter court press, in part to the Blazers quickly getting the ball up the floor to avoid the pressure.

Marquette Catholic used an 8-2 run to take a 106 lead before Southwood’s Nathan Lehner scored on back-to-back plays to cut it to 10-10.

The Blazers took a 12-10 lead into the second quarter but the Knights started the second quarter ready to do what they do.

Cole Winer and Lehner hit back-to-back 3pointers, followed by a jumper from Lehner with 6:21 left in the half to take an 18-12 lead.

All three scores came after Southwood pressured Marquette into turnovers.

St. Patrick’s Church honored: Bishop Kevin Rhoades (top photo) helped celebrate the 150th anniversary of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Lagro during a service Friday evening. The church was dedicated on March 17, 1873, by Bishop Joseph Dwenger. Bishop Rhoades, in his opening comments, said it took him about 50 minutes to travel from Fort Wayne to Lagro. He said on the route, he wondered how long it took Bishop Dwenger to travel to the dedication service. He said he believes that the church is the second oldest in the South Bend-Fort Wayne Diocese. He also praised the Friends of St. Patrick for its work to help maintain the church, which is now an oratory. It has special services, such as weddings, and has a mass on the first Sunday of the month. Following the service, a soup supper took place at the Lagro United Methodist Church. Bishop Kevin Rhoades greeted those attending the special mass on the 150th anniversary of St. Patrick’s Church in Lagro. Father Jay Horning of St. Bernard Catholic Church, Wabash, and Father Tony Steinacker of Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Huntington assisted in the service.

‘Little Women’ to take to stage

Play is presented by MSD Theater Dept.

The Theater Department at MSD of Wabash County will be presenting its spring play “Little Women” on Friday, March 24, Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26. Show time is 7 p.m. Friday and saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday.

Tickets will be $7 for adults, $5 for students, and 5 and under are free.

Bake sale items will be available in the lobby throughout the show.