The All State

» By MARLON SCOTT – mscott5@my.apsu.edu

After only one exhibition game, the Lady Govs basketball team dove head first into the regular season with a home opener against the Southern Illinois Salukis. The two teams have only played 3 times before, with the Salukis up 2-1 in the series.

With a career high 28 points, senior guard Whitney Hanley showed one exhibition game was all she needed to get ready for the regular season. She led her team to a 76-70 victory.

Hanley was one of five Lady Govs to finish in double figures. Senior forward Jasmine Rayner almost earned a double-double with 13 points and nine rebounds. Sophomore guard Nicole Olszewski scored 12 points, junior forward Meghan Bussabarger scored 11 points and junior guard Leslie Martinez added 10.

The two teams were evenly matched for the majority of the game. After being tied at 34 at halftime, the Lady Govs seemed to take control in the second half. Producing turnovers and outrebounding the Salukis helped them establish a 11-point lead with four minutes remaining. However, Southern Illinois’ Teri Oliver brought her team back in the game.

Oliver made three, 3-pointers in a row to tie the game at 67 with 2:27 left in the game. Oliver finished leading all scorers with 32 points.

The Lady Govs returning starters made clutch plays to get the win. Olszewski made a steal and then an assist to Whitney who made a Layup to take a 69-67 lead. After the ensuing Saluki missed field goal, Rayner grabbed one of two clutch rebounds in the games final two minutes to stop any Saluki second chance baskets.

Also crashing the boards when it counted was Bussabarger. Both she and Rayner got to the free throw line after battling in the paint and made 2-of-4 free throws in the last 90 seconds.

The rest was all Hanley. Oliver made one more 3-pointer to keep her team in the game, but Hanley scored the last five points, three from the free throw line, to get the win.

“We are thrilled to get the victory and starting off the season 1-0,” said head coach Carrie Daniels. “We gave up some leads, I think we had a 9-point lead in the first half and a 10-point lead in the second. It’s not ideal ever to have those types of leads and let a team come back on you. But I am pleased with the team to be able to, after giving up those leads, to come back and be able to get the win.”

By MARLON SCOTT – mscott5@my.apsu.edu
It is senior day at Governors stadium as the Govs take on the Central State Marauders in their last home game of the season. They are trying to end a four-game losing streak and improve on their 2-4 OVC record (2-6 Overall).

Update: Final Govs 40 Marauders 0
Govs defense shuts down the Marauders. Govs win 40-0 on senior night, end 4-game losing streak.

Update: Govs 40 Marauders 0; 9:22 Fourth quarter
Ean Pemberton dashes into the end zone to extend the Govs lead.

Update Govs 33 Marauders 0; 11:46 fourth quarter
Govs score on 12 play drive. Scott Thomas dives in one yard on a Quarterback sneak.

Update: Govs 27 Marauders 0; 1:15 third quarter
Marauders quarterback fumbles while scrambling. Govs recover, 1 and 10 on the 47.

Update: Govs 27 Marauders 0; 3:16 Third Quarter
Govs punt, Marauders take over 1 and 10 on their 20.

Update: Govs 27 Marauders 0; Third Quarter
Govs Steven Ragin intercepts Marauders pass. Govs take over 1 and 10 on the Marauders 39.

Update: Govs 27 Marauders 0, 6:01 Third quarter
Ryan White rushes six yards for his second touchdown of the game.

Update: Govs 20 Marauders 0, 11:55 third quarter
Govs Tee Howell returns a punt 65 yards for a touchdown.

Update: Govs 13 Marauders 0 Third Quarter
Govs offense stalls on their first drive of the second half. Forced to punt. Marauders take over at the 23-yard line.

Update: Halftime Govs 13 Marauders 0
Ryan White and Wesley Kitts have combined for 186 yards rushing in the first half. Stephen Stansell has made 2-of-3 field goals. Govs produced 249 yards of offense. Marauders held to only 72.

Update: 13-0 Govs, End of first half
Instead of a score, Govs end the first half by throwing an interception in the red zone.

Update: 13-0 Govs, 1:53 Second Quarter
Govs have first and 10 on their 36 yard line, driving for last score of the half.

Update: 13-0 Govs, 5:33 Second Quarter
A penalty pushes Govs back. They settle for another field goal. Govs lead 13-0

Update: 10-0 Govs, 6:44 Second Quarter
Wesley Kitts breaks a 21-yard run. Have another first and goal.

Update: 10-0 Govs, 12:31 Second quarter
After Ryan White breaks a 31-yard run to set up the Govs with first and goal. Govs forced to settle for field goal. Govs take 10-0 lead.

Update: 7-0 Govs end of first quarter
Govs lead 7-0. offense driving, 1 and 10 on Marauders 41-yard line.

Update: 7-0, 2:47 First Quarter
Govs offense get to the red zone for first time, but a penalty makes it 1 and 15. White takes hand off and scrambles 26 yards for the touchdown. Drive was four plays, 65 yards.

Update:0-0, 9:26 First Quarter
Govs defense stop Marauders second offensive drive. Govs take over, but go three and out.

Update: 13:50 First Quarter
Penalty slows down Govs offense. They attempt a 51-yard field goal. It goes wide left. Marauders take over.

Govs start the game on defense. Marauders go 1 and 10 on their own 20. First pass of the game is intercepted by Govs safety Antwaun Majors. Govs take over on the Marauders 25 yard line.

By MARLON SCOTT – mscott5@my.apsu.edu

The CMSU Mules came out kicking, but it was not enough to stop the Govs high-powered offense from overcoming a 12-point deficit and earn the 107-96 exhibition win.
This was the fifth time the two teams faced each other in an exhibition game. This win makes the Govs record against the Mules 4-1.
Six different Govs’ players scored double-digit points.

Senior Josh Terry led the team with 20 points. Fellow senior TyShwan Edmonson and junior Jerome Clyburn both scored 16 points. Senior John Fraley scored a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds.
Junior Dominique Long led the Mules charge with 20 points. Long and the rest of the Mules squad lit up the court in the first half shooting 61 percent from the field. With less than three minutes remaining in the first half, they were up by 12 points. They maintained the lead and went into halftime ahead 57-49.
“What I was really thinking was hold on guys, they can’t keep shooting that well. Fortunately for us, that was true,” said Govs’ head coach Dave Loos. “ We did have to improve our defense, but I have to give them a lot of credit. They just shot lights out.”
The Mules cooled down and the Govs heated up in the second half. The Govs came out and outscored the Mules 11-7 to close the gap, 60-64. With 14:41 remaining in the game they took the 71-70 lead.
The two teams tied at 79, then the Govs went on a 6-2 run to take the lead. The Mules made one last push to get within a point, but the Govs kept them from regaining the lead the rest of the game. The Govs outscored the Mules 58-39 in the second half. They shot 65 percent from the field in the second half while the Mules dropped to just 39 percent.
“Coach emphasized they were a really good squad coming out and we can’t take this team lightly,” Terry said. “They are a pretty good ball club, but we wanted to come into the game and concentrate on what we know how to do and luckily it worked out for us.

By MARLON SCOTT – mscott5@my.apsu.edu
The 2011 Homecoming King and Queen:
AJ Hall and Ashley White.

By MARLON SCOTT – mscott5@my.apsu.edu
After two straight losses, the Govs (2-5, 2-3 OVC) are looking to bounce back with a homecoming win against the EIU Panthers. The Panthers (1-7, 0-6 OVC) come to Governors stadium after losing six OVC games.

14:31 Foruth Quarter Govs 10 Panthers 16
Govs defense stops a Panthers fourth down conversion attempt. Govs offense starts on their own 30.

2:30 Third Quarter Govs 10 Panthers 16
Govs can’t capitalize on second turnover. Stansell 44-yard field goal attempt blocked by the Panthers. They take over on their own 37 yard line.

6:02 Third Quarter Govs 10 Panthers 16
Govs Wesley Kitts scrambles 37 yards for a first down. Govs 1 and 10 on the Panthers 48 yard line.

7:30 Third quarter Govs 10 Panthers 16
Govs defense keeping Panthers from running away. Get second interception of the game. Govs start on their own 9-yard line.

9:51 third quarter Govs 10 Panthers 16
Panthers kick a field goal at the end of the their opening drive of the second half. Increase their lead 16-10

third Quarter Govs 10 Panthers 13
Panthers start second half 1 and 10 on the 48.

Haftime Govs 10 Panthers 13
Govs produce 177 yards of offense and make first two scores.
Ryan White rushes for 80 yards and a touchdown
Curtis completed 6 of 13 with no turnovers.
Stansell made 21-yard field goal

Panthers produced 234 yards of offense
Garoppolo completed 7-of-10 passes for 153 yards and one touchdown

Halftime Govs 10 Panthers 13
Stansell attempts a 60-yard field goal and misses.

0:42 Second Qaurter Govs 10 Panthers 13
Govs Sheldon Wade intercepts Garoppolo pass. Govs take over at their own 20 yard line.

1:42 Second Quarter Govs 10 Panthers 13
Panthers Walker rushes 21 yards. Panthers 1 and 10 on Govs 29.

1:57 Second Quarter Govs 10 Panthers 13
Govs forced to punt. Panthers take over 1 and 10 on 33.

4:14 Second Quarter Govs 10 Panthers 13
Panthers Garoppolo completes pass to Hendricks to set up first and goal. Panthers score. With extra point, they take a 13-10 lead.

8:36 Second quarter Govs 10 Panthers 6
Govs offense stalls for first time, forced to punt. Panthers take over with 1 and 10 on 20-yard line.

11:11 second quarter Govs 10 Panthers 6
Panthers Krol completes 52-yard pass to Wright for a touchdown. Panthers fail to convert 2-point play.

13:25 Second Quarter
Panthers offense start on their own 5-yard line. Get first down drown and driving.

Second Quarter
Stansell kicks a 21-yard field goal. Govs take a 10-0 lead.

End of the first quarter
Govs offense controlling the game. Govs lead 7-0 and face 4 and goal.

1:01 First Quarter
Govs convert second fourth down of the game. First and goal. Govs have produced 101 yards on the ground so far this quarter.

4:00 First Quarter
Govs offense driving on second series. Earn seventh first down of the game so far. 1 an 10 at Panthers 29.

7:12 First Quarter
Govs defense force Panthers to go three and out. After the punt Govs offense take over with 1 and 10 at their 36.

9:31 First Quarter
White rushes to the end zone. Extra point is good and Govs take 7-0 lead.

10:41 First Quarter
Curtis completes an 11-yard pass to convert on fourth down. Next, throws a short pass to Stark for 7 yards. A penalty puts Govs 1 and 10 on the Panthers 7-yard line.

11:51 First Quarter
Govs face 3 and 13 on Panthers 41. After Ryan White 8 yard rush. Govs line up to go for first down, but call a timeout.

Govs win the toss and choose to receive. Start 1 and 10 at 29-yard line. Govs QB Landon Curtis scrambles for first down.