Lady Raiders Take on Oldenburg at Legendary Hoosier Gymnasium
Knightstown, IN — In a night that blended rich basketball tradition with spirited competition, the South Ripley Lady Raiders traveled to the iconic Hoosier Gymnasium in Knightstown to face off against Class A No. 7 Oldenburg Academy in a thrilling varsity matchup.
The Hoosier Gymnasium — renowned for its classic, storied presence in Indiana basketball history and its place as the setting of the beloved film Hoosiers — provided an unforgettable backdrop as the Lady Raiders stepped onto the hardwood. Fans packed the historic venue, creating an electric atmosphere that harkened back to generations of high school basketball lore.
From the opening tip, South Ripley showcased tenacity and teamwork. The Lady Raiders came out with a balanced offensive attack and communicated on defense, forcing Oldenburg into contested shots and turnovers. Key contributions from senior leaders set the tone early, with crisp ball movement and aggressive rebounding.
Oldenburg responded with pressure of its own, using quick guards and sharp shooting to keep the game competitive into the second quarter.
Oldenburg Academy started to pull away from the Lady Raiders in the 4th quarter to defeat South Ripley by a score of 54-42. The Lady Raiders were led by Kaiya Rinear with 20 points, Evelyn Kelly 8, Kinley Demaree 6, Illana Prosser 4 points, Emily Parks 3, and Sophie Lauber rounded out the scoring with 1. Aubrey Werner led the Lady Raiders in assist with four.
Head Coach Brad Goldsberry praised his teams ability to adapt to the challenge that Oldenburg's size created, "Oldenburg is another team that pushed us to get better come sectionals. They had a lot of height that's tough any team to match up with, especially under the circumstances of playing on a smaller court.:
“It’s special to play here,” he said. “This gym has history, and it was such a neat experience for the team to play in. We are excited to connect our athletes with the state's rich history in basketball. It's something our team will cherish for a long time".
Fans and community members commended the team’s performance and the opportunity to compete at one of Indiana’s most cherished basketball landmarks — a reminder of the enduring spirit of high school hoops in the Hoosier State.