Rochester posted a fourth consecutive season opening win over Culver, 60-22.

Kyle Reinartz led Rochester with 20 points.  Quin Stesiak was in double figures with 16.

Also:

Bremen 53, Argos 45  (OT)

John Glenn 53, Plymouth 41

Warsaw 63, Indy Shortridge 43

The #9 Indiana Hoosiers square off with the third-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes Saturday afternoon in Columbus.

It is the first regular season top-ten matchup in Indiana history, and one that could determine the winner of the Big Ten’s East division.

Ohio State is favored by 20.5 points for Saturday’s showdown at The Horseshoe. The Buckeyes have beaten the Hoosiers in 25 straight games, which is the longest streak ever for one Big Ten school over another. Indiana last beat Ohio State in 1988, but 2020 has been a season of streak-breakers for Tom Allen’s team. So far this season, Indiana has earned its first victory over a top-ten team and beat Michigan for the first time since 1987.

The Hoosiers’ top-ten ranking is the program’s highest mark since 1967.

Indiana and Ohio State kick off Saturday at noon from Ohio Stadium with coverage on FOX. 

Rochester High School Athletic Director Ryan Johnson released information about updated restrictions for attendance at winter athletics:

Parents and Families,

I wanted to reach out to you and let you know that the Fulton County Health Department has given us updated restrictions for attendance at winter events.

Each participant, coach, and support personnel will be allowed two parents/guardians/caregivers to attend Rochester athletic events. Swimming will still be restricted to no spectators due to the size and seating of our facility. There will also be no spectators at the McKee Memorial Wrestling Invitational.

Below is the process for receiving tickets to each athletic contest.

1. Coaches will give each participant two tickets prior to the event.

2. Participants will then distribute these two tickets appropriately.

3. Parents/guardians/caregivers will bring the ticket to the event and present the ticket to the gate worker.

4. By presenting the ticket, the parent/guardian/caregiver will be allowed to purchase entrance to the event for $5.

5. If an individual DOES NOT present a ticket, the individual WILL NOT be able to enter the event and will be asked to leave.

6. Gates will officially open 30 minutes prior to the start of the event.

We want to continue to be able to allow parents/guardians/caregivers to attend our events, but WE NEED YOUR HELP!

Please help us abide by these restrictions by being prepared with your ticket, being respectful to event staff, wearing a facial covering at ALL TIMES, and social distancing by family units at ALL TIMES.

We will still try to provide as many live streaming opportunities for our events as possible if you or a family member does not feel comfortable at events or is not able to attend the event.

I have attached the letter from the Fulton County Health Department and the live stream information sheet to this email.

Thank you for being great supporters of Rochester High School Athletics and helping us make the best of a tough situation!

Sincerely,

Ryan Johnson

Athletic Director

Rochester High School

Attendance at winter indoor K-12 extracurricular and co-curricular activities, including IHSAA sporting events, should be limited to participants, coaches, support personnel, and two (2) parents/guardians/caregivers per participant.

All non-competing and non-performing participants, coaches, support personnel, and attendees are required to wear face coverings at all times and maintain six (6) feet social distancing, when applicable, while attending the event.

The Fulton County Health Department would like to thank the Rochester Community School Corporation and the community for their continued support and patience during these trying times.

Sincerely,

David Kevin Reyburn, MD Health Officer

Butler University announced Sunday that the Marion County Health Department has approved 25 percent capacity for Bulldogs home games at Hinkle Fieldhouse this season. With a capacity of 9,100, the historic venue will be able to host 2,275 fans.

Athletic director Barry Collier said in a letter the school will require face coverings, temperature checks, and will use specific entrances to limit congestion.

The Butler men’s basketball season opens November 25th at home against Western Michigan.

Butler is the only Big East school thus far to announce it will have fans at home games. The school will not offer any full season ticket packages, but existing season ticket holders will be able to purchase tickets in blocks of 2-4 games each. 

The deer firearms season is from Nov. 14-29.

The deer firearms license allows a hunter to take only one buck. Hunters can harvest an antlerless deer during the firearms season with a firearm if they possess a deer bundle license, bonus antlerless license, resident youth consolidated hunting and trapping license, or comprehensive lifetime hunting license.

Antlerless deer taken with a firearm during the firearms season would count toward the bonus antlerless quota, unless you are hunting in a deer reduction zone with the appropriate license and count the deer toward the deer reduction zone bag limit.

Pioneer gained a measure of revenge with a 3-1 (25-23, 27-29, 27-25, 25-22) triumph over Loogootee to claim the Class A state championship. The title for coach Rod Nies’ Panthers marks the first in program history after finishing runner-up in their other state championship appearance in 2018.

The win also avenged a loss to Loogootee in the 2020 girls Class A basketball finals last February. Four of the six Pioneer starters were part of the basketball team.

After splitting the first two sets, the teams battled through 14 ties and five lead changes in set three. A Mackenzie Walker kill on set-point No. 4 finally gave Pioneer (29-3) the 2-1 lead.

In the final set, Pioneer broke from an 8-8 tie to take a 16-8 lead behind the serving of Carlie Morris. The Panthers ended it on a Hailey Cripe kill. Cripe finished with a team-high 22 kills and 27 digs.

For Loogootee, the match marked the fifth trip to the final match without a victory. Makenzie VanHoy finished with a match-high 24 kills for the Lions.

It was 18 wins and a sectional championship for Rochester girls basketball in the 2019-2020 campaign.

Now 2020.  A season that opens with limited - to - no fans and the concern that each game might be the last due to COVID-19.

Third year coach Brian Jennings says his team is preparing for the mental roadblocks in the way.

The Zebras added 10 wins from the previous season and scored 12 points per game more in the process.

Rochester lost three seniors to graduation including leading scorer Maci Brown (9.9 ppg).  Brown also led the team in assists (2.3) and steals per game (2.2).

Senior Kensey McKee (5.o ppg) and Genny Isbell (2.1 ppg) also graduated.

Still, Coach Jennings has eight players back who each appeared in 19 or more games.

Jennings says veterans will need to ramp up their games from a season ago and maybe embrace new roles.

Jennings also excited about a healthy 6’1” sophomore Millie Scoresone.

Winning games, obviously.  But what else is Coach Jennings looking for early.

And look for a loaded Three Rivers Conference.  Rochester, Northfield and Tippecanoe Valley finished tied for first at 7-2 last season.

#19 (2A) Rochester opens tonight on the road against #6 (2A) North Judson.  The Bluejays posted a fourth consecutive 20 win season a year ago and return 5’10” senior Lilly Frasure who averaged 23.6 ppg, 12.6 reb, 3.6 steals and 6.5 steals.

Rochester athletics during the upcoming closure of schools due to COVID were addressed in the following letter from Athletic Director Ryan Johnson:

Edward Bobkoskie’s goal on a header in the 66th minute provided the winning goal to give Providence a 2-1 victory over Argos in the Class A boys state championship game at Fishers High School.

Bobkoskie's score broke a 1-1 tie and gave the Pioneers of coach Jake Stengel their first state title. Providence lost in the championship matches in 2013 and 2016.

The loss for defending-champion Argos broke a 13-game, state-tournament winning streak, which coming into the finals was a state-best.

The teams played to a scoreless first half before the Dragons broke through in the 45th minute. Tomas Gutierrez took a centering pass from Michael Richard and beat Providence keeper Jacob Braswell to the top right corner of the net.

Providence (17-3) came back just two minutes later and tied the game on a beautiful move by senior Luke Hesse, who netted his 41st goal of the season. His goal total came into the weekend as second-best in the state.

Coach Todd VanDerWeele’s Dragons (18-4-1) came in riding a 10-game winning streak and a 14-game unbeaten roll (13-0-1).

Argos’s Cameron Markley receives Cato Mental Attitude Award

Following the match, the IHSAA Executive Committee named Argos’s Cameron Markley as the recipient of the C. Eugene Cato Mental Attitude Award presented by Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance.

The award is annually presented to a senior, who is nominated by his principal and coach, and has demonstrated excellence in mental attitude, scholarship, leadership and athletic ability during his four years of high school.

He is the son of Brent and Lynnette Markley of Tippecanoe. He is interested in studying Agronomy and is currently deciding between Purdue University and Iowa State University.

Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, a proud corporate partner of the IHSAA, presented a $1,000 scholarship to Argos High School’s general scholarship fund in the name of Cameron Markley.

GIANT fm Sports high school basketball broadcasts can be heard on 92.1, www.fultoncountypost.com and thru the new GIANT fm APP.

Times listed are approximate for on-air broadcast.

The schedule is subject to change.