Trevor Lauck proudly wears his U.S. Army Bowl football jersey after presentation at Roncalli High School with bowl offensive line coach Mike Barry. ​​(A.J. ABLOG PHOTO)

Roncalli senior offensive lineman Trevor Lauck has accepted an invitation to play in the prestigious U.S. Army Bowl to be played at the Ford Center at the Star, headquarters of the Dallas Cowboys, in Frisco, Texas.
The high school all-star game is to be played Saturday, Dec. 17 at 4 p.m. and televised on the Bally Sports Network.
Lauck was honored with his Army Bowl jersey in front of Royals teammates and students.
The East-West game features 80 of the nation’s top high school players in skills competitions as part of the week-long festivities. 
Lauck has signed with and will continue his student-athlete career with the University of Iowa in fall 2023. He was consistently recognized as one of the state’s top linemen.
“I’m very thankful for the opportunity to represent the Southside and Roncalli in the game,” Lauck said. “I want to thank my coaches for pushing me to be the best version of myself, and my teammates for making me better every single day. I can’t wait to compete with some of the best around.”
When asked about his thoughts on Lauck being honored in such a way, Royals head coach Eric Quintana remarked, “We are all very proud of Trevor and his accomplishments. He has been a great teammate and ambassador of Roncalli football. We wish him luck as he competes at the highest level and is able to represent Roncalli football on a national stage.”
Lauck’s high school career also was praised by Roncalli principal Kevin Banich and assistant athletic director Jason Sims.
During the past three years, the Royals compiled a 37-4 record with the 4A state championship in 2020, including three sectional, two regional, and one semistate championships.

First-year Roncalli Media Network sports broadcaster Jimmy Cook, foreground, was joined by his mentor and former “Voice of the Royals,” Rob Brown for the milestone 1.000th network broadcast last month when the Royals girls’ basketball team met visiting Whiteland. Brown, who retired after 15 seasons with RMN, served as the color commentator while Cook called the play-by-play. Brown remarked that “the ability to keep the Roncalli community connected to the school’s athletic program, from anywhere in the world, is the network’s greatest accomplishment.” RMN began broadcasting in fall 2007. Cook, with vast broadcast experience in college and the NBA, is the new on-air sports voice of the Royals. He praised the sponsors who make the RMN possible each year and the faithful Royal listeners. Then Cook enthusiastically said, “Here’s to 1,000 more.”
​​(SUBMITTED PHOTO)

(SOUTHSIDER VOICE PHOTOS BY STEVE PAGE)
Jaden Pinkston of Southport soars above two Crown Point defenders as he scores on a layup during Saturday’s home contest.

By Al Stilley
Editor

Beech Grove and Southport threw a big scare against their opponents but fell in the waning seconds Saturday in the annual Forum Tipoff Classic at historic Southport Fieldhouse.
Norwell outclassed Franklin Central in the third of six games, but the Flashes earned kudos for wearing warm-up T-shirts with the statement “Stop the Violence Indianapolis” on the front and “Hoosiers all the way” on the back.
Beech Grove, the reigning IHSAA Class 3A state champions, fought hard against undefeated 3A No. 2 North Daviess (5-0) before Jaylen Mullen hit two free throws with 14 seconds left to settle the opening matchup, 40-38.
Under first year coach Joe Rihm, the 3A No. 5 Hornets (3-2) controlled the early going against the taller Cougars’ zone defense until they hit a 0-for-13 frigid streak in the second quarter and into the third. Leading 16-11, BG fell behind at the half, 16-18 and did not score until Jeremiah Tate drove for a jumper that ended the Cougars 15-0 run.
Trailing 34-25 at end of the third stanza, determined BG stormed to a 38-36 lead on a 3 by Adrian Holland with 3:33 to go. The comeback was fueled by a tenacious man-to-man defense and seven points from Jeremiah Alexander.
With the game tied 40-40, 6-3 Logan Wilson blocked a Hornet drive to the bucket with Mullen hitting his freebies after being fouled three seconds later. Beech Grove fired a shot with 1.6 seconds left that didn’t hit the rim.
“We knew it would be a close game,” Rihm said. “When we settled for 3s, that hurt us on offense. Once we began to attack (third quarter), that’s what got us back into it. We started our comeback when we moved the ball and passed up good shots for great shots. That 15-0 run shows they (North Daviess) are a disciplined teame.
Tate and Alexander combined for 31 of 38 of the Hornets points. Holland added six off the bench.

CARDINALS FIGHT FROM BEHIND

 Southport, 4A No.20, struggled to find any kind of a lead against Crown Point as the visiting Bulldogs prevailed in the final minute, 65-59.
Coach Eric Brand’s Cardinals (3-2) led only twice in the first half, 2-0 and 16-14, and knotted up the sharp-shooting Bulldogs 40-40 in a frantic third quarter. Southport was done in by sharp-shooting Jack Svetich, 21 points, and A.J. Lux, 17 points.
Southport countered with lightning quick A.J. Dancler, game-high 28 points, and playmaker Keyon Miller, 11 points. The senior duo was able to rally the Cardinals in the final 10 minutes by penetrating the Bulldogs rugged zone defense at will.
In the fourth quarter, the ball-hawking Cardinals closed three times to within one point but couldn’t get the lead. Southport trailed 56-49 and closed to 60-59 before the Bulldogs scored on a fast break and hit three of four free throws in the final 28 seconds.
“We just didn’t guard like we’ve been guarding this season,” Brand observed afterward. “Defensively, we let their best players get the ball in the spots they wanted to get them. I’m disappointed we didn’t come out an compete like we have up to this game. We didn’t play our best basketball.”
Crown Point (4-1) hit a proficient 21 of 37 shots, 56.7 percent, while the Cards connected on 24 of 54, 44.4 percent.

NORWELL STUNS FLASHES

 The Flashes were a mystery team Saturday even to their veteran coach Criss Beyers as Norwell dominated, 78-43.
“That wasn’t the same team that we’ve had for four games; not the same team we had last night (Friday) when we played Ben Davis,” Beyers said outside the lockerroom. “They (Norwell) outplayed us in every facet of the game.”
The winless Flashes (0-5) led early 7-2 and for the last time 10-9 on Bryce Hoover’s 3-pointer. Senior Elijah Crockett scored 18 points for the Flashes.
Norwell (4-1) led 32-21 at halftime and totally dominated the third quarter for a 55-32 lead.