ANDERSON — Eddie VanMeter used patience and experience to his advantage to claim the International Outlaw Figure 8 Series event at Anderson Speedway on Friday night.
It was VanMeter’s first career IOFS victory, and he becomes the third winner in as many events thus far in 2009.
Twenty-three cars were on hand as the series made its first visit of the year to the unofficial home of the IOFS, Anderson Speedway. Current series point leader Gary Bedell was the Edco Welding fast qualifier with a lap of 16.957 seconds. Heat races went to: Johnny Magee, Eddie VanMeter and RJ Norton III.
A 15 pill was drawn just prior to the feature insuring that fans were in for a treat. Fast qualifier Gary Bedell would have to start no less than 15th in the 50-lap IOFS main event.
The front row would find Johnny Magee and Jeff Hizer taking the green flag from starter Ron Sheedy. Jeff Hizer got the jump and led the opening laps. Within seconds, the “X” began to get crowded. The leaders began encountering close calls as they wove through the slower cars. Rick Fenwick was beginning to work his way to the front with VanMeter trailing closely. The two would put on a driving exhibition as they worked around slower cars that were virtually all over the speedway. Fenwick took the lead near the lap 10 mark. Vanmeter began to challenge Fenwick who seemed to be getting around the lapped cars with ease.
Just after the halfway point, Fenwick was forced to the pits with a flat right rear tire. VanMeter now had to contend with Jeff Shackleford, who had started last in a backup car. VanMeter was able to get around lapped cars quickly the final 20 laps, holding on to claim his first-ever IOFS main event.
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VanMeter masters high banks
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PH moves on
On the roster of every successful team is a player or two who will do the unpleasant work. The ones who actually find satisfaction in this pursuit are worth their weight in wins to any coach. Pendleton Heights sophomore Kiawna Cottrell was just that player Tuesday as the Arabians advanced to the second round of sectional play with a 55-45 victory over Greenfield-Central.
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Indians slay Spartans
The last time these two girls basketball teams met on Jan. 17, Anderson defeated Connersville 83-74 in overtime. Lady Tribe coach Chad Cook knew the Spartans would come out with a chip on their shoulder ready for revenge in Tuesday’s opening round of the Class 4A sectional.
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Eagles eke by Raiders
Back in November, the Frankton girls basketball team handled Shenandoah by 29 points. Tuesday’s sectional opener at Shenandoah wasn’t as easy, but the end result was the same as Frankton moved on with a 44-43 win over the host Shenandoah Raiders.
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Wapahani ends Lapel’s season
With both teams scrapping for loose balls and rebounds often, the second game of the first-round girls basketball sectional Tuesday night at Shenandoah seemed destined to become a backyard brawl. And as is so often the case, the more experienced team came out on top. A sloppy but hard-fought contest turned into little more than a war of attrition late as finally Lapel ran out of gas, falling to Wapahani 49-33.
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Madison-Grant survives, advances
Madison-Grant girls basketball coach Kyle Douglas reminded his team before Tuesday’s Class 2A sectional opener that the state tournament marks the beginning of a new season. With 4.6 seconds remaining against Alexandria, Argylls senior Taylor McNutt held the first game of that new season in her hands at the free-throw line. She calmly made her first attempt, and wild scramble for the loose ball erupted when her second try glanced off the rim. The clock expired before either team could gain possession, and Madison-Grant (14-8) escaped with a 58-57 victory and a ticket to Round 2.
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Daleville bucks Liberty Christian, heads into Class A semifinals
Not much changed in Sectional 55 on Tuesday at Wes-Del as Daleville pressured the Lions into submission on the way to a 51-24 win and the chance to face the host Wes-Del Warriors.
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Tribe win over Spartans 50 - 46
Photos from the opening round of the Class 4A Sectional at Greenfield-Central on Tuesday.
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Arabians advance after 55-45 win over Cougars
Photos from the Greenfield-Central sectional as the Pendleton Heights Arabians faced the Cougars.
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Girls teams eye possible sectional titles
Many of this year’s girls basketball teams featured many young players on their rosters.
As a result, there was uncertainty about how many teams would contend for sectional titles. -
Boilers honor Lewis at halftime against IU
Purdue basketball fans took time out Saturday in the middle of a heated rivalry game with Indiana to honor Anderson High School graduate Troy Lewis, whose No. 23 jersey hangs from the rafters at Mackey Arena.
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