Aces Battle To The Finish Against Salukis
UE drops 78-73 game at SIU
Marty Hill scored a game-high 20 points and Dainius Chatkevicius added a career-high of 13 points, but five Southern Illinois players reached double digits with the Salukis hanging on for a 78-73 win over the University of Evansville men’s basketball team on Saturday evening inside SIU Arena.
“I loved our fight tonight, we were ready to go. We never gave in and fought to the end. That is what I wanted to see,†UE head coach Walter McCarty said. “We were against a really good basketball team tonight and we were able to run our actions; we are growing as a basketball team. We are playing a lot of freshmen and sophomore and I am happy with the way they never gave up.â€
Hill had an efficient night for the Purple Aces (10-15, 4-8 MVC), posting his 20 points on 5-for-8 shooting and a 6-of-7 effort from the line. Chatkevicius led everyone with his 10 rebounds along with 13 points on the way to his second career double-double and his first of the season. K.J. Riley scored 11 points.
Leading SIU (13-12, 6-6 MVC) was Kavion Pippen, who scored 18 points. Aaron Cook was next with 15.
Evansville utilized the long ball to score its first six points of the game. Shamar Givance knocked down the first before John Hall connected to give UE a 6-5 lead at the 15:39 mark. The teams continued to swap the lead over the opening as four more lead changes led to a 16-15 lead for the Salukis at the midway point of the half.
Over the next five minutes, Southern Illinois used an 11-2 run to take a 27-17 advantage with under five minutes left in the period. They hit five out of eight shots in the run. Evansville made sure the edge for SIU did not get any higher as they scored the next eight points. Started off by a pair of K.J. Riley free throws, the Aces connected on their next three tries and got within a pair at 27-25. The Salukis connected on a triple at the buzzer to take a 35-30 halftime advantage.
Southern Illinois recorded the first six points of the second half, extending their lead to a game-high 41-30. Just as they did in the first half, the Aces came right back. Marty Hill scored five in a row to cut the gap to six before a dunk by Dainius Chatkevicius got UE back within four at 43-39 four minutes in.
Shea Feehan got the Aces even closer. Two minutes later, his triple made it a one-point game – 45-44. Evansville was never able to get the basket to give them the lead during that stretch. Southern Illinois increased its lead to 12 points (66-54) with three minutes on the clock. The Aces did not make things easy for SIU. Hill struck again with his third triple of the night before a Jawaun Newton layup one minute later cut the deficit to 66-60.
Evansville got even closer. In the final 20 seconds, Riley and Hill connected on 3-pointers that made it just a 3-point game, but two late free throws finished off the SIU win, making it a 78-73 final.
Both teams finished the game shooting 47.3%. UE took the rebounding edge by a 35-31 final.
Two home games are upcoming for the Aces when they welcome Missouri State to the Ford Center on Wednesday at 6 p.m. before UNI comes to town on Sunday, Feb. 17 for a 3 p.m. game.
USI Softball splits Day 2 at Chillout
No. 1 University of Southern Indiana Softball settled on a split to the second day of the UAH Charger Chillout Saturday. The Screaming Eagles began the day with a 5-1 win over host and No. 11 University of Alabama-Huntsville before seeing a 2-0 lead slip away in a 9-4 loss to Mississippi College.
Freshman Kat Mueller (Evansville, Indiana) went 4-for-6 with a pair of runs scored to lead the Eagles at the plate.
#1 USI 5, #11 Alabama-Huntsville (6-4) 1
USI (1-3) scored in the bottom of the first inning on an RBI fielder’s choice by junior outfielder Allison Schubert (Nicholasville, Kentucky), then scored three times in the second frame to take a 4-0 lead over the Chargers.
Senior second baseman Claire Johnson (Pittsboro, Indiana) had a sacrifice fly to put the Eagles up 2-0, while an error and another RBI by Schubert staked USI to the four-run lead.
USI went up 5-0 on an RBI-single by junior pitcher Jennifer Leonhardt (Louisville, Kentucky) in the fourth inning, while the Chargers’ lone tally came on an RBI-triple in the fifth.
Leonhardt (1-1) earned the win after giving up just one run off four hits and three walks. She had five strikeouts in the complete-game victory.
Eagles grounded by Flyers, 79-69
 University of Southern Indiana Men’s Basketball failed to complete its road trip sweep by falling to Lewis University, 79-69, Saturday afternoon in Romeoville, Illinois. The Screaming Eagles fall to 16-6 overall and 8-4 in the GLVC, while the Flyers go to 17-4, 9-3 GLVC.
The Eagles started slow, hitting only two of their first seven shots, and found themselves down by five points twice to the Flyers, 15-10 and 17-12. USI rallied with a 14-3 run to take control in the opening half, hitting six-of-seven shots during the run that started on a three-point bomb by senior guard/forward Nate Hansen (Evansville, Indiana) and concluded with a boom when sophomore forward Emmanuel Little (Indianapolis, Indiana) threw down a dunk to lead 26-20 with 5:39 to halftime.
The USI first half lead would increase to as many as 10 points, 35-25, before the Eagles went into the intermission ahead, 39-32.
Overall in the first half, USI shot 54.2 percent for the half (13-24) and held Lewis to 39.3 percent (11-28). Little led the Eagles during the first 20 minutes with 13 points on six field goals and a free throw, while senior guard Alex Stein (Evansville, Indiana) wasted little time getting his 100th career double-figure game with 11 first half points.
The second half started with a bang when USI junior guard/forward Kobe Caldwell (Bowling Green, Kentucky) sank a three-point bomb to push the Eagles’ lead back to 10 points, 42-32. Lewis, however, caught fire with an 11-0 run to surpass USI, 43-42, with 15:08 to play.
The Eagles responded with a 10-0 run of their own on four-straight buckets and got the lead back, 52-43. The nine-point advantage would be the Eagles’ last lead of the game as the Flyers exploded on a 20-4 surge that put Lewis up by seven twice, including a 63-56 margin with 5:56 left on the clock.
USI chipped away at the deficit, pulling to within three points, 63-60, with 3:59 on the clock when Hansen drained a three-point field goal. The three-point deficit would be as close as the Eagles would come the rest of the way as the Flyers sealed USI’s fate with a 13-4 run before the 79-69 final.
The Eagles’ shooters cooled in the second half, hitting only 34.4 percent (11-32) in the final stanza from the field, 25 percent from beyond the arc (4-16). USI also was outrebounded in the contest, 36-26.
Individually in the final box score, Stein led four USI double-figure scorers with 20 points and comes home to the Physical Activities Center needing 69 points to reach 2,000 career points. Little followed Stein in the scoring column with his 13 first half points, while Hansen and Caldwell finished with 12 points and 10 points respectively.
USI returns to the friendly surroundings of the PAC next week to start a four-game homestand and Homecoming. The Eagles starts the homestand Thursday when they host McKendree University for a 7:30 p.m. before finishing the first half of the four-game home set with Homecoming versus the University of Illinois Springfield Saturday at 3:15 p.m.
McKendree is 9-13 overall and 5-8 in the GLVC after splitting on the road this week, while Illinois Springfield was 0-2 on the road and watched its record go to 13-10, 6-7 GLVC.
USI leads the all-time series with McKendree, 10-7 overall and 8-1 in GLVC, since the start of the series in 1970-71 and the Bearcats entrance into the GLVC in 2012-13. The Eagles, who lead the series at the PAC, 4-0, took last year’s match-up, 86-56, at McKendree and was led by the 22-point performance by forward DayJar Dickson.
USI has the series advantage versus Illinois Springfield, 10-4 overall and 7-3 in the GLVC, since the beginning of the match-ups in 2002-03 and the Prairie Stars entrance into the GLVC in 2009-10. The Eagles, who hold a 7-1 advantage in the series at the PAC, lost to the Stars last year in Springfield, Illinois, 79-70, despite the double-double, 23 points and 10 rebounds, by Little.
USI Women’s Basketball falls to Lewis
University of Southern Indiana Women’s Basketball suffered a 97-54 Great Lakes Valley Conference setback to host Lewis University Saturday afternoon.
The Screaming Eagles (15-7, 8-4 GLVC) simply ran into a buzz saw as the Flyers shot 54.7 percent (35-64) from the field while sinking 15-of-28 (.536) shots from behind the arc.
USI, meanwhile, could not get much done offensively in the second and fourth quarters as the Eagles were a combined 8-of-29 (.276) from the floor during those periods and 21-of-57 (.368) for the game.
How it happened
After rallying from a five-point deficit to tie the game at 13-13 midway through the opening quarter, the Eagles were outscored 10-4 throughout the final four minutes of the first period.
Lewis (20-2, 11-1 GLVC) outscored the Eagles 19-6 in the second quarter as it held USI to just 3-of-17 (.176) shooting in the period to take a 42-23 halftime advantage. The Eagles came up on the short end of a high-scoring third quarter that saw the Flyers extend their lead to 75-43 heading into the fourth quarter.
97 points
Lewis’s 97 points marked the most points given up by a USI Women’s Basketball team since giving up 101 in a triple-overtime loss to the University of Indianapolis January 22, 2011. It was the most points the Eagles have given up in a regulation game since surrendering 100 points to Lake Superior State University in the opening round of the NCAA II Great Lakes Region Tournament March 12, 2004. The 43-point loss was USI’s worst setback since falling to Northern Kentucky, 89-38, late in the 1990-91 season.
Leaders
Sophomore forward Imani Guy (Columbus, Indiana) had 13 points and 11 rebounds to lead USI, while senior guard Alex Davidson (Salem, Indiana) and sophomore guard Emma Dehart (Indianapolis, Indiana) each finished with 10 points.
Senior forward Jessica Kelliher had 23 points and nine rebounds to lead the Flyers. Kelliher became the GLVC’s all-time leading scorer with 2,511 career points in the win.
Stolen Vehicle Recovered during Traffic Stop, Newburgh Woman Arrested
Warrick County – Early this morning at approximately 2:05, Trooper Otolski was patrolling Frame Road near Bice Lane when he stopped a 2002 Pontiac Grand Am for a license plate light violation. Otolski also noticed that the expiration year sticker had been altered. The driver was identified as Ashley A. Kratzer, 23, of Newburgh. Further investigation revealed Kratzer was wanted out of Warrick County for an outstanding warrant and the vehicle had been reported stolen out of Evansville. A search of the vehicle discovered drug paraphernalia. Kratzer was arrested and taken to the Warrick County Jail where she is currently being held on bond.
Arrested and Charges:
- Ashley A. Kratzer, 23, of Newburgh, IN
- Vehicle Theft, Level 6 Felony
- Operating a Vehicle Without Ever Receiving a Driver’s License, Class C Misdemeanor
- Driving While Suspended, Class A Misdemeanor
- Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Class C Misdemeanor
Impaired Drivers kept Evansville Troopers busy during last 13 hours
During the last 13 hours, troopers at Evansville arrested four impaired drivers in Gibson and Pike Counties. Three impaired drivers were arrested on I-69 and two of the drivers were under the influence of marijuana.
According to the National Highway Traffic Administration, approximately one-third of all traffic crash fatalities in the United States involve drunk drivers. On average over the 10-year period from 2006-2016, more than 10,000 people died every year in drunk-driving crashes.
The Indiana state Police are committed to traffic safety and will continue to aggressively patrol to apprehend impaired drivers and to deter others from drinking and driving.
Arrested and Charges:
| Gibson County – Friday afternoon, February 8, at approximately 4:00, Trooper Tyler Widner responded to a vehicle crash with injury on I-69 at the 22mm. Further investigation revealed the driver was under the influence of alcohol. The individual failed to identify herself and resisted arrest. She was transported to St. Vincent Hospital where a chemical test revealed she had a BAC of .22%. She was arrested and taken to the Gibson County Jail.
Emily A. Dunaway, 36, Vincennes, IN
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Pike County – Friday night, February 8, at approximately 8:45, Trooper Manning stopped Carlos X. Rosario Vazquez, 21, of Washington, for driving while suspended on I-69. Marijuana was located during the traffic stop. Further investigation revealed Rosario Vazquez exhibited signs of impairment. A chemical test was conducted and he tested positive for marijuana. He was arrested and taken to the Gibson County Jail.
Carlos X. Rosario Vazquez, 21, Washington, IN
- Driving While Intoxicated, Class C Misdemeanor
- Possession of Marijuana, Class B Misdemeanor
Pike County – Friday night, February 8, at approximately 11:17, Trooper Boeckman stopped Spencer Walker, 45, of Monroe City, for failing to signal near Main Street and 9th Street in Petersburg. Further investigation revealed Walker had a BAC of .21%. He was arrested and taken to the Pike County Jail.
Spencer Walker, 45, Monroe City, IN
- Driving While Intoxicated, Class A Misdemeanor
Pike County – Early Saturday morning, February 9, at approximately 4:30, Trooper Hunter Manning stopped a vehicle on I-69 near the 51 mm for a headlight violation. During the traffic stop marijuana was located. Further investigation revealed the driver, Tracy Spicuzza, 47, of Greenwood, had been smoking marijuana. A chemical test was later conducted and she tested positive for marijuana. She was arrested and taken to the Pike County Jail.
Tracy Spicuzza, 47, Greenwood, IN
- Driving While Intoxicated, Class C Misdemeanor
- Possession of Marijuana, Class B Misdemeanor
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Arresting Officers: Trooper Hunter Manning, Trooper CJ Boeckman and Trooper Tyler Widner
 All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Suit Seeks To Require Counsel For Kids In CHINS Cases
The suit claims the failure to routinely appoint counsel to children in Indiana CHINS and TPR cases violates their rights to due process and equal protection under the 14th Amendment. The complaint also says that although Indiana allows the children in CHINS and TPR proceedings to be appointed legal counsel, the appointment is not mandatory as it is in more than 30 states.
“It is unlikely that a child who has been placed in dependency proceedings by the government will know that he or she has a right to be heard unless that right is explained to the child by an attorney,†the complaint says. “Even when a child knows his or her rights, without an attorney, the child is likely to give up and remain silent if his or her wishes are downplayed or disregarded at any point in the proceedings.â€
The suit is brought by the Children’s Advocacy Institute, a nonprofit operated by the University of San Diego School of Law, the San Francisco-based law firm of Morrison Foerster LLP and local counsel Kathleen DeLaney of DeLaney & DeLaney LLC in Indianapolis
Delaney said in a statement that “systemic reform is needed to remedy the profound problems facing Indiana foster children†and that “fixing a glaring problem inside the courtroom, by providing legal representation to foster kids, is an obvious first step.â€
Morrison & Foerster lawyer Steve Keane said: “every child in dependency proceedings needs a voice and a way to protect his or her legal rights before his or her fate is adjudicated – that is a basic due process right protected by the constitution.â€
Spokespeople did not immediately reply to a message seeking comment from the Indiana Attorney General’s Office, which would represent named defendants Lake, Marion and Scott counties in this litigation.
Indiana courts often appoint guardians ad litem or court-appointed special advocates to represent the interests of children in CHINS and TPR proceedings, but the suit says this isn’t enough. “Empirical studies have shown that children who are not represented by counsel are routinely erroneously deprived of their most fundamental protected interests, even when they have an appointed GAL or CASA,†the complaint says.
The lawsuit is filed in Southern Indiana District Court just as the Indiana General Assembly is considering numerous child-welfare reform bills and as Indiana appellate courts have shown growing frustration with the denial of rights to stakeholders in CHINS and TPR cases.
“The absolute discretion that Indiana trial courts currently have in appointing counsel for children results in inconsistent, unpredictable outcomes that leave children with no voice and no one to advocate for their legal rights,†the complaint says. “It is no wonder that the Indiana Court of Appeals recently stated that ‘there are repeated, significant violations of the due process occurring in termination of parental rights cases throughout this state. This is a disturbing trend given the fundamental rights at issue in these types of cases,’†the complaint says, citing A.A. v. Ind. Dep’t of Child Servs., 100 N.E.3d 708, 709 (Ind. Ct. App. 2018). “The court further stated that ‘[g]iven the fundamental due process rights at issue in termination of parental rights cases, affording litigants these fundamental due process rights is essential, including not only the litigants but also their children.’â€
TO QUIT SMOKINGÂ
TO QUIT SMOKING
GAMUTÂ By Jim Redwine
My grandfather smoked a pipe. Every Christmas his seven children and numerous grandchildren filled Grandpa’s stocking with tins of crimp-cut Granger tobacco. Grandpa smoked only Granger because he was a working man who also, along with Grandmother, eked out a living on a tiny hardscrabble farm. Grandpa did not drink, swear or hug his kids nor his grandkids nor did he talk, other than to nod at Grandma to get dinner on or to sternly tell a grandkid to not slide on the cellar door or to get out of the cherry tree. Pretty much what he did was work and smoke his pipe. He died of cancer.
Grandmother did not smoke herself but still died of cancer after living with Grandpa from the time she was sixteen through all those kids and grandkids, many of whom smoked. Grandpa, Grandma and my mother, who was the first-born child, traveled to Oklahoma by covered wagon in 1915. There was precious little relief to be had from the struggle to live and raise a family. Smoking was cheap and ubiquitous; until near the end of the 20th Century about the only warning about possible harm from tobacco was the folksy admonition to young people that it would “stunt your growthâ€. This was countered by the constant drumbeat of the Marlboro Man and movie stars who hardly did a scene without a cigarette dangling from their lips. You may recall that 1978 hippie anthem by Little Feat about sharing a marijuana joint: Don’t Bogart that joint my friend, Pass it over to me. Humphrey Bogart and almost every other hero of the silver screen was famous for smoking. He died of cancer at age 57.
When I started college at Oklahoma State University in 1961 I did not smoke, but everybody who was cool did. In order to be a real college student, I had to teach myself to smoke by practicing in front of a mirror in my dorm room. Yes, smoking was allowed almost everywhere, even in the classes at the option of the professor. One of my literature professors would get so involved in his lectures he would sometimes have three burning cigarettes lying in the chalk rail.
My parents both smoked and both died with cancer. Of the four children in my family, three smoked and one never did. The one who never smoked has never had cancer.
Now, what’s this column all about? Well, it is not an anti-smoking diatribe. If you or anyone else wishes to smoke, drink, whatever, I am not seeking the role of hall monitor. This is America. Do what you choose as long as you do not harm others. No, what this column is about is the smoker who was so addicted to tobacco he left his baby in a basket on a train as he stepped out to have a smoke.
This happened in Cleveland, Ohio on January 12, 2019, on the Regional Transit Authority train. When the father left his baby and stepped off the train the doors closed and the train took off for the next station. You can imagine the father’s panic.
It turned out okay as the engineer was informed and then returned the train to where the father was. The baby was fine. My guess is that when the baby’s mother heard about the event, she engaged in an intensive stop smoking intervention with the father. Maybe he won’t follow in Bogart’s footsteps.
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