With another Christmas season behind us and New Year’s Eve and Day festivities just ahead for most, let’s wrap up another year with a final Shots in the Darke for 2024!
First, this public service announcement on behalf of the Greenville High School Athletic
Department—
The fifth annual “Night of Champions” recognition will be held Saturday, January 4th
between the boys’ junior varsity and varsity basketball games against Eaton’s Eagles.
Championship teams honored this year include the following:
1971 MVL undefeated football champions
1978 SWBL girls track and field
1980 SWBL baseball
1982 GMVC boys golf
1985 GMVC girls cross country
1988 GMVC and District girls track and field
2001 GMVC boys tennis
2012 GWOC North Cheerleading
If you know any members of these squads, make sure to remind them of the night’s
activities. Honorees are asked to register in the study hall off of the main gym entrance
between 6:00-7:00, with introductions around 7:15 for what has become a popular event on the GHS sports calendar.
How about a quick update on a few area high school basketball teams who have gotten off
to great starts this season? Versailles’ boys are 7-0 following a win over previously unbeaten Tipp City Saturday night, while fellow MAC members Delphos St. John and Marion Local remain undefeated, the Blue Jays at 8-0 and the Flyers at 5-0. Marion’s girls stand 9-0 with a strong St. Henry’s team at 8-1 following a loss to the Lady Flyers.
In the WOAC, Franklin-Monroe’s boys are now 10-0, while the Patriots of Tri-Village are 7-1. The two teams seem to be on a collision course to a meeting in New Madison on January 24th. In girls’ play, Mississinawa Valley, with four starters averaging in double figures, is 10–0 and hosts arch-rival Ansonia, a good 6-2 team, Thursday evening.
Vandalia-Butler remains unbeaten at 8-0 to pace the MVL Miami Division with Tipp, a perfect 6-0 in league action, while Sidney, at 6-1, paces the Valley Division. Greenville’s 1-7 Wave have two home games this weekend as winless Piqua provides the opposition Friday night with Eaton, as previously mentioned, coming to town Saturday with high-scoring Connor Bach suited up. The Lady Wave, at 4-5 overall, trail undefeated Butler in league play, with Stebbins and Sidney having strong years in the Valley Division.
As the NCAA football bowl season rolls on, let’s take a look at some of the better games
played so far. I think we can omit the first round of the playoffs, as each of those contests was mostly non-competitive, but there were definitely some interesting games in the lesser bowls.
If I don’t have a rooting interest in one of the teams, I always pull for the underdog, particularly if I don’t know anything about them. Here are my five favorites to date:
The first of three overtime games saw Northern Illinois defeat Fresno State 28-20 in two
extra periods in the Famous Idaho Bowl on the 23rd. The next day, South Florida overcame
San Jose State 41-39 in FIVE overtimes in the Hawai’i Bowl, while on the 26th, Toledo knocked off Pitt 48-46 in the GameAbove Sports Bowl in an incredible SIX overtimes. Even the officials should have gotten some NIL money after working those games!
The other two games that caught my attention were Navy’s 21-20 win over Oklahoma in the Armed Forces Bowl, the Midshipmen stopping a two-point Sooners conversion attempt with six seconds remaining, and the Iowa State victory over Miami (FL) by a 42-41 count in the Pop-Tarts Bowl. What was unusual about that contest was the Hurricane’s starting QB playing only the first half and then sitting out the second to prevent possible injury as he’s projected to be a high first-round NFL draft pick. Have to think that his fellow teammates and fans were a little put off by that!!
Finally, former President Jimmy Carter passed away Sunday at the age of 100. Regardless
of your feelings for him as a politician and leader, he was a man of faith and conviction and he and his late wife were major influences in Habitat for Humanity and human rights following his time in Washington. The late former Georgia governor and President will be missed by many.
Here’s to a Happy New Year’s to all; may you have a safe, healthy, and meaningful 2025!!
And don’t worry if some of your resolutions fall short of being fulfilled!!