By Eric Eaton
Staff Writer

Frankfort – Clinton Prairie scored on its first possession of the game against Lafayette Jeff on January 29th to take a 3-2 lead.  However, it was all downhill from there as the visiting Bronchos scored the final 23 points of the opening quarter en route to a 71-28 thumping of the 1A Gophers.

The start of the game was delayed a by a half an hour due to weather and it wasn’t because of snow.  Severe thunderstorms rolled through the area and Clinton Prairie officials were forced to evacuate the gym when the school’s alarm sirens were triggered by local emergency management.

When the game finally commenced Jeff’s two standout guards, the Richardson cousins, felt quite at home.  Brandi and Charae Richardson combined to score 13 of the team’s 25 first-quarter points, as the Bronchos built an insurmountable 25-3 lead.  Seniors Lacey Roberts and Tara Perigo combined to score Jeff’s other 12 opening quarter points.

For the game, Charae Richardson totaled 19 points and Brandi added 15.  However, according to Bronchos coach Jan Conner it was their hustle that impressed her most in the route of the Gophers.

“What can you say about Brandi and Charae, I mean they are just awesome,” said Conner.  “They are deflecting passes, they are grabbing the ball.  You never see Brandi or Charae not getting a loose ball.  And, they don’t just grab it, they take it and go.  I was just as pleased as I could be at the both of them.”

Lafayette Jeff (12-9), which won for the 9th time in its last 12 games, will not play again until they open up sectional play on Friday February 8th.  The Bronchos opponent will be the sectional’s host, Logansport, who currently sports a 15-5 record.  Lafayette Jeff has not won a sectional in girls basketball since 1995.

Clinton Prairie (2-17), which lost its 12th straight game against the Bronchos, was led in scoring by the seven points from freshman Kara Werner. 

The Gophers will play their regular season finale on January 31st at West Lafayette before beginning sectional play on February 5th against Tri-Central (13-8) in the Frontier Sectional.

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