Last weekend, the Paoli Rams Basketball team, led by Coach Dusty Cole, won a Sectional Title, advancing them to the Regional game against Linton-Stockton this weekend. 

The team competed in Sectional 46 at Salem High School, alongside Clarksville, Crawford County, Mitchell, Salem, Eastern Pekin, and Providence. 

In the Rams’ first game, they faced the Crawford County Wolfpack and defeated them 68-36. Playing well for the Rams were seniors Dane Padgett and Treighlin Minton. Padgett has 16 points and five rebounds, and Treighlin Minton had nine points and seven rebounds. 

“We got off to a little slow start in the first quarter. I stressed not fouling too much early, and ultimately, I feel that caused us not to pressure the ball like we normally do, which led to a slow start.  But we adjusted and also learned from that mistake in the next two games.  We were very good the last three quarters and slowly pulled away.  I believe all 12 members of our sectional team scored in the game, which is unheard of,” said Head Coach Dusty Cole.

In game two, the Rams faced off against the Mitchell Bluejackets. The Rams had a very strong first half, which led to a victory by defeating the Bluejackets 77-36. This game was led by senior Kirk Hughes with 19 points, and junior Justin Thornton had 12 points and four rebounds.

“This was one of our best games of the year.  We got off to a great start and never looked back.  We had over 40 points off the bench, and overall it was a total team effort,” said Cole.

In game three for the Sectional Championship, the Rams took on the defending Sectional Champions, the Providence Pioneers. This was a big game for the Rams, who had been defeated by the Pioneers by one point the year prior, and they wanted a different outcome this season. 

“We heard all week about how strong their schedule was and how much difference that would make in the game.  Also heard so much talk about their defense all year,” said Cole.

Throughout the game, it was a low-scoring, high-defensive game, until late in the fourth quarter, the Rams’ offense exploded and went on a scoring run to end the game. The Rams won the Sectional Championship over the Pioneers, 45-28. The Rams were led by seniors Chad Sullivan and Cooper Spires. Sullivan had 12 points and five rebounds, and Spires had nine points. 

“From the tip, we took the battle to them and played well for 32 minutes.  We showed that our defense is just as good or better than Providence’s. We held Providence to 28 total points, and all teams only averaged 33 points a game against us in Sectional play,” said Cole.

This is the Rams’ first Sectional Championship since 2022.

“As always, it was different guys stepping up at different times for us. It’s been that way all year, and this tourney was no different. Ian (Sullivan) had great energy the whole tourney.  Landon (Smith), Colton (Baechle), Klay (Turner), and Kade (Walls) played well when they entered the game. Justin (Thornton) played really well the whole tournament and has really stepped up his game the last month or so. Dakota (Apple) had a good tourney as well,” said Cole.  “Overall, I thought we played our best basketball of the season during Sectional play.  All of our guys are in a really good spot.  We are confident and focused.  Everyone is working hard and doing everything they can to achieve a common goal.”

Junior Dakota Apple feels the team’s defensive play has made a difference in the team’s success. 

“I think defense is the key to the game, because it causes chaos for the other team, and stresses them out. And also gives our team energy to go on runs with scoring and helps us win games,” said Apple.

As a result of the three sectional games, the Rams had three players selected to the All-Sectional team, including seniors Dane Padgett and Chad Sullivan, and junior Dakota Apple. 

“I feel very honored to be selected to this team, knowing the effort it took to get here,” said Padgett.

This group of players is close-knit; the team consists of all upperclassmen, including eight seniors, and they have shown fans they can work well together.

“We have a special group this year, and they are doing special things.  They are a special group.  These guys are a coach’s dream, really.  They show up and are accountable.  They put in the work. They are unselfish. They have all made sacrifices for the good of the team.  It is a group that I, our program, our school, and our community will never forget.  People will be talking about this team for a long time.  We have a close group of boys this year, and it has certainly been fun to be a part of it.  We aren’t done just yet, though,” said Cole.

The Rams will travel to Seymour on Saturday to play the Linton-Stockton Miners. Linton is currently sitting with a record of 23-4 after winning Sectional 47 by beating Sullivan by a score of 54-49. 

“The whole team is pretty excited to be able to compete for a Regional Championship, and we want to continue to break records and make history,” said senior Cooper Spires.

Linton is a big and physical team and will be a good test for the Rams.

“We feel great about Regional. We are playing good basketball and enjoying the moment, but we are also preparing to win the Regional.  Linton is a good basketball team with a great tradition.  They have been very good for a long time.  They know how to win, and they expect to win.  Linton will be one of the most physical teams we’ve played to date.  Should be a great matchup.  Seymour is a wonderful basketball venue.  There is so much history there, and so many great games have been played there.  It is one of those places that you feel like it was built to host games like these.  It is a huge gym.  It will be exciting to take the team over to acclimate ourselves with the setup,” said Cole. 

Seymour’s Lloyd E. Scott Gymnasium is the second-largest high school basketball gym in the U.S., with a seating capacity of 8,228. The Rams will also be playing on the Donna Sullivan Court, a former Seymour coach and the great-aunt of Chad and Ian. 

“It will be very special playing on the court named after my aunt, knowing how hard she worked. And it would a honor to be able to win a Regional on that court,” said junior Ian Sullivan.

The last time the Rams won a Regional Championship was in 2000, the year after Coach Cole graduated from high school. Cole is ready to add another Regional win.

“It’s been 26 years since Paoli has won a basketball Regional.  We are a little overdue and hungry to end that drought,” said Cole. 

The Rams are looking forward to continuing their season at Regional on March 12, at 4 p.m.