TSI Player Spotlight: Eli Gilpin of South Ripley

On a chilly February night in Hanover, the stakes were crystal clear — an ORVC championship on the line. Undefeated 4-0 Southwestern Rebels hosted 3-0 South Ripley Raiders in a showdown that felt bigger than just another conference game.

This wasn’t just a battle for first place in the ORVC. It was a clash between two of the most electric sophomore guards in the league — Eli Gilpin and Andrew Nussbaum.

If you’ve followed Southern Indiana basketball, you know this matchup has history. Gilpin and Nussbaum aren’t just conference rivals — they’ve been Grassroots/AAU teammates since 4th grade. They are like family, won over 200 games together, and collected so many championships year after year. They know each other’s moves, tendencies, counters, and competitive fire better than just about anyone.

But on this night? There were no shared jerseys. Only pride.

From the opening tip, Gilpin came out blazing. Confident. Aggressive. In rhythm. He knocked down shots from deep, attacked the rim, and set the tone early. Even after picking up foul trouble and spending most of the second quarter on the bench, he never let the momentum slip.

When the final buzzer sounded on the 85-68 South Ripley victory, it was Gilpin who helped seal the deal — finishing with:

• 22 points

• 3 assists

• 3 steals

• 3 rebounds

Big-time players rise in big-time moments — and Gilpin delivered.

But make no mistake: this rivalry is far from over. Nussbaum has been having a breakout sophomore season of his own and is one of the most dynamic scoring underclassmen in the conference. If you think this was the last chapter between these two, think again.

Sectional time could bring another collision course. And the thought of these two battling for a championship with everything on the line? That’s the kind of storyline you can’t script any better.

The scary part?

They’re only sophomores.

Southern Indiana basketball fans — buckle up. This rivalry is just getting started.