Both of these games couldn't have been more opposite from each than they were.  

Noblesville 67, Zionsville 49

A tight first quarter was spread open a bit in the 2nd quarter, Noblesville taking control of the game.  The 3rd quarter saw Noblesville nearly double their lead, and by the 4th, there was no fight left in Zionsville.

  • Noblesville sophomores Justin Curry and Baron Walker were tremendous hounding Zionsville's two leading scorers, Maguire Mitchell and Drew Snively.  
    • Curry and Walker are among the best defenders in the sophomore class.  Mitchell and Snively are both outstanding offensive players.  Mitchell seems on track to be a Junior all-star.
    • Walker and Curry also lead the way offensively in the first quarter, showing versatility in scoring, especially finishing at the rim. 
  • Seniors Aaron Fine and Hunter Walston got going in the 2nd quarter, and defensively Noblesville remained just as stingy.  
  • Zionsville has struggled all year without a legitimate primary ball handler, and it showed vs. Noblesville.  With no one to take pressure off of their big two, there are times they're simply hunting each other.  
    • Jackson Tielker and Luke Reasoner both hits 1st quarter 3PTers.  Tielker is certainly a consistent threat but can be run off the line.

Fishers 54, Carmel 41

Fishers jumped out to an early 12-0 lead, and while the game never got closer than three possessions, after Carmel sustained the first punch, Fishers didn't put them away until the final minutes. 

  • As great of a year Cooper Zachary has had, the freshman point guard struggled vs. Carmel, mostly Ryan Clevenger's physical pressure.  Enter Keenan Garner.  The 6'6" senior, who was outstanding in their regular season loss to Carmel, was able to find a bigger role to open the game vs. Carmel. 
    • Fishers inverted their offense.  Garner served as their primary ball handling, putting Carmel's defense in a rare uncomfortable situation.  
    • Garner expertly ran pick and roll with JonAnthony Hall, 6'2" junior guard, and Hall was able to lose help defenders, as Carmel struggled to tag the roll man early.  
    • Zachary was still a presence, pushing tempo in transition, hitting open shots.
  • Fishers' defense was stifling.  They were able to extend Carmel's offense, which typically relishes spacing, into uncomfortable positions.  
  • Carmel didn't go down without a fight.  Alex Couto started to get free, and the 5'10" junior continued to show improved playmaking off the dribble.  Evan Harrell, 6'7" sophomore forward, who struggled in the 1st quarter, started to get some traction in the 2nd.  
    • Carmel could get no closer than eight points, despite having the ball several times down nine.  They never did score in those situations.
  • Role players matter.  Miller McCartney, 6'3" junior, hit two huge, early 3PTers.  Hall, Justin Kirby, 6'3" junior guard, and Jason Gardner, 6'0" freshman, were outstanding defensively.  Kirby added some offense to the equation as well.  
    • Taden Metzger hit some big 3PTers.  It seemed like he got loose anytime Fishers truly needed to stop momentum.  

 

 

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