I made the near 2 hour trip up to Greenfield Central on Wednesday night for 2 big time matchups. The game I came to see was #6 undefeated host, Greenfield Central Cougars against the 4A #15 Anderson Indians. The game did not disappoint and was worth the drive. Anderson started out patient on offense against the GC zone with junior all star candidate Damien King nailing 3s when given space. King even made a 3 as the halftime buzzer sounded to give the Indians a small lead going into the locker. The 3rd quarter was a rock fight with both teams defending hard and valuing each possession. The game was rough for both sides as the officials let them play for the most part. Anderson also led going into the 4th but then it became Jr. Cougar, Braylon Mullins time. He did what it took down the stretch on offense while the Indians went ice cold on their side. The Cougars grinded this game out down the stretch with a 50-44 win continuing their magical season.
● 6'5 Jr. 2 guard Braylon Mullins got face-guarded, doubled, beat up, held, grabbed, and still managed to find his average ppg tonight with 26. I've seen him for years with Indiana Elite but this is my first time seeing him play with his school- ball team. Bray took over when he needed to in the 4th quarter. The Cougars have multiple capable pieces but when it's a close game and it comes down to winning time, Mullins is tough to stop. His size enables him to see and shoot over defenses. His length and athleticism allows him to rebound well for his position while still being shifty enough to get around defenders. Bray is a legit Mr. Basketball candidate going into next season and has helped put Greenfield on the map. It will come for him but before entering college he's going to need to add some size and muscle to his frame. He's come a long way since first seeing him play in 7th grade. Bray finished with 26 pts, 9 rbs, and 3 stls.
● 6'5 Anderson wing Damien King looked like one of the better players in the entire state the first half of tonight's game. King was on fire from 3 and was totally engaged on both ends. King cooled off in the 2nd but it was obvious what he's capable of becoming. He threw down a thunderous ally oop on a fast break that brought the Anderson side to their feet. With Miami (OH) in the house looking at him (and Richmond junior, Cedric Horton the game before) King put on a show that is certain to get him more looks and offers. Damien is another kid in a talented 2025 class that is a strong candidate for a Junior All Star spot come June. The only cause for pause I noticed on King was that there were times he seemed somewhat disengaged and didn't take the initiative in the 2nd half. Damien finished with 24 pts and 8 rbs. His teammates and fellow classmate, Javon Warfield had a strong game as well with 15 pts.
Anderson concludes their season with a 18-6 record but with King and Warfield back, as well as talented 8th graders, Don and Ray Bowling the Indians wont be going away. The Cougars move to 23-0 and hope to keep the good times rolling into Friday night against a Muncie Central team who upset Richmond in the first game of the night.
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.
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.
Thr two Hoosier Hills Conference champions kicked off the Sectional @ Seymour on Tuesday night as the host Owls took on thr Jeffersonville Red Devils. Seymour had beaten Jeff in a previous matchup in December but without junior all State candidate, Tre Singleton. Tre was definitely an X factor tonight as the game was never in question from the opening tip. The Red Devils were just bigger and better, playing bully ball down low with Tre and fellow junior PJ Douglas. Seymour had no answer as Jeffersonville pulled away to avenge their only conference loss, 45-27.
● 6'8 Jeff junior Tre Singleton is becoming the player I've expected all year. Tonight he was a force inside that couldn't be stopped and Jeffersonville even made it a point to feed him the ball. There was a time Singleton demanded the ball which I haven't seen this year. Seymour junior Jaylan Johnson was all over him much of the game but once Tre got the ball it didn't matter. He has an array of post moves and spins and even an outside shot. Things will get tougher down the road if Jeff continues to advance but nobody in this Sectional should have an answer to Tre. He opens up the outside game for guys like senior Jermey Rose and junior Michael Cooper by being a willing passer out of the double. He finished with 19 pts and affected numerous Seymour shots and drives to the basket. Friday should provide an entertaining matchup against Floyd Central big man, Brock Conrad.
● 6'3 junior Jaylan Johnson was a bright spot for the Owls on Tuesday night. Despite being an undersized big Johnson battled with Singleton down low and did what he could offensively. Johnson is an athletic kid that looks to be just coming around on the basketball court (he's a good football player as well). With another summer Jaylan should come into next year as one of the sectionals better and most athletic players. He needs to work on his 10-12 ft. jump shot but down low he is hard to handle. Tonight Jaylan finished with 11 in his final game of the season.
The Owls finish one of their best seasons in recent memory, 18-5 while sharing the conference title for the 1st time ever. The Red Devils despite their record, which is now 16-7 are one of the better and most dangerous teams down south, especially if they can get Tre Singleton involved like they did last night. Jeff moves on to take on the Highlanders of Floyd Central at 6:00 on Friday.
Two of the better teams in their respective classes met up down south in Orleans on Friday night. The Bulldogs came in 19-2 and the current #3 team in 1A. The soon #1 ranked Brownstown Braves came in with a 20-4 record while only 1 of those losses was with Mr. Basketball candidate Jack Benter. From the opening quarter Brownstown completely took control of this game running on all cylinders. Their 3 pt. game was on fire and their 1-3-1 defense looked very strong. And sorry to say for the rest of 2A, senior Jack Benter looked near back to 100%. You would think seeing the score that Orleans just laid down this game. This was not the case at all. The Bulldogs played tough defense and made Brownstown hit tough shots, which they did. By halftime it was all over but the final margin. The Braves are much more than Jack Benter but make no mistake, he elevates them to championship favorites in 2A. It's not far fetched to say they are the best team South of Indianapolis this year.
● 6'5 Purdue commit Jack Benter did more Jack Benter things tonight. He hit contested shots and got to the basket, all while being played very physical. You've heard of Steph Curry making things looks Stephort-less. Jack makes things look Benter-less. His outside shots look like just a quick flick of the wrist and you think it's going to be short but more than not, seem to go in. Benter also made the best pass I've seen anyone make all year ij transition so his vision is top level as well. He did have a few unnecessary turnovers that I'd like to see cleaned up but that's nitpicking a 30 point W and 25 point game. For anyone thinking Jack will be out of his league at Purdue in the Big Ten; I would say it takes no more than a year for him to see meaningful minutes for the Boilers.
● 6'6 junior big Colby Hall had an excellent game for the Braves. In the first half he was nearly unstoppable with his spin moves inside and hitting open jumpers from the outside. Hall is not going to "wow" you with poster dunks or deep three's but this kid is very good at what he does and perfect for this team. He's not a stick figure at 6'6 either. He is a strong kid with quick flinches. He has been playing on the inside all his life so his post moves and spins come very natural to him. He was also very effective on top of Brownstown's 1-3-1 defense. What Hall has been working on is his outside shot and that has come along very nicely. In fact, on a team full of shooters I certainly wouldn't leave him open. He actually may be more suited as a stretch 4 or a small lineup 5 for a 5-out lineup where everyone can run and shoot. Colby is a legit Junior All Star candidate and I wouldn't be surprised to see him in the lineup come June. Hall finished with 16 pts and 8 rbs.
● 6'1 point guard Parker Hehman is the glue, motor, engine, whatever you want to call it for this Braves team. He rarely makes mistakes or turnovers and provides leadership for a team that is the favorites to cut down the nets in Indy next month. I saw him yell at a teammate, not in a demeaning way but to help let them know what to do and what he wanted. Parker is the definition of a coach on the floor and when you're playing for Dave Benter, that means something. He's a tough defender and strong despite only being 6'1. Everyone else on their team seems to be 6'4 or taller but he doesn't stand out as being shorter. Hehman is also a knockdown shooter that I believe could play in the NAIA level. Not sure what his status is for college ball but college coaches are missing out if they don't seriously take a look at Parker. If you're a coach and you're reading this, consider this your sign to take a look at Parker Hehman from Brownstown. Tonight he scored 13 pts with 8 asssits.
● 6'0 Orleans junior guard Rylan Crocker came to play tonight. He was unafraid of the moment and went down fighting. He is another kid despite his size is a tough kid that makes tough shots. He came in as the Bulldogs leader scorer and I can see why. He knocks down mid range jumpers and three's on a consistent basis. I imagine he has played up with this group of Orleans seniors for years and it's paying off. His scoring average should take a big jump up next season. If Orleans wants to make one good tourney run coming up, Rylan will be providing a good share of the points. Tonight he had 17.
Brownstown opens up sectional play on Wednesday against Henryville at Southwestern (Hanover) while Orleans travels to Logoottee to face off against Shoals on Friday.
Traditional power New Albany made the hour trip up north to face the #2 in 2A Brownstown Braves (my personal #1). The Dogs really competed hard in that first quarter and hung with the Braves only down 1. The only problem for New Albany was stopping Brave senior Jack Benter who had 17 of Brownstown's 20 points. Jack was hitting contested shots and getting most anything he wanted throughout the game. New Albany simply does not have the size at the guard position to deal with Benter. I imagine alot of teams felt that way about the Bulldogs from 2015- 2018 with Sean East and Romeo Langford. Brownstown extended their lead to 15 by half. The Dogs had one last run in them cutting it to 5 in thr 3rd quarter but senior Parker Hehman along with Benter was too much and the Braves won going away, 84-60. New Albany will be back on top again with a loaded middle school program coming up but this just may be the best team Brownstown has ever had.
● What can you say that hasnt already been said about 6'5 senior Brave Jack Benter? Outside of a 6'9 McDonald's All American monster in Kokomo, IN. he's arguably the best player in Indiana and future Purdue Boilermaker. He simply is bigger and stronger at this level. He hits contested shots consistently and has volleyball line range from deep. He's also sneaky athletic with good vision. It will take a year of adjusting to thr Big Ten but come his sophomore year in college, he'll be a contributer for a strong Boilermaker team. Tonight Benter had 39 on his way to moving into 18th all time in Indiana scoring history. He currently stands at 2,337 pts.
● 6'0 point guard Parker Hehman is the unsung hero for this Braves squad. Benter gets all the love and deservedly so but Hehman is the perfect compliment. He is a steady point guard and is a knock down shooter. He is like another coach on the floor and rarely turns the ball over. Losing Benter and Hehman next year will obviously hurt but I would absolutely have them as the favorites to cut down the nets in Indy in another month. Tonight Parker ended up with 17 pts.
● 6'4 junior lefty Rylan Schrink had himself a good game for the Dogs tonight. Schrink is a kid that can handle the ball well for his size and hit the open mid range with ease. He's long enough where he can finish in traffic and cause problems for the offense on the defensive end. Rylan has one of the best shots in southern Indiana. Tonight he finished with 17 to lead New Albany in scoring.
● 6'5 wing athlete Chris Lampkins found himself on the floor with someone as athletic as him tonight (Jack Benter). Chris got going in the 2nd quarter after a quiet first. What Chris brings is instant energy both on offense and defense. He's very active around the glass and has some nice moves to get to the basket. He is continuing to improve on his shot making which will improve after a summer of high level aau ball. Going forward if thr Dogs want to cut down the nets at Seymour the Saturday after next, Lampkins will be a big reason why. Tonight he had 12.
Brownstown is on the road to close out their regular season on Friday at Orleans while New Albany faces their first round sectional opponent tomorrow night at the Doghouse.
The newly #1 3A ranked Scottsburg made the trip over to North Vernon to take on the Jennings County Panthers. The Panthers came into this game losing their last 3 but were determined to make a statement on their senior night. This Jennings team is alot better than their 10-12 record would indicate. JC came out firing from 3 and carving up the Warriors zone early on. The Warriors had to fight and claw their way back all half and actually took a 3 point lead into the locker room thanks to a last second Jack Miller three. Scottsburg held Jr. All star candidate Carter Kent to just 4 in the 1st half but that certainly changed. On his way to a game- high 24 pts Kent torched the Warriors in the 2nd with his shooting, ball handling, and passing. JC took a small lead into the 4th when senior Dorian Hacker hit a couple of big 3s on his way to 12 pts. to give JC some breathing room. Junior Logan Napier contributed two 3s early on as well and Sr. Austin Bryford had 8 big points to give the Panthers the upset win, 62-49.
● 6'0 junior Panther guard Carter Kent had another really strong overall game. I've seen him multiple games and the kid is the real deal. He has to work hard at times to get the ball and once he does, he is a willing passer with underrated vision, can hit you with the stepback 3, or drive to the basket. There were times in the 1st half he passed up some midrange jumpers to get others better shots. The 2nd half Kent was going to get his because that's what the Panthers needed to pull the upset. Kent also drew the attention of multiple Warrior defenders and did what he does. I haven't seen one guy completely shut him down. When Kent and senior Cole Sigler are open for 3, you can count it. JC is a real sleeper in sectional 15 having an ideal draw and if they do make it back to back sectional titles it will be because of Kent. Tonight he finished with 24.
● 6'3 Warriors guard Kody Clancy showed once again why he's one of the more underrated players in the entire state. Clancy knows how to lead a team and is a lights out shooter. He has shown all year his ability to get to the basket. Kody will be making a college coach real happy soon by committing. He would be a great fit for the Crossroads League at the NAIA level. Any level below that is an absolute steal. Clancy finished with a team-high 20 pts.
● 6'5 Scottsburg guard/wing Jack Miller had a really solid game too. His outside shot is becoming more reliable and his midrange has always been money. He is very athletic and cuts to the basket hard on his drives. Miller runs very well off cuts and screens to get his shot. His dad will benefit greatly for having Jack at Hanover for the next 4 years. Miller finished tonight with 15 pts. This Scottsburg season has been many years in the making and their Big 3 of Clancy, Miller, and 6'9 senior Wyatt Zellers are going to need to carry them through sectionals, potentially regionals, another semi state, and beyond to Indy. Caden Richardson, Dare Bowles, and Garrett Boling are also going to have to make contributions when needed.
Jennings Co. finishes off their regular season at Franklin on Friday while Scottsburg hosts their senior night Friday against Mitchell.
The number 1 ranked Eagles visited the suddenly surging Jeffersonville Red Devils. Jeff's overall record is a mere 12-7 but come in winning 5 of their last 6 despite losing junior point guard, Shawn Boyd. EC came out unafraid and looking to knock off a 4A giant. They started out hot and went on to lead after the 1st quarter, 16-15 thanks to 10 pts from Sr. Josiah Dunham. The Eagles continued to lead through the 2nd quarter as well until Jeff Sr. Jeremy Rose hit a last second 3 to put Jeff up 1 going into the break. The 2nd half was played at the Red Devils pace and their press swayed the game in their favor. They look very good when they're getting their offense off their defense and running. The lead kept extending for the rest of the game as Jeff won comfortably by a score of 67-48.
● 6'8 Jr. Red Devil Tre Singleton played his best game I've seen him play all year. He was aggressive on the boards and on the offensive end. Tre was unselfish but at the same time went and got his. Singleton stepped outside and shot the 3 ball and when he got within 2-3 feet of the basket, he rose up and dunked it. This is what I've been wanting to see out of him, some aggressiveness and anger when getting to the rim. When they get Tre the ball down low good things happen. He draws doubles and finds cutters, you guard him one v. one he can spin past his defender and finish underneath. He is consistently hitting the open jump shot. Tre is also genuinely happy for his teammates when they're scoring or making a play, which can be a rare thing when you're as good as he is at the high school level. Singleton finished with 17 pts.
● 6'4 Jeff Jr. PJ Douglas had an effective game, like he does most every game. PJ never gets rattled or hurts his team. He is consistently giving you 12- 16 pts a night. He continues to show range by hitting the 3 ball and his footwork underneath is top level for his size. Douglas grew up underneath so he feels very comfortable under the basket against bigger defenders. Usually that can be a bad thing when looking towards the next level but his handles and jump shot have caught up and are just as strong as his inside game. He even guarded EC All Star candidate Josiah Dunham on thr perimeter tonight. PJ is a nightmare matchup for any team out there.he finished with 12 pts.
● 6'0 Eagle Sr. Josiah Dunham put to rest of any talk that he's just a really good 1A player. He was the games leading scorer and Jeff needed multiple defenders throughout double teams to try and slow him down. He reminds me some of Jaylen Mullens from North Daviess last year but is a better scorer. There are times when he was forced into some turnovers but he's counted on to do so much for this EC team. If he's given an inch from thr outside he takes it. If you're playing up tight on him he gets to thr basket. Jeff had to have at least 4 eyes on him at all times, plus inside help. I understand thr concern about his size at the next level but the kid battled against top 4A talent and came away as the games leading scorer at 22. I imagine he has to work for everything he gets most nights and takes everyone's best shot.
Jeff goes on the road Tuesday at Evansville Reitz in a makeup game while Evansville Christian conclues their season on the road Tuesday against Forest Park.
With most of Indiana snowed in and games being canceled throughout the state in Friday night, one game up in the Region was still 'game on' and it was a big one. The Hammond Noll Warriors, ranked #10 in 3A came in 16-6 eith only 2 losses to Indiana teams visited the John A. Baratto Center in East Chicago to take on the Cardinals. EC comes in haven't lost to anyone period since December 23 against Chicago Kenwood and anyone from Indiana since December 9th. The Cards have been flying high with a 16-4 record led by junior All star candidate Dominique Murphy who has established himself as one of the better players overall in Indiana.
The game started out with Noll Sr. Caleb Parks trying to bring the house down on a breakaway dunk that Murphy went up and fouled him hard. That set the tone early for the Warriors who took a quick 8-0 lead. By the end of a frantic 1st quarter the Cards took a 2 pt lead and the game went back and forth into the locker room with Noll leading 33-30. The Warriors took firm control of the game in the 3rd quarter connecting on 6 of 9 three pt attempts while EC couldn't seem to buy a 3 all game. It looked as though the EC winning streak was going to end at home on Homecoming night but then the 4th quarter happened. Things looked less than bleak for EC trailing 60-46 when Jemeil Rich left the game with cramps. 6'5 Noll junior Khalel Johnson picked up his 5th foul with just under 4 minutes to play. From then on it EC causing turnovers after turnover from their full court press. The Cards finally caught up in less than 2 minutes on a flagrant foul that caused some fans to come onto the court and some from the benches to clear. Two made free throws and a 3 pointer gave EC a lead they would not relinquish by a final score of 73-67. This was the wildest game I've seen all year and I'm not totally sure if EC won this game or if Noll gave it away. Regardless EC walks out of here 17-4 and one of the hottest teams in the state going into tourney time.
● 6'6 junior Yamauree Wallace was having a fairly quiet game by his standards through 3 quarters but then caught lighting in the 4th scoring 13 of his 21 pts. Early on Wallace settled for some 3s that just weren't falling instead of getting to the basket. In that 4th quarter he never settled and was super active on the boards. It seemed like the ball felt his energy and came right to him at the right spots. Wallace is not guard at this level but has some guard skills, if that makes sense. His handles could be tweaked and improved but the potential is there. It goes without saying how long and athletic he already is. If nobody is talking about him I certainly am and I believe he's a legit D1 prospect.
● 6'5 EC junior Dominique Murphy had another Dominique Murphy- game. There are times when I watch him and before he makes a move I know he's taking that shot or he's trying to get to the basket. There are some shot selection questions there but when he averages 20+ points and 10 boards it's hard to argue with him taking shots. He is another kid that at the high school level can get his at almost anytime down low. There are times he settles for contested 3s which I'd like to see cleaned up. Murphy is a strong kid with good size and athleticism that will get to be a D1 player and potential Core 6 Jr. All star in June. Tonight he finished with 25 pts.
● Jr. Cardinal guard Jemeil Rich Jr. got it going early with 6 pts in the 1st quarter keeping EC afloat. He finished with 15 while controlling the game and put constant pressure on Noll point guard, Jaedin Reyna. The 3s weren't falling for any EC player tonight so Rich got his getting to the basket and at the free throw line. Rich is just a hard-nosed all- around solid point guard and can play somewhere at the next level. If I'm Purdue-Northwest and Rich is in my backyard I'm all over this kid.
● 6'3 senior Warrior, Caleb Parks came in as the leading scorer for Noll and did nothing to sway me from thinking this kid has the goods to play at the next level. I would like to see his handles tightened up but he's an excellent slasher and uses his athleticism to get to the basket. Parks finished with 17 tonight and will be the key for Noll if they want to make a run to Indy in 3A next month. He has the capability for his skill set to be a very difficult matchup for anyone up north in 3A. Parks is a borderline D1 kid that would thrive at the D2 level.
● 6'5 Noll junior Khalel Johnson was my surprise of the game. There are some kids that if you're from southern Indiana you've never heard much about from up north and vice versa but let me assure you that Johnson is one to keep a serious eye on. At 6'5 he showed some range hitting two from the outside and is a long athlete. Johnson contested shots down low while being able to guard multiple positions on the floor. I'm not sure if I just caught a good game because he is only averaging 4.5 pts and 3 rebounds but my eyes rarely lie. With a good spring/ summer of aau ball this kid could catch some attention. Also, the game completely changed when he fouled out for Noll. That tells me he accounts for alot more than just points on this team.
This was a game that by the end had me worn out just watching it. EC improves their record to 17-4 and host Morgan Township tomorrow for Senior night. The Warriors drop to 16-7 but remain a team to be reckoned with in the northern half of the 3A bracket. Noll hosts Gary Westside on Thursday for their final game of the year.
Tied for #3 in all of 3A the Warriors hosted local rival and #5 in 2A, the Southwestern Rebels. It's not a conference or sectional rivalry but these schools are only separated by 20 minutes at most and all these boys have grown up playing against each other. Last year in Hanover the Rebels pulled the upset but this year the Warriors had revenge on their mind and made sure there was no doubt in this one. Scottsburg jumped out to a 7-0 lead and never looked back. Southwestern kept it within 8-10 throughout the 1st half but in the 2nd Scottsburg just ran away with it on their way to a 71-48 win. The Warriors put 4 kids in double figures which included the usual seniors, Kody Clancy and Wyatt Zellers, but got big contributions from 5'8 junior Dare Bowles (14 pts) and 6'3 sophomore Garrett Bowling (12 pts). Scottsburg's defense and shooting combined with Southwestern's turnovers and their sophomore, Brady Cook being out spelled doom for the Rebels. The Warriors were without a starter of their own, senior Caden Richardson which has forced Scottsburg to play a couple more kids some playing time that could benefit them next month during tourney time.
● 6'3 senior Kody Clancy ran the Warrior show tonight. I'm not quite sure what I can write about Kody that I haven't before but he continues to play with confidence in his shot and ball handling. Being 6'3 he has good size at the high school level that most don't have. You may not hear much about Kody throughout the state being so far south but he proves every game that there's not many better in his class, at his position statewide. I havent seen him be completely shut out and taken out of a game by anyone this season. He almost pulled out the dunk of the year jumping over a defender underneath the basket coming down the middle, but it was claled a charge. Clancy unofficially finished with 19 pts.
● 6'9 senior stretch 4 Wyatt Zellers once again played well for the Warriors. Not just offensively but what he means to the team defensively can't be measured. Whenever an opponent comes down the middle Zellers is right there altering a shot or forcing a pass. He was money tonight from 3 with a smooth stroke. You can't leave Zellers alone from out there and his first step is getting quicker so he can drive by bigger, slower defenders. The McKendree signee finished with 18 pts.
● 5'8 Scottsburg junior Dare Bowles deserves some love tonight and for what he brings to this team. He has always been undersized but he is such a tough, hard-nosed kid. His 3 pt shot is one of the more underrated parts of his game. He rarely makes mistakes and is a solid compliment to Clancy in the backcourt. For his size he van really defend even with guards that have a few inches on him. Next year this will be Bowles team but for the Warriors to make a run in March they're going to need a confident and aggressive Dare Bowles. He finished with 14 pts.
● 5'9 Rebel sophomore Braxton Lewis has firmly established himself in the rotation. Though undersized he's another tough kid that competes hard. He is one of the more under-the radar shooters in the '26 class down south. I would like to see him take care of the ball a little better and cut down on the turnovers but next year he'll have the keys to the team. Lewis is just now finding his niche on the team and he's become one of their leading scorers in the process. The Rebels arent going anywhere for the foreseeable future with the sophomoe group of Cook, Lewis, Goode, and Patterson and a strong 7th and 8th grade teams coming up. Tonight Braxton had 14 pts.
● 6'4 Senior Jamison Lewis got going a little too late for the Rebels tonight. Jamison has been SW leading scorer in ppg average after scoring his 1000 pt less than 2 weeks ago. He's a long and sneaky athletic kid that had a really nice breakaway dunk in the 1st half. When he's left open (which he rarely is) Jamison can knock down the 3 with the best of them. He can find his way through gaps in traffic and use a pull jumper or finish with both hands for a lay in. The older Lewis brother finished with a team-high 17.
● 6'5 postman Landon Kidwell started out hot for the Rebels scoring the first 6 points of the game. Kidwell has really good footwork and a soft touch for his size. Him and Zellers really went at it trading buckets for the first few minutes. I've seen Landon hit the 3 ball so I know he's got it in his game. That will continue to improve going into the off-season and into next year. If he continues to improve at this rate and the Rebels make it a point to get him a good amount of touches, Kidwell could be a breakout player down south next season. Tonight he finished with 8.
Next up for the Warriors they face Jennings County on the road next Tuesday night while the Rebels travel to Austin on Friday night.
Scottsburg-
FGs 26/43 3 pt shooting 11/23 9 turnovers 21 rebounds 16 assists
Southwestern-
FGs 20/42 3 pt shooting 7/15 13 turnovers 19 rebounds 8 assists
One of the better games of the night took place way up in the northwest corner of Indiana. Gary 21st made the trip over to the dome at Munster to take on the Mustangs. 21st shot out of the gate and held the lead throughout the game, except for the last 10 seconds when Jr. Mustang Brandon Trilli hit 1 of 2 free throws to send the game to OT. In the 1st half it was Gary 21st who was hot beyond the arc taking a 36-20 lead at half, but once teams switched sides of the court Munster suddenly caught the 3 pt bug with a furious comeback. The game actually ended on a Brandon Trilli 3 pointer but it left the Mustangs 1 point short, by a final of 60-59.
● 6'4 Cougar junior Lametrius Williams made a huge imprint on this game scoring 9 points and grabbing 11 boards with 4 assists, 3 steals, and 3 blocks. Williams was very active defensively and is super atheltic. He has good size for his position at the high school level. Williams plays mostly inside for the Cougars but I could see him transitioning to a wing if he can get his shot more consistent going into next year. Williams can handle the ball nicely and looks for open shooters when getting in the middle of zones. Lametrius is a real sleeper up north in a loaded 2025 class.
● It's time the state of Indiana begins to recognize 6'3 Cougar sophomore Terrence Hayes Jr. He can play and defend multiple positions on the floor. He is likely the best athlete on a team full of them. Hayes anticipates passes and jumps passing lanes to get steals and breakaway dunks. In northwest Indiana it's Hayes and Hinton from Gary West separating themselves from the pack in the class of '26. Terrence finished with 22 pts, 7 rebounds, and 3 steals. Watch out for Gary 21st in 2A as a darkhorse.
● The man last night for Munster was 6'3 senior guard, Nolan Konsella. Nolan caught fire in the 2nd half from 3 and was a big part of the Mustangs comeback. He is long and gets to the basket fairly easy and with long strides. When teams gamble or zone the Mustangs Konsella will definitely make you pay. Hes got a smooth shot and looks very comfortable on the basketball floor. Nolan finished in double figures tonight brining Munster within 1 pt. of a good home win. Nolan is signed to play soccer in Bloomington with the Indiana Hoosiers next year.
Gary 21st moves to 14-6 and will face off at home against Chicgo Brooks on Thursday. Munster falls to 13-8 and is back at it on Friday night at home v. Andrean.