By RICHIE HALL
Reporter Sports Editor
Noblesville was dealt a frustrating loss by Fort Wayne Northrop Saturday night, falling 48-46 at The Mill.
The Millers played solid, steady basketball in the first half, and that continued into the third quarter. The Bruins made a roaring comeback late in the third, however, and it was battle for both teams in the fourth before a late 3-pointer gave Northrop the victory.
Noblesville led 9-4 after the first quarter. Xavier Hines had four of those points, including an early basket off a steal. The Millers then held off an early push from the Bruins early in the second period to take a 23-17 halftime lead.
The long-range shot was working for Noblesville in the second, with four different Millers making a 3-pointer. Eagan Keever-Hill was the first to hit a downtown basket, then Jaron Youree’s ‘3’ got the Millers up 15-11. Northrop answered with a ‘3,’ but Hines answered right back with his own triple.
Brendan Fisher’s 3-pointer put the Millers up 21-16, then Hines made a pair of free throws to push Noblesville ahead by seven at the break. Hines started the second half with two ‘3s,’ with the second one moving the Millers ahead 32-21.
The Bruins started their comeback at that point, going on a 14-0 run that gave them the lead (33-32) after three quarters. Northrop began the fourth with a putback to go ahead 35-32.
“The run that really hurt us was that stretch in the third quarter,” said Millers coach Brian McCauley.
Keever-Hill scored three straight points to tie the game, but two quick baskets put the Bruins up 39-35. After a short timeout, the Millers tied the game again, with Youree making a layin and Hines scoring from a Ryan Barnes rebound.
A 6-0 run got the Millers ahead 45-43 with a minute left, and they still led 46-45 with under 20 seconds to go. But the Bruins’ Jalen Royal made the ‘3’ with six seconds left put the visitors ahead, and they would hold on to win.
Hines scored 19 points, including three 3-pointers, while Youree scored 10. Keever-Hill led the boards with seven rebounds, followed by Barnes and Hines with five each.
“We had chances from the free-throw line to make it a three-point game or better and missed those,” said McCauley. “We had 15 turnovers. So all those little things added up to giving them just enough opportunity to seal the deal.”
Noblesville is now 7-6 for the season and hosts Frankfort on Friday.
Fort Wayne Northrop 48, Noblesville 46
Noblesville FG FT TP PF
Ryan Barnes 1-1 1-2 3 4
Eagan Keever-Hill 3-4 1-2 8 2
Xavier Hines 7-17 2-2 19 1
Jaron Youree 4-8 1-2 10 0
Jordan Schmidt 0-3 3-6 3 3
Brendan Fisher 1-2 0-0 3 0
Alex Hancock 0-0 0-0 0 3
Ian Gibbons 0-0 0-0 0 2
Totals 16-35 8-14 46 15
Score by Quarters
Northrop 4 13 16 15 – 48
Noblesville 9 14 9 14 – 46
Noblesville 3-point shooting (6-12) Hines 3-7, Youree 1-3, Fisher 1-2, Keever-Hill 1-1.
Noblesville rebounds (18) Keever-Hill 7, Barnes 5, Hines 5, Hancock 1.
Noblesville’s Eagan Keever-Hill prepares to make a pass during the Millers’ Saturday night game with Fort Wayne Northrop at The Mill. Keever-Hill finished the game with eight points and seven rebounds. (Kent Graham)