By RICHIE HALL
Reporter Sports Editor
Sheridan found itself close to making a comeback victory at Hobbs Memorial Hall Friday night.
After being down 38-22 to Indiana Math & Science Academy at halftime, the Blackhawks got to within two points twice in the fourth quarter. But it was not meant to be, as Sheridan fell to the Knights 63-57.
The ‘Hawks trailed IMSA 17-14 after the first period, then were outscored 21-8 in the second. Still down 43-30 with 5:56 left in the third quarter, Sheridan went on a 6-0 run. Drake Delph started it with a jumper, then Nick Burnell made consecutive baskets.
A 3-pointer by Sean Weitzel got the Blackhawks within 47-41 at the end of the third. Delph then nailed a 3, and Ange Gnamkey followed that with a layin. Suddenly, Sheridan had cut the Knights’ lead to 48-46.
IMSA pushed the lead back up to 53-46, but Burnell again hit back-to-back baskets to keep the ‘Hawks close. Seconds later, Caleb Duke hit a 3 to get Sheridan within two again, this time at 55-53.
Duke would later drain another triple; that basket got the Blackhawks within 60-57 with 30 seconds left. But a traditional three-point play by the Knights’ Kendrick Thomas with 11.9 seconds to go wrapped the game up.
“We can’t fault them for the effort at all,” said Sheridan coach Chris Shranck. “And that’s what I just told them. The effort is great. If we can get that kind of effort all the time, we’ll be fine.
“We’ve got to clean up little things. It’s just little things. Layups, free throws, some attention to detail on a scouting report. So we’re going to keep talking about that kind of stuff and it’ll sink in. We’ll keep after them.”
Gnamkey led the Blackhawks with 14 points, including six in the first quarter. The senior also blocked two shots. Burnell added 13 points and Delph scored 11. Jesse Kolb pulled six rebounds.
Sheridan is 6-5 for the season. The ‘Hawks will be back on their home court tonight, hosting Hamilton Heights in a classic county rivalry game.
Schrank said he thinks it helps that his team will play a game right away: “You never want to sit on one like that too long,” he said. The coach also noted that the Huskies will be “one of those challenge games” for his team.
“It’s always a game that, they’re always tough, they’re always disciplined, they do their jobs, they’re physical, they’re aggressive,” said Schrank. “So it’s one of those measuring stick kind of games to see where we’re at.”
Indiana Math & Science 63, Sheridan 57
Sheridan FG FT TP PF
Austin Hunter 1-1 2-2 4 0
Drake Delph 4-7 1-3 11 1
Caleb Duke 3-5 0-2 8 3
Ange Gnamkey 7-8 0-1 14 5
Nick Burnell 6-9 1-2 13 3
Jack Waitt 1-7 0-0 2 2
Jeese Kolb 0-6 0-0 0 3
Brody Perry 0-1 0-0 0 1
Sean Weitzel 2-5 0-0 5 4
Tanner Swindle 0-4 0-0 0 1
Totals 24-53 4-10 57 23
Score by Quarters
IMSA 17 21 9 16 – 63
Sheridan 14 8 19 16 – 57
Sheridan 3-point shooting (5-11) Delph 2-3, Duke 2-3, Weitzel 1-2, Waitt 0-2, Swindle 0-1.
Sheridan rebounds (18) Kolb 6, Burnell 3, Weitzel 3, Gnamkey 2, Hunter 1, Waitt 1, Delph 1, Swindle 1.
Sheridan’s Ange Gnamkey scored 14 points for the Blackhawks in their Friday night game with Indiana Math & Science Academy at Hobbs Memorial Hall. (Richie Hall)