By RICHIE HALL
Reporter Sports Editor
Noblesville nearly pulled off a comeback win Friday night as the Millers hosted Avon in a Hoosier Crossroads Conference game at The Mill.
The comeback fell one point short, as the Orioles escaped with a 53-52 win. After falling behind in the third quarter, Noblesville responded by scoring 26 points in the fourth.
It was a close game in the first half, with the lead going back and forth. The Millers skipped out to a 5-0 start after a jumper by Ian Gibbons and a 3-pointer from Jordan Gadis. Avon came back to finish the first quarter ahead 12-10, but two quick baskets from Zack Johnson put Noblesville back in front 14-12 early in the second.
Sophomore Gehrig Mickels then made a splash by scoring his first-ever basket, and what a basket it was.
“He came in there in the second quarter, and got a deflection, got a steal and made a 3,” said Millers coach Brian McCauley. “Those were big minutes for us.”
Mickels’ triple put Noblesville ahead 19-16. Avon scored with time running out in the half to make the score 19-18 at the break. Alex Hunt opened the third quarter with a putback, getting the Millers ahead 21-18.
But the Orioles took control after that, scoring 11 unanswered points to lead 29-21. Zachary Rinehart, a 6-foot-6 junior, scored five straight points in that run. Gibbons almost single-handedly brought Noblesville back with five consecutive points (layin and a 3) of his own, but Rinehart’s basket ended the third and put Avon on top 31-26.
“The third quarter was what really hurt us,” said McCauley. “They got that separation.”
Another Rinehart basket gave the Orioles a 33-26 lead at the beginning of the fourth, but the Millers made a quick 9-2 run to tie the game at 35-all. Johnson and freshman Evan Wilson each drained 3s, then Johnson, who was making a return after missing several games – “it seemed like a couple years,” said McCauley – knotted things up with a traditional three-point play.
“He came back and really battled tonight,” said McCauley. “He had 21 points tonight, 7-of-7 from the free throw line.”
Avon took the lead back when Le’Angelo Saravia made good on his three-point play, and held it for the remainder of the game, at one point getting up 47-41. But the Millers kept fighting to the buzzer, thanks to clutch shooting.
Wilson, after a shaky first half, caught fire in the fourth quarter. He scored 11 points, including an additional two 3-pointers in the final minute.
“Wilson’s fiery, he’s a fiery young lad,” said McCauley. “He’s tough and he’s got some moxie and that takes him a long way.”
Johnson made it a two-point game by making a couple free throws with 14.6 seconds left. But Noblesville had to foul, and Avon did its job from the line, making 6-of-6 in the final 40 seconds. Johnson’s 3-pointer with five seconds left brought the score to its final margin of 53-52.
“Credit them, they made free throws down the stretch,” said McCauley. “They miss one or two of those free throws, and we make a layup and it might be a different outcome.”
Hunt led the boards with seven rebounds, while Brendan Fisher dished out eight assists.
The Millers are 2-3 in HCC play and 9-12 overall. Noblesville will travel to Zionsville on Tuesday to finally make up its game with the Eagles. Tip off will be at 7 p.m. for the varsity-only contest.
Avon 53, Noblesville 52
Noblesville FG FT TP PF
Brendan Fisher 0-2 1-2 1 1
Jordan Gadis 2-4 0-0 5 2
Zack Johnson 6-15 7-7 21 2
Ian Gibbons 3-7 0-0 7 3
Alex Hunt 2-3 0-0 4 4
Evan Wilson 4-7 0-0 11 1
Gehrig Mickels 1-2 0-0 3 1
Totals 18-40 8-9 52 14
Score by Quarters
Avon 12 6 13 22 – 53
Noblesville 10 9 7 26 – 52
Noblesville 3-point shooting (8-19) Wilson 3-4, Johnson 2-6, Gibbons 1-3, Mickels 1-2, Gadis 1-1, Fisher 0-2, Hunt 0-1.
Noblesville rebounds (19) Hunt 7, Wilson 3, Gadis 2, Johnson 2, Gibbons 2, Fisher 1, team 2.
Noblesville’s Zack Johnson scored 21 points for the Millers in their game with Avon Friday at The Mill. (Kent Graham)