By RICHIE HALL
NOBLESVILLE – The Millers call it T-squared: toughness and togetherness.
The Noblesville boys basketball team needed both as it hosted Hamilton Southeastern Friday night at The Mill in a Hoosier Crossroads Conference game. The Millers played the Royals from behind for the first three quarters, got on top in the fourth, then played two overtimes before finally getting a 57-50 victory.
“You can’t beat this,” said Noblesville sophomore Baron Walker. “A packed gym like tonight was, two overtimes. You seriously can’t beat that.”
Walker
The Millers got their first lead of the game at the start of the fourth quarter, when Hunter Walston made a rebound basket. It was part of a 9-0 Noblesville run that started at the end of the third quarter: Fine made two free throws with 4.3 seconds left, the Millers got the ball back, and Baron Walker drained a 3-pointer to get Noblesville within 35-34.
Fine scored after Walston’s basket, and Noblesville led 38-35. The Millers were up 45-42 late in the quarter before Southeastern’s Braeden Totten nailed a 3, sending the game to the first overtime.
Neither team scored in the first OT until the last five seconds. Michael Griffith put the Royals up by two with a reverse layup. Noblesville quickly called timeout with 3.8 seconds left, and that was just enough time for Fine to rush down the floor and make a layin.
Fine
“We were just trying to get the ball out and catch it on the run,” said Fine. “Three point eight seconds is plenty of time to get to the rim.”
So, it was on to the second overtime. Fine hit a 3 for the extra period’s first basket, and the Millers were able to stay in front until the buzzer. TJ Davidson helped out by going 3-of-4 at the line, and Fine put in 3-of-4 foul shots during the last 31.8 seconds.
“Tough game,” said Noblesville coach Scott McClelland, who had plenty of praise for Southeastern. “They’re good. They really are. They’ve won 11 games and (Donovan) Hamilton’s a terrific athlete. I just saw it in the first half. They got the tempo where they wanted it and they got the pace of the game where they wanted it.”
Hamilton Southeastern’s Donovan Hamilton scored 19 points for the Royals. (Richie Hall)
The Royals led 8-2 early in the first quarter, with Totten and Hamilton both making 3s. A triple from Justin Curry got the Millers within 10-9, but Totten hit another 3 to finish the quarter and give HSE a 13-9 lead.
Noblesville tied the game three different times in the second quarter, but six points from Hamilton, including a steal and dunk, kept the Royals ahead 21-19 at halftime. Southeastern went on a run to start the third quarter, with Totten scoring five points. Griffith’s basket gave the Royals their largest lead of the game at 28-21, and after a Fine basket, Hamilton hit a pair of free throws to put HSE ahead 30-23.
That’s when Walker got going. He made three 3s in the quarter, including the buzzer-beater to get Noblesville within one. Walker drained a fourth 3 in the middle of the fourth quarter.
McClelland said people will look at the four 3s, but pointed out other things that Walker did to impact the game, including taking two charges.
“He’s bringing energy, he’s playing hard and he’s doing some things,” said McClelland.
The coach also pointed out the poise that his young players had, especially the sophomores Walker and Justin Curry, while the junior Davidson is coming back from missing games.
“Those kids, we expect a lot from them,” said McClelland. “And I think it’s getting to the point where everybody always expects it. But you have to keep in mind, they’re still only 15, 16 years old and this is maybe the first or second time they’ve been in this situation.”
Fine finished with 25 points, followed by Walker with 13. Walston had 10 points and seven rebounds. Curry collected six rebounds and Aiden Brewer had five.
Hamilton led the Royals with 19 points and eight rebounds, while Totten drained four 3s on his way to 18 points. Nathaniel Orr had eight rebounds and Kameron Anthony collected five. Hamilton also had five assists.
Noblesville is 3-2 in HCC play and 14-2 overall, and hosts Guerin Catholic this afternoon. Southeastern is 1-4 in the conference and 11-6 overall; the Royals return home tonight to host Pendleton Heights.
NOBLESVILLE 57, HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN 50
(double overtime)
Southeastern FG FT TP PF
Donovan Hamilton 5-12 7-11 19 1
Nathaniel Orr 2-5 1-2 5 5
Braeden Totten 7-11 0-0 18 1
Michael Griffith 3-8 2-2 8 5
Kameron Anthony 0-2 0-2 0 5
Jack Jacobs 0-2 0-0 0 1
Deion Miles 0-1 0-0 0 1
Maverick Young 0-1 0-0 0 3
Totals 17-42 10-17 50 22
Southeastern 3-point shooting (6-15) Totten 4-7, Hamilton 2-3, Jacobs 0-2, Orr 0-2, Young 0-1.
Southeastern rebounds (32) Hamilton 8, Orr 8, Anthony 5, Totten 4, Griffith 3, Jacobs 1, team 3.
Noblesville FG FT TP PF
Hunter Walston 5-13 0-5 10 2
Justin Curry 1-10 0-0 3 2
Aiden Brewer 1-2 0-0 2 5
Baron Walker 4-8 1-2 13 1
Aaron Fine 8-15 8-12 25 3
TJ Davidson 0-2 3-4 3 2
Will Smits 0-0 0-0 0 0
Ryan Vetor 0-1 1-2 1 1
Totals 19-51 13-25 57 16
Noblesville 3-point shooting (6-21) Walker 4-5, Curry 1-9, Fine 1-3, Davidson 0-2, Walston 0-2.
Noblesville rebounds (27) Walston 7, Curry 6, Brewer 5, Fine 3, Vetor 3, Davidson 2, team 1.
Score by Quarters
Southeastern 13 8 14 10 2 3 – 50
Noblesville 9 10 15 11 2 10 – 57