By RICHIE HALL
WESTFIELD – The Westfield boys basketball team prevailed in an all-county battle with Noblesville last Friday, winning 57-50 at the Shamrocks’ CSI Gymnasium.
The Millers took an initial early lead, but Westfield’s long-range shooting helped the ‘Rocks get in front by halftime. Westfield then held the lead for the entire second half.
“Very physical game,” said Shamrocks coach Shane Sumpter. “Every time we play Noblesville, it’s a grind-it-out type of game. And it’s a great game every year that we play them, every time that we play them, and tonight was no different.”
The Millers led 7-2 in the first quarter. Baron Walker made a layin, TJ Davidson hit a 3-pointer and Aiden Brewer scored on a putback. Westfield responded with two 3-pointers: Will Harvey made the first one and Drew Haffner nailed the second triple, putting the ‘Rocks up 8-7 at the end of one.
The second quarter was back and forth. Ryan Vetor and Brewer both made baskets to begin the period, but Haffner erased that with another 3. Haffner hit another triple to give Westfield a 15-14 lead, and Davidson responded with a 3 to put Noblesville ahead 17-15.
Two Max Miller free throws gave the Millers a 21-18 lead with 2:55 left in the half. But the Shamrocks came back, scoring the last seven points of the quarter for a 25-21 halftime lead. Jalen Malone scored five of those points on a basket and a traditional three-point play. Luke Vandegriff had the final basket of the half.
“The last two Fridays, he’s gotten some more minutes for us,” said Sumpter. The coach said Vandegriff “did a good job in the time that he was in there.”
Durante Morton opened the second half with a layin, giving Westfield a 27-21 lead. Noblesville kept things close in the half, but every time the Millers got within striking distance, the Shamrocks came up with big baskets.
Harvey hit a late third-quarter 3 that turned a two-point Westfield lead into a 37-32 advantage. He would do the same thing again in the middle of the fourth quarter, as would Brock Detamore, who drained a triple late in the fourth to put the ‘Rocks up 49-43. Westfield finished the game up from the free-throw line, as Malone, Harvey and Morton all made two free throws in the final minute.
Haffner scored 15 points, while Harvey and Malone both had 14 points. Haffner and Harvey both made three 3s.
Davidson and Walker both scored 13 points for Noblesville; with Davidson scoring in each quarter.
“They played more physical,” said Millers coach Scott McClelland. “They were tougher than what we were all night.”
Noblesville is 4-2 and hosts its own tournament on Friday. The Millers play Brebeuf Jesuit in the first game at 10 a.m., with Crown Point and Gary 21st Century facing off at 11:45 a.m. The consolation game starts at 6 p.m., followed by the championship game at 7:45 p.m.
Westfield won another home game last Saturday, beating Bethesda Christian 67-23. The Shamrocks led 15-2 after one quarter and 35-9 at halftime.
Detamore made four 3s on his way to 14 points, while Ryan Hunsucker also scored 14, draining three 3s. Malone scored 11 points and Vandegriff added 10 points. Haffner threw in three triples for nine points.
Westfield is 5-1 and plays at Richmond on Saturday.
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