Millers win final home games over Avon, New Haven

By CRAIG ADKINS

For The Reporter

NOBLESVILLE – Senior night is always a chance to celebrate the student-athletes that have made an impact over the last four years. Noblesville had a slightly different twist.

Valparaiso commit Justin Curry II is out for the remainder of the season. Curry got the final start of his high school career on Friday, Feb. 20 and scored the first two points of the game, stationary underneath the basket before checking out.

The Millers jumped out to a solid early lead and kept the Orioles at a distance to win the Hoosier Crossroads Conference game, 56-46.

The game was tied at 4-4 and 6-6. Then, senior Max Flanagan sank a pair of three-pointers to make it 12-6, forcing Avon to burn a quick timeout.

“It’s never easy. Everybody’s trying to get a little momentum before the tournament,” said Noblesville head coach Scott McClelland. “We got off to a great start and that certainly helped us.”

At the end of one, it was 18-8 with the scoring spread out by four other Millers.

Baron Walker scored all 14 Noblesville second quarter points and they led 32-19 at halftime.

Avon was able to cut into the Miller lead in the third and get it down to four, but a couple breaks helped get it back to 10 at 43-33 through three.

“We had that little stretch in the third, but the guys showed some resolve and resiliency. A couple made some plays. Baron scored the ball real well with 28. It was a good conference win for us and a chance to find momentum going into the tournament,” said McClelland.

Noblesville held off a late push by the Orioles for the league win.

Baron Walker led with a career-high 32 points on 11-for-18 shooting, including three triples. The future Butler Bulldog also had seven rebounds and four assists.

Flanagan scored 11, also making three from outside, and grabbing six boards.

“He’s played well. Against Center Grove, he shot the ball really well,” McClelland said. “He had a good first half against Brownsburg. We’re going to need that.”

On Saturday, Feb. 21, the Millers welcomed New Haven from northeast of Fort Wayne.

New Haven led 4-0 on a couple dunks, but Noblesville stormed back with a 9-3 run with five from Flanagan and another couple from Walker and Luke Fogg for a 9-7 lead.

There were two ties and four lead changes before the Millers took control for good. Tied 15-15, Max Flanagan drilled a couple open shots from the perimeter for a 21-17 first quarter lead.

Another 16 went onto the scoreboard in the second for Noblesville, mainly from Walker and Flanagan scoring seven each in the period for a 37-27 halftime score.

“Our defense was good. We kept them out of the paint for the most part, but our rebounding has to get better,” said McClelland.

Haney was pivotal in getting the third off right. He drove inside the lane for three field goals.

“I thought Royce Haney really came in clutch,” said McClelland. “A couple runners and handled the ball against some pressure. He was put into a starting role half an hour before the game, because Adam [Fine] just couldn’t go. He played with great energy and within himself.”

Walker scored another eight to put New Haven in an even bigger hole at 59-33.

The lead grew to as big as 23 at 61-38 to begin the fourth on Haney’s fourth basket.

Then, with 5:17 left in the game, Baron Walker fouled out bringing the ball up the court. Fogg made four free throws and Flanagan his sixth three to cruise to the 19-point victory.

“We’ve still got room to grow,” said McClelland. “I still think this group can get better these next 6-8 practices and put together a game plan to beat Muncie Central on Tuesday.”

Flanagan had a career-best 28 on 11-of-12 field goals, including 6-for-6 on three-pointers. Walker scored 20, Haney 10 and Luke Fogg six and six boards. The Millers shot 58 percent overall (24-of-41) and 9-for-15 from outside.