Noblesville won a hard-fought first-round game at its own Holiday Tournament on Friday.
The Millers beat Crown Point 48-43 at The Mill to advance to today’s semi-finals. Noblesville led by a solid margin starting in the second quarter, held off a final run by the Bulldogs late in the fourth period.
“We’re not allowed to put people away, we got to keep it close,” said Millers coach John Peckinpaugh. “We just got to learn how to keep our focus and not let up in certain spots in the game. We’re getting there. It’s going to take time for us to get to the spot we need to be at, but I think we’re closer than people think right now.”
Noblesville led 8-6 after the first quarter, with EJ Smith scoring six of the Millers’ points. Crown Point tied the game with a basket, but Noblesville answered that with a 6-0 run. Brendon Fisher scored off a steal, Alex Hunt made a layin and Jordan Gadis scored from his own steal.
Gadis also hit a 3-pointer and made a putback in the second quarter, giving him seven points for the period. The Millers led 22-13 at halftime. Early in the third period, Fisher converted and and-1 opportunity to get Noblesville ahead 27-15.
A 3 from Fisher late in the third put the Millers up 36-24. Crown Point made a 7-0 run that lasted into the fourth quarter and cut Noblesville’s lead to 36-31. The Bulldogs got within 43-40 with 1:13 left, but the Millers were able to hang on.
Fisher led the Noblesville scoring with 15 points. Gadis came close to a double-double, collecting nine rebounds to with his 13 points.
The Millers are 4-5 for the season. They will take on Columbus North in Saturday’s second semi-final, which tips off at 12:45 p.m. The first semi-final starts at 11 a.m. and will be played between Blackhawk Christian and Northridge. Winners will play in the championship game at 7:45 p.m.
NOBLESVILLE 48, CROWN POINT 43
Noblesville FG FT TP PF
Jordan Gadis 5-11 1-4 13 2
Brendon Fisher 5-11 3-5 15 2
EJ Smith 2-2 1-1 6 4
Noah Harris 0-2 0-1 0 2
Evan Wilson 0-7 0-0 0 0
Alex Hunt 2-3 3-5 7 4
Preston Roberts 2-3 0-0 4 0
David Lloyd 1-5 0-0 2 0
Trenton Reed 0-0 1-2 1 0
Totals 17-44 9-18 48 14
Score by Quarters
Crown Point 6 7 13 17 – 43
Noblesville 8 14 14 12 – 48
Noblesville 3-point shooting (5-27) Fisher 2-8, Gadis 2-5, Smith 1-1, Wilson 0-6, Lloyd 0-4, Harris 0-2, Roberts 0-1.
Noblesville rebounds (29) Gadis 9, Harris 5, Fisher 4, Lloyd 4, Wilson 2, Roberts 2, Hunt 1, team 2.
Noblesville’s EJ Smith scored six points in the first quarter of the Millers’ Holiday Tournament game with Crown Point Friday at The Mill. Noblesville won 48-43 and advanced to play Columbus North in today’s semi-finals. (Kent Graham)