By RICHIE HALL
WESTFIELD – The Westfield boys basketball team has been ready to go for a while now, and the Shamrocks proved it on Tuesday when they finally got to play their first game of the season.
Westfield, ranked No. 7 in the Class 4A Associated Press poll and No. 6 in the IBCA one-class poll, cruised past Pendleton Heights 71-36 at its own CSI Gymnasium. The ‘Rocks scored the first seven points of the game and never looked back, leading by 20 points by the second quarter.
“We were just anxious to play somebody,” said Westfield coach Shane Sumpter. “We were tired of playing, practicing against each other. It’s nice to get a game under our belts, especially before Friday night, Zionsville, big game. I thought our guys played well. We played hard and that’s what is expected of our guys here at Westfield. Good effort, good opening game.”
The first points of the season went to senior Braden Smith. The Purdue commit got the ‘Rocks on the board with a 3-pointer. Fellow senior Kai Butterworth was next, as he scored on a layin, then hit two free throws.
The Arabians scored a layin for their first points, but Westfield skipped off on a 19-4 run that led to a 26-6 lead early in the second quarter. Trey Buchanan helped out with two 3s, and Cam Haffner finished the first quarter with a triple. The Shamrocks led 20-6 at the end of the period, and Smith began the second by scoring off a Haffner steal. Jonah Spinner added a putback, and Smith scored on a floater.
“Anytime you can have some balanced scoring, a balanced attack, that’s good,” said Sumpter.
Westfield led 34-16 at halftime. The balance continued into the third period, as junior Alex Romack scored all seven of his points in that quarter. Haffner threw in two more 3s, and Sam Bishop finished the period with his own 3-pointer, putting the Shamrocks up 55-27.
Westfield made a 9-0 run during the fourth quarter to get its largest lead, 69-30. Haffner and Smith both made baskets (Smith’s was his second dunk of the game), with Trey Dorton making a layin and Reiner Obray hitting a 3. In all, nine different Shamrocks players scored.
“He’s just a winner,” said Sumpter of Dorton. “I say that to everybody. Plays hard, just a gritty kid. tough, hard-nosed kid.”
Smith and Haffner each scored 17 points, while Butterworth added 12 points. Romack led the rebounds with eight, followed by Smith, Dorton and Butterworth with six rebounds each. Smith and Haffner both dished out five assists. Haffner made four 3-pointers.
“I thought Kai played a great game,” said Sumpter. “He had a lot of offensive rebounds and took the ball to the glass hard. He did a lot of good things for us. We’re going to need him. We’re going to need all these guys.”
Westfield hosts Zionsville on Friday to begin Hoosier Crossroads Conference play.
WESTFIELD 71, PENDLETON HEIGHTS 36
Westfield FG FT TP PF
Braden Smith 7-10 1-2 17 1
Cam Haffner 6-9 1-1 17 1
Trey Dorton 1-4 0-0 2 1
Kai Butterworth 5-10 2-3 12 1
Alex Romack 3-10 1-4 7 4
Trey Buchanan 2-5 2-2 8 2
Sam Bishop 1-1 0-0 3 0
Jonah Spinner 1-6 0-0 2 1
Reiner Obray 1-1 0-0 3 0
Armani Middlebrooks 0-1 0-0 0 2
Totals 27-57 7-12 71 13
Score by Quarters
Pendleton 6 10 11 9 – 36
Westfield 20 14 21 16 – 71
Westfield 3-point shooting (10-18) Haffner 4-5, Smith 2-4, Buchanan 2-4, Bishop 1-1, Obray 1-1.
Westfield rebounds (37) Romack 8, Smith 6, Dorton 6, Butterworth 6, Spinner 3, Haffner 1, Buchanan 1, Bishop 1, Obray 1, team 4.