The Noblesville boys basketball team got going in the second half in its all-county game at Hamilton Heights on Wednesday, running away with a 70-46 victory over the Huskies.
The Millers, who hadn’t played since Jan. 29 due last week’s winter storm, held a six-point halftime lead, but then dominated in the second half, scoring 42 points and cruising to their third consecutive win.
“Really good second half for us,” said Noblesville coach Scott McClelland. “I thought we had some different guys step up. I just thought we played harder.”
The Millers led 11-8 after the first quarter was completed. Aaron Fine had a nice quarter, scoring eight points. The Huskies were staying with Noblesville in the second half, but the Millers stayed in front at halftime, leading 28-22. Luke Almodovar poured in 10 points for Noblesville in the second period, while Tillman Etchison had six points for Heights.
“The first half, I was pleased,” said Heights coach Chad Ballenger. “We played the style that we needed.”
The Millers began to open things up in the third quarter, outscoring the Huskies 20-6. Isaac Tuma started the period with a layin to cut Noblesville’s lead to 28-24, but Almodovar hit two straight baskets, the second one a 3-pointer, and the Millers were up 33-24.
Noblesville later finished the third on an 11-0 run. Cooper Bean scored four points, Almodovar threw in another triple, Preston Roberts turned a steal into a dunk, and Fine made a layin. The Millers led 48-28 going into the fourth, and Bean scored to open that quarter, stretching Noblesville’s run to 13-0.
“The guys responded,” said McClelland.
The Millers led 56-32 midway through the period, the first of three times their lead would reach that margin. Heights’ Luke Carroll made a personal 7-0 run to cut that lead to 56-39, but Noblesville answered that with a 7-0 spurt. The Millers stayed out in front by at least 20 points until the final buzzer.
Almodovar scored 23 points, including three 3s. Fine totaled 16 points, while Bean scored 10 points.
Carroll led the Huskies with 19 points and six rebounds, while Etchison scored 11 points.
“There were a few possessions that I thought if we played a little bit different, the halftime score would’ve been different,” said Ballenger. “We could’ve controlled it a little bit more. And in the second half, they hit shots.”
Noblesville is 10-7 and plays a Hoosier Crossroads Conference game at Brownsburg on Friday. Heights is 8-8 and plays another all-county game Friday at Westfield.
NOBLESVILLE 70, HAMILTON HEIGHTS 46
Noblesville FG FT TP PF
Luke Almodovar 8 4-4 23 3
Aaron Fine 6 4-6 16 1
Cooper Bean 4 2-2 10 3
Preston Roberts 3 0-0 6 1
Cam Karns 1 0-0 2 0
Hunter Walston 1 1-2 3 4
Evan Wright 1 0-0 2 0
Luke Wilson 2 0-0 6 2
Luke Etchison 1 0-0 2 0
Nolan Decker 0 0-0 0 0
Totals 27 11-14 70 14
Noblesville 3-pointers (5) Almodovar 3, Wilson 2.
Heights FG FT TP PF
Luke Carroll 8 3-5 19 2
Cooper Vondersaar 1 2-2 4 1
Isaac Tuma 2 2-4 7 3
Tillman Etchison 5 1-4 11 4
Dean Mason 0 0-0 0 2
Maddox Bohland 1 0-0 2 4
Evan Williamson 1 0-0 3 1
Tanner Maynard 0 0-0 0 0
Colin Kuhn 0 0-0 0 0
Totals 18 8-15 46 17
Heights 3-pointers (2) Tuma 1, Williamson 1.
Score by Quarters
Noblesville 11 17 20 22 – 70
Heights 8 14 6 18 – 46