Basketball roundup: Blackhawks shoot down WeBo Stars

Sheridan held on to beat Western Boone 42-41 last Saturday at the Stars’ gym.

The Blackhawks led 13-5 after one quarter, and were able to stay around that margin through the next two periods, leading 22-16 at halftime and 33-26 after three periods. WeBo made a comeback in the fourth quarter, but Sheridan held on for the win.

Owen Bell scored 14 points, followed by 12 for Caleb Wright. Trent DeCraene had a solid game with eight assists, seven points and four rebounds. Parker Williams also collected four rebounds; Williams, Tyler Garner, Eli Kolb and Carsen Aleman all scored two points to complete the Blackhawks’ scoring.

Sheridan is 9-9 and wraps up the regular season with three games this week, playing at Fountain Central on Tuesday, hosting Frontier on Thursday, then traveling to Waldron Friday.

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Noblesville beat Evansville Christian 74-53 last Saturday at The Mill.

The Millers were in control from the beginning, leading 23-9 after one quarter. Noblesville extended its lead to 41-18 by halftime.

Almodovar had an outstanding game, scoring 29 points, including five 3-pointers. Walston added 14 points. Justin Curry scored nine, Fine had eight, and Aiden Brewer and Cooper Bean both scored six points. Will Smits completed the scoring with two points.

Noblesville is 16-6 overall and travels to Mississinewa Tuesday for its regular-season finale.

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Kahmi Bracey scored with 10 seconds remaining in the game to cap a furious University comeback and give the Trailblazers a 67-66 win at Decatur Central in a matinee last Saturday.  Bracey beat his man off the dribble and drove the left side and put his five-footer off the glass and through the net for University’s second win over a 4A opponent in a week.

Decatur Central had a 52-38 lead with three minutes remaining in the third quarter when University coach Brandon Lafferman called a timeout that he described as pivotal. “I can’t say enough about my senior class.  They really rallied us during a timeout late in the third when we were down 12 or 14. Our body language and energy wasn’t very good and I challenged those guys to step up and find a way.  Our entire fourth quarter proved the type of energy that we have and how hard we play.  I thought we wore them down near the end and got the kind of shots we needed to win.  I’m really proud of my team”

University outscored the Hawks 29-14 over the last 11 minutes of the game and the senior class of Bracey, Andre Ozlowski, Rob Russell, Seth Hogg and Steven Scott scored 23 of those points and helped lock down on defense.  Decatur Central had just three field goals over the last 11 minutes.

A pair of foul shots by Hogg and a basket by Bryce Gray got University within 10 before Decatur Central’s Ayden Lawson made two foul shots. Hogg nailed a three pointer with 17 seconds in the quarter before Bracey made a steal near half court and scored on a layin with four seconds left to get University within 54-47.

Bracey cut the lead to 54-49 scoring on a fast break initiated by an Ozlowski blocked shot.  Melakih Cunningham hit the last of his four three pointers for the Hawks. Bracey scored again before two Decatur Central free throws.  Russell converted an old fashioned three-point play before Gray scored with 5:17 left to cut the lead to 59-56.

Both teams had several empty possessions before Hogg split a pair of foul shots to get University within 59-57 with 2:57 left.  Decatur’s KC Berry also split a pair of free throws ahead of a basket by Ozlowski that cut the lead to 60-59 with 2:20 left. Berry preserved the Decatur Central lead racing back to steal the ball as the Blazers looked poised to take the lead.  Anthony Ball restored a four-point lead for Decatur Central with 1:43 left being fouled as he scored on a rebound.  The free throw put the Hawks up 63-59.

Hogg answered with a basket for the Blazers but Lawson scored for the Hawks with 1:10 left.  After a University turnover, Lawson split a pair of foul shots with 56 seconds left to give the Hawks a 66-61 advantage. Russell drove the lane for a basket with 45 seconds left.  Hogg came up with a steal with 36 seconds left and Gray drove for a basket with 19 seconds left to cut the lead to 66-65.

The Blazers pressure defense forced a travelling violation with 16 seconds to set up Bracey’s heroics that gave University their first lead since 6-4.  The Hawks got off a shot that fell short and time ran out during the battle for the rebound.

Sabien Cain led University with 17 points, all in the first half.  Hogg scored 15 points and pulled down five rebounds.  Bracey had 10 points, five rebounds and a team high five steals. Ozlowski led the Blazers with six rebounds and contributed seven points.  Russell had five of his seven points in the fourth quarter.

Ball had a game-high 25 points to lead Decatur Central, however the Blazers held the 6-6 senior to just three points in the fourth quarter. Cunningham, a 6-4 sophomore, had 18 points while Berry had 13.

University shot just 21 of 60 (35 percent) from the field, including just 6 of 20 from three point range.

The Trailblazers are off to a 19-1 start, the best start in school history and have won 12 in a row.

Decatur Central, co-champions of the Mid State Conference, are 11-9.

University will travel to Guerin Catholic Tuesday night in an All-County battle.