By RICHIE HALL
SHERIDAN – By making a defensive switch, the Sheridan boys basketball team went into overdrive on Friday night.
The Blackhawks were engaged in a tight battle with Hoosier Heartland Conference opponent Tri-Central at Larry Hobbs Hall. Sheridan was up by 34-32 midway through the third quarter, but a defensive adjustment sent the Blackhawks on a long run that carried them to the finish line. That combined with outstanding offensive performances from Trent DeCraene and Caleb Wright led to Sheridan getting a 63-48 win over the Trojans.
“It takes everybody in our program,” said Hawks coach Bill Bowen. “We feel that we’re getting a little bit better. Every game is going to be a battle.”
The battle was on in the first quarter, with both teams holding the lead on different occasions. Wright was hot from outside, making three 3-pointers during that quarter; his third triple put the Blackhawks ahead 13-9. But Tri-Central finished the period on an 8-2 run to lead 17-15.
Sheridan began the second quarter with six unanswered points. Evan Krupp tied the game on a putback, then DeCraene made a layin and Owen Bell hit two free throws. The Blackhawks led 21-17 and would not trail again. Seconds later, Carsen Aleman’s basket put Sheridan up 23-18.
The Trojans came back to tie the game by halftime at 26-26. DeCraene opened the second half with the first of many layins to put the Blackhawks up 28-26. He played brilliant during the critical first few minutes of the third quarter, scoring eight points to keep Sheridan out front, and neutralize Tri-Central’s Drake Ramseyer, who had five points during that time.
Trenton Patz made four free throws in a row to bring the Trojans to one last tie, 38-38 with 2:46 left in the third. Then came the big adjustment.
“We were three-quarter court pressing and it bothered them a couple possessions,” said Bowen. “Then they really whipped it. They had a nice attack and we gave up some baskets that we shouldn’t give up. So then, we adjusted to half-court trap and it was good for us.”
Indeed, it was a very good adjustment for the Hawks, as they blasted off on a 25-4 run that lasted until the final 90 seconds of the fourth quarter. During that time, Sheridan did not allow Tri-Central any baskets – all four of the Trojans points were from free throws.
Meanwhile, the Blackhawks were scoring often. Bell drained a 3 to get Sheridan ahead for good at 41-38. Wright made a layin, then DeCraene went off again, with four consecutive layins. DeCraene made two to finish the third quarter, and two more to start the fourth, putting the Hawks up 51-38.
DeCraene
“All credit goes to my coach and teammates,” said DeCraene. “They give me the ball when I’m open. We found a couple mismatches, and we made it happen.”
Bowen said the Trojans were “shading Caleb Wright pretty strongly, so Trent found seams to the basket. The other thing he did is, he really attacked the basket. Didn’t settle, was really aggressive going to the basket and things went well for him and for us.”
Wright still got his points, of course, scoring six in the fourth quarter. Wright’s putback got Sheridan ahead 61-42, then Tyler Garner’s layin gave the Hawks their biggest lead at 63-42. Landon Grant hit two 3-pointers for Tri-Central during the final minute and a half, but the game had long been decided by then.
DeCraene finished with 26 points, easily a career-high. Wright was next in line with 17 points. Eight different Sheridan players scored at least two points. DeCraene and Wright also both had five rebounds and handed out four assists.
The Blackhawks are 2-2 in conference play and 7-5 overall. Sheridan goes on the road tonight to play another HHC game, this one at Rossville.
SHERIDAN 63, TRI-CENTRAL 48
Sheridan FG FT TP PF
Tyler Garner 2-5 0-0 4 1
Trent DeCraene 12-17 2-2 26 1
Caleb Wright 6-14 2-2 17 2
Parker Williams 1-2 0-0 3 1
Carsen Aleman 2-3 0-0 4 4
Owen Bell 2-6 2-3 7 2
Eli Kolb 0-1 0-0 0 3
Evan Krupp 1-3 0-0 2 0
Nate Hinshaw 0-0 0-0 0 0
Totals 26-51 6-7 63 14
Score by Quarters
Tri-Central 17 9 12 10 – 48
Sheridan 15 11 21 16 – 63
Sheridan 3-point shooting (4-13) Wright 3-7, Bell 1-2, Krupp 0-2, Garner 0-1, DeCraene 0-1.
Sheridan rebounds (21) DeCraene 5, Wright 5, Garner 3, Bell 3, Williams 3, Krupp 1, Aleman 1.