By RICHIE HALL
Reporter Sports Editor
There is no unfamiliarity when it comes to the teams that play in Class 4A Sectional 8 boys basketball.
Of the six teams in the sectional, four are in the Hoosier Crossroads Conference (Fishers, Hamilton Southeastern, Noblesville and Westfield), so they play each other during the regular season. As for the two non-HCC schools, Anderson and Carmel, the Greyhounds play the other five teams, while the Indians play everyone but Westfield.
The bottom line is, in order to win Sectional 8 at Noblesville, a team will have to go through a few re-matches. In Tuesday first round play, the host Millers play Anderson, while the Shamrocks will take on Carmel. Action tips off at 6 p.m. with the NHS-Anderson game.
The Millers and the Indians played each other on Dec. 9, with Noblesville winning 62-49. Both teams finished the regular season with 10-13 records, but they’ve both played tough schedules: According to the Sagarin ratings, Anderson has the 16th toughest schedule in the state, while the Millers’ strength of schedule is 27th.
“Anderson is playing very well right now,” said Noblesville coach Brian McCauley. “They have won four of their last six games with wins over Fishers, Lafayette Jeff, and Kokomo. They lost to Guerin Catholic last Tuesday but had a 57-52 lead late in the fourth quarter.”
Senior JoMel Boyd is the Indians’ leading scorer, averaging 12.1 points per game. After that, Anderson has a handful of other consistent scorers, such as senior Marquavius Beverly (9.7 points) and sophomore Joseph Jones (9.3 points).
Beverly is the Indians’ leader on the boards with 6.2 rebounds per game, with Boyd a close second at 5.9 per game.
“Offensively, we will need to make sure we are fundamental versus their pressure defenses,” said McCauley. “Defensively, we will need to block out and rebound well.”
Junior Xavier Hines is on top of the Millers’ scoring list at 13.0 points per game. The boards are being led by senior Ryan Barnes with 4.5 per game, with junior Eagan Keever-Hill collecting 4.0 per game.
Carmel and Westfield played each other on Jan. 6, with the Greyhounds winning 73-31. Carmel finished the regular season 15-7, while the Shamrocks are 10-12, but did win four of their last six games.
“Westfield is a team that is playing really well right now,” said ‘Hounds coach Ryan Osborn. “Winners in four of their last six and playing as well as anyone. We’re going to have to be very good on the defensive end Tuesday night.”
Two juniors are leading the scoring for the ‘Rocks. Zach Banks is pouring in 16.4 points per game, while Caleb Welch is contributing 10.1 points per contest. Senior Josh Van Dyke is playing well on both offense (9.2 points) and defense (4.0 rebounds).
“They have some guys that are scoring and shooting the ball really well,” said Osborn. The coach also said that his team has “to do a better job of valuing the basketball” on the offensive end.
“We can’t have careless turnovers in this game….or live ball turnovers that turn into transition opportunities for them,” said Osborn.
Two juniors are also in front of the Carmel scoring column. John Michael Mulloy is close to averaging a double-double at 14.9 points and 8.3 rebounds per game. Andrew Owens scores 12.0 points and also pulls 4.3 rebounds per game.
HUSKIES PLAY TOP-RANKED TROJANS
In the Class 3A tournament, Hamilton Heights will travel to the famed New Castle Fieldhouse, where the Huskies will play the Trojans in the first game of Sectional 24 at 6 p.m. Tuesday.
New Castle just happens to be the No. 1-ranked team in 3A. The Trojans have fought their way to a 22-2 record, with their only losses back-to-back road defeats to Carmel (61-59 on Jan. 27) and Beech Grove (67-57 on Feb. 1). Heights played New Castle on Dec. 1, falling in a close game, 72-63.
“It is a great opportunity for us,” said Huskies coach Chad Ballenger. “We are playing the No. 1 ranked team in 3A on their court. There will be NO pressure on us. We are going to play loose and see what happens.”
The Trojans have two juniors averaging just over 20 points a game. Mason Gillis is averaging a double-double with 20.9 points and 11.2 rebounds per contest, while Luke Bumbalough adds 20.1 points and dishes out 5.6 assists per game. If that weren’t enough, senior Niah Williamson pours in 11.2 points per game.
“We must be able to get stops,” said Ballenger. “We have scored the ball real well lately, but our defense has not been very solid at times. If we can get some stops, we can put some pressure on them. We have to find a way to contain No. 3 Bumbalough and No. 32 Gillis. They are both machines.”
The Huskies are led in scoring by two young players: Sophomore Camron Knott and freshman Gus Etchison are both contributing 11.5 points per game. Meanwhile, Heights’ seniors are taking care of the boards: Caleb Bean is pulling 4.5 rebounds per game, while Tyler Wiltermood collects 4.4 and Drayden Thomas grabs 4.0 per game.
“It will be Indiana high school basketball at its best in the world’s largest and finest high school gym,” said Ballenger. “We are going to have some fun and let it all out.”
GUERIN CATHOLIC HOSTING SECTIONAL 27
Guerin Catholic will host this year’s Class 3A Sectional 27 tournament. The Golden Eagles will open play at 7 p.m. Tuesday by taking on Bishop Chatard.
The two teams are members of the Circle City Conference, and played each other at the Trojans’ gym on Jan. 5. Guerin Catholic won easily, 69-47. Chatard finished the season 10-11, but was a winner in its regular-season finale, over Herron 89-43.
The Trojans’ leading scorer is senior Cody Albin, who is good for 18.6 points and 7.4 rebounds per game. Sophomore Edreece Redmond adds 12.2 points per game.
As for the Golden Eagles, who finished their regular season 15-8, senior Jack Hansen is close to a double-double with 18.0 points and 9.1 rebounds per game. Another senior, Zach Munson, is right behind with 15.5 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. Senior Clay Hepp hands out 4.4 assists per game.
