By RICHIE HALL
sports@readthereporter.com
NOBLESVILLE – There was a sectional-like atmosphere at The Mill on Wednesday, as two of Indiana’s best high school boys basketball teams met up for a Hoosier Crossroad Conference clash.
Westfield took on Noblesville in a game that was postponed; it was originally supposed to be played on Dec. 15. But it was worth the wait for the Class 4A No. 3 Shamrocks, as they emerged victorious over the 4A No. 4 Millers 58-54 to stay unbeaten for the year at 11-0.
It was a true game of runs, especially in the first half. The teams traded 3-pointers for most of the first quarter, with Trey Buchanan and Will Harvey hitting triples for Westfield and Justin Curry and Aaron Fine answering with 3s for Noblesville.
A basket by Caleb Wise and a score off a steal by Harvey with seconds left in the quarter gave the ‘Rocks a 10-6 lead, then Nic Book opened the second period with a basket. The Millers went on a 10-0 run to jump ahead 16-12; Hunter Walston and Fine both nailed 3s to finish the spurt.
Buchanan hit a triple, then Drew Haffner’s three-point play got Westfield ahead 18-16. But Fine made two layins to finish the quarter and put Noblesville up 20-18 at the break.
Baron Walker began the second half with a 3, and that helped the Millers to a 28-22 lead early in the third. But a 6-0 run brought the Shamrocks back to even at 28-28, then Wise and Buchanan made layins to end the quarter and give Westfield a 35-32 lead.
Book took over in the fourth quarter. With the score tied at 36-36, the senior from New Zealand hit back-to-back jump shots to get the Shamrocks ahead 40-36. Westfield never trailed again, turning those baskets into a 15-6 run. Book made a layin and Buchanan was good on two free throws to put the ‘Rocks up 51-42, the largest lead of the game.
Shamrocks coach Shane Sumpter credited his team with responding well after the Millers “threw their big punch there” during the second half, “and I thought Nic was really good down the stretch.”
“I have trust in my teammates and they have trust in me,” said Book. “So whoever gets the ball, I’m happy with that as long as we get the open shot.”
Nic Book had a double-double for Westfield, scoring 13 points and pulling 10 rebounds. (Joshua Herd)
Noblesville made things interesting by scoring five fast points off a Curry 3 and a Walker basket from a steal. But Westfield sealed the win from the free-throw line; Durante Morton hit 3 of 4 during a 20-second span, then Buchanan and Harvey both added two more to clinch the game.
“We were just fortunate to make some plays down the stretch,” said Sumpter. “Durante hit some key free throws.”
Buchanan totaled 17 points for the ‘Rocks, including three 3s, while Harvey scored 14. Book reached double-double status with 13 points and 10 rebounds.
Fine led all scorers with 22 points. Curry also had three 3s while scoring 13 points. Walston led the rebounds with seven, followed by Curry and Will Smits with five each.
Noblesville’s Aaron Fine scored 22 points. He reached the 1,000-point mark last Saturday in the Millers’ game with Connersville. (Joshua Herd)
“I just felt like they won the toughness plays tonight,” said Noblesville coach Scott McClelland. “We gave up a couple of offensive rebounds on free throws. I thought our half-court defense in the first half was pretty good, we just gave up some transition baskets.
In addition to its unbeaten overall record, Westfield is now 3-0 in HCC play. The ‘Rocks play another conference game Friday, traveling to Brownsburg.
Noblesville is 1-2 in the conference and 12-2 overall. The Millers continue their homestand on Friday with another HCC contest, taking on a Franklin Central team that McClelland called “the hottest team in the state of Indiana.” The Flashes are coming off a finals appearance in the Marion County tournament.
WESTFIELD 58, NOBLESVILLE 54
Westfield FG FT TP PF
Trey Buchanan 5-11 4-4 17 0
Will Harvey 5-8 2-2 14 2
Caleb Wise 2-6 0-0 4 2
Durante Morton 1-3 5-8 7 1
Nic Book 6-9 1-3 13 3
Carsen Melvin 0-4 0-0 0 0
Drew Haffner 1-2 1-1 3 0
Totals 20-43 13-18 58 8
Westfield 3-point shooting (5-12) Buchanan 3-6, Harvey 2-4, Haffner 0-1, Wise 0-1.
Westfield rebounds (25) Book 10, Melvin 4, Harvey 3, Morton 3, Wise 2, team 3.
Noblesville FG FT TP PF
Hunter Walston 2-15 0-0 6 3
Justin Curry 5-11 0-0 13 2
Aiden Brewer 1-2 0-0 2 1
Baron Walker 3-4 0-0 7 5
Aaron Fine 9-16 2-3 22 1
Will Smits 1-2 0-0 2 4
Adam Fine 0-0 0-0 0 0
Luke Etchison 1-1 0-0 2 0
Ryan Vetor 0-1 0-0 0 3
Totals 22-52 2-3 54 19
Noblesville 3-point shooting (8-19) Curry 3-7, Walston 2-7, Aa. Fine 2-4, Walker 1-1.
Noblesville rebounds (22) Walston 7, Curry 5, Smits 5, Aa. Fine 2, Brewer 1, Walker 1, Vetor 1.
Score by Quarters
Westfield 10 8 17 23 – 58
Noblesville 6 14 12 22 – 54