By RICHIE HALL
Reporter Sports Editor
The model of efficiency Saturday night looked just like the Miller Man.
Noblesville’s boys shot the basketball very well in their Saturday night game with Hamilton Heights at the Husky Dome. Add that to a solid defensive effort, and the result was a 59-37 win over the Huskies, giving the Millers two wins in two days.
“I think they’re really understanding how to play together and the fun they can have when we’re working in harmony both offensively and defensively,” said Millers coach Brian McCauley. “They’re coming together. They’re improving. That’s what it’s all about. I think we’ve improved and it’s a credit to how hard they’re working in practice and these games.”
Noblesville blasted through the first few minutes of the first quarter, jumping out to an 11-0 lead. Ryan Barnes and Eagan Keever-Hill got the first two baskets, Xavier Hines drained a 3-pointer, then Zack Johnson made consecutive baskets.
“Perfect start for us,” said Millers coach Brian McCauley. “And then credit Hamilton Heights. They’re a solid team.”
The Huskies roared back in the latter part of the period, scoring 11 straight points of their own. Freshman Gus Etchison scored five of those points (a jumper and a three-point play), alternating with Camron Knott, who made two 3s.
“They kept their poise and battled back to 11-11,” said McCauley.
Noblesville needed a couple minutes in the second period to break away from the Huskies, but began to make its move in the middle part of the period. Johnson broke a 13-all tie with a three-point play, then Alex Hancock scored.
“I was really proud of how we responded,” said McCauley.
Max Beale cut the Millers’ lead to 18-15, but Noblesville ran out the half by scoring eight unanswered points. Hines made another 3, Hancock got his second basket of the quarter, then Jaron Youree ended the quarter by throwing in a 3-pointer. With that, the Millers led 26-15, having held Heights to only four points in the period.
“We were really concerned about their driving tonight, because last night they really hurt Western with their driving,” said McCauley. “We stayed in front, contested 3s and rebounded well. That’s how you can hold a team to 37 points.”
Noblesville sailed through the second half. The third quarter was mostly basket-trading, except for two instances of back-to-back Miller baskets: Jordan Schmidt hit a 3, followed by a layin from Barnes. Later, Hines’ layin was followed by a score from Schmidt.
Noblesville made 26 of 38 shots in the game, for 68 percent shooting.
“That’s just by taking high-percentage shots and being smart with our execution offensively,” said McCauley.
Schmidt was the key figure in a final 6-0 run that put the game out of reach in the fourth quarter. The junior made two baskets, with Barnes getting a layup in between. Noblesville then scored the final seven points of the game, with Youree and Keever-Hill getting baskets before a Barnes three-point play.
Barnes led all scorers with 15 points, while Hines added 13, including three 3s. Johnson pulled six rebounds and Keever-Hill grabbed five. Johnson also handed out five assists.
A bright spot for Heights in the second half was AJ Field, who scored all 12 of his points in that half. He would wind up the Huskies’ leading scorer. Camron Knott made three 3-pointers for nine points. Field and Hudson Hochstedler each pulled three rebounds, and Etchison dished out four assists.
“They do a good job controlling the tempo, but we just made so many mental mistakes,” said Heights coach Chad Ballenger. “Really disappointing from my end. As well as we played last night, it didn’t carry over tonight. We didn’t handle the success we had last night and bring it to the table tonight.”
Noblesville is now 5-2 and a winner of three straight games. The Millers will travel to Pike on Tuesday. Heights is 3-5 and will next play at the Roncalli Tournament next Saturday.
ABOVE: Noblesville’s Xavier Hines puts up a shot during the Millers’ Saturday night game with Hamilton Heights at the Husky Dome. Noblesville won 59-37, giving the Millers their third straight victory.
BELOW: Hamilton Heights’ Tyler Wiltermood looks up to the basket while being guarded by Noblesville’s Ryan Barnes during the Huskies-Millers boys basketball game Saturday night at Heights. (Kent Graham)
