For the first time since 2009 the Guerin Catholic boys basketball team broke the century mark in their opening round victory of the McDonald’s Holiday Hoops Classic at Vincennes Lincoln High School. Shooting 60 percent, the Golden Eagles beat North Knox 103-38 Friday night in Alice Arena.
Guerin Catholic actually trailed 4-0 to start the contest, However back to back 3-point field goals by Kian Sills and Jack Hansen got GC the lead, and they were never challenged after that. A nine point lead after the first quarter ballooned to a 43-17 halftime advantage as Guerin Catholic made 16-of-32 field goal attempts. But they even improved on that percentage after halftime, connecting on 23-of-33 field goals (69.6 percent). With the easy win the Golden Eagles (5-4) advance to this morning’s tournament semi-final against an undefeated University squad.
Drew Thieme notched career-highs of 17 points (including a perfect 8-8 from the field) and a game-high 9 rebounds. Also finishing in double-figures were Hansen with 25, Zach Munson with 15, junior Roc Ricker with 13, and sophomore Bernie McGuinness with 12. Clay Hepp dished out a game-high 6 assists and helped the team to a season-low 6 turnovers for the game.
On Dec. 1, 2009, the Golden Eagles’ team defeated Elwood 100-29 and went on to win the school’s first-ever sectional championship. The most points GC has ever scored was in a 105-51 victory at Oldenburg Academy on January 26, 2008. Both years GC was a 2A school.
Last year Guerin Catholic met University in the third place game of the eight-school tournament, winning a 71-64 overtime battle. This season the winner between the two Hamilton County teams will advance to the championship contest at 8:30 p.m. tonight against the winner of the Indpls. Howe-Vincennes Lincoln semi-final.
Meanwhile, the Class 1A No. 4-ranked Trailblazers took care of Eastern Greene 71-35 to advance to at 10:30 a.m. date with Guerin Catholic.
University scored the first eight points of the game and led 18-7 after the first quarter. Eastern got within eight at one point, but a buzzer-beater by David Howard gave UHS a 28-18 halftime lead.
The ‘Blazers then overwhelmed Eastern in the third period, making a 20-0 run during a 5:20 period. Josh Watson scored eight points in the quarter.
“After a week off I was happy how we came out to play,” said University coach Brandon Lafferman. “Eastern Greene controlled the pace in the first half. I was pleased with how we increased the tempo in the second half. Our bench played well and gave us good minutes.”
Howard finished the game with 22 points, while Watson scored 10. Max Greenamoyer added nine points, while Quinn Steiner, Ethan Sickels, Foster Flamion and Eric Major each scored six. Sam Mervis (four) and Zack Hodgin (two) rounded out the UHS scoring.
