By RICHIE HALL
INDIANAPOLIS – Guerin Catholic nearly made an incredible comeback in last Saturday’s IHSAA Class 3A boys basketball state championship game.
The Golden Eagles got knocked down early by No. 1-ranked NorthWood, but clawed their way back to tie the game by the end of regulation. Guerin Catholic fought to the end before the Panthers finally clinched a 66-63 victory to claim their first-ever boys basketball state title.
NorthWood’s state finals win ended the Golden Eagles’ eight-game win streak, but those wins came at the right time, as six of them were in the state tournament. Guerin Catholic was making its first appearance in a state finals game since 2015.
“Obviously, this is not the one you want to be holding,” said GC senior Kamea Chandler, talking as he had the state runner-up trophy in his hands. “But I always live by the motto, ‘Don’t be sad that it’s over. Just be happy it happened.’”
Guerin Catholic senior Kamea Chandler scored 22 points for the Golden Eagles in the state championship game, also handing out seven assists. (Photo by Joshua Herd)
The game was slow-going at first, with neither team getting on the board during the first minute and a half. The Panthers’ Cade Brenner broke the ice around the 6:30 mark by making a 3-pointer. Brenner would go on to dominate the first quarter, scoring 12 points, including the first eight of the game.
A Tyler Raasch jumper put NorthWood up 10-0 before Chandler finally got the Golden Eagles on the board by making a layin with 3:39 left in the quarter. The Panthers answered that with an 8-2 run, going up 18-4 late in the first for their largest lead.
Dylan Murans got the last basket of the period, scoring off a steal, being fouled and making the free throw for the three-point play. Robert Sorensen opened the second quarter with a layin, and GC was within 18-9.
Guerin Catholic kept working in the second period, cutting the Panthers’ lead to 26-19 with 3:25 left. Chandler added six more points in that quarter. Two quick 3s put NorthWood up 32-19, but the Golden Eagles went on their own 8-0 run, and were suddenly within 32-27. Lucas Parker drained a triple, Jack Cherry was good on an and-1, and Sorensen made a layin.
“We got off to a slow start, we let a couple of their guys get loose and get some open looks,” said GC coach Bobby Allen. “But the fight that our guys showed gave us an opportunity to win in the end. And they made one more play than us. But I’m so proud of our guys right here. I’m so proud of our locker room.”
Brenner finished the half with a 3-pointer, and the Panthers were ahead 35-27 at the break. Brenner scored 23 points during the first half, but the Golden Eagles held him in check over the next two quarters.
The third period was a little more defensive, with NorthWood scoring nine points and Guerin Catholic eight. The Golden Eagles were pressing more in the second half, but the Panthers made defensive plays as well, with three blocked shots in the period.
The Panthers were up 48-37 with 6:01 to play in regulation when Guerin Catholic made its move. Chandler began the run with a 3, then Cherry followed with his own triple. Ty Sanders scored on a layin, and for the first time since the opening quarter, the Golden Eagles were within three, 48-45.
NorthWood pulled back ahead 52-47 with around two and a half minutes to play. Guerin Catholic held the Panthers scoreless for the remainder of regulation, while Chandler poured in five more points, on a layin, then an and-1. NorthWood tried for a last-second shot, but it was no good.
On to overtime. Murans made a free throw 16 seconds into the extra period, and the Golden Eagles were finally in front, 53-52. The Panthers came back, with a basket by Ian Raasch, a 3 from Ethan Wolfe and a layin by Brenner, his first points since the first half. NorthWood now led by six.
Two more free throws by Brenner gave the Panthers a 65-58 lead with 50.8 seconds to go. Cherry cut into that with a triple, then Sorensen hit two foul shots to bring GC within 65-63 with 27 seconds left. The Golden Eagles had one more chance under the basket with time running out, but a turnover gave the ball back to NorthWood. Brenner finished the scoring with one more free throw.
Chandler led Guerin Catholic with 22 points, while Cherry added 15 points. Sorensen scored eight points, followed by Sander with seven, Murans with six and Parker adding five points. Murans led the rebounding with seven, and Chandler dished out seven assists.
Brenner led all scorers with 28 points, followed by Tyler Raasch with 14 and Ian Raasch with 13. Tyler Raasch collected 10 rebounds for a double-double.
The Golden Eagles helped themselves get back in the game with their performance at the line. Guerin Catholic made 17 of 19 free throws, with Cherry 5 for 5, Sorensen 4 for 4 and Chandler 3 for 3.
“I believe free throws are all about repetition,” said Chandler. “And if you practice them each day, you get a lot of reps, you’re knocking them down when it matters.”
The Golden Eagles finished their season 20-9.
Photos by Joshua Herd