GC’s Robert Sorensen joins 1,000 point club
By RICHIE HALL
NOBLESVILLE – Guerin Catholic took care of business at the Eagles Nest Thursday night, cruising past Indianapolis Washington 60-39.
After a close first half, the Class 3A No. 5 Golden Eagles picked up the offensive pace in the third quarter, then toughened up their defense in the fourth quarter. Guerin Catholic poured in 24 points in the third, then allowed the Continentals just four points in the fourth.
The first half went back and forth, with six lead changes. Washington led 7-6 midway through the first quarter, then Robert Sorensen threw in his first 3-pointer of the game. A layin by Bryson Cardinal gave GC an 11-7 lead. Later, Sorensen’s second triple of the game gave the Golden Eagles a 14-10 advantage at the end of the period.
Guerin Catholic led 18-11 in the second quarter (including a Malcolm Houze 3) before the Continentals went on a 9-0 run to take a 20-18 lead, including five points from David Leye. But Sorensen put the Golden Eagles in front for good with another 3, then Jake Grissom scored off a steal, and Guerin led 23-20 at halftime.
Andy Caron began the second half with a basket, then Sorensen made back-to-back and-1s. Just like that, the Golden Eagles led 31-20.
Sorensen said that in the second half, “as a team collectively, we need to start going to the basket, pushing the floor and getting layups, which we did in the third quarter.”
“We decided to come out and apply a little more defensive pressure to speed them up,” said Guerin Catholic coach Bobby Allen. The coach said his defense was “okay” in the first half, but the team needed more energy.
“So, we started picking them up full-court man,” said Allen. “We got a couple turnovers early on. Jake Grissom did a good job directing our defense with picking the ball up, forcing some early turnovers.”
Grissom nailed a 3, then Sorensen connected on his third and-1 of the game with 4:45 left in the period. Andy Caron added four more points, then Cardinal took over in the final two minutes of the quarter with six points.
“And once we got that lead, then I think we felt like we were in good shape,” said Allen.
Guerin Catholic led 47-35 going into the fourth quarter. Roosevelt Franklin opened the period with a layin, but the Golden Eagles allowed no more baskets after that. Guerin Catholic went on a 13-0 run to seal the game.
On Thursday, Guerin Catholic honored Sorensen for reaching 1,000 points during Tuesday’s game. He is pictured with Golden Eagles coach Bobby Allen and his parents Suellyn and Scott.(Photo provided)
Sorensen scored 23 points, including four 3-pointers. He was honored before the game for clearing the 1,000-point mark during the Golden Eagles’ Tuesday game with New Palestine. Sorensen gave credit to his coaches, teammates and parents for helping him to hit that milestone, saying that “50, probably 75 percent is the people around you, and the people who are in your environment” that allowed him to push and motivate himself.
Sorensen also had eight rebounds. Cardinal scored 16 points and pulled seven rebounds.
The Golden Eagles are 16-7 and get a long break before finishing their regular season Feb. 20 at University. Allen called it a “much-needed break.”
“We got to get some guys healthy,” said the coach. Guerin Catholic has been playing the past few games without Dylan Murans, who Allen said is “a big-time part of what we do. So, we’ll be happy to get him back.”
GUERIN CATHOLIC 60, INDPLS. WASHINGTON 39
Guerin Catholic FG FT TP PF
Jack Cherry 0-2 0-0 0 1
Robert Sorensen 8-18 3-3 23 2
Andy Caron 2-5 2-4 6 1
Jake Grissom 4-9 0-0 9 2
Bryson Cardinal 6-13 4-7 16 3
Malcolm Houze 1-1 0-0 3 2
Ryne Paris 0-2 0-2 0 0
Hayden Rodgers 1-2 0-0 3 0
Nik Balmuri 0-1 0-0 0 1
Jack Toles 0-0 0-0 0 0
Will Bach 0-0 0-0 0 0
Carter Murans 0-0 0-0 0 0
Totals 22-53 9-16 60 12
Score by Quarters
Washington 10 10 15 4 – 39
Guerin Catholic 14 9 24 13 – 60
Guerin Catholic 3-point shooting (7-20) Sorensen 4-8, Grissom 1-4, Houze 1-1, Rodgers 1-1, Paris 0-2, Cardinal 0-2, Cherry 0-1, Balmuri 0-1.
Guerin Catholic rebounds (29) Sorensen 8, Cardinal 7, Cherry 3, Caron 3, Paris 2, Toles 2, Grissom 2, team 2.