HSE mounts comeback, bests Westfield for Sectional 8 crown

By CRAIG ADKINS

For The Reporter

NOBLESVILLE – The Westfield Shamrocks played their best underdog role and almost pulled off the upset at Class 4A Sectional 8.

Saturday night, they nearly flipped the script on top-ranked Hamilton Southeastern, but the Royals came back to win the sectional title, 46-38.

Lindsey Van Dyke sank a left wing three for the early 3-0 edge. Westfield turned it over and Maya Makalusky got HSE on the board on a fast break.

A pair of MaKayla Hatcher free throws and a Meg Hamilton three from the right corner made it 8-4. The ‘Rocks had a 7-4 run to end the first to lead 15-8.

“There’s not a whole lot of pressure in this locker room,” said third-year Westfield head coach Kelsey Steele. “Nobody expects us to beat the No. 1 team, especially not a team that beat us by over 30 at their place two weeks ago.”

“We just kept saying, ‘Ladies, play free,’” Steele continued. “Nobody expects us to be here.

HSE cut it to 15-10 just into the second on a Makalusky basket. Westfield then went on a 6-0 run. Audra Parker banked in a three from the right, then Hamilton and Parker combined to go 3-for-5 in consecutive trips to the foul line that made it 21-10.

“That was one thing that we warned them about,” said Hamilton Southeastern head coach Brian Satterfield. “Our first game, they’re not the same team. You saw what they did last night and you’ve got to be ready. They came out and threw the first punch.”

Kennedy Holman stopped the run to get the score back to 21-12. Van Dyke made the lead 11 again when Aubrey Crockett found her on a backdoor cut and a 23-12 score.

In the final seconds of the first half, Makalusky drove the lane for two, cutting the deficit to 23-14 at halftime.

Crockett fed Sam Price down low to start the third and get the Shamrocks’ lead back to double digits at 25-14. The Royals made two baskets in a row from Kayla Stidham and Makalusky to cut it to 25-18.

Slowly, but surely, the momentum was starting to shift. With 3:05 left in the third, Antonette Green swished a triple from the top of the key to narrow it to 29-23 and the blue-clad Royal faithful got louder.

“I’m super proud of Ant. That’s a huge shot to step up and be confident. I’m glad that we were able to install that in her for those big moments,” said Makalusky. “That was a great shot and once we took the opportunity, we just ran with it and that was the momentum we needed.”

“Things were still so-so the first three minutes. Then Ant came in and hit that three and then defensively we picked it up a little bit and were able to get our hands on a few things,” Satterfield said.

HSE’s Kennedy Holman stole a pass late in the third quarter and raced to the other end to score, then Makalusky stole another pass in the backcourt and put two in on a fast break for HSE’s first lead of the night at 30-29. After the Shamrocks coughed it up again, Kayla Brinley stole a pass and passed up the court to Makalusky in the final seconds of the quarter to go up 32-29.

“Just knowing what we have. We started preparing for this in July. This wasn’t just a February thing, so trusting our work and who we are,” Makalusky said. “We know we’re good enough. We know this team is good enough, if we’re just us. I think trusting in each other, calming down and playing our game, because the only team that’s going to beat us is us.”

Westfield tied the score at 32-32 on a Parker three to begin the fourth. But HSE took the lead back and the Royals’ lead gradually grew for the remainder of the game. Makalusky made two field goals, and HSE went 10-for-14 at the line in the quarter.

“What we did at the defensive end in the second half was the key,” added Satterfield. “I thought we were very disciplined. We played defense like we have been playing most of the year.”

Westfield (16-9) ends its season having won seven of its final 10. The Shamrocks were led by 12 from Parker, followed by Sam Price’s eight. Van Dyke and Hatcher both had five, while Crockett and Hamilton chipped in with four each.

“I love them and I’m proud of them,” Steele stated. “That’s a valiant effort from us. Those seniors, I’ve grown up with for three years.”

Makalusky led all with 25 points, followed by Holman with eight and Stidham with seven.

Hamilton Southeastern (25-0) continues its unblemished season and will head to the regional. This is the Royals’ first sectional title since 2019, the same year they were 4A state champions.

The Royals will play either Huntington North or Homestead on Saturday at Marion’s Bill Green Arena at 7 p.m.