By RICHIE HALL
ARCADIA – The natural emotion that surrounds the annual rivalry game between the Hamilton Heights and Noblesville boys basketball teams reached a new level on Saturday.
The two teams met at the Huskies’ gym that night, along with a large crowd of basketball fans. They came together to celebrate the memory of a man who made a big impact on both the Heights and Noblesville communities.
Then they watched that man’s son make history, as he followed in his father’s footsteps to join an exclusive club. And of course, there was the game itself, which the Huskies won 52-44 over the Millers.
“It was a great team win,” said Heights coach Chad Ballenger. “I’m just pleased with our guys. We’ve guarded really well lately and that’s given us more opportunities on the offensive end. They’ve really bought in these last few games and played well.”
The game was the Tony Etchison Memorial game, and he was honored during a halftime ceremony. Etchison played basketball at Noblesville, and his coach Dave Nicholson gave a moving speech about Tony, then the Etchison family was presented with a plaque that contained the code by which he lived his life: “Love everyone, be kind and make a difference.”
Gus Etchison, the second of Tony’s three sons and a Hamilton Heights junior, began the second half of the game by making history. Gus came into the game with 987 career points, and scored 12 in the first half, giving him 999 points at halftime. Twenty-two seconds into the second half, Gus made a free throw to reach the 1,000-point mark. Gus joined his father in the 1,000-point club, as Tony Etchison scored 1,357 points as a Miller basketball player.
The Huskies led for the majority of the contest, although it was Noblesville that scored the first five points of the game. Alex Hunt made a layin, then Jordan Gadis hit a 3-pointer.
After that, Heights took over, going on an 11-0 run that lasted until the end of the first quarter. Etchison scored six points, and Camron Knott had five, including a 3-pointers.
The Huskies held their lead for the entire second quarter, and went into halftime with a 19-15 advantage. Etchison drained a pair of 3-pointers and Hudson Hochstedler added a layin. The Millers were staying close, though, as EJ Smith started the period with a triple, and Preston Roberts made a couple of layins from Preston Roberts.
Etchison’s history-making free throw put Heights up 20-15 early in the second half. Noblesville then went on an 8-0 run, with Hunt scoring four points, Gadis throwing in another 3 and Brendon Fisher making a free throw. That gave the Millers a 23-20 lead.
But the Huskies responded with a 9-0 run of their own. Issiac Hickok hit a 3, then Knott and Etchison both converted traditional three-point plays. Heights never trailed again.
“It was nice for our kids to respond and play the way they did,” said Ballenger. “They were so locked in and focused. I’m just really happy for our kids.”
The Huskies led 32-31 after three quarters, then began the fourth with an 8-0 run. Knott scored all eight points, sandwiching a layin between two more 3-pointers. Knott finished the game with four triples.
“When he plays well, we’re a lot better,” said Ballenger. “We’re not a one-man band and I say that all the time. And it’s not anything against Gus. Gus is a very good player. But we’ve got very good players around him.”
After that, Heights kept its lead from six to 10 points for the remainder of the game. Etchison finished with 24 points, while Knott totaled 21. Etchison led the rebounds with eight, while Hochstedler collected five rebounds and also handed out five assists.
Hunt led the Millers with 14 points, while Smith went 4-for-4 from 3-point range to score 12 points. Gadis added 10 points. Roberts pulled eight rebounds and Hunt had six.
“I got to give Gus props,” said Noblesville coach John Peckinpaugh. “He’s a heck of a player and is playing through some stuff. I can’t even imagine what’s going on in his mind and his heart. I thought our guys did a good job on him. Offensively, we just got a long ways to go. We’re just going to keep grinding away at it and try to get better.”
The Huskies are 6-2 and play next Saturday at the Franklin County Tournament, taking on Indian Creek in their first game.
The Millers are 3-5 and will host their own Holiday Tournament next weekend. Noblesville will play Crown Point in its first game Friday.
HAMILTON HEIGHTS 52, NOBLESVILLE 44
Noblesville FG FT TP PF
Jordan Gadis 3-6 2-2 10 3
Brendon Fisher 0-5 1-2 1 1
Noah Harris 0-1 0-0 0 1
Evan Wilson 1-6 0-0 3 2
Alex Hunt 6-9 1-2 14 4
EJ Smith 4-5 0-1 12 4
Preston Roberts 2-7 0-0 4 3
Levi Calvert 0-0 0-0 0 0
Totals 16-39 4-7 44 18
Noblesville 3-point shooting (8-22) Smith 4-4, Gadis 2-5, Wilson 1-5, Hunt 1-3, Fisher 0-5.
Noblesville rebounds (21) Roberts 8, Hunt 6, Fisher 4, Smith 1, Wilson 1, team 1.
Heights FG FT TP PF
Gus Etchison 8-14 6-7 24 3
Issiac Hickok 1-3 0-0 3 0
Camron Knott 7-17 3-4 21 1
Brent Pennington 0-2 2-2 2 3
Hudson Hochstedler 1-5 0-2 2 1
Lucas Letsinger 0-1 0-0 0 0
Noah Linville 0-0 0-0 0 0
Luke Carroll 0-0 0-0 0 4
Jonny Cambron 0-0 0-0 0 0
Totals 17-42 11-15 52 12
Heights 3-point shooting (7-21) Knott 4-12, Etchison 2-4, Hickok 1-3, Letsinger 0-1, Pennington 0-1.
Heights rebounds (22) Etchison 8, Hochstedler 5, Knott 4, Letsinger 2, Pennington 2, Carroll 1.
Score by Quarters
Noblesville 5 10 16 13 – 44
Heights 11 8 13 20 – 52
Hamilton Heights’ Gus Etchison joined an exclusive club during Saturday’s boys basketball game between the Huskies and Noblesville. Etchison scored his 1,000th point at the beginning of the second half on a free throw. He score 24 points in Heights’ 52-44 win over the Millers. (Kent Graham)
Noblesville’s Jordan Gadis scored 10 points, one of three Millers players in double figures on Saturday night. Pictured at left is Hamilton Heights’ Lucas Letsinger. (Kent Graham)