By RICHIE HALL
NOBLESVILLE – Another game, another fine defensive performance for the Noblesville boys basketball team.
The Millers hosted Fishers Friday night, and the two teams put on a show for the near-capacity crowd at The Mill. Noblesville got off to a solid start and carried that momentum all the way to the end for a 55-47 Hoosier Crossroads Conference win.
It was the first time the Millers had beaten the Tigers since Dec. 1, 2017. Noblesville never trailed in the game, and while the Class 4A No. 7 Tigers stayed in it for the entire contest, the Millers used solid defense and timely play-making to secure the victory.
“We knew that if we were going to have a decent year, we had to get a lot better on the defensive end,” said Noblesville coach Scott McClelland. The coach said that defense became an emphasis during the pre-season, which included putting the team in tough situations in practice.
“I thought we did a pretty good job,” said McClelland.
The game was only tied once at 2-2. The Millers’ Aaron Fine scored the opening basket, which was answered by a layin from Fishers’ JonAnthony Hall. After that, Noblesville skipped off on a 7-0 run: Luke Almodovar scored, then Cooper Bean threw in a 3-pointer and followed that with a layin, and the Millers were up 9-2.
Noblesville’s Hunter Walston hit a 3 during the late stages of the quarter to make it 12-4, and a layin from the Tigers’ Jalen Haralson to finish the period cut it to 12-6. That set the stage for a big second quarter for the sophomore, as he scored 12 points for Fishers.
Fishers’ Jalen Haralson scored 25 points for the Tigers. (Richie Hall)
But the Millers were able to stay ahead with timely baskets of their own. An early quick five points from a Fine basket and another Walston triple gave the Millers a 17-8 lead. Fine made a traditional three-point play with 4:32 left in the quarter to put Noblesville up 22-12. That would be the Millers’ largest lead, but they achieved that 10-point margin several times in the game.
Noblesville led 26-22 at halftime. Aiden Brewer, a 6-3 forward starting as a sophomore, opened the second half with a layin. Almodovar got going for the Millers in the third quarter with seven points, including a 3. Fine hit a 3 as well. Bean added the final four points of the quarter, which ended with Noblesville up 42-32.
“I thought Cooper had a really nice drive there at the end of the third quarter, kept some momentum for us,” said McClelland.
The Millers still led 46-36 early in the fourth quarter. The Tigers then went on a 7-0 run to cut that advantage to 46-43. Parker Perdue hit a 3 (his second of the game), Haralson was good on a layin, then Keenan Garner, a 6-6 junior, made a layin.
Fine and Haralson traded layins, and the score was 48-45 with three minutes to go. But Noblesville was able to get some separation during the next couple minutes, as Fine made two free throws, and an Almodovar layin put the Millers up 52-45. Haralson kept Fishers close with a dunk to cut it to 52-47, but that would be all. The last basket summed up the game: Walston made a steal, which Bean took to the basket for a layin.
Noblesville’s Hunter Walston takes control of a rebound. Walston
scored 10 points for the Millers. (Richie Hall)
Noblesville had solid balance, with four players in double figures. Bean and Fine each scored 15 points, Almodovar added 13 points and Walston totaled 10, including two 3-pointers.
“Just a good win over a very good team, well-coached team with one of the best players in the state, maybe the country,” said McClelland.
Haralson led the Tigers with 25 points.
“It’s a young team,” said Fishers coach Garrett Winegar, who noted the Tigers have one starters back from last year’s squad.
“They’re good kids, they’re going to keep trying,” said Winegar. “They’re going to keep learning. Coaches are going to keep trying. I’m confident we’re going to figure it out, but right now, we haven’t figured it out.”
Noblesville is 2-0 and hosts Carmel next Friday. Fishes is 2-2 and goes back on the road tonight to play at Mount Vernon.
NOBLESVILLE 55, FISHERS 47
Fishers FG FT TP PF
Taden Metzger 1 0-0 2 3
Jalen Haralson 11 3-4 25 2
Parker Perdue 2 0-0 6 1
JonAnthony Hall 2 1-2 5 3
Keenan Garner 2 0-0 4 4
Bryson Seymour 0 0-0 0 1
Aidan Zimmer 0 0-0 0 0
James Stasey 0 0-0 0 0
Millen McCartney 1 0-0 2 0
Grant Haworth 1 1-2 3 1
Grant Ables 0 0-0 0 0
Totals 20 5-8 47 15
Fishers 3-pointers (2) Perdue 2.
Noblesville FG FT TP PF
Luke Almodovar 6 0-1 13 5
Hunter Walston 2 4-5 10 2
Aiden Brewer 1 0-0 2 3
Cooper Bean 7 0-0 15 1
Aaron Fine 5 4-7 15 3
Will Smits 0 0-1 0 2
Justin Curry 0 0-0 0 0
Totals 21 8-16 55 16
Noblesville 3-pointers (5) Walston 2, Almodovar, Bean, Fine.
Score by Quarters
Fishers 6 16 10 15 – 47
Noblesville 12 14 16 13 – 55