By CRAIG ADKINS
For The Reporter
MARION – For the second time in three years, Noblesville and Snider met for the Class 4A regional title last Saturday at Marion. Once again, two Miss Basketball candidates in the Millers’ Reagan Wilson and the Panthers’ Jordyn Poole would battle for a chance to advance.
Defense would be the ultimate catalyst for the Millers as they were able to outlast the feisty Panthers in a battle for the ages, 43-40.
Snider got out to a quick 5-0 lead. Noblesville got on the board three minutes in and were down 7-4. After that, went on a 9-2 run to lead 13-9 after one.
“We knew it would be a game of runs,” said Noblesville head coach Donna Buckley. “Experience allows us to never panic.”
“We talked about finishing out quarters with more poise,” Buckley continued. “We reminded them that we need to slow down.”
Up seven in the second, Noblesville got key baskets from C.C. Quigley and Kate Rollins to a 24-17 lead.
The Panthers then went on an 8-0 run to end the half, two triples by Poole, now led 25-24.
The third quarter was low-scoring. The two teams came out in the second half trading the lead a couple times. Snider put together another 8-0 stretch to lead 35-30 through three.
Next, the Millers went on a run. Meredith Tippner took an inside feed from Ally Hutchinson to cut it to 36-32. A Tippner free throw made it 36-33. Tippner then saved a ball going out-of-bounds to Quigley. C.C. quickly dished it to Wilson for a three on the right wing to tie it 36-36.
The game was tied again with 3:34 left (38-38) when Tippner drove for a layup. Quigley drained a 12-foot baseline jumper for 40-38 with 2:07 remaining, forcing Snider to call a 30-second timeout.
Ava Shoemaker stole a pass at mid court with 2:00 left, but after eating up some clock, the Panthers forced the Millers to turn it over.
“We just continued to grind and play good defense. We talked about using our defense to create offense for us. I thought we did that well. We also rebounded well late in the game. That was huge for us,” stated Buckley.
On the other end, Poole drove the lane, Tippner blocking her shot. Tippner made one of two free throws, making it 41-38 with 49.9 seconds left.
Snider’s Ciara Sims would foul out with 31.3 ticks on an offensive foul.
Wilson kept it interesting with a rare 0-for-2 trip to the foul line.
Poole made the final Panther field goal with 21.3 remaining for 41-40, calling their final timeout.
Out of the timeout, Poole fouled Tippner with 18.5 on the clock. The junior Tippner sank both free throws for the final score of 43-40.
“Those two are so incredibly special and so talented. They are big time kids who always find a way to step up in huge moments,” Buckley said about Wilson and Tippner.
Defense would once again prevail in the final 18.5, keeping Poole and Snider from scoring twice as time wound down. The Panthers would be held to just five fourth quarter points.
“Our kids played so hard. In the end, the journey we’ve been on this year helped us win,” said Buckley. “Lessons learned through the 70 practices versus boys and 25 games against the best competition helped us grow into this special team.”
Getting to play another day and survive and advance in the state tournament proves a lot about a team.
“Our kids know that every day is a chance to learn and grow together,” Buckley continued. “They have done that as well as any team I’ve coached. They believe, and they are on a mission.”
Tippner led with 19 and 10 boards. Wilson had nine with two assists and steals with Quigley adding eight and five rebounds.
Noblesville (17-8) advances to the Elite Eight and Saturday’s 4A northern semi-state at La Porte. The Millers will play Valparaiso in the second semifinal, following the first semifinal between Homestead and Lake Central.