By RICHIE HALL
NOBLESVILLE – The Noblesville boys basketball team began a five-game homestand Saturday, as it hosted Connersville at The Mill.
The Millers played a solid first half and took a big lead on the Spartans by halftime. But Connersville, one of Class 3A’s top teams this season, came roaring back in the second half, eventually sending Noblesville to a 60-51 defeat.
“First and foremost, you got to tip your hat to (Connersville coach) Kerry (Brown) and his kids,” said Millers coach Scott McClelland. “They just stepped it up a bunch in the third quarter.”
The first quarter was close, featuring several lead changes. The Spartans got on the board first when Josh Williams hit a 3-pointer, but Noblesville responded with a 6-0 run. Cameron Karns hit two free throws, then E.J. Smith and Cooper Bean got baskets.
Eventually, Smith hit a 3 towards the end of the quarter to give the Millers a 15-13 lead, after which Tobey Billups tied the game with a layin, and the first period finished in a 15-15 tie. Noblesville then played a great second quarter, outscoring the Spartans 19-7.
Preston Roberts made two free throws and Luke Almodovar’s basket pushed the Millers ahead 19-15, their biggest lead of the game. Noblesville would get going later in the quarter, embarking on a 13-4 run to take a 34-22 halftime lead. Smith started the run with a layin, then Almodovar nailed a 3. Aaron Fine added a basket, then Almodovar and Smith both hit 3s to end the quarter.
Connersville began its comeback in the third period, where it held the Millers to three points. Still, Noblesville had enough of a cushion that it led 37-33 going into the fourth quarter. After the Spartans’ Kaleb Sparks opened the fourth with a triple, Fine’s floater got Noblesville back up 39-36.
But the Spartans took over after that, going on a 12-0 run to take control of the game, holding a 48-39 lead with 3:35 left. The Millers fought to the end, but Connersville maintained its lead at six to nine points until the final buzzer.
“They picked up their intensity,” said McClelland. “We didn’t match it. They deserved to win because of the way they played in the second half.”
Smith finished the game with 14 points, while Fine scored 10.
Noblesville is 6-6 and hosts Franklin Central Friday in a Hoosier Crossroads Conference game.
CONNERSVILLE 60, NOBLESVILLE 51
Noblesville FG FT TP PF
E.J. Smith 5 2-2 14 3
Aaron Fine 3 4-6 10 4
Cooper Bean 2 4-4 8 4
Hunter Walston 0 0-0 0 2
Cameron Karns 1 4-4 6 2
Luke Almodovar 2 0-0 6 5
Preston Roberts 2 3-6 7 3
Luke Etchison 0 0-0 0 0
Nolan Decker 0 0-0 0 0
Totals 15 17-22 51 23
Score by Quarters
Connersville 15 7 11 27 – 60
Noblesville 15 19 3 14 – 51
Noblesville 3-pointers (4) Smith 2, Almodovar 2.