By RICHIE HALL
Reporter Sports Editor
While facing serious heat at The Mill on Saturday night, the Millers kept their cool.
Noblesville was in a battle with Arsenal Tech in front of a good-sized crowd, and everybody got their money’s worth. The Titans kept themselves in the game with some hot shooting, but the Millers brought the heat when they needed it, and finished the game up at the free throw line for a 68-62 victory.
“We did so many things well tonight,” said Noblesville coach Brian McCauley. “I was proud of our guys. It’s a very important win for our team, our program and I’m really proud of them.”
The Millers got off to a good start, leading 12-3 midway through the first quarter. Eagan Keever-Hill and Xavier Hines scored four points each, including a cool turnaround jumper from Keever-Hill. Ryan Barnes ended the quarter with an easy layin off an assist by Jaron Youree.
“Eagan and Ryan did a great job establishing the low post,” said McCauley. “Combined, they had eight points in the first quarter.”
Brendan Fisher opened the second quarter with a 3-pointer to put Noblesville ahead 17-7. The Millers maintained their lead for the first part of the period, which included a three-point play by Jaron Youree and a rebound basket by Keever-Hill. A ‘3’ by Xavier Hines moved Noblesville ahead 27-19.
Tech got hot at that point, finishing the half on a 10-2 run that tied the game 29-29 at the break. Anthony Anderson scored 14 points in the second quarter, and it was his layin that tied the game.
“When they’re pressuring like that, the game can get helter-skelter,” said McCauley. “For the most part, I thought we did a good job of getting in formation and handling it.”
Instead, the Millers came out firing in the second half, opening with a 13-2 run. Jordan Schmidt scored seven points, including a 3-pointer and a breakaway that resulted in an easy basket. The momentum from that start helped Noblesville to stay ahead 44-37 at the end of the third.
The Millers enjoyed 12-point leads on three different occasions in the fourth quarter, the latest a 53-41 advantage after another putback by Keever-Hill. Noblesville led 63-54 with 53.3 seconds left; Tech made one last furious push, but the Millers were unstoppable from the foul line, making 15 of 16 free throw attempts in the fourth period.
Schmidt led the Noblesville scoring with a career-high 17 points, while Keever-Hill got his first career double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds, along with six assists. Barnes finished with 16 points; he, Schmidt and Youree each had six rebounds.
The Millers are now 9-10 and will host Lawrence Central on Tuesday.
Noblesville 68, Arsenal Tech 62
Noblesville FG FT TP PF
Jaron Youree 1-9 3-3 5 2
Jordan Schmidt 4-5 7-8 17 2
Eagan Keever-Hill 6-10 0-0 13 0
Xavier Hines 3-6 1-2 8 4
Ryan Barnes 6-8 4-4 16 5
Brendan Fisher 1-1 0-0 3 1
Alex Hancock 2-5 2-2 6 2
Totals 23-44 17-19 68 16
Score by Quarters
Tech 7 22 8 25 – 62
Noblesville 14 15 15 24 – 68
Noblesville 3-point shooting (5-12) Schmidt 2-2, Hines 1-4, Fisher 1-1, Keever-Hill 1-1, Youree 0-4.
Noblesville rebounds (35) Keever-Hill 10, Youree 6, Schmidt 6, Barnes 6, Hines 4, team 3.
Noblesville’s Eagan Keever-Hill earned a double-double of 13 points and 10 rebounds in the Millers’ 68-62 win over Arsenal Tech Saturday night at The Mill. (Kent Graham)