By RICHIE HALL
NOBLESVILLE – Patience is a virtue not just in life, but also in basketball.
So are defense and not panicking. Noblesville’s boys team excelled in all three of those things in its Wednesday night season-opener at The Mill, and were rewarded with a 60-46 victory over Shortridge. The Blue Devils had the Millers down in the second quarter, but Noblesville came back thanks to its defense and senior leadership, having the lead firmly in hand by the third quarter.
“We were tested, and I thought we responded well to that,” said Millers coach Brian McCauley, who began his fifth season as Noblesville’s coach. “I was pleased with our poise. The first half, we struggled a little bit. It wasn’t what we wanted, but it was good to respond well and show some grit. Every game we’re going to be tested. I thought it was good for our guys to be in that position and see how that goes, and I thought they responded pretty well.”
Shortridge scored the first five points of the game, and kept the Millers off the scoreboard until the 4:29 mark, when Zack Johnson made a layin. After that, Noblesville worked its way back to a 5-5 tie: Xavier Hines hit a fadeaway, then Jaron Youree tied the game with a free throw. All three are seniors; the Millers have six on this year’s team.
The first quarter ended with the Blue Devils ahead 9-7, and that lead became 16-7 with 4:30 left in the second period. The Millers got going after that, scoring 11 unanswered points. Hines chipped in seven points, with Johnson also scoring. Senior Eagan Keever-Hill made an easy basket off a steal by senior Jordan Schmidt, one of his three steals during the quarter.
“I was proud of our guys for not panicking,” said McCauley.
When the dust settled, Noblesville led 18-16, its first lead of the game. Shortridge’s Daveion Sims made a layin to tie the game at 18-18, and that would the halftime score.
The Millers quickly took the lead back at the start of the third quarter, when Hines made a jump shot. After that, Noblesville never trailed again and were tied only once in the second half. Andre Dickerson’s three-point play knotted the game at 23-23 with 5:22 left, but seconds later, Keever-Hill responded with his own three-point play. That pushed the Millers ahead 26-23 and they stayed in front until the final buzzer.
“I thought Eagan had an outstanding second half,” said McCauley. “Nine in the second half. Hines was very good in the second and the third quarters, did a good job of getting to the free throw line. Zack did a good job of getting to the free throw line and attacking the basket.”
Shortridge remained close for most of the third quarter, but the Millers were able to shake the Blue Devils loose with an 8-0 run that stretched into the fourth period. Johnson and junior Alex Hunt each made layins during the waning minutes of the third quarter, then Noblesville scored its first four points of the fourth from the free throw line, going ahead 44-32 with 5:12 left.
The Blue Devils stayed within seven to 14 points of the Millers during the fourth quarter, but Noblesville let them get no further, always making a timely basket or free throws whenever Shortridge started to threaten. The Millers were 10-of-10 from the line during the game’s final 5:12. A 6-0 Noblesville run during the last 45 seconds settled the issue, with Johnson scoring off a steal and Schmidt and Keever-Hill each making two free throws.
“I thought our bench effort with Youree and Hunt and (Brendon) Fisher were solid, and then Schmidt did a good job defensively in the second quarter, and then knocking down his free throws in the fourth,” said McCauley.
Johnson scored 20 points, with Hines adding 17 and Keever-Hill 11. Johnson grabbed eight rebounds, while Hunt collected seven and Hines pulled six rebounds.
Noblesville’s next game is next Friday, Nov. 30, when it hosts Fishers. The Millers were to play at Columbus East on Saturday, but that game has been postponed.
Noblesville 60, Shortridge 46
Noblesville FG FT TP PF
Eagan Keever-Hill 3-8 5-5 11 1
Jordan Schmidt 0-2 4-4 4 3
Xavier Hines 6-12 5-8 17 3
Zack Johnson 8-13 4-6 20 1
Alex Hancock 0-1 0-0 0 2
Jaron Youree 2-4 1-2 5 2
Alex Hunt 1-6 1-2 3 2
Brendon Fisher 0-1 0-0 0 0
Jordan Gadis 0-0 0-0 0 0
Parker Davis 0-0 0-0 0 0
Evan Wilson 0-0 0-0 0 0
Totals 20-47 20-27 60 14
Score by Quarters
Shortridge 9 9 14 14 – 46
Noblesville 7 11 22 20 – 60
Noblesville 3-point shooting (0-5) Hines 0-2, Johnson 0-2, Keever-Hill 0-1.
Noblesville rebounds (28) Johnson 8, Hunt 7, Hines 6, Keever-Hill 4, Youree 1, Schmidt 1, team 1.
Noblesville’s Zack Johnson scored 20 points for the Millers during their 60-46 season-opening win over Shortridge Wednesday night at The Mill. (Kirk Green)
Xavier Hines scored 17 points for the Millers in their Wednesday night win. (Kirk Green)