Second-quarter spurt puts Noblesville in control
By RICHIE HALL
LOGANSPORT – For the first time in 32 years, it will be Miller Time at state.
The Noblesville girls basketball team is finally heading back to the state finals after yet another outstanding performance on a Saturday night. This time, the No. 5-ranked Millers stepped it up at the Class 4A north semi-state at Logansport, where Noblesville used a second-quarter run to get past defending 4A state champions and No. 4-ranked Crown Point, 62-41.
The Millers thus qualified for the state finals since their sensational state streak of four years in a row, from 1987 to 1990. Noblesville fans young and old filled up the Berry Bowl, and they were cheering throughout the game and afterwards.
“I’m so glad to go with such a great group of girls and such an awesome crowd,” said junior Dani Mendez.
“This community’s amazing,” said Millers coach Donna Buckley. “I knew we were going to pack it out tonight.”
Noblesville never trailed during the game, although it was a close first quarter. Reagan Wilson opened the scoring with a 3-pointer for the Millers, which the Bulldogs’ Lilly Stoddard answered with a layin.
Noblesville was able to stay a basket or two ahead of Crown Point for most of the quarter, making back-to-back baskets on two occasions. Brooklyn Smitherman scored on consecutive layins, then Meredith Tippner scored five straight points to put the Millers up 12-6.
The Bulldogs came back to tie the game at 14-14 when Emily Phillips hit a 3-pointer and Jessica Carrothers made a layin. But the period ended with Ashlynn Shade getting a steal and basket at the buzzer, and Noblesville held a 16-14 lead.
Shade’s score turned out to be the beginning of a 19-1 run – one of those runs that the Millers seem to be able to switch on at any given moment. The Shoemakers sisters began the second quarter with back-to-back 3-pointers – Kaitlyn made the first 3, Ava drained the second 3.
A Stoddard free throw was the only score during Noblesville’s spurt. Shade answered that with a triple, Tippner scored back-to-back baskets, then Shade hit a jumper and two free throws. Just like that, Noblesville led 33-15. The Millers led by at least 14 points for the remainder of the game.
“Our defense turned them over, we got a couple of shots to fall,” said Buckley. “When we get going, we can put a lot of points up real fast.”
“Defense is huge for us, turning them over, and I think that’s what got us the lead and we could carry that into the rest of the game,” said Smitherman.
Phillips ended the primary run with a 3-pointer, but Noblesville used another 9-0 run to take their biggest lead of the game, 42-18 with 39.9 seconds left in the half. Brooke Lindesmith scored the last basket of the half, but the Millers still led 42-20.
Crown Point, of course, kept fighting in the second half. The Bulldogs poured in the first seven points of the game, with Jessica Carrothers scoring four in the first 46 seconds. A 3 by Alyvia Santiago cut the Noblesville lead to 42-27.
“They’re going to make a run,” said Buckley. “They’ve got one of the best players in the state in Carrothers. She’s not going to just give up. She came out and made some plays early in that third. But we don’t panic. We’ve been there.”
Sure enough, the Millers were able to absorb that run and led 47-30 after three quarters. Tippner stopped Crown Point’s surge with a free throw, then Mendez took a rebound and put it right back in to score.
In the fourth quarter, the Bulldogs got as close as 14 points twice, including within 49-35 early. But baskets from Shade and Kaitlyn Shoemaker got Noblesville back up 53-35, and the Millers kept their lead around that margin until the final buzzer. A 3-pointer from Wilson with under three minutes left effectively sealed the deal.
Shade finished the game with 23 points, followed by Wilson with 11 and Tippner with 10. Tippner and Mendez led the rebounds with seven, with Mendez also blocking two shots. Wilson also had five rebounds and five assists.
The semi-state win was the fifth for Noblesville in program history. The Millers are 24-4 for the season and will play No. 2-ranked Franklin Community in the 4A state championship game next Saturday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
CROWN POINT 62, NOBLESVILLE 41
Noblesville FG FT TP PF
Kaitlyn Shoemaker 2-6 2-2 7 2
Ashlynn Shade 7-12 8-8 23 2
Reagan Wilson 4-10 0-0 11 2
Meredith Tippner 4-7 1-2 10 1
Brooklyn Smitherman 3-3 0-0 6 3
Dani Mendez 1-2 0-0 2 1
Ava Shoemaker 1-3 0-0 3 2
Kate Rollins 0-2 0-0 0 0
Carly Motz 0-0 0-0 0 0
Bri Gray 0-0 0-0 0 1
Totals 22-45 11-12 62 14
Score by Quarters
Crown Point 14 6 10 11 – 41
Noblesville 16 26 5 15 – 62
Noblesville 3-point shooting (7-15) Wilson 3-6, K. Shoemaker 1-3, Shade 1-2, A. Shoemaker 1-2, Tippner 1-1, Rollins 0-1.
Noblesville rebounds (33) Tippner 7, Mendez 7, Wilson 5, Shade 4, Smitherman 4, A. Shoemaker 2, K. Shoemaker 1, Motz 1, Gray 1, team 1.