The young Noblesville boys basketball team scored a grown-up win Tuesday at The Mill.
The Millers were down 56-40 with just over five minutes left to go in the fourth quarter, but then rallied back to stun visiting Pike 63-62. Noblesville coach John Peckinpaugh called the victory a “really big win” for the Millers program.
Noblesville began the run with a 3-point basket by Josh Durham, the start of a 23-6 stretch by the Millers. The Red Devils answered that with a good jump shot, but Noblesville then poured in nine straight points. Luke Almodovar hit a triple, then stole the ball and dunked it. Noah Harris started the run with a dunk, then a putback got Noblesville within six.
The teams traded baskets over the next few seconds, giving Pike a 62-54 lead with just under two minutes left. But the Millers didn’t allow the Red Devils another point, finishing the game on another 9-0 run.
Almodovar nailed two 3s to get Noblesville within two. E.J. Smith stepped up big, getting a steal, then laying the ball in while being fouled to tie the game with 27.2 seconds left. Smith made the free throw, putting the Millers ahead for the first time. Pike went for one more shot, but it missed, and Noblesville had the win.
Peckinpaugh said his team “sped them up a little bit and they had some turnovers late,” allowing the Millers to get back in the game. Noblesville ramped up its press during the later parts of the fourth quarter as well.
The Red Devils led 25-12 after the first quarter. The Millers played even with Pike in the second and third periods, holding the Red Devils to nine points in the second. Pike led 34-22 at halftime and 52-40 after three.
Everyone contributed to the win. Almodovar totaled five 3-pointers on his way to 19 points, while Harris scored 14. Durham and David Lloyd both made two 3s. Preston Roberts had nine points, seven rebounds and four assists. Harris had five rebounds and five steals, while Smith dished out six assists.
“Luke got it going,” said Peckinpaugh. “Josh Durham hit some big shots and made some big plays on the defensive end of the floor. Noah was pretty consistent for us all night.”
And then there was Smith, who made the game-winning play. Peckinpaugh said he thought Smith “showed a lot of maturity, bouncing back from a not-great first half and hanging with our game plan and toughing through,” and as a result ended up having “a really good game for us,” said the coach.
Noblesville is now 4-3 for the season. The Millers are back at The Mill on Saturday, hosting Muncie Central.
NOBLESVILLE 63, PIKE 62
Noblesville FG FT TP PF
Josh Durham 2-5 0-1 6 0
E.J. Smith 2-7 3-4 7 2
Noah Harris 7-11 0-0 14 2
Luke Almodovar 7-13 0-0 19 2
Preston Roberts 4-8 0-0 9 3
Aaron Fine 0-4 0-0 0 0
David Lloyd 2-4 2-2 8 1
Totals 24-52 5-7 63 10
Score by Quarters
Pike 25 9 18 10 – 62
Noblesville 12 10 18 23 – 63
Noblesville 3-point shooting (10-25) Almodovar 5-10, Durham 2-2, Lloyd 2-2, Roberts 1-1, Smith 0-5, Fine 0-4, Harris 0-1.
Noblesville rebounds (20) Roberts 7, Harris 5, Durham 3, Smith 2, Lloyd 2, Almodovar 1.