Noblesville was dealt a tough loss at Pike on Tuesday, as the Red Devils came back in the second half to beat the Millers 71-68.
Everything went well for Noblesville in the first half, as it led Pike, which is ranked No. 19 in the IBCA one-class poll, 16-13 after the first quarter. Cooper Bean scored six points for the Millers in that period.
Noblesville extended that lead in the second quarter, putting in 23 points to hold a 39-30 halftime advantage. Preston Roberts had seven points, while Luke Almodovar threw in a pair of 3-pointers for six points.
But the Red Devils began their comeback in the third quarter, where they outscored the Millers 21-13. That got Pike within 52-51 going into the fourth quarter, and the Red Devils added another 20 points in the fourth to get the win.
“They made some plays,” said Noblesville coach Scott McClelland. He called the outcome unfortunate, “because this was a game we played well enough to win.”
“Obviously, a very disappointing loss,” said McClelland. “We’re right there. We did a lot of good things and it’s unfortunate that you can’t enjoy those good things because you couldn’t come up with the win there at the end.”
E.J. Smith and Aaron Fine both had solid game, as they each scored 18 points to share scoring-leader status for the Millers. Smith poured in 13 points in the second half, and was 7-of-7 from the free-throw line during that time. As a team, Noblesville was 19-of-20 from the line.
Smith and Fine both had seven points in the fourth quarter alone. Roberts finished with 16 points.
The Millers dropped to 4-5 on the season. Noblesville goes back on the road Saturday to play at Muncie Central.
“We’re so close, we really are,” said McClelland. “And if we can get over the top and get a signature win, I really believe this group’s got a chance to get this thing going.”
PIKE 71, NOBLESVILLE 68
Noblesville FG FT TP PF
Cooper Bean 2 4-4 8 3
Hunter Walston 0 0-0 0 3
Cam Karns 1 0-0 2 0
Aaron Fine 7 4-4 18 4
E.J. Smith 5 7-7 18 2
Luke Almodovar 2 0-0 6 2
Preston Roberts 6 4-5 16 3
Totals 23 19-20 68 17
Score by Quarters
Noblesville 16 23 13 16 – 68
Pike 13 17 21 20 – 71
Noblesville 3-pointers (3) Almodovar 2, Smith 1.