By CRAIG ADKINS
The Noblesville Millers hadn’t played a game in eight days and it seemed like they left off right where they stopped from their outstanding play in the Noblesville Holiday Tournament last week.
On Saturday night, they faced a Muncie Central squad that was both experienced and youthful and were able to come out on top in overtime against the visiting Bearcats, 47-44.
The Millers started the game at their own tempo and style of play and it worked in their favor, for a majority of the game.
It was a methodical start for both teams, but that comes with the territory when you change your game plan and scheme differently than what you’re normally used to.
“We were already prepared for this. It’s not the first game we played like this this season. We knew what they were about. If you get behind them, they’re going to hold the ball. They’re going to sit in a zone the majority of the night. We were in control of the game towards the end. We just didn’t make the shots we should’ve made at the end and a defensive lapse would force them to get the win,” said Muncie Central head coach Chandler Thompson following Saturday night’s loss at Noblesville.
Noblesville led 6-3 after one period, but the Bearcats didn’t score their first points until freshman Reggie Bass sank a long three from near the volleyball line as time expired.
Both teams woke up offensively in the second, but it was how they did that made the second quarter as crucial as it was.
Zack Johnson made it 8-5 with his second basket, but four consecutive free throws by Bearcats’ leading scorer Victor Young helped them take a 9-8 lead, but that obviously didn’t last long.
An Eagan Keever-Hill charity striper tied it 9-9 and the Millers jumped back out in front 12-9 on a long three from the right wing by Jordan Schmidt.
Bass got more comfortable outside the arc, tying it at 12 and 15, sandwiching those treys with Keever-Hill draining one from downtown for 15-12. The 6’3 senior gave Noblesville a 17-15 edge that would be their last for a while.
Dylan Stafford pulled Muncie Central back ahead 18-17 on his first three from the left corner and after Young made a 19-foot jumper, the Bearcats took a 20-19 lead into halftime.
Confidence was pretty high all night long Muncie Central. After all, their head coach led them to the 1988 IHSAA boys basketball state championship, along with assistant coach Cedric Vanleer, and he was a big part of Ball State’s 1990 Sweet 16 run, not to mention former NBA star Bonzi Wells, who played 12 seasons as a pro before retiring. That alone in their back pocket should build confidence amongst the Bearcats.
Muncie Central had it in their minds that they could get business done on the road after a big home win over Lafayette Jeff on Friday, 81-74.
They controlled the third on an 11-6 run and it was Victor Young’s leadership and scoring that helped guide the Bearcats to a 31-25 lead after three periods.
Young scored five of those 11, along with four from Lamar Akins off of the bench.
Slowly, but surely, the Millers crept their way back and were able to tie it early in the fourth on six straight points, four from the hands of Johnson and Keever-Hill the other two to knot it 31-31.
Stafford canned an open three from the right side for 34-31, but here came the Millers right back.
Zack Johnson took a pass down low on the block from Jordan Schmidt, cutting it to one again at 34-33.
Keever-Hill returned the favor to Johnson, taking the pass and backing down his defender into the paint, putting a short jumper down for a 35-34 lead.
The Bearcats clawed back on top with Reggie Bass converting an and-1 to put Muncie Central up by two at 37-35.
The Millers went up 38-37 on a Johnson three. Nip and tuck, back and forth was the story of the fourth.
Dylan Stafford gave the Bearcats a 40-38 lead late in the fourth, but Johnson was able to tie it 40-40 on another pass on the baseline from Keever-Hill that would force overtime.
“That’s what happens when you’re led by a senior led team. Those guys are experienced and we’re inexperienced. We had guys that played varsity last year, but they’re still young, inexperienced, so this is a teaching moment for them,” stated Bearcats head coach Chandler Thompson on his Noblesville’s experience and his team’s mix of experienced and inexperienced players.
“They were denying our wings, so Eagan had to go one-on-one and he made a nice bounce pass back to Zack and Alex Hunt. Great execution on a lot of guys’ part and Eagan was certainly a big part of that,” said Noblesville head coach Brian McCauley on Eagan Keever-Hill’s tremendous guard play under pressure all night long.
The overtime belonged to the Millers, no matter what Muncie Central brought into it.
Johnson started it with sinking a pair of free throws. Bass would tie it 42-42 with his own trip to the line.
The turning point of overtime was when Johnson fed a pass to Alex Hunt on the right block. Hunt went up for the shot, converting the layup and got fouled. He made the free throw to go up 45-42.
Muncie Central would get back within one at 45-44 on Young’s 10-foot jump shot.
Hunt came to the rescue again to seal the deal. Keever-Hill dropped a pass down to Hunt and he put in his second field goal, scoring all five of his points in the extra period, giving Noblesville a 47-44 win in overtime.
“I’m really proud of our effort tonight. This is a huge confidence builder. To beat a good, athletic team, I’m really proud of them,” stated McCauley on his team’s overall effort.
The loss splits the weekend for Muncie Central (4-7) and they’ll get back to North Central Conference play on January 11, hosting Richmond (7-7).
The Bearcats were led by a team-high 14 from the frosh Reggie Bass. He was joined in double-figures by Victor Young with 13 and Dylan Stafford added nine.
Noblesville (7-5) has won three of its last four and will get back to their Hoosier Crossroads Conference schedule, hosting Zionsville (9-3) on January 11 as the second game of the girls/boys varsity doubleheader.
The Millers were led by Zack Johnson’s game-high 19, along with Eagan Keever-Hill’s 12 points and eight assists.
Noblesville 47, Muncie Central 44
(overtime)
Noblesville FG FT TP PF
Eagan Keever-Hill 5-10 1-4 12 2
Xavier Hines 3-8 0-0 6 2
Jordan Schmidt 1-4 0-0 3 0
Zack Johnson 8-13 3-4 19 2
Alex Hunt 2-3 1-1 5 2
Alex Hancock 0-3 0-0 0 1
Brendon Fisher 0-1 2-2 2 0
Jordan Gadis 0-0 0-0 0 0
Totals 19-42 7-11 47 9
Score by Quarters
Muncie Central 3 17 11 9 4 – 44
Noblesville 6 13 6 15 7 – 47
Noblesville 3-point shooting (2-11) Schmidt 1-4, Keever-Hill 1-3, Hines 0-2, Fisher 0-1, Johnson 0-1.
Noblesville rebounds (22) Johnson 5, Keever-Hill 4, Hancock 4, Schmidt 2, Hines 2, Hunt 2, Fisher 1, team 2.
Noblesville’s Alex Hunt scored five points in overtime to help the Millers to a 47-44 win over Muncie Central Saturday night at The Mill. (Kent Graham)