Westfield teams both recognize cancer survivors during Pink Out Night
By RICHIE HALL
WESTFIELD – The Westfield basketball teams hosted Hamilton Southeastern Friday for the annual Hoosier Crossroads Conference doubleheader between the two teams.
The occasion has become a special one, as it is also the annual Pink Out night to show support for cancer patients and survivors, including a ceremony that took place between the games to honor survivors and their loved ones.
As for the basketball, the girls went first, and the Class 4A No. 1 Royals had a solid start which helped them win over the Shamrocks 64-37. In the boys game, 4A No. 3 Westfield put on a defensive clinic to beat Southeastern 42-27 and stay unbeaten for the season.
The Westfield basketball teams honored cancer survivors in between games during their doubleheader with Hamilton Southeastern on Friday. (Richie Hall)
Defensive tenacity
Maya Makalusky led the first-quarter charge for the Royals, pouring in 12 points to help Southeastern take a 23-8 lead. Kennedy Holman added six points and Kinley Johnson scored five.
“I thought defensively we were really pretty efficient tonight,” said HSE coach Brian Satterfield. “Just trying to get up there, pressure them a little bit. I thought our defense helped create some offense for us at times. We did a good job of moving the basketball early, got some shots and then just kept the defensive tenacity up.”
The ‘Rocks played even with the Royals in the second quarter, with four different Westfield players getting points, including four from Ellie Kelleher.
The Royals led 31-18 at halftime, then took further control in the third quarter with a 10-2 run that put HSE ahead 43-22. Zoe Lawless started the run with a three-point play and Holman contributed four points.
Meg Hamilton gave the Shamrocks a spark with four points in the quarter, but another 8-0 run gave the Royals a 51-26 lead at the end of three. Kayla Brinley nailed a 3-pointer and put in a rebound basket, then Holman turned a steal into an and-1, giving her nine for the period.
Southeastern added 13 more points in the fourth quarter to finish the game. Lawless scored four points, while Makalusky had three more to give her a game-high 24 points; she scored in all four quarters. Holman totaled 17 points.
Lindsey Van Dyke also got points in each period, finishing with 12. She had a solid performance from the free-throw line, going 7 of 8. Kelleher had eight points.
“We gave up too many points in the first, we gave up too many points in the third,” said Westfield coach Kelsey Steele. “They came out and jumped on us and scored 23 early. And then when you shoot and only make one 3 on the night, it’s going to be a long night.”
Being everywhere
Defense was also the name of the boys’ game. Westfield did get some early offense from Caleb Wise, as he nailed two 3s in the first quarter. Charles Farrell made a triple, and the Shamrocks were up 9-2; they would keep their lead around that margin for the entire game.
“I’d like to think that you’re a little looser, a little free when you have a 10 or 12-point lead,” said Westfield coach Shane Sumpter. “But our guys have been in some pressure situations before where we’ve had to make plays down the stretch to win. I feel like we’ve been everywhere.”
A layin by Carsen Melvin with 1.4 seconds left in the first quarter gave Westfield a 13-6 lead, then Wise began the second quarter with his third 3 of the game. Deion Miles scored four points for Southeastern in the second quarter, but Melvin’s and-1 proved to be the final points of the half, which finished with the ‘Rocks ahead 23-15.
Westfield’s defense never allowed the Royals to go on any runs during the game. Meanwhile, the Shamrocks put together a 12-0 run in the second half, with Drew Haffner scoring off a steal to end the third quarter, then opening the fourth with a 3. Westfield led 38-20 at that point and stayed comfortably in front for the entire quarter.
Wise led the Shamrocks with nine points. Nic Book collected 10 rebounds and blocked two shots, while Trey Buchanan handed out five assists. Miles was Southeastern’s leader with eight points, with Michael Griffith pulling six rebounds.
Next games
Southeastern’s girls clinched at least a share of the HCC championship with the win, moving to 6-0 in the conference. The Royals are 17-1 overall and play at Lawrence North on Tuesday. Westfield is 3-3 in the conference and 12-7 overall and host Indian Creek this afternoon.
Westfield’s boys are 2-0 in conference play and 10-0 overall and play another HCC contest Wednesday at Noblesville. Southeastern is 0-3 in the conference and 8-5 overall and host Anderson tonight.
GIRLS GAME
HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN 64, WESTFIELD 37
Southeastern FG FT TP PF
Maya Makalusky 9 5-7 24 0
Kennedy Holman 7 3-3 17 1
Zoe Lawless 2 3-3 7 3
Kayla Stidham 2 0-0 5 3
Addison Van Hoesen 0 0-0 0 2
Kayla Brinley 2 1-2 6 0
Antonette Green 0 0-0 0 0
Kenley Johnson 2 1-2 5 4
Abigale Brown 0 0-0 0 0
Totals 24 13-17 64 13
Southeastern 3-pointers (3) Makalusky, Brinley, Stidham.
Westfield FG FT TP PF
Ellie Kelleher 3 2-2 8 2
Aubrey Crockett 1 0-2 2 4
Kiarra Loveless 1 1-1 3 3
Reagan Lorenzen 3 0-0 7 3
Lindsey Van Dyke 2 7-8 11 0
Sam Price 0 0-0 0 0
Meg Hamilton 1 2-2 4 1
MaKayla Hatcher 1 0-0 2 2
Madeline Linville 0 0-0 0 0
Mia Crask 0 0-0 0 0
Totals 12 12-15 37 15
Westfield 3-pointer: Lorenzen.
Score by Quarters
Southeastern 23 8 20 13 – 64
Westfield 8 10 8 11 – 37
BOYS GAME
WESTFIELD 42, HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN 27
Southeastern FG FT TP PF
Donovan Hamilton 3 1-2 7 2
Nate Orr 0 0-0 0 1
Braeden Totten 1 0-0 2 2
Michael Griffith 0 3-4 3 4
Kam Anthony 1 1-2 3 1
Jack Jacobs 2 0-1 4 1
Deion Miles 4 0-0 8 1
Maverick Young 0 0-0 0 2
Lucas Weemer 0 0-0 0 0
Totals 11 5-9 27 14
Southeastern 3-pointers: none.
Westfield FG FT TP PF
Charles Farrell 1 0-0 3 1
Trey Buchanan 2 0-0 5 2
Caleb Wise 3 0-0 9 2
Nic Book 0 1-2 1 4
Durante Morton 2 2-2 6 1
Will Harvey 2 1-2 6 1
Carsen Melvin 3 1-4 7 2
Drew Haffner 2 0-0 5 0
Totals 15 5-10 42 13
Westfield 3-pointers (7) Wise 3, Farrell, Buchanan, Harvey, Haffner.
Score by Quarters
Southeastern 6 9 5 7 – 27
Westfield 13 10 12 7 – 42