Tight Noblesville team gets first Holiday Tourney win in nine years
By RICHIE HALL
NOBLESVILLE – For the first time in nine years, the Noblesville boys basketball team won its own Holiday Tournament.
The Class 4A No. 5 Millers had to work for that victory, as they edged out Crown Point 56-55 in overtime Wednesday night at The Mill. Both teams held a lead in the fourth quarter, with the Bulldogs up 48-47 before Noblesville scored five straight points to get up 52-48 with under a minute left. But Crown Point roared back to tie the game at 52-52 on a 3-pointer by Kingston Rhodes.
“They had a really game plan and they did some really good things, took us out of some stuff,” said Millers coach Scott McClelland. “We were fortunate.”
Noblesville scored first in the overtime, with Aiden Brewer putting the Millers ahead with a perfect inside layin. Noblesville held firm in the face of CP’s insistent defense, passing well before the Millers found the shot they wanted.
“I thought Aiden Brewer really played well tonight and made some plays for us and just was tough down the stretch,” said McClelland.
The Bulldogs jumped ahead 55-54 after Mason Darrell drained a 3. Noblesville again played patient, and found Adam Fine for the winning basket, another inside layin. The Millers’ defense then stopped Crown Point’s final attempt.
Brewer
“I really feel that our toughness and togetherness really came through and led us to victory,” said Brewer.
McClelland said his team found a way to win, “so that’s the positive. But I think we were lucky in a lot of aspects tonight throughout the course of the game. It’s a game I think we’re going to learn a lot from down the season.”
Noblesville trailed 8-7 in the first quarter before going on an 8-0 run. Aiden Brewer, Fine and Hunter Walston all made baskets, then TJ Davidson made two free throws. Crown Point scored seven straight points to tie the game at 15-15, but Davidson finished the period with a 3-pointer.
That was the start of a 10-0 spurt to put the Millers up 25-15 early in the second. Justin Curry turned a steal into a dunk, Brewer scored again and Fine drained a 3-pointer. Noblesville also led 27-17 before the Bulldogs finished the half with a 6-0 run; Dikembe Shaw made consecutive rebound baskets to bring Crown Point within 27-23 at the break.
The Bulldogs moved ahead 35-34 after Shaw nailed a 3, then hit another triple at the buzzer to lead 43-39 after three quarters. Walston took over the game in the fourth quarter by scoring 12 points, including consecutive layins for a 51-48 lead.
Walston scored 17 points, while Fine had 15 points. Curry, Davidson and Brewer all added eight points. Curry and Walston both pulled five rebounds, while Fine handed out four assists.
Noblesville easily won its first-round game, beating McCutcheon 54-25 in a morning contest. The Millers took care of business early, leading 22-8 after one quarter. Noblesville led 29-14 at halftime, then blasted through the period by outscoring the Mavericks 20-2.
Fine scored 13 points, followed by Curry with 11 and Walston with 10. Fine collected six rebounds and Walston dished out four assists.
The Millers are 8-1 and play another home game Tuesday against Pike.
NOBLESVILLE 54, MCCUTCHEON 25
Noblesville FG FT TP PF
Hunter Walston 4-5 1-1 10 2
Justin Curry 4-9 2-3 11 0
Will Smits 0-0 0-0 0 0
TJ Davidson 4-7 0-0 9 1
Aaron Fine 3-7 5-6 13 2
Aiden Brewer 1-1 1-1 3 1
Baron Walker 0-4 4-4 4 2
Ryan Vetor 0-3 0-0 0 2
Luke Etchison 2-2 0-0 4 0
Adam Fine 0-2 0-0 0 0
Max Miller 0-1 0-0 0 0
Luke Davis 0-1 0-0 0 1
Totals 18-42 13-15 54 11
Score by Quarters
McCutcheon 8 6 2 9 – 25
Noblesville 22 7 20 5 – 54
Noblesville 3-point shooting (5-23) Aa. Fine 2-4, Curry 1-6, Davidson 1-3, Walston 1-2, Walker 0-3, Vetor 0-2, Ad. Fine 0-1, Miller 0-1, Davis 0-1.
Noblesville rebounds (27) Aa. Fine 6, Brewer 4, Vetor 4, Walker 3, Davidson 2, Etchison 2, Walston 2, Curry 1, Davis 1, Smits 1, team 1.
NOBLESVILLE 56, CROWN POINT 55
(overtime)
Noblesville FG FT TP PF
Hunter Walston 8-13 0-1 17 2
Justin Curry 3-7 1-2 8 2
Will Smits 0-0 0-0 0 0
TJ Davidson 2-2 2-2 8 3
Aaron Fine 7-11 0-0 15 4
Aiden Brewer 4-7 0-0 8 0
Baron Walker 0-0 0-0 0 0
Luke Etchison 0-0 0-0 0 0
Ryan Vetor 0-0 0-0 0 1
Totals 24-40 3-5 56 12
Score by Quarters
Crown Point 15 8 20 9 3 – 55
Noblesville 18 9 12 13 5 – 56
Noblesville 3-point shooting (5-10) Davidson 2-2, Curry 1-3, Walston 1-3, Fine 1-2.
Noblesville rebounds (15) Curry 5, Walston 5, Davidson 2, Walker 2, Fine 1.