The Indiana High School Basketball State Tournament continued Wednesday night. Here are the results for the area teams in action.
1A Sectional 54 – Clinton Central
Rossville Secures Semi-Final Bid With Win Over Bethesda Christian
The Hornets won the opening tip and collected two physical offensive rebounds. Although they couldn’t score on their first possession, it would prove to set the tone for the entire game.
The Patriots defense was focused on slowing down Rossville’s prolific sophomore Brayden Thiele-Hahn, which allowed senior Jordan Skiles to get into a rhythm early. Skiles scored 12 of his 14 points in the first half and helped the Hornets take a 25-17 lead into the break.
The Patriots went on the first run of the third quarter, cutting the lead to two. Rossville built a 31-25 advantage as the third quarter clock ticked under a minute. A Patriot turnover led to a fastbreak layup for Cooper Dunn. On the ensuing possession, Dunn picked the pocket of a Patriot ball handler and dove out of bounds to tip the loose ball to Thiele-Hahn for another two. The play gave the Hornets the momentum and a 10-point lead going into the fourth.
The offenses opened up in the fourth quarter, trading bucket for bucket. Foul trouble led to two of the Patriots’ top scorers, Liam Swan and Steven Tierney, fouling out of the game. Every time Rossville needed a bucket in the fourth, they got one, most often at the hands of Thiele-Hahn, who finished with 16 points in the second half.
Rossville held on to win 53-44. Thiele-Hahn finished with 19 points and five rebounds, Jordan Skiled added 14 and Lucas Saylor delivered 10 off the bench.
Rossville moves on to face Clinton Prairie at 7:45 p.m. on Friday. That game can be heard on WILO or listened to on ClintonCountyDailyNews.com
Clinton Prairie Uses Big Third Quarter To Move Past Carroll
A sea of blue and red filed into Michigantown as the Rossville and Bethesda Christian game came to an end, no one wanted to miss the matchup between Clinton Prairie (20-2) and Carroll (18-4).
Coy Lytle and Aiden Duff knocked down a three each to start the game and Carroll jumped out to a 6-0 lead. The Gopher fans that packed the gym waited to see how Clinton Prairie would respond, most of the eyes fell on Jake McGraw. The senior guard responded with back-to-back buckets and the Gophers settled in from there.
The teams battled to a stalemate in the first, ending the quarter locked at 12. In the second quarter, the Gopher defense tightened up. They blitzed Carroll’s leading scorer Eli Falkenberg any time he caught the ball. The vaunted 3-2 zone of Clinton Prairie closed down passing lanes and forced a handful of Cougar turnovers.
On the offensive end, Alex Farley made his presence felt, knocking down a pair of first half threes as Clinton Prairie grabbed the lead. As the first half came to an end, the Gophers’ final possession ended in a three off the window for senior Ryan Harshbarger and Clinton Prairie took a 28-20 lead into the halftime break.
The third quarter was all Clinton Prairie, they started on a 15-0 run and didn’t allow a field goal for the entire quarter. Jake McGraw attacked the basket and got to the line often, he finished the game with 20 points, knocking down 10-12 free throws. Clinton Prairie won the third quarter 25-3 and led by 30 going into the fourth.
With 2 minutes left in the game, the Gopher starters exited the game to a stream of cheers as they had locked their place in the Sectional semi-final. Clinton Prairie won the game 64-40. Alex Farley finished with a game high 22, Ryan Harshbarger pitched in nine and Nick Curtin added eight for the Gophers. For Carroll, seniors Eli Falkenberg, Coy Lytle, Cayson Fellows and Carter Mullins exited to a standing ovation and “thank you seniors” chant from the Carroll student section. Falkenberg finished with 16 and junior Aiden Duff added eight in the loss.
More photos to come from the Rossville vs Bethesda Christian and Clinton Prairie vs Carroll Games – Photos provided by Patty Keaton Parks
3A Sectional 25 – Frankfort
Lebanon Falls To Guerin Catholic
Case Arena in Frankfort played host to a battle between Guerin Catholic (20-4) and Lebanon (16-7) on Wednesday night.
The Golden Eagles got off to a strong start from distance, sinking five threes in the first five minutes and taking a 23-16 lead into the second.
Lebanon’s offense slowed in the second and third quarters and the Golden Eagles outscored the Tigers 28-17 across the two frames.
Trailing by 18 heading into the fourth, Lebanon came to life, going on a 21-11 run to close the gap to eight with two minutes to go. Guerin Catholic shut the door on the Tigers’ comeback attempt, outscoring the Tigers 11-7 over the final 1:43 to win the game 73-61.
Kaden Lark led the Tigers with 20 points and 10 assists, Jack Ferrell added 16, and Colton Pollard pitched in 12.
Guerin Catholic will take on Brebeuf Jesuit at 7:30 p.m. on Friday in the semi-final of the Frankfort Sectional.