Results from Friday's Finest

WOW! There were some amazing games yesterday, ones that went down to the wire, and a few big time upsets, too. Here are the results from the fifteen games that were previewed over the last two days. There's nothing quite like Indiana high school basketball!

4A #5 North Central - 75 - 4A #11 Carmel 67 - This on was tightly contested down to the wire. The Panthers (4-0) struggled to pull away on their home floor as Carmel (3-1) coach Mark Galloway used an array of defenses to slow down the high scoring team from North Central. I had a chance to see this game on "Game of the Week" last night, and it was a good one. Carmel dominated the first half, but trailed by one going into the fourth, due to Terone Johnson and Damon Ellison heating things up. Johnson was held to one field goal in the first half, but finished the game with 18 points, including a pair of threes. Ellison led the Panthers with 21. Freshman sensation D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera showed flashes of brilliance, but against this stiff competition, his youth showed a bit. There is no doubt, however, that he is a high caliber D1 prospect. He scored 11 points, four below his season average. Smith-Rivera is a dynamic athlete and is already a lock-down defender as a freshman, with amazing strength and lateral speed. He will have to develop a jump shot, as he shoots a set shot from outside right now. Carmel was led by John Michael Polley with 22 points (making his first eight shots), and Morgan Newton added 14 points and over ten boards. He may be able to help out Billy Gillespie at UK if they are in need. Freshman 6'10" center AJ Hammons played a decent game, blocking or altering many shots, and he showed nice post moves (including a sweet fade away jumper), but like Smith-Rivera, experience is going to help the big guy. Justin Reid also added 14 points and six boards for the Panthers.

3A #4 Howe - 76 - Manual - 50 - Howe ran away with this one, improving to 5-0 on the year, and giving Manual their seventh loss in seven tries. The Hornets were led by 5'8" guard PJ Boutte, who had 16 points, including three three-pointers. Kenny Enoch added 15 points for Howe.

4A #2 Cathedral - 72 - Tech - 38 - The score belies the truth of the matter in this game, as Cathedral (3-0) looked sluggish and uninspired throughout most of the first three quarters. The Irish led by just five at half (24-19), but a 34-14 fourth quarter blew the game wide open. When they choose to play, the Irish are unstoppable, but they seem willing to play to their competition. Senior forward Errek Peck led Cathedral with 15 points and 14 rebounds. Purdue-bound wing Kelsey Barlow added 14. Tech drops to 1-3 on the year.

Muncie Central - 51 - Kokomo - 46 - The Bearcats (2-2) got back to .500 in this one behind a solid all around game from big time recruit Jeremiah Davis, who finished with 16 points on 5-12 shooting. Ball State recruit Jauwan Sciafe returned to the lineup and added 15 points of his own. Indiana Wesleyan recruit Patrick Hopkins, a 6'7" forward, notched a double-double for the WildKats (2-1) with 14 points and 11 boards.

3A #2 Washington - 61 - 3A #4 Edgewood - 56 - For the first time in six seasons, the Hatchets (4-0) faces the Mustangs (2-1) without a Zeller in the lineup. Earlier whisperings proved to be true, as 6'8" sophomore forward Cody Zeller missed the game with a broken bone in his hand. Zeller, who has early interest from IU, watched on as his teammates picked up the slack before a home crowd to secure a big win against their bitter rivals. Leading the way for Washington was 6'6" senior Wade Collins, with 17 points and eight boards. Chipping in was Derek Singleton with 15 of his own. Edgewood was led by Ryan Baugh with 17 and TJ Finch with 16 on four threes.

3A #8 Danville - 55 - Southmont - 33 - Travis Carroll, the state's best big man, was once again the story in this game. The 6'9" junior and Purdue recruit led Danville (4-0) with 17 points, 11 rebounds, and four assists. Southmont drops to 1-2 on the year. The previously close game was decided by an 18-2 third quarter.

3A #3 Dwenger 44 - Concordia - 38 (OT) - In this matchup of cross-town rivals, the heavily favored Saints (2-0) needed overtime to knock off Concordia (1-4). Dwenger was led again by Arizona transfer Jordan Didier wit 15 points, while Joe Kosiarek added 12. Sophomore standout,6'8" Tony Springmann, added five points.

Pike - 89 - Lawrence Central - 66 - The story of this one was supposed to be Red Devils five-star sophomore point guard Marquis Teage, but he never got going, struggling for 3-13 from the field for seven points. His teammates picked up the slack for him, and he was setting them up to the tune of seven assists. Anthony White and Khistian Smith each had 14 points for Pike (2-2), and sophomore Chandler Thomas, a D1 recruit, has eight. Lawrence North transfer Marcus Jackson led the Bears (2-3) with 21 points.

Hamilton Southeastern - 44 - 4A #13 Noblesville - 42 - Senior 6'7" forward Charlie Duffy struggled all night, going one for his first 13 field goal attempts, but he hit his last two when it counted, including a 22-footer with one second left, to give the visiting Royals (4-0) the two point upset win. HSE was down 12 points with four minutes to play before making the big comeback. Freshman standout Gary Harris led HSE with 12 points, and 6'4" guard Leland Brown led the Millers (3-1) with 13.

2A #7 Heritage Christian - 63 - Bishop Chatard - 60 - The visiting Eagles (3-0) mounted a late comeback for the win on the road in an incredibly hostile environment. Heritage built an eleven point lead of 31-20 after six unanswered points by senior guard Durrel Davis, including a buzzer-beating runner, heading into half. But Chatard (1-1) came out on fire in the third, outscoring Heritage by ten in the frame, 24-14, behind several threes by junior guard Taylor Wayer, who finished with a game high of 21 points (4 threes). The Trojans tied and took the lead several times in the fourth, but they were trailing by one with under fifteen seconds to play when they fouled 6'5" senior guard Tommy Eggleston, sending him to the line where he converted both free throws. The Eagles used strategy with a foul to give, letting the clock roll down under seven seconds before fouling senior guard Pat Kennedy (10 points), forcing an out of bounds play on the side. Chatard entered the ball and went for a three to send the game into overtime, but some great man-to-man defense by Eggleston resulted in the block of Kennedy's attempt, giving the Eagles the victory. Eggleston led Heritage with 16 points, six board, and one HUGE block. Senior forward Morgan Cook added twelve, and 6'6" freshman guard Joel Smith had his best offensive output with ten points on 3-6 shooting and 4-5 from the free throw stripe.

Arlington - 77 - 2A #18 Covenant Christian - 56 -Without the services of 6'9" Butler-bound center Andrew Smith, out with a stress fracture in his foot, Covenant (2-1) could not keep up with the ultra-athletic Golden Knights team. Guard Phillip Freeman led Arlington (3-1) yet again, doing so each game this season, scoring 25 points, with 21 coming in their explosive first half. Gabe Woodruff led Covenant with 17 points, while Max Mollaun added 16.

Avon - 51 - Lafayette Harrison - 38 - Leading 13-3 after the first, the Orioles (3-1) never looked back, heading to a 13 point win. Sophomore sensation Kendall Griffin once again paced Avon with 18 points and eight boards. The college interest in this 6'5" slasher is going to intensify quickly based on his play so far this year.

2A #5 Lawrenceburg - 74 - 3A #1 Batesville - 69 - In an amazing upset, the Tigers (3-0) beat the number one team in 3A, the Batesville Bulldogs (3-1). Sean Dowell led Lawrenceburg with 36 big points, while Batesville standout Colt Ryan was held below his sason average, scoring a respectable 22 points. Lawrenceberg has served notice to Luers, Tipton, and other 2A teams that they are for real.

4A #5 Franklin Central - 70 - Columbus North - 53 - The Flashes moved to 3-0 on the year, while North dropped to (3-2). No stats were available.

4A #1 Bloomington South - 66 - Southport - 50 - South moved to 3-0 and Southport fell to 2-3. No stats were available.

And in a game not featured, DeShaun Thomas dropped an astounding 45 points! I'll be seeing him tonight at the Classic, where I'll be scouting the Luers game against Lawrence North, and the North Central and Lafayette Jeff game. Look for the write-up on those games tomorrow!