IPSAC/Midwest Showcase

What a great day of action at Indianapolis John Marshall High School! Some of the best teams in the state were in action today, and P-Hoops was on hand for a number of the games and is back with a report. Here we go...

Indianapolis Northwest 66 - Evansville Bosse 64

Upset alert! The Space Pioneers were the clear underdog in this one, facing off with the #5 ranked team in 3A. The Bulldogs were in control early, as is their MO. The Bulldogs were off and running early, leading 18-10 after the first quarter, in which senior guard Jalen Pendleton made an impact, taking the ball to the hole with abandon. Sophomore star Jaquan Lyle, meanwhile, seemed disinterested for most of the early going, perhaps affected by playing five games in five days. Nonetheless, Bosse clung to a solid six point lead at halftime, 33-27. In the second half, Northwest point guard and Lamar recruit Donnell Mixon came alive. He took the ball to the hoop, scoring off the bounce and setting up his teammates, most often 6'3 junior Michael Brown, for open looks. Bosse hung tough as Lyle got more involved, showing off his tremendous passing skills. However, his great dishes often went wanting as his teammates often failed to convert open looks or layups. At the end of the third, the game was all knotted up at 45-45. The Space Pioneers started the fourth on a quick run, taking the lead by four, but the Bulldogs clawed back to tie the game at 51-51 with just under five minutes remaining. The game was back and forth, and with two minutes to play, Bosse led by one, 56-55, and Lyle made a beautiful pass to Romeo Wright for layup plus the foul. Wright converted the freebie to give the Bulldogs a 59-55 lead. On the following possession, Brown hit a three pointer for the Space Pioneers to cut the lead to one. With a minute to go, Bosse sophomore Perry Fairrow turned the ball over at midcourt and fouled Minton, who made the first of his of two free throws to tie the game at 59-59. The second came up short, but Northwest's Harris Brown came up with a huge offensive rebound, was fouled, and made two free throws to give the Space Pioneers a 61-59 lead. A Pendleton turnover and foul followed, and Northwest's Alphonso Bowen made one of two free throws to stretch the lead to 62-59. After a Bosse timeout, the Bulldogs ran a nice play, setting up Bo Burkhart for an open three, which he nailed to tie it at 62-62 with 18 seconds to go. But the Bulldogs inexplicably fouled Minton on the inbounds pass, sending him to the line, where he made one of two, giving the Pioneers a one point lead. Pendleton took the rebound of the missed free throw coast-to-coast, spun at the top of the key, and attacked the rim, finishing the layup, giving Bosse a 64-63 lead. Northwest called a timeout with nine seconds left. Bosse came out in a 2-2-1 press, which failed them this time. Minton took the inbounds pass, raced up the court, drove the paint, and finished over three Bulldogs, plus the foul. He knocked in the free throw with two seconds on the clock, and Pendleton's half court heave went long, giving Northwest the two point win.

Minton and Brown led Northwest with 19 points each, while Brown added 17 points. Minton was awarded game MVP honors.

Pendleton tied game high honors with 19 points, Fairrow added 15 points, and Lyle had 12 points, seven assists, and seven rebounds to go along with a pair of blocks and steals.

Ft. Wayne Northrop 66 - Indianapolis Tech 55

Quick takeaway before the recap. BRYSON SCOTT IS REALLY GOOD. Okay, moving on.

The first quarter was a display of two of the state's best in Bryson Scott of Northrop and Trey Lyles of Tech. The Titans were successful at the start of the game feeding the ball inside to the 6'8 Lyles, who scored six quick points to start the game. He also took the ball coast to coast off a steal in transition, finishing at the rim on the run, one of the most impressive moves I've seen this season, considering he's supposed to be a power forward. The twins Bryson and Brenton Scott were also hot at the start, specifically Brenton, who hit a pair of threes in the opening frame, which ended at 17-16 with the Bruins holding the lead. The second quarter was when things started going downhill for Tech. The Titan guards could not find a way to get the ball into Lyles, their shots weren't falling, and they had numerous turnovers, a trend that continued for the remainder of the contest. And this was also the time when Bryson Scott began taking over. None of the Tech guard could do anything to prevent him from taking them off the dribble, more often than not getting all the way to the rim for an easy layup, or for a shooting foul. But the Bruins did not take full advantage of Tech's struggles just yet, and led by three at half, 32-29. The first two minutes of the third quarter is where Tech lost the game. Lyles picked up a quick reach in foul and then two fairly to very questionable charging calls, saddling him with his fourth foul with six minutes to go in the third. Coach Jason Delaney blew a gasket at the second charge, earning a technical, and by the end of it all, the Bruins stretched their three point lead considerably. Lyles sat almost the rest of the third quarter, and Tech tried valiantly to stay in the game with their star on the bench. They did just enough, and were still withing striking distance, down eight at the end of three, 46-38. There was a glimmer of hope for Tech, as they came out fired up to start the fourth. A pair of free throws and a dunk by Lyles eventually cut the lead down to five points with just under seven minutes to play. But the turnover bug bit the Titan guards yet again, as they threw the ball away on three consecutive possessions, and the Bruins capitalized, stretching the lead to eleven at 54-43, and they never looked back. The remainder of the game was a layup-fest by Northrop, and Lyles fouled out on a 50-50 ball with over two minutes to go.

Bryson Scott's game was unreal. He attacked the basket at will and showed a killer instinct. The ball is as safe in his hands as it would be in a Brinks armored car (aka, it's on a string and you ain't taking it from him). He struggled a bit at the line and didn't take many outside shots, but I'm nitpicking. He was phenomenal on the way to 35 points. Brother Brenton was no slouch, finishing with 21 points and those two threes. Bryson is Purdue bound, and I'm not so sure Brenton couldn't be at that level as well. He holds only mid and low major offers, but if that's how he always plays, he can find a spot and be productive at a big school.

Lyles finished a frustrating day with 13 points, ten rebounds, and by my count, six blocks. His guards, while very good on other nights, were ineffective at getting the ball to him. Lyles is not their only player or their whole team, but Northrop had no one to stop him. Bruins coach Barak Coolman was wise to zone them and make it tougher to get him the ball in a position to score. Not trying to pile on, but I have to imagine Tech had upwards to 25 turnovers, and as many rushed or poor shots by their guards. One thing to note is that Lyles did not let his frustration affect his play or his outward demeanor, a big plus for a young team.

Nice win for the Bruins, who should move up from #10 in 4A.

Richmond 70 - Ft. Wayne Luers 49

A defensive clinic by the Red Devils, who recently took North Central to the wire. They threw all they had defensively at one of Indiana's best sophomores, James Blackmon, Jr., often double and triple teaming him, making his teammates rise to the occasion. Obviously, they didn't. Richmond's Quenten Hunter and freshman Joel Okafor took turns on the Blackmon assignment (with help) and did amazingly well. Richmond big man Bola Olaniyan was dominant. At 6'8 and 220 pounds, and as a senior, schools are going to come calling on Bola. He had 17 points and 17 rebounds and was simply too much for Luers to handle. Hunter led the Red Devils with 19 points.

Blackmon was harassed and held to a season-low eight points. He came in averaging over thirty per game, so this is obviously one he'd like to forget.

Broad Ripple 58 - Louisville (KY) Central 43

Big night for many reasons for Broad Ripple senior Ron "Buss" Patterson, an IU recruit. In front of his future coach Tom Crean (who was there all day, and raced to North Central-Park Tudor as well!), Buss led his team to a big showcase win, and set a record along the way.

Broad Ripple and Patterson both started slow, leading 13-11 after one with only two points from their star. From there, the Rockets defense took over, holding Central to only two second quarter points, taking the lead to 25-13 at halftime. Still, Patterson had only four points at the break.

In the third quarter, Buss revved his engine and scored nine in the frame, taking the Broad Ripple lead up to 15 points at 40-25.

A team oriented fourth quarter was Patterson score two more points, finishing the night with 15 points, six rebounds, and five assists. The record? Patterson's 15 points moved him into first place on the all-time scoring list at Broad Ripple, placing him in front of former Rocket and IUPUI Jaguar and current NBA star George Hill. Major congrats are in order to Buss for a high school career to be proud of, but not yet content with.

Non-IPSAC Game of the Night

Park Tudor 83 - North Central 61

Wow! I'd be lying if I said I saw that one coming. Park Tudor winning is not that shocking, but Park Tudor winning by 22 points at North Central is that shocking! Park Tudor, the #1 ranked team in 2A, were the best Panthers tonight.

Park was on fire in the first half, draining threes, more often than not, threes that were set up by a Yogi Ferrell pass or drive and kick. Ferrell played the role of floor general to a "T" tonight, mimicking the role he'll likely play in college at IU. And a fine time to do it, too, as Coach Crean was in the crowd. Also in attendance was future MSU Spartan Gary Harris of HSE, who recently spurned the like of IU and Purdue to go out of state.

North Central's pressure led to open shots in the first half and led to free throws in the second half, as Park Tudor was in the bonus with two minutes to play in the third quarter. North Central never got it closer than eight points in the second half.

Sophomores Trevon Bluiett and Troy Spears led Park Tudor in the scoring department tonight. Bluiett had 24 points and Spears, a New Mexico recruit, had 19 points. Ferrell had 13 points and nine big assists. Even though his scoring was not high, the win over 4A's number one team and the assists make it a strong statement to stake his claim as a Mr. Basketball frontrunner.

Purdue signee Ronnie Johnson led North Central with 19 points.