It was an ideal start for Cathedral with the Indianapolis City Tournament title on the line. The Irish began the game with a 7-0 spurt before some people were in their seats. Howe regrouped quickly and actually led 23-19 after one quarter.
Howe's shooting was outstanding all game. The Hornets were really hot early. There were a couple banked-in shots and ill-advised shots that went down. Jefty Sultzer found his range in the second quarter. The senior guard lit it up in the second and third periods. Sultzer scored the first eight points of the second half for Howe. He finished with 26 points.
Cathedral weathered Howe's shooting storm by turning turnovers into points and crashing the offensive glass. Ball State-bound guard Jarron Coleman did all of the scoring early. Armaan Franklin joined the mix in the second quarter and didn't stop after that. Franklin did most of his damage around the basket where he either scored or went to the line.
Howe built an eight-point lead in the third quarter Sultzer's play. The script was flipped early in the fourth quarter. Jamil Turner-Hall, one of Howe's best defenders, picked up three fouls in the first 50 seconds of the fourth to foul out. At the same time, Tony Hopkins was on the bench with four fouls. Armaan Franklin and Jarron Coleman took advantage as they knew Howe's main defenders couldn't risk fouls. Howe's lead was wiped away quickly.
Cathedral ended up taking control late in regulation. It looked like the Irish were going to seal it at the free throw line late. But Kycia Washington hit incredible shots including a three-pointer from the left wing with a minute remaining to tie the game. After both teams failed to convert in the lane, the game headed to overtime.
Cathedral grabbed the lead early in overtime as Franklin continued to pour in points. Howe had no answer for him late. He finished with 36 points on 12-19 shooting.
Each time Franklin and Cathedral took the lead, Kycia Washington answered back. Once it was an and-1 after slashing to the basket. Then it was a deep three-pointer. Washington was the offense for Howe down the stretch. He finished with 27 points. Behind the key shots of Washington, Howe forced a second overtime.
After Howe took the lead, Cathedral found Justin Hensley in the corner for a triple. Hensley was six of eight from beyond the arc in the game. His final one was his biggest as it took Cathedral from down one point to up two. Washington had a great look in the lane to tie the game, but this time the shot didn't go down. Howe was never able to tie or take the lead after that.
Cathedral won in double overtime, 88-86.
From start to finish, Brandon Bellamy did a lot of heavy lifting on the defensive end and the glass for Howe. He finished with 11 points and 13 rebounds.
Jarron Coleman finished with 26 points, four rebounds and four steals.