Each team came into the contest sporting just one loss on the season so far, but the play early on suggested two teams who were eager for the chance to knock off a big time opponent. Each team struggled to hit shots early on, as the score was just 5-5 midway through the first quarter. Mason GIllis, after missing a pair of point blank looks in the opening minutes, would score six to give the Trojans an 11-7 lead. Connersville would come back to take the lead at 12-11.
Luke Bumbalough would have something to say about that, as the 6 foot sophomore rose up over
Garrett Silcott and hit a three at the buzzer to give New Castle the lead after a period.
That shot seemed to spark Bumbalough, as he would catch fire in the second quarter, scoring 12 of his team's 15 2nd points in the eight minute segment. He hit a midrange pullup, a pair of triples, and had a nice hesitation move to get by Silcott for a layup. "We had no answers for Bumbalough in the first half," said Connersville coach Kerry Brown. "I thought our defense was fine, he was just rising up over us and hitting shots." The Spartans would withstand the burst from Bumbalough and go into the locker room down just six.
Connersville would make an adjustment as the second half began, switching 6'6 Grant Smith on to Luke Bumbalough defensively. "We thought Grant's length would bother him. His length helped him alter or block the shots," said Coach Brown. It would pay immediate dividends, as Smith's quickness and length would make it tough for Bumbalough. "I wanted him to pull up, so my length could affect the shot. When he went to the rim, just get big and make him finish over me," said Smith. The senior wing made plays offensively as well. He found teammates for open looks, and would hit a three to cut New Castle's lead to a single point.
The visitors would open the fourth quarter on a 6-2 run and seemed to have the momentum as Connersville would struggle to get anything to fall on the offensive end.
Beau Isaacs would break that, hitting a three off a
Grant Smith feed to pull the Spartans within two. After a
Grant Smith basket, New Castle would attempt to hold for the last 1:10for a final look. That plan went awry, as a pass went through the hands of
Luke Bumbalough for an over and back violation with 43 seconds left. Connersville was unable to capitalize, as
Garrett Silcott missed a tough runner in the lane, and
Grant Smith's putback attempt fell off the rim as the horn sounded.
In overtime, two seniors for the Spartans led the way.
Beau Isaacs would hit another big three to start off the overtime and give the Spartans their first lead since the opening quarter. The 6'3 senior forward would hit four of his last five three point attempts after starting the game 0-3. "Beau's a four year letterman. He started off overtime against Greensburg with a three. Those are the plays we expect him to make," remarked Coach Brown. While Isaacs started things off offensively,
Grant Smith would dominate defensively. A steal and outlet pass freed
Garrett Silcott for a layup, then Smith would get a deflection on an inbounds play to save a basket. The following possession, he would get a hand on a
Luke Bumbalough jumpshot and corral the rebound.
Smith would be fouled, where he split his free throws. After a New Castle miss, Smith would again grab the rebound and get fouled, where he split his free throw attempts once more. New Castle called timeout to draw up a play to tie or take the lead, but Bumbalough was forced into traffic where he fired and missed.
Beau Isaacs snagged the miss, and his two free throws sealed the game for Connersville. A David Froedge three at the buzzer still left the visitors one point shy.
New Castle 14 15 6 6 10 - 51
Connersville 12 11 10 8 11 - 52
New Castle:
Luke Bumbalough 21 points (9/15 FGs, 3/6 3Ps), 3 ast;
Mason Gillis 11 points (4/11 FGs, 3/4 FTs), 14 rebs; David Froedge 11 points (4/12 FGs, 3/8 3Ps), 3 rbs, 3 stl; Niah Williamson 7 points; Jared Heard 1 point
Connersville:
Grant Smith 18 points (6/16 FGs, 1/4 3Ps, 5/7 FTs), 14 rebs, 8 ast, 2 stl, 2 blk;
Beau Isaacs 16 points (5/9 FGs, 4/8 3Ps, 2/3 FTs), 4 rebs;
Garrett Silcott 13 points (5/7 FGs, 2/4 FTs); Hunter Sullenbarger 3 points; Noah Belt 2 points (1/4 FGs)
Two tradition-rich programs met up on Tuesday evening in what could be a preview of the Sectional 9 championship game. Before a crowd of over 4000 in Connersville's historic Spartan Bowl, the home team rode a second half comeback to get into overtime, where two seniors made enough plays to pull out a win over New Castle.