In front of a standing room only crowd of over 8,200 at Seymour Saturday night, New Albany held off a determined Floyd Central team and got revenge for their only regular season defeat to claim their fifth straight sectional championship.
Floyd Central was determined to not let
Romeo Langford beat them single-handedly and employed a variety of different defenses in order to limit the New Albany star. To start the game, Brendon Hobson was given the task of shadowing Langford wherever he went, and then a second defender came whenever Langford touched the ball. The result was openings for others, as
Sean East and
Derrick Stevenson combined for eight points in the first quarter.
Stevenson would go on to score eight in the first half behind a pair of three pointers and a layup. While Langford’s shot attempts were limited, he was able to make his way to the free throw line, being fouled twice on jump shots in the first half. This and great defense on the Highlanders’ leading scorers
Cobie Barnes and Luke Gohmann, who combined for one point in the first half, allowed the Bulldogs to take a seven-point lead into the locker room.
Floyd Central and Brendon Hobson came out of halftime energized, as Hobson scored 11 of his 12 points in the third quarter. Floyd Central drew even at 30, but a basket and a
Sean East three-pointer gave New Albany a three point lead heading into the final period. The Bulldogs lead would grow to eight before Luke Gohmann scored a pair of critical buckets, first a deep three then a driving layin, to keep Floyd Central within striking distance.
Matt Weimer would do his best to keep the Highlanders close, but East and Langford did enough from the free throw line late to close out the game and send the Bulldogs onto the regional round.
Floyd Central closes their season at 24-2 while New Albany moves to 23-1 and will face Bloomington South next week in a regional semifinal. The Bulldogs beat Bloomington South 70-58 in the second game of the regular season.
Floyd Central 11 8 13 13 - 45
New Albany 14 12 9 16 - 51
Floyd Central: Matt Weimer 17 points (5/8 FGs, 1/4 3Ps, 6/8 FTs), 4 rebs; Brendon Hobson 12 points; Luke Gohmann 6 points (2/7 FGs, 1/4 3Ps, 1/2 FTs), 3 rebs; Evan Nichols 4 points (2/3 FGs); Nick Winchell 4;
Cobie Barnes 2 points (1/5 FGs)