The annual Marion Classic featured a four-game slate at Marion on Friday which showcased some of the top basketball talent in the state. Here’s how the action unfolded. (Pictured: Brownsburg's Malek Edmonds)

 

 

North Side jumped out to a 19 point halftime advantage thanks to the play of junior big man Mike Scott, whose size was simply too much for Liberty Christian. Scott ended his day with 18 points and 10 boards, while freshmen duo Ryan Collins and Rodney Woods combined for 23 points and nine rebounds for the Legends. North Side had to weather a second-half run where Liberty Christian cut their lead to just two points at the beginning of the fourth quarter. The Lions had chances to stay with North Side but were unable to down the stretch. Liberty Christian was led by freshman Christian Nunn’s 18 points and eight caroms.

 

Liberty Christian    8    9  23  10  -  50

North Side            17   19    8  16  -  60

 

Liberty Christian: Christian Nunn 18 points (7/17 FGs, 4/9 FTs), 8 rebs; Kenny Lofton 8 points; Landon McCord 6 points; Trey Davis 4 points (2/7 FGs), 7 rebs, 4 asts, 5 stls; Josh Cabello 4 points; Aidan Smith 4 points; Quentin Edmons-Long 2 points (1/5 FGs); Spencer Lamb 2 points

 

North Side: Mike Scott 18 points (8/15 FGs, 2/3 FTs), 10 rebs; Ryan Collins 12 points (4/12 3Ps); Rodney Woods 11 points (3/4 FGs, 1/2 3Ps, 4/6 FTs), 8 rebs, 3 stls; Drevion Braden 8 points, 3 asts; Chy Wynn 6 points; Daquan Reed 3 points

 

 

 

The Saints jumped all over Richmond from the opening tip with an 8-0 surge that led to a 17-3 advantage after a quarter. Bishop Dwenger used a switching defense to force turnovers and then gained several second-chance opportunities on the offensive glass. Ball State commitment Lucas Kroft, who came into the game averaging over 25 points a game, was held in single digits into the fourth quarter. Kroft and his younger brother Andrew both finished with 16 points for the Red Devils, who never seriously challenged after the opening minutes. Bishop Dwenger was led by point guard Matt Kochanski with 16 points. Hayden Smithey added 14, sophomore Brenden Lytle scored 12 points to go with six boards, and forward Jared Lee scored seven but grabbed 10 rebounds.

 

Richmond              3  18    6  17  -  44

Bishop Dwenger  17  18  12  14  -  61

 

Richmond: Andrew Kroft 16 points (5/9 FGs, 2/6 3Ps, 4/5 FTs); Lucas Kroft 16 points (5/14 FGs, 3/8 3Ps, 3/4 FTs); Koream Jett 4 points; Jordan Frye 4 points; Jordan Stolle 3 points (1/3 3Ps); Rafael Deane 1 point

 

Bishop Dwenger: Matt Kochanski 16 points (7/12 FGs, 2/4 3Ps), 3 asts; Hayden Smithey 14 points (5/13 FGs, 3/7 3Ps, 1/2 FTs); Brenden Lytle 12 points (5/7 FGs, 1/3 3Ps, 1/1 FTs), 6 rebs; John Hoffman 8 points; Jared Lee 7 points (3/10 FGs, 1/2 FTs), 10 rebs; Jack Kinder 4 points

 

 

 

A great second quarter allowed Brownsburg to blow their matchup against Snider wide open. The 27-point quarter for the Bulldogs opened their lead from five after the first period to 20 at halftime. Forward Reis Thomas hit three three-pointers in a span of two minutes that helped open the margin. Cameron Alford and Malek Edmonds combined for 29 points for Brownsburg, who turned away a Snider run in the third quarter. The Panthers were led by Dillon Duff’s 14 points. Michael Eley added nine for Snider, who suffered their first loss of the season.

 

Snider             9   12  17  12  -  50

Brownsburg  14  27  10  13  -  64

 

Snider: Dillon Duff 14 points (4/10 FGs, 2/4 3Ps, 4/4 FTs), 5 rebs, 3 asts; Michael Eley 9 points (4/13 FGs, 1/5 3Ps); John Barnes 6 points (2/2 3Ps); Karson Jenkins 5 points; Jaylen Lattimore 5 points; Isaac Farnsworth 4 points; Jordan Moore 3 points; Cleevas Craig 2 points (1/3 FGs); Jayshawn Underwood 2 points

 

Brownsburg: Reis Thomas 18 points (7/11 FGs, 4/6 3Ps); Cam Alford 16 points (6/9 FGs, 1/1 3Ps, 3/7 FTs), 6 rebs, 4 asts; Malek Edmonds 13 points (6/8 FGs, 1/2 FTs); Pierce Thomas 6 points (2/7 FGs, 2/2 FTs), 5 asts; Luke Lacey 4 points; Jakobi McGowan 3 points; Richard Lang 2 points; Quentin Bragg 2 points

 

 

 

In the nightcap, James Blackmon carried the Marion Giants to a come from behind victory over 4A #3 Valparaiso. The sophomore finished with 37 points and closed out the game from the line, going 16/19 on the night. Freshman wing RaSheed Jones added 11 points and timely playmaking for the Giants. Valparaiso was able to hit just one three-pointer as a team in the game. Brandon Newman finished with 20 points but went 6/19 from the floor. Nate Aerts added 14 points and nine rebounds. Newman fouled out after fouling Jalen Blackmon on a three-pointer with the game tied at 48 and under two minutes remaining. That was his fourth foul, then he was hit with a technical foul in the aftermath of the play, leading to the end of his night. Blackmon would hit five free throws to give Marion a lead they would not relinquish. It was the first loss of the season for Valpo.

 

Valpo    17  12  11   16  -  56

Marion  15  12   9  24  -  60

 

Valpo: Brandon Newman 20 points (6/19 FGs, 8/8 FTs), 7 rebs; Nate Aerts 14 points (7/13 FGs, 2/3 FTs), 9 rebs; Colin Walls 6 points; CJ Opperman 6 points; Cooper Jones 3 points (3/4 FTs), 5 rebs; Colton Jones 3 points (1/3 3Ps); Max Otterbacher 2 points; Brandon Mack 2 points

 

Marion: Jalen Blackmon 37 points (9/21 FGs, 3/9 3Ps, 16/19 FTs); RaSheed Jones 11 points (2/5 FGs, 1/3 3Ps, 6/6 FTs); Qu’Ran Howard 6 points; D’Angelo Jones 3 points (1/1 FGs, 1/2 FTs); Louis Guerrero 2 points; Trey Miles 1 point