At the 2018 edition of the Raymond James Hall of Fame Classic, three 4A powers and one of the best small school programs in the state battled in a quartet of highly competitive games. (Pictured: Warren Central's Isiah Moore)

 

The average margin in all four games was 3.5 points, with the title match having to go into overtime to be decided. In that game, Warren Central would claim victory and extend their winning streak to 40 games.

 

In the first semifinal, Center Grove got some timely three-point shooting to help get them over the hill against a tough Westview squad. It was a back and forth affair for the first three quarters with rarely more than a bucket separating the two sides. A pair of Ben Nicoson triples at the end of the third and beginning of the fourth quarters help Center Grove out to a five-point lead that they would not relinquish. It was a balanced effort for the Trojans, with three players chipping in 11 points. Trayce Jackson-Davis was one of those three, despite repeatedly being double and triple teamed. Elijah Hales and Josh Hostetler led Westview with 13 points apiece.

 

Westview        8  12   11  12  -  43

Center Grove  8  10  13  17  -  48

 

Westview:  Elijah Hales 13 points (5/11 FGs, 2/3 3Ps, 1/2 FTs), 4 asts; Josh Hostetler 13 points (5/8 FGs, 3/6 3Ps), 4 rbs; Charlie Yoder 11 points (4/12 FGs, 0/3 3Ps, 3/4 FTs); Nick Rensberger 4 points (2/7 FGs), 4 rebs; Jordan Schrock 2 points

 

Center Grove: Trayce Jackson-Davis 11 points (5/7 FGs), 6 rebs, 2 blks; Spencer Piercefield 11 points (4/10 FGs, 3/8 3Ps); Ben Nicoson 11 points (4/7 FGs, 3/5 3Ps, 1/2 FTs); Justin DeGraaf 9 points (3/7 FGs, 1/4 3Ps, 2/4 FTs), 6 rebs; Tayven Jackson 4 points; Cam Petty 2 points

 

 

In the second semifinal, Warren Central managed to survive after a furious fourth-quarter rally from Valpo, led by their senior star Brandon Newman. The Warriors led by double figures for much of the second half before Newman put the rest of the Vikings on his back, thanks to a personal 8-0 run to cut an 11 point deficit to three. Newman would eventually tie the game on a three-point shot, but a couple of turnovers would haunt the Vikings. Jesse Bingham would score the game-winner with five seconds left on a drive, and two Jakobie Robinson free throws later, the top-ranked Warriors would escape with a 59-55 win. 

 

Robinson directed the charge with a double-double of 15 points and 14 rebounds, seven of which came on the offensive end. Manuel Brown, Jamisen Smith, and Jesse Bingham all were in double figures as Warren Central ran their winning streak to 39 games.

 

Valparaiso          15    8   8  24  -  55

Warren Central  15  14  14  16  -  59

 

Valpo: Brandon Newman 33 points (11/18 FGs, 3/5 3Ps, 8/9 FTs), 12 rebs, 2 stls, 2 blks; Colton Jones 7 points (3/4 FGs, 1/1 FTs); Nate Aerts 6 points (1/6 FGs, 4/4 FTs), 4 rebs, 4 asts; CJ Opperman 4 points; Colin Walls 3 points (1/2 FGs, 1/1 FTs); Max Otterbacher 2 points

 

Warren Central: Jakobie Robinson 15 points (4/10 FGs, 1/4 3Ps, 6/8 FTs), 14 rebs; Manuel Brown 12 points; Jamisen Smith 11 points; Jesse Bingham 10 points (5/9 FGs), 3 asts; Isiah Moore 8 points (3/10 FGs, 2/7 3Ps); Elijah Ray 3 points

 

 

The consolation game between northern Indiana schools Valparaiso and Westview was controlled by the Vikings for the majority of the game until a furious 4th quarter rally by Charlie Yoder and Westview fell just short. Brandon Newman, off of a fantastic 33 point, 12 rebound performance against Warren Central that ended just three and a half hours before the consolation tipoff, continued his strong play for the day, scoring six points in the first quarter as Valpo jumped out to an early lead. The lead would reach double figures at the half after Colin Walls threw in a 70-foot heave at the buzzer.

 

Valpo would continue to hold a double-figure advantage heading into the fourth when Charlie Yoder took over. The 6’4 junior scored 13 of his game-high 37 in the final period on a variety of drives and finishes at the rim. But Westview might have let their final chance at a comeback slip away. Trailing by a single point, they allowed Valpo to burn over 45 seconds off the clock before fouling Brandon Newman with just 8 seconds left. Newman would make both free throws to finish with 28 points, and a Charlie Yoder three-pointer at the horn would sail wide.

 

Westview    13  14  11  17  -  55

Valparaiso  20  17  11  10  -  58

 

Westview: Charlie Yoder 37 points (11/25 FGs, 3/13 3Ps, 12/12 FTs), 4 rebs, 3 asts, 3 stls; Elijah Hales 10 points (3/5 FGs, 4/6 FTs), 4 rebs, 5 asts; Nick Rensberger 6 points (2/5 FGs, 2/2 FTs); Josh Hostetler 2 points (1/4 FGs), 5 rebs

 

Valpo: Brandon Newman 28 points (11/21 FGs, 2/5 3Ps, 4/4 FTs), 6 rebs, 2 stls; Nate Aerts 7 points (2/5 FGs, 1/2 3Ps, 2/4 FTs); CJ Opperman 7 points; Brandon Mack 6 points; Jacob Evans 4 points; Colin Walls 3 points (1/2 3Ps); Colton Jones 2 points (1/4 FGs); Max Otterbacher 1 point

 

 

The championship game featured two Metropolitan Conference foes with Warren Central and Center Grove facing off before their regular season game next month at Warren Central. The Trojans jumped all over Warren Central at the start, racing out to a 12-2 lead in the blink of an eye. Trayce Jackson-Davis was the main factor in that spurt, as he scored 12 of Center Grove’s 14 first quarter points. 

 

The Warriors, playing without star guard David Bell and starting point guard Malik Stanley, would keep in contact thanks to the play of senior Jamisen Smith. The 6’3 wing, who had hit just a lone three-pointer on the season coming into the day, made his first four tries from behind the arc, each one more difficult from the previous. But the frontcourt of Jackson-Davis and junior Justin DeGraaf would score 22 of their team’s 27 first half points as Center Grove entered the locker room leading by a pair.

 

Warren would take the lead in the third as senior guards Manuel Brown and Isiah Moore were able to get going. The Warriors would take their largest lead of the game at 42-36, but some uncharacteristic shot attempts from Warren as they were trying to milk clock gave Center Grove a chance, and the Trojans were able to capitalize. Spencer Piercefield hit a pair of threes in a 10-3 run that would give Center Grove a 46-45 lead.

 

Warren Central would get an opportunity to take the lead back, but Trayce Jackson-Davis sent away a Jakobie Robinson layup that would end up going out of bounds off of the Warriors. The ensuing possession, Jackson-Davis would get a dunk after breaking the Warrior press, but Isiah Moore would respond with a three from the wing to tie with 12.3 seconds left. Center Grove’s final chance in regulation would miss and both teams would head to overtime.

 

After burning over 2 minutes off the clock, Manuel Brown would break free for two along the baseline, but Jackson-Davis would respond with just over 30 seconds left. After working to clock down, Warren got the ball in the hands of Moore, and he would come up huge by hitting a contested pull up off the dribble with 0.8 left for the lead. Trayce Jackson-Davis was able to get off a clean look from near the arc, but it would bounce off the back rim to give Warren Central the win.

 

Isiah Moore was named MVP of the 2018 Hall of Fame Classic, while teammate Jakobie Robinson, Trayce Jackson-Davis and Justin DeGraaf of Center Grove, Brandon Newman of Valpo and Westview’s Charlie Yoder joined him as all-tournament team selections. Warren Central extended their winning streak to 40 games and reached 8-0 on the season.

 

Center Grove     14  13    9  12   2  -  50

Warren Central    7  18  14    9   4  -  52

 

Center Grove: Trayce Jackson-Davis 23 points (10/19 FGs, 3/6 FTs), 8 rebs, 2 stls, 2 blks; Justin DeGraaf 10 points (4/5 FGs, 1/1 3Ps, 1/2 FTs), 10 rebs; Spencer Piercefield 10 points (4/8 FGs, 2/4 3Ps); Ben Nicoson 7 points (3/3 FGs, 1/1 3Ps)

 

Warren Central: Isiah Moore 22 points (9/14 FGs, 3/6 3Ps, 1/1 FTs), 3 asts, 2 stls; Manuel Brown 14 points; Jamisen Smith 12 points (4/6 3Ps), 3 rebs; Jakobie Robinson 2 points (1/5 FGs), 6 rebs, 4 asts, 2 stls, 3 blks; Elijah Ray 2 points