Danville was knocked from the ranks of the unbeaten Saturday night by Hendricks County rival Plainfield, thanks to a pair of Caleb Vanderbush free throws with 20 seconds remaining.

Danville came into the contest with a perfect 7-0 record and a high scoring offense, which was averaging 78 points per game. The pace early on seemed to favor the Warriors, as both teams were in double figures in the first four minutes. Three pointers from Mason Naaman and Aidan Booher helped Plainfield’s cause, who were playing without starting forward Cade East.

 

The score was tied after the first period, as the Quakers were focused on slowing down Danville’s high scoring senior forward Dillon Ware. The 6’6 Ware came in scoring just under 23 points per game, but struggled to find any driving lanes against a suffocating Plainfield defense.

 

Ware would have eight points at halftime, but another Aidan Booher triple and six points off the bench from sophomore forward Caleb Vanderbush would have Plainfield trailing by just a point heading to halftime.

 

After the break, a defensive change came as Danville moved into a 1-3-1, and Plainfield looked ready for the switch. Offense came easy as the Quakers were able to get open looks for senior guard Mason Naaman, who hit two three pointers and another jumper for eight points in the quarter. On the inside, Vanderbush and junior forward Ian Scott made their presence felt both scoring and on the backboards.

 

Plainfield would turn a one point halftime deficit into a three point advantage heading into the fourth. For Danville, however, it would turn into a one man show in the last period. Junior guard Kobe King would catch fire, scoring nine points in the first three minutes, on three mid range jumpers and a corner three. Plainfield, however, would not go away. Caleb Vanderbush would score on a pair of drives and Aidan Booher would as well to set up the finish.

 

With 20 seconds left, Vanderbush would drive from the left wing and get fouled. His first free throw was pure, and after a Danville timeout, his second would find the bottom of the net too.

 

On the final possession, the ball would find Kobe King in the corner. King, who had scored all 11 points for Danville in the fourth, would step back behind the arc, but his three point try was off the mark. The ball would fall in Sam Comer’s hands right in front of the rim, but he rushed the follow up, leaving it short, and the horn would sound during the ensuing scramble.

 

Danville falls to 7-1 on the year, while Plainfield’s win takes them to 6-1.

 

 

Danville    16  13  14  11  -  54

Plainfield  16  12  18  10  -  56

 

Danville: Kobe Ward 18 points (8/14 FGs, 2/5 3Ps), 4 rebs; Dillon Ware 8 points (4/7 FGs), 5 rebs, 3 asts, 2 stls; Garrett Fulwider 8 points (2/5 FGs, 1/1 3Ps, 3/4 FTs), 5 asts; Peyton Roof 6 points; Sam Comer 5 points (2/9 FGs, 1/2 3Ps), 6 rebs, 5 asts; Braxton Fulwider 5 points; Braxton McMahon 2 points; Tyler Dostin 2 points

 

Plainfield: Caleb Vanderbush 16 points; Mason Naaman 15 points (6/10 FGs, 3/7 3Ps), 3 rebs; Aidan Booher 12 points (4/11 FGs, 2/9 3Ps, 2/3 FTs), 4 rebs, 3 asts; Ian Scott 7 points (3/4 FGs, 1/2 FTs), 9 rebs; Dayne Gardner 6 points (3/5 FGs)