In a match-up of 2A No. 3 Linton-Stockton and 1A No. 2 Loogootee, the Miners faced an early hole before coming back to beat the Lions. Indiana State signee Lincoln Hale turned in a great second-half performance to lead the way.

 

Early on, Loogootee did a good job of controlling the tempo and forcing the Miners into turnovers. Luke Nonte was solid from the tip for Loogootee. The junior guard scored seven first-half points to push Loogootee to a strong start. A minute into the second quarter, Loogootee had extended its lead to 10 points. 

 

Facing a double-digit lead and its offense stalled, Linton-Stockton switched to a 1-3-1 trap. The defensive move worked as the Miners immediately forced two turnovers leading to layups. Sophomore Logan Webb made an impact for Linton off the bench. 

 

At the half, Loogootee led 25-22.

 

The third quarter was an extremely low-possession period. Linton freshman Braden Walters scored the first bucket of the half. He was much more aggressive in the second half and looks to be a solid college prospect going forward. A couple of minutes into the quarter, Silas Bauer scored in the lane off a dish from Jordan Wildman to give Loogootee a five-point advantage. 

 

To close the third, Hale buried a three-pointer right before the buzzer. That brought the Miners within one. Sophomore Joey Hart scored the first five points of the third quarter to give Linton-Stockton the lead.

 

With the game tied, Webb stepped up again for the Miners. His triple gave Linton a 42-39 lead with 3:16 to play. After Josh Pyne made a free throw, it was all Hale the rest of the way for the Miners. He bulldozed his way for a bucket in the lane to push Linton's lead to six points. 

 

Loogootee sophomore Peyton Bledsoe entering the game averaging 17 points per game. For senior night, he came off the bench and never found his rhythm. He did give Loogootee a chance late with a baseline jumper and then a three-pointer on the next possession. 

 

Up five with 25 seconds left, Hale created a steal and finished with a layup on the other end to put the game away. Linton-Stockton won 51-44 with Hale scoring 24 points. Luke Nonte led Loogootee with 11 points.

 

Linton-Stockton moved to 6-0 and Loogootee dropped its second straight to go to 4-2.

 

Loogootee (44) - Jace Walton 4 points, 3rebs, 1ast, 2turns; Luke Nonte 11 points (5-10 FG, 1-6 3FG, 0-2 FT), 2rebs, 3asts, 2turns, 6stls; Jordan Wildman 9 points (3-10 FG, 2-7 3FG, 1-2 FT), 2rebs, 3asts, 1turns; Silas Bauer 10 points (4-7 FG, 2-2 FT), 8rebs, 2asts, 4turns, 1blk, 1stl; Bryant Eckerle 1 points, 2rebs, 1asts, 2turns; Peyton Bledsoe 5 points (2-5 FG, 1-2 3FG), 2rebs, 1ast; Paker Arvin 4 points, 1rebs

Linton-Stockton (51) - Lincoln Hale 24 points (8-16 FG, 2-7 3FG, 6-7 FT), 2rebs, 3asts, 0turns, 2stls; Joey Hart 11 points (4-6 FG, 2-3 3FG, 1-1 FT), 1reb, 1ast, 4turns, 2blks; Drew Smith 3rebs, 1ast,1turn, 3stls; Josh Pyne 1points, 2rebs, 3asts, 2turns, 1blk, Logan Webb 11 points (5-8 FG, 1-2 3FG, 0-2 FT), 4rebs, 2turns, 2stls; Braden Walters 4pts, 5rebs, 3turns, 1stl