(Fletcher Loyer had a 50-point game earlier this season, via Homestead)

 

In a highly anticipated matchup, 4A #3 Homestead used a big fourth quarter from Fletcher Loyer and some timely foul shooting to defeat 2A #1 Blackhawk Christian 72-60 Tuesday night.

 

The game featured two of the state's highest scoring offenses, with both teams ranked in the top ten in scoring average. That was evident early on, as a quick pace allowed each team to showcase their skill. Fletcher Loyer made some deft passes to get easy baskets for his teammates, while Caleb Furst threw down two monster dunks in the opening stanza. The two teams were deadlocked after the initial eight minutes.

 

The Caleb Furst show continued in the second period, as he was simply too big and too aggressive for the front line of the Spartans to handle. The 6'9 senior would score 16 in the first half on 8/9 shooting from the floor, but a pair of late Luke Goode triples, including one just before the halftime horn, would allow the hosts to head to the locker room with a three-point advantage.

 

The Furst show continued after halftime as the future Purdue Boilermaker scored 7 of his team's 13 third-quarter points, often against double and even triple teams inside. It was all the offense the Braves could seem to muster, however, as perimeter shots kept finding the rim and bouncing off. Kaleb Kolpien would break free near the end of the third quarter, and Luke Goode would find him for a three just before the buzzer to give Homestead a four-point lead heading into the fourth quarter.

 

It was still a one-point game midway through the fourth quarter, but then it was Fletcher Loyer's turn to take over. The 6'3 junior guard scored 13 of his team-high 23 points in the period, including back-to-back three-pointers off the dribble that would give Homestead the lead for good. In total, the Spartans were able to outscore Blackhawk Christian 27-0 from behind the three-point line. Loyer and Luke Goode combined for six of Homestead's nine made threes.

 

Blackhawk would begin fouling, but clutch free throw shooting and wayward Blackhawk shot attempts in the final 90 seconds would allow the Spartans to pull away and leave undefeated. Blackhawk Christian would rue their shooting woes, as the Braves finished the night 0/16 from the three-point line, as opposed to Homestead's 9/22 clip.

 

Homestead moves to 13-0 on the season while Blackhawk Christian falls to 10-1.

 

 

 

Blackhawk Christian   16  16  13  15  -  60

Homestead             16  19  14  23  -  72

 

Blackhawk Christian: Caleb Furst 27 points (12/16 FGs, 3/3 FTs), 9 rebs; Zane Burke 15 points (4/14 FGs, 7/8 FTs), 5 rebs, 4 asts; Jake Boyer 8 points (3/6 FGs, 2/3 FTs), 2 rebs; Marcus Davidson 4 points (2/8 FGs); Callan Wood 2 points (1/6 FGs), 8 rebs; Lewis Jones 2 points (1/2 FGs), 2 asts; Gage Sefton (2 points (1/3 FGs), 3 rebs, 2 asts

 

Homestead: Fletcher Loyer 23 points (8/16 FGs, 3/6 3Ps, 4/5 FTs), 6 rebs, 5 asts, 2 stls; Luke Goode 22 points (8/17 FGs, 3/8 3Ps, 3/6 FTs), 5 rebs, 3 asts; Grant Simmons 10 points (4/8 FGs, 1/5 3Ps, 1/2 FTs), 2 rebs; Kaleb Kolpien 9 points (3/4 FGs, 1/1 3Ps, 2/2 FTs), 2 rebs; Quinn Harmon 5 points (1/1 3Ps, 2/2 FTs); Andrew Leeper 3 points (1/3 FGs, 1/1 FTs), 5 rebs