(Connor Essegian had a career night in Central Noble's win)

 

In a rematch of last year's Sectional 37 title match, Central Noble avenged their defeat from last March against Churubusco with an 81-71 victory thanks to a career-high 44 points from junior guard Connor Essegian. Churubusco, who had averaged 104 points per game in their previous four contests, was held to just 45 through three quarters on their way to the final tally.

 

The 6'3 Essegian was on fire early, scoring 16 points in the first quarter on his way to hitting his first eight field goal attempts, four of them behind the arc. All told, the Cougars as a team started strong, scoring 28 points in the opening period to take a ten-point advantage over the Eagles. Churubusco was able to stay close thanks to a defense that produced 14 steals on the evening. The Eagles were able to get out in transition for easy baskets as they closed the deficit to six at halftime.

 

Essegian was quiet for the second and third periods, totaling just eight points in those 16 minutes, but poor shooting from the field would prevent Busco from digging into the Cougar advantage any, as the Eagles shot 23/64 from the field, including 5/19 from behind the three-point line. Churubusco would trail 52-45 entering the final period.

 

As the Eagles would gradually extend their pressure, Essegian went to work. The junior scored 20 of his 44 in the final stanza, frequently catching the ball just over the half-court stripe and immediately attacking the rim. He was able to finish through contact and find ways to go over and around Churubusco's last line of defense, senior forward Landen Jordan. Sawyer Yoder also contributed by hitting a pair of threes in a 90-second span at the beginning of the period to give the Cougars some breathing room after Churubusco has cut the lead to just three points.

 

Both teams combined for 55 points in the fourth period, as Churubusco benefitted from 22 turnovers on the evening by Central Noble. The result was several trips to the foul line late, as the Eagles scored 20 points total from the free-throw line. In the end, however, it was too much Connor Essegian, as the Cougars advanced to the semifinals of the NECC Tournament where they will face Westview. Westview handed Central Noble their only loss on the season with a 60-54 win on December 12th.

 

Central Noble moves to 11-1 on the season, while Churubusco sees their record go to 8-2.

 

 

Central Noble  28  10  14  29  -  81

Churubusco     18  14  13  26  -  71

 

Central Noble: Connor Essegian 44 points (16/24 FGs, 5/8 3Ps, 7/9 FTs), 11 rebs, 4 asts, 3 stls; Sawyer Yoder 10 points (4/6 FGs, 2/4 3Ps), 10 rebs, 5 asts; Ryan Schroeder 8 points (4/5 FGs), 6 rebs, 3 asts; Conner Lemmon 8 points (2/4 FGs, 1/3 3Ps, 3/4 FTs), 2 rebs, 3 asts; Jackson Andrews 5 points (2/5 FGs, 1/1 3Ps), 2 asts; Logan Gard 4 points (2/6 FGs), 2 rebs; Aidan Dreibelbis 2 points (1/1 FGs)

 

Churubusco: Jackson Paul 19 points (6/20 FGs, 1/4 3Ps, 6/8 FTs), 6 rebs, 4 asts, 3 stls; Luke McClure 15 points (6/15 FGs, 1/4 3Ps, 2/2 FTs), 3 rebs, 4 asts, 5 stls; Landen Jordan 13 points (4/11 FGs, 5/8 FTs), 10 rebs, 3 stls; Andrew Pliett 10 points (4/8 FGs, 2/6 3Ps); Ayden White 10 points (2/7 FGs, 1/5 3Ps, 5/6 FTs); Gavin Huelsenbeck 4 points (1/3 FGs, 2/4 FTs), 6 rebs