(Toledo signee Kooper Jacobi had a double-double to lead Silver Creek)

 

No. 2 Silver Creek was tested throughout 3A sectional and regional play but found a way to get to Seymour to play No. 4 Guerin Catholic. The Golden Eagles reached the 3A semi-state on the back of a 40-point Joe Bobilya effort in the regional final.

 

Even before the game started, there was a shaky moment for Silver Creek. The official scorebook had Nolan Gilbert in the starting lineup instead of the usual Branden Northern. That meant Northern could not check in until the first dead ball. Despite sitting out a possession for each team, Northern opened the scoring with a slashing bucket in the lane.

 

With Purdue signee Trey Kaufman-Renn and Toledo signee Kooper Jacobi inside, it looked like Guerin would need Bobilya and fellow senior Kaleb Edwards to carry them from the outside. Instead, the Golden Eagles worked the ball through Matthew Gillis inside. Silver Creek had Kaufman-Renn on Edwards. With him away from the basket, Gillis went to work inside. Behind Gillis, Guerin led 13-10 after one.

 

With the Dragons trailing, Kaufman-Renn started to be more aggressive. He only scored two points in the first quarter but scored the first four baskets of the second quarter. Kaufman-Renn had all of the Silver Creek points until Jacobi scored near the end of the frame.

 

Kaufman-Renn’s scoring output pushed Silver Creek to the 20-19 halftime lead. Both teams struggled to make a shot as they combined to go 0-15 from three. Overall, in the first half, the teams were 17-46 from the field.

 

In the second half, Silver Creek switch Kaufman-Renn to Gillis. The Guerin center scored eight in the first half, and SC tried to slow him down. Despite that, he scored four of the first six for Guerin. His and-one finish gave Guerin a 25-24 lead three minutes into the third.

 

Facing a deficit, Northern stepped up for Silver Creek. The junior guard scored six points, including the last four. That gave Silver Creek a 35-29 lead going to the fourth.

 

To open the fourth, Edwards made two free throws to get Guerin back within three. Then, Northern found Jacobi for a three. It felt big at the time, and it proved to be. After a defensive stop by Silver Creek, Kaufman-Renn found a cutting Isaac Hinton for a basket. On the next possession, Kaufman-Renn found Jacobi. In a hurry, the Dragons held a 41-31 lead.

 

With Edwards and Bobilya unable to get on track, Guerin faced an uphill battle. Silver Creek’s guard pressure on Bobilya was suffocating. He had no breathing room on any catch. As a result, the senior went 0-9 from three. His only two points came on free throws. Edwards kept attacking off the dribble, but Kaufman-Renn and Jacobi made it difficult for him to finish.

 

Silver Creek’s biggest lead came after Kaufman-Renn made a free throw with under a minute to play.

 

Silver Creek advanced to the 3A state title game with a 54-46 win.

 

Jacobi tallied 15 points and 13 rebounds. Kaufman-Renn recorded 15 points, six rebounds, and three assists, and Northern added 12 points. Hinton gave Silver Creek eight points, and Gilbert rounded out the scoring with four.

 

In the loss, Edwards contributed 14 points and seven rebounds. Gillis added 13 points and five rebounds. Freshman Jack Cherry tallied five points and three rebounds. Will Grissom flew all over the court for four points and eight rebounds.

 

In terms of rebounding and turnovers, the teams were even. Guerin Catholic’s shooting and inability to get clean looks against the Silver Creek pressure defense were the difference.

 

In the 2021 3A boys basketball state final, Silver Creek plays the winner of St. Joe/Leo