(Fletcher Loyer pictured in the spring)

 

Homestead rode the back of their size and Mr. Basketball candidate, Fletcher Loyer, to a non-conference road win at Warsaw on Friday night. The Spartans outscored the Tigers in each quarter on their way to a 62-40 victory.

The 6'4 Loyer, a Purdue signee, was the obvious target of Warsaw coach Matt Moore's defensive game plan, as his Tiger squad was shadowing Loyer wherever he went on the floor. This opened the floor for other Spartans, which led to a pair of three-pointers from Grady Swing in the first period. However, Warsaw struggled to get anything going offensively as the length of Homestead disrupted passes and closed down driving lanes for the Tigers.

 

Fletcher Loyer would add a three and tough baseline pullup over a defender to give the visitors a six-point lead after eight minutes.

 

It was just the beginning for Loyer, as the senior guard would put on a dazzling display in the second period, scoring 16 of his team's 18 points in the quarter. Whether it be threes, floaters, or midrange pullups, the senior guard scored in a variety of different ways. A Tucker Day putback would be the only points scored by a Spartan besides Loyer, who totaled 21 of the final 23 points in the half.

 

Jaxson Gould, Warsaw's standout 6'3 junior, would keep the Tigers within striking distance by scoring seven points in the waning minutes of the first half. Then, with a nine-point advantage, a long Loyer two just before the horn would send the Spartans in the break.

 

A pair of seniors started strong coming out of the locker room, as Homestead's 6'6 Andrew Leeper found a couple of buckets at the rim, then deposited a two-hand slam from a dump-off pass by Kyron Kaopuiki. After that, guard Judah Simfukwe would turn up the intensity for the home side, repeatedly attacking the paint and earning himself trips to the foul line. However, it would not be enough to cut into the Homestead advantage, as the Spartans would extend their lead to 14 after three quarters.

 

The Homestead run would become a 16-4 stretch, blowing the game open. Loyer would add seven points in the fourth to give him a game-high 31 points. Andrew Leeper and 6'6 sophomore Tucker Day would each add 10 points for Homestead.

 

Judah Simfukwe led Warsaw with 14 points, and Jaxson Gould poured in 11 for the Tigers.

 

Homestead battles Carmel at the Sneakers 4 Santa event on Saturday at Brownsburg High School. It is a 4:45 pm start.

 

 

 

Homestead  13  18  13  18  -  62

Warsaw      7  15   8  10  -  40

 

Homestead: Fletcher Loyer 31 points (12/19 FGs, 5/8 3Ps, 2/3 FTs), 5 rebs; Andrew Leeper 10 points (5/7 FGs), 7 rebs, 2 blks; Tucker Day 10 points (5/6 FGs), 4 rebs; Grady Swing 6 points (2/4 3Ps), 4 rebs; Ifeanyi Ezeakudo 3 points (1/1 3Ps), Grant Leeper 2 points (1/3 FGs)

 

Warsaw: Judah Simfukwe 14 points (3/6 FGs, 8/10 FTs), 5 rebs; Jaxson Gould 11 points (4/16 FGs, 1/6 3Ps, 2/3 FTs), 3 rebs, 2 asts; Russ Winchester 9 points (3/5 FGs, 2/3 3Ps, 1/2 FTs); Drew Heckaman 4 points (2/4 FGs); Austin Polk 2 points (2/2 FTs)