(Connor Essegian after a remarkable performance)

 

Thanks to close games and dominant individual performances, the annual FORUM Tipoff Classic lived up to expectations. Here is a rundown of the action from Southport.

 

In the opener of the Forum Credit Union Tipoff Classic, Southport got a narrow victory over Heritage Christian thanks to a late AJ Dancler jumper. The junior guard was in foul trouble much of the game but came on strong late, scoring six points down the stretch, including the shot that proved to be the game-winner. 

 

The Cardinals were led in scoring by fellow junior guard Keyon Miller, who had 15 points on the back of 3/4 shooting behind the arc. Miller was also vital on the defensive end, hounding Myles Colvin and snagging four steals, leading to transition baskets for Southport.

 

Myles Colvin led Heritage Christian with 18 points, and his two free throws with 38 seconds left gave the Eagles a one-point lead, setting up Dancler's dramatics. Heritage Christian would have one final chance, but Colvin would turn the ball over in traffic, letting Southport run out the last seconds.

 

Heritage Christian  9 11 10 14 - 44

Southport         6 16  9 14 - 45

 

Heritage Christian: Myles Colvin 18 points (5/10 FGs, 1/3 3Ps, 7/8 FTs), 9 rebs, 2 asts, 2 stls; Mason Kay 8 points (3/4 FGs, 1/1 3Ps, 1/1 FTs), 2 rebs; John McLimore 7 points (2/9 FGs, 1/4 3Ps, 2/2 FTs), 2 rebs; Jonathan Dorsch 4 points (1/1 3Ps, 1/2 FTs), 3 rebs, 2 stls, 2 blks; Austin Snively 4 points (1/2 FGs, 2/3 FTs), 2 rebs; Andrew Wiggins 4 points (2/4 FGs); Tyler Allemeier 2 points (1/2 FGs); Dylan Doss 2 points (1/3 FGs), 3 rebs

 

Southport: Keyon Miller 15 points (5/9 FGs, 3/4 3Ps, 2/2 FTs), 4 rebs, 3 asts, 4 stls; AJ Dancler 12 points (5/11 FGs, 2/6 3Ps), 2 rebs, 3 asts; Nickens Lemba 8 points (4/9 FGs), 7 rebs, 2 asts; Donte McDonald 6 points (2/5 3Ps); Bryan Rush 3 points (1/2 3Ps), 2 rebs; Tanner Percifield 1 points (1/2 FTs), 3 rebs

 

 

Bloomington North turned defense into offense in the 4th quarter of a come from behind win over Franklin Central. Nick Klaiber and JQ Roberts combined for 17 points in the final period as they stole the ball multiple times in the backcourt, leading to quick points.

 

Rynell Echols paced Franklin Central with 19 points, but star sophomore Lyna Brooks had a rough go, scoring 9 points but on only 3-12 from the field.

 

Bloomington North got quality production from Lucas Vencel off the bench, as he stuffed the stat sheet with 7 points, 8 boards, and 3 assists. Nick Klaiber sealed the game down the stretch from the foul line, hitting 7-8 in the game tonight.

 

Franklin Central   13 14 16 16 - 59

Bloomington North 19 10 11 23 - 63

 

Franklin Central: Rynell Echols 19 points (6/12 FGs, 3/7 3Ps, 4/4 FTs), 2 rebs; Bryce Hoover 10 points (3/5 FGs, 2/4 3Ps, 2/2 FTs), 3 asts; Lyna Brooks 9 points (3/12 FGs, 3/4 FTs), 4 rebs, 3 asts, 2 stls, 2 blks; Elijah Crockett 7 points (2/2 3Ps, 1/2 FTs), 2 rebs; Kole Brewer 5 points (1/5 3Ps, 2/3 FTs); Airrion Boyd 4 points (2/5 FGs), 7 rebs; Owen Leck 3 points (1/2 3Ps); Anthony Coker 2 points (1/1 FGs), 2 rebs

 

Bloomington North: JQ Roberts 24 points (9/13 FGs, 1/3 3Ps, 5/10 FTs), 13 rebs, 3 stls; Nick Klaiber 17 points (5/11 FGs, 7/8 FTs), 2 asts, 3 stls; Lucas Vencel 7 points (3/6 FGs, 1/3 3Ps), 8 rebs, 3 asts; Bril Kante 6 points (2/4 3Ps); Nate Hoffman 5 points (2/8 FGs, 1/4 3Ps), 4 rebs; Marco Fitch 4 points (4/4 FTs), 2 asts, 2 stls

 

 

In a battle of small school #1s, 2A Central Noble ran away and hid from defending 1A state champ Barr-Reeve by 25 Saturday afternoon. The Cougars were led by Wisconsin signee Connor Essegian's 25 points. The 6'4 senior guard erupted for 11 points in the first four minutes of the second half, blowing the game wide open. He hit a trio of shots behind the arc, each deeper and more challenging than before. It was a team-wide effort, as Central Noble racked up 22 assists on the evening.

 

Senior forward Logan Gard added 20 points to go along with five rebounds, as he was frequently given the ball in a great position at the front of the rim. Forward Ryan Schroeder added 8 points and six assists, while point guard Jackson Andrew went for 6 points and five helpers.

 

Senior wing Hagen Knepp led Barr-Reeve with 14, but he was the only Viking in double figures and one of just five to score at all for Josh Thompson's team. Barr-Reeve was just 9-24 from two-point range in the game and was outrebounded by eight.

 

Central Noble 18 18 21 10 - 67

Barr-Reeve   10 13 14  5 - 42

 

Central Noble: Connor Essegian 25 points (10/16 FGs, 5/8 3Ps), 8 rebs, 2 asts; Logan Gard 20 points (9/10 FGs, 2/4 FTs), 5 rebs; Ryan Schroeder 8 points (3/6 FGs, 2/4 3Ps), 3 rebs, 6 asts; Jackson Andrews 6 points (3/5 FGs), 8 rebs, 5 asts; Conner Lemmon 5 points (2/7 FGs, 1/4 3Ps), 6 asts; Sam Essegian 3 points (1/2 3Ps)

 

Barr-Reeve: Hagen Knepp 14 points (5/12 FGs, 1/2 3Ps, 3/4 FTs), 2 rebs, 2 asts; Aaron Wagler 9 points (3/5 3Ps), 7 rebs; Kayden Graber 7 points (3/10 FGs, 1/4 3Ps); Cam Madison 7 points (3/4 FGs, 1/2 3Ps), 4 rebs; Braydon Knepp 4 points (1/7 FGs, 2/2 FTs), 2 stls; Ethan Stoll 1 point (1/2 FTs)

 

 

Class 4A #1 Zionsville got a stiff test from a youthful Attucks squad, but a pair of juniors pulled it out in the end for the Eagles. Zionsville led wire to wire, but not without some hairy moments in the fourth.

 

Logan Imes scored 16 to go along with eight boards and six assists, and fellow junior Nick Richart also added 16 points and tied that in with ten rebounds. Huntington commit Isaiah Davis was the third Eagle in double figures with 11. Imes frequently got to the lane with his right hand, showcasing a variety of finishes with his right hand off the glass.

 

Latrell Williams led Attucks with 17 points, but he was the only Tiger in double figures, but they shot just 17-46 from the field and were outrebounded 30-19. Christian Nunn and James Smith both finished with nine points for Attucks

 

 

Zionsville 13 12  8  19 - 52

Attucks    7  11 10 20 - 48

 

Zionsville: Logan Imes 16 points (7/14 FGs, 2/4 FTs), 8 rebs, 6 asts; Nick Richart 16 points (7/9 FGs, 2/5 FTs), 10 rebs; Isaiah Davis 11 points (2/4 FGs, 1/2 3Ps, 6/8 FTs), 4 rebs; Edward Thomas 6 points (1/3 FGs, 4/4 FTs), 4 rebs; Johnathon MacAbee 3 points (1/3 3Ps)

 

Attucks: Latrell Williams 17 points (7/17 FGs, 1/4 3Ps, 1/4 FTs), Christian Nunn 9 points (4/13 FGs, 1/2 FTs), 3 rebs, 3 asts; James Smith 9 points (2/5 FGs, 1/4 3Ps, 4/5 FTs), 2 rebs; Ron Rutland 5 points (1/3 3Ps, 2/2 FTs); Dezmon Briscoe 5 points (2/6 FGs, 1/2 FTs), 6 rebs, 2 stls; Willie Mays 3 points (1/1 FGs, 1/2 FTs), 3 rebs

 

In the highest-scoring game of the day, Cathedral caught fire from deep, hitting their first seven three-point attempts en route to a 25 point first quarter in a win over Covington Catholic from Kentucky. Eastern Kentucky signee Tayshawn Comer led the Irish with 31, hitting five three-pointers and using his quickness to get to the lane. Four other Cathedral players finished in double figures - Jaxon Edwards (16), Jake Davis (13), Xavier Booker (12), and Jaron Tibbs (10).

 

Cathedral finished the game shooting 13-23 from behind the arc, but Covington Catholic also hit 13 threes, but on 35 attempts. Leading the way for the Colonels was junior guard Kascyl McGillis with 24 points on 8-15 from behind the arc. However, the 6'1 guard did not attempt a two-pointer or a free throw. Point guard Evan Isparo went for 18 points and five dimes, and Brady Hussey scored 17. Miami (OH) signee Mitchell Rylee was in foul trouble for most of the evening and was held scoreless.

 

Covington Catholic 14 19 23 25 - 81

Cathedral         25 22 23 21 - 91

 

Covington Catholic: Kascyl McGillis 24 points (8/15 3Ps); Evan Isparo 18 points (6/15 FGs, 1/6 3Ps, 5/6 FTs), 5 asts; Brady Hussey 17 points (6/10 FGs, 3/7 3Ps, 2/2 FTs), 3 asts, 2 stls; Aiden Jones 8 points (3/5 FGs, 2/3 FTs), 4 rebs; Mekhi Wilson 8 points (3/9 FGs, 1/4 3Ps, 1/1 FTs), 5 rebs, 3 stls; Chandler Starks 4 points (2/5 FGs), 6 rebs; Noah Johnson 2 points (2/3 FTs)

 

Cathedral: Tayshawn Comer 31 points (10/15 FGs, 5/7 3Ps, 6/9 FTs), 5 rebs; Jaxon Edwards 16 points (7/9 FGs, 2/2 3Ps), 8 rebs, 3 asts, 2 stls; Jake Davis 13 points (4/8 FGs, 3/7 3Ps, 2/2 FTs), 3 rebs, 4 asts; Xavier Booker 12 points (3/6 FGs, 2/5 3Ps, 4/4 FTs), 6 rebs; Jaron Tibbs 10 points (1/3 FGs, 8/10 FTs), 4 asts; Sincere Germany 5 points (2/3 FGs, 1/1 3Ps), 2 asts, 2 stls; Lebron Gough 2 points (1/2 FGs); Jaiden Malachi 2 points (2/2 FTs)

 

 

The nightcap saw Homestead hang on in the end despite a game effort from Braden Smith as the Spartans defeated Westfield 58-55. Fletcher Loyer scored 22 points and dished out five assists, and senior forward Andrew Leeper scored a double-double with 20 points and ten rebounds. Loyer did a great job of finding teammates for open looks, as he routinely saw a second Shamrock defender coming off screens.

 

Braden Smith went for 30 behind 7-14 shooting from deep, but he was the only Westfield player in double figures, as Homestead's size and length helped hold Cam Haffner and Nic DePasquale in check for most of the evening.

 

Westfield led by two at the break and by a single point heading into the fourth quarter, but a couple of tough jumpers from Loyer, as well as Leeper scoring at the rim, allowed them to pull ahead by as many as nine. Late threes for Westfield and missed free throws by Homestead allowed the gap to close, but Braden Smith's three-pointer at the buzzer only brought the gap to three in a battle of 2022 Purdue signees.

 

Homestead 14  9 16 19 - 58

Westfield    6 19 15 15 - 55

 

Homestead: Fletcher Loyer 22 points (8/18 FGs, 2/8 3Ps, 4/4 FTs), 3 rebs, 6 asts, 3 stls; Andrew Leeper 20 points (7/10 FGs, 2/3 3Ps, 4/5 FTs), 10 rebs; Kyron Kaopuiki 7 points (2/3 FGs, 1/2 3Ps, 2/4 FTs), 2 rebs; Grady Swing 5 points (2/5 FGs, 1/1 FTs), 3 stls; Grant Leeper 2 points (1/3 FGs), 2 rebs; Tucker Day 2 points (1/1 FGs), 4 rebs

 

Westfield: Braden Smith 30 points (10/20 FGs, 7/14 3Ps, 3/4 FTs), 3 rebs, 3 asts; Nic DePasquale 9 points (3/9 FGs, 2/4 3Ps, 1/2 FTs), 3 rebs, 2 asts; Alex Romack 5 points (2/4 FGs, 1/4 FTs), 4 rebs; Trey Buchanan 5 points (2/4 FGs, 1/3 3Ps), 3 rebs; Cam Haffner 2 points (1/9 FGs), 7 rebs, 3 asts; Trey Dorton (1/2 FGs), 2 rebs; Kai Butterworth 2 points (1/2 FGs)