The intensity increased a notch in third quarter. Each team was a little bit chippy. Bennett continued to play well for Southport. He carried them in the period.
Southport led 47-45 going into the final quarter. Southport led by two with a minute to play. Ben Davis senior Stephon Matthews converted a tough basket over two defenders with six seconds to play. On the final play of the game, Paul Scruggs drove against two defenders but found an open Malik Bennett at the top of the key for a buzzer beating three-pointer. Southport won 55-52. Brownsburg vs. East Chicago Central 4:45 p.m. In a game that did not have much energy to begin the game, Brownsburg take the aggressor role. Brownsburg was in the bonus early and the double bonus by the end of the quarter. Brownsburg led 18-9 after one. The second quarter was the Damien Jefferson show for ECC. He was fantastic from 3 throughout the period. His shooting helped East Chicago Central get back in the game. Brownsburg held a 31-24 lead at the half. Brownsburg struggled with the full court pressure in the third quarter. Hyron Edwards also started to get things going. Those factors led to ECC cutting the Brownsburg lead to 39-37 heading to the fourth. The Cardinals had their chances in the fourth quarter. Edwards and Jefferson carried the team throughout and especially in the fourth period. KJ Walton had an answer many times for the duo. Brownsburg held on for the 60-56 victory. KJ Walton finished with 28 points and nine rebounds. Jordache Mavunga added 12. Damien Jefferson led all scorers with 30 points and 10 rebounds. Hyron Edwards had 21. Homestead vs. Lawrence Central 3:00 p.m. It was all Caleb Swanigan and Jordan Geist in the first quarter. The elite prospect - Swanigan - had ten points and five rebounds for Homestead. Kyle Guy did not get many looks against the Homestead defense. He scored just two points in the opening period. Mehki Biffle was 0-5 in the period for LC. Homestead had a 22-13 lead after one. The second quarter was more of the same with Swanigan and Geist leading the way. Guy couldn't get a rhythm going in the second period either. He was just 1 of 8 in the first half. Homestead led at the half 42-26. Homestead continued to roll in the second half. Lawrence Central was unable to make it a game after halftime. Homestead won 73-53. Swanigan finished with 29 points and 16 rebounds. Jordan Geist had 13, Tahj Curry added 12. Chris King led LC with 11 points. Barr-Reeve vs. Marquette Catholic 1:15 p.m. Ryan Fazekas repeated his 1A state title game performance against Barr-Reeve. He started hot on that game and did the same Saturday. Fazekas went five of five for 13 points in the period including a 26-foot, buzzer beater. Addison Wagler played well early as well. He had nine points in the first quarter. It was Marquette up 21-13 after one. Fazekas slowed down a bit in the second quarter but Marquette did not. The Blazers opened up a 34-19 lead at one point. Addison Wagler continued to do work on the block. He scored 18 first half points. Marquette led Barr-Reeve 36-25 at the half. The third quarter saw Marquette coach Donovan Garletts pull Fazekas and JoVonte Peals. Braxton Miller picked up the slack with a couple three-pointers. Wagler received some help in the period. Barr-Reeve started to knock down outside shots. It was Marquette, 48-42 after three periods. Barr-Reeve opened the fourth quarter on a 16-0 run then used free-throws to ice the game. Logan James scored most of his 16 points late in the game. Addison Wagler finished with 30 points. Duncan Roy added 11. Fazekas finished with 20 points. Braxton Miller had 12. Barr-Reeve won going away 70-58.