A quick heads up as we start this column, very little will be talked about this week regarding the SAC as you’ve seen a load of coverage and my thoughts throughout the SAC Holiday Tournament. Unless its new news, you probably won’t be reading it here. But I do encourage you to take a look back at our coverage from Thursday-Saturday.
Instead, lets close out 2019 looking elsewhere with a pretty narrow slate of games.
AREA
We need to start in the area because Blackhawk Christian proved that it doesn’t matter which holiday time tournament they go to, they have the power. After back-to-back wins at North Daviess’ tournament in the last two years, the Braves were all but told they weren’t welcome back to battle the Class 1A schools, among others. So instead, they headed to a loaded Noblesville Tournament to test their luck with much bigger schools and programs. On Friday, they dispatched Chesterton by 12 behind 22 points from Caleb Furst. But the more impressive performance came Saturday morning in an 84-75 win over Northridge where Marcus Davidson put in 37 points.
And you see that and say wow, he got super hot from three point range. Nope, just six triples made and then 19 points the tough ways, with back to the basket and mid range face ups according to Bounce’s friend Grant Sinn. If Davidson can bully his way around and not just have to rely on the finesse of his pretty jumper, watch out even more Class 2A.
So North Daviess sent the Braves away and to play tougher teams and bigger schools and the result ended up the same: a Braves title. They closed it out on Saturday night, beating Columbus North, 62-59. Furst and Davidson were named to the All-Tournament team with Furst being the MVP. One of Bounce’s biggest Twitter fans, Michael Hartman, provided this hot take: In a world without class basketball, could the 2A (true 1A) Braves be this generation’s Milan? They are sure indicating that they are capable of beating the biggest teams in the state.
NE8
• Bellmont girls were one of the few area teams to sneak in a game on Monday, edging Adams Central in an Adams County rivalry. The Squaws have now won 8 of their last 9 heading into a break until January 4. While they haven’t been at the front of the talk in the NE8, they are still very much in this conference with just one loss in NE8 play. Morgan Shifferly stepped up big in the 50-41 win over Adams Central with 14 points and eight rebounds, and is really solidifying herself as a third offensive option for a team that needs it to contend with Columbia City and Norwell.
• Speaking of those lady Eagles, they picked up a nice non-conference win over Concordia on Monday. Columbia City is peaking at the right time heading into 2020. They are healthy, they are active and Bounce will be talking more Columbia City girls soon, I promise.
• The Leo boys had a hot and cold run through the Huntington Tournament on Friday and Saturday. They handled business in the morning Friday against Jay County, with DJ Allen flexing his muscles on the interior, something that the Lions have needed as a major third option this season. Allen went 8-of-8 from the field in the morning win with 19 points. Then they struggled Friday night against host Huntington North, but were able to close the game out, in part with a 13-0 run in the 4th when it looked like all was lost. Ultimately, they fell in the tournament finals to a very game Warren Central, but the Lions still put up a fight and have to be happy with their holiday time.
• Norwell‘s boys got some Wells County bragging rights on Friday with a big win over Bluffton. When Will Geiger hits 9 of 11 shots (18 points), grabs 11 boards and throws down a two handed poster dunk, good luck beating Norwell. Maybe that is why they remain unbeaten on the year. The Knights also got double digit scoring from their three other returners, Eli Riley, Drew Federspiel and Connor Torson.
ACAC
• Want to make a statement? Aiden Bayman did. Earlier in the week, Outside the Huddle proclaimed him one of the area’s most underrated defenders. Is it possible we can add underrated scorer to that list. He poured on 20 points on Wayne Trace on Saturday and knocked down a triple with 10 seconds left to give Woodlan their final margin of victory. Big moment for the senior.
NECC
• Monday was a night at Bateman Gym in Garrett that won’t be soon forgotten. In case you (somehow) missed it, Garrett freshman Bailey Kelham had herself a night. If it was just her normal effort night with the half court buzzer beater she hit, then it would be good enough. But no, Kelham poured in a program and gym record 45 points in the 82-41 win over New Haven, adding five steals in the process.
She wasn’t alone on the record breaking night, with sophomore Nataley Armstrong picking a program record 12 assists. It sends the Railroaders to the New Year break with nine or more wins for two straight seasons under coach Bob Lapadot.
• Angola was able to find their mark often and comfortably on the girls side on Friday night, hitting 11 of 21 three point shots in a 53-34 win over ACAC frontrunner Woodlan. If the Hornets can hit consistently, especially not just in the hands of Hanna Knoll, then look out. Ally Lorntz has been really important in her return to this program, she had 13 points and three steals in the win over Woodlan.
• Central Noble girls got what may have been their first ever win at Wawasee on Friday night, doing so with four different girls in double figures scoring. These Cougars have really developed over the year and Meghan Kiebel and Madi Vice scoring well as freshmen means great things for the future of this program and their hopes to contend this postseason.
• The Eastside girls continued their great run by capturing South Adams’ Amy Meyer Holiday Classic title with wins over Delta and South Adams. Sullivan Kessler led the Blazers in both games as they improved to 12-2.
• Lakeland‘s Bailey Hartsough hit the 1,000 point scoring mark for her career on Saturday. She is the first Laker to do so since 2008 and the sixth in school history. Hartsough also hit 1,000 career kills in volleyball this school year.
• We talk a lot about Westview‘s Charlie Yoder, but Saturday he nearly hit the triple double mark in a 64-44 conference win over Lakeland. In that one, Yoder scored 26, grabbed 11 rebounds and had eight assists. With that variety of numbers, including a pair of steals and trio of blocks, how can you even slow Yoder?
SAC TOURNAMENT
• I think my notes here are fair to leave at one: Jaci Jones. Ice cold. 41 points in the semi final game for South Side over Northrop, hitting 10 – count them again – triples in the win. A new record for the girls side and just the sixth 40-point game in tournament history of either gender. It was one of the best shooting displays this tournament and this city have ever seen.
If you want more insights from the three day tournament, visit us here at the SAC Tournament hub. But for now, for Sunday, lets just have one more moment to admire Jaci’s work.
VOTE
As always, make sure you vote in this week’s Performance of the Week FAN VOTE. Remember, this doesn’t reflect a body of work as much as the best single game performance. Voting is open through Tuesday at this link:
FAN VOTE: Boys hoops Performance of the Week for Dec. 23-28
FAN VOTE: Girls hoops Performance of the Week for Dec. 23-28
You can also vote in a separate poll as to which female and which male you think had the best performance for the SAC Holiday Tournament:
FAN VOTE: Which GIRL had the best single game performance of the SAC Tournament?
FAN VOTE: Which BOY had the best single game performance of the SAC Tournament?
These opinions represent those of Bounce and Outside the Huddle. No opinions expressed on Outside the Huddle represent those of any of our advertisers. Follow Bounce on Twitter at Bounce_OTH
Be the first to comment