A short time-out from watching high school basketball over the holiday week to pass on some thoughts, observations, and anecdotes.
expect some impact on the battle
We don’t know where we are on the calendar or what the timeline will be, but the brief but intense battle that took place in the third quarter of Tuesday’s women’s basketball game between Tech and Shortridge has some implications. is expected. afternoon.
The Indiana High School Athletic Association was already investigating the situation hours after the incident at Game 2 of the Bill Smith IPS Classic at Broad Ripple. After a seemingly standard foul on Tech, players from both teams threw punches to the Shortridge side of the court. Thankfully the fight was over quickly, but the damage was done. The umpire crew called the game with 4:08 left in the third quarter, with Tech leading 37-25 on him.
The IHSAA has taken a strong stance on the on-court battle over the past few seasons. Just last year, officials called the Cathedral-Tech City Tournament Championship with 33 seconds left after an intentional foul, after back-and-forth between the team and the coach. However, no punches were thrown in that case, and in the end he was also penalized by the IHSAA.
There was a punch on Tuesday. And I expect there to be penalties.
Battle of Warren Central vs. Cathedral
Warren Central dropped a heartbreaker in double overtime Tuesday night against Class 4A’s third-placed Cathedral (76-71) at home. The Warriors (5-3) had a five-point lead with just over a minute left in regulation, but could not close the door on the Cathedral (6-1).
Warren Central was injured by several turnovers, a badly advised 3-pointer and a missed free throw. Also, Jaron Tibbs (27 points, 10 rebounds), Cynthia Germany (18 points, 4 assists) and Levlongoff (9 late-game points) made big plays late in the game and he went into two overtime periods.
But I was impressed with Warren Central. Junior guard Cordell Edwards’ on-ball defense was very good. And sophomore guard Ezekiel Kirby is a fan favorite and shooting playmaker. There are also great seniors like Brandon Snodgrass, Devaon Holman, Jalen Hooks and sophomore Jevon Guess.
Warren Central will play in the Kokomo tournament on Thursdays and Fridays, facing Guerlain Catholic on Thursday at 10am.
all about family
On Wednesday morning, I noticed that Felicia Gooden was recording Lawrence Central’s 64-42 win over Columbus North from a corner of a Noblesville gymnasium.
Felicia, the wife of Lawrence Central coach Al Gooden, said she was recording games when Al was coaching with Harding at New Haven. When a person had to work, she was put back on duty.
This season is an interesting perspective for Felicia, who teaches at Lawrence North.Her husband Al isn’t just coaching his 35th However, her son AJ is an assistant and grandson Albert Gooden III is a freshman in the main rotation. pretty cool.
Felicia bought a new tripod before Wednesday’s game. I don’t know if it will come out of Al’s check.
Noblesville, Lawrence Central is on track
Noblesville and Lawrence Central played Wednesday night in the Noblesville Tournament Championship. Both have seniors who play really well. Noblesville’s Luke Almodovar scored 21 points in his 61-44 win over Crown Point, and Lawrence Central’s DaJohn Craig has been shining it lately.
These teams are perhaps slightly under the radar of the top tier of teams in the state, but they are deep and experienced and will tough out in their respective sections within months.
Xavier Booker out of game
Cathedral senior and Michigan State recruit Xavier Booker missed the game against Warren Central because he had just returned from an illness and had not yet been cleared to play. Booker attended wearing a sweatshirt.
“He’s sick and our athletic training staff wants him to make three days of progress,” cathedral coach Jason Delaney said. He just has to go through a progression of health conditions to make sure he’s okay.”
Cathedral’s next match is against Roncalli on Tuesday.
More tip-ins and lay-ups …
>> I enjoyed speaking with Elon Harris, who graduated from Lawrence North in 2012. His younger brother, Alexander Harris, is a freshman at Tech and scored 21 points in the Titans’ victory over Washington on Tuesday—more on those two in Monday’s column. How fast does time fly? It looks like Eron was playing at his Lawrence North yesterday.
>> I can’t wait to see Broad Ripple reappear as a high school. I don’t know the odds of that happening, but there is certainly a strong alumni base that wants it to happen. It was fun to be back in the game after a few years away. I think Mike Woodson felt the same way.
>> As someone who experienced the transition from short basketball shorts to long basketball shorts in the 1990s, it still seems strange to see the trend reverse. I’m his 85 and I tell my great-grandchildren how long he wore his shorts in the old days.
>> Congratulations to senior Caleb Dewey for breaking Edinburgh’s career record on Tuesday night. Kyle West had his record of 1,411 points. Dewey beat the mark in the third quarter of the semi-finals in the Lancers win over Austin in Edinburgh his tournament.
>> Too many holiday tournaments? There’s no such thing as too much basketball, right? It seems that there are a lot of things that are over 10 years old. It probably doesn’t hurt, but maybe they’re spreading everyone a little thinner to reduce crowding. Anyway, I don’t expect a lot of people to come to the holiday tournaments.
Call Star Reporter Kyle Neddenriep at (317) 444-6649.