Noblesville – It is good to have seniors when the calendar turns to March.
Especially when his name is Baron Walker. Or Landon Osswald.
Osswald, the Hamilton Southeastern senior, drained two big 3-pointers to start the fourth quarter on his way to a 23-point, nine-rebound effort in a 68-61 win over Westfield in the nightcap of the Class 4A Sectional 8 first round on Tuesday night.
“Watching us every year, I wanted to get to that stage and win a sectional game,” said Osswald, referring to Hamilton Southeastern winning its first sectional game in five years.
The stage will be even bigger and brighter on Friday night when HSE (15-9) plays Mudsock rival and top-ranked Fishers (23-0) in the sectional semifinal. Fishers defeated HSE 68-61 on Dec. 19, which feels like ancient history.
The Royals will take an eight-game winning streak and a lot of confidence into the Mudsock rematch. HSE’s balance and versatility make them difficult to defend. Osswald led the Royals in scoring but was helped by a big night from standout sophomore Varschon Clark, who finished with 18 points, and senior Luke Weemer’s 12 points and eight rebounds.
The Royals took a punch from Westfield (13-9), which turned an 11-point first-half deficit into a three-point lead into the fourth quarter. But the Royals did not flinch.
“I think our guys over the past five, six weeks have started to compete at a higher level,” first-year HSE coach Bobby Allen. “Being a new coach, trying to come in and make some changes and get the guys to respond the way we want them to respond was difficult early. We’ve found something lately where I think guys are starting to play a little more loose and with confidence. They are willing to share the ball because they know we have guys who can score at any given moment.”
That includes Kian Kelly, a Butler football recruit who made his only basket of the game on a tip-in with under 2 minutes remaining to give the Royals the lead at 60-59. Clark scored on a coast-to-coast layup on the next HSE possession and the Royals pulled away from there.
“The fact that he’s willing to go out and be a part of this just shows the type of competitor that he is,” Allen said of Kelly. “That play right there where he tips it in for us, sums up the group right now – the energy they have and the fact that they want to continue playing basketball.”
Westfield was led by seniors Brock Detamore (18 points, seven rebounds) and Drew Haffner (17). Haffner fouled out with 51 seconds remaining.
“There were just a couple plays down the stretch,” Westfield coach Shane Sumpter said. “We had two possessions where it just goes off our hands. We had a shot go in and out. We just couldn’t make the plays down the stretch, which has kind of been a theme for us this year in close games. It was a typical Sectional 8 game, though. The final score was not indicative of the game.”
The first game was also closely contested after it appeared Noblesville was going to run away and hide early, leading 15-2 barely five minutes in. But Zionsville methodically bounced back, taking its first lead on a 3-pointer by Nicholas Snively with 2:27 left.
Enter Baron Walker.
The Noblesville senior drained a 3-pointer from the left wing to give the Millers a two-point lead. After Rylan Gore tied it 38-38 with 1:43 left, Walker put the Millers ahead to stay on a three-point play with 1:17 remaining. Noblesville coach Scott McClelland described those plays by Walker as “winning plays.”
“I thought the kids really showed some true resilience and resolve there in the fourth quarter, even after Zionsville took the lead,” Noblesville coach Scott McClelland said. “Tip your hat to them. They had some guys make some shots. I’m just proud of our guys. They showed some true grit and true toughness. Wins in March are never easy.”
He added of Walker: “He’s played really well these last four or five games. We’ve going to need him to play really well on Friday night.”
Noblesville will play No. 10 Carmel (16-5) in the first semifinal on Friday night. The Greyhound knocked off the Millers 64-52 back on Dec. 12. Noblesville is playing shorthanded without senior Justin Curry, is sidelined with a torn ACL.
But the Millers (13-10) are dangerous, especially at home. Max Flanagan drilled a couple of 3-pointers in the fourth quarter to provide just enough offense to back Walker. Noblesville won despite scoring just 10 points combined in the second and third quarters.
“Max is a big key to this team, especially his shooting ability,” Walker said. “For him to come down and hit two big threes, that’s what we needed.”
Camden Moore led Zionsville (13-11) with 19 points.
Call Star reporter Kyle Neddenriep at (317) 444-6649. Get IndyStar’s high school coverage sent directly to your inbox with the High School Sports newsletter. And be sure to subscribe to our new IndyStarTV: Preps YouTube channel.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Seniors rise to occasion for Noblesville, HSE in Sectional 8 thrillers.
Reporting by Kyle Neddenriep, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
