Miller’s season comes to an end against No. 4 Lady Royals

WESTFIELD – The Noblesville Lady Millers earned a bye in the class 4A Sectional 8 Tournament. With that bye they only needed one win to advance to the sectional championship game on Saturday night at Westfield High School. In order to do that however, they’d need to get past the defending state champion Lady Royals of Hamilton Southeastern. That task proved to be too much for the Lady Millers to handle on the night as they were defeated 59-42 and saw their season come to an end.

The Millers got off to a good start in the first quarter as they got off to a 12-7 lead over the Royals after the first quarter. However the next two quarter would see their five point lead turn into a double-digit deficit as the Millers scored just ten total points in the second and third quarters while the Lady Royals scored 33. In the fourth the Lady Millers found their offensive rhythm once again as they poured in 20 points in the final quarter, but HSE added in 19 of their own to allow them to cruise to a birth in the sectional championship game.

ARCADIA – The Hamilton Heights Huskies hosted the Frankton Eagles on Tuesday night. In what would be a wild game all-around the Huskies ended falling in overtime to the Eagles by a final score of 64-56. 

Both teams battled back and forth in the first quarter, but the Huskies were able to hold a 14-11 lead after one. Then in the second quarter, the Husky offense led by Junior Gus Etchison started to catch fire. A 22-12 quarter saw Hamilton Heights take a 36-23 lead at the half. In the second half, the Huskies offense just went cold as they combined to score just 20 points the next two quarters and in overtime (nine in the third, six in the fourth, and five in OT). 

Rocks fall to Cougars in OT

GREEENFIELD – The Westfield boys’ basketball team was back in action on Saturday night as they traveled to take on the Greenfield Central Cougars. Overtime was needed to decide a winner in this one unfortunately for the Rocks, the overtime period did not go their way as they fell 55-51. 

In the first quarter the Rocks came out and took a 16-7 lead. They were able to add one more point on to their lead at halftime as they led the Cougars 26-16. Then the Cougars made some adjustments at halftime and were able to rally back in the third, outscoring the Rocks 19-7 to turn a ten point deficit into a two point lead heading into the final quarter. 

In the final quarter the Rocks found the groove once again and were able to tie up the game at 46-46 with a 13-11 fourth quarter. However the Cougars did just enough in the overtime period with a 9-5 advantage to take home the victory. 

Along with the extra overtime period, there were 49 total fouls called between both teams with five players also fouling out. 

Nic Depasquale led the Rocks with 16 points in the overtime loss. The Rocks record now stands at 10-5 (3-2 HCC) and the team will have the week off before traveling to Kokomo on Saturday to compete against Fishers (13-5) at the legendary Kokomo Memorial Gym as part of Fox Sports annual Basketball Day in Indiana. 

Lady Tigers capture first HCC title since 2008 

INDIANAPOLIS – The Fishers Lady Tigers played their final game of the regular season on Friday night as they traveled to take on Franklin Central. The Tigers defense held Franklin Central to just 34 points as the Lady Tigers picked up a 52-34 win. 

The win for the Lady Tigers secured the Hoosier Crossroads Conference championship. The conference title is the team’s first since 2008. +
Holding a 24-14 lead at halftime, the Lady Tigers saw the lead grow to 41-23 at the end of the third. 

Senior Kaitlyn Feagan led the Tigers with 15 points and fellow Senior Lydia Stullken grabbed 12 rebounds.

The win caps off what was a terrific regular season for the Lady Tigers as the end with a record of 21-1 (7-0 HCC). The team now will prepare for sectional play next week. They will play the winner of the Zionsville/Westfield game on next Friday night at 6 p.m. 

The Noblesville boys’ basketball team hosted county rival Hamilton Southeastern on Friday night. The Royals came into the matchup winners of five straight games and they would make it six in a row as they defeated the Millers by a final score of 53-39. 

The second quarter proved to be the turning point in the game as after the opening period the Millers held a 16-15 lead. However the Royals turned up the defensive pressure in the second and held Noblesville to just three points as they scored 16 of their own to take a 31-19 lead into halftime. 

The second half so both teams play pretty even basketball, but the Millers down by 12 needed to make a run and they just weren’t able to crack the tough Royals defense. 

Kole Hornbuckle led the way for the Royals on offense with a game-high 19 points in the win. Senior Mabor Majak added in 11 points and eight rebounds while Vinny Buccilla scored ten. 

Seniors Courtney James (Fishers) and Kennedy Morgan (Hamilton Southeastern) recently had the opportunity to travel to Taiwan as part of Team USA.

The team competed in the 2020 Women’s International Invitational Tournament. 

Four other countries such as Taiwan, China, Japan and Korea also competed in the tournament. The United States team was made up of 17 players from Indiana and ranged from eight graders all the way to college level players. 

Royals send off seniors with dominating win

FISHERS – The Hamilton Southeastern Royals hosted the Pike Red Devils as the team honored their seniors on Tuesday night. In honor of their final home game of their career’s the Lady Royals started all five seniors and the team was able to pick up what turned into a dominating 61-36 win.

Pike was able to keep the game close in the first half as a 16-13 second quarter allowed them to tie up the game at 25-25 heading into halftime. However the Royals were able to quickly crush any hope of an upset as they outscored the Red Devils 36-11 in the second half and 23-2 in the third quarter.

In her final home game of her career Senior Sydney Parrish would record a double-double as she led the way for the Royals with 24 points and ten rebounds. Fellow Senior Lauren Morris ended with ten points.

Lady Miller’s offense erupts for 72 vs Franklin Central

INDIANAPOLIS – The Noblesville girls’ basketball team traveled to Hoosier Crossroads Conference opponent Franklin Central Saturday afternoon. For the third time this season, the Lady Millers offense dropped 70+ points as they were able to cruise to a 75-52 win.

The first quarter set the tone for the entire game as after one quarter of play the Lady Millers held a dominating 19-5 lead. In the second quarter the lead got even bigger as Noblesville poured on 23 more points (15 for Franklin Central) as they took a 42-20 lead into halftime.

In the second half Franklin Central was able to pick up the offense as they scored 32 total points in the second half. However the deficit was just too big to overcome.

Freshman Ashlynn Shade continued to be a force on both sides of the ball for the Lady Millers in the win. Shade led all scorers with 34 points in the win while grabbing ten rebounds. The freshman phenom continued to show her skills on the defensive side of the ball too as she recorded eight steals. Mallory Miller added in 15 points for the Millers.

On a night where the Noblesville boys’ basketball hosted Franklin Central. Something bigger than the game happened during halftime as Noblesville honored the memory of the late Tony Etchison by giving his family his framed No. 20 jersey. Members of the both the Miller and Hamilton Heights communities were in attendance to remember the legacy of Tony.  

On the court the Millers and the Flashes played a tremendous Hoosier Crossroads Conference matchup which saw the Miller prevail in a narrow 53-52 win. 

Ashlynn Shade, Noblesville’s super freshman who leads the Lady Millers with a 20.3 scoring average and placed third in Hoosier Crossroads Conference scoring, will get her first taste of intense tournament pressure in tonight’s semifinal round of Sectional 8 at Westfield High School.

And there’s a pretty good chance that she’ll likely handle her part of the challenge quite well.

This is a new season. Noblesville’s 10-12 record, worst in the field, means very little.

Time to hit on all cylinders and produce a cohesive team effort. 

That’s what really matters at tourney time.

Each surviving team has at least one go-to player when times are tough.

Shade will likely need to be that player once again for the Lady Millers.

No matter the outcome of Sectional 8 this week, here’s a couple of strong possibilities for the near future in Indiana high school girls basketball:

Whichever team advances from Westfield will likely need to get past both Class 4A No. 1 Northwestern (23-0) and then No. 4 Homestead (22-1) to reach the semi-state round.

No easy task . . . indeed!

Northwestern, the two-time defending 3A state champion, was forced to move up a level under the IHSAA Tournament Success Factor.

And the Lady Tigers have yet to face a stern test in 4A. Their closest game so far was a 61-58 encounter against Maine West (Ill.).

Their closest game against an Indiana Team was a 65-51 conquest of North Central.

Yeah, they are that good! Ask anyone!

There’s nothing like the drama of a last-second shot in high school basketball.

There’s nothing like the feeling you get when the ball zips through the net.

There’s nothing like that ecstatic feeling and expressing overwhelming joy and excitement . . . or the feeling you have when a loss can feel like a dagger to the heart.

There’s nothing like your reaction whether you are a player on the court or a fan in the stands, on the winning or losing side of the floor. 

You’re either going to walk away happy or sad. Wiping tears from your eyes or pumping your fist in the air while celebrating.

That’s what this time of year is all about: It’s a one-and-done tournament. You’re either all in or all out . . . No second chances.

The 2020 IHSAA girls basketball tournament is upon us . . .  just days away!

The 45th Annual event starts with sectionals next week (Feb. 4-8).

A few questions come to mind right off the bat:

Are the Hamilton Southeastern Lady Royals, the 2019 Class 4A state champions, destined to repeat?

First things first, what are the odds they can get out of a tough sectional that’s always extremely competitive?

The Lady Royals have the most decorated and explosive player in the Sectional 8 field in 2019 Indiana Gatorade Female Player of the Year Sydney Parrish, whose 26.1 scoring average ranks second in the state. I would say that’s a pretty good sign for starters. 

Some thoughts, opinions and other notables:

I watched Friday night’s tape-delayed Hamilton Heights-Lapel game on the TV 40 sports channel.

I’ve been hearing a lot about Husky junior Gus Etchison, and it marked the first time I’ve seen him in action.

I liked what I saw. He was terrific.

The kid has GAME. He can really play. He had 34 points in a 21-point victory. Etchison did pretty much everything but sell popcorn. Very impressive player, indeed.

And watching him reminded me a great deal of 1970 Carmel Indiana Mr. Basketball David Shepherd, who scored 66 points in a game his senior year.

Gus has already delivered a 56-point performance this season. 

Etchison is a 6-foot guard like Shepherd. He’s built like the Greyhound great and he also has black hair, and he plays with much the same flare. He’s quick, pushes the ball relentlessly, can shoot from far-away places, looks for the open man, and made a couple of “oh-wow-did-he-really-do that passes!’’ and he has tremendous upper body strength.

Etchison also had two break-away dunks. Not sure I ever saw Shepherd dunk.

The Husky spit-fire is averaging 25.9 points per game, seventh best in the state. He averages 5.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 2.0 steals and 0.2 blocks. He shoots 59 percent on 2s and 37 percent on 3s, as well as 75 percent from the foul line.

As we head into a new New Year, I wish we could go back when people looked forward to reading newspapers.

Millennials don’t read newspapers. Plain and simple. They are either hanging out in front of laptops or tablets or clicking on their IPhone, and likely using all of those devices.

Most readership, especially in a small community, comes from our older folks who basically grew up with newsprint. And you can still get daily news in such communities, like you do in Hamilton County. Still, online publications are beginning to take over.

I’ve been reading newspapers, especially the sports page, since junior high school. I used to deliver The Sunday Indianapolis Star. We always had The Kokomo Tribune in the Morrow home.

In fact, if the morning Indy Star wasn’t in our driveway by 6 a.m., my dad turned into an Archie Bunker, and started muttering things young kids shouldn’t have to hear.

And, too, I cannot remember a time I have not walked out to get my daily morning or evening paper.

It’s a part of my life, a very big part of my life. I started writing sports for The Tribune the summer before my junior year at KHS.

I have newspapers in my blood. Always have, always will.

The Record Watch is building a full head of steam in Hamilton County girls high school basketball this season.

The county’s scoring title, set by Courtney Cox (Cole), is not only in danger of being eclipsed, it could and most likely will happen relatively soon.
The late Noblesville High School student-athlete graduated with 1,869 points.

That was 31 years ago.Think about that. A pretty monumental feat indeed!

Hamilton Southeastern’s Sydney Parrish and University’s Lindsey Syrek are in hot pursuit of both surpassing such a milestone.

If they’re not aware of it, the seniors should be by now.

Going into games this weekend, Parrish has scored 1,786 points; Syrek has tallied 1,730 points for her career.

Talk about close!

Sports Talk With Mark Morrow

Since I started covering Hamilton County sports when I created the Hamilton County Sports Daily website in 2010, and then moved on to write for the

Noblesville Daily Times a few years later, I would like to think I was pretty familiar with our boys basketball talent.

So I thought it would be only fitting to put together an All-Decade team.

Here’s my 25-player All-Decade high school boys basketball team:

The honor team is led by Hamilton Southeastern’s 2012 Mr. Basketball Gary Harris.

You might say they are playing their song, a winning song as Indiana High School boys and girls basketball moves into 2020 in a big way.

Just ask the Fishers girls and boys. Just ask the Westfield boys. Just ask the University girls.

Yep, all are still unbeaten . . .  and hoping to continue their impressive runs in the New Year.

Hey, pretty sweet music to their fans, for sure!

Coach Justin Blanding’s University High School girls own the most wins in Hamilton County with their 16-0 record.

Coach Lauren Votaw’s Fishers girls are 14-0.

Coach Matt Moore’s 4A Fishers boys are 11-0.

Coach Shane Sumpter’s 4A Westfield boys follow at 6-0.

Yep, times are good!

Sports Talk with Mark Morrow

John Peckinpaugh likes the direction his Noblesville Millers are going.

“It’s taken time, but we’re getting there,’’ said the first-year Millers boys varsity basketball coach.

Peckinpaugh was greeted by only four players with varsity experience, and there wasn’t much in terms of scoring.  

And at times the inexperience of this group still shows, but Peckinpaugh is happy with the progress.

Though the Millers didn’t win the Noblesville Holiday Tournament last weekend at The Mill, they finished 2-1 and placed third in a strong eight-team field, led by eventual champion Fort Wayne Blackhawk Christian.

Noblesville had wins over Crown Point (48-43) and Northridge (67-59) and lost to Columbus North (51-42) in the semifinals round. 

As we head into 2020, here are some facts, hopes, possibilities and thoughts, as well as a Happy New Year to those of you who follow us in the Noblesville Daily Times:

I’m entering my 56th year in the sports writing business. I’ve pretty much been there and done it all; seen so much, marveled over many exciting finishes in high school and college sports; and I’ve been blessed to meet many great athletes and coaches and to be able to write about them and their teams.

I grew up in the business under a veteran and gifted sports editor at The Kokomo Tribune. He used to take pride saying he loved his profession, that he was blessed to be working in his favorite vineyard.

Likewise . . .from 1963 as a sophomore at Kokomo High School to now as I prepare to enter yet another decade, I cannot imagine doing anything else. I’m also doing what I love in my favorite vineyard!

Hopefully good health and an ability to continue coming up with things to write about, including reminiscing, will remain a dependable sidekick.
I’ve always been amazed with the ability of athletes who can deliver such great scoring feats in basketball.

I got thinking about some of top individual records I’ve either seen or heard about.

Christmas, Christmas . . . What a great time of year!

Snow flakes falling is our hope for a white Christmas as the big day approaches.

Can’t you hear the sleigh bells jingling . . . and carolers singing, in many cases from neighbors going door-to-door in their local neighborhoods.

I can’t wait to see the luminaries displayed around the outside of our church on Christmas Eve. And then to be able to light our individual candles, and stand and sing Silent Night after the Sanctuary lights have been turned off. I mean what a special, wonderful, emotional feeling.

I used to work for a sports editor several years ago who sorta looked like he’d be a good candidate to play Santa Claus and hand out goodies at a local mall.

All he was missing was a white beard, a constant friendly smile, and a hearty “Ho, Ho, Ho.’’

Turns out he was more of a Bah humbug type. 

When it came to basketball, boys specifically, he believed that Indiana high school basketball never really started to peak until January.

His rationale was that the interest really wasn’t there during the first couple months of the season and that, quite frankly, “There wasn’t much to get excited about,’’ he told me.

Well, I don’t know about you but I certainly don’t go along with such thinking.

Not by a long shot!