Boys basketball overcomes rough start to win Regional championship
Students watch free throws at regional championship game (Photo Jack Peck)
By Daniel Hursh
The boys’ basketball team succeeded in Regionals and prepares for the rest of the state tournament.
“Everyone comes to play hard every practice, we have a lot of fun as a team, and we are getting closer to reaching our goal of winning State,” Terone Johnson said.
Johnson has been the team leader on and off the court. He leads through his actions and with his voice.
In Sectionals, NC beat Warren Central and Lawrence North.
In the Regional semifinals at Hinkle Fieldhouse on Saturday March 13 the Panthers played Ben Davis and won by 10.
In the Regional Championship the Panthers played the Noblesville Millers. The Panthers got off to a rough start and were down by eight before Terone Johnson got them on the scoreboard. The Panthers slowly climbed back into the game and were only down by two at half.
In the fourth quarter, Johnson scored 10 points in little over a minute. Johnson fouled out with about one minute to go with the Panthers up. Noblesville came back and tied the score with 30 seconds left in the game by hitting a three from the corner.
The Millers ran the clock down and Coach Mitchell unsuccesfully signaled for a timeout twice. In their attempt to make the game winning basket Aaron Bluitt got trapped in the corner and had to force up a shot that hit the side of the basket as time expired with the two teams tied.
In overtime the lead changed a few times and the Panthers were down one with about 30 seconds to go, but NC forced a shot and senior, Trip Mcfall, got fouled rebounding the ball with 8 seconds left in the game.
McFall stepped to the line and missed the first free throw, but he sank the second free throw to tie the game. Noblesville took a time out to call a play, but it also gave NC time to set up their press.
Sophomore Patrick Ingram picked off the inbound pass and was fouled with 4.7 seconds left going for a lay up. Ingram stepped to the line and sank the first free throw to give NC the lead. He missed the second one and Noblesville missed a contested three as time expired.
“It was a crazy, scary finish, but were happy we were able to pull out the win,” Johnson said.
Next up for the Panthers is Semi State against Jeffersonville who pulled an upset and defeated the defending state champions, Bloomington South.
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